Thaks so much for your reviews on the last chapter. You all are great. Thanks to Wren for the beta job.

Chapter 10

"Hello Abby… um Abby! ABBY!" Ziva shouted over the electric guitar solo blaring from the forensic scientist's lab. She assumed the woman was in there, though she couldn't tell because of the noise, oh excuse me, music, that seemed to be emanating from somewhere in front of her.

"What!" Abby shouted, finally hearing her over the noise. She turned down the volume and spun around. "Oh hey Ziva!" The bubbly goth ran over, giving her a hug.

"Hello Abby." Ziva mumbled, her face pressed into Abby's shoulder.

"How are you?" Abby squealed, pushing Ziva back and looking her over. "I haven't seen you in sooooooo long."

"Abby, it has been only two days." Ziva said, the corner of her mouth pulling up into a half smile.

"I know, like a lifetime, right?" She sighed dramatically. "So…" She backed up, spreading her arms wide. "What brings you to my humble lab?"

"I was feeling particularly…useless…in the bullpen. Tony, Gibbs and McGee are at a crime scene. Ducky and Palmer are doing an autopsy…" Ziva looked down.

"Aw Ziva…" Abby hugged her again and then held her by her upper arms. "You're NOT useless. Who else but you could have made those gang bangers cry in interrogation last week? Or that rapist yesterday, who practically begged to sign a confession statement? No one but you Ziva David! So you better not feel useless." Abby's voice was firm, as was her grip on Ziva's arms.

Ziva smiled, nodding her head. "Thank you Abby. So, is there anything I can help you with until we get a suspect?"

"Unfortunately no. I'm just as bored as you are. All of my babies are working their magic and I am left here all by myself." She paused. "Ooh! Wait! I'm starving! Want to go get lunch?"

"Yes." Ziva said. "We could do that. I am kind of hungry as well."

"Alright so let's grab Miera and get going." Abby took Ziva's hand and all but dragged Ziva across the room.

"Oh, Miera is at home today."

Abby stopped suddenly, turning to face Ziva. "Is she alright?" She demanded, her voice serious.

Ziva nodded. "Of course. She is just very tired. We went for a run last night, and accidentally ran a few miles more than we meant to." Ziva heard Abby snort. "I do not get it. What is so funny Abby?"

"Just you Ziva." Abby smiled, shaking her head. "Come on." She placed Ziva's hand on her arm and gently led the younger woman from the room.

---

Pushing her sunglasses over her eyes, Ziva looked up, enjoying the feel of the early afternoon sun on her face. She sat across from Abby at a quiet little café just outside the Navy Yard. "It feels like a beautiful day."

Abby smiled wistfully. "It is Ziva. I wish you could see it."

Ziva lowered her head, facing Abby. A soft smile spread across on her face. She reached across the table for Abby's hand. "I know you do. Thank you Abby. You know…um…you know what I miss the most?"

"What?" The forensic scientist looked at her intently.

"Seeing you all. The team. I mean, in my mind…I know what you look like. But… but I will never see if anything changes. If you get another tattoo, or McGee over-bleaches his teeth again…What if Gibbs grows another moustache? And Tony…" She went silent, her sightless eyes saddening behind her sunglasses.

"What about Tony Ziva?" Abby was a little taken aback by Ziva's vulnerability. She was unaccustomed to seeing this level of emotion coming from her tough co-worker.

"As he grows older…The last time I… I saw him, I was fighting with him." She closed her eyes, praying that Abby could not see them glisten behind her shaded lenses. She forced a smile. "I am sorry Abby. I do not want to dampen your lunch."

"The term is 'put a damper on' Ziva, and you're not." Abby squeezed her friend's hand. "I know you're hurting Ziva, and I know it's not fair, but you will get through. You are Ziva David for crying out loud!"

Ziva let out a small chuckle and nodded her head. "You always know what to say Abby, even if you are a little…eccentric about it sometimes."

"Hey!" Abby lightly tapped the side of Ziva's head in a pseudo Gibbs slap.

Ziva's jaw dropped. "You did not just hit me!" She laughed. "If Tony or McGee had done that they would have lost an arm." She pointed her finger at where she believed Abby was.

Abby grinned, the smile audible in her voice. "Order your lunch Ziva."

"Um Abby?"

"Yeah Ziva?"

"What is on the menu?"

---

"That was a very good lunch Abby, thank you." The special agent clutched her co-worker's arm as they walked back to the Navy Yard.

"Thank you for the company! Do you think the…" She paused when Ziva stopped walking. Abby felt her companion tense up. "What's wrong?"

"Shhhh do you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"Someone is watching us. What do you see?"

"Uh…a couple walking their dog, an old lady feeding pigeons, a bunch of kids playing soccer…"

"What is over there?" Ziva pointed to her right.

Abby looked towards the area in question. "It's just a park with trees Ziva. Are you alright?"

Ziva sighed, knowing that the other woman would not, could not, understand. "Yes. We should get back to NCIS, the boys will probably have evidence for you." Ziva cast one more sightless glance at the wooded area before starting to walk again, still holding Abby's arm.

The goth shot her friend a strange look, wondering what was going on. Abby turned around to face the direction in which she was walking. As she did so, both women missed noticing the dark complexioned man who was hiding in the shadows of the trees.

So there's Sentimental!Ziva and Ninja!Ziva in the same chapter :-D. Please let me know what you think. I will once again send out sneak peaks for reviews.