Chapter 7

Promises

(Ziva's POV)

A month has gone by and I am now nearly used to getting twice as many Abby hugs as anyone else. No one says anything, but I know the general consensus is that I need them, or more likely, Abby needs to give them to me. I still have not revealed much to her, but she seems to be content with my willing affection.

I walk down to the lab to let Abby know that we wrapped up our current case and to see if she wants to go out for our traditional post-case drink. She has just finished tidying and disinfecting the lab. She puts her supplies away, leans on the table and says, "Yeah, it's been a long day."

Then she does something very un-Abbylike. She pauses, and doesn't speak or make a move for the door. I wait, tentatively. Finally she says, "Ziva? You know, I was just thinking about the conversation we had here a while ago and it's been a month now. It's been great to spend time together and thanks for letting me in a bit and all, and I especially like the hair braiding since I could never do French braids very well, and I hate to bring it up, but . . "

I look out the window, sigh and finish for her, "but . . . I have not yet talked to Tony." I bite my bottom lip as she continues.

"Well, yeah. I mean, I don't want to pressure you, but I love you both and I hate to see this thing between you." She is now pacing to match her exaggerated hand movements. "You know I don't expect you to spill all your guts and tell him every detail, but I think in order for him to know you're really okay, he needs for you to admit how bad it was, even if it hurts you both to talk about at first. I hope that makes sense because, well, I've never gone through anything like what you went through, and like I said, I don't want to pressure you . . . "

"Abby . . . " I put my hands on her shoulders and the pacing ceases. She looks in my eyes as I finish. "I promise you that I will talk with him. It is not something that I can easily bring up and he would not risk asking me outright, so I am unsure of how I can start the conversation. I will try to find an opportunity, and I am sorry that I have made you keep this secret. Thank you for caring, Abby, you truly are a wonderful friend." What's one more Abby hug?

She grabs her coat and we walk to the elevator, arms linked.