Ziva took the elevator back down to the squad room, her exhausted brain ticking over as she tried to formulate some kind of plan. She had no apartment, no job, the filthy clothes on her back and maybe enough cash to stay at a budget motel for a week. She was tired emotionally and physically, she was starving and she felt like she'd recently been hit by a truck. She supposed she could take a cab to a nearby navy inn and work out what to do from there, but she was hit by the realisation that she had no phone. Normally she'd use one of the ones in the squad room, but since she no longer worked at NCIS doing that seemed wrong somehow.

"Zi," a voice said. Ziva jumped about a mile; she hadn't even realised the doors to the elevator had opened. Tony was standing in front of her, lines of worry etched into his familiar face. He'd been roughed up pretty badly by Saleem and his facial bruises were causing her heart to ache with guilt.

"Tony," she said dimly. "What are you still doing here? It is very late." Tony reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. She tried her best not to flinch at the sudden contact but by the expression he made, she could tell she had.

"Of course I'm still here, idiot. Hell, even McGoo is still here. We want to make sure you're doin' okay. You got a place to stay tonight?"

"I am working on it."

"No you're not," said a second voice. Ziva jumped again. Gibbs, McGee and Abby had materialised, all with their arms crossed firmly over their chests.

"You're staying at my place," Abby informed her. "No arguments."

Ziva sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair.

"I can take care of myself, Abby. You are very kind, but I will find my own place to stay."

"Does the phrase 'no arguments' mean anything to you?" McGee questioned, raising an eyebrow. Abby stepped forward and gently laid her hands on her shoulders.

"I know you're a super independent crazy ninja spy chick Ziva, but you've gotta let me help you out on this one." The exhausted Israeli met her friend's eyes once again. They were brimming with kindness. Ziva looked down at her boots.

"Alright," she said softly.

"Sorry this place is so messy," Abby said brightly as she opened the door to her third floor apartment. "I've been sleeping at work these past couple of days because, well you know, because." Ziva hesitantly stepped over the threshold. It was a cozy apartment, but not necessarily to the point of being claustrophobic. It smelled like the black roses Abby so loved. The walls were painted in various shades of cream and dark grey, contradicting each other like Abby's personality contradicted itself.

"It is lovely," Ziva said, giving her friend a small smile. Abby grinned toothily and took her by the hand, leading her through the living room and into the bedroom.

"You can sleep in my coffin if you'd like," she said proudly, gesturing to the richly varnished wooden box sitting on a kind of dias in the middle of the room. Ziva chuckled.

"I will be fine on the couch, Abby." The goth shook her head, flapping her arms like some ginormous bird.

"I have a blow up mattress that'll be way more comfy. You can sleep in here with me! Gibbs said..." she trailed off and clapped a hand over her mouth. Ziva frowned.

"Gibbs said?"

"Gibbs said that ah, that you wouldn't like my coffin." She looked pointedly down and to the left when she said it and Ziva gave a wry smile.

"You are a wonderful friend Abby, but a terrible liar." Abby sighed heavily, looking downcast.

"Yeah, I know. Gibbs said I had to keep an eye on you during the night, incase you get nightmares." If Ziva hadn't been so frustrated at Gibbs' overprotectiveness she might have found it rather sweet.

"I do not need a baby sitter!"

"Of course not," Abby said soothingly, "but would you please let me? Gibbs will find out if I don't and he might give me my first head-slap." Ziva pondered this for a second. She was already on the verge of agreeing when Abby made puppy dog eyes at her. Those damn eyes sent her completely over the edge.

"Very well," she said stiffly. "But I must warn you, I snore."

"I've heard," Abby giggled. She clapped her hands together, suddenly business like. "Now, Miss David, we shall embark on your night of pure relaxation. You'll start with a luxury hot shower to clean all the sand out of your various orfices. After you've dried yourself with one of my fluffy, soft whit towels we'll put on a classic disney movie, your choice obviously. After that we'll eat your pick of a selection of delectable comfort foods and finish with sleep." She took Ziva by the shoulders and guided her down onto the couch. Before she could protest Abby bent and whipped her stiff leather boots off her feet.

"You have experience at this," Ziva remarked as Abby pulled her back up and pulled the loose over shirt from her.

"Whose is this?" she asked curiously, holding the garment up. Ziva's eyes darted to her feet again and Abby gave an understanding nod.

"We can burn it later," she said cheerfully. Ziva chuckled and the goth's heart soared.

"Shower," she ordered, taking Ziva by the shoulders and propelling her towards the bathroom. She pushed Ziva in, dashed to her room and rummaged around her pyjama draw until she found some that were small enough, then dashed back to the bathroom and threw them at Ziva's feet.

"Take as long as you want," she advised as she shut the door. "I got this super new hot water plan that lets you take hour long showers." She turned her back, only to be stopped by a soft voice.

"Thank you," it said, so quietly she wasn't even sure it was real or imagined. It was almost unrecognisable as Ziva's.

"No problem," she whispered in reply, her back still turned to the door. Said door shut a moment later and Abby heard the distinctive scraping sound of the lock sliding into place.

Kinda a weird place to end the chapter I know, but I really wanted to update today :) Hope you enjoyed, and please leave a review!