A/N: Thanks to all the new story alerters and favoriters - you've made my day. Heck, my week, month, and quite possibly, year also! Hope I don't disappoint. This chapter is kind of a filler chapter - in a bit of a writer's block, so hope no one gets bored and that it doesn't sound too rambly. Like this A/N is getting right about now.
Disclaimer: Guess what? For Christmas, I got NCIS! Santa DOES love me! Oh wait - that was just a dream I had the other night…. SHUCKS!
This fic rated M/MA for later chapters, when there will hopefully be something that's rated M/MA. But there are adult sitches and language, so parents, do not leave your children unattended.
MONSTERS IN THE SHADOWS
Chapter 7
Jenny Shepherd tip-toed quietly out of Abby's hospital room, the door swishing silently closed behind her. She paused for a moment, leaning back against the door, eyes closed, trying to compose herself. She hadn't been this near tears in a very long time. But then, Abigail Sciuto has the ability of magically bringing the most latent emotions out of even the hardest of people, whether it be total joyu or, like today, utter sadness.
"Is she sleeping at last?" asked Ducky in a quiet, concerned voice. "Finally," Jenny answered softly. "If she stays that way….", she shrugged.
The older gentleman and the Director walked to the nearby waiting room. Amazingly it was empty. They both sat with heavy sighs. "I do apologize, Director, for leaving you to deal with the aftermath of the news by yourself," said Ducky, turning his hat around and around in his hands. Jenny can't think of a time she's seen the unflappable ME so distraught. "I'm afraid I just couldn't handle the silent tears of our Abigail."
Patting Ducky's shoulder Jenny said, "It's OK, Ducky. Believe me, I understand." The older gentleman smiled sadly. "Yes, she does have that effect on people, doesn't she? I ashamed to say that I fell back on the old 'Take 2 and call me in the morning' standard." If Ducky began to cry, Jenny knew she wouldn't be able to hold back, either.
"I'm sure Abby understands, doctor. If anyone understands being emotional, it's Abby." They both gave a watery laugh. "Ducky…." Jenny began tentatively, "have you spoken to…."
"Anthony?" the doctor interrupted. "Briefly, for all the good it did. Yes, he came to see me earlier today. Apparently he'd had a disagreement of sorts with the elevator." he chuckled at the Director's confusion. "He was escaping a tongue-lashing from Ziva, she was after him about his absence from Abby's side. Anyway, he tried to put his fist through the wall or door of the elevator. Luckily, he was already on his way down to see me."
The Director shook her head. "Has he said anything to you, Ducky? This is so not like Tony. I thought we'd need cables and a crane to drag him away from that room. Now…." she left off, worried.
"He's said nothing to me, Director. It certainly is out of character for him, especially now with, well, Jethro…. Being gone."
Jenny knew Ducky was right. Tony and Abby had always had a close relationship, but with the defection of the man both of them saw as a father figure, they'd been even closer. Many was the time Jenny had left her office at the end of the day to find the older brother down in the bullpen hugging his little sister as she cried, or the little sister in her lab doing her best to cheer up her older brother with her antics. She knew about the nights Tony and Abby had slept - innocently - in each other's arms on the futon in Abby's lab right after Jethro had left, knew Tony had gone over to Abby's in the middle of the night when she called him in tears. Knew Abby had had weekend-long movie marathons at Tony's when she sensed he needed it. Where the team had stumbled in chaos for a little while, Abby and Tony had only gotten stronger. Jenny just couldn't think of anything that would cause DiNozzo to act as he was now. No one on his team seemed to have any clue. Even poor Abby herself didn't seem to realize there was a problem - she kept asking for him, calling for him in her nightmares. If Jethro were here, he'd be slapping Tony on the back of the head for his behavior.
"Ducky,…." Jenny said carefully. "Do you think we should…"
"Call Jethro?" the astute ME finished. "I honestly don't know. I mean, Abigail has just recently taken down those pictures from around her lab, finally adjusting to his absence. Anthony has finally found his rhythm as supervisory agent. While I have no doubt Abby would be comforted by him being here, I do believe it would be much worse when he left again." Ducky shook his head. "There's no question he would come. For Abby. And I'm quite sure he could headslap some sense into Anthony. But in the long run?" He gave Jenny a small smile. "let's just say that I'm very glad it's not up to me to make that decision."
With a sigh, Jenny thanked the good doctor, not without a bit of friendly sarcasm. "Some days it doesn't pay to be the person in charge." She cleared her throat and began hesitantly, "Do you think…. Abby and Tony…."
Now it was Ducky looking confused. "Abby and Tony what?"
God, she couldn't believe she was even thinking this, but after overhearing DiNozzo during Bensonhurst's interrogation….. "Ya' know… have….." She was saved when she saw the light bulb come on over the ME'S head. "Have become… more… than brother and sister?" he intimated, eyebrows raised.
Jenny's face lit up, happy she didn't have to be the one to actually say it out loud. "Exactly." Ducky thought it over. "Not to my knowledge. I certainly haven't seen any signs that things have changed between them…. Until now that is," he clarified. "Not that there'd be anything wrong with it if they were." After some more consideration, Ducky continued, "In fact, in thinking about it, I believe they'd make quite a nice couple. Their personalities complement each other's rather well. Anthony gives a strong, nurturing, stable shoulder Abby needs, she gives a certain joie de vivre and unconditional love that Anthony needs." Ducky nodded to himself. "Yes, they'd be wonderful together. But what makes you think they are… canoodling, as they called it back in my day."
The director shook her head, still unsure, while she did agree with Ducky. "I don't know for sure if anything is going on. It was just something DiNozzo said in his interrogation of Bensonhurst. Certain… details….a brother wouldn't know about his sister."
At that moment Ziva walked into the waiting room. "Ducky, Jenny. Is Abby asleep?" "yes, dear," Ducky answered. "The news of the rape took a toll on her."
"I was going to ask how it went," Ziva said quietly. "And you, Director? How are you?" Jenny gave the young Israeli a hug. "I'm fine, Ziva, thank you. It wasn't easy, even though she said she suspected as much. No screaming, no yelling. Just this….calm acceptance and silent tears. Not what I was expecting. Those silent tears…." She looked at the closed door hiding Abby. "I almost think I'd feel better about the whole thing if she had screamed or yelled."
Ziva nodded. "Quiet is not something one generally associates with Abby. Well, I will stay for a while, and McGee will be up later. It is safe for you to go. Abby shall not be alone tonight."
The three of them walked into the hall and over to Abby's room. "Thank you Ziva, for being here. You're a good friend," Jenny said. Ziva gave a small smile. "I certainly hope I am. Although a very good friend would be dragging Anthony DiNozzo by the shorthairs here to see her." Ducky grimaced in imagined pain while Jenny smiled. "if anyone could, it would be you!" She gave Ziva another quick hug. "Call if you need anything. And when McGee relieves you, go home and get some sleep, come in late tomorrow. You need a break."
Ziva raised an eyebrow, gave half a smirk. "and Tony will approve of this?"
Jenny grinned a bit evilly. "Oh, he has no choice but to approve a direct order from his boss." Ziva chuckled. "Oh, to be a bug in the hall when he finds out!"
Ducky snickered as he put on his hat. "It's FLY on the WALL, dear, and I agree, I would enjoy seeing that, also." He turned to Jenny. "May I walk you out, Madame Director?"
"Thank you, Ducky," Jenny said as they started down the hall. "Remember," she called over her shoulder. "If we need anything, we will call," Ziva answered, vanishing into Abby's room.
