NCIS ~ I Will Love You Thru Everything

part 32

The next morning, Gibbs got to Abby's lab before she did. She hadn't seen any of the photos taken of her and he wanted to be there to explain them so she didn't just have to examine hundreds of photos of herself wothoit explanation. They were still trying to figure out the connection to Abby.

Abby skipped into her lab, then stopped when she saw Gibbs. "Umm..what are you doing down here?" Gibbs took her arm gently. "Need to introduce you to the evidence, Abs..its a little weird." He pushed her forward til she saw the photos. He had purposely stuck the nude photos of her on the bottom of the stack, so no one but her needed to see them. Abby's mouth opened. Her eyes were wide with shock as she lightly touched the photos. "What...Gibbs..what happened.." Gibbs took in her pale, stunned face and gently told her, "We don't know yet, Abs. But this is why Ziva was taken. They needed information about you." Abby looked horrified. "Does this have something to do with the chemical poisoning?" Gibbs looked grim. "We believe so. Abby, pull up the case file called 'Rodeo' and tell me how much of it was your work. I need details, and specific ones." Abby typed for a few seconds and the file apeared onscreen. She scanned it quickly. "I did almost all of these tests, Gibbs. It was a project I did almost as soon as I was hired at NCIS." Gibbs nodded, his look telling her to go on. "We did medical testing on test subjects, but one man had a reaction to one of the tests...he passed away, and the project was terminated." She looked sad at the memory. Gibbs chewed his lip in thought. "The man that died - pull up his autopsy report, and personal files." After a few minutes of searching, several folders popped up on the screen. Gibbs pointed to the file that would take them to the family, will, and testimony. "Did he have any brothers?" he asked. Abby nodded. Without even looking, she answered, "He had two brothers. Lenz and Carlos." Gibbs gave Abby a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Abs. Be safe - I'll send McGee down here." he quickly ran up the stairs back to the bullpen.

After Tony got the info from Gibbs, he quickly compiled reports and facts on last known whereabouts of Carlos. He was a huge crimelord, and Lenz had been his right hand man. HAD being the key word.

He checked his watch. Another half hour, and he could go see Ziva. He quickly pulled out his phone and texted her, I'll see you in a little bit Zi! Never forget I love you. He sent it, and stuck his phone back in his pocket. Gibbs was looking impatiently at him, with eyebrows raised. "Sorry, boss. Just..family stuff." He alologized.

Ziva was laying in the bed, staring at the ceiling. Suddenly her phone vibrated. She stretched her hand out and grabbed it, hoping Tony might be calling. A box popped up with a message from Tony. She read it with a smile. Ziva's heart filled with emotions. Thoughts of Tony drifted thru her head. Memories and laughs, the few passionate moments they stole when they could get away with it, Tony's beautiful eyes looking deep into hers. Am I in love? she wondered. She knew she loved Tony, but there was a difference between loving someone, and being in love. Her thoughts whirled with decisions.

Tony brought two cartons of Chinese food with him to the hospital. When he entered the room, Ziva was receiving an IV injection. Her bandages on her neck were also being changed. Ziva's eyes were closed in pain, and a tear was rolling down her cheek. Her fist was gripping the blanket tightly. He stepped back behind the curtain, his heart hurting. When the nurse finally vacated, he stepped back around by her bed. "You alright now, honey?" he asked, his concerned eyes focused on her neck. Ziva nodded, her tears gone. "It only hurts when she's touching it," she explained. Her gaze fell on the cartons in tTony's hands. "Please tell me one of those is mine," she pleaded. Tony was secretly amused. "Yep," he said teasingly and set it down beside him. "But you don't get it unless I get a kiss," he teased her. Ziva's eyes turned mischievous. "Bring it," she ordered playfully. She lifted her head slightly towards him, and their lips met. Being careful not to touch her bandages or grip her head to tightly, Tony caressed her. Ziva's breathing quickened. "Tony," she got out in between kisses, "I need to tell you something,".

Tony kept kissing her. "Mm?" he murmered. His hand slipped from her face, and held her hand. His eyes were closed.

Ziva kissed him for a few more minutes, then they gently broke apart. She lay back on the pillow, her eyes looking straight into Tony's. His face was still only inches from hers. "I...I love you, Tony. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.." She stopped, because she was about to cry. Oddly enough, she felt exhilarated that she had finally told him. Tony's eyes were closed, and his face was frozen. Suddenly he breathed and his eyes opened. They looked at each other, Tony's eyes filled with love. "I love you more than anything, Zi..and to know that you feel this way too.." his breath caught.

He couldn't speak any more. More than anything, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her to him but he knew this would hurt her. Ziva kissed him gently, then admitted, "I wish it wouldn't hurt for you to hold me.." Her gaze was wistful. Tony touched her face. "Soon.." he promised. "The moment those ribs are healed.." he let his promise linger, leaving Ziva to imagine what would happen as soon as her ribs were healed. She blushed at her thoughts.

                            ~

Abby was beyond horrified. She stared silently at the photos on the bottom of the pile. They were shots of her..showering, changing,.and sleeping. Naked. She quickly flipped them over so McGee wouldn't see them. Abby knew she was about to cry, so she quickly went back to the back lab room and slid the door shut. Once inside, she sobbed quietly. To know that someone had been watching her that closely, and that someone had invaded something that she'd intended only for her husband to see someday, was an awful, unspeakable feeling. She cried quietly, tears staining her sleeve. "Abby?" McGee's voice sounded outside the door. He opened it and saw her crying. Rushing in, he gently held her hand and asked what happened. She explained through tears. McGee didn't even realize that Abby felt the way about him that he did about her. They had both kept it a secret from each other, too frightened to admit it. It was destined to stay this way for now...

Tony's lunch break was over too quickly. Regretfully, he had to leave Ziva, promising to come back that night. After he left, Ziva relaxed back into the pillow. She was so tired...Dreams of Tony soon took over.

Thank u so much for 1.7k! Commeny if you liked this  or have any ideas what should happen soon!