Chapter 3 – A Bolt of Lightning

Ah, the much anticipated conclusion. I know, it's been a long time coming – thank you for being patient. Anyway, the characters aren't mine, but the rather hot story line is. Enjoy!

"Finally," Tony said, walking up behind Ziva. "I've been waiting to see who this mystery guy is all week. I assume that you invited him?"

"I already told you, there is no mystery man Tony. But I am waiting on my date." She stared intently towards the door.

Tony was silent for a few moments. "Oh, you invited a friend. That's a let-down."

Ziva turned around to face him. "No, I am waiting on an official date, as in I am dating the person I'm waiting for." She turned back around in time to see Abby stroll through the door with Gibbs right behind her. "Ah there's my date now."

"Gibbs?" Tony asked incredulously. "That's why it's not a mystery guy, he's not a mystery at all… well, sort of… but isn't he a bit too old-"

"Gibbs is not my date."

Tony started speaking again, but Ziva was no longer paying him any attention. Abby stepped towards her looking like she had never looked before. Her crimson red dress was floor length and hugged her body in all the right places. Ziva felt severely out of place next to such a beauty. When Abby reached her, Ziva's voice refused to work.

"I- uh… you…" was all she managed to get out.

"I think you look beautiful too," Abby said with a smile. She leaned close to the speechless agent, a placed a gentle kiss on to her slightly parted lips.

"It's like my birthday and Christmas in one," Tony said in awe.

"Close your mouth Tony," Gibbs ordered. "You too, McGee," he added as the other agent joined them.

Ziva rolled her eyes as she grabbed Abby's hand. "I'm going to dance with my girlfriend now." She pulled Abby towards the ballroom, twirling her quickly and the red dress flared out while a small crowd watched appreciatively. Abby leaned in close to whisper in Ziva's ear.

"A bit forceful, but probably for the best. I think Tony's eyes nearly fell out," Abby's eyes sparkled as she gazed at her date. The pair spent the rest of the evening twirling around the dance floor, and, despite Tony's frequent attempts to cut in, they separated only once, for Abby to dance with Gibbs.

The ball ended too soon for Abby's liking, although Ziva was a bit tired of fending off men intent on wooing her date.

"I'm taking you out of here before one more drunk man tries to separate us," Ziva growled.

"Why Officer David, I do believe you're jealous!" Abby said with a wide smile.

"Of course not. Mossad operatives do not get jealous," Ziva said seriously.

Abby smirked as they collected their jackets from coat check. "Yes, you are jealous."

They strolled out arm in arm, and Ziva helped Abby into the passenger seat of her car. They started out of the parking lot and drove for a few minutes before Abby spoke again.

"I kinda like it."

"You like what?" Ziva asked curiously.

"You. Jealous."

"I will say it again, I was not jealous."

"You growled. At the men, I mean. You growled at them. If that's not jealousy, I don't know what is. It's like a lion, staking his claim on the lioness."

"Oh automatically I am the man in the scenario?" Ziva asked her, amused.

"Everyone knows that the lionesses have more power in the pride, they do the hunting, and the men just sit around all day, looking good," Abby explained.

"Well that is true. I am extremely good looking," Ziva conceded. Abby scowled. She tried a different tack. "So you like it, huh?"

"Yes."

"I plan to stake my claim to you for quite a long time, Miss Scuito. Do you think you are up for that?"

"Oh yeah. Take me back to your place and I can demonstrate just how up to it I actually am." Ziva smiled and stepped on the gas harder.

The pair pushed their way into Abby's apartment, and changed into some comfortable clothes. They were nestled on the bed when Ziva finally spoke the words she'd been holding in all evening.

"I love you, Abby." The other woman's breath hitched slightly at the words that came out of Ziva's mouth. The smile that came to her face was radiant, and the kiss she placed on Ziva's waiting lips unmistakable in its meaning.

"I bet you say that to all your conquests," Abby smirked through the tears leaking from her eyes.

"You are not a conquest. You are… a new addiction." Ziva said with a smoldering look.

"Promise me you won't get the patch?" Abby said with one eyebrow cocked.

"What patch?" Ziva asked, confused. Abby shook her head and smiled.

"Never mind." They were silent for a few minutes more.

"Right here." Ziva said suddenly. Abby sat up on her elbows.

"Huh?" she asked.

"The tattoo should go right here," she said, kissing a spot on Abby's right hip. Abby smiled.

"Sorry, it's too late," Abby said, with an evil glint in her eye.

"Well where is it then?" Ziva asked, looking at her intently. Abby sat up completely and pulled her shirt off up over her head. She tossed it and it landed across the room. Just above her lacy black bra, the top of a dark mark was visible.

"What is it? Can I see?" Ziva asked.

Abby smirked. "What do I get if I show you?"

Ziva licked her lips. "What do you want?"

Abby considered for a moment. "Information," she stated finally.

Ziva cocked one eyebrow. "I am fairly knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects. What would you like to know?"

Abby's smile broadened. "What I want to know is how I got this lucky."

"It's I who got lucky. And very soon, I hope to get lucky again." She grinned.

Abby finally stripped off her last article of clothing. Ziva leaned in and looked at the small dark spot on her girlfriend. A jagged black line ran three inches down her right breast: a bolt of lightning.