Just as Tony thought, EJ had been bailed out of the charges by the CIA. But in the two weeks since EJ accosted Ziva in the hospital - at least she hadn't tried to approach Ziva again. Not that EJ had much of an opportunity; Tony had been with Ziva 24/7 since the hospital incident.
For her part; Ziva had actually taken the doctor's advice. She slept alot these last couple of weeks; Tony knew that the confrontation with EJ, combined with the swelling and the nerve damage had drained her significantly. So she took it easy on purpose and that often meant reading a book and sleeping. He'd been impressed that she agreed to postpone her physical therapy sessions with Sarge for a full three weeks. Ziva had finally admitted that she had indeed been pushing herself too hard.
My body should do what I want it to but since it is being stubborn I will allow it to rest. Tony laughed when she'd said that. He'd been happy to stay home with her - it had put his mind at ease. And if he were to admit it; he really didn't want to go back to work without her.
He couldn't get enough time with her it seemed; every moment was a gift for him. Her ten month absence lingered in his heart and the only balm was her presence now. Her laughter, her gaze, her soft touch.
At the moment he was working with McGee at the corner of his screen; Ziva's laptop was next to his and he was sending McGee Ziva's latest report. He could hear Gibbs in the background telling Bishop her ROI reports weren't in the right sequence and was glad he wasn't in the office; Bishop always made this annoying groaning sound when Gibbs was annoyed with her.
All this work from home had been driving Vance crazy trying to figure out how to list Tony's temporary duty. Vance had finally given up and given Tony five hours a day temporary duty - and Tony hadn't even asked. Tony did however leave a port to his desk computer open so he could scare Dorneget from time to time. Dorneget had gotten his desk while Tony was out on leave. So, Gibbs had McGee, Bishop and Dorneget in the office and him and Ziva at home. And even with all this manpower they still didn't have a solid lead on Hoffman. Ziva had probably come the closest when she'd identified aliases Hoffman used but in each case when they'd pulled the Driver's license photo the photo was unusable. The DMV's digital copy had a glare that McGee was convinced was inserted after the fact. So Hoffman must have hacked the DMV's computers.
Tony managed to dig up some video surveillance footage near Hoffman's pentagon office. He'd caught Hoffman's car on the footage but each time Hoffman himself exited the footage was blurred and a sun glare made it impossible to identify any of Hoffman's features. McGee and Abby concluded that Hoffman had some kind of high powered RF inhibitor on his person at all times that would mess with any camera trying to capture his image. So he could walk around with a million cameras pointed at him and none would actually capture his likeness. Tony felt like he was going around in circles with this case but eventually he knew they'd track Hoffman down - everyone made a mistake and they'd find it sooner or later.
"Tony," Ziva called from the bedroom. "Tony?"
Tony stood up right away, Ziva rarely called out for help with anything, and rushed over to her. He found her sitting on the made bed with a pillow scrunched up next to her. "Everything ok?" he asked.
Ziva looked up at him as he stepped closer to the bed; her eyes bright and wide, "Yes. It is just...Tony, my legs are tingling."
"Tingling?" Tony came up next to her, pushed her wheelchair back and ran his hand up her right leg as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes," Ziva practically beamed, "and look." She managed to flex a muscle in her calf.
"Impressive," Tony crouched by the bed, "Can you do it again?"
Ziva scrunched her toes and flexed her calf. Tony's face lit up like it was Christmas. He leaned forward and kissed her leg before taking his seat next to her on the bed.
"Wow," he said as he kissed her lips. "I think we should call the doctor; make sure this tingling is normal."
"You think?" Ziva looked at him like he was going to dash her hope.
"Yes," Tony kissed her nose and picked up the phone on the nightstand. "Just to be safe."
Tony dialed Kenneth's number having memorized it long ago now and on the third ring Kenneth picked up - he was lucky not to get the voicemail. "Hey, doc," Tony started and explained the tingling in Ziva's legs. He then handed the phone to Ziva when Kenneth asked to speak with her and after a few moments Ziva handed the phone back to Tony.
"What's the verdict?" Tony asked.
"The tingling is part of the healing process but I hadn't expected it for months yet. I am actually very encouraged by it. However, it is not a green light to start overdoing it. I still want her to take it easy. I think her actually resting these last weeks has helped alot," Kenneth explained.
"I'll see she keeps it up then," Tony said before ending the call with Kenneth.
Tony set the phone down and leaned in for another kiss, "I am convinced you have Wolverine's healing powers."
Ziva kissed him a few times before asking, "Who is Wolverine?"
Tony laughed, "We have a few movies to watch then."
"All right but not tonight," Ziva said as she looked at the bedside clock. "I want to pick out a dress for tonight."
Tony sat up straight and grinned widely, "Egads, there's another one!"
Ziva laughed and pulled Tony closer again, "There is only one, Tony," she said before kissing him deeply.
"Mrs. DiNozzo," Tony pulled back slightly, "Another kiss like that and we will be rushing to get clothes on tonight."
Ziva looked at him and thought about it for a moment then pushed him back, "You are right and I want to look good tonight."
"You know I defeat myself sometimes," Tony frowned. "Ok! Which one of your six dresses do you want to wear tonight? I'll get it."
"The black," Ziva smiled.
"Which of the three black ones?" Tony shook his head, "We are going shopping one of these days, Ninja."
"Tony, I just do not have the need for a lot of dresses," Ziva sighed.
"You have six," Tony crossed his arms over his chest, "I have more suspenders and I don't even wear suspenders!"
"I could wear the suspenders and some pants...and a smile," Ziva winked.
Tony was dumbstruck by the visual for a moment, "Ok, now we will be late."
Tony crawled over Ziva and they made love. Afterwards their shower was quick and somehow Tony took longer to dress than Ziva did even with her in her wheelchair moving from room to room looking for the eyeliner she'd left in a bag in the hall closet. Soon, McGee arrived with Abby and then Ducky and Gibbs. They wasted no time and Ducky and Gibbs rode with Tony and Ziva in Tony's car while McGee took Abby to the theatre's parking.
They all met up outside the theatre and it was Abby who pushed them past the masses to the front doors using Ziva and her wheelchair as the excuse to be let in early. They went to their row - 5th row center, and Tony picked up Ziva and carried her to the middle of the row to their seats. Abby took Ziva's chair to the back to park it and they all waited for Arsenic and Old Lace to begin. For a moment, Tony had to control a nearly overwhelming emotion that suddenly welled up. As he looked at Ziva in her seat next to him, and the others around them; he thought about the day he bought the tickets. The very day he had learned this play would be revived in town. He choose this date, months out from the premiere of the play, to give Ziva time to come home. But in reality he didn't have hope she would be home by today - he had started losing hope of ever holding her again. The tickets were his way of getting through that day. And now here she was, next time him, healing every day and he could not love her more if he tried.
Tony leaned over and kissed her neck, she tilted her head and her cheek touched his and she laughed. It was the sweetest sound. Tony then sat back held her hand and was shocked and appalled to learn that none of them - not even Gibbs - had ever seen Arsenic and Old Lace. As the play progressed they'd all laughed and enjoyed it immensely but when the Egads, there's another one line was delivered; Ziva laughed so hard she had to bury her face in Tony's chest. Everyone noticed her uncontrollable laughter and it became contagious; so much so that even Gibbs broke out in a fit of laughs. By the end of that act - they all needed to wipe their eyes. Once the play was over they all stayed in their seats until the theatre was mostly empty so they could get Ziva to her wheelchair without hassle. While they waited Tony told them about the first time he watched the movie with Ziva and how afterwards they talked, admittedly inappropriately, about odd places they'd found bodies and they spent the next fifteen minutes coming up with construction pillars, smashed cars, barrels, and delivery crates. The last one sparked another round of laughs when they realized Ducky's offering was their doing.
Tony lifted Ziva up with ease as Abby brought back the wheelchair. "I'm starved," Abby declared.
"I thought everyone would be so I made reservations at Napoleon's Guest House," Tony announced.
"Oh cool," McGee said, "I've wanted to try that place."
"Yeah," Tony nodded as he faced McGee with Ziva in his arms. "Me too. Everything is supposed to be smothered in cheese."
"Sounds healthy," Ziva chuckled.
"Says the woman who will so order the Mac and Gruyere Cheese!" Tony teased.
"Mac and Cheese made with Gruyere?" Ziva's eyes widened. "Really? That sounds delicious!"
"She's a sucker for Gruyere cheese anything," Tony pecked her lips.
"Tony," Ziva smiled at him.
"Yes?"
"Chair down there," Ziva pointed to the wheelchair.
"Oh, right," Tony set her down and smiled up at everyone, "I kinda like her in my arms," he shrugged and went to push her.
Ziva had already started to wheel herself but Tony wanted to push so he took over. He sped her up the long inclined walkway and weaved past a passing patron then waited for the others to catch up. "I've been taking driving lessons from Ziva," he announced when they reached him.
One of the ushers rushed up to them and held the door open with a smile. They exited into the cool evening air, people were still milling about waiting on taxis or cars. Gibbs said to give him the keys that he'd go get the car and bring it up front and McGee told Abby to wait and he'd bring his car around as well. But before either Gibbs or McGee were able to walk two steps away they heard a loud whoosh followed by the familiar thud of body hitting street. A few seconds later a nearby woman started to scream and Tony, Gibbs and McGee all pulled out their weapons. Ziva slipped her hand to her weapon under her seat but waited to see what the situation was before revealing lady in wheelchair had a gun. Tony nodded to her then looked up to the roof of the theatre before he pushed Ziva farther away from it in case there were any more surprises due to land on their heads. Ziva rolled closer to the body then looked back at Tony and the others, stunned.
In front of her was the mangled corpse of EJ Barrett.
Author's Note: And I managed to squeeze out the chapter! Please do make a writer smile today and leave a review! Hugs to all!