Chapter 3 - Dawning
The sun was rising. People out to beat the 8 o'clock traffic were braving an early start fueled with some strong coffe. If you were to look in to room 41 of Bethesda medical center you would find two federal agents snoring in a light harmony squashed up together in the pokey hospital bed. Their heads were ruffled and Ziva's bandages were loose around her.
In the reception near by special agent Gibbs was crossing the front dest where the sleepy night nurse buzzed him in. He nodded at her and took a long sip from his coffee as he approached the ward he knocked once and the entered. He was surprised to see the two dozing agents and a little annoyed. He was about to head slap them or pour coffee on them or wake them up by throwing the bed out the window but he caught site of Ziva's face. She was so calm and peaceful he thought he would leave her with her current chew toy.
"Fine." He muttered and scribbled on a bit of paper and left it on Tonys stomach then he left deciding to sort this later.
Ziva woke up first but kept her eyes shut. She felt her arms around something. Something living. She opened one eye and felt the dull thump of a head ache. She saw Tony come in to focus.
"Oh no not again." she muttered. But then stopped feeling the bandages. That's right. The previous night came back to her. She felt a vibrating in Tonys front pocket (Oh my) and reached for it. She pulled out his phone and checked the number. McGee.
"Tim. Good morning."
"Ziva is that you? Why are you on Tonys phone? Oh god don't tell me!"
"No McGee he is still at the hospital with me. What's up?"
"Didn't Gibbs tell you we caught the guy!"
She sat up and suffered for it with a head rush.
"No McGee he has not been in!"
"Yeah he has. He called me an hour ago to tell me he was leaving the hospital. Oh but of corse you were asleep."
"Oh yes he had been here." she said picking up the note from Tonys chest. She poked him in the stomach and he started she put her finger to her lips and passed him the note then put the phone back to her ear.
"Did he say why he killed all those people?" she asked
"He said the petty officers were threatening to go to us about him killing the sailor and the others in the supply office were all accidents." mcGee replied.
"Alright thank you you soon. Bye" Ziva responded and hung up.
Tony had climbed out of the bed and was still looking at the note.
"You know what it means don't you?" she sighed taking it.
"Yep. Rule number 12."
"Never date a coworker."
"But we're not!" he exclaimed angrily. "I wish he wouldn't jump to conclusions."
"Well if you came in and saw someone like that you would jump to that conclusion wouldn't you?" Ziva responded pushing the covers off herself
"Hey where are you going?" Tony asked he gently pushed her back in to the bed and tucked her up again.
He grinned down as her then turned for the door
"I am gonna go home and change. I will come back and pick you up at 10 when your cleared. Do you want me to stop at yours and get you some clothes?" he asked innocently
"Oh yes please. Thank you Tony."
"What are friends for." he smiled and turned the door handle
"Wait you'll need a key."
"Nah it's okay I had one made ages ago." he grinned again and left.
She sighed at his cheek and settled back down in the bed the pushed the covers off again. Then the door opened making her jump. Tony walked in again
"I forgot my shoes. Stay in bed!" he said then picked up his shoes and slipped them on and then tucked her up again and smiled down at her.
"I just wanted to go to the bathroom and wash up." she said quietly.
He laughed and kissed her forehead. Acting completely on impulse and the jumped back expecting her to hit him but she didn't. She merely looked shocked. He felt his confidence rise and leaned forward again. She caught him this time catching his head and pulling him closer in to a big hug.
"Thanks for being my teddy bear Tony." she whispered then she let him go "Never tell anyone about that either." she smirked and then pushed him away.
"I will return with coffee and tea for you." he called as he walked out the door.
"God speed DiNozzo!" She called smiling to her self.
She got out of the bed gingerly and crossed to the bathroom which was connected to her room via a door in the corner. When she came out the sun rays from the large window nearby had patterned the ground in the late morning light she felt perfectly at ease as she got back in bed.
Suddenly a trill ring came from her bed side.
"David."
The voice on the other end was very soft and very accented and very familiar.
"Ziva! I heard you were in hospital! Are you alright?"
"Yes father."
This was the first time he had called since she had become a special agent officially. He didn't seem angry or keen to bring up the past, well at least he cared about her.
"There is no reson to worry father, it is just a minor work related injury. Nothing to fret over."
He grunted to himself and she wondered why he was speaking in English. It was either a cruel irony or he was just trying to be on her wave length.
"Well I very much hope agent Gibbs is taking care of you."
"Yes they are all being very careful. They are wrapping me in silk and feathers."
"Silk and what?"
She laughed
"Do not worry father. Just an American idiom Tony taught me-" she caught her self. Damn she had mentioned Tony.
"Ah yes Agent DiNozzo."
"Special."
"What."
"Special agent- never mind. I have to go now father. But thank you for...caring."
"Shalom Ziva."
She snapped the phone shut and put it aside and lay back. She had ruined that conversation by mentioning his least favorite member of her team. Tony had been not entirely respectful to him back in Tel aviv.
The door banged open making her jump but it was just Tony. He was carrying an armful of stuff which he dumped at the foot of her bed before handing her, her tea.
"So I got clothes and a movie for us to watch tonight and your release forms. Why are you looking at me like that? Stop looking at me like that it makes me think you're going to kill me."
She laughed and turned to the clothes.
"My camos and a singleton and a sweater?" she raised an eyebrow.
"What I didn't want to pick something to speedy or you might have slapped me! And I don't know what under...garments I picked because I close my eyes while picking them." he crossed his fingers behind his back.
She grinned and gathered up the clothes to go change in the bathroom.
"Thank you Tony."
"Welcome!" he called as she closed the door of the bathroom "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"No not really," she hesitated "Eli called."
Thump.
"Tony are you alright?"
"Yeah fine. So your dad called. I really miss that guy we had suck great times."
She laughed thinking back to the way he grabbed Tony's neck then stopping abruptly.
"What did he want anyway?" he asked
"The usual. Well not the usual for him, he wanted to know I was okay. I suspect Vance told him I was here." she slipped the top on. "I made the mistake of mentioning you though."
"He still hates my guts hey." Tony sighed
"I think he is... Wary you may kill another one of his agents." she said tenderly coming out of the bathroom.
"Hmm well let's just get out of here." Tony said standing him and sipping him coffee.
"Did you bring a hair brush or..." Ziva asked feeling her hair
"No sorry but..." he reached into his jacket and pulled out a comb "Here."
"Thanks." she began using the comb to try and tame her wild doo. "Wait." she stopped "You carry a comb?"
He flushed
"I am Italian! It's what we do!"
She nodded and grinned skeptically.
He looked like is man hood hand been wounded but he brightened up when she swore not to tell McGee.
"Ready to boogie?" Tony asked.
"Boogie? That means dance yes? Why would we boogie at a hospital?" she looked very confused and Tony sighed.
"It means 'go' Ziva. Shall we go?"
"Yes let's. Will I get my weapons back? I feel very un-protected without them."
He laughed and opened the door for her.
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Alright that's all for now folks! Thank you to all those people who are following my story less than 24 hours since I published I was quoted overwhelmed! now I am going to do my best to commit to this story. For your sakes! Please feel obliged to review and I will post chapter 4 ASAP! :D
P.s I am typing this whole thing in notes on my iPod touch so gimmie credit!