Hi, everyone! Yay! Another chapter!
Before you move on to the story, I'd love to tell you that I am hosting a writing contest at the account titled Quarantine Writing Challenge. It is open to all fandoms and is accepting submissions until May 2! Make sure to go check it out! Even if you have never written a story before, you are welcome to use this as your motivation to start! We also need readers/voters starting on May 4. Please check out that account profile for more details and feel free to message me at that account or this one for more information or to answer any questions!
Thanks to all the reviewers on the last chapter (I appreciate you so much!) - Troubled-Angel-26, JessicaRae95, fiftyshadeswritergal (who did some wonderful editing suggestions, as always - thanks!), A, Fan, S (sympathizing on the psych assignments - that's my major), rhiakate, Queenofwheels, DS2010, Ludy, Misdiagnosed, KrisShannon, and Fashionista-girl.
Please enjoy!
...
Jenny entered the door to Gibbs' house - she did not even bother knocking at this point - to the sound of a triumphant yell that sounded like it was coming from the backyard.
"Good aim, Ziver!" Gibbs hollered through an open window. in the kitchen.
Jenny smiled to herself, enjoying the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of the situation. Although Ziva might not be his biological offspring or a child that he raised, there was no doubt in Jenny's mind that the bond growing between the two agents rivaled that of the ties between many fathers and daughters - most definitely the one between Ziva and Eli.
"She got the darts back, despite not being in exactly the best mood when in your office today," Gibbs explained without turning from the sink.
He has some sense that lets him know when another person has joined him in the room ...
"'Not exactly the best mood' may be a favourable way of stating it," Jenny groused lightly, taking off her heels. "She was grumpy, Jethro. Maybe you've rubbed off a little too much on her."
A teasing grin lit up his face - he really did smile so much more when he was around Jenny. "Well, better me than you. Don't want her trotting around in those foolish shoes while chasing a terrorist."
"I have chased terrorists in heels, thank you very much!"
"I know. I was there. And I seem to remember that you sprained your ankle severely doing that."
"Please also remember that I caught and cuffed him before you showed up."
Gibbs laughed.
"That you did," he conceded.
"I would assume that she had a good day?" Jenny asked, peeking out the window to see Ziva playing darts in the backyard.
"Besides getting a scolding for stealing my coffee and her not wanting to talk to you, yeah."
"That is good," Jenny mused, smiling at Jethro.
"Her behaving or stealing my coffee? She told me that you didn't care about it when I was scolding her."
"Well, both are good. You don't need all that caffeine and you know it."
"I also don't need thieves on my team."
"You steal cups of coffee off of others all the time - yes, I've seen you do it! I don't think that you have much of a leg to stand on in that department."
Gibbs shrugged and winked and Jenny's heart melted a little, like it always did when he did that. She fluttered her eyelashes just the tiniest bit as she smiled back - she knew that would get through to him and make him feel the same emotions in response. It worked.
"Well, are you going to have a talk with her tonight?" Gibbs asked, clearing his throat a little and turning back to preparing dinner, which appeared to be spaghetti and pre-made meatballs from the freezer.
"I'm not sure if I should. She didn't want to talk about it earlier and we both know how reactive she can be when pushed. I don't want to end up fighting with her over it. We won't have a productive talk unless she wants to discuss how things are going. However, it isn't a talk that can be put off indefinitely. What do you think?"
Gibbs looked out at Ziva and considered it for a moment.
"Leave it for the night. It might be selfish but I don't want to have to discipline her right now. She's supposed to be un-grounded tomorrow. Wait until then."
Jenny smiled.
"I understand and agree. I am not eager to have to do any disciplinarian interactions with her tonight. Ducky is planning on un-grounding her tomorrow, correct?"
"Yep."
"Then maybe I'll have a chat with her on Friday. That will give her a day to enjoy her freedom and hopefully calm down enough to be willing to talk."
"Abs is coming over that night after work to help me build her bed. Maybe you could take that time with Ziva?"
"I have this Saturday off. Perhaps I will see if she would like to spend the night with me? That way Abby could have some time alone with you and Ziva and I would have time for a good chat."
"Sounds good in theory."
"I know, I know. We'll just have to see how it works in reality."
Gibbs inclined his head a little in agreement.
Jenny smiled.
"Now, do you have some fresh tomatoes? I have a wonderful pasta sauce recipe that will beat anything from a can. I know that you have all the other ingredients."
"Sounds good. We got some tomatoes along with the other groceries on our way home earlier. They're over there on the cupboard."
"Wonderful. Now just scoot to the side and give me some working room."
"When have I ever 'scooted'?!"
"Just now, thank you!"
They both laughed, their happiness spilling out of the kitchen window loudly enough that Ziva, who had been focused on her darts, suddenly realized that Jenny was there and that it might be interesting to go inside and see what was so amusing. The all-important darts might not be quite as amusing as spending time with Jenny and Gibbs after all.
Perhaps the darts could wait until the morning.
...
"So? Ducky? Ducky? Please do not make me stay grounded any longer!" Ziva begged with hopeful eyes at the end of her Thursday morning appointment after her therapy session.
Ducky chuckled, happy that being the "key keeper" of her grounding was a role that he could now relinquish.
"My dear, your side is almost perfectly healed. Now do you promise to take good care of it and yourself from now on?"
"Yes!" Ziva replied, nearly choking in her eagerness to answer.
"Well, then, I see no reason for you to stay grounded. Jethro?"
They both turned to Gibbs who had come to the doorway when he had heard them finishing.
"Will you behave?"
"Forever!" Ziva responded instantly and optimistically.
Gibbs shook his head good naturedly.
"Then go be free, Ziver."
"Yes!" Ziva cheered triumphantly, running for the door, then pausing and turning back to Gibbs with a look of honest confusion on her face. "I am allowed outside, correct?"
"You can go. Just let me know when you do and where you're going, okay?"
"And no running for the first few days!" a perceptive Ducky added.
Ziva's smiled wavered for the briefest second, but then she seemed to consider her situation a little more.
"I ... promise not to run until you ... you tell me that I can," she said softly but sincerely.
A look of pleasant surprise washed over Ducky's face and he smile approvingly. "Thank you, Ziva. I trust you and know that you will keep your promise."
Ziva hesitated again. "I ... know that you trust me. And I will wait."
Then the emotions of being trusted and trusting began to overwhelm her and she headed for the door before quickly turning.
"Gibbs, I am going outside to ru... I mean, jog."
"I'll be leaving in twenty minutes. Will that be enough time?" Gibbs asked, smiling at the visible impatience on Ziva's face as she waited eagerly by the door.
"Yes!"
And then she was gone!
"I am unsure if I have ever been so happy to tell someone that a cut has healed properly," Ducky said.
Gibbs chuckled. "I understand. Out of all of the kids, she handles being grounded the worst. That's only going to happen again in cases requiring extremely severe discipline and for a pre-determined period of time."
"Too hard on you?"
"Yes!"
...
Outside, Ziva finished stretching and began to slowly jog off down the street. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the sunshine on her skin as she tied her jacket around her waist and began to pick up her pace while remaining aware of her promise to Ducky.
She smiled and felt the pent-up tension begin draining from her body.
The grounding was over.
Freedom - even if it was still according to that list of rules - was sweet.
...
I was so happy to finally have Ziva happy with her freedom restored! I hope that you were too. But don't worry - there is still plenty more drama left to come!
Remember to check out the contest profile if you have time! We could use more participants, and readers/voters will be a valued commodity in about half a week!
Hugs! Stay safe and may God bless you all!
MM