Walking through the terminal at Washington National Airport, Gibbs told Tony to go ahead and head home. He had something to take care of before heading back to the office. When the two separated, Gibbs headed for the coffee bar and took a seat at a table where a man sat reading a newspaper.
"You could have tried to be less conspicuous," he said to the man who continued to read the paper.
"Yes," the man said. "And you could have ignored my request."
"Black," Gibbs said to the waiter who appeared at his shoulder, "no sugar."
"I really need your help Jethro." The man said lowering his newspaper.
"I figured that." Gibbs said getting a look at the defeated appearance of Deputy Director Jerome Craig.
"We'll need to bring in McGee and DiNozzo too." Craig said.
"We can't leave the squad room short like that."
"SecNav and Leon have already signed off on it. He's bringing in a few agents to handle the office for a week."
"When?"
"Just after New Year."
"What's the op?"
"It's a protection detail."
"Ziva would-"
"Not be an option," Craig said. "The subject is Hamas, well former Hamas. An Israeli would spook him."
Gibbs leaned back in his chair and allowed the waiter to set his coffee in front of him. He opened the file Craig handed him and read. "I'll tell them after Christmas." He said standing up and grabbing his bag and the coffee cup.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._
"McGee, DiNozzo," Vance called from the balcony. "Conference room." As the two junior agents made their way to the conference room, Gibbs stepped over to Ziva's desk.
"We have an assignment coming up," he said to her.
"That is great," Ziva said. "What do you need me to do?"
"Take a vacation."
"I-" Ziva started and shook her head slightly. "What?"
"The assignment is a protection detail for a Hamas defector."
Ziva looked sideways in thought then nodded slightly. "And having an Israeli on the protection detail would be uncomfortable."
"I'd rather have all of us." Gibbs said.
"Well, obviously I would be well suited for the assignment." Ziva said. "However, if someone is defecting Hamas, they will be less forthcoming in front of someone they suspect could be sending the information straight to Tel-Aviv."
"You o.k. with this?"
"Of course. It will give me some time to relax. Maybe go to the gym, take in a show. At the risk of sounding too soft, I can have a little 'me time'."
Gibbs smiled as he turned and headed for the conference room. "Your vacation starts Sunday."
When Gibbs disappeared around the corner, Ziva brought up the Washington Post website to see if anything interesting was happening in the Metro area this coming week. After scanning the headlines on the main page, she highlighted the entertainment menu option and clicked In Entertainment. Ziva was just scrolling through the articles when Abby came shuffling around the corner.
"Abby what's wrong?" Ziva asked coming out of her seat. She had never seen Abby in less than a hyperactive state unless something horrible happened.
"Where's Gibbs?" Abby asked looking around the squad room.
"He's in a meeting with Vance." Ziva said. "Abby, are you alright?"
"No." Abby said as Ziva led her to a chair. "Sister Agnes died yesterday. She had a stroke."
"Sister Agnes?" Ziva asked. "From your bowling league?"
Abby nodded as fresh tears began falling down her cheeks.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._
Father Thomas Farrah continued fighting back tears while he and sister Rosita finalized the plans for Sister Agnes services. The two sat together and looked over the plans both visibly upset.
"I spoke with her niece in Ohio." Sister Rosita said. "She will be here tomorrow."
"The last of her family," Father Thomas said.
Sister Rosita nodded and the two of them retreated into their own memories of Sister Agnes.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._
Kyle Davis clipped the visitor's badge onto his shirt. The NCIS escort indicated Kyle should follow him and led the young man to the elevators. In less than half a minute, the doors opened and the agent escorted him to the squad room where Abby and Ziva were sitting and talking. As soon as Abby saw Kyle, she jumped up and ran to him. Ziva dismissed the agent while the siblings embraced.
"I took a cab here, so we can just take your truck to the convent," Kyle said.
"Ok," Abby said. "Look um, I need to talk to Gibbs, but thank you so much for coming by and taking me to the convent."
"You know it's no problem." Kyle said. "I liked Sister Agnes. We should be there for the sisters."
Abby nodded and hugged her brother once more before starting to pace again. Kyle asked Ziva if she could get him an escort back downstairs where he would wait for Abby. The agent and Kyle had been gone about a minute when Tony, Gibbs and McGee came back around the corner. Abby had just turned and was starting to pace back in front of Gibbs's desk when he nearly bumped into her.
"Gibbs," Abby said stopping dead in her tracks. "I need to take tomorrow off."
"Everything alright Abs?" Gibbs asked.
"No," she answered. "Sister Agnes form my bowling league died yesterday. She had a stroke." Gibbs pulled her to him and hugged her.
"Do you need anything?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I just need to be there for Sister Rosita and the others."
"Do you want me to drive you home?"
"No," she said. "Kyle's downstairs. He's taking me to the convent."
"O.k." Gibbs said. "Call me if you need me."
Abby barely heard him as she stepped onto the elevator and headed downstairs. She went all the way down to her lab and gathered her things before heading back up to the lobby. As she passed through the lobby and out the door, she caught the eye of the agent who escorted her brother into and out of the building. He smiled at her and nodded. Was it her imagination or did he look sad too?
She walked up to her truck in the parking lot and handed her keys to Kyle, who unlocked the passenger's door and let her in before going over to the driver's side and letting himself in. He gave her a sad look as he started the engine and put the truck in gear.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._
Sister Rosita led Abby and Kyle into the common area where the other nuns had gathered. Abby squeezed the nun's hand quickly before joining the others. Kyle stayed behind and watched his sister mingle with the other nuns.
"Sister," he began. "You know her better than I do. Is she going to be o.k.?"
Sister Rosita smiled at him and led him to a sofa set apart from the rest of the group. After getting him something to drink and sitting on the opposite end, she looked at Abby for a moment before answering his question.
"Abigail loves deeply Kyle." Sister Rosita said. "When she allows someone to be close to her, she mourns all the harder when they're taken from her." Kyle turned a worried look towards his newfound sister and began wondering what he could do for her.
"That is not to say that she will melt down, as you youngsters would say." Sister Rosita continued. "Abigail loves deeply because she is forced to be so strong in other areas of her life."
"You mean her job?"
"Yes," Sister Rosita said. "That is one example."
"I get that she's strong enough to get through this," Kyle began. "But what will it cost her? She told me what losing her friend Kate took out of her."
"Yes," Sister Rosita said. "Kate's passing was particularly difficult for Abigail. However, that assassin ripped Kate from Abigail suddenly and violently. Sister Agnes died naturally."
Kyle nodded in understanding as he looked to where Abby sat. He knew his big sister was tough. He also knew that she had an overwhelming capacity to love. What worried him was what would happen if her huge heart broke. Would he be strong enough to put the pieces back together for her? Kyle was the younger sibling, but since he met Abby and learned who she was, he felt a powerful urge to protect her.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._
Ziva took her cup and book into the living room and curled up in her favorite chair in the corner. From here, she could enjoy the warmth from the heat vent while maintaining the ability to keep an eye on her window and door. Tonight, she decided to revisit one of her favorite books, and one of the few works of fiction she read. She couldn't understand herself why she liked it, but she would rather someone throw her naked into a Palestinian mosque than to let Tony ever find out she read it.
Just as she got to the part where the professor left baby Harry on his aunt's doorstep, Ziva's doorbell rang. She quickly stuffed the book under her chair cushion, grabbing her pistol at the same time. She had the weapon cocked before she got to the door to peer out the peephole. When she saw who was on the other side, she groaned and unlocked the door.
"Hey," Tony said. "Got a few minutes?"
Ziva looked down and saw the case in his hand. "And by a few, you mean approximately ninety yes?" she said smiling.
Tony held up the DVD case and smiled. "McLintock, 1963, featuring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, and Stephanie Powers. Run time 127 minutes"
"Aren't you supposed to be preparing for your assignment?"
"McGee's got the hard part until Sunday." Tony said leaning on the doorframe. "All I had to do is memorize the intel on the subject."
"Since this is John Wayne, I assume we're inviting Gibbs."
"He's going by to check on Abs."
"I called her earlier." Ziva moved out of the way to let Tony in.
"Yeah," Tony said stepping in. "Me too. Spoke to Kyle. He's gonna stay at her place for a couple of days."
"It is good that they connected."
"Yeah, Abby is awesome. It's good she has some real family around."
As Ziva prepared some snacks for the movie, Tony prepared the TV. When everything was ready, he stepped into the kitchen area and helped her set up a veggie plate while she finished preparing the nachos. After taking the food in the living room, Tony angled the guest chair so he could fully enjoy the movie and looked over at Ziva's seat.
"You know," he said walking over to it. "It's gonna be impossible for you to see the TV."
Ziva's head snapped up and she bolted for the living room. "Tony, I can move it. You don't-" Too late, Ziva came into the living room to find Tony holding the book she hid under the cushion and a huge smile on his face. "I can explain that." She said.
"What's to explain?" Tony asked. "It's a great book. It's probably the best in the series."
"Well, yes," Ziva said a bit off guard. "I mean, I assume it's a good story. I only just started it."
"Well, I think you'll enjoy it." Tony said handing her the book with a smile.
In no time, the two settled themselves in enjoying the movie. They laughed as John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara's characters untangled their marital disharmony and paved the way for their daughter to find love. Afterwards, Ziva fixed them some coffee and talked over Tony's upcoming assignment.
"If the guy is serious about leaving Hamas," Tony was saying. "He shouldn't have a problem with an Israeli-American on his protection detail."
"Perhaps not," Ziva said. "I believe the decision was Vance's. I think he left me off the assignment specifically to prevent the defector from having to make the decision."
"Maybe," Tony said. "It does sound like a very Vance idea."
They discussed the assignment a little more before Ziva realized the time and decided to send Tony home with his DVD.
"See ya at work tomorrow," Tony said as Ziva closed and locked her door.
_.-~=]})*({[=~-._