Title: Home
Fandom: NCIS
Author: Alidiabin
Words: 378
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Warnings/Spoilers/Rating: none || Set early S7 || G
Parings: none, unless you'd like to put you Zibbs glasses on.
Summary: Gibbs helps Ziva make her new apartment a home.

Home

Ziva was halfway through her copy of The Dummies Guide to American History that McGee had left on her desk, when she heard a knock on the door. She had only lived at her new apartment for a week and was not excepting visitors. She got up from the chair that she and Abby had found at a flea market, which was the only item of furniture in her lounge room, and answered the door.

Gibbs was on the other side of the door with three pieces of wood, some shelf bracket and his tools.

"Gibbs," Ziva uttered surprised to see her boss outside her door on a Sunday afternoon.

"Bedroom or lounge," he asked as Ziva let him in.

"What?" the Israeli replied.

"Where do you want the shelves?" Gibbs asked her as he looked around her apartment. It was smaller than previous apartment but the back wall was almost all windows. The autumn light streamed into the apartment.

"I did not ask for shelves," Ziva answered. "Besides I have no stuff to put on any shelves,"

"When you get all those books to study for that citizenship test, you'll need shelves" Gibbs offered. "It's better to be prepared."

"I think the lounge is a good place for shelves," Ziva responded. "Though I can put them up myself, my Uncle taught me."

Gibbs smiled at the woman's independence and the mention of a relative. Her extended family was seldom acknowledged but when they were they had usually done something good like teach her how to make a family recipe. It relieved Gibbs that Ziva had some normality in her childhood even if it was only occasional.

XXX

An hour later, Ziva placed her copy of The Dummies Guide to American History on the shelf and a smile crossed her face. Suddenly she saw the potential in the apartment. It was not just an empty shell. It was not just somewhere to sleep but somewhere for her to decorate and be proud of.

"Thank you," she whispered to Gibbs.

"I just put up shelves," Gibbs told her as he put his tools away.

"It feels more like home now," she replied.

"You are home," Gibbs told her as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

She was home.