Chapter 1
Tony
I walked into Abby's lab, hoping to catch her before she left for the day.
"Hey Abbs, want to come over for dinner? Ziva and McGee are coming over. We were going to cook dinner and have a movie night." I asked, leaning against the cold metal table right inside the door.
"Um...no...thats ok. Thanks though. I already have plans." Abby said with a big grin on her face. She continued to bounce around cleaning up her lab and shutting down her machines for the day.
I smiled, "Ok, well have fun." I said, as I started to walk out of the lab, turning back I had a another thought. I just had this feeling that something wasn't quite right. I just needed to warn her to be careful. "Hey Abbs..."
"Yea?"
"Be safe, ok?"
"Yes, Tony, I will be safe. Its just a blind date!" Abby said rolling her eyes. "You're acting like an over protective big brother! I will be fine, ok? I will text you and let you know when I get home. Will that make you feel better?"
I just nodded and went back up to the squad room but I couldn't seem to shake the uneasy feeling that was growing in my stomach. I wasn't sure that Abby going on a blind date was the smartest idea. She was so trusting. I just didn't want anyone to take advantage of her. Did she even know the guy?
Gibbs
I knew something was up with Dinozzo as soon as he sat back down at his desk. He has been back up here all of five minutes and hasn't stopped squirming and he also hadn't gotten any work done. After he knocked his stapler off his desk for the third time in five minutes, I'd had enough.
"Dinozzo!" I said, getting his attention along with everyone else in the squad room. "With me." I said, as I headed towards the elevator. "Now!" I added when I realized that he hadn't moved.
Tony slid into the elevator as the doors were starting to close. I pressed the down button and then flipped the switch to bring the elevator to a stop.
"Boss? I didn't screw up, did I?" Tony asked confused.
"No, Dinozzo. Unless you want to confess to something I don't already know about." I took pity on him after a few seconds and added, "I'm kidding, Dinozzo. I just want to know what has you all distracted. You went down to Abby's lab and came back like something is wrong. Is everything ok?"
"Yea boss, I'm sure it's nothing." Dinozzo said, looking even less convincing than he sounded. I could tell he didn't believe that for a second.
"Dinozzo! What did Abby say?"
"I invited her over for movie night with Ziva, McGee, and I at my place tonight and she turned me down because she is going on a blind date. It just doesn't feel right, Boss. How can she just go out with a guy she hasn't met. Abby is trusting and she won't know if its a bad situation until its too late! Boss, I don't want to intrude, I mean its her life, but I don't think this is a smart idea. I mean what if this is Mawher all over again? Does she know someone who is vouching for this blind date guy or did she just meet a random guy online? Boss, what are we going to do?"
"We?" I said, giving Dinozzo a hard time. Very rarely does he get this worked up over the girls in our little family of a team. Not to mention over something that hadn't even happened yet. I almost laughed at the shocked look that crossed his face.
"You mean you're not concerned?" He practically yelled.
"Of course I am, Dinozzo. I was just giving you a hard time. Why don't you and Ziva double date with them? That way you two can take care of anything that might happen."
"So you're not going to tell her that she can't go?"
"Dinozzo, as much as I would like to do that. Abby is an adult and if I forbid her from going she will just sneak out and go anyway. Then I will have to spank her for disobeying me. And whether you believe it or not, Tony, I hate it when I have to punish any of you. So no, I can't just tell her she can't go."
"Ok Boss, I get it. Let me ask Ziva if she is game for a date to keep an eye on her."
"Make sure you clue in McGee so he knows what's going on. You never know when you might need his help."
"Alright, Boss." Tony said, as he flipped his cell phone open at the same time I set the elevator back in motion.
The doors opened to the bullpen and Tony was already halfway to his desk before I had stepped out of the elevator. I thought better of it and stepped back inside and hit the button for Abby's lab. I saw her shutting down the last of her machines as I walked in the door.
"Hey, Abbs." I said.
"Hey, Gibbs, what brings you down here?" She asked, clearly worried that there was a new case to foil her plans for the evening.
"I hear you have plans tonight." I said, trying to decide which route to take with this discussion.
Abby was furious. "I cannot believe him! Uhh, he is so annoying sometimes! I can't believe he went and tattled on me! Gibbs, please, it's just a date."
"Ok. So how do you know this guy? Have you hung out with him before?"
Abby started squirming under Gibbs' insightful stare. "We'll...not exactly...it's more of a blind date." Abby said, dropping her eyes to the floor. I knew at once that she knew exactly what I would have thought about this idea. She had clearly hoped that I wouldn't find out.
"So which of your friends is vouching for the character of the guy you are planning on spending the evening with?"
"We'll...umm...Gibbs! Please! I can take care of myself! It's just one date, what could go wrong? It's not like I gave him my address, we are meeting at the restaurant."
"I, of all people, Abigail, should not have to tell you what could go wrong."
Abby realizing the flaw in her argument, looked down and said, "So what...are you going to tell me I can't go?"
"Nope." I said.
Her eyes shot up to see if I was playing her along. "I want you to let Ziva and Tony double date with you. That way you have backup if something goes south."
"Gibbs! Please, I'm not a kid. It's just one date!"
"Abby." I said, raising my voice slightly for the first time.
"Fine! But they better be nice. I don't want Tony to go all macho big brother and run this guy off if he isn't a bad guy." Abby stomped her foot and crossed her arms across her chest. She was looking very much like the sullen teenager she was arguing that she was not.
"Abigail. You don't actually think Tony is doing this to be mean, do you? He really is worried about you Abbs. We just don't want anything to happen to you. We love you, Abby." I said as I pulled her into a hug. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you, Abbs." I added quietly, as I placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Fine." Abby resigned. "I'm going to find Ziva." She said as she stormed out of the lab.
Abby
I was furious with Tony as I took the stairs up to the bullpen. I can't believe he tattled on me. I would get him back, just wait. I walked over to his desk where him and Ziva were whispering.
"Hi, Abby." Ziva said, as she looked up to see me standing with my arms crossed.
"So I hear you two are crashing my date tonight." I said, not as nicely as I could have.
"Abby, please don't be mad, I'm just looking out for you." Tony said quietly.
Oh, I hate it when he does that. He knows I can't stay mad at him for long. "Uh! Fine. Ok, so just meet me at my house at 7." I said, before stomping away.
I made it to the elevator before I realized that McGee had followed me. "What do you want, Tim?" I asked, as I turned to face him once the elevator doors had closed.
"I just want you to know that we care about you, Abby. Tony was not trying to be mean. He just, well none if us want to see you get hurt."
I sighed. I knew he was right. "So what are you going to do, since movie night is a bust now?"
"Oh don't worry I will find something to do. Have a good time, Abby." He said, as the elevator doors slid open and he walked past me to head to his car.
I walked to my car, trying to sort out all that had happened in the past hour. Sometimes having all these people who cared about me wasn't so much fun when they were meddling in my business. I didn't want Tony and Ziva babysitting me all night! "Well I would show them." I said to myself. I looked at my watch, at least I still had plenty of time. It was only ten to six. I still had time to get ready and be long gone before Tony and Ziva were supposed to be at my house.
Tony
I pulled up in front of Ziva's apartment and called to tell her I was here. She slipped into the car and I had to force my eyes to turn away from her stunning body and back to the road. We pulled into Abby's driveway and I glanced at the clock on the dash. 6:49. I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I realized why when I knocked on the door and there was no answer. I tried to peek in the window and realized all the lights were off.
"I'm going to kill her!" I muttered, as I motioned for Ziva. "Come on, Ziva. She isn't here."
"What? Where is she, Tony?"
"Well, if I knew that I wouldn't be so upset, now would I?"
I got back in the car and called McGee. "Hey, trace her cell, McGeek, she isn't at home. Call me when you have her location." I snapped my phone shut as Ziva climbed in the car and shut the passenger door.
I flipped it open and hit speed dial for Gibbs. "Boss, she's gone. Her apartment is dark. I called McGee to trace her cell...beep...hold on, Boss, that's McGee." I switched over as Gibbs hung up.
"What do you got, Probie?"
"Her cell is off, Tony. I can't trace it."
"Wait, Abby said on a case a while back she could still trace a cell that was off as long as the battery hadn't been taken out."
"Yea, Tony, I know. Her phone can't be traced. They had to of taken the battery out. Call Gibbs."
"Yea, I'm on it." I ended the call and hit the speed dial for Gibbs once again.
"Gibbs"
"Boss, the battery has been taken out of her phone. It's turned off and McGee can't trace it."
"I will be right there. You and Ziva go in and see if you can find anything."
Tony was thankful Gibbs had made them all exchange keys in case of an emergency. He opened the door and ushered Ziva inside. Abby had to have written or made a note of details for tonight's plans somewhere.
"Tony, over here!" Ziva called as she logged onto Abby's computer.
"Wow, Ziva. How did you figure out her password?" I asked, hoping she couldn't tell how impressed I actually was. I figured Abby's password would have been impossible to guess.
"It was not hard when you know what is important to someone." Ziva responded, pulling up Abby's calendar and pointing to an address written in today's date. "Look here, Tony, isn't this that new steakhouse downtown?"
"Yea, but that doesn't seem like a place Abby would enjoy going to." I said, as I flipped open my phone to call Gibbs.
"Gibbs" he said, as he answered on the first ring.
"Boss, she had an address for that new steakhouse that just opened downtown. It was written on today's date."
"I'm on it. Dinozzo, you and Ziva meet me there."
Gibbs
I was praying that Abby was sitting at that table. She knew better than to intentionally be unreachable. I would rather deal with her childish actions of the past few hours than accept the idea that she might be in real trouble. I walked in and showed a picture of Abby to the hostess. She pointed out a table on the other side of the dining room where Abby was too enthralled in conversation with a man to notice me.
The father in me sighed a huge sigh of relief at Abby's safety and then a wave of anger took over. She was in big trouble. She might have thought she could play one over on us but she was sorely mistaken. Well, at least her bottom would be. I had to figure out how to play this one out. I walked outside after asking the hostess to not mention anything to Abby. Tony was pulling in to the parking lot as I walked over to my truck.
"Hey Boss, Abby ok?"
"Yes, she was just acting like a sullen teenager, apparently. I want you two to go in and join them. Don't let Abby mess up your excellent acting skills. Tell them you got the address mixed up and you are sorry you're late. Just play it out. After dinner you two bring her home to my house. Miss Abby and I need to have a discussion about honesty."
"Gibbs...?" Ziva asked, as I was getting in my truck.
"Yes, Ziva?" I asked, wondering exactly which part of my instructions were not clear.
She looked at me for a few seconds, shook her head and turned to walk with Dinozzo into the restaurant.
"That's what I thought." I mumbled to myself, getting into my truck to head home and await the arrivial of my youngest surrogate daughter.
Abby
I was confident that I hadn't left a trace of evidence for them to find me. I had remembered to take the battery out of my phone before I got to the restaurant. I just hoped that Tony would not involve Gibbs. If Tony found me I could talk my way out of that. But papa Gibbs? Hmm that was another story all together. I didn't want to think about what would happen if Gibbs found out. I pushed that thought out of my head as a waitress walked up to the table.
"The other two members of your party have arrived. Would you like me to reset this table for four or would you like to be moved to a larger table?"
My jaw dropped as I looked up and standing right behind the server was Tony and Ziva.
"Hi sis, I am so sorry that we are late." Tony said dropping a kiss on my cheek. Then turning to the waitress, he said, "oh this table is perfectly fine, just bring us two more place settings if you would be so kind. Ziva, darling, allow me." He said, as he pulled out Ziva's chair and waited for her to sit down. Then sitting down himself, he turned to me and said, "Abby, it was so kind of you to invite us to double date with you tonight. Oh! Where are my manners? I'm Anthony Dinozzo." He said extending his hand to my date.
"Ricky." He said, as he eyed Tony suspiciously. "Ricky Stevens."
"Nice to meet you, Ricky. This is Ziva. So Abbs, what's on the agenda for our double date tonight?"
"Just dinner, Tony. Would you excuse me for a minute I need to go to ladies room. Ziva?" I said, standing up.
"Of course. Gentlemen." Ziva said, as she stood up and followed me to the bathroom.
"What in the world are you two doing here?" I said, through clenched teeth once we were in the privacy of the ladies restroom.
"Didn't you hear? We are on a double date." Ziva said with a smile.
"You are enjoying this." I said, crossing my arms.
"Maybe. And you should too. Once Gibbs gets ahold of you tonight, you most certainly will not be enjoying anything."
I groaned. "He knows?"
"Yes, Abbs, he knows. You wrote the address to the steakhouse in your calendar. After dinner, Tony and I are taking you home to papa Gibbs." Ziva said, using my nickname for our surrogate father.
"Ohh, I am so dead."
"That was stupid, Abbs. Why did you do it? Did you think Tony would just go home when we got to your house and you were gone? Come on, Abby. Give us a little more credit than that."
"Yea, I guess I didn't think it through really. I just hope Gibbs didn't try to trace my cell."
The look on Ziva's face gave me my answer before she said, "Really, Abby? That's the first thing we did."
I sighed as I walked out the door and headed back to the table. I was sitting down before I realized that Ziva hadn't followed me. Hmm, she probably just had to freshen up. I turned my attention back to the two men. If I was going to be in trouble I might as well enjoy dinner.
Ziva
As soon as the door closed behind Abby, I called McGee, "Ricky Stevens." I said, as soon as he picked up.
"I'm on it, I will text you both if I find anything. Have fun." He said, as I hung up the phone.
I got back to the table as the food was arriving. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed what Tony had ordered for me.
Dinner was going fine until I felt my phone vibrating. I slipped it out onto my lap and quickly read the text from McGee. It read "Is this the man?" There on the screen of my cell phone was a picture of the man Abby was flirting with.
I responded "YES" and not 30 seconds later I had an answer for my questions. Apparently Ricky Stevens was his alias. He was wanted for the murders of several scientists across the country. His real name was Ramon St Paul. McGee said he had already called Gibbs. I looked at Tony as he was finishing up reading the text. I silently hoped that he had a plan.
"Abby! I am so sorry to interrupt our dinner but I just missed a call from Grammy. I know we are having a blast on our fun double date but you know she only has days left and I really think you should just take a few minutes to step outside and call her with me. Please, sis, I really think we should talk to her. Abbs, please?" Tony asked, as he put on his best puppy dog face.
I didn't think Abby was going to go along with him. But she must have thought better about making a scene because she turned to Ricky or Ramon, whoever he was, and said, "if you could excuse me for a moment, I will be back shortly. I'm sorry but I must make this call."
While I waited for Tony to get Abby safely outside, I slid my gun out of the holster hidden on my thigh. I made small talk as I slid my dress up under the table.
As soon as I had given them enough time to get outside I pulled my gun and said, "Ramon St Paul you are under arrest for the attempted kidnapping of a federal agent."
I knew as soon as I finished my sentence that he was going to try to run. Before the next table knew what was going on, I had him on the floor and was cuffing him as Abby came flying back into the room.
"Ziva!" Abby yelled.
"Abby, not now. We will explain everything after we get home." I snapped.
I was standing him up as Gibbs and McGee burst into the dining room.
"Dinozzo, David, you take Abby home. I will meet you there after I take care of our friend here." Gibbs said, taking control of the situation.
"Yes, Boss." Tony and I both said at the same time. As Abby resign herself to her fate, Tony took care of the check and I walked Abby out to Tony's car.