I Am Damaged Goods
"There's nothing we can do for her here, DiNozzo. Not until she's out of surgery." Gibbs had said as he persuaded Tony to go back to headquarters with him. The younger man had only agreed to go along because he couldn't have sat there, waiting, unknowing. He had energy to spend – and he might as well use it on O'Neil. His blood boiled to think of the man – and his brother. On the drive back, Gibbs had told him of the question Ziva had asked him in the ambulance.
He now knew there was a chance the younger O'Neil brother wasn't dead. No wonder Ziva was so frightened – one man was bad enough, but two was near unbearable to consider. Especially when she was already doubting herself from Somalia…
And, of course, Abby's words. Abby – besides Gibbs and Ducky – was the only one who'd been there through everything – before McGee, Kate, or Ziva. They had an understanding. The young forensic analyst's words had made everything confusing, and okay, all at once.
Now, watching Gibbs enter interrogation, Tony felt a cold restlessness running through his limbs. He felt as if something were missing – and he slowly realized Ziva usually stood next to him while they viewed interrogations.
He set his eyes on Gibbs and O'Neil.
"How's your agent?" O'Neil asked as Gibbs took the chair across from him. There was an evil gleam in his eyes, dark as mud.
Gibbs didn't respond. Instead, he opened a file and shoved it before the man. He leaned forward, a cold, hard look barely contained in his blue eyes. "How's your brother?" He countered. "Not as dead as we thought?"
O'Neil only grinned, leaning back. "Did you think leaving me here would break me, Agent Gibbs?" The criminal sneered. "The only person who'd be classified as 'broken' would be your poor, sorry agent … David?"
Tony hissed out a harsh correction the older O'Neil wouldn't hear. His blood was boiling again at the man's words. His nostrils flared as he forced air from his lungs.
The former marine slammed the folder down on the table. O'Neil flinched, a coward at heart.
"Your brother isn't dead." He exclaimed. "You've been protecting him." He flipped open another of the folders and shoved a photo at O'Neil. The man in question struggled not to show his surprise.
The photo was of earlier that day, when they'd been rescuing Ziva. The team Director Vance had put on finding the 'dead' brother had produced the picture. In the frame, the time and date in the corner, the younger O'Neil brother was caught in the act of running a red stoplight.
And that was Tony's cue: walk in, confuse him, and get him to slip. They already had him, and he was the only way to the brother. What was the story? How long had he been protecting his younger brother? Why?
He stepped in to the interrogation room while O'Neil was still staring at the photo. The criminal's eyes lifted and lit on Tony's face.
"I haven't seen you in awhile." The man exclaimed. "How's your lover?"
A muscle in Tony's jaw jumped. "Why are you protecting your brother, O'Neil? That man his wife was fooling around with? He didn't kill your brother. So what did he do, O'Neil? Why are you killing?"
"I think he's a coward, Tony." Gibbs said conversationally. "Something happened to his brother. Maybe he got beat up by that man. Got O'Neil angry …" He paused. "I think you faked your brother's death."
"No." He insisted, his hands twitching.
"Yeah, I think he did." Tony said. "You know what else I think? Your brother's death won't be faked if you don't tell us where he is."
The man was clearly shaken, and attempted to make up for it. "She kept muttering something … about Salim." He looked up at Tony with humor in his eyes. "I'll give her credit. She lasted a day. I think it's the fever that did it." Tony's fists were shaking. "My brother thinks so, too."
"You son of a bitch!" Tony lost his cool, O'Neil laughed.
Gibbs rose from the chair. One hand rested on Tony's shoulder. The superior's blue eyes were calming, where Tony's were wild. He squeezed his shoulder. "Go back to Ziva." He said, his voice much calmer than it usually was.
"Boss-"
"He just admitted his brother's involvement. You did good."
"But he-"
"He's going away for a very long time. And we'll get the brother. She needs you there." Gibbs told him. Tony's breathing calmed. "Go."
"Are you sure, boss?" His eyes held a light of uncertainty.
"Yeah, DiNozzo. I'll be there before she wakes up." He promised. Tony hadn't seen Gibbs this kind since Kate's death.
"Yeah. Alright." He took one last look at O'Neil before exiting the room. Gibbs turned and sat back at the table.
The man was still laughing.
--
She looked as if all the color had been drained out of her. The various tubes that ran from her arms to her IV bags did not scare Anthony DiNozzo as much as the pins securing her leg did. he refused to look at them. Instead, he kept his eyes on her face. Some said that sleeping people looked serene: this could not be said for Ziva. She was tortured even in unconsciousness. The muscles of her face were tightly pinched, as if she were bracing herself against something.
They'd let one agent into recovery, only because the team had warned the hospital against what would happen if she were to come out of the anesthesia in a frightened manner. Tony sat with her now, having come back with headquarters. Abby had been sent back to her lab until Ziva woke up - forensics work was needed to be done. McGee had been sent back to headquarters as well to shift through any files. Only Ducky was still waiting in the emergency room. Tony sat with Ziva now.
Her mouth was clenched tight, though he'd heard her cry out twice now. her closed eyes moved back and forth rapidly. Was she having a nightmare? Or was she in pain? He couldn't stand either thought.
He leaned back against the chair, the edges of it touching her bed. When she cried out again, it tore at his heart. There was only so much he could handle in one day; he'd already lost his cool in interrogation. She continued to whimper, and he couldn't stop his hand from reaching out. If she woke up and killed him for it, he'd deal. That would be easier than seeing her like this.
He placed his hand on the space where her neck and shoulder joined, rubbing small, soothing circles with his thumb. He felt the muscles twitch beneath his fingers. Tony listened as her crying stopped, he watched until her face relaxed. She suddenly looked more peaceful than he'd seen her before. Even asleep, however, he looked so tired, worn down. He didn't have shame for the way he'd yelled at O'Neil. The man deserved it, after all he'd done.
"Shh," He murmured, brushing away stray hairs with the back of his hand. he smoothed the crease of her forehead with his thumb. Ton wasn't sure whether he was talking for himself, or for her. "You're safe now, Ziva." He assured her - just in case it was indeed a nightmare she was battling. "When you wake up, I'm going to be here, I promise you. Nobody's going to leave you, but you've got to trust us, Zi. If you don't, we can't help you." He continuously smoothed the crease of her forehead.
Tony rested his head against the wall, turned toward her resting form. He remembered how helpless he'd been, knocked unconscious. how could he have allowed this? He nearly feared sleep: the last time he'd closed his eyes, Ziva had disappeared.
He had to tell himself that the younger O'Neil would be found. He could not entertain any other notion. Tony wanted to be out there himself, instead of putting it into the other team's hands: but he wouldn't let her wake up alone. It had been nearly an hour since she'd come out of surgery. He wasn't sure exactly when she would wake up, but he wasn't worried about Gibbs making it there in time: the man had a way of keeping his promises, one person only rule be damned.
Author's Note:
I hope you're still enjoying this: I haven't been getting as many reviews. Hope I haven't lost it with this story. Opinions, reviews, please? I promise you she's going to wake up soon. If you've got any suggestions, please let me know. This chapter was partially stemmed from a suggestion by poohunne. Poohunne, I promise that the next part of your suggestion will be involved in this story!