Abby couldn't believe that she was alive. As life went on as normal around the office, Ducky and her stood motionless; destined to remain in those exact positions until they heard what they were waiting for.

In the elevator, the sudden lurching as the steel box transported them between floors began to play with Ziva's balance. For months she was trapped; destined to die. And now, ever so suddenly, she was in an elevator, in the States, with the people whom she had tried to protect. She swayed briefly. A ding sounded as the cart stopped. Doors slid open and she was greeted by light.

Bright lights and the low hum of technology.

Gibbs was the first to exit, holding Abby's hand for a moment as he passed her. With a little prompting, the tired Israeli took her first steps back onto Earth and into the arms of a friend.

She felt the pressure that resulted from the squeeze that she was being given, but she was numb. It was the best she could do to just allow the moment to take place. All of this was too surreal for her. For months, she had resigned herself to the fact that she would die in Somalia.

But, somehow, she hadn't.

She still wasn't sure if that in itself was a blessing, or a burden.

A/N: I don't really know where this came from but let me know what you think…