Chapter Fifteen

She stood outside the hospital room he was in. His blood was stained into her sleeves and her pants. Her cheeks were becoming tear stained from her crying on and off from worry for her partner. She sighed and closed her eyes. He was in there because of her. She should've been paying attention.

"Ziva," Gibbs said her name before walking over.

Ziva looked up at him. "They just moved him here. It did not hit anything. But they are afraid of an infection." She informed Gibbs.

"Go home and change Ziv. Then go ahead and stay with Abby in her lab with Conner."

Ziva shook her head, the brown curls on her head slowly bouncing along with it. "No. I am going to stay. I can not notice the blood. Conner is safe with Abby. Tony is my main concern."

Gibbs watched her as she glanced through the crack in the door. He saw the lines of concern on her tanned face. Her eyes were filled with worry as she looked at her partner who was laying on the hospital bed sleeping, an oxygen tube in his nose, and a doctor standing next to the bed checking vitals and how he was doing.

"Alright Ziva. If your sure you want to stay."

Ziva looked at her silver haired boss. She nodded. "Yes. I am sure." Determination was lighting up her brown eyes. The determination couldn't dim the concern she had though.

Gibbs nodded. "I'm going to go back and help McGee and Abby with Conner then."

Ziva nodded, "please make sure he is okay."

Gibbs nodded and kissed her forehead, "call me later to update on Tony." He said before leaving.

Ziva looked at her feet that were covered by her combat boots. She slid onto her butt and sat against the wall waiting. Please be okay Tony. I'm so sorry, Ziva thought the guilt almost overwhelming her.

"Ms. David," the doctor came out.

Ziva got to her feet, "how is he?"

"He's sleeping. So far everything is going how it should be. We're still concerned for an infection."

Ziva nodded and glanced into the partially opened door. "May I go in?"

"Yes. Let him rest though." The doctor nodded and left.

Ziva nodded then walked in silently. To anyone who was watching they would've seen a concerned person checking on her friend. Or to someone who didn't know the relationship between the two agents, a wife kissing the forehead of her husband.

Ziva kissed Tony's forehead silently and sat in a chair. She leaned back in it and watched him sleep. She could see partially through the thin, ghost white sheets. She saw the bandages on his chest. Then if she looked closer she would've seen he didn't have a shirt on.

Tony's eyes began opening. The first thing he saw was the Star of David necklace that hung from Ziva's neck. He looked up more to her face and saw her brown eyes looking at his, the concern was obvious.

"Hey Zee-vah." He smiled to her.

Ziva nodded to acknowledge it. "How are you feeling?"

"Well considering I got shot and I now have like 3 stitches on my chest, I feel great. Not to mention the wonderful breeze I have on myself with the whole shirtless thing." He still had his humor.

Ziva blinked a few times in surprise. "You-you have no shirt?"

"Nope. It was all messed up and blood tie-dyed." He grinned charmingly.

Ziva blinked a few times more. "Oh. I can go to your apartment and get another one." She didn't want to leave Tony. She even didn't want to get him another shirt. She wouldn't mind seeing the shirtless man in front of her for a while.

"Nah. Sides Probie can probably bring the ones from my locker." He sat up, the sheet falling off his chest onto his lap.

"Tony, you should lay down." Ziva gently tried pushing him back onto his back.

"Ziva, I'm fine." Without thinking Tony grabbed her wrist gently to stop her.

Ziva jerked back and pulled her arm away. She quickly got up and backed up from him.

Tony looked confused for a moment. "Ziv?" He realized what was wrong. "Damn," he mumbled under his breath, "Ziva I'm sorry I wasn't thinking."

Ziva nodded. "I understand." She looked away from Tony. "I guess we are even."

"What do you mean?" Tony watched her confused.

"Car mom," it took Tony a moment to realize what she meant.

"Karma Ziva." He corrected gently.

Ziva shrugged, "yes that." She slowly returned to the chair. "You got shot all because of me, and well you grabbed my wrist and reminded me of the incident." The Israeli looked at her feet making her look so vulnerable.

Tony hated it. He tried to get up but couldn't because the oxygen tube. "Ziva." He reached over and put a hand on her hand gently.

Ziva looked up slowly. "Yes?"

"Gibbs told me to watch you guys and protect you. I did. I always have your six. Don't I?"

Ziva closed her eyes feeling tears she'd been trying not to let loose coming. His words hit home, but not in a bad way. In a good way, making her feel even more guilty, "Tony, you easily could have been hurt worse."

Tony took her hand in his. "Yeah, I know. But I'm not. And neither are you. We're both okay."

Ziva shook her head, "it is my fault you were shot. I should have been paying attention."

"Ziva, look at me." Tony waited until he looked into her brown eyes, "yes you should've been paying attention, but you were busy with your job. That's why I protected you. Also, didn't I promise that I'll protect you?"

"Yes." Her voice was quiet compared to how it usually was.

"See, I'm keeping my promise." Tony squeezed her hand that was in his gently. "I'm going to be okay. Within a week its going to be all healed."

Ziva nodded. "It better be," slowly the small smile appeared on her face. The one Tony was falling for. And falling hard.