Hi, everyone! I was away for the weekend so this has taken me a little longer than normal to write. However, I am trying to get back on track and I hope that you are able to enjoy the result. Thanks to my proofreaders, KrisShannon and fiftyshadeswritergal. Also I extend my thanks to the readers and reviewers (a rare and highly coveted breed!) - Troubled-Angel-26, fiftyshadeswritergal, DS2010, NCISJunkie79, KrisShannon, Rhi, Guest (Ziva won't be fired so if that is what you want to see, you should probably find another story), Dalm (you're new but very active in commenting - thank you!), and charmed princess izmadi (I believe that you are new as well, so welcome!). A, I'm not sure if you will read this but you had previously mentioned that you wanted to know if I would accept a writing prompt from you. Definitely! I can't promise to use it but it never hurts to have more imagination fodder! I am currently focusing a lot on my NaNoWriMo Camp goals of editing, but I will still try to keep writing on this website!
Speaking of prompt stories, I need to ask a question - who was it who once posted that they would like to see a story where Abby revoked Gibbs' right to discipline her because she did not want to face the consequences? That idea recently came to mind and I am working it into a story that is in the works. I would love to credit you in the opening, so if that prompt came from you, please comment!
Okay, I believe that I am caught up with everything that I needed to do. Enjoy!
...
"Which room?" Ducky asked, standing at the top of the stairs while Gibbs followed with a sleeping Ziva in his arms.
"Oh, mine," Gibbs sighed, looking at the stuffed bats hanging from the ceiling in his guest room. Glow-in-the-dark skeleton stickers surrounded the window and a bejeweled skull sat on the dresser. Various costume pieces were strewn across the bed from Abby's last wild dash to a party after her latest grounding was lifted. "Abby's style might scare her."
"Good thinking," Ducky agreed, raising an eyebrow at Abby's decorations.
Gibbs gestured toward the bed. "Anyway, I changed the sheets this morning. She can stay here for the night and I'll get Abby to clean up in there by tomorrow."
"Here, let me move the sheets and you can lay her down. Now, take off her shoes and we will let her rest," Ducky directed. "The painkiller she was given should make her quite drowsy. She should sleep for awhile."
"I'll stay with her," Gibbs said. His statement was given with finality. He carefully tucked the blankets around the girl, then took a box off of a chair next to the door and took a seat by Ziva's side.
...
"Where is she?" Jenny asked anxiously. Ducky noticed how she rushed into the house, hair streaming behind her, eyes wide, breath short.
Yes, our Ziva has had a good effect on our Miss Shepard, he noted, pleased to see the genuine care radiating from the director's face.
"Ducky, where is she?"
"Calm down, Jenny. She is in Jethro's room" - he put out his hand to stop her dash for the stairs - "fast asleep. It would be best for her not to be disturbed. Jethro is with her. She will be fine."
"Thank you," she noted, then rushed past anyway. Ducky just sighed and went to the kitchen.
If he was going to be dealing with an over-tired, hurting assassin who was in the middle of an emotional breakdown, he was going to need some tea. Especially if the two "mature" adults in the situation were going to insist on monitoring every move the dear girl made in her fitful sleep.
...
For the second time that day, Ziva woke to a surprise.
"Where am I?" she demanded. At least she tried to demand. It was a little hard to sound commanding under a pile of blankets with medication making her so drowsy, but she tried.
"My house," Gibbs answered from the doorway. He leaned out and called down the hall. "Ducky, she's awake!"
"I don't want him," Ziva mumbled. She hated having doctors fuss over her, even the gentle ME.
"Too bad. You're getting him," another voice said next to her.
"Jenny?" Ziva slowly eased herself so she could look to the side. Her wound protested but Ziva ignored it. "Jenny! What are you doing here?"
"Roll back over. Don't put pressure on your side," Jenny gently directed as she helped Ziva adjust. "And of course I am here, Zi. I came as soon as I could."
"But you must be busy," Ziva protested with a small cough, struggling to sit up although Jenny immediately pushed her back down into the pillows.
"Do not think like that, Ziva," Jenny scolded lovingly. "There is nothing urgent apart from you. Now relax, sweetheart, and let Ducky look at you."
"I see that you are awake," Ducky's distinctive voice said. He came around the bed to Ziva's line of sight. "How are you?"
Ziva frowned. "I am fine. I do not need a doctor."
"Stop talking, Ziva, and let Ducky check you!" Gibbs barked, his relief at her waking mixing with his fear for her safety earlier. Both he and Jenny were on edge and Ducky could tell.
"Jethro, perhaps you would be so kind as to go get a bottle of ginger ale for Ziva?"
Gibbs nodded. "I don't have any here, but I'll go pick some up at the corner store. Listen to Duck, Ziva, and I'll be right back."
Gibbs was gone before Ducky could continue.
"That would be wonderful. And, Jenny ..."
"I will wait outside. If either of you need me, just call," Jenny replied with a bemused smile. She understood what Ducky was doing. He gave her a relieved smile as she stepped out, allowing him privacy with Ziva. As she was leaving, Jenny leaned forward and whispered to the ME, "If she gets too stubborn, Ducky, let me know. I CAN get her to listen."
Ducky smiled and nodded to her, then turned back to Ziva. Upon seeing Jenny leave the room Ziva folded her arms - despite the complaints of her side - and rebelliously glared at Ducky.
"I do NOT need you!"
"Of course not," he soothed, taking her wrist and beginning to take her pulse anyway. "How is your head?"
Ziva frowned and pulled her wrist away. "I am fine!" she protested readily. Really, she was. There was not much blood and not much pain. She had suffered worse at the hand of "friends" than she had of that "foe". She would survive. There was no need for this fuss.
But then again, she had not felt like she did inside for years. It was almost as if the feelings of when she was younger had been unlocked. She felt as unsteady as a sloshing snow globe. Her world was spinning and she was angry. If fighting against Ducky - no matter how much she adored the elderly man - was the only way to get back to her "normal", she would do it.
"Now, Ziva, I certainly hope that you do feel better, but I need to check if that is the truth on a medical level."
Ducky took her wrist again and Ziva immediately yanked it away.
"Ziva," he said in the slightest reproachful manner while still sounding loving. "You have to let me do this."
"No!" she grunted. "I am fine. I have always been fine. I never need anyone."
"Maybe not before, because perhaps no one ever taught you the importance of needing others, but that is changing now."
"I do not need change." She muttered it rebelliously at the duvet. She could not look at Ducky and speak in such a tone, but oh! how she wanted to do so!
Ducky took her wrist again.
"I do not want change!" Ziva yelled. It felt good to be noisy, to be in control vocally. If she could get others to engage in a verbal fight she might be able to regain some control, to protect her reputation.
She jerked away, turning in on herself creating a bump under the covers. Ducky sighed.
"Shall I get Jenny?"
"I do not want her either!"
"But it sounds like you need me," Jenny said sternly, coming to Ziva's side. "Now, are we going to do this the hard way or the easy way?"
...
And until next time ... please review!