A Bolt of Lightning
A/N: The case they are working on does not exist. It's simply one to fill the time of their days when they aren't together. Let's be serious, I don't even plan on making it fully explained, nor following it any further than I have to. From here on in, it's all my beautiful imagination at work. And my beautiful imagination cannot be hampered by such things as pointless NCIS cases.
Chapter 2
"Gibbs is gonna be mad at you."
"And why won't he be mad at you too?" Ziva asked her.
"Because he loves me. He's never mad at me. Plus, I got a concussion."
"So now you will admit to having a head injury."
"Well, now it's convenient," Abby said, smiling at her as they stepped into the elevator. When the doors closed behind them, Abby pressed Ziva up against the wall. The officer's breath was short, and she licked her lips.
"I have a feeling it will be a long day," Ziva whispered.
"Have lunch with me?" Abby asked, not moving. Ziva nodded as the elevator made a loud ding and stopped. Abby finally stepped back, as Gibbs stepped into the elevator with McGee and Tony in tow.
"Ziva, finally gracing us with your presence. Late night?" Tony asked inquisitively.
"Mmm, yes, now that you mention it Tony, it was a very long night. I didn't get much sleep. I'm quite tired. Although, the person I spent it with did deserve breakfast in the morning."
Tony's jaw dropped. Abby giggled from the back corner. The elevator came to a halt and she pushed her way to the front. "This is my stop." She headed out and turned back once and flashed a wink to Ziva that Tony caught.
"I knew she felt something for me. It's my curse. Beautiful women always fall for me. Did you see the way she winked at me?" Tony smirked.
"I hate to interrupt, but she was winking at me," McGee said.
"You aren't exactly Abby's 'type'," Tony scoffed.
"I'm exactly her type… You however-" McGee was cut off.
"Will you two shut up? I know who she was winking at," Gibbs said calmly. Ziva looked at him. "Me," he said finally. Ziva kept her smile to herself.
"How do you figure that boss?" Tony asked.
Gibbs gave him a pointed look, and a light smack to the back of his head.
"Right boss, 3 ex-wives, I remember now." Tony said brightly.
"Now focus," Gibbs growled back.
For the next few hours, Ziva was caught up in the case, the witnesses, the evidence, and Gibb's own unique brand of solutions. When she took a second to glace at her watch, it was already 2pm. She stood and mumbled something to Tony about lunch.
"Sounds good. What are we getting?" he asked, standing up.
"I have a lunch date," Ziva said.
"With who?" Tony asked, intrigued.
Ziva just smiled and shook her head. "See you later Tony." She stepped on to the elevator. Just as the doors closed, Tony stopped them with his arm.
"Late night, and lunch today? This one must be a keeper. C'mon partner. Tell me about him."
"Maybe some other time Tony. I'm late." She hit the button again, and this time Tony didn't stop it.
When Ziva stepped into Abby's lab a little while later with a bag of sandwiches from the local deli, she found the girl staring intently at a screen in front of her, mumbling to herself.
Ziva couldn't quite make out what she was saying, so she stepped towards her, setting the bag on a desk next to her. Abby still hadn't turned around, and Ziva stepped closer quietly. She was close enough to touch the other girl now, and she didn't disappoint as she grabbed Abby and spun the girl around to face her. Abby started to shriek, but Ziva stopped her with a kiss.
"Hi." She said, pulling away from Abby after a few moments.
"Ugh, you scared the crap outta me. If you weren't so cute, I'd hit you."
"I'm much too cute to threaten." Ziva smoothed Abby's hair back from her face, and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I will not scare you again. Maganda ka." She stepped back slightly. "I've brought you lunch."
"All is forgiven. What was that you called me?"
"I said that you are beautiful."
Abby smiled. "You're smooth."
Ziva smirked. "Eat your sandwich."
Abby sat down at her crowded desk and Ziva sat across from her.
"Where have you been all day?"
"Have you been looking for me?"
"Well, maybe just once or twice… every hour," Abby blushed. "McGee keeps kept giving me a little look, like I'm coming up to see him."
"Maybe I'll have to have a chat with him."
"Jealous?" Abby asked.
"Just a little," Ziva admitted. "Does that bother you?"
"Is this the part when I become your 'woman', and you drag me back to your den by my hair?" Abby asked sarcastically.
"I was more hoping you would walk there on your own."
Abby rolled her eyes.
"Gibbs has been keeping Tony and I out all day. I think that he is trying to keep McGee and Tony separated."
"You can't separate true love," Gibbs said as he walked into the lab, McGee trailing behind.
"Hello to you too, Gibbs." Abby said, taking another bite of her sandwich.
"Brought you a present," he said, setting an extra large sized Caf-pow next to her. "Also heard you got a concussion last night," he started. "What are you doing at work today?"
"Don't worry Dad," Abby rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. I had my own personal bodyguard last night who stayed with me in my bed and kept me awake."
"Maybe that's a story I don't need to hear."
Ziva spoke up. "I watched her accident and took care of her last night."
"Next time, I don't expect to see you for a few days. Understand?" Abby nodded. "Thanks Ziva." He turned and walked out.
McGee lingered behind. "Tony won't shut up about you being with some mystery guy as he calls it. Ziva." He turned back towards the door and left.
"I like baiting Tony," Ziva said to Abby. "It's the best thing about working here." She looked at Abby. "Well, it used to be the best thing." She reached across the small table and held Abby's hand, pulling it up closer to her face, and pressing a small kiss to the back of it. Abby's eyes lit up.
"What are you doing tonight?" Ziva asked her.
"Nothing as of now."
"Can I take you out?"
"Where did you have in mind?"
"Well, it's Friday night. Do you like to dance?" Ziva asked her.
"I love to dance. Where are we going?"
"Wherever you would like."
"Ooh, my choice? You can regret that later. Meet me at my place at 9:30?"
"What should I wear?" Ziva asked, throwing away the wrapper of her sandwich.
"Something slutty." Abby stated calmly.
"I'm not sure I own something that meets that description."
"Then go shopping." Abby said, taking a long sip on her caffeinated lifeline.
"Ok, I will find something sleazy to wear."
"Slutty."
Ziva rolled her eyes. "Yes, that." Her phone rang from the clip on her belt. She glanced at it. "I have to get back to work. I'll see you tonight, sweetheart."
"Normally, no one would get away with calling me sweetheart. But for you, I'll make the exception." Abby smiled and Ziva backed out of the room, her eyes not leaving Abby's until the elevator doors closed in front of her. She rested her forehead on the smooth metal.
"You have it bad," Ziva said aloud to herself, trying to gather her racing heart.
The doors opened with a 'ding' and Tony stood outside them.
"Who is he?" He asked inquisitively, tilting his head to one side.
Ziva just smiled as she pushed past him.
At five, Ziva promptly shut down her computer and stood up. Tony looked up as she pulled on her jacket.
"Where are you going?" He asked. "You never leave before me."
"I have plans," Ziva said simply.
Tony stood and crossed in front of her path. "I'm not letting you leave until you tell me his name."
"There is no 'he' Tony." In one swift move, she turned Tony and pressed him up against the wall face first. "And I will see you tomorrow." She released him and walked towards the door.
"Maybe on time tomorrow?" Tony shot down the hall.
"I guess that all depends on how tonight goes," she said without turning around.
Her stomach was racing with butterflies at the thought of getting to dance pressed up close to Abby. As she got into her car, she mentally ran through her limited wardrobe. She didn't have anything remotely appropriate to whatever Abby had in mind. She whirled out of the parking garage and drove across town begin her search.
It took nearly three hours for Ziva to be happy with her outfit. When she finally noticed the time, she headed back to her apartment to get ready.
As she stood in front of her mirror, she felt a twinge of nervousness that she had never before experienced. She replayed the previous night in her head. It made her smile to think of Abby, and the prospect of spending the evening with the goth again filled Ziva with a warm feeling. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and ran a hand through her hair.
When she was finally content with her appearance, she grabbed her keys and headed to her car. The trip should have taken 15 minutes, but the thought of Abby kept the pedal firmly planted to the floor.
"You're early," Abby said, pulling open the door to her apartment. Ziva smiled.
"Only a few minutes."
"Well I still haven't decided what to wear," Abby complained, looking down at herself. She was wrapped in a white towel, and Ziva appreciated the view. Her breathing sped up and Abby pulled her in the door, shut it and pressed Ziva up against the now closed door. Ziva automatically reached up to touch Abby's face, wanting to feel their lips joined together, but Abby stepped back.
"You can't kiss before the date, you have to wait until after," she said, smiling at Ziva.
"I'm not sure I have the willpower for that, but I will try."
"Good." Abby turned and walked towards her bedroom. When she got to the door, she dropped the towel, giving Ziva a quick glimpse of the body that danced through her fantasies all day.
"Do you need help picking out your clothes?" Ziva asked hopefully.
"Hmm… can you look and not touch?"
"Yes," Ziva answered confidently.
"Then come in." Ziva strode over to Abby's room, and stopped short when she saw her lithe backside.
"I may have overestimated my abilities." Ziva made her way to Abby, wrapping her arms around the still naked woman. Abby turned, with Ziva's arms still around her. She brought their lips together, and both women sighed at the contact. Ziva lifted Abby off her feet, and Abby wrapped her legs around the agent's waist, never breaking their kiss. Ziva carried her to the bed, laying her down gently. Abby pushed the jacket off Ziva's shoulders, revealing her new shirt. Abby looked down and stared. Ziva had tight black leather pants on, with a deep crimson strapless shirt that laced in the back.
"Damn, you are hot." Abby said, still staring at her.
"You like my outfit choice then?"
"I'd like it off you, too." Abby tried to pull Ziva back down to her, but Ziva laughed and stepped back.
"We are going dancing tonight. I will ravish you later." She pulled Abby off the bed. "Now let's find you something… what was it? Slutty?"
"I think that was the term I used."
"So what are you wearing?"
"Something black and skimpy."
Ziva walked to the closet, where a large pile of Abby's clothes lay in a heap in front of it. She dug through it for a few moments, then tossed a black leather miniskirt to Abby.
"I pick that." She continued searching until she found a low cut black halter top to match it. "And this." Abby put them on, and admired her reflection for a few moments.
"Not bad." She turned back to Ziva. "Ok, let's go. I'll drive." Ziva's hands went to her hips.
"I will drive."
"Why?"
"Because I asked you out, so I get to drive."
Abby narrowed her eyes, but tossed her keys to Ziva.
"We'll take mine." She walked to where Abby was standing and reached towards her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Now we can go."
The pair walked out of the apartment, still holding hands. When they stepped up to Ziva's car, Ziva held open the passenger door, and Abby smiled as she slid into the seat.
"Chivalry is still alive and kicking I see," she noted. Ziva hopped in the seat next to her, leaning over and planting a slow kiss on Abby's waiting lips. Abby moaned. "Can we skip the dancing and go straight to the ravishing you were talking about earlier?" she whispered in a low voice.
"There will be plenty of time for that later, after we dance," Ziva replied, pulling away from the temptation of Abby's waiting lips. "So where are we going?"
"My favorite dance club in the area." They spent the rest of the ride in comfortable silence, their hands intertwined. When they pulled up outside the club, Abby hopped out excitedly before Ziva threw it in park. She followed closely behind.
"You're gonna love this place," Abby exclaimed, grabbing her hand.
"The Black Hole," Ziva read aloud from the neon sign above the door.
"Ok, bad name," Abby conceded. "But the atmosphere will make up for it." The line to get in snaked around the corner, but Abby walked confidently up to the bouncer, who greeted her with a hug.
"John, this is Ziva. Ziva, my friend John."
He reached out and shook Ziva's hand with enthusiasm. "Nice meetin' you," he said in a slow southern drawl. "I didn't know you had such beautiful acquaintances, Abby." He winked at Ziva.
"Sorry John," Abby shrugged apologetically. "I already beat you to the punch." She wrapped an arm possessively around Ziva's waist.
"Can't blame a guy for tryin'," he said. "Have fun tonight." He opened the door for them and waved them through.
Ziva hadn't seen so many people crammed into one badly lit space before. She also hadn't realized just how important Abby's 'slutty outfit' directive was. There was more bare skin in the club than in a Greek bathhouse.
Abby took it all in stride, pulling Ziva quickly through the crowd to the bar. She yelled something to the bartender over the screaming music that Ziva couldn't quite make out.
Abby thrust a drink into her hands and pulled her to a table at the edge of the floor. It was slightly quieter, and Ziva was able to ask Abby what was in the drink
"I don't know," Abby yelled back. "But it's good." She took a long swig to prove her point. "It's called a dirty Goth. They named it after me." As the song changed, Abby's eyes lit up. "This is my favorite. Let's dance."
They abandoned their drinks, and soon they were tightly packed on the crowded floor.
Two hours passed in a blur for Ziva with Abby's lithe body pressed up against her. She didn't know how the Goth had so much control; she was only just managing to avoid ripping the shirt from Abby's body. She felt sure there was not much more hope for steering clear of causing a scene on the dance floor.
"Take me home?" Abby whispered breathily to Ziva. She nodded quickly, and pulled Abby confidently back towards the door. Her self control had wilted completely by the time they reached her car, and she pressed the other woman against it, placing rough kisses across her pulse point. Abby moaned, pulling Ziva in tightly to herself, her own black nails creeping up Ziva's flushed skin. Ziva stilled the hands on her quickly. "Home," she mumbled against Abby's neck. Abby shook her head.
"Can't wait." She fused their lips together, earning the guttural groan from Ziva's mouth.
"Try." Ziva said, finally pulling back. "I'm not taking you in public, against this car, with that whole crowd of people watching. She motioned behind her, and Abby peered over her shoulder at the cat calls and wolf whistles that pierced the air. She gave a wave and quick bow, much to Ziva's chagrin. Ziva hid her head in her hands.
"You need to lighten up, Officer David," Abby narrowed her eyes, and spun the other woman around to face the crowd. "They're cheering you on."
Ziva blushed, but gave a quick wave that seemed to pacify her.
"Ok, home now," Abby said, pulling open the driver side door, and ushering Ziva in. They left the club in typical Ziva style - quickly.
They hadn't yet cleared the doorway to Abby's apartment before they were all over each other. Ziva just managed to pull out the keys, shut the door, and throw the deadbolt before Abby launched herself into her arms.
They made it to work on time the next morning; albeit just barely. Abby stopped off at her floor with a brief kiss, leaving Ziva to ride alone the rest of the way. With a 'ding', it stopped, and Gibbs stepped on. He handed her a Styrofoam cup with the logo of his favorite coffee shop on it, and she took it gratefully. The door slid closed again, and he punched the emergency stop.
"Yes?" Ziva asked cautiously, after a few seconds.
"If you hurt her, there won't be a place for you on this team anymore." He said simply.
"I won't," she replied, with all sincerity in her voice. He nodded.
"And it had better not affect your ability to do this job."
"I assure you Gibbs, we are completely professional at NCIS."
"Good." Without another word, he hit the button again, and the doors opened back up to reveal McGee and Tony.
"Boss, we've got a lead." They piled on, and the elevator descended once more.
It was after 7 when they'd finally finished up for the night. Ziva made her way to Abby's lab on weary legs.
"Did you get him?" Abby asked her with enthusiasm. Ziva chuckled.
"Yes, after I chased him 3 blocks and up 14 flights of stairs."
"Aww, poor baby," Abby cooed, reaching her arms around Ziva. The Mossad officer pulled away quickly.
"Gibbs had a talk with me today," she said by way of explanation.
"He didn't scare you off, did he?" Abby pouted.
Ziva laughed loudly. "Of course not. I just want to be discreet around NCIS. I would rather not give him a reason to execute me."
Abby smiled. "Fair enough. Let me take you home; you look tired."
"Plan on tiring me out some more?" Ziva asked with a knowing smirk.
"We have the Federal Law Enforcement Gala coming up this weekend, and I wondered if you would like to be my date, Abby?" Ziva asked seriously, that night, after they were both spent, and lying intertwined on Abby's bed.
"You want me to be your date?" Abby asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yes," Ziva replied immediately.
"Won't that cause a bit of a stir?"
"Well, I am not an official NCIS agent, just a liaison officer, and as you are coming as my date, and not as an official representative, then I believe we have no official repercussions to consider. Plus," she added thoughtfully. "Gibbs already knows, and accepts it. I do not believe anything could be scarier than Gibbs when he is angry."
"Just imagine the look on Tony's face," Abby laughed.
"I'm more interested in the look on McGee's face when I warn him to stay away from you."
Abby smirked. "You do know that I'm not interested in McGee, right?"
"That does not mean he is not interested in you."
"Ziva," Abby said seriously, putting her hands on either side of the officer's face. "I'm in love with you, and I'm not going anywhere." Ziva's heart nearly stopped. She did not think she could draw in another breath around the range of emotions that were flooding her in this moment. She chose not to speak at all, and simply let the smile that had been tugging at the ends of her lips to shine through.
Ziva pulled her close quickly, kissing her with abandon.