Chapter 1

This chapter is one hit right after the other. I had to write it like that to get on with the other scenes in this story I have planned. For that I need to get all of this out of the way. Please keep in mind I am not a medical expert, everything I know I got from google.

Also just pretend all the conversations that take place from now on containing Ziva are in Hebrew.

Chaos. Where the street had once been busy but peaceful that had all been over in a split second when chaos descended up it. Shouting, shooting. Liat had franticly looked around her, as she pulled her own gun out, for Ziva. Not being able to get a clear shot she kept looking for Ziva and for cover. It was then that she spotted Ziva. As if carried by the wind she crossed the street Liat seeing her push a girl out of the way for the worst of it. But being too late to safe herself.

The cars sped off leaving the chaos they started in their wake.

"Ziva!"

The moments it took Liat to reach where Ziva had landed seemed to stretch endlessly. When she finally reached the place her friend was the girl she had pushed out of the way had also reached her. Looking white as a sheet. When she got a closer look at Ziva she understood why.
Ziva's body scarily still, blood slowly pooling out of her. Kneeling on the glass and debris scattered around them Liat felt for a pulse fearing the worst, but sighing with relief when she felt it. Calling 101 as fast as she could.
Giving off all the relevant information as soon as someone picked up. Making sure to give her Mossad identification code and Ziva's. Knowing ambulances were most likely already on their way. Also knowing that if Ziva wasn't taken to the hospital quick that relief she had felt would turn into grief.

After informing Director David's secretary of everything that had happened over the phone Liat took her place in the waiting room of Sheba Medical Center. After two hours of waiting finally a doctor showed. Normally she would not have gotten any information, being friends did not constitute the right relations to get medical information. Being the Mossad officer who called it in and saying she was there on behalf of Eli David Director of Mossad , did give her some pull however. After confirming she was there for Ziva and introducing himself as Ran Barzel MD the doctor quickly spoke to her.

"Miss David's injuries were severe. More severe than we initially thought. She almost crashed when we got her in the operating room. After we stabilized her we could focus on the bleeding. It appeared she was hit by quite a bit of debris, maybe a stray bullet. We did however get that fixed and it will be okay. After, we continued our preliminary examination, I highly suspect Miss David having a vertebrae fracture form being hit by the car. Right now they are taking her to get her spinal cord x-rayed. I waited with this until after we could give her a blood transfusion and the first dose of antibiotics to give her body as much strength as we can. Once I get the x-ray results I'll be moving straight into the OR"

Liat silently, took it all in. The superficial wounds didn't worry her as much anymore. Both her and Ziva being in Mossad have had to both deal with their fair share of battle wounds and healing time. The X-ray had her worried, she had lost friends from having a broken spine and dying from internal bleeding. Forcing herself not to continue with that line of thinking she looked the doctor in the eye again.

"Doctor Barzel, what are her chances?" She needed to know, Ziva had to be okay.

"At this moment I cannot tell you that Miss Tuvia. All I can say at this moment is that Miss David's body has sustained a lot of trauma, how severe and what her chances at complete recovery will be I can only guess at." He looked Liat up and down. Seeing despite the strong front she put up that the young Mossad agent in front of him was worried. Maybe she was there for more reasons than just on behalf of the director of Mossad. "I take it you will be waiting?"

"Yes"

"Very well, I have to get back to the operating room. I'll have a nurse come get you after we are finished. "

With that the doctor returned to where he had come from and she sank back into the plastic chair she had occupied before. Closing her eyes and sending silent prayers up for Ziva to be okay. To come out of this and be fine.

It seemed like an eternity before she heard footsteps coming closer again. All the time spent waiting Liat hadn't dared to look at the clock. Fearing that if she saw the time pass the chances of Ziva getting out of this alright got smaller and smaller. Looking up she now saw a nurse before her. The nurse spoke kindly to her and took her through the halls of the hospital. They ended up in another wing and level. After opening the door for Liat and letting her in the nurse left. Already focused on the doctor before her Liat forgot to say any form of thanks or goodbye to the nurse.

Doctor Barzel immediately went on with explaining what they had done, knowing that the young woman before him was probably anxious enough as it was.

"After I got the x-rays of Miss David back I concluded that she has sustained severe trauma to her spinal cord. Namely to the lumbar region" He put up the x-ray to show Liat. "There is a fracture in her L3 vertebrae and possible contusion in L2, L1 and T12. There is also a lot of swelling from T11 down to L5. We have started treatment with corticosteroids to get the swelling down as fast as we can. Tomorrow we will take her for another x-ray and ct scan to see if the treatment it working. For now we have to wait"

"Isn't there anything ells to be done right now?" Liat asked the doctor.

"Not right now, with the swelling present it's too unpredictable what the fracture and contusions will do. If we try for more drastic interventions right now we could make things worse. If the swelling goes down enough we will then continue on with fitting Miss David into a brace to keep her spine well aligned for the healing process or if needed operate on her to make sure the vertebrae will heal well."

"Does this mean she will be paralyzed?" Almost afraid to ask but needing to know.

"Right now we can't make that determination. She came to us unconscious and until she is awake and coherent again we won't know, but yes, there is a chance she will be paralyzed." After a moment of silence "Come with me. I will take you to her"

Swiftly the two make it down the hall where the doctor stopped in front of an opened door. "I do have to warn you, we intubated Miss David and are keeping her sedated at the moment. Her body will need all the strength we can give it. That is why we also put her on another blood transfusion. Please be careful with touching her. Right now with the corticosteroids working we don't want her moved at all. The nurse will come and tell you when visiting hours are coming to an end."

Turning away from the room, facing the doctor she spoke "I won't be leaving. Director David gave orders to stay with his daughter."

Doctor Barzel doubted that Liat had spoken the truth. He had not thought about it while Miss David had been on the operating table but he did when he waited for the nurse to bring Miss Tuvia up. Looking through the medical file he had found out that the director of Mossad was his patients father. Eli David was known as a strict and strong man, ruthless when it came to his position. Ran having heard the stories from former patients working with the man and a family member in Mossad. He had his doubts if Miss Tuvia really had gotten orders to stay or just to get information. Sensing he would not be able to remove her from the room he gave her a short nod. "Very well. I'll let Miriam know to bring you some dinner. I will speak with you tomorrow."

With that doctor Barzel left and Liat was left in the doorway of Ziva's room. Hesitantly she put one foot in front of the other and walked in. The sight that greeted her send a flash of shock deep through Liat. Never before had she seen Ziva lay that still. Glad at having been warned about all the tubes coming from seemingly everywhere in Ziva's body. That paired with the scratches and dried up blood that were visible on her face and arms.

Pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting down in it Liat lay her hand softly on Ziva's in the bed. Afraid to take Ziva's hand in her own of fear of moving her to much, at the same time needing to feel her friend beside her. Once again she closed her eyes.

Having already been woken by her internal alarm clock Liat only had to wait a handful of minutes before Nurse Miriam came in.

"Morning"

"Morning" Liat mumbled back. Capable of sleeping anywhere even a hospital chair did not mean she felt completely rested after the night that she had. After getting diner the night before, brought to her by the kind nurse who also replaced the corticosteroids for a new batch, Liat called to Director David's secretary. Updating her that there was really no news, the night had to pass before they would know more. The secretary had assured Liat she would inform the director asked her to please keep her informed and being sure to tell her that she would pray for a swift recovery for Ziva. Having met her a handful of times in her years of serving as Eli David's secretary.

"I will be taking her to get the scans necessary. After can I bring you some breakfast?"
"No thank you I will quickly go home and change. I will be back"

Sending a kind smile to the nurse she whispered her goodbye to Ziva before leaving.

Just in time to see Ziva being rolled in again Liat arrived back in the hospital room. With it came also doctor Barzel.

"Ah miss Tuvia, good to see you. I am happy to tell you that the corticosteroid treatment worked. The swelling in miss David's spine is almost completely down. The fracture of the L3 vertebrae didn't worsen and the contusion was only in L2 and slightly in L1 further than that I think we are in the clear. The corticosteroid treatment will continue the rest of the day to make sure the swelling can completely go down. doesn't come back. Tomorrow morning she will get a last round of scans to double check, after that specialist will come to fit her into a spinal brace to keep everything straight while healing, further surgery is not needed. For now we'll keep he stable with pillows and pads. "

A sigh of relief passed her lips. Good news, things had not gotten worse. They were looking up.

"Once the treatment has finished and she is in her brace we will also change the sedation to pain medicine to get her to wake up"

"Thank you doctor, for your care"

The doctor left again after jolting down a couple more things in Ziva's file. Deciding to update Ziva's father after the treatment had ended and she was fitted for the brace Liat took out a book she'd brought for home and settled back in.

In the morning the scans had gone well. The swelling was comepletly gone and it was time for the specialist to fit the brace. As the specialist were moving and measuring Ziva everything went wrong. It seemed as if all hell broke loose. Suddenly an alarm went off on one of Ziva's many monitors. Nurses closely followed by doctor Barzel rushed into the room. They spoke quick with the specialist after which an order was given and Ziva was rolled out of the room.

Shocked she stood suddenly all alone in the room. How long she stood there motionless she could not say until Miriam entered the room.

"Please sit down" the nurse spoke kindly to Liat.

"No. You tell me right now what happened!" she demanded.

"Ziva's blood pressure and heart rate suddenly spiked after she was moved. That was the cause of the alarm. Doctor Barzel fears she started to bleed internally. And the jostling of the last few days with the scans caused it. He did not want to lose any time that is why she was rushed to the OR again. They are operation on her now. That is all I know for now."

That was it Liat's worse fears come true. Ziva was bleeding out, she was losing her closest friend. Ever since they were young Ziva had been her only real friend. Being there for her when her father got in one of his drunken states again and home was no longer safe. She always had a safe place with Ziva. They had grown up together, Liat by her side when Ziva lost her mother and her sister. Ziva by her side when finally, a day before she turned 18 and would go into the IDF, her mother snapped and killed her father for all of the abuse he had put on them for far too long.
While they had drifted apart some, first by separate missions for weeks or months on end by Mossad, then Ziva's transfer to the American agency, there would always be a place in her heart for Ziva. Having thought they finally had a chance to reconnect and then having it snatched away was something Liat did not want to face.

It had barley been a week in his cramped room onboard the ship. Already it was driving him crazy. Even though the top deck was always busy and loud he made it a point from day one to breath in the sea air at least two times a day. If he did not at least see the sky a couple of times a day he would go crazy. Looking forward to two weeks from now, when they would dock for the first time. He chuckled to himself Ziva would defiantly have something to say about his restlessness. With every time his mind went to Ziva he got a little lost in thought. He had not yet heard anything from her. No email. While she told him contact would most likely be sparse, she had promised to contact him. Tony suspected there something being wrong with his email this far out at sea. He had mailed Abby, McGee, even director Vance to send his first report, but no responds so far.

He had already gone to the bridge and ask one of the techies to help him out. They all claiming no time. While his senior field agent status helped him along plenty of times within the walls of NCIS, on this ship he'd had no luck. A little annoyed he closed his laptop again to look at his notes next to him. The first incident had occurred since he'd been stationed there. Better keep his focus on that instead of the people he, for now, could not talk to.

Not until the sun was setting was Liat spoken to again. Miriam had taken her out of the room when the other nurses were situating Ziva again. Together with doctor Barzel another doctor stood next to him. Introducing herself as "Liana Raviv"

Doctor Barzel spoke first. "After Miriam updated you last there have been some changes. What I initially thought was an internal bleeding did not turn out to be one. We took some x-rays again when we could not find the cause of the distress. That is where doctor Raviv came in the picture"

Doctor Raviv took over. "We discovered that miss David also has a pelvic fracture. It was probably hiding as a hairline fracture that broke under the pressure of her being moved around the last two days. Because this hospital specializes in a lot there luckily wasn't any time lost. Pelvic fractures can be extremely unpredictable. I was able to fixate her pelvis with what we call an external fixator. Simply because there is not enough room inside. It will help keep the bone stabilized so they'll heal in the right place. Healing a pelvic fracture usually takes anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. Once the bones have started to heal enough she is free to move and put weight on the fixator even before it is taken out again, that is what it's build for."

It was a lot of information to take in but doctor Raviv was not done yet. "That together with the spinal brace will inhibit her movements some at the start. But our first priority now is getting her started on healing not on mobility. I specialize in pelvic and spinal injuries that is why as of now I will be taken over the care for miss David from doctor Barzel. Come with me" She said as she led Liat into Ziva's room.

"I know it can be quite a shock to see a loved one with the external fixator. It looks more gruesome than it is. We keep the area uncovered to closely monitor for any infection."

It was then that Liat noticed something off and it was not the titanium frame protruding from her friends body. "Why is her heart rate off?"

With sorrow in her eyes doctor Raviv replied "All the trauma miss David has gone through has taken its toll on her body. While prepping to place the external fixator we could not get her heart rate and pain signals under control. We thought it best to induce a medical coma to take some stress of off her heart. Her body needs time to heal. If she were to wake now she would be in extreme amounts of pain. Pain for which no medication would truly help. This way we can take the worst of the healing process away from her. Bring her around when we see signs of it getting better. Miss David has a long road of recovery ahead of her"

"Ziva. She hates being called miss."

"Ziva has a long road to recovery ahead of her" Liana corrected herself. "I hope that in a weeks' time we can lighten the sedation we are using now. And in two weeks take her off of them completely to wake her up."

"But she can recover right?" Feeling as that little girl again scared and afraid asking Ziva if things would be okay if she got back home.

"We will help her recover as best as we can. A big part of it will be up to Ziva herself."

"Recover completely? Doctor Barzel said..."

"Yes, he told me you asked. While we cannot know for certain before Ziva wakes up there is a very high chance she will be paralyzed from the point of her injury down. How severe we have to wait and see."

Wanting to stay with Ziva right now was not an option, director David needed to be updated. And it could not be done through his secretary this needed to happen face to face. Everyone knew that the director did not go home until late in the evening so even though it was already dark Liat make her way through the hallways and in front of the director's office. His secretary had left for the day but there was still light coming from underneath the door. Taking a breath before knocking and entering when given permission.

"Officer Tuvia. Why are you here?" Eli asked her once she was inside and closed the door. He knew that she had been staying in the hospital where his last remaining daughter now lay. A hopefully minor setback. There were a lot of plans, missions that needed Ziva's attention.

"I come with news about Ziva sir." Was all she said in the form of an intro before explaining everything to Ziva's father that the doctors had told her. When she was finished he did not respond immediately. Slowly taking his reading glasses off.

"Very well then. Thank you for the update officer. That reminds me here." he looked around his desk and gave Liat a file when he found it. "I wanted to wait until tomorrow but since you are here now. These are your new orders. Your unit is send out on another mission tomorrow 6 o'clock"

"But sir what about Ziva?" it left her mouth before she could truly think to whom she was speaking.

"You best not be late" was all Eli replied with and with that dismissing her.

Knowing there was no arguing with her boss Liat left his office file underneath his arm. Orders were orders you had to follow them.

She went home and packed for her mission, reading over the file and preparing as best as she could. Very early, barley morning she dropped by the hospital.

"I am sorry Ziva. I have to go. You rest and heal, I will be back" with worry in her heart Liat left Ziva behind. Stopping at the nurses' station quickly to inform Miriam she would not be around for a while. Telling her where to contact if there were updates on Ziva's status.

"I will look out for her, don't you worry dear" was all Miriam said before Liat left.

AN: sorry?