Safe Haven
Both Abby and Ziva find themselves in need of temporary housing, as they have each been banned from their apartments due to maintenance projects. When a large convention being held in the D.C. area makes finding a hotel room impossible, what will the girls do?
Chapter 1
It had been a brutal three weeks for NCIS' top MCRT. From the moment the call came into the Bull Pen, to the last report typed up on the case, emotions were running high. A petty officer and his family were the subjects of the investigation. A murder-suicide involving two small children. When it was declared that the petty officer on leave went into a drug induced rage, killing his wife, five year old son and two year old daughter, then turning the gun on himself, there was small relief for the team that the case had been solved. Any murder was difficult to investigate, but when the case involved innocent children, there was no relief or satisfaction in the end. Just pure exhaustion, both mentally and physically.
Gibbs knew his team, his 'kids', were at their ropes end and desperately needed a break. If he were honest, he needed it as much as they did. With that in mind, he headed up the stairs to speak to the Director. It was Wednesday, so Gibbs requested his team be taken off rotation and given a four day weekend. Leon Vance was well aware of the tremendous toll this last case had taken on Gibbs' team and granted the request without hesitation.
Tony DiNozzo and Tim McGee were sitting at their desks when Gibbs returned to the Bull Pen. He informed his boys of their impromptu vacation and gave them specific orders to relax and get some much needed rest before returning bright and early Monday morning.
"Are you serious Boss? We don't need to return to work before Monday? What if we get called out on a case?" Asked Tony.
Gibbs glared at his oldest and then assured him. "I requested we be taken off rotation, so we are clear. You boys get some rest. It has been a tough one and we all need to recoup from this case."
McGee was just happy for some time off. He had been wanting to spend some time writing and this would be the perfect opportunity. His mind was already contemplating having four whole days of peace and quiet. Secluded in his apartment, just he, his typewriter and some soft jazz music playing in the background. He came out of his thoughts and looked at Gibbs. "Thanks Boss. I'll appreciate having some down time."
"Good, Tim. Use it well and don't stay up all day and night writing on those books of yours. Get some rest!" Gibbs admonished.
"Yes, Boss… I will." Tim answered, knowing his boss and surrogate dad was making sure he took care of himself.
Gibbs looked over at Ziva's desk and realized she had been gone for some time. "Have either of you seen Ziva?"
"I think she said something about going to see Abby. I imagine she is still down in the lab. Well, I'm out of here. Goodnight Boss, Tim. Have a good weekend. Thanks again for the long weekend." Tony said as he gathered his belongings and headed for the elevator. Tim started following behind. "Goodnight Boss. Thanks!"
"You're welcome boys. If you need anything, I will be home, the door's always open. Goodnight!" After watching his boys get into the elevator and leave, Gibbs headed toward the stairwell. He would go down to let Abby and Ziva know of their upcoming small vacation.
Coming close to the lab door, Gibbs could hear his girls talking over something that appeared to have them both upset. He stopped to listen, to see if he could figure out what the intense discussion was about.
"Ziva, how can every hotel be booked? All we need is one room! Did you try the smaller motels in the area? I know we wanted a two bedroom with a kitchen, but at this point I would settle for a small room with double beds and eating all our meals at McDonald's." Abby was clearly upset.
Ziva, trying to calm her friend and surrogate sister, said, "Apparently there is a huge convention of some kind and all the hotels are full, with no hope of a vacancy in the next three days. I will try a few others. I have exhausted every place within a ten mile radius of the Navy Yard. If we go further out, it will be difficult getting to work each morning."
Abby just hung her head a pouted, trying desperately to hold in her tears of frustration. Why had her landlord decided this weekend needed to be 'the weekend' for a major maintenance event at her apartment building. She had been camped out in her lab at NCIS for the last two days and had just found the notice on her door that morning when she returned home for a quick shower and a change of clothes. After such a harrowing case, all she wanted to do this coming weekend was lock herself away and relax. Now she needed to find someplace to stay for the next several days because all power would be shut off in her building while a new heating and cooling system was being installed.
As luck would have it, Ziva too was in a similar predicament. Her landlord had informed all occupants of her apartment building that there would be no water service available until Monday evening as he was replacing all hot water heaters over the weekend. While she was not required to leave, it would be virtually impossible to stay without water.
At some point during the day, both Abby and Ziva had commiserated to each other about their situations and came up with a plan to get a hotel room together and share the cost. Unfortunately those plans were completely annihilated when it appeared no rooms were available within the DC area. The girls were desperate.
Gibbs had heard enough to know both his surrogate daughters needed a place to stay and he knew just where that was going to be. He came walking into the lab as both girls were searching the internet for other hotel options. He quickly got their attention. "You two stop what you're doing right now!"
Both Abby and Ziva froze in their tracks at the sound of their 'Dad's' voice. As they slowly turned around, they came face to face with the famous 'Gibbs' glare' and it was directed at them.
"What's going on and why have I not heard about you two needing a place to stay?"
TBC
I hope everyone enjoys this story... more to come, so review to let me know what you think. Thank you for reading!