Chapter 3

The knock on the door came a second time, and it was louder. Gibbs, still keeping his eyes on Abby, gently moved her backwards and stepped towards the door. Abby hung on to the kitchen work surface, unable to stop her legs from shaking, and drew ragged breaths. Gibbs yanked open the front and was ready to start growling when he realised Ziva and Tony stood there – both with wrapped gifts in their hands.

"Oh, hi Boss. What are you doing here? I'm dropping off Abby's Christmas present – she likes to have them under her tree so she can start the morning by giving them a good shake." Tony kept babbling as he stepped round Gibbs and into Abby's apartment. Ziva's quiet "Hello Gibbs" almost went unnoticed as she too walked round her boss and entered the flat. Tony had stopped babbling and started staring … and, despite a well aimed elbow in the ribs from Ziva, he kept on staring at Abby. The usual Goth outfit was gone and in its place was, well, Slinky Sex Bomb. He'd always liked Abbs; he loved her humour and her wacky outfits but this one was just begging to be removed, and oh so slowly. And, judging by the flushed cheeks, parted lips and slick of perspiration on her forehead, it looked like Ziva and Tony had interrupted that scenario.

"Hi Tony, Ziva" said Abbs. "Gifts, for me? How lovely!" "I'll go get yours now". Quickly she walked towards the bedroom past a still flustered Gibbs and disappeared inside. She deliberately left the door open so they could all see her bend down and remove the packages from beside the bed. Tony's sharp intake of breath as Abby's Basque barely held in her breasts wasn't lost on Gibbs and he quietly seethed as his girl almost deliberately displayed herself to her co-worker. Gibbs eyes flashed over to Tony who, by now, was openly ogling Abby. Ziva too watched Tony and then her eyes flicked from Abby's toes to her hair, taking in every inch of the woman's body and what she was wearing. Ziva also had a Basque, but it was white lace and the ribbon lacing was pink – and, like Abbs, a plan started to form in the little assassin's mind. Ziva smiled and accepted the package wrapped in black paper and tied with a silver bow – proffering her own gift wrapped in plain brown paper but tied with a skull and crossbones ribbon and, oddly, a set of jingling bells. Then, non too gently dragging Tony by the arm she made their excuses and left. Tony's breathing was ragged and his eyes almost glazed as he left the apartment. He was more than surprised by the change in the Goth Lab Bat's demeanour and outfit, and more strangely, he was surprised by Gibbs's obvious desire for her. He was about to comment aloud when Ziva placed a finger over his mouth:

"Don't ask, don't speculate, and don't comment" she said. "They both know what they're doing and I for one wish them well".

Tony nodded, then burst out with "Did you see that Basque! My God it was totally hot!"

"Yes" replied Ziva. "I purchased mine from the same store – Madame Lou Lou". Then, turning abruptly, she started walking downstairs leaving her shocked partner to digest that nugget of information. Tony's face registered shock, surprise and then finally delight when he realised just what Ziva had told him. He hung over the banister and looked down stairs only to find her looking straight back at him. Grinning broadly she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to her, and then kept on walking. He took the stairs three at a time.