Here we are again - several hours since the last chapter! Sunday morning is here - just barely!
...
"Abby. Abby!" Gibbs whispered, shaking her shoulder gently. "Wake up."
"Mmmh," Abby groaned, rolling to her other side.
"Abby, wake up." Gibbs looked at the alarm clock next to the bed. The numbers glowed red in the darkness - 4:13 A.M. It was not the earliest Gibbs had woken - he used to get up at 4:00 on a regular basis. However, he was fairly certain that night owl Abby had never shared that habit. Still no response from her.
"Abigail! Get up before I take you over my knee again," he threatened loudly, joking but hoping that the false threat would wake her up.
"Okay, okay," she mumbled grumpily, sleepily blinking at him. "What time is it?"
"Nearly quarter past four. Come on. Time to go to work."
"Wait? This is Sunday and - what time did you say?!"
"Got a call, Abs. I need you to come in with me. You'll need to run evidence for us."
"I'll come later," she mumbled.
"No, you won't. You don't have your car here."
"I'll get a taxi" - mumbled into the pillow.
"Young lady, get out of bed now, or I will make good on my threat," Gibbs ordered sternly, quickly losing patience. Time was of the essence in these situations and he was used to having his team jump when he spoke.
"Hmph!" Abby grunted, pulling her blanket over her head.
SWAT!
"Ouch!" Abby bounced up and glared at Gibbs in the dim room.
"C'mon."
Abby grumpily swung her legs off the bed and stood, still frowning.
"I'm up," she snapped.
Gibbs placed a hand on each shoulder and looked at her.
"Change the attitude."
Abby shifted and dropped her head. She seemed to be remembering yesterday and her scowl melted away, seemingly for self-preservation.
"Understood?"
"Yes, si ... Gibbs."
"Good. Now you owe me a coffee. Let's go to the corner store before heading to work."
"I'm still in my clothes from yesterday," Abby protested.
"You have a set here, doncha?"
"Yes."
"Then get changed and we're leaving. Five minutes, got it?"
"Yes, sir."
...
Abby was in the car within the time specified, still tired and not wearing any make-up - but awake and respectful.
"Caf-Pow?"
"Yes, please!"
Gibbs got out at the corner store and left Abby to watch the running car. He soon returned, bringing back a container of coffee grounds and two cups - one of Caf-Pow! and one of strong black coffee.
"Oh, I should have paid for those," Abby mumbled, sleepily taking a sip of her drink, the straw rattling the ice cubes.
"Have you already learned your lesson to not do it again?"
"OH, yes!"
"Then just leave it. I can afford coffee."
...
Ziva rubbed her eyes and resisted collapsing onto her desk. She wanted to be as close to alert as possible when Gibbs came bursting into the bullpen. When he did she was the first to her feet, eager to please the strict leader.
"Are we going to a scene?" she asked. Gibbs ignored her and went straight to his desk. Ziva turned and saw Abby wandering over to Tim's desk. McGee put his arm around her waist and she let him take a sip of her caffeinated drink. Tony walked over and told her a joke. Abby's face lit up with joy, but Ziva bit her lip, once again feeling on the outside of the team. Abby drank more of her Caf-Pow!, Tony teased McGee, Gibbs was grabbing his phone to confirm some necessary detail before dragging his team out into the early dawn of the day.
Ziva slumped down into her chair, wishing that the call had never come.
...
Gibbs listened to the commander on the other end of the phone, but he was watching his kids from the corner of his eye. He noticed Tim's quick glances between Abby and Gibbs, finally relaxing when McGee realized that Abby was okay and Gibbs' anger was gone. Gibbs was amused and proud of the agent's concern. Tony was oblivious of the previous day's drama and he was taking advantage of the quiet moment to entertain his co-workers. Those three were fine. It was Ziva that bothered him.
Gibbs had not missed Ziva's desire to be first to react. His ignoring of her was not meant to be personal - he rarely honoured social graces. He watched her now, the tiny tell-tale flickers of emotions on her face that she was unaware were revealing her true feelings - the most prevalent one being that she was alone, on the outside of the family. Abby's actions of the previous day were deliberately unkind and exclusive - today, the actions of the whole team were unintentionally reaffirming those themes.
This would be a good time to start reaching out to Ziva, Abigail.
"Ziva."
Well, at least Tony's noticed.
Tony drifted over to Ziva's desk and talked to her as Gibbs finished his phone call. As he hung up he felt mildly disappointed that Abby still had not made any effort to reach out to the Mossad officer, but that would have to wait until later.
For now they had a crime scene to reach.
...
Abby was glad to scramble downstairs to her lab. Being around the team had been nice but she had also felt acutely embarrassed, knowing that Ziva had seen all of her childish actions - excepting the "pranks" - yesterday. Tim obviously knew as well, including the fact that she had been caught, but that did not bother her so much. He would have figured out how she would have been disciplined, but she did not feel too bothered by that fact. Tim would respect her privacy. Tony would too, after teasing her privately, if he knew - she hoped that he would not find out. Only Ziva would be unaware of the discipline - but Ziva, intimidating Ziva, was also the one who was owed the apology.
How am I going to apologize to Ziva? She's going to laugh and maybe kill me! No, probably not kill me - Gibbs would stop her - but she'll be annoyed 'cuz I was so mean. I really don't want to apologize. Maybe - maybe Gibbs won't ask and I can just act nice to Ziva and everything will be better. Yes, I'll just do that.
Abby climbed onto one of the stools in front of her computer, fully caffeinated and eager to start for the day. With a slight yelp she jumped up. The hard stool did nothing to ease the residual sting in her posterior. She chose to stand as she worked.
...
"Hey, Abs," Gibbs greeted, passing her as she stood in front of the vending machine, trying to decide which chocolate bar she wanted most.
"Hey," she waved cheerily. Her smile faded nervously as Gibbs came over and whispered in her ear.
"You talked to Ziva yet?"
"Uh, I said good morning to her before you disappeared with everyone."
"Not what I meant, Abs. Have you?"
"No."
Gibbs took the dollar from her hand.
"Hey! That's mine. I want it back!"
Gibbs glared.
"Apologize and you will."
Abby frowned and reached in her pocket and pulled out another dollar. "I'll do it later." Gibbs reached for her dollar and she tried to yank it away, but he grabbed her wrist.
"Get back to the office, find Ziva, and apologize now or I will make good on my promise from last night," Gibbs said in a steely calm voice. Abby gulped.
"Which promise?"
"That if you acted out again like you have been lately that I would deal with it immediately. There are lots of empty rooms in this building. Do you need me to refresh your memory on what happens when you act like this?"
Abby's eyes grew comically wide and she stuffed the money back into her pocket.
"No! I'll go find Ziva, I promise!"
"Then scoot."
Abby did, pausing for a moment to look over her shoulder at him and frown. He frowned back. His experience over-rode her indignation and she left to find Ziva. Gibbs looked down at the dollar, then put it in the machine and purchased a chocolate bar. He would take it down to the lab to smooth over the ruffled emotions after she humbled herself and apologized.
I just hope that she does. I do not want to have to go through on those threats.
...
"Uh, Ziva?"
Ziva popped out from behind the file shielding her from the others.
What is Abby doing here? And why is she acting so nervous? This is definitely not like the Abby from yesterday!
"Um ..." Abby paused and looked around. Tony and Tim were both absorbed in their own work and were ignoring the girls. This seemed to give Abby a boost to say what she came to say.
And what would that be? Another insult about my knives?
"Uh, um..."
"Stick it out," Ziva suggested.
"You mean 'spit it out'?"
"Yes."
"I ... I'm sorry."
That was not what I was expecting.
Now that Abby had started, she was able to keep going.
"I'm sorry for being so mean to you. I was rude and unkind and selfish and mean and nasty to you and that was wrong. I'm sorry."
What?! She ... she ... Abby apologized - to ME?!
"I ... thanks," Ziva said, still in shock.
I never expected that - from Abby of all people!
Abby chewed on her lip and wrung her hands before blurting out, "Do you forgive me?"
Forgive?
"I guess, yes?" Forgiveness was not something that had been practiced in the David family. Revenge and violence had been much more encouraged.
"Thank you!"
Abby threw herself at Ziva and dragged the Israeli into a tight hug before Ziva could react. She eventually relaxed a little, even returning the embrace a little.
I never expected this earlier this morning!
Abby pulled back and smiled before scampering over and claiming Gibbs' spinning office chair in the leader's absence, leaving a stunned Ziva behind. Ziva continued to watch the Goth, who seemed to wince as she sat down.
...
I hope that you listened, Abby.
Gibbs entered the bullpen and looked around for the scientist, but he could not spot her.
I promise you, Abigail, if you did not listen you will be one sore and sorry little girl when I find you!
"Gibbs!" The cheerful call from his desk revealed the location of the girl in question - and the smile on her face and shock on Ziva's confirmed that the apology had been offered and accepted. "Where's my missing dollar?"
"In the lab."
Abby got up and walked over, slightly more stiffly than normal. He whispered, "You did it?" She nodded. "Okay. Good girl." She beamed at the praise. "Now, off to your evidence. I'll be down in a bit."
"Okidoki!"
And off she went, leaving behind a proud Gibbs - and a thoroughly confused Ziva!
...
Thanks to BohoAngel, KrisShannon, Guest, Hippiechic81, and DS2010. Your comments are so nice and I love hearing from you! Hope that you enjoyed. Anyone else reading? I think so - we've got readers from around the whole world and thousands of views so far this month. Come on, guys! You can comment - I believe in you! :P :D
I'll probably update on Thursday or Friday. Check back soon!
