A/N: Thanks for the reviews and alerts or as we're calling them now, followings. This is kinda short but that's just where the break came. More tomorrow.

I Need You

Chapter 4

Jethro took an agency car and had the lights and sirens on as he pulled out of the lot. His mind was racing and he could barely breathe. There was a knot in his stomach and he kept saying over and over again, No, no, no.

When he got to the emergency entrance he quickly parked and ran inside. There were cops standing to the side talking to a distraught young woman Jethro recognized as Julie Reynolds. He went over and she stepped away from the policemen to talk to him.

"Someone ran a stop sign and hit Helen's car. They were on their way to your house. I don't know much more."

Jethro gave her hand a squeeze and stepped to the nurse's desk. "My daughter was brought in a while ago. I need to see her. Tali Gibbs. Car accident."

"Mr. Gibbs come with me."

The way she spoke to him filled Jethro was dread. He glanced back at Julie then followed the nurse down the hall. She led him into a trauma room where several doctors were gathered around his little girl. Tali wasn't moving and Jethro had to lean on the end of the table to keep from falling down. He had never known such pure terror in his life.

One of the doctors took him by the arm and turned him around. "Your daughter is unconscious but she is breathing on her own. She appears to have some internal bleeding and possibly a head injury from the collision. We need to do a CT scan and she will most likely need surgery. There are papers you need to sign but come and see her first."

The young doctor led Jethro to the bedside and he leaned down and spoke quietly to Tali.

"Daddy's here baby. You're going to be fine."

Jethro couldn't stop the tears and didn't care who saw them. He brushed Tali's hair back and wrapped her hand around his finger. She didn't move and Jethro was terrified to let her out of his sight but the doctor came back and said they needed to take her for the CT.

"Come with us." The doctor indicated for Jethro to stay with Tali and they all moved to the elevator.

"What about the woman she was with?"

"She had some minor cuts and a concussion and burns from the airbag but she'll be fine. The impact was on the passenger side which is why your daughter was more seriously injured."

Jethro was relieved to hear Helen was alright. He kept his eyes on Tali and willed her to be okay.

Once the CT was done the doctors took Tali to surgery and Jethro was left alone in the waiting room. Ducky arrived about ten minutes later.

"Helen is fine Jethro. I saw her downstairs. Her daughter-in-law it taking her home. She asked me to tell you how sorry she is this happened."

"Not her fault. I need to call Ziva."

"Yes, of course. Go in that room across the hall and use the phone in there. Much better than a cell phone in here."

Jethro stepped across the hall into a private waiting room and called Ziva's cell phone. After what seemed like twenty rings she finally answered.

"Hello, who is this."

"It's me, Ziver. Tali's in the hospital. You need to come home."

"What? Jethro, what happened. What's wrong with her?"

She was frantic and Jethro could hear the near panic in her voice. "Helen was bringing her home and some idiot ran a stop sign and hit them. Tali's in surgery right now. She's unconscious. You need to come home now."

Ziva was having difficulty processing what Jethro was telling her. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. The idea of her precious baby hurt and in an operating room was physically painful. It was the worst possible time for him to be telling her to come home. They were just hours from closing in on their quarry and Ziva needed all her concentration to complete their mission successfully.

"Zi are you there? Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"Yes, I am here. I am just trying to catch my breath. What kind of surgery and what are they telling you?"

"She's been unconscious since they got her to hospital. They did a CT of her head but I don't know what they found. She has some internal bleeding and that's why the surgery. When can you get a flight?"

"I don't know. Jethro we are hours from getting the people we've been after for years. I can't leave Michael here alone to finish this."

"What? Ziva your child is in the hospital. She's hurt. I don't give a damn about Michael or whoever you're hunting. Tell Eli to send someone else."

Ziva took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She knew what she was going to say next could very well spell the end of her marriage and all the dreams she had for a life with Jethro and their child.

"Jethro, I know you do not understand at the moment, but I have to finish this. It is just a few more hours and then I can come home for good. It might not matter anyway depending on when I can get a flight. I will be there as soon as I can after I take care of this matter."

Jethro could hardly believe what he was hearing. He paused and tried to keep his emotions under control. Finally he spoke. His tone was deadly serious and very calm. It scared Ziva much more than if he had been yelling.

"Ziva, you are making a mistake. You come home now, as soon as you can or don't bother to come at all. I will not forgive you choosing your damned mission over our daughter. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"Yes, I understand but I am asking you to think about what you are saying. Do not do this Jethro. Not over a few hours time."

"It's not the time, Ziva, it's the choice you're making. Washington Trauma Center is where we are. I hope you will choose wisely."

Jethro hung up and stared blankly at the wall. He could not believe what had just happened. He knew Ziva would complete her mission before coming home. He realized he had just effectively ended his marriage unless he backed off what he'd told her. And Jethro Gibbs was not known for backing off anything.

TBC