This chapter contains major spoilers for season 4 episode 1 Shalom. I kept everything the same, just added my own Zabby touch to it. Read at your own risk. I own absolutely nothing.
I am free to take request now.
Thank you to kam102991 for making this request and allowing me to keep this fic going. I immediately started getting ideas once I started remembering which episode this was, so hopefully it's good.
If you want me to do an episode under season 10, PM with the name of the episode or Review WITH a Request.
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As soon as the elevator doors opened, Abby bolted out, running towards McGee who was playing some sort of video game on Tony's computer or it used to be Tony's computer and desk before Gibbs retired. Now Tony occupied Gibbs's old desk, McGee had Tony's, Lee had McGee's and Ziva had stayed at her desk.
"Is he here yet? Is he here yet?"
McGee didn't look up from the video game.
"Abby, do you think I'd be playing this game if he was?"
Abby let out a disappointed sound and grabbed a mini doughnut out of the box she had been carrying before taking a bite out of it.
McGee chuckled.
"I will call you as soon as he gets here, okay? I promise."
Abby spoke with her mouth full as she stood up.
"But what if his flight was delayed? Or worse? What if he missed his connecting flight?"
McGee still didn't look away from his game.
"Well, then he will be here tomorrow."
"Not good enough, McGee! A team needs a leader. He's our glue! He's our spine! Without him we're like.. Phylum cnidaria!"
McGee still didn't look away from his game even though he gave the monitor a strange look that was meant for Abby.
"Jelly fish."
"Exactly."
McGee finally looked up at Abby with a slightly offended look.
"Are you saying I'm spineless?"
Abby stopped slightly swaying for a moment to look down at him.
"Of course not, Timmy."
With that Abby placed a platform boot between Tim's legs on the rolly chair, before kicking it backwards and taking over the computer.
"I'm going to check his flight."
McGee reached forward to take the keyboard away from her.
"Abby, you're getting powder all over my keyboard."
Abby smacked his hand away.
"What's your point?"
"My point is, Abby-
Abby set her Caf-Pow! down and McGee finally caught sight of it. He immediately changed what he was going to say.
"You are really, really overdoing the sugar thing again."
"Well, I'm eating for two."
Abby didn't realize what it sounded like until McGee leaned forward with a look that was a mixture of concern and confusion. Abby turned to him with a slight smile.
"Relax. I was referring to the health food freak over there." Abby said looking over McGee's shoulder at Agent Lee who was biting into a carrot.
"Every time I go past her desk, I have this irresistible urge to shove a cheeseburger down her throat."
McGee sat back in his chair with relief.
"That's right you and Ziva have that weird thing going on between the two of you. Anyways, I think she's kinda hot."
Abby didn't look up from the computer as she continued typing.
"Oh you think she's hot? And what weird thing?"
"You know that whole, we like each other as more then friends, we both know that we have romantic feelings for each other, but we're not dating thing. And yeah, you know, for a Probie."
Suddenly, Agent Lee spoke up without looking away from her computer.
"You two do realize I can hear you, right?"
Abby looked over at her and then back toward the direction of McGee's computer's while she fiddled with her hands due to the slightly guilty feeling she felt. Abby then looked back over at her, but continued to fiddle with her hands.
"We do now, Very Special Agent Lee."
Suddenly a beeping came from McGee's computer and Abby snapped her gaze back to the screen.
"His flight landed on time, where is he?" She asked herself in concern.
Just as Abby finished her sentence, a familiar ding came from the elevator as the doors opened, revealing Tony carrying a bag in one hand and a coffee in the other.
Abby let out a gasp and ran to him.
"Oh, yay! You're home! Welcome back! I missed you! Oh…. " She squealed as she ran up to him and engulfed him in a tight hug.
"I missed you too, Abby." He replied in a strained voice.
Abby didn't release him as she continued to talk through a smile.
"Oh, did you have fun? Did you go to that cool bar in Düsseldorf?"
"You know, I tried. But, you know, that security conference kept us pretty busy. "
Abby hummed in acknowledgment, but didn't release him from her tight hold.
"I'm having trouble breathing here." Tony finally squeaked.
Abby immediately released him with a quick apology and Tony took in a breath of relief.
Tony rolled his head around to adjust his neck before he and Abby walked toward McGee who had hidden his video game and was now standing behind his desk.
"McGee! Look at you! All grown up."
Tony passed McGee's desk and walked toward his own with a smile.
"So what did I miss the last two weeks?"
McGee smiled in return.
"Well nothing I couldn't handle boss."
Abby smiled as she watched the two men exchange words. Tony set his bag on his desk and started to open it.
" Good! And to think the Director didn't have any faith in you!"
McGee frowned.
"What do you mean the Director?"
Tony ignored his question and instead beckoned for every one to come closer.
"Gather 'round people, I come bearing gifts."
Every one did as they were told. Abby bounced with excitement as she waited for her gift. Tony went into a black bag and pulled out a large, silver cross with a ruby in the center of it, on a chain. He held it like he was jeweler and turned to Abby.
"For the lovely lady."
Abby gently took it in her hands and smiled.
"Ah, Tony. It's beautiful."
Abby showed McGee the cross before continuing to admire it as Tony spoke.
"Not to mention incredibly expensive. Euro is stronger than it used to be."
Tony went into another bag before pulling out a dvd and turned to McGee.
"For my Senior Field Agent…."
McGee took the dvd and gave it a disapproving look.
"Oh… The Very Best of David Hasselhoff."
Tony's happy smile fell.
"You don't like it?"
McGee gave him a smile that said he didn't appreciate the gift.
"I repeat. The Very Best of David Hasselhoff."
Tony stepped closer to McGee and smacked the back of his head. McGee gave him a confused look.
"What was that for?"
"You listen to Yanni, and you have an unauthorized game on your computer."
Tony lifted an eyebrow, challenging McGee to say something as he walked back to the bag of gifts.
"Okay, it's your game, Tony."
"Yeah, and you shouldn't have beaten my high score."
The next thing Tony pulled out of the bag made Abby have to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing to loudly.
"And for Ziva... das lederhosen! One size fits all."
Tony walked around Ziva's desk with the ridicules article of clothing in hand and Abby turned to Ziva's desk for the first time that morning.
"Where is the little Israeli?"
Lee pipped up straight away.
"Late, Sir. Second time this week."
Abby turned and glared at the small woman. She wanted to stick her tongue out and call her a tattle tale, but she decided better of it. She was quickly over come by curiosity and concern as to why Ziva was late. When Tony started to talk to Agent Lee, Abby quietly stepped over to McGee and leaned over his desk, when she spoke, it was in a whisper.
"Where is she?"
McGee shrugged.
"I don't know, I thought you knew."
"Do you know where she could be?"
McGee frowned at her and gave her a look that said "Seriously?"
"Come on, Abby. You and I both know that you are more likely to know where she is then I am."
Abby nodded slightly.
"Yeah, I guess your right."
Suddenly, Abby noticed that Tony and Lee's conversation had turned back to Ziva.
"She's over an hour late, Sir. That's unusual, even for her."
Abby almost asked Lee what the "Even for her." part of her statement meant, but Tony spoke first.
"What did I tell you about worrying, Probie?"
Agent Lee looked down as Tony looked at her.
"That it's you job."
Tony snapped and smiled.
"See your learning."
Lee followed him as he walked behind his desk.
"She's not answering her," Tony gave her a look as she tried to come behind his desk and Lee immediately corrected herself by going to the front of his desk.
"I'm sorry, Sir. She's not answering her cell phone either."
Tony sat down and held up his index finger as he spoke to Lee.
"Okay, there is only one thing you need to know about Officer David."
Lee nodded as she spoke with confidence.
"Don't make her angry."
Tony held up a second finger.
"So technically, really, there's two things. The other is-"
Abby interrupted before Tony could finish.
"She can take care of herself."
Tony nodded in agreement.
"Yep."
With that, Lee nodded and Abby stood still for a moment before she walked around the corner and continued walking until she was hidden by the stairs. Abby then pulled out her phone and quickly found Ziva's number before calling. The phone rang three times before Ziva's answering machine picked up.
"Ziva, where are you? Your an hour late and your always at least an hour early. I'm a little worried, call me back when you get this."
With that Abby hung up, with in seconds, Abby's phone buzzed. Abby looked at the text she had received from Ziva.
"Can't talk now."
Abby felt her heart plummet, Ziva was definitely in trouble.
Ziva sat across from Officer Bashan with a disapproving look.
"Why was I not told about this operation?"
Officer Bashan looked at her calmly.
"I suppose the simple answer would be… your father did not want you to know. "
Ziva scoffed.
"And he wonders why I barely talk to him anymore, Michael."
Officer Bashan held up a finger.
"A fact I know he regrets… very much, Ziva. Very much."
Ziva ignored his words.
"I spent a year building relationships and trust with NCIS. How do you suggest I explain this to them?" Ziva asked as her voice got louder.
Officer Bashan remained calm.
"I realize this places you in an awkward position, but Ziva-"
"They were sloppy – blatant!" Ziva shouted.
He gave her a stern look.
"And you should have known better! The Americans can be quite prudish in their attitudes, Ziva."
Ziva raised her eyebrows.
"You call what happened prudish?"
"That depends. Did you or did you not sleep with him?"
Ziva's heart stopped in fear, because to her, him, had sounded an awful lot like them. Ziva feared that someone had seen Abby make her way to her apartment during on of the many nights that she and Abby had slept together. Had they seen the two women exchanging kisses and gentle touches before falling into bed together on some of those nights? Ziva was careful with her words when she finally spoke.
"Who?"
"Anthony DiNozzo, your new team leader."
Ziva almost let out a sigh of relief, it seemed that she and Abby were discrete enough not to have been caught.
"Why do you ask that?"
Officer Bashan picked up a folder and held it out to her. Ziva walked over and took it from him.
"Starting three months ago, Ziva, he's been visiting your apartment at least one night a week."
Ziva opened the folder and found at least a dozen pictures of her answering the door and Tony being on the other side. Ziva looked up to find Officer Bashan holding out another folder, which she took.
"Or is it Ms. Scuito, the forensic scientist at NCIS."
Ziva snatched the folder from his hands at his words and frantically looked through the pictures in the folder, of her answering the door with Abby at the other side or vise versa, a few of the pictures had them exchanging a quick kiss in greeting. Ziva felt like she wanted to cry, she had put Abby in harms way, that was something she had never wanted to do.
"My father has you spying on me?"
"I assumed that was the reason for your visit."
Ziva set the folder down and took in a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
"Well, you assumed wrong, Officer Bashan. I am here because an hour ago a Mossad assassination team killed three people in Georgetown."
Officer Bashan shook his head.
"We have no active operations scheduled in George-"
"Michael, don't lie to me. I was there. I tried to stop it."
"What exactly did you see?"
Ziva took a breath and steadied herself for the flash of memories that came with the name she was about to speak.
"Officer Namir Eschel."
Officer Bashan studied her for a moment.
"No. Impossible."
Ziva barely let him finish his sentence before she defended what she had seen.
"I spoke to him. I… I let him go."
Officer Bashan quickly picked up his phone before speaking Hebrew into it, then he spoke in English.
"Tell him… tell him it concerns family. "
Ziva tightened her lips as she readied herself for what her father would say to her about Abigail. He would not be happy. She continued to speak to Officer Bashan as she did so.
"Do you realize how close I came to shooting Eschel today?"
Officer Bashan stepped up behind her.
"Namir Eschel is dead, Ziva." Ziva turned teary eyes onto him, Eschel had been her old Mossad partner. "Your father and I attended his funeral six months ago."
"Now about Ms. Scuito and Special Agent DiNozzo."
Ziva sighed into the phone, she had been on the phone with her father for a half an hour now.
"What about them?"
"Which one are you sleeping with? Or is it both?"
Ziva swallowed, she knew there was no way around this, she knew she might of well just come clean.
"I am only sleeping with one of them."
"Which one?"
Ziva didn't say anything as she tried to find a way to answer without having her voice crack.
"Ziva?"
Ziva was silent for only a moment longer.
"I am sleeping with Abigail."
This time it was her father who stayed silent. Suddenly, the temperature of Ziva's blood raised drastically as she was overcome with a surge of protectiveness.
"If you hurt her-" She started to growl into the phone before her father interrupted.
"I do not plan on harming Ms. Scuito!"
Ziva heard him take a deep breath over the phone.
"I may have done some horrible things before, but I am not so ruthless as to kill the woman my daughter is having a relationship with."
Ziva growled once more.
"No, but you will kill your son?"
"That is different!" Eli shouted.
Ziva shouted back in return.
"How!"
"You are my daughter!" Eli took another long breath and when he spoke again he was much calmer.
"You are my daughter and I may not agree with your choices or with your actions, but I still love you."
Ziva remind quiet.
"I figure this mess out, Ziva. Goodbye."
Ziva didn't say anything as she hung up the phone.
"Tony, what's going on?" Abby asked quietly as she looked at the two F.B.I. agents that were talking to Director Sheppard.
"The F.B.I. has issued a warrant for Ziva's arrest."
Abby gave him a shocked look.
"Under what charges?"
"Espionage and murder."
Suddenly a voice interrupted their conversation for two, Abby looked up to see one of the F.B.I. agents.
"Yes, it seems that officer David is not so different from her brother."
Abby lunged for the man, ready to put the spikes on her bracelets to use on the man for making such an accusation, but Tony was quick to wrap his arms around her stomach and dragging her away.
Abby struggled to get free as she was dragged toward the direction of the elevator.
"You don't know a damn thing about her." She growled through clenched teeth.
Finally, Tony managed to get her into the elevators, he threw her slightly toward the back of the elevators and quickly pushed the close doors button, before Abby could manage to get out. Abby glared at him with a betrayed look as the elevator began it's decent towards her lab.
"What the hell, Tony?" She shouted.
"Do you wanna work on this case? Do you wanna prove that Ziva's innocent? 'Cause that little stunt you just pulled could get you kicked off the case."
Abby processed his words before she pointed at an invisible being.
"He doesn't know a thing about her, he shouldn't be saying things like that when he doesn't know her like I- like we do!"
Tony put his hands up in defense.
"I know, Abby, but you can't let him get under your skin. You just need to worry about proving her to be innocent so she can come home."
Abby closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them again.
"Okay."
Just then, the elevator doors opened revealing her lab, Tony finally stepped aside, allowing her to leave, which she did swiftly.
Abby stuck her hand into the jar of skittles and pulled out a handful and pouring it into her mouth. She then spoke with her mouth full, to the picture of Gibbs on her plasma.
"Gibbs. This is really, really bad. Ziva has disappeared, and everyone's saying that she's just like her brother. I really, really need you to call me. Please."
Suddenly, Abby's phone rang. Abby quickly picked it up and once again spoke with her mouth full.
"Gibbs?"
"Abby, it's Ziva."
Abby stood up as her heart started pounding harder.
"Ziva! Are you alright?"
"No and don't say my name so loud."
"Sorry! What do you mean no? Where are you?"
Ziva sighed and looked around.
"At a safe place at the moment."
"Ziva!"
"I am sorry, Abigail, but your phone could be bugged."
Abby was quiet for a moment. When she finally spoke, she let all the strain of what had happened with the F.B.I. come back to her.
"The F.B.I. was here, and Tony was freaking out, and I was freaking out, and the director-"
Ziva quickly cut the goth off from her rant.
"Abby, I need you to do me a favor."
Abby's response was immediate.
"You name it."
"First, you can't tell anyone I've spoken to you."
Abby frowned.
"Except Tony, right?
"No. Not even Tony. If I talk to him, he'll get in trouble with the F. B. I."
Abby wanted to say so many other things, but she forced her self to say the responsible thing.
"What do you need?"
Ziva was quiet for a moment, before she spoke.
"A phone number."
This time Abby was quiet for a bit.
"Ziva, this is getting out of hand."
Ziva swallowed hard at the hurt, tired, and scared feelings embedded in Abby's voice.
"I know, Abigail. I will make it up to you, I promise."
Abby scoffed.
"Oh yeah? How?"
Ziva looked around Gibbs's basement as she made sure she was ready for what she was about to say.
"When this is all over, I think we should move this into an actual relationship, but I only want that to happen when I can properly ask you to be my girlfriend."
Abby smiled, but spoke quietly.
"Really? I'd like that?"
Ziva could hear the smile in the goth's voice and she couldn't help her own smile, despite her current situation.
"I would to, Abigail."
Abby was quiet as she built up the courage to ask her next question.
"What about your father?"
Ziva sighed.
"He knows, but were okay, I do not think he is going to try to do anything to harm you or I do to our relationship."
Abby tried not to sniffle as a single tear managed to break free from her eyes, Abby quickly decided to change the subject.
"Whoes number do you need?"
"Gibbs's."
"Okay, I'll call you back at this number."
Abby sniffed and wiped the tear away, Ziva heard the sniffle loud and clear.
"Abby?"
Abby was quiet has her breath became shaky and she tried to steady it.
"Yeah, Ziva?"
"I care about you."
Abby let out a small laugh. This had a small joke between them, but it also meant quite a lot to both of them. It had started because neither of them were ready to say I love you yet, but they wanted something to say to each other when the moment felt right.
Abby smiled and whispered in return.
"I care about you too."
Abby wiped another happy tear away before she spoke again.
"All right. I'll call you back at this number."
"Alright, thank you, Abigail.
"Abby." Came Tony's from no where. "Who's that?"
Abby hung up the phone quickly and ran over to McGee and Tony.
"Where?"
"On the phone."
"Oh, um... the nuns."
McGee gave her a skeptical look.
"The nuns?"
Ziva waited to hear Gibbs's voice as the woman brought who answered the phone said she would bring it to Gibbs. Finally, Ziva heard a familiar voice that sent her comfort.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
Ziva smiled as she spoke.
"Hola. Ah... how's Mexico?"
"Ziva! How'd you get this number?"
"From Abby, and if it helps I forced it out of her."
"No, it doesn't. I hardly doubt you forced it out of her." He said in a slightly sour tone before returning to the concerned and surprised one. "What's wrong?"
Ziva immediately started to avoid the question.
"Why does something always have to be wrong? Can't I just speak with an old friend? Do a little catching up?"
"Today, Ziva!"
"Okay." Ziva sighed as she threw one leg over the chair and sat on it so that the back of the chair was in front of her.
"I may be in a little bit of trouble."
"Yeah? Define little."
"I am currently on the run from the F. B. I. , NCIS, Mossad, and my father."
"Geez! What'd you do?"
"I did nothing, Gibbs. I swear I did nothing."
Ziva could here Gibbs sigh through the phone.
"Did you evolve Abby in this? Is she in trouble as well?"
Gibbs had known all along about the ever growing attraction between the two women since it had begun. He didn't like it, he knew Ziva could hurt Abby dearly, by both her own hands and someone else's. Abby was basically his daughter, he didn't like the thought that Ziva put her in danger.
Ziva was quiet for a moment, trying to chose her words carefully.
"My father knows about my relationship with Abby, but he swears that he does not intend to harm her or have her harmed."
Gibbs was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again.
"Where's DiNozzo?"
"He can't help me."
"Well you should talk to Jenny. Jenny can help you."
"I can't."
"Ziva! Look, I'm retired! I'm three thousand miles away! What do you think I can do that they can't do?"
Ziva struggled to find her words.
"Honestly? I don't know." Ziva was quiet and Gibbs could hear her breathing change as she tried to stop herself from crying, but failed. "I was hoping, maybe." Ziva paused as she wiped a tear away. "Save me?"
Abby stood in the dark autopsy room along with the rest of the team, excluding Agent Lee and Ziva who was still missing. Tony was speaking to them all with a very serious and let's get down to business face.
"First off, this is a strictly voluntary thing. Ziva's a fugitive. Anyone caught helping or assisting her in any way will be in serious trouble."
Palmer held up his hand.
"Palmer?"
"Um…. by serious, you mean like, get fired?"
Ducky answered the question for Tony.
"He means, Mister Palmer, instead of attending medical school next month, you will most likely be in prison."
Palmer looked slightly shocked.
"Oh."
Abby slammed her hand down on the metal table.
"I'm in."
Tony smiled at her.
"Knew you would be."
Ducky suddenly chimed in and placed his hand gently over Abby's.
"Danger, intrigue, a damsel in distress? I'm actually looking forward to it."
McGee put his hand on the rapidly growing pile.
"Me too."
Palmer looked a bit frightened.
"Um… I'm not exactly the type that would do well in prison, guys."
Tony responded calmly.
"No one's going to think any less of you if you want out, Palmer."
"Really?"
"Well, no. We probably would. At least I know Abby and I would."
Abby nodded in agreement.
Palmer's demeanor immediately changed and he put his hand on top of the pile.
"All right, then I want a code name. Something cool sounding."
Tony covered all of the hands with his own.
"All right. No one can know about this, especially the Director. Are we all good with that?" Everyone nodded. "All right, then let's figure out how to find her. McGee, I want you on her electronic tracks."
As Tony continued to give orders, Abby found herself contemplating telling them that she had spoken to Ziva. On one hand she had to, it would be easier to find her, on the other hand she was going against what Ziva had asked her to do. Abby argued back and forth on what choice would be worse. When Tony said her name the words blurted out of her mouth.
"I talked to Ziva yesterday!"
Everyone looked at her in shock, Abby suddenly felt a tremendous amount of guilt for not telling them and for going against Ziva's wishes. Tony was the first to speak.
"You don't bowl with nuns. I should have seen that coming."
"I do!"
Abby paused before she spoke again.
"Ziva made me promise not to tell."
Ducky gave her a confused look.
"Why would Ziva care if we knew that you bowled with nuns?"
"I think she means that Ziva didn't want us getting in trouble, Ducky."
"It's a bit late for that. Where is she?"
Abby frowned a bit and spoke in a sad tone.
"No offense Ducky, but if I knew that, I probably be there with her. All I have is this phone number."
Abby pulled the sticky note out of her pocket and Tony quickly took it and started dialing the number into his phone.
As it started to ring he gave Abby a disapproving look for keeping this hidden.
"Well there's no answer. Abby, are you sure that this-" Tony suddenly stopped and then he spoke again. "Ziva?"
"Tell Abby I'm going to kill her." Was the first thing Tony heard come through the phone.
"We love you too, Ziva."
Abby bounced slightly on her toes.
"What'd she say?"
Tony turned a still disappointed gaze upon the said goth.
"She said she's going to kill you."
Abby's face immediately became even more guilty and sad. She just couldn't win in this situation. Abby listened to Tony talk through muffled ears, until finally she heard the snap of him shutting his phone.
"What happened?"
"Gibbs is with her."
"Gibbs?"
"Yep."
Ziva put her gun away as Tony came down the stairs.
"According to the F. B. I. , I should be the one aiming my weapon at you." Tony said.
"Did you bring Abigail with you?"
"Nope."
Ziva studied his face though narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean, nope?"
"She tried to, but she needs to learn not to keep secrets at the wrong time."
Ziva shook her head slightly at him.
"Tony I told her not to tell anyone. She was only doing what I asked her to do."
"Doesn't matter. She-"
"Can we get back to the case please?" Gibbs interrupted the two people who argued like they were brother and sister. He really didn't want it to turn into a fight about whether Abby was wrong for not telling Tony because he was her best friend or if she was right for not telling earlier, but wrong for still telling because she was involved with Ziva.
Gibbs turned to Ziva.
"You were set up. The only Mossad liaison officer in D. C…."
Tony chimed in to finish for him.
"Just happens to be present during a Metsada-style hit."
Ziva suddenly started putting the pieces together in her head.
"Oh, God. I'm an idiot. He led me to the scene. Eschel framed me."
Ziva cursed in Hebrew as she came to the realization.
"Tony, what if we lie?" McGee asked referring to the BOLO on Eschel.
"Sacks is a self-centered egotistical jack hole, but he's not an idiot. He'll know." Tony told him.
McGee sat up and started typing on the keyboard.
"No, I mean lie on the BOLO. Instead of looking for a rogue Mossad spy wanted for murder, we put out a BOLO for a wife-beater."
Tony looked up in thought for a moment.
"That's underhanded, devious-"
"And it's completely getting me hot." Abby said with narrowed eyes and a small nod of her head.
Both of the men looked at her through confused looks. Tony was the first to speak.
"I'm glad to see I'm finally rubbing off on him."
Abby looked at the two men and let out a huff.
"I meant doing this for Ziva, I didn't mean that McGoo was getting me hot."
Tony pulled out his tape recorder as he brushed off Abby's excuse.
"Do it." Came Tony's voice from the tape recorder, indicating for McGee to go through with his plan.
"Abby..."
Tony's voice was slow and cautious as he spoke, immediately Abby knew something was wrong. Abby turned to see Tony holding his phone in his hand, his eyes were slightly red and tears threatened to spill over.
Abby's heart started to race as she felt her world start to crash and crumble around her, tears filled her eyes as she shook her head mumbled no over and over in denial. Abby crumpled to the floor and Tony rushed to catch her in his arms and hold her close as they sat on the ground together.
"I'm so sorry, Abs. The safe house they were in, Eshel blew it up."
Abby closed her eyes tightly and buried her face in Tony's t-shirt which she clutched tightly in her hands, as if, if she didn't, she float away from the world.
Tony could stand hearing the sobs coming from the woman who was his best friend, he knew he had to tell her something, even if it might be false hope.
"She's made it through situations like this before, Abs. They both have, there is no guarantee that they were in the house. No one has searched it yet."
Abby nodded through her sobs, but didn't stop crying, she hated this feeling. Like the center of her world had exploded, sending cracks throughout the whole thing, the rest of her world was slowly separating and falling into space.
Tony burst through her door with a look of excitement on his face, Abby looked at him through tired and confused eyes.
"Are they?"
Tony nodded.
"They're alive!"
Abby felt a new surge of energy, stronger than any rush her Caf-Pow! could give her. She ran forward and hugged Tony with all her might and he hugged her back, lifting her into the air slightly. When he set her down Abby pulled back with a smile.
"Where is she?"
Tony's smile fell.
"She's in hiding but-
Abby shook her head but kept her smile.
"Say no more, tell Gibbs I'm on it." She said as she took the pieces of evidence from Tony.
"Now can I go home?" Ziva panted as she held her side where the woman had kicked her.
Gibbs gave her a slight smile.
"Yes, but after we go back to NCIS first to clear your name." Tony said quietly.
Ziva nodded and headed toward the door. Tony followed her out of the hotel room and pulled out his phone. He was about to say something when Gibbs called out.
"Ziva!"
Ziva and Tony stopped, Tony looked at her for a minute.
"I'll go get the car started."
Ziva nodded and waited as Gibbs walked up to her. When he did, he didn't speak for a moment as he looked down before he pinned Ziva's gaze with his own.
"If this whole thing with you and Abby ends badly... If you hurt her, there will be no place on this earth that you can hide from me. Got it?"
Ziva swallowed and nodded.
"Good, lets go."
Gibbs patted her arm and walked past her but Ziva stood still.
"Gibbs." Ziva could here him stop and turn back to her before she turned around to face him.
"For the record, I would never dream of hurting, Abby."
Gibbs nodded and walked back towards the car Ziva followed him and walked to the drivers side where Tony stood with his phone still in his hand.
"Should I call Abs or do you want to?"
Ziva smiled when Tony opened the back door for her with his free hand.
"I think I will surprise her, she has been worried, yes?"
Tony smiled and waited as Ziva got settled in the car.
"Oh yeah."
"I think it is time that I go find Abigail, yes?" Ziva said as she walked away from the rest of her team.
Gibbs had just left back to Mexico and he hadn't said goodbye to any of them. Ziva shook her head trying to clear it of that thought as she pressed the button that would take her down to Abby's lab. After a short period of time the elevator doors let out a familiar ding as they opened to reveal Abby's lab.
Abby swung around just as Ziva stepped into the lab. Ziva smiled at the joyful gasp she heard followed by the sound of pieces of metal clinking together as Abby ran up to her. Ziva closed her eyes and braced herself to be caught up in one of Abby's tight hugs, but was surprised when the hug didn't come at the end of the symphonic of clinking metal, instead a quiet gasp took its place. Ziva opened her eyes to see Abby looking down at her with tears in her eyes.
"Abigail, what is wrong?"
Abby was quiet as she let her finger ghost over the bruised bridge of Ziva's nose and follow the trail at the bottom of Ziva's black eye. Ziva closed her eyes at the soft touch and tried to find the right words to say to the woman before her.
"Abigail..."
Ziva felt a pair of soft arms slowly wrap around her and hold her close in the gentlest way that Abby could. Ziva returned the touch, but she held Abby tighter, as if the goth was going to be ripped away from her at any moment.
"I care about you," Abby whispered into her neck. "I don't like seeing you hurt."
Ziva adjusted her hold on Abby until one of her hands were resting at the base of her neck and the other on her shoulder blade. Ziva turned her head so that she could whisper into the space between Abby's neck and her shoulder.
"I care about you too."
Ziva would have come up with a million excuses usually as to why her being hurt had been necessary, but not tonight. She knew Abby didn't need the excuses right now and she knew that Abby simply needed to fell her, bruises and all, just to prove that she was actually there, just as Ziva needed that from her.
The time between the hug and the time that Abby got her to her home was a blur. The rest of the night went slowly, starting when Abby had slowly led her to the bedroom and gently peeled off her clothing before letting Ziva lie back on the bed herself. Abby traced each of the many bruises that Ziva had received from her fight earlier that day, with a gentle touch from her index finger before she placed a ghost of a kiss on them. Abby's touch on her body was nothing but caring and loving. It brought tears to Ziva's own eyes to be treated so kindly by the other woman when none of her previous lovers had before.
When Abby was done with her work, she slowly crawled up Ziva's trembling body and looked into the tear filled brown eyes below her. Ziva smiled at her and buried her fingers in Abby's hair before carefully pulling her down so that she could kiss her. The kiss was tender and slow, lazy even, but to Ziva it was perfect and just what she needed at that moment.
Abby pulled back slightly and gave Ziva a soft smile.
Ziva smiled in return and let her fingers slip out of Abby's silky locks when Abby moved to lie beside her. Abby laid on her side her head resting on her hand while Ziva remained on her back but turned her head to keep eye contact with Abby.
"I care about you."
Abby let out a chuckle at Ziva's words, but Ziva could tell that Abby had taken her seriously.
Abby brought her eyes back to Ziva and smiled at her.
"I care about you too."
I am now free to take more request from you guys, so if you want to make a request for an episode, you know what to do.
