"Does anybody know?" He asked, concerned.

"McGee...you."

"McGee?" Now Gibbs was confused.

"Yes, I kind of ummm...what was it again? Oh yes, freaked out when the power went down in the whole building and McGee and I were stuck in the elevator for a long time. So...he knows."

Gibbs pondered for a while before a plan hatched in his mind. "Okay let's go."

"Where are we going Gibbs?"

"You'll see." Gibbs gave a vague reply.

He head for the elevator with his things, while Ziva trudged behind him albeit a little embarassed about asking for help. The elevator came and both stepped inside. Okay here goes nothing, Gibbs thought and he flipped the emergency switch, plunging them into darkness. Ziva was caught off-guard and she could feel her heart pounding against her chest. She swiftly moved to flip the emergency switch back and the lights came on.

"Maybe this was a bad idea Gibbs. Forget it." She said shakily.

"You asked for help. So you're gonna get some. You have to trust me." Gibbs flipped the emergency switch yet again.

This was starting to feel like the experience she had with Tony before. The dark consumed the elevator space and Ziva was anxious again. For Gibbs, she tried really hard not to flip the emergency switch back again. So instead, her hand shot out to find Gibbs'. He was standing at a side, out of her reach. Since she couldn't see him nor find him, she panicked.

"Gibbs?" She called out, scared, not that she'd admit to being.

Her breathing got heavier. She tried to be brave, but the darkness to her was very overwhelming. Because, with the dark, she never knew what was in store for her. Not now, not in Saleem's camp, since her eyes were covered most of the time.

"It is getting hotter in here Gibbs. We need to get out." She claimed, as she felt herself being transported back into that hot and sweltering desert place.

"No it's not Ziva." Gibbs finally voiced out.

Gibbs had to make Ziva face her fears slowly. It was the only way. Ziva felt like something was choking her, as she broke into a cold sweat, the hairs on her neck and arms all standing at their ends. She felt the intense need to hide and protect herself. She backstepped into a corner and slid down the elevator wall. She ended up huddled on the floor, arms around her head and eyes squeezed shut, almost like she was preparing for a blow. Meanwhile, Gibbs had used the light from his cellphone to check on Ziva. Seeing her in that vulnerable position, he went to sit beside her as the light of hos cellphone went out when he placed it back in his pocket. Ziva had been too caught up in her self-imposed frenzy that she barely felt Gibbs beside her.

"Something is going to hit me." Ziva admitted, not realising she was giving Gibbs small clues about what had happened to her in Somalia.

Her heavy breaths turned into short ones. "There's nobody here Ziva. Just you and me." Gibbs soothed.

"There is always somebody, Gibbs." She said it like a strangled cry.

As short breaths turned into gasps, her eyes shot open in slight alarm. She couldn't breathe properly. Gibbs slipped his hand into hers, trying to offer comfort from contact. But she jumped, gasping just as much. "It's just me Ziver." He declared softly, as her grip on his hand tightened, palms already turning clammy.

"You need to breathe. Just like me. In through the nose, out through the mouth." He instructed, doing the same as he told her in an attempt to get her to follow him.

Slowly, her breathing became much better. The comforting circles Gibbs' thumb stroked on the back of her hand contributed too. "Better?" Gibbs asked.

"I think so. I am sorry Gibbs."

"Don't apologise, it's a sign of weakness."

"Am I not weak now?"

"Nope. You just survived the past few minutes in the dark. That's not weak if you ask me."

Gibbs gave her hand a significant squeeze. The warmth of his larger hand around hers made her feel protected. It was like the feeling you got from your dad holding your hand and guiding you here or there, just basking in the comfort of having somebody there to tell you what to do sometimes. And Gibbs thought, that everyone, especially Ziva, deserved to feel protected once in a while. And he would gladly be the one to be always protecting her. Like a dad. His heart smouldered with appropriate resentment at the people who were responsible for getting Ziva into this little emotional mess.

"Thank you Gibbs." Ziva said into the fabric covering the edge of his shoulder as she leaned against it.

He responded with a kiss on the side of her head. Gibbs went over to flip the emergency switch back. The lights came back on for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day and the lift started to descend. He stretched out his hand and pulled Ziva back onto her her feet. "You good to head home?" Gibbs had to make sure.

"Yes I will be fine." Ziva said, forcing a smile onto her face.

Her years of Mossad training were back in place as she had a sudden sense of disappointment with herself for even thinking of getting help from Gibbs. She shouldn't be needing help. This was a bad idea. She had better get out of this now.

"Thanks for helping me today Gibbs. I will not need it anymore. Do not worry, I will go see somebody. Like a therapist or something." She rushed out, faking reassurance in her tone.

Gibbs nodded with a counted look, and even if he doubted she would even face her problems, he didn't say anything. Maybe she had to take things at her own pace. So he left her to it. But if she ever needed his help again, he would always be there.

Ziva knew that Gibbs didn't totally believe her, and was relieved when he didn't press on. She had a good team, who gave her the space she needed. For their sake, she told herself to get it together. Obviously, getting it all together would take time.

But today was a good start as any other.

Gibbs is the awesomest! Leave me a review (: