I would like to thank my beta reader Vicky for correcting my language and making it run/read more smoothly. I hope you enjoy. Please leave a review, it would much appreciated.

Chapter 5

It was a bit weird. An adult woman accompanied by a man who could be her father. They sat in the dentist's office and were waiting for the moment Ziva could go in. Gibbs could tell Ziva was nervous. She always played with her fingers if she was and this, if it was an indication, she was really nervous.

'Miss David'

The dentist looked at his next patient chart and knew this was going to be difficult. He had received a phone call from a man named Gibbs who had explained the reason why this woman had bolted the first time she had been in his dentist's chair. He knew he had to take it slow and explain every little move he was going to do.

When he saw the couple enter his office he immediately saw how nervous the woman was, but, none the less, she took a seat in the chair. He started with explaining every single move he was about to make, checking each and every time with the woman if it was OK that he went ahead with the procedure. Checking the inside of her mouth wasn't that much of a problem but then it came to placing the paste he had made inside her mouth so he could make a dental impression of her cavities was an entirely different story. She totally stiffened and her fingers grabbed the armchair like it was the last thing on earth. He didn't want to force it on her at especially since he knew the reason why, so he opted for another way.

'How about you do it yourself, just as long as you push it in really tight and let me check afterwards to see if you did it right. If it doesn't work the first time I have another batch ready and we can give it another try'

Ziva took the paste from him and after a few seconds carefully placed it in her mouth. She started to gag but kept the paste in her mouth. She made sure the paste was covering every part of her mouth just like the dentist had explained to her and after he had given his OK she bit down hard.

'Bite down good for a few minutes' He cheered her on like he was watching one of those football games on TV but she didn't last that long. Memories came flooding back and Gibbs could see panic forming in her eyes. He pushed the dentist away from Ziva's chair and stood over her.

'You are safe, you are not going to be hurt. I am right here, you are with me, you are not with them, you are safe, focus on me, come on Ziver you can do this'

Gibbs kept repeating the same thing over and over again. She didn't exactly relax but it was long enough for the paste to harden and be taken out by the dentist. She had bitten so hard that the recently healed gums had started bleeding again. The dentist carefully cleaned her mouth and took a look at the bleeding but wasn't that concerned about it. It would heal with time.

'You're probably going to be in pain for a couple of days but it shouldn't be that bad. You'll most likely experience muscle pain in your jaw from biting down on the paste. I'll give you some painkillers and when I have everything ready I'll contact you asap.'

Ziva hadn't said much during her entire ordeal but she shook his hand and a soft thank you was heard.

'Oh, before I forget. Ice cream will help with the pain inside your mouth.' The dentist was grinning. 'Normally I wouldn't recommend it, but in this case, just this once, it would be a good idea, keeps the swelling down'

Ziva couldn't agree more when she was holding on to an ice cream with three scoops on top. She and Gibbs had made a stop at the mall and were currently sitting on a bench outside. She was enjoying her ice cream, the dentist had been right, it did help. Her mouth wasn't as painful as it was when she had left the dentist's office. She was however, beginning to feel the pain in her jaw, but for now she enjoyed her ice cream. Talking was becoming a painful occupation so her sentences were very short. Gibbs hadn't heard much from her other than a couple of yes and no's. She did a lot of nodding and shaking her head.

'Hurts like hell doesn't it' Gibbs grinned at her.

She nodded. Anything to avoid talking and moving her jaw unnecessary. Eating her ice cream however was necessary so she took the pain that came with that.

Ziva and Gibbs arrived at NCIS headquarters and walked into the bullpen where McGee and Tony had an argument about McGee's dating habits or lack there off. It didn't take Gibbs long to have them all doing paperwork. When Gibbs looked up, he saw Ziva rubbing her cheeks, resting her head in her hands and drinking a lot of water and sloshing it around in her mouth and then dumping it in her cup. He saw she was bleeding because it was red every time she dumped it back into the other cup that was standing on her desk. He realized that was why she went to the bathroom often. To rise her mouth clean.

He went over, leaned over her shoulder. She flinched and he pulled back immediately, he realized she hadn't heard him come over to her desk.

'Go see Ducky, maybe he has some idea's how to dull the pain and stop the bleeding'

She nodded. Tony and McGee were looking on quite curiously.

'What's going on Boss'

Gibbs turned to his two other team members and decided that he should tell them something, but not everything. He would let Ziva decide whether or not she would let them know.

'Ziva had some dental work done this morning which was necessary after Somalia but her gums are bleeding a little bit right now'

'But she's going to be OK?' Tony sounded worried.

'Yeah, she'll be fine. Just keep an eye on her'

TBC…

AN: Years ago I had that damn paste in my mouth, it was horrible. I kept swallowing, gagging and when it was time to pull it out the dentist and I had wrestling match that would have looked good on ESPN.