Ziva rushed through the busy arrivals lounge. Pony tail and feet flying, she stopped to check the arrivals board.
"Damn!" she muttered through her teeth scowling and continuing on her way.
She had planned to leave early and be looking pretty and self contained by in the arrivals lounge in time to meet her guest.
Instead she had spent the afternoon searching a submarine (which had just returned to the states following r and r in Cairns) for a baby kangaroo, enduring DiNozzo's confusing jokes about tying the poor animal down, bruised shins from Tim accidentally running into her back as they gave chase (causing her to trip into the lower half of a sub door way rather than stepping through) and scratches from when she had finally caught the poor scared animal.
The upside of the afternoon had been that they had finally caught the guy who had smuggled the koala during the summer prior to her return. She was really pleased about that submarines were really not the places for marsupials.
The poor kangaroo had looked distinctly pleased to be back on dry land. Who would have known what Abbey referred to as roos got sea sick?
She didn't think she was going to forgive Tony for quite a while for the way he had collapsed laughing and cracking jokes with members of the crew as the baby animal bounded though the sub she and McGee in hot (and she admitted to herself) rather ridiculous pursuit.
Even the subsequent head slap had not eased her feelings.
But then she had to remember that Tony was still sore that she would not tell him who had called her at work yesterday.
She had been fuming that he sat and listened to her whole conversation and seemed to resent her happiness that she was to see the person on the other end of the line soon.
So when she ended the call and he glared at her, raised an eyebrow and growled "Worth?" she had just smiled and swept off down to see Abbey.
Reaching the arrivals waiting lounge she slowed her pace and looked around thank goodness he hadn't arrived yet she would have time to compose herself
She inspected herself. Beacuse the case had only just ended in time for her to break a million traffic laws on the way to the airport she was still wearing her field kit.
It looked ok but was not the nice jeans and shirt she had sitting on her bed to wear tonight.
The scratches on her neck and arms were not lovely either. She just hoped her face was clean.
She gave herself an illicit sniff. Then held her breath – great - she smelled like sweat and baby kangaroo piddle!
"Ziva my darling!!" cried the beautiful, great, silver mained, brown bear of a man with an ancient weathered green kit bag slung lightly over his shoulder who swept into the lounge drawing the attention of all waiting in the lounge.
He dropped his kit bag to the floor and opened his huge arms wide not seeming to notice the state Ziva knew herself to be looking.
Elation filling her Ziva she happily launched herself into his arms chuckling as he roughly swept her off her feet.
"My darling" happily roared the man mountain, pressing his lips to her brown curls as two great fat tears fell from his mesmerizing brown eyes into her thick curls.