Chapter 4

For Ziva the past three days in the hospital were a big blur thanks to the pain medication they were keeping her on. Tony stayed with her the first night and most of the next day before Gibbs finally sent him home for some much need sleep and although she would never admit it the fact that Gibbs stayed in his place put her mind ease. Gibbs still refused to give back her gun or any of her weapons, telling her for once she needed to lean on them for her protection. Abby's daily visits were the highlights of the three days; Abby made her laugh and tease her about Tony especially after Tim told her about the phone call. When she was with Abby she didn't have to feel like some super-hero spy, she just felt like a girl. The low point of the stay was the phone call director Vance brought to her personally on the third night. She had been laughing with Tony, Tim and Abby; they had brought her dinner from her favorite Deli; when director Vance appeared at the door with his cell connected to her father. She was thank-full when they left her alone with the call because her father's coldness had a way of cutting her like a knife. Ziva believed that her father loved her but it never out came that way; instead she endured a lecture on not being careful of enough and if he had his way he would throw her ass back into Mossad training. He finally hung up on her and Ziva who was more than a little hopped up pain killers could not stop her tears. She covered her face with her pillow and screamed into it in frustration. She didn't realize until she heard the movie they watching start up again that her friends had taken their positions around her again. They never questioned her or gave her that 'are you ok' look they were just there for her and Tony had discreetly take her hand and was massaging gently with his thumb.

Ziva smiled because now she was leaving the hospital. "Finally" she thought "I so hate hospitals"

Tony had brought her a pair of sweatpants she had left at his house after one of their movie nights and one his Ohio state Tee. Gibbs had shown up knowing an argument with Ziva concerning her safety was inevitable.

"I can take care of myself I do not need to stay at Tony's" Ziva stubbornly spat at the two of them. But the glare in Gibbs eyes told her this was a losing battle. She was sitting on the end of her bed waiting for her final discharge papers. Tony leaned against the wall grinning at her knowing she was going to lose this argument. Gibbs was finally done 10 minutes of reasoning with her was too long.

He leaned down towards her placing one hand on either side of her hips bring himself eye level with her and growled "David, you have two choice you can go to Tony's or you can come home with me and watch me build my boat." She open her mouth to protest but the glare in his eyes made her promptly shut it. Instead Ziva just nodded.

The nurse arrived with 2 Vicoden pain pills for her take. She opened her mouth to protest but Gibbs cleared his throat. She grumbled something under her breath but took the pills. The nurse started with the discharge instructions "She must stay off her feet as much as possible at least for the next week preferable 2 weeks, keeping the broken leg elevated much of the time" She smiled sympathetically at both DiNozzo and Gibbs. "Pain pills at least for next few days at least, with the instructions. The sutures on her chest and the cast must stay dry until removed. Sutures should come out early next week. Do you have any questions?"

Ziva shook her head angrily. All she really heard was no showers the one thing she actually wanted to do the most. Then the orderly push in a wheelchair and Tony watch as Ziva eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Tony decided that was going to be the thing that pushed her over the edge so he quickly grabbed the crutches they had been given and handed them to Ziva. The ends of her mouth curved up gratefully as her eyes met his thanking him silently. Gibbs quickly pushed both the orderly and the wheelchair out of the room. She tried to hop down on to her good leg but she was weaker than she expected. Tony's quick arms kept her from ending up in heap on the floor. He held her tightly until he felt her become steady again. "You ready" he whispered. He felt her nod so slowly he began to pull slowly away as she pulled the crutches under each arm. He had hope to see a smile when he pulled back but there was something else in her eyes, something he could not read.

"Ready" Gibbs called from the door. Ziva slowly at first began moving the crutches and her body in a forward motion. Gibbs saw the momentary wince cross her face. "Even in pain she had do things on her own" he thought sadly as Tony and Gibbs followed her silently down the corridor.

In the car Ziva asked about the case. Gibbs and Tony filled her in on the detonation device used on her car; it was similar to the device used in several bombing around the world Abby was checking on the other bombing to find a lead. Ziva understood that to mean that was dead end. They were talking about McGee search of the money trail but Ziva was not listening her head was swimming again from the drugs. She sat quietly looking out the window lost in the spinning of her head.

They pulled up to her apartment building but Ziva didn't seem to notice. Tony's voice broke into her thoughts. "You want me to pack you a bag?" grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"No" Ziva laughed looking at his grin. Damn, he so sexy she thought. She rolled her eyes damn drugs she was emotionally all over the place. "You keep your claws out of underwear drawer DiNozzo"

"Paws Ziva" he urged her on. He notices that she was having great difficulty exiting the car. He waited until she looked up to him frustrated before extending his hands to pull her gently out of the back seat.

"Thank you" she said softly once she had the crutches under her arms.

The look that he didn't recognize had return to her eyes instead of the smile that he hoped for.

"Come on you two, I don't have all day" Gibbs began walking quickly to the building. The both turn to follow.

They exited the elevator on the fourth floor, walking down to last door. Gibbs took her keys from his pocket Ziva standing next to him grabbed his arm before he could insert the key into the door.

"Picked" she said quietly, her eyes motioning to the lock. Gibbs looked over to DiNozzo who nodded and in one fluid motion grabbed Ziva by the waist pick her up and moved her against the wall of the hallway. Her first instinct was to drop him but something always kept her from crushing him. "God I hate these drugs" She mused.

"Stay" Gibbs hissed at her as he and DiNozzo grabbed their Sigs. Inserted the key and entered Ziva's apartment.

Ziva hearing an audible gasp from Tony came barreling into the apartment before it had been cleared. Walking into her living room she felt the blood drain from her face.

Everything was torn apart her bookshelves had been overturned spilling all the contents on to the floor one of them had been smashed into her once all glass coffee table. The television had been broken and tossed on the floor. The couch looked like someone had taken knife to it slashing deep into the cushions.

She heard Gibbs and DiNozzo clear the rest of the two bedroom apartment. They walked back to stand next to her, Tony place his hand on the small of her back as she looked around stunned.

"I have been robbed?" she asked with confusion