Author's Note: Ok just to explain the Ten Month thing - I went back and forth about how much time I wanted to pass and I thought about it carefully. If CBS through some miracle gets Cote back I think it will take a long time to actually write her back into the show. So They would probably use her return as a finale arc and so I decided on ten months. Quick answer about her 'escape' from Tony's building (er their apartment) since I likely won't put it in the actual story. Trent helped her get away - they blocked the door after they got her into the stairwell and ushered her to an empty apartment on another floor. After the coast was clear they moved her out of the building.

THANK YOU for the reviews! I see Jeanne got under some skins - but I had every intention of killing her off - had wanted to for awhile :).

"Hola, Hola, deja mi ver los ojos, linda."

Someone was talking...it sounded so far away. She struggled, struggled to rise from the muck and mire she felt encased in. It felt like someone was pressing on her chest; something heavy get it off! She couldn't breathe.

Ziva tried to take in a deep breath but was stymied, she panicked and her eyes flew open. Someone, who, a doctor, lifted her head and screamed, "Tose, Tose," What? Oh cough. Ziva started to cough and the doctor pulled the tube from her mouth. She coughed and spit up as the tube was expelled. The nurse wiped her mouth.

She could hardly move; she felt like her body was made of lead but the first words she spoke were, "Tony...Tony."

The doctor looked to the nurse next to him, "Americana?"

"Puede ser," replied the nurse.

"Miss," the doctor started, "Miss. I am Doctor Soto. Can you tell me your name?"

Ziva tried to lick her lips but her mouth was so dry. The nurse quickly passed a wet cloth over her mouth and gave her an ice chip. "Mi llamo...my name is Ziva."

"Ziva," the doctor continued. "you have had a bad accident. Do you remember anything?"

Ziva thought back, where was she, what was going on? Cortez...yes. She killed Cortez and then she fell. How long had she been here? She had to get home.

"How long have I been here?" she asked weakly.

"Just over a week," the doctor answered. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember," she said with strained voice. "I need...I need to get out of here."

"Is there someone we can contact for you?" The doctor asked.

"No, I just need to go," Ziva started to sit up. "Where are my clothes?"

As she struggled to sit up she realized she couldn't get purchase. Her arms were doing all the work, she could not seem to move up; and then the doctor placed his hand on her shoulder and urged her to lie down again.

"You need to rest," he said. "You are still very weak. Please, allow me to contact your family."

"Why can I not," Ziva drifted, her head was unfocused for a moment but she knew something was wrong. She could move her hands but it was hard to move anything else, was she strapped down? Why would they strap her down? Ziva smiled as she thought she might have tried to hit one of the doctors. That would be something she would do if she was disoriented. She just had to get her balance back and get them to get these damn straps off of her!

"Ziva," the doctor said softly, "I am sorry but you have...you have suffered a difficult injury."

"What is wrong with me?" Ziva demanded. "And please, take these straps off of me. I will not hurt anyone, I promise."

The doctor looked to the nurse then back at Ziva, "You are not strapped down, Ziva."

"What? That does not make sense," she said.

"Your back is broken," the doctor answered. "I am sorry but we are a small hospital and there is little we can do for you."

"Broken?"

"Yes," the doctor continued. "I could not pinpoint the severity of the injury but you show no movement below the waist. I am sorry. Normally in cases like this we send you home with your family. Can we call anyone for you? The American Embassy perhaps?"

"No," Ziva turned her head, "May I please have a few moments alone."

"Of course," he said before he and the nurse stepped out of her small room.

Paralyzed? Is that what he was said? Her back was broken? She remembered the fall, the crush of metal beneath her. She was broken. It was hard to think. Hard to understand what had happened. What was she supposed to do now? Was she supposed to return to Tony like this? Oh God!

What was happening? No, he had to be wrong. Ziva concentrated on her legs. She wanted a movement, no matter how small. She tried to move her toes, just move...just move...just move damnit. She could not feel her legs much less force them to move. She didn't expect this. She thought she would live or she would die...not this!

What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to do! Go home to Tony? Make him take care of her like this?!

"No!" she yelled. "Enough! Take me already! What am I good for now? I am just a burden now!

The nurse came running back in as Ziva flailed her arms out, trying to reach for something. A tube, something sharp. Ziva grasped at her IV and tried to yank it out, she wanted the needle. The nurse held her hands down as the doctor came in behind her and injected Ziva with a sedative. And then her small world went dark again.