Sorry for the delay in updating but here is the next chapter. I did play with the idea of writing my own Ziva rescue but after watching last Tuesday episode I just gave up, how could I beat that.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing

Please Read & Review.

Chapter 14

Abby stared at the clock above the fireplace; it was over an hour since Gibbs had rung to say he was leaving the Navy Yard. She nervously paced to the window and peeked through the blind, the street outside was empty, not a car headlight insight.

She glanced at the coffee table to where her cell phone lay on a pile of magazines and debated whether to call him. "Give it 5 minutes" she told herself and then she would ring.

5 minutes dragged by and still no Gibbs, Abby started to feel the panic welling up inside her. May be there was a problem on the beltway, an accident or something and he was stuck in traffic, but normally he would call, why hadn't he called.

She had been feeling anxious all week, ever since Gibbs had been called to aid in Ziva's rescue.

He tried to reassure her before he left for his flight to Africa that he would be ok.

"Don't worry Abs, I'm on the sidelines with this one and McGee will make sure I don't do anything stupid."

Vance had given him strict instructions that under no circumstances were he to go out into the field.

"You're there to help with intelligence, remember that Gibbs".

It had taken Tony and his team nearly a month to track down the camp and now they needed Gibbs and McGee to help co-ordinate the ground attack.

She hugged him tight "If you come back with the tiniest of scratches, you'll be sleeping in the guest room for a month."

"There's no way you'll survive without my body for that long" he grinned before giving her a soft and languid kiss in an attempt to show Abby exactly what she'll be miss if she went through with her threat.

Abby felt her body start to respond to his touch, "God, Gibbs, I wish we had more time"

"So do I Abs"

Reluctantly letting her go, Gibbs promised once again that he wouldn't put himself in danger. "I've got too much to lose now Abby".

Abby found it hard to sleep whilst Gibbs was away. She missed the comfort of his arms around her as she slept, she tried hugging Bert and going to bed wearing one of his old T-shirts but it wasn't the same.

During the third night that Gibbs was away, Abby ended up in the kitchen eating her way through a tub of ice cream and talking to Jellybean.

"I don't know about you baby, but I miss your Dad real bad and I hope he comes home soon"

It wasn't just Gibbs she missed, but the whole team, the squad room felt so empty without them. Ducky and Palmer had tried to cheer her up but the more Gibbs was away the unhappier she had became.

"I wonder what he's doing now" she sniffed, taking a large spoonful of ice cream from the tub. "I miss him so much"

Abby raised the spoon to her mouth but suddenly stopped.

"Wow" she exclaimed excitedly, dropping the spoon back into the tub and placing a hand to her belly.

""Do you miss him too?"

The baby kicked again.

"I take that as a yes" she grinned, lightly stroking her tummy "but can you remember to do that when your daddy comes home"

With the baby moving inside of her, Abby realised she wasn't alone anymore, she had Jelly bean to keep her company until Gibbs returned.

Smiling she made her way back to bed and curled under the covers with Bert and chatted to Jelly bean until she finally fell asleep.

The next morning she was rudely awoken by her cell phone vibrating on the bedside cabinet. Bleary eyed she blindly flicked it open.

"Hello" she mumbled

"Hi, Abs, did I wake you?"

"Not really" she looked at the clock on the bedside cabinet "I needed to get up anyway"

"I rung to tell you we're coming home"

The line suddenly became distorted and Abby found it difficult to hear Gibbs.

"Is Ziva with you?" she yelled, trying to make herself heard through the static on the line.

"Yeah" was all she heard before the line went dead.

16 hours later Abby was standing in her lab with Gibbs' arms tightly wrapped around her.

"I'm sorry Abs"

"You promised me" she sobbed, running a finger along the cut on his lip.

"I know but…"

She silenced him with her lips, the kiss fierce and demanding with her need to show him how relieved she was that he was back safe and sound.

Gibbs reluctantly pulled away from the kiss "Abs", he cupped her face with his hands "forgive me"

She stared back at him, eyes brimming with tears and lips bruised by desperate kisses "I do" she sobbed before capturing his lips with hers again.

Their reunion was interrupted by the ding of the elevator.

"Sorry to disturb you, Boss" It was Tony, "but Vance wants you in debriefing"

"He's finished with Ziva?"

Tony nodded "Yep, I've left her in the squad room but she really needs to go home"

Abby gasped "But she's got no home"

"Boss, I can arrange for her to stay at the safe house"

Abby and Gibbs looked at each other, both having the same thought. "Tony" said Abby, "Ziva is staying with us."

That conversation had taken place several hours earlier and Ziva was now asleep in their guest room but Gibbs still hadn't come home.

Frantically she picked up her cell phone and speed dialled Gibbs, her call went straight to voice mail. His cell phone must be off or out of range, that explains why he hasn't rung me she thought as she tried to reason with herself.

Another ten minutes went by and Abby was really panicking now, she called Gibbs cell over a dozen times and still no answer. In desperation she was about to call Tony when she heard the lock in the front door turn and a sound of footsteps in the hall.

Gibbs had barely managed to take off his coat when he was enveloped in the biggest Abby hug he had ever had.

"Oh God, Gibbs, I thought something horrible had happened to you"

"Traffic" he kissed the top of her head.

Abby loosened her grip on him and lifted her head from his chest to look into his face "You could have rung"

"I left my cell phone on my desk"

"So much for your rule 3" she laughed before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling in him for a tender kiss.

"So how's our house guest?" asked Gibbs, steering Abby towards the kitchen. He was hungry and his body was demanding caffeine.

"Not very communicative" Abby opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a packet of ham "Will a sandwich do?"

Gibbs nodded and settled himself at the table, "She spoke very little on the flight home"

"You were awake for the whole flight?" Abby mocked surprise.

"Yes, I know it's unusual but I was too pumped up to sleep, all of us were"

Gibbs fought to suppress a yawn and lost.

Abby switched on the coffee maker "Looks like somebody needs a dose of caffeine"

"One cup and then bed"

"Oh, there's one thing you need to do before you go to bed" She placed a sandwich in front of him.

"What's that?" He mumbled through a mouthful of food.

"A shower" She sniffed dramatically "You stink"

Gibbs grabbed her by the waist and dragged her on to his lap "I thought you like the way I smell"

"Normally yes" she giggled, "but you smell like a monkey's arm pit"

Gibb went to place a sloppy kiss on her neck, "Yuck, Gibbs, shower first and then you can kiss me"

She wiggled free from his embrace "Do you still want that coffee?"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow "What do you think?"

"I'll race you to the shower"

Upstairs Ziva was woken from her fitful sleep by the sound of footsteps on the stairs and the peel of Abby's laughter.

She heard heavier footsteps moments later, followed by a bang of a door and Abby shrieking Gibbs' name.

She buried her head into a pillow in attempt to block out the world around her, but sleep still wouldn't come.

Minutes ticked passed and Ziva found herself still wide awake, her mind refusing her the rest she craved. Every time she shut her eyes she relived her rescue over and over again with the voice of Gibbs echoing in her head "Let's go home"

**************************

Gibbs stood under the shower allowing the hot shards of water to flow over his aching muscles. He sighed with relief as Abby massaged his tense shoulders, the stiffness loosening under her touch. She placed a kiss between his shoulder blades "I'm getting out now"

"Just as I was enjoying myself" he laughed.

He felt her smile against his back "And that's why I'm getting out"

"I can't persuade you to stay?" he grinned, reaching for her hand and placing it where he wanted to be touched.

"Not tonight, big boy" she laughed, teasingly stroking him "remember we have a guest"

"Well, if you're not going to satisfy my needs there's only one thing left for me to do" smirked Gibbs.

Abby shrieked and quickly jumped out of the shower as freezing water cascaded over their bodies.

She wrapped herself in a white fluffy towel "You're can be such a bastard Gibbs"

"But you love me for it" he grinned, stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel.

"And so conceited to" she smiled, stealing the towel from him.

"Give it back Abby" he growled.

"You'll have to chase me for it" chuckled Abby quickly disappearing through the bathroom door.

It wasn't long before Abby was lightly pinned between Gibbs' wet body and their bed, with Gibbs being extra careful of her baby bump. "Are you prepared to surrender Ms Scuito?"

"Nope" she giggled.

"Are you sure?" Gibbs' hand travelled down to rest on her rib cage.

"Yep"

"Not the correct answer" he grinned before he begun to tickle her.

"Stop it Gibbs" giggled Abby trying to wiggle out of his hold.

Gibbs continued to tickle her "Not until you say yes" he smirked.

Abby giggled and squirmed underneath him "Not a chance"

Gibbs traced a hand down her thigh until it hovered over the flesh behind her knee "Really?"

Abby nodded her head fighting to suppress a grin as she felt Gibbs fingers brush against her sensitive skin.

"Well if that's your answer, you just have to be punished"

Gibbs begun to tickle her again but he soon stopped when an ouch escaped Abby's lips.

"Abs, are you ok?" He quickly rolled off of her with concern written on his face.

She reached out a hand and cupped his face "I'm fine, it's just your son or daughter wanting to join in the fun".

She loosened the towel she was wearing, took Gibbs' hand and rested it on her belly. "Feel"

A wide grin grew on Gibbs' face as he felt Abby's tummy ripple. "A soccer player in the making"

"Or a kick boxing champion" she grinned running fingers through Gibbs hair as he gently kissed her belly.

"Abs" he murmured, his lips still pressed against her stomach.

Abby caressed the back of his neck, "Um"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

*******************************

Ziva glanced at the bedside table, the clock read 02:30, she had been awake for over two hours, her mind still refusing to sleep.

Sighing she got out of bed and headed for the door in search of one thing that would definitely dull her brain, a glass or two of Gibbs' bourbon.

On opening the door, Ziva crept quietly towards the stairs only to come to a halt just as she reached the door to Abby and Gibbs bedroom. She was surprised to see that the door was slightly open with a light from a lamp shining through.

"It's that you Ziva?" came Abby's voice from behind the door.

"Yes" she whispered,

"Are you ok?"

"Fine, just couldn't sleep" she lied, slowly peeking around the door to see Abby sitting up in bed reading a forensic journal with Gibbs sound asleep beside her.

Abby beckoned her into the room. "Me too, baby's given me heartburn"

Ziva glanced worryingly at Gibbs.

Abby patted a spot next to her on the bed "Don't worry, he won't wake"

"I heard that" mumbled Gibbs into his pillow.

Ziva headed back towards the door "I apologise for waking you, I will leave Abby and you to your sleep."

"Ziver"

Ziva allowed herself a little smile at the use of his pet name for her "Yes, Gibbs?"

"Stay"

Gibbs threw his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.

"I leave you girls to talk", he grabbed a throw from the end of the bed.

"Where are you going?" asked Abby as she watched a sleepy Gibbs pad towards the bedroom door.

"To the couch" he groaned.

Ziva waited for Gibbs to leave the room before sitting next to Abby on the bed.

Abby took her hand "Now we can talk"