CHAPTER 11
A/N the site hasn't let me upload for a few days. Sorry this one is so short, chapter 12 will be up tonight, promise!
Ziva held it together long enough to call Tony, then she moved as far away from Abby as she could while still keeping her in sight. Unconsciously mirroring Abby's movements, she sank to the floor drawing her knees up to her chest.
It took less that 20 mins for the team to get to Abby's place and as soon as he saw the situation Ducky took charge.
"Anthony, help me get Abby into the other room. Timothy, make a pot of tea. Jethro, talk to Ziva, I fear that you alone will able to get through to her"
As soon as they were alone, Gibbs sat down beside Ziva, by snapping his fingers close to her face he got her to focus on him.
"Tell me what happened"
Mechanically, Ziva recounted every word, action and reaction. She was holding her emotions in check, barely and Gibbs knew he had to talk fast.
"Ziver, you did the right thing for the right reasons. You are nothing like Saleem."
Ziva turned away from him, too afraid of what she might see in his eyes.
"I'm proud of you"
She turned back and met his gaze, seeing only the truth. He eyes filled with unshed tears and her chin trembling as she fought to hold them back.
Gibbs slipped an arm around her shoulders and held her as she let the tears fall. He knew this wasn't over for Ziva, not by a long way but maybe he had managed to head off the immediate crisis.