NCIS ~ I Will Love You Thru Everything

chapt 29

Bang!!! The shot rang out and Lenz crumpled to the floor. Gibbs slowly exhaled and turned to Tony. Tony slowly lowered his smoking gun. Gibbs made his way to Lenz to confirm Tony's shot, while Tony quickly went to Ziva. She was held only by a single rope - why wasn't she moving? He stroked her face while she cried into his shoulder. "Tony, " she sobbed. "I can't move at all, except my head!" Alarmed, Tony pressed on her arms and legs. She didn't react. "The antidote was in his pocket - i think it shattered when he - when you - when he fell."she said quietly. Her tears were slowing, and she was calming. Gibbs came over to Ziva. "Come on, Ziver. I've got an ambulance waiting outside." He beckoned for her to get up. "Boss," said Tony, "She's paralyzed. She cannot move a thing except her head." Gibbs looked shocked. He then walked over to Ziva and knelt. "I'm sorry, Ziver. I was in such a hurry to get you out that I didn't check on you. Are you hurt in any extreme way, or just the paralysis?" He noticed the cuts on her neck, but not the ones on her legs and wrists because she was wearing long sleeves and jeans. Ziva lowered her head. "I am fairly certain my ribs are cracked, and I have still been coughing up blood.." she admitted. Gibbs nodded. He motioned Tony to help him and they lifted Ziva out of the chair. She cried out in pain when her side was touched, and almost screamed when Tony accidentally brushed the back of her head. They carried her to the ambulance, and Ziva was in tears because of the pain. Her neck had started to bleed again. Tony stepped aside to let the paramedics begin. He pulled Gibbs aside. "Boss..I'll ride with her to the hospital." he said firmly. Gibbs eyed him "Take it easy on her, Dinnozio. we still don't know exactly what was done to her."

Tony climbed into the ambulance as it went on its way. Ziva had been given morphine and was drifting in and out of consciousness. "Tony?" she murmered. "Thank you.."

Tony took her hand, even tho he knew she couldn't feel it. "I've got your hand, Zi, and I..I love you, Ziva David. i didn't know if I was going to see you again, to tell you how much you mean to me. " Ziva struggled to stay awake. She could barely form conscious thoughts..her mind was so tired. "Nurse...I am in love with Tony.."she mumbled. She slipped into unconsciousness, away from the pain for awhile.

Tony and Gibbs stood outside her hospital door. They weren't allowed in the room during the examination or the surgery, and the wait was killing them. The silence was loud and Gibbs kept looking at Tony as if he had something on his mind. "Boss?" Tony ventured." Something bothering you?" Gibbs turned and looked Tony in the eye. "Has she ever talked about Somalia to you? Because I sure as hell know that she would rather die than discuss it with me." Tony shook his head. I've never bothered to ask her, he thought to himself. Cursing himself for being so insensitive, he shook his head. "No, boss..Ziva likes to hold those things inside."

Gibbs looked troubled. "Thats my problem, Dinozzio. If something like that happened here, there's a possibility we'll never know. She might not ever tell us, and I would feel that I was invading her privacy if I ordered a rape kit done on her." Tony understood. "I'll speak with her..she'll talk to me about it."

Gibbs looked thoughtful. He glanced at Tony questioningly. "By the way, Dinnozio..anything going on between the two of you that I should know about?" Tony froze. His mind went blank of all the excuses and lies he had planned. Gibbs laughed. "I'm just messing with you, Dinnozio. You look like I just asked you to date a horse fly. Ziva's not that repulsive to you, is she?"

Tony shook his head. "No, but umm..she's not really my type though. " he lied.

Gibbs nodded. He looked like he was about to say something else, but a nurse aid came out with a paper. "Her injuries were extensive," she explained. "Two broken and cracked ribs, severe internal bleeding, slight bleeding on the brain...and there were some extreme cuts on her upper legs, wrists, and neck."

Gibbs snapped to attention. "There were cuts on her wrist?" he clarified. The nurse nodded. "There were several from the past days, but most were partially healed, at least a few weeks old, and many others completely healed. They look to be at least a few years old." Tony's mind was in a muddle. Ziva cut? How had he not noticed this?

Gibbs looked angry. "I'm going for a walk," he announced. Tony nodded; it would be nice to have a few moments to collect his thoughts.

A few minutes later, another nurse came out and told Tony the surgery was complete. He would be able to see her in a few minutes, although she wouldn't be out from under the morphine for at least a few more hours.

Thanks for reading! Did you like how this twist turned out? comment any tips or ideas :)