Arriving in the bull pin, Gibbs and his team stepped out to the sounds of people clapping. Gibbs stepped out first, followed by Ziva, with Tony and McGee on each side of her, just like they were when they rescued her from Somalia. Walking towards their desks, Ziva was met with a super excited Abby.
Ziva was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Abby coming towards her. Feeling arms tighten around her she started struggling and yelling, "GET OFF ME! LET ME GO!" as she tried to push whoever had her away. Hearing voices repeatedly shouting, "Abby let her go!" and "Ziva, it's just Abby, it's ok," she suddenly came back to the present. Having realized what happened, she shoved a still hugging Abby out of the way - causing her to fall sideways and hit the side of her head on a file cabinet - and without another thought, took off running.
Checking Abby out, Gibbs decided she would be ok, handed her off to McGee with orders to, "Get an ice pack for her head, and stay with her," and then grabbing Tony, they went on a search for Ziva. After searching the whole NCIS building, plus nearby buildings, and not finding her, they went on an outdoor search. Making their way towards a memorial garden park they saw a lone figure sitting curled up on a park bench.
On their way over they started to hear muffled sobbing. Reaching the figure and realizing it was Ziva; Tony reached out to gently touch her arm, to alert her that they were there. However, as soon as she was touched she again pushed him away and ran to a nearby grove of trees.
Turning to Tony he sent him back to NCIS to tell the others that they found Ziva and to check up on Abby and McGee. Walking over to Ziva - who was now just sitting hugging her knees and watching Gibbs's every movement – he sat down cross-legged in front of her. Giving her a small smile he just sat there and waited until she was ready to talk.
They sat there for what seemed like forever, but in reality was only about ten minutes, when Ziva started talking. "Is Abby ok?" she asked quietly. "She's kind of stunned, and maybe a little shaken up over what happened but she'll live," replied Gibbs. "I didn't mean to hurt her," she said, "but I can't stand many touches right know, and she just surprised me. I HATE the feeling of being immobile, that's how I was kept while being locked up." Gibbs just gave her a reassuring smile and said, "It'll all be ok, and Abby will understand if she has to hold back on her hugs for a little bit." Getting a small smile out of Ziva, he stood up and offered her his hand, "how about we go check on Abby, then go to my house, where you'll be staying for a while." Nodding her head, she took his hand, and allowed him to help him up as they headed back to the NCIS building.
Inside the lab, Abby, McGee and Tony turned to the sound of footsteps coming toward them. Seeing Abby, and the small bruise on the side of her head, Ziva immediately felt guilty. Walking over to her, Ziva told Abby she was sorry for how she reacted to Abby's hug, and went on to explain that she didn't like being confined. Seeing that Abby understood, she went on to tell her, "If you want to give me a hug, I think I can stand side hugs as long as I know they are coming." Smiling at Ziva, Abby asked her, "Can I give you one then?" Ziva nodded her head, "yes," and even though she tensed a little bit, she was able to stand a side hug. As Gibbs watched the two of them together, and still seeing Ziva tense up at the hug, he thought to himself, "There is going to be a long, rough road ahead of us, but I think we will make it."