A/N: Home stretch now, dear readers! Time for reunions and healing. Side Note- Tali is mentioned in this chapter. I can't remember if the writers have addressed how she died. If they have - well, I've taken poetic license and done it my own way here, so please excuse. Thanks.
"And I'll hang on to you
Nothing in this world will see me through
Only you and I'll hang on to you
Every day I live, I give to you
Nothing in this world could ever take your place
Happiness is found in your holy face
In your warm embrace."
-Delirious
Grayed out scene: Abby and Tim in a hospital room
Friday, 1:15 P.M.
Ducky was roused from his light slumber outside McGee's room by the ringing of his cell. Clearing his throat of the cobwebs, he answered in his most professional voice, "Dr. Mallard speaking."
"Ducky, its Tony."
Ducky sat up straight, his eyes flying to Tim's doorway. "Tony! What's the word?"
"Mawher's dead, Abby's en route to the hospital with Gibbs-"
"How serious are her injuries?"
Tony's sigh came over the line. "I don't know, Ducky. The bastard was strangling her with a rope when we stormed through the door-"
"Dear God-"
"Yeah. She has a pretty nasty head wound-"
"No doubt from where Mawher hit her – did you and Ziva find anything in the cabin-"
Tony interrupted. " – we found a baseball bat in the corner with blood and bits of hair stuck to it that could be Abby's."
Ducky tried to clamp down on the rage building inside of him. "A baseball bat? Good God man, she could have a concussion!"
"Uh, yeah. Look, Ziva and I stayed behind to process the scene but we're not sure what to do with Mawher's body. I mean, we need to get him back to DC somehow-"
"I'll make some calls on this end, Tony, and then call you back, all right?"
"Ok, but in the mean time should we move him or-"
"Have you finished processing the scene?"
"Almost."
"Do that first and then I'm assuming there are sheets or a blanket you can wrap him in?"
"We have a tarp in our transport."
"Good, use that then. I'll call you back."
"Ducky?"
"Yes?"
"Tell Tim not to worry – I mean, Mawher's dead and Abby's alive, that's what's important."
Ducky sighed. "I'll do my best to reassure him, but I doubt he'll rest easy until he sees her with his own eyes, Tony."
"Agent Gibbs?"
Gibbs looked up from his coffee cup to see Dr. Juarez standing in front of him, her young face etched in concern.
"How's Abby?" he asked, jumping to his feet.
"We're prepping her for emergency surgery, Agent Gibbs."
He swallowed the lump in his throat. "What is it?"
Dr. Juarez gestured to a pair of chairs and with some reluctance, Gibbs allowed himself to sit down for this conference. "Abby has a subdural hematoma, or a blood clot, from the trauma she sustained from being hit with-" here the good doctor trailed off and looked at him for an explanation.
Gibbs grimaced, trying to hold his emotions under control. "My team found a wooden baseball bat at the scene, with blood and hair that matches Abby's."
"I see. Well, that's certainly possible." Dr. Juarez nodded. "And you say this injury happened less than twenty-four hours ago?"
Gibbs nodded. "We believe she was abducted around seven last night."
Dr. Juarez glanced at the clock on the wall: 2:15 P.M. and nodded. "She's a very lucky young woman. The surgery will be simple: I'll remove the clot, drain the swelling, and then close. If you don't have any questions for me, I'll go scrub in now."
Gibbs caught the young doctor's sleeve as she stood. "You didn't–" he stopped and cleared his throat. "Did Abby have any other injuries?"
"Rope burns around her wrists, ankles, and neck. A slight bruise across her left cheek and a split lip from-" Dr. Juarez's voice trailed off but Gibbs understood all too well. Her eyes narrowed. "Was there something specific you were wondering about?"
"Any signs of – did he –" Gibbs couldn't finish. The emotion clogging his throat made it impossible for him to even form the words and he dropped his head in frustration.
Dr. Juarez's hand dropped down and covered one of his. "There were no signs of sexual assault, Agent Gibbs. He didn't rape her."
A single tear drop escaped and dropped onto their clasped hands. "Thank you," Gibbs whispered.
"Thanks, Ducky. We'll wait here for the ME and then head back to the base. See you in a couple of hours." Tony hung up his cell and scanned the woods for Ziva, wondering where she had wandered off to.
She had been eerily quiet throughout their processing of the scene. He couldn't remember the last time they had worked side by side without saying a word. At first, he had tried to break the silence with some movie references but when she didn't even acknowledge his light hearted attempts with a smile or a threat of violence, he stopped. He knew this one had hit too close to home.
He also knew he had probably chosen the wrong time to tell her how he really felt – but damn it, there wasn't a handbook for 'how to love an ex-Mossad ninja chick' out there for him to consult. He hadn't known what kind of situation they were about to walk into with Mawher and he had wanted Ziva to know. He knew he was a selfish bastard for picking that exact moment, but-
Tony was startled out of his thoughts by the arrival of the WV ME truck pulling into the narrow drive. He waved and stepped off the small porch.
"You must be Agent DiNozzo- Ducky has spoken of you often. I'm Dr. Jared."
Tony held out his hand and shook the ME's. "Body's still inside, lying on the tarp."
"Right – well, I'll just do my thing quick so you can get out of here, shall I?" Dr. Jared chuckled.
Tony grinned. "That would be great. Just give a holler when you're done. I've got to go find my partner – she's around here somewhere." He waved his hand to the woods.
Dr. Jared smiled. "Ah, that wouldn't be Ziva David, would it?"
Tony halted in mid step. "Yes, why?"
"No reason – Ducky's talked about her too. I'd love to meet her," Dr. Jared wagged his bushy brows as he disappeared inside the cabin.
"Yeah, she's more than you could handle," Tony muttered as he wandered down the trail towards the creek.
He hadn't gone very far before he heard something – but he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sobs, heart breaking, heart rending, gut retching, cries; as he rounded the trailhead and saw Ziva with her head buried in her arms, her entire body shaking, he stopped and stood for a moment and simply stared.
Ziva David did not cry – and yet here she was out in the middle of nowhere weeping as if her heart was breaking. If it was any other woman, Tony would already be by her side, scooping her into his arms. But this was his ninja warrior and he knew that especially now, with her emotions so open and raw, he had to proceed with extreme caution. Taking a deep breath, he resumed walking, taking care to muffle his footsteps. When he was close enough to reach out and touch her shoulder, he stepped on a twig and the sound echoed in the stillness like a gunshot. In a flash, Ziva's knife was pressed against his throat and he was blinking into her fiery eyes.
"What do you want?" she hissed.
"I was looking for you-" the blade pressed into his neck and he gasped. "Ziva! It's me-"
Recognition flashed in her eyes and suddenly it was his Ziva in front of him not Ziva the Mossad officer. "Tony," she breathed softly, as she stepped back and removed her knife. "What is it?" she asked as she sheathed her knife and resumed her seat on the ground.
He sat beside her on a nearby rock. "You've been gone for a long time – I was getting worried."
"I am fine."
"Ziva-"
"Tony-"
"You just jumped on me with your knife-"
"You startled me."
"You've been crying – Ziva David doesn't cry."
Ziva turned and gave him a cryptic smile. "Everyone cries."
"I've never seen you cry."
"That does not mean I do not cry."
Tony sighed to keep from gritting his teeth. "Ziva – what's wrong? Why are you out here all by yourself, sobbing your eyes out?"
She gasped. "I was not sobbing my eyes out."
He pointed his finger at her. "Don't change the subject."
She sighed in defeat. "I was thinking about Tali."
"Your sister?"
She nodded and Tony remained silent. Ziva rarely talked about her sister. He knew that the two had been very close, that Tali had died much too soon, and that Ziva still mourned her loss. But that was about all. Ziva was an incredibly private person and even after the two of them had become lovers, she hadn't shared much of her past with Tony. He knew some of it was probably classified, but he still would like to hear some family stories – surely it couldn't have been all bad.
"She was a lot like Abby."
He started at that statement. "She was a Goth?"
Ziva hit him and Tony couldn't help but smile. Perhaps he was managing to cheer her up a little. "No, Tony. I mean she was so happy, so eager to please everyone, you know, just like Abby?"
He nodded. "She sounds quite a bit different from you and Ari."
"She was – but I was happier too – before." Ziva swallowed and he reached out and took the hand closest to him, lacing their fingers together.
He understood. He had been happier too before his mom died. The two of them had been two peas in a pod – she had understood him like no one else ever had. "How did Tali die?"
For a long time, Ziva didn't answer and Tony thought she wasn't going to. She tried to pull her hand away but he held on tight and with a sigh she gave in and left her hand in his. Finally she whispered. "A suicide bomber blew up the cafe she was eating at one afternoon. She died trying to save a little boy – but he died on the way to the hospital."
Tony felt the tears gather behind his eyes. Is this what had put Ziva on the path to vengeance – had made her decide to join Mossad, to avenge her sister's death? He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to see all the scars under her clothing, knowing that there were more that weren't visible to the naked eye. Oh my beautiful Ziva, can't you see what it's cost you?
He squeezed her fingers. "I'm sorry."
She squeezed back as the tears began to fall again. "Today, when we found Abby and she was not breathing-" she stopped to catch her breath. "I kept flashing back to finding Tali that day. You see, as hard as I have tried to keep Abby at arms' length, I have failed. She has found her way into my heart and the thought that she could – that she was –" her words ended on a sob.
Taking a chance that she could still pull her knife on him, Tony released her hand to put his arm around her shoulders and pull Ziva into his chest. "Shh, sweetheart, I know. I thought my own heart was going to stop when Gibbs and I crashed through the front door and saw Mawher-"
Ziva clutched Tony's flak jacket in her fists. "If he was not already dead-"
Tony chuckled. "I think we all share that sentiment, Sweet Cheeks, even Ducky."
It took a few minutes for Ziva to get her emotions under control. She then surprised Tony by climbing into his lap and wrapping his arms around his neck. "You do not think less of me?"
"For what?" Tony was genuinely puzzled.
"For crying my eyes out."
He sighed as he lifted a hand to caress her cheek. "Ziva, how much sleep have you gotten in the last six days?"
She frowned. "That is not the point."
"Oh yes, it is. We're all sleep deprived and have been worried sick about McGee and Abby."
"Lack of sleep is no excuse for-"
"A display of emotion? Ziva, I have no doubt that Abby will be incredibly moved and honored that you think of her as a sister. But I would be prepared for one of her exuberant displays of emotion," he warned with a grin.
Ziva smiled back. "Thank you."
"For what?" he repeated.
"For being you – even if you do have lousy timing."
"Ah, you're talking about my declaration earlier. Listen, I know it wasn't the best time-"
"Tony-" she placed a finger across his lips. "Ani Ohevet Otcha."
The infamous DiNozzo grin lit Tony's face as he kissed her finger before he removed it from his lips. "I love you too, Sweet Cheeks."
Saturday, 9:00 A.M.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, McGoo."
Tim smiled. "It's good to see you too, Tony. How's Abby?"
Tony and Ziva exchanged glances. Both of them felt much better after nearly a full night's sleep, even if they had had to spent it in their own apartments, alone. But they hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Ducky to ask him exactly what he had told Tim about the extent of Abby's injuries. They didn't want to alarm him unnecessarily. The sight of Abby would be enough to do that.
"Guys, what is it?" Tim asked in alarm as his heart beat on the monitor begin to increase. "What aren't you telling me? Mawher – he – oh God – he raped her, didn't he?"
Ziva head slapped Tony as she stepped up to McGee's bedside and took the hand without an IV in hers. "No, McGee, he did not rape Abby, I swear," she reassured him, her eyes warm and steady. "But she is being transported by Helo to the hospital later today."
"Why?"
Tony spoke up. "She had emergency surgery at the VA medical center in Danese to remove a blood clot."
Tim's eyes fluttered shut and his face grimaced in pain. "Is she – is she all right?"
Ziva's hand squeezed his. "She is going to be fine, Tim. She is already awake and asking to see you as soon as she gets here."
He nodded. "And Mawher's dead?" Tim's eyes opened and sought out Tony's.
Tony nodded. "Very. Ducky has the body."
Tim's hand rose and rubbed his chest. "Good."
Ziva watched the gesture with interest. "Tim – you remember getting shot?"
Tim snorted. "Vividly – Gibbs already took my statement."
"I know – and Tony and I have seen the apartment Mawher rented across the street from yours-"
"He had an apartment across the street from me?" McGee repeated. "Why?"
"We've been waiting for you to answer that question for us," Tony replied. "Maybe to keep an eye on you and his sister?"
Tim shook his head. "I never took Cassie back to my place."
"Mawher would have no way of knowing that," Ziva mused. "Are you sure you and Abby were not-"
"What – no! Guys, Abby and I haven't dated for a long time, you know that," McGee protested as he blushed furiously. "Why do you ask?"
Tony and Ziva exchange another glance. "No reason," Ziva smiled.
Saturday, 3:30 P.M.
McGee tried to stay awake because he wanted to know the minute Abby arrived, even though the likelihood of being allowed out of bed to go see her was a million to one. Finally, on Ziva's advice, he was able to fall asleep after lunch so he would be well rested in the event that she could get permission from her doctor to come see him. But as usual his dreams were full of her and his rest as a result was not very satisfying. At least they were pleasant rather than the nightmares that had been plaguing him of late.
"Abby," he whispered, reaching out for her in his sleep.
His hand closed around another and those fingers squeezed his. "I'm here."
Tim's eyes fluttered open and he blinked at the ceiling for a moment in disorientation. "Abby?"
"I'm here."
Terrified to look and at the same time terrified not to, he turned his head and had to strangle the sound that wanted to come out of his throat first. If Mawher wasn't already dead, I'd find him and shoot him myself.
Abby sat beside Tim's bedside in her wheelchair, trying not to fidget self consciously as his eyes raked over her. She had fresh bandages around her wrists and neck, hiding the rope burns from view, but she knew that he could probably guess what was underneath them. But she knew it was her face that was the most hideous. Her cheek had blossomed into a most unbecoming purple color and was very swollen, and her lip was split in the corner. The hair along the left side of her head was gone – it had had to be completely shaved for her surgery, and her head was wrapped in a thick gauze bandage.
They both spoke at the same time. "Are you all right?"
Tim smiled and Abby tried but her swollen slip prevented her. "Ow!" she moaned.
Pain went through him at seeing what that simple action caused her. "Are you all right?" he repeated softly, squeezing her hand.
Abby's eyes skittered away from his. "They got to me in time, McGee. I hear I have you to thank for that."
"That's not what I asked, Abby."
Her fragile control was failing."I – oh McGee-" her words ended on a sob.
"You're too far away," Tim whispered, tugging gently on her hand.
"We'll break the bed if I come up there with you," she sniffled.
"Let's risk it," he encouraged her with a small smile as he began to scoot backwards, tugging on her hand.
With McGee's help, Abby climbed into his bed. She snuggled into his side, tangled her legs intimately with his and laid her good cheek on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. He could feel the sobs she was trying to hold back and he knew that she needed to let go.
He ran his hands up and down the thin material of the hospital robe she wore. "Abby, it's all right. I'm here, you're safe, Mawher's dead. I'll hang onto you – let it go."
"Oh, McGee," Abby whispered once again before the storm broke and her sobs shook him, her and the bed. Her hands fists into the sleeves of his hospital gown and her tears soaked through to his skin but Tim didn't mind. She was here in his arms. She was safe.
"Don't let me go," she whispered against his chest.
"Never," he whispered back, dropping a kiss on top of her head.
A/N: (Uber-sigh) They're together now and they will help each other heal. I could leave it here but - it needs another chapter, don't ya think? Reviews are L-O-V-E!