Maya nodded, eyes shining with empathy. "That's a good place to start."
The door to the room opened softly, and a nurse slipped in, checking the IV drip. She glanced at the two women, noticing the calm that had settled over them.
"Everything alright in here?" the nurse asked, voice warm.
Maya looked at Ziva, who gave a small, genuine smile. "We're good," Ziva replied, feeling a weight lift that she hadn't realized she was still carrying.
As the nurse left, Maya stood, stretching slightly. "I'll let you rest. Think you'll be up for a short walk tomorrow? Maybe a change of scenery?"
Ziva nodded, the idea of stepping beyond the hospital walls feeling oddly exciting. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Maya placed a hand on Ziva's shoulder, giving it a light, encouraging press. "We'll figure this out together. One step at a time."
She turned to leave, but paused at the door, looking back with a soft grin. "And hey—maybe we can brainstorm some new story ideas later. I've always wanted to write a thriller set in Lagos' tech scene."
Ziva laughed, a genuine, light sound that surprised even her. "You're on. I've got a few twists I've been holding onto."
Maya's eyes sparkled. "Can't wait to hear them."
As Maya wanted to leave, Ziva settled back into her pillows, the herbal tea's steam curling upward. The room felt less like a cage and more like a pause—a place to gather thoughts before stepping back into the world with a new perspective.
Stellan burst into the hospital room, his eyes scanning the space until he landed on Maya closing the door. For a moment, his mind froze — he hadn't expected to see Maya here, not like this, not with _her_. The surprise was so sharp it almost knocked the breath out of him.
Maya glanced up, her face softening instantly when she saw him. "Hey," she said, voice calm, as if his sudden appearance was something she'd already accounted for.
Stellan's lips curled into an easy smile, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey," he replied, stepping closer. "I… didn't know you were here."
Ziva shifted slightly, eyes flickering between the two of them. She could feel the tension in the room thicken, like the air before a storm, but also something else — curiosity, maybe, or a flicker of relief.
Maya gave a small, reassuring nod. "I came to check on her. We've been talking."
Stellan's smile widened, genuine this time, tinged with a hint of wonder. "You… you've been talking to Ziva?"
Maya chuckled softly. "Yeah. Turns out we have more in common than I thought."
Just then, the door swung open and Dr. Adebayo, Stellan's longtime physician, walked in, clipboard in hand. "Ah, Stellan! Good to see you up and about. Just the person I wanted to see. Are you still taking your meds? I need to update your chart."
Stellan blinked, the sudden shift pulling his attention away from the emotional undercurrents. "Uh, no, I stopped them a while back. Maya's been… keeping me safe." He glanced at Maya, a mix of gratitude and something softer in his eyes.
Dr. Adebayo raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Good to hear. You've been doing well, though. No signs of any...….?"
Stellan shook his head. "None. I guess I'm just… lucky."
Maya's smile deepened, a quiet pride blooming in her chest. "We make a good team," she said, voice low enough that only Stellan could hear.
Ziva watched the exchange, feeling a strange, unexpected warmth spreading through her. She'd expected jealousy, anger — maybe even a flare of old resentment — but what she got instead was something softer, a gentle easing of the knot that had been tightening around her heart for weeks.
Stellan turned back to Ziva, his smile now fully relaxed. "You look better," he said, genuine concern lacing his words. "How are you feeling?"
Ziva hesitated, then answered honestly. "I'm… okay. Still figuring some things out."
He nodded, the smile staying. "Take your time. We're all here for you."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that isn't empty but filled with unspoken understanding. Dr. Adebayo finished jotting notes, gave a quick, approving nod, and left, closing the door softly behind him.
Maya stood, stretching lightly. "I'll give you two a moment," she said, eyes flicking between Stellan and Ziva. "I'm just down the hall if you need anything."
As she slipped out, Stellan moved to the edge of Ziva's bed, sitting where Maya had just been. He looked at her, really looked, seeing the bruises not just on her skin but the ones she'd carried inside for so long.
"Ziva," he started, voice low, "I never meant for any of this to happen. I'm sorry."
Ziva's eyes met his, a flicker of something—perhaps forgiveness, perhaps just acceptance—passing between them. "It's… it's okay," she whispered. "I'm learning to let go."
Stellan smiled, a small, hopeful curve. "Good. Because I think we all deserve a chance to start over."
The moment lingered, a quiet promise hanging in the air, as the hospital lights dimmed slightly, casting a soft glow over the two of them — a scene of tentative peace in the middle of a storm that had been brewing for far too long. After the whole hospital scene.
Stellan lay back on his couch, the city lights filtering through the blinds, casting striped shadows across his face. He stared at the ceiling, replaying the hospital scene over and over in his mind—how Maya's hand had fit perfectly in his, how his skin tingled whenever they brushed, and how, whenever he tried to touch anyone else, his allergies flared up like a warning alarm.