Still Alive

" Oh no Tony when a person dies some times gases need to be released from the body and the only way they can escape is from well the sphincter or the mouth."

"Uh." Tony didn't really know what to say to that.

" I remember when I was in college a professor told me that back in the middle ages people would be 'freaked' out by the bodies they dug back up because they had found fresh blood around the mouth and a groaning noise was coming from the dead body. Back in those day's you see people were superstitious so they thought the body was a vampire so they would shove a wooden stake through the heart and cut of the head. Poor bodies." He concluded.

On the other side of the phone line Tony was kind of nervous now. All the information Ducky had just told him kind of creeped him out, any other time would not have. But in the right circumstance anything can creep anyone out. When Ducky was done talking Tony finally got the Que to speak. " So it is normal? Can I talk to Gibbs if he is around?" He asked.

" I am sorry Tony you just missed him he is off going to talk to someone that is related to the case." Ducky stated.

"Well I will just head back into the car and try to call him, thanks Ducky." With that he hung up the phone and looked over to Ziva. "Well...Ziva he said it was normal. But I don't by it I want to check but how do you check?" He asked.

"You check there pulse." She said rolling her eyes. How did he pass the first aid test that is required every year. How in the hell could he possibly make it passed the first question if he didn't even know how to check apulse. Oh well time will tell.

" Oh yeah that's right. Well here goes" Tony walked over to the dodge Charger he opened the door and leaned against the opening. He began to dial the phone number for Gibbs. Gibbs answered almost instantaneously.

"Yeah?"

"Uh I think you should come with Ducky when you get the chance. This is a little weird." He stated. He felt bad for ordering around everyone today but it was the only way to get it through people's head, sometimes at least.

" I know you're partner told me already."

"She did? How" It then hit him, he looked over to see her on the phone walking back and forth. " Oh Boss is she on the other line?" He asked.

"..."

Tony pulled the phone away from him to see that the call ended, he glanced up to Ziva to see her begin to talk. He hated it when he did that but Tony of all people knew Gibbs was the boss and the boss ruled theNCIS world. He sighed heavily and shut the Chargers door. He walked back over to where Ziva stood and she turned around at almost perfect timing. She squinted her eyes a bit in confusion and asked him " What's wrong?"

"I was the one on the-" He stopped in mid-sentence because he knew she was just trying to be helpful. He let his head sink down and he went into thought.

"You were the one on the?" she asked in curiosity.

" PLANK! I was scared for my life back there?" He questioned.

She was in total confusion now, but she just rolled her eyes and said " Oh OK, well I called Gibbs and he said he would be out as soon as he could. So you maybe want to go grab something to eat? I saw a restaurant down the road."

"Sure as long as it isn't just salad I don't mind!."

When they arrived the two sat down across from one another. Tony leaned into her and whispered" I hope you aren't tricking me to hate Mediterranean food." He said nervously.

"Tony! Its part of your culture. You should know what I ordered you. Hummus with pita bread and grilled red peppers with steak?"

" Why would I know that?"

"Because Mediterranean food is a mix of Italian, Greek, Arabic and so much more."

" Well I know Italian if that means anything." He said shrugging. " So you think I will like this dish?" He asked

She grinned and leaned forward, letting her elbows press against the table she whispered. " You will love it." She smiled.

When the two finished the meal, he looked up and grinned " I think you win! That was amazing! I should have never doubted you."

" That's right I have never cooked for you. Well I guess that will change soon." She smiled enviously.

He smiled nervously and bit his lower lip, he looked down at his plate and looked back up. He wasn't going to lie she was attractive, smart, strong and witty. She was wellZiva, and Ziva was amazing. But so was Kate...Kate was his partner. Kate's smile filled his mind and her lecture look made him smile. He glanced back up at her and saw Ziva. His face changed and he removed the napkin from his lap, the thing was, he still thought of Kate. But they had never kissed, touched, well...much at all. They had only been co-workers and maybe best friends. He remembered when he was dying or so called dying in that blue lit room. She stayed even when she wasn't infected. He looked up toZiva, Ziva was his new partner now. That was that. Kate was gone.

"Tony are you OK?" she asked worried.

"Oh yeah I was thinking of someone."

"Jeanne?"

Oh why of all people did she have to bring her up now. " No I was thinking of Kate" he glanced up at her, she looked a little upset."but no, no , no not like that. I mean god this brings back memories."

"Phone sex?" she laughed.

He joined in " I miss her Ziva more or less like a sister though...again not like that!" he smiled " But Jeanne I miss as well. More or less because I had to lie to her or I would have been fired." He looked back up atZiva." But I am moving on now."

Her lips pressed together and she closed her eyes slowly. Holding them tightly together, she then looked up " So am I"

In the end they both were very closely alike. He reminded her of Rivkin, and She reminded him of well Kate and Jeanne. But her smile made him happy, and apparently she made him happy considering he risked his life for and wasted 3 in a half weeks trying to find a replacement exactly like her.

"Ziva I can't wait to try your cooking. McGee has one ahead of me. So I will be even.OoOoh wait just a minute. He actually has 2 against me...you think he is more attractive." He grinned and began to stand up. He pulled 35 dollars out of his pocket and set it at the edge of the table.

"Tony that is a big, big tip!?" She exclaimed.

"I know, a girl needs to make a living some how. I was a bartender for 2 years in college...well the academy. It was a tough life on the weekdays." He said turning away to leave.

Her mouth fell a gawk she was amazed that he actually did that. She stood up as well, " Why did you pay for me? I have 10 dollars."

"Because I am the man, and the man always buys the food." He grinned opening the door for her, ziva took it and stepped out walking ahead of him. The two figured the others would be close. Tony drove back to the morgue and was surprised when the team was waiting for them.

"Gibbs drove." McGee stated.

"Ouch. If it makes you feel better it was my idea." Tony said.

"You went to Mediterranean, Tony?" He asked.

Ziva laughed " He tried to cover for me but it was me. I was getting a bit woozy I was hungry sorry Gibbs." She said looking guilty at the floor.

" A girls gotta eat." He smiled his fox smile he turned to the Ducky. " So you ready?" He asked.

Tony lead the way down to the Morgue, it was still cold and it felt like it actually had changed a bit. But he couldn't place his finger on how or why it was different. He began to walk step by step, closer and closer to the lab. He heard the groan again, but this time it sounded more alive. Ducky began to explain how real sometimes they sound. But Tony told him something was not right. He hit the light switch of the morgue and showed Ducky where the young girl was. Ducky was surprised Tony had any doubts considering the girls skin was pale, and almost shriveled. He looked up at Tony with questioning eyes.

"Ducky just don't stab her. OK? Take her temperature as if she were alive." He stated.

"Ok, for you I will. Should I take her-

"Pulse yeah. I suck at doing it."

"Well show me how you do it." Ducky questioned.

Ziva walked over to Gibbs and asked if she could talk to him later. He agreed and looked back up when Ducky began to laugh. " Silly goose you are checking her pulse with your pulse too! You never check someones pulse with your thumb!"

Gibbs smiled and looked back at Ziva " Do you think we have a case?"

"Yes frankly I do." She spoke with confidence.

"What proof?" Gibbs asked.

"My gut Agent Gibbs." She stepped forth towards him.

Ducky began to test the female for life, but didn't find what he expected. This girl...was Alive. She had a pulse that was almost non existant. Almost as low as a bear in the winter. There body slows down so they keep all the heat inside of them. He checked her bloodpressure...not good at all but she was alive. Ducky walked over to Gibbs " She is alive."

"How?" McGee asked shocked.

" I sense in my professional opinion it was an herb that was given to her." He said waving his finger around.

"No herb is that strong." Ziva spoke.

" Never was there a story of more woe than thus of Romeo and his Juliette." Ducky smiled taking off his glasses. " Any ways "When presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse ,Shall keep his native progress, but surcease warmth, no breath, shall testify
thou livest ." He turned around towards the group.

"Its the accent that kept me listening." Tony spoke with surprise.

"MANDRAKE! is an Anastasic." McGee shouted happily " Someone has been giving her Mandrake. But isn't that poisonous."

"If not given correctly. Yes." Ducky moved the girls arm back to were it should have been.

"Well lets take her out, then."Gibbs said trying to get everyone to move.