-Blackout-

The power goes out at N.C.I.S, Ziva shows up for work sick, and Jen and Gibbs are refusing to admit they love each other. What could possibly go wrong?

-***´´´***-I (obviously) don't own N.C.I.S.-***´´´***-

Out of character, slightly AU with Jenny/Ziva Mother/Daughter style relationship, possible N.C.I.S. family-style relationship, not really sure...

Shippies:

Very likely Jibbs romance

Unlikely, but possible Tiva romance

Slight McAbby friendship/possible romance

Possible Jibbs fluff. I'm honestly not sure where this story is going to end up, so at the moment I can't really predict anything.

Constructive criticism is welcome, hate isn't. Reviews are always welcome and appreciated.

I don't own N.C.I.S.

-∂.ƒ.

Prologue

Ziva David sat with her head on her desk. "Hot date last night, Zee-va?" Tony joked. "Shut up, Tony." Ziva mumbled. McGee looked up from his computer screen. "Are you feeling alright, Ziva?" Ziva sat up and tried to put on a convincing smile. "I am fine, thank you, Special Agent McGee." Tim nodded, and went back to his work.

Gibbs rounded the corner. "Shut down your computers. Snow storm. Generator's down. Nobody leave the building." Tim began to shut down his computer, while Tony just sat there, looking at Ziva. "Aren't you going to shut down your computer, Zee-va?" "Yes, Tony." Ziva said, rolling her eyes before finding out the hard way that such a motion made her nausea worse. Gibbs walked up to the Director's office.

Slowly, Ziva began to shut down her computer. She took took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I wonder if Madam Director will be coming down here." Tony said. "Apparently, you didn't get the memo, Agent DiNozzo." Jenny's voice sounded. "Madam Director needs to stop doing that. She's started creeping around, like Gibbs." Tony whispered in Ziva's direction. "What memo, Director?" Tony asked. Ziva looked up at Tony and Jenny. "That the next person who calls her 'Madam Director' gets keelhauled, whatever that means." Ziva mumbled, with her head in her hands. "It's-" Tony began. "unpleasant." Jenny interrupted him. "So," Tony stated. "The ninja speaks!"

"Yes, she does, and she wants you to shut up!" Ziva glared at Tony, before getting up and running towards the bathroom.

"What was that about?" Jenny asked. "I think Agent David, the unbreakable assassin, just got the stomach bug, Director."

Before Jenny could reply, the lights flickered off.

"Crap."

Chapter One - Butt of the Donkey

Jenny opened the bathroom door to the sound of violent retching. "You okay, Ziva?" Jenny stood at the door. There was a long pause, before Ziva answered. "I'm fine." "Just what I thought you'd say."

"Jenny?"

"Yes, Ziva?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm by the door. Which stall are you in?"

Ziva threw up again, this time even louder.

"I-I didn't really look. I-I think number three."

Jenny felt her way along the wall, until she found the third stall.

"Ziva, I'm right here." Jenny knelt down. "Let me put your hair up." Jenny said, removing the hair elastic from Ziva's braid. She unbraided Ziva's curls before putting them in a messy bun. Jenny finished looping the hair elastic around Ziva's hair just in time for her to throw up again. After retching for a moment, she sank to the floor.

"Are you alright, now?"

"I'm cold. Really, really cold. And, my stomach hurts." Ziva cried in Jenny's arms while Jenny stroked her hair. "It's okay, Ziva." Jenny soothed. "Everything's okay."

That sat there for a minute, before Jenny broke the silence. "Do you want to go back to the bullpen or do you feel like you're going to throw up again?" Jenny asked, softly. "I would like to go back to the team, but I do not not if I can get up and do not want them to think I am weak." "Oh, Ziva." Jenny ran her fingers through the younger agent's hair. "You aren't weak. And, if need be, I'll have Gibbs bring you to the bullpen." "I thought men weren't allowed in the women's bathrooms." "I think, as Director of N.C.I.S, that we could make an exception, just this once. And, if nothing else, I'll carry you." "You? Carry me? Are you sure you can lift me?" "Are you calling me old?" "No," Ziva laughed. "It's just, I can't see you carrying me."

Jenny put her arms around Ziva and scooped the younger agent up. Ziva whimpered as Jenny inched her way out of the bathroom stall. "Sorry, Zee." Jenny said with a gentle tone Ziva had never heard her hear before. Jenny found her way to the door and with a slight struggle, got it open. "Still awake, Zee?" Jenny whispered. Guess not.

"Jethro?" Jenny called, to the darkness. "Where are you, Jen?" "Next to the bathroom door. I've got Ziva, she's sick. Too bad Doctor Mallard's off today." "Hold on, Jen. Be right there." Jenny watched as a light came closer to her. She realized that it was Gibbs with a flashlight.

"Where is everyone?" Jenny asked. "DiNozzo and McGee went to Abby's lab, and we were the only team working late, when the power went out."

"How is she, Jen?" Jenny put a hand to Ziva's forehead and inwardly cursed. "She's burning up, Jethro. Where should I take her?" "Your office. You got a couch and plenty of stuff up there." "Yes." "Well, I'll come with you. I've got a flashlight." "I noticed." The two's conversation was interrupted by Ziva squirming in Jen's arms. "Let's get her up to your office. Is Cythia still up there?" "No, I sent her home before the storm started." "Jethro, could you possibly carry her?" Gibbs smirked, in the darkness. "Of course, Director." Gibbs took Ziva out of Jenny's tired arms. "Ziva's right, I'm too old for this." "Ziva called you old?" "No. You're missing the point. No more carrying sick ninja Ziva past the age of 35." "You've done this before?" "In Cairo. But, Ziva and I were both a lot younger." Jenny and Gibbs walked up the steps to Jen's office. Jenny opened the silver door to her office, and let Gibbs inside. "I've got battery-operated lights, only in this office." Jenny flipped a switch, and the lights came on. Gibbs set Ziva on the couch. She whimpered and turned over.

"No, Zee." Jenny said, sympathetically. "Lay on your back." "I feel like crap." Ziva mumbled. "Let. Me. Sleep." "Ziva, I need for you to lay on your back, so I can make you feel better." I'm not a baby. Let. Me. Sleep." Jenny smirked. "You're acting like one." "Go. Away." "No, Ziva. We're staying here." Jenny looked at Gibbs. "Both of us." Ziva rolled her eyes and squeezed them shut. "Stomach hurts. Think I'm gonna-" Gibbs's quick trash-can reflex saved Jenny's couch.

"I've got some bottles of water and a cloth. I'll grab them." Jenny disappeared from Ziva's line of sight. "G-Gibbs?" "Ziver?" "Don't feel so nice." Gibbs put a hand on Ziva's forehead. "You've got a high fever. Stay here." "Do I look like I'm going anywhere, Gibbs?" Gibbs smirked and headed to the private bathroom, in search of Jenny.

Ziva was nearly asleep, when Jenny and Gibbs returned, a few minutes later. Jenny was holding a bucket of water and a cloth, and Gibbs had some bottles of water. "How are you feeling, Ziva?" The gentle, motherly tone of Jenny's voice was comforting. "I am fine." "Just what I though you'd say." Jenny said. "Ziver, you aren't "fine." Let Jen help you." "I don't want to ruin your night." "You aren't ruining our night, Zee. How are you feeling?" "Like a twenty-five year old being babied by her boss's boss." Gibbs had to smirk at that comment. Jenny just sent a playful glare at him. Ziva rolled onto her side. "Lay on your back, Zee." "You're not my mother." "No, I'm not, but as you said I'm your boss's boss." Ziva turned onto her back and stared up at the Director and her boss. "You are giving me the same weird look you did when I was sick in Cairo." "And what look is that?" "Concern? Worry? I do not know what Americans call it." "Ziva, I am concerned. You've got a high fever and the power's out." "You have no reason to be concerned for me. I am fine." "No you aren't, Ziva. You're not fine and you're not getting off of this couch until either you get better or the power comes back on."

"Ugh." Ziva mumbled. "I feel like a donkey's butt."

I came up with this story, a while back. What do you think? I'll post the next chapter, when I get two reviews. I know, I'm mean. :P Toda for reading, and if you read all the way to this, write "Shalom" somewhere in your review, so I can know how many people are actually reading the whole chapter. Bye! -AF