Special Agent Punishment

Chapter Four

"Let's give them some privacy." Ducky spoke up after minutes of silence. The team except Gibbs left the room. Gibbs walked over the other side of Tony's bed and gave him a mini headslap on the head, causing Tony to look up at him.

"Be good to her, DiNozzo." He whispered. In return, Tony gave him a confused look. Not really knowing what was going on. He looked around the room and his eyes landed on his and Ziva's hands, how they were held. Why was she holding his hand? What was going on?

His head snapped to the door just as Gibbs was leaving and went to staring at the ceiling. Trying to figure out how he got to this point.

"What happened? He croaked. His voice was very low and husky, which sent a shiver down Ziva's down. This was not the time to be thinking about things like that. He needed her not her thoughts.

"We were at a crime scene. You were attacked and injected with an aggression steroid. The attacker knocked you unconscious. You have been here since." Her eyes refused to leave where his head lay. He looked like he just woke up, which technically, he did.

"They are finishing up with flushing it out of your system as we speak. You should be fine in a couple of days, maybe less." He looked at her with something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Anger? Sadness? Confusion? More than likely all of the above. He looked down at their hands again.

"Did we get the guy?"

"Not yet, we have been more focused on your well-being than catching him as of now. I do know that Gibbs, McGee, and Abby have been going back to the office to look for whoever it was." He nodded, taking that as a sufficient answer for the time being.

"How long have I been out?"

"Around 2 days. Not too long. But just enough time to where we missed your voice." He looked at her with wide eyes, trying to comprehend what she had just said.

"You missed me?" He still had a small amount of husk, but it was more mischievous and teasing now. Ziva rolled her eyes.

'Same old DiNozzo.'

"If I tell you yes, are you going to get cocky?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'll try not too." His voice was completely serious. Okay, she wasn't expecting that answer. The look in his face was dead serious, like he was making a life threatening decision, and with their job you never know.

"Then yes. I did miss you." She whispered, not quite sure if he heard her or not. By the look on his face, he heard her, loud and clear.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry, Tony? There is nothing to be sorry for." Her eyebrows clenched together, curious. He strengthened the grip on her hand.

"For putting all of you through something like this, again." He looked down at their hands, wishing not for the first time, that this happened on a regular basis.

"Well you are DiNozzo, we are kind of used to it now." She tried bringing humor and mischief back into the conversation, but she wasn't doing too good of a job. He finally looked her in the eye.

"I know. But I really hate doing this to you, to all of you." But especially you.

"I know. It is all part of the job, we must not dwell on it too much. It will only bring pain."

'I love you. I just want to tell you. It's eating me up inside.' He thought. Ziva could practically see the conversation going on in his head. She was practically thinking the same thing, yet neither of them knew it.

"You should get some rest, Tony. You have had a long day." She released his hand and started walking for the door to his room.

"Wait! You'll be back right?" She turned around, he looked so helpless, like a lost little boy.

"Always."