Hi, everyone! Thanks to fiftyshadeswritergal for her help with editing. Thanks for all the reviews from readers - Troubled-Angel-26, Gibbs4Eva, A, Queenofwheels, Tamara, DS2010, Fashionista-girl, Rhi, Fan, Greatcorals23, fiftyshadeswritergal, Guest, starie78, and Guest. I'm sorry that it took so long for me to update. I was finishing up my summer job and moving for college. I start classes tomorrow - I can't wait! I will try to make my next update sooner than last time!
Enjoy!
...
"It's set up now, Boss," McGee said quietly, stepping inside of the house. He was lowering his voice due to the fact that Ziva was upstairs and asleep, yet Gibbs had wanted this chore done tonight.
"Thanks, McGee."
"Do you know how it works?"
"Nope. That's what you do. I just wanted to have the extra safety for Ziver."
Tim smiled and shook his head with amusement. It was strange to hear Gibbs so concerned for Ziva, who always seemed so independent. Tim guessed that perhaps Gibbs saw something that no one else could see in the ninja, so he was happy to help provide any extra peace of mind when possible. For now, he quietly left the house. It was getting late and without Gibbs, it would be a very busy day at work tomorrow.
...
BRIIIING!
Gibbs grabbed the phone off of the hook.
Why can't anyone remember that I have sleeping kid here?!
"Gibbs!" he barked into the phone.
"Easy, Jethro!" Jenny replied.
And of all people to know ...
"Stop causing all this racket. You'll wake her!"
"I'm pretty sure that your shouting will do that. And what's all this crankiness and worrying about waking Ziva? You sound like a sleep-deprived father of an infant!"
"I feel like it!" Gibbs growled. "Now, why are you calling?"
"You're in court today."
"What?"
"The Hadsen case? Smuggling and human trafficking? Remember? You caught them while looking for missing Corporal Larkin?"
Details of the case returned to Gibbs' memory.
"Yeah."
"You're supposed to be in the courtroom at 9:30. The prosecution has not told me yet when you will be testifying, but they need you there."
"But Ziva!"
"She will be fine. She was not self-harming or suicidal, just had a breakdown. A little time of her own, without you hovering, might help her relax a little more. It would only be for a few hours. Ducky and I will be around. Make sure that she knows that she can call us. She would be fine."
"She wouldn't call you! She hates seeming dependent!"
"Then both Dr. Mallard and I will call her through the time that you are gone. I know how to read the tone of her voice, even over the phone. Now go get dressed in something other than those sawdust covered rags that you have on now, and I will see you later - BEFORE you head home - to hear how your testimony went."
Gibbs glared. Jenny could not see him, but maybe she would feel a little of the coldness.
Maybe she did, because when she next spoke her voice was calmer and considerate.
"I know that you are concerned - I am as well - but she will fine. And think of your team, Jethro. They are concerned as well, and seeing you stop by, even for just a few minutes, would do a lot to calm their nerves. They are a jumpy bunch right now. They are working hard and doing well, but they miss you."
Gibbs could not help himself. He was smiling again at the thought of his team. They were good people and he was proud of them.
And, of course, he would do anything for them.
"I'll be by after court. Call Ziva every hour on the hour."
"Jethro! She might be sleeping!"
"She can go to be early tonight. Promise me, you'll call her."
"I will."
"And Ducky too, alternating so that she has a call every half hour."
"Jethro!"
"Or I'm not leaving."
"Fine!" Jenny sighed. "We'll call her. Now get ready!"
...
"Where are you going?" Ziva asked uneasily from her station on the stairs. She could see that Gibbs was preparing to go somewhere and that was making her feel ... nervous. Despite her fiercely independent side, she was very confused by her constantly swirling emotions. Everything felt ... fragile ... inside of her right now.
Although being around Gibbs sometimes made her feel like she was going to explode from the new rules and restrictions he had in place, the thought of him leaving her was making her feel agitated and strangely close to tears. Ducky would say that she was struggling against feeling abandoned, but Ziva only knew that she did not like what was going on in her world.
Gibbs answered, "I have to testify in court."
"Why?"
Gibbs paused and frowned a little at the question. Ziva caught on to what had slipped from her mouth and blushed.
Now I sound weak! I sound like a baby about to start crying because its parents are out of sight. I am fine. I am fine.
Gibbs did not try to answer the question, just walked over to Ziva and handed her a phone.
"Answer if it rings. Every time it rings, answer. Jen and Ducky will be checking up on while I'm gone, and so will I, when I have a chance."
Ziva took the phone, avoiding eye contact. That phone represented a lot of things. Distance, Gibbs being gone, people caring, involvement in her life, rules, protection, lack of freedom. She felt like embracing it and breaking it in the same instant.
"Will you be fine, little one?" Gibbs asked gently, tilting her chin so that she would meet his gaze.
"Of course," she answered curtly, pulling away.
"Good."
He leaned in and kissed the top of her head.
"Follow the rules, answer the phone. I'll be back in a few hours. If you need anything, let Jen, Duck, or anyone on the team know. And you can always call me."
"I am fine," Ziva grumbled stubbornly.
A chuckle, another kiss, and he was gone.
...
Back and forth.
Back.
And forth.
Back.
And.
Forth.
Ziva had been pacing for the last twenty-eight minutes.
Ducky had called, concerned about Ziva's head. Her scratches. Her bandages. Her emotions.
It was the fourth time that he had called.
Jenny had called six times. Gibbs had called twice. Abby and Tony had both checked on her as well, and Jimmy had called out his greetings from the background of one of Ducky's chats.
I am tired of that old phone!
Just then it started singing out the arrival of a new call.
I will not answer.
I will not I will not I will not I will not ...
She flipped it open reluctantly.
"David."
"Are all these calls keeping you awake?" Jenny asked.
"Yes," Ziva responded curtly.
"I told Jethro!" Jenny sighed. "Can you last another two hours, Zi? He's ... concerned. Having us call you so much was the only way that he would willlingly agree to go testify."
Ziva remained silent, trying to hide her surprise. Once again, she was unsure if she liked or disliked this concern.
"Keep answering. It'll be over soon," Jenny said.
"I ... will," Ziva assured her.
"Love you, Zi."
Ziva hung up the phone. She wandered back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
...
"I'll be home in an hour, Ziver."
Although she was not anxious to see Gibbs again, at least the constant phone calls would stop.
Possibly.
"Be good."
"Hmm."
Ziva's hum was noncommital.
The call ended and Ziva continued pacing.
Her glances began to drift toward the door.
No.
No.
I was told that I could not.
They are being nice.
I cannot.
I cannot.
Gibbs has been kind, but ...
I do not want to stay.
I have to at least get a breath of fresh air.
I need to.
Moving with sudden decision, Ziva pulled on her running shoes and opened the door.
"Ahh!" she sighed happily.
...
McGee had a reason that he had not called Ziva that day.
He was feeling guilty.
It was not like he had any other option when Gibbs called and asked him to set up a motion-sensing video security system.
And this morning Gibbs had called and asked that McGee keep an eye on the system until he returned. He had said that he wanted to make sure that no Mossad people showed up, but McGee was suspicious that there was a much greater chance that Ziva would be trying to push boundaries.
So McGee was babysitting Ziva electronically with instructions to tattle if she disobeyed Gibbs' rules.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
McGee's head shot up from where he was sitting at his desk.
"Ohnoohnoohno!"
"What's going on, McGee?" Gibbs asked quietly from behind him.
McGee jumped.
"Uh, noth..."
"No lying, Tim. She's out, isn't she?" Gibbs saw the screen and found the answer for himself.
"Maybe she heard something and needed to go check?" Tim suggested hopefully. Gibbs just watched Ziva pacing for a few minutes, then turned away.
"Don't call her, McGee."
Tiim slumped over on his desk and groaned. It would not take long for Ziva to figure out who helped Gibbs find out anyway. And then he was going to be dead.
...
Ziva had resumed her pacing outside. She gulped in the fresh air, all the sweeter due to its stolen quality.
"Just perfect for a run," she told herself. She began to stretch.
But Gibbs had been so kind to you!
Oh, so her conscience was deciding to speak up at this perfect moment for rebellion. It always did show up at the wrong times.
I never asked for his kindness!
She rolled her shoulders, loosening her body.
He cares for you.
I never asked for him to care either!
She rolled her ankles in small circles.
He is thinking about your safety.
I do not need his help. I have always been safe on my own.
Liar!
Safe enough!
LIAR!
She reached for her toes and held the stretch for ten seconds.
You would be breaking the rules.
That is the LAST thing to concern me.
No, it is not. You do not want Gibbs to discipline you.
He would n... I do not care about his silly punishments. I want to go for a run! AND I WILL!
She bounced on her toes lightly, flexing her feet.
You always wanted this kind of relationship before, when you did not have it in reach.
Now THAT hit hard. Ziva was particularly angry at her conscience.
I never wanted it with HIM! I ... wanted it with ... someone else.
Maybe he could be someone else.
Ziva ran off of the porch, attempting to leave her conscience behind.
...
Ziva sat on the sofa, trying to ignore that conscience niggling her with reminders she wanted to forget. Somehow her eyes kept drifting back to the list on the wall. Rule number 6 stood out as if written in flames.
"No leaving the house without permission."
When they had created the list, Gibbs had explained that this was not meant to be restrictive but protective.
"I can't protect you if I don't know where you are. If I feel that it is okay, you'll be able to go out or I can go with you."
Ziva bristled inside, just like when Gibbs had been adding the rule to the list.
"I know what's safe," she muttered. "I was fine running up and down the street on my own."
She continued to think about what Gibbs had said.
"And as this is a variation of you needing to stay safe and avoid unnecessary rules - rule 2 on this list - then I will be disciplining you with a spanking if you break this rule. Do you understand?" Gibbs had asked.
She had nodded. She had understood. But she had been thinking about how she would break the rule when he and Jenny were not around. Now she had, but instead of feeling liberated she was stuck with this lump of guilt.
I was only out for ten minutes. It hurt my side to run, so I just walked up and down the street for a few minutes. But that was not fun. All that I could think about was those rules!
Gibbs was kind to me. He TRUSTED me to obey those rules this morning. And now I have broken his trust!
Her stomach knotted. She was dreading Gibbs' return.
...
I hope that you enjoyed. Please review. What do you think will happen? How do you think Gibbs and Ziva are going to resolve this situation? I can't wait to hear from you!