Author's note: Hey all, glad you liked the last chapter. And here is another!

Ziva was unsteady on what she felt were her new legs but her happiness could barely be contained. She showered on her own this morning – standing under the spray instead of sitting in the damn chair or in Tony's arms. The only thing she missed was Tony's arms; then she managed to dress without stumbling backwards.

She kept to the master bedroom all morning practicing her walk and waited for Tony. Abby had come up and knocked on the door and Ziva quickly sat on the bed before answering her. When Abby poked her head in to ask if she was coming down to eat, Ziva told her her stomach was upset this morning and she would eat later. Abby had come in and asked if she wanted something for her tummy but Ziva told her it was nothing; she'd be down soon.

Ziva became impatient to hear from Tony – she didn't want anyone else to know first even though she thought that she should tell Ducky. But no, she wanted Tony to be the first to know. She wanted to share this with Tony first and foremost.

Then her cell rang and Ziva stumbled forward to retrieve it from the night stand. She sat back down on the bed and answered it, "Tony, where are you?"

"Morning, sweetcheeks," Tony's voice always seemed to soothe her, "I have some news."

"What?" Ziva asked already stressed, "Are you ok? Did something happen?"

"I'm fine, Ziva," Tony hesitated then said, "Gibbs and I have to leave town."

"Why? When?" Ziva asked.

"Now," Tony answered. "We got a call from Vance. Apparently Hoffman has been sighted in Los Angeles. Vance set it up for us to work with Special Operations out there. We're headed to the airport now."

"But," Ziva swallowed hard, "you need a bag, things. Why did you not come back?"

"We'll buy what we need out there," Tony said. "Sweetheart, we are going to be fine. I hear the worry in your voice."

"I do not want you confronting Hoffman," Ziva's voice elevated. "Why do you two have to go? Cannot special ops work this on their own?"

"Vance thinks having us there might flush Hoffman out sooner," Tony explained.

"Hoffman will think I am with you!" Ziva shouted into the cell, "Tony, he will come after you with a vengeance. He is completely in the delusion." She took a deep breath as tears welled in her eyes, "Tony, I should be with you."

"No, baby," Tony whispered. "Let me take care of this. McGee is staying there with you guys. He'll make sure you are ok."

"Tony," Ziva cried, "I…I love you."

"I'll call you from LA, Ninja," Tony said. "Get some rest. Don't take Flynn out too many times – you know I think that beast will steal you away from me."

"Be careful," Ziva said through her tears.

"I will." Tony hung up.

Ziva wiped the tears from her face, moved to her chair and left the bedroom. She went downstairs in the elevator and wheeled to the offices.

McGee was sitting at his desk and Abby was sitting on Gibbs' desk.

"It's going to be OK, Ziva," McGee said as he saw her come in.

"I need your help guys," Ziva stated. "I have an idea."

"What?" McGee said as Abby nodded. "What do you need, Ziva?"

Ziva pushed up her chair's footrests, planted her feet on the floor and used the armrests to stand up. Both McGee and Abby's jaws dropped.

"This happened this morning," Ziva said. "I try every morning but this morning I could stand. I was waiting for Tony to come home so I could show him first but…"

"Oh my God, Ziva," Abby shrieked. "This is wonderful!"

McGee stood and rounded his desk quickly, extended his hand just in case she needed him, "Ziva, what a sight."

"Guys," Ziva smiled at them, "I need to get strong quickly. We should be in LA with Gibbs and Tony, McGee."

"We need Ducky," McGee said, "Abby can you get him please."

"Yes, Yes," Abby said as she ran off.

"Ziva," McGee started. "This is great but there is no way you will be in any shape to take on Hoffman and I know that is what you are thinking!"

"I need to try, McGee," Ziva became unsteady on her legs and McGee took hold of her about the waist, "I am scared something will happen."

"Tony is with Gibbs, Gibbs won't let anything happen to him," McGee stated firmly.

"Hoffman took down really skilled people," Ziva said as she let McGee help her sit in her chair again. "I feel like I need to go to Tony, I feel like I should be there," she cried and McGee took her into an embrace. This last year somehow Ziva felt her emotions had gone out of whack as she cried into McGee's shoulder.

"My dear," Ducky said as he rushed in, "Are you in pain? Stand back, Timothy."

McGee pulled back as Ziva nodded then wiped her cheeks.

"I am fine, Ducky," Ziva's voice was shaky, full of worry.

"Abby tell me you stood up," Ducky said as he crouched in front of her.

Ziva nodded again then pushed herself up into a standing position, "Yes, I can stand now."

Ducky stood and looked at her, "Oh this is wonderful. I need to take you into town, have some x-rays done, perhaps an MRI. I want to make sure all is well."

"All right," Ziva said as Abby held her wheelchair. "No, I want to walk to the car."

"I don't want you to overdo it, Ziva," Ducky said.

"Ducky, I have been in a chair or a bed for so long I don't think I can overdo it," Ziva smiled at him. "Let me just walk to the car."

Ducky nodded and soon they were all at the hospital but everyone insisted she use her chair at least part of the day. Ziva relented but stood and walked when she could. The tests were done and the doctor said her synapses regenerated nicely. She should be in therapy and possibly running around in a matter of weeks.

The only thing Ziva heard was weeks. She needed it to be sooner.