As an automatic reflex developed through years of training, Ziva processed that Nozdryov fired first, Jen second, though she was aiming at Safad, who hadn't yet clicked the safety off either her or Tony's weapon – she wasn't sure which at this distance. She was fairly certain that further fire came from Gibbs, even if she couldn't see it. Tony had chosen that moment, with glass crashing and gunfire popping around them to jump onto Jen's desk. The moment he crossed in front of her, he jerked backwards, knocking her to the floor as he came off the desk as quickly as he'd gotten on. Damn dramatic movie rescue, she cursed internally as she pulled him down on top of her behind the shelter of the heavy wooden desk as more shots were fired. One of the sheets that had been covering the windows floated down to cover them as the disembodied voices of McGee and Sampson echoed further away. She clutched Tony, not wanting to let him go after so many tense hours of captivity.

"Guess we made our escape just in time." He breathed heavily into her neck and she tried to ignore the pressure on her wound there. "Would have been embarrassing if they found us tied to chairs. Not that rifling through Jenny's desk will win us any points."

Ziva sighed, unable to think of any better response. She wasn't about to complain that the experience was over, or nearly so. Footfalls, grunts and a few further gunshots moved into the foyer. Over Tony's breathing, she could hear people running up the stairs, more shouting, wet gasping. Someone likely had a sucking chest wound. There would be more urgency in the air if that someone had a badge, so she decided to ignore the sound.

Tony finally seemed to realize that he had his nose in something warm and sticky and relocated to the other side of her neck. She was content to let him stay where he was for the moment, where she couldn't see his injured face. Although she was certain he wouldn't blame her, she blamed herself. They'd been kidnapped by her enemies – again. This was not going to be a fun conversation once they recovered enough to have it. She couldn't think of anything to say until Gibbs called out from somewhere across the room, "DiNozzo! David!"

She took a deep breath, made more difficult by the body on top of her, and replied, "We are here." Footsteps receded again, so she remained where she was, holding Tony under a sheet on the floor of Jen's study. Closing her eyes, she willed the past few hours to disappear. No good. She accepted that while they wouldn't be expected to process the scene, Gibbs would not simply allow them to lie on the floor indefinitely. He would probably force them to give their statements before they were allowed to get any medical attention. Or while they were getting it, depending on how quickly EMS responded.

She decided that it was time to move. The sheet was simply brushed away; Tony was not. He groaned as she tried more forcefully to push him off her. She suddenly became aware of a warm spot spreading on her abdomen. "Tony?"

"Ugh." He rolled, revealing a spreading stain their close contact had been concealing. He groaned again as he settled on his back. "You think maybe we should go to the hospital or something? Anybody call an ambulance?"

"Oh, Tony…" There was a small round tear in the center of the dark red splotch on his left side. She had an overpowering urge to try to push the blood back into his body. This was no time to panic. Keep it simple. Her focus became laser-sharp on a series of small tasks. Unbutton shirt. Find wound. Cover with…sheet. Apply pressure. Help. She needed someone to help her. "Gibbs!" He would never hear a little squeak like that. She tried again. "Gibbs!"

Her plea was met by a gurgling cough. "Still…alive, David?"

That was definitely not Gibbs. She ignored it and repeated her call, as loudly as possible. Tony smiled up at her. "Relax. I'm fine. You should see a doctor."

"Shhhh."

"Really, you're bleeding." She readied herself to brush his hand away from her neck, but his arm flopped back to the floor. "Whoa. I'm really tired all of a sudden."

Pressing with both hands, she tried to convince herself that the sheet wasn't starting to soak through. "Help is coming. Just stay with me."

"'m always with you."

She glanced in the direction of another gurgle from across the room, but the desk blocked her view. Perhaps it was a poor attempt at laughter. She was in no mood for it. "Save your breath, Safad. It sounds limited."

He was definitely laughing. "Your con…cern…is…touching."

"My only concern is that you will not suffer more."

"And…they…call me…the terrorist."

She returned her full attention to Tony. The blood flow seemed to be slowing. Unless there was just so much of it that she couldn't…

"What're you yelling about, David? We're trying to secure prisoners."

She nearly cried with relief as Gibbs' voice approached. "Tony has been shot, we need…"

"Paramedics are en route."

She leaned back as far as she dared while still keeping both hands on the sheet bunched over Tony's wound. "How long?"

Gibbs stepped over the still-gurgling Safad and crossed the room to her. "Soon. How is he?"

"I'll be fine, boss." Tony smiled weakly and tried to push himself up. "Need me to sketch the scene?"

"We'll let it pile up on your desk while you're out." Gibbs crouched and gently pushed him back down. "What do think, five days? Six?"

Alarmed, Ziva was about to interrupt when she realized that Tony's smile had gotten wider. "If you think you can live without me around the office that long."

"Nah, you'd just expect everyone to wait on you hand and foot. Stay home and let Ziva deal with you."

"Oh, hey, she probably won't tell you, but she needs a doctor. She's bleeding."

"Well, I hear sirens. They'll take care of her."

"Better make it an order, boss. She's stubborn."

Ziva didn't bother to argue. She could hear McGee answering the door to let the EMTs into the house. Safad was no longer making any noise. She was glad. They would step over him as Gibbs had done and take care of Tony immediately. Gibbs' hand covered hers, but didn't apply more pressure. He guided her away as the EMTs went to work. She didn't make too much of an effort to step over Safad's body in the doorway. He may have gasped quietly when she crushed his fingers under her heel, but she said nothing. She could hear Tony trying to joke with McGee and the paramedics.