Day 1 - Morning.
Ziva gets quite emotional in this chapter. I don't think it's OOC, just a side of her they don't show on NCIS. She's a real woman with real feelings and thought those feelings deserved some screen time. Even if it's only computer screen time. If anyone's life is crashing down around them I believe a few tears to be necessary.

A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed - all 3 of you. lol. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to tell me what you think. I'm not used to getting so few reviews, so I hope it's because this isn't that "popular" of a pairing and not because no one likes the story. Time shall tell.

VillageVoice

Ziva woke-up the next morning around noon to the sound of Abby's cell phone ringing. Abby kissed her in apology and scooted out of bed, pulling a crimson sheet with her. She grabbed her cell off the nightstand and ran into the living room, pausing at the doorway to give Ziva a quick apologetic smile.

Ziva flipped onto her back and sighed. Her father's words kept running through her mind. 'Four days.' She had no idea what to do. She couldn't just leave Abby without an explanation. That was far too cruel. Abby deserved a lot better than that, especially from her. But she wasn't sure how much she could tell the innocent woman without putting her in more danger than she already was.

Abby came back a few minutes later and tip-toed over to the bed until Ziva looked over. She smiled and batted her eyelashes.

"No." Ziva said. "No no no, you are not allowed to go into work today."

Abby adjusted the sheet around herself so that she could kneel on the bed. Ziva grabbed her and pinned her down onto the bed before she could react. Abby reached up and tucked Ziva's hair behind her ear, letting her hand trace the outline of Ziva's mouth on its way back down to her side. "They need me to go in."

"Who is 'they'?"

Abby squinted up at the officer. Ziva's interrogation tactics were not going to work here. She had been properly immunized. She brought her hand to her lips and pretended to zip them shut and throw the key out the door. Ziva shrugged and let go of Abby, rolling back onto her side of the bed. Abby huffed. She hated it when Ziva pretended to be mad at her to get her to talk. Yet she fell for it every single time. This time, however, she was going to beat Ziva at her own game. She turned on her side with her back to Ziva. It took a few minutes, but Abby broke out into a smile when she felt Ziva's arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer. "Oh come on. I'll only be gone an hour or two I promise."

Ziva tightened her arms around the Goth woman. "No."

"Three at the absolute most."

"No." Ziva reiterated.

"No?" Abby laughed.

"No, because that hour or two or three you spend there are going to be spent with McGee staring at your backside the entire time."

"He does not." Abby protested.

"He does. I saw it."

Abby turned around in Ziva's arms so that she was facing the Israeli. "You saw him huh?"

"I have. And so has Tony and Gibbs and I believe even Ducky."

"Gibbs saw him?"

Ziva nodded.

"Staring at my ass?"

Ziva nodded again.

"And Gibbs just let this happen?"

"Well both he and I may have slapped McGee upside the head when we left your lab."

Abby smiled and snuggled deeper into Ziva's embrace. She loved this protective/jealous side of Ziva. It was much more toned down than her normal jealous side, but equally as attractive in Abby's book. It was just hard to get Ziva to believe that McGee was nothing more than a friend. A lifetime of knowledge told Ziva that everyone lied. She knew that it was perhaps a little more difficult for Abby to do so than for most others, but it was hard to unlearn a lifetime. Abby knew that Ziva trusted her, but some things were just harder for Ziva to understand.

Ziva sighed. "I still do not understand why he is always the one Gibbs calls to go down to your lab. I am equally as capable of riding an elevator down a few floors."

Abby leaned in and kissed Ziva. "Because he knows we would get no…" She kissed Ziva again. "..work.." She kissed her again. "…done." She punctuated her last word with running her tongue along Ziva's bottom lip and was eagerly rewarded when Ziva opened her mouth and deepened the kiss. Abby pulled away a few moments later and tucked a stray hair behind Ziva's ear. "He's just protecting us."

Ziva huffed. "I still do not like it."

Abby chuckled. "I know baby. But you and Tony are Gibbs' best agents and McGee . . . well . . . he's McGee."

Even Ziva couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Still. It would be nice to see you during the day."

"We meet for lunch."

"Sometimes." Ziva protested."Most times you go to lunch with McGee."

"Which is your fault because you're usually out playing super agent and McGee's left there all alone. Besides," She winked. "We have breakfast."

Ziva chuckled. "That is only because you get grumpy on an empty stomach so we have to wake-up an hour before the sun. And that is before the day begins, so it doesn't count."

"Breakfast starts off the day."

"Okay, so breakfast is the start of the day. I am talking about the actual day." She held Abby tighter for a second before letting go, still keeping her arms around the paler woman. "He gets too close to you."

Abby leaned in and kissed Ziva passionately. "Well McGee may get to stare at my ass all day, but who's the one with their hand currently on it?"

Ziva leaned back in for another kiss. "Good point."

"And, he may get close to me and all up in my grill," Ziva laughed. Abby was older than her, yet she still acted considerably younger. Abby grabbed Ziva's hand and placed it just above the sheet right over her heart. "But you have my heart. McGee, Gibbs, Tony, Ducky . . . they're in my heart, but you have it. No one can get closer."

Ziva smiled and brought the other woman in for a long, slow kiss. "I know, but it always seems like you like him more."

Abby chuckled. "More than you?"

Ziva ducked her head and nodded.

Abby smiled. "Aw, Zi. Why didn't you tell me you felt that way?"

"Because I do not like being such a girl." All of her years as a Mossad agent had taught her to keep her emotions well hidden. Slowly, as she spent more and more time in America with NCIS and with Abby she was learning how to show her emotions more. But sometimes they still popped up on her when she wasn't expecting them and made her feel weak. A feeling she did not like so much.

"You don't?" Abby asked. "Huh. That's one of my favorite qualities about you."

"You are not funny."

Abby brought a hand to Ziva's face and guided her eyes up. "I knew McGee before I met you. We had something once, but it's been over for years. I would knock everything off your desk and take you right then and there, but we agreed to keep things professional at work."

"I know." Ziva sighed. "But maybe sometimes you could come and talk to me instead of sitting on McGee's desk for five hours."

Abby chuckled. "I don't sit on his desk for five hours. No more than twenty minutes, tops."

"Whenever we are out in the field and something happens McGee is the first one you ask about."

"How do you know that?"

"Because Gibbs looks at him first. You always call Tony, Gibbs and McGee while my phone remains silent."

"That's because I know you're too smart to get yourself into the sorts of trouble McGee gets himself into. McGee's still a baby agent. And you don't tell me when something does happen to you until well after the fact. When you're safe and we're in bed together. Then you'll do something like run your fingers gently up my body" She said as she ran her fingertips along the side of Ziva's body from her hip to her ribs, stopping just under her arm. "And," She leaned down and gently purred into Ziva's ear. "Whisper something very slow and sexy in my ear. And then…" She pulled away and punched Ziva in the arm. "WHAM! You tell me. And by that point it's too late for me to worry because you're safe and alive."

Ziva smiled. "I don't want to worry you."

"I know." Abby pouted. "You told the guys not to tell me when stuff happens to you."

Ziva nodded. "I did."

Abby brushed her thumb over Ziva's cheek and brought her in for a kiss. "Maybe we should tell them."

"What?"

"The team. Maybe we should just tell the team. That way I don't have to pretend to be talking to McGee during our 'five hour chats' when I'm really staring at you the whole time. I don't have to pretend to be more worried about McGee when anything happens to you guys when I am so worried about you I can barely speak…" Abby trailed off as her voice cracked. "I hate all this pretending Ziva. I get so worried that someone will find out that I overcompensate and leave you out completely."

"I thought that was what you wanted?" Ziva asked, taking Abby's hand and kissing each of her fingertips.

"I thought that was what you wanted." Abby laughed, trying to ignore the tingling in each of her fingertips.

Ziva thought for a moment. If they told the team then they would be able to be there for Abby when her four days were up. She was fairly certain that they would hate her for breaking Abby's heart, especially since she would still be working with them, but they would be there for Abby. It wouldn't be easy on Ziva, but she would do anything to ensure that Abby would live a long and happy life and being with her made the 'long' part highly unlikely. Although she knew what she had to do would not make the woman happy either. Regardless, it would be better if Abby had people who could be there for her. She didn't care if they never asked her how she was doing as long as they were there for Abby. She leaned back in and explained her plan. "Let me speak to Gibbs first. Then we can tell everyone."

Abby squealed in delight. "Yay!" She threw her arms around Ziva's neck and squeezed her for all she was worth.

"Ow Abby, I need to breathe."

Abby pulled away and jumped off of the bed, the sheet that had been wrapped around her body falling to the ground. "Let's go." She grabbed her phone off the nightstand and ran out the room.

"Ah Abby." Ziva called. Abby jumped back into the room and looked at Ziva expectantly. Ziva raised an eyebrow. "How about some clothes Abby?"

Abby looked down. "Oh." She brought a hand up to her disheveled hair. "I should probably put my hair up too."

Ziva nodded. "After the clothes."

"Gibbs!"

Gibbs turned around just in time to catch Abby as she threw her arms around him. He smirked and hugged her back. "Morning Abs."

Abby pulled away with a smile on her face as she twirled one of her pigtails with her fingers. "Good morning Special Agent Gibbs." She said with a mock salute.

Gibbs chuckled and shook his head, his eyes landing on Ziva who was standing a few feet back. "Ziva. How was your trip?"

Ziva took a deep breath and spoke volumes with her eyes as she looked back at her boss.

Gibbs nodded slightly and the turned to Abby. "New evidence in your lab. Go."

"Sir yes sir." Abby brought her hand down from her salute and turned back to the elevator. She stopped next to Ziva and kissed her cheek. "Three hours tops."

Ziva smiled and squeezed Abby's hand. "It's okay. Take your time."

"I will. I mean, I always take time and impeccable care with each and every piece of evidence I am given, as I will now," She said in Gibbs's direction. "But I'm just saying. Three hours-"

"Tops. Yes I know." Ziva finished and smacked Abby's backside to push her toward the elevator. "But they do not start until you leave."

Abby turned back to the duo and smiled. "Leaving."

Ziva waited until the elevator doors closed and she heard the large metal box begin its descent down before turning back to Gibbs. He led her down the hall into a corner interrogation room. Leaving only to make sure the room on the other side of the two-way mirror was locked. He came back in the room to see Ziva completely broken down. She was sitting at the table with her head lying on her arms. Gibbs could see her body shaking as she cried. He closed the door and locked it behind himself. He didn't say anything; he had seen everything he needed to know in Ziva's eyes a few moments earlier. He didn't say anything, but just pulled a chair up next to Ziva and pulled her into his arms.

"It's okay." He soothed as he ran a hand over Ziva's wavy hair. "Shhh…" After a few minutes Ziva had calmed down. Gibbs handed her a tissue.

"I am sorry." Was the first thing out of her mouth.

"It's okay." Gibbs said and simply waited for her to continue. "People cry. Nothing wrong with that."

"I am not sorry for crying." She paused to take another tissue Gibbs held out to her. When she sat there remaining silent and folding the tissue until she could fold it no more Gibbs reached over and stopped her hand, forcing the Israeli to look up at him.

"What happened with your father?"

Ziva smiled softly. Gibbs always knew what was wrong. He was the father of his team in every way. There was Abby, his pride and joy. She wasn't the youngest, but she acted it and as such held that spot in his heart. Actually, she very well could be the youngest. No one was sure exactly how old she was as she flat out refused to ever discuss the topic. Ziva recalled once telling Tony that, "She will always be the favorite." Tony, the narcissistic tool who Gibbs just had to love for some strange reason no one could quite figure out. He was a good agent, fiercely loyal and great for making you laugh when you needed it. McGee, the nerdy prodigal son who never got out enough. And then her. Ziva, the trained assassin. She killed people without feeling a thing and yet she was sitting in a room with her surrogate father telling her it was okay to cry. A lot of time had passed since she cried on Gibbs's shoulder about killing her brother. It had worked to get Gibbs's memory back, but it was still a long time ago. That and the time she called Gibbs and asked him to save her and he flew 3,000 miles back to DC to do so while she hid in his basement. A very long time ago, but it had formed a bond that could never be broken.

She reached into her pocket and took out two folded up photographs – the one of her and Abby looking at each other across the bullpen and the other, the half burned picture of Abby on their anniversary. She unfolded them and handed them over to Gibbs.

"He found out."

Ziva nodded. "He found out."

"How much longer are you here for?"

"He's allowing me to stay." Gibbs raised his eyebrows in question. "He knows how much it will hurt me to have to see Abby everyday but not even be able to touch her or talk to her. It is much more of a punishment than sending me somewhere else. For both of us."

"How much longer do you have with her?"

"Four days."

Gibbs sighed handed Ziva the photos back, leaning back in his chair. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Ziva looked up at him, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I don't want to do this. I do not want to have to break Abby's heart, I do not want to live without her . . . But what I really do not want is for her to have to die because of me." She sighed. "I don't know if it would be easier for her if I told her now or if I waited until the four days were up and just left, or if I waited and told her before I left, or . . ." She trailed off, hanging her head. "I don't know what is best for her."

"What about what's best for you?"

Ziva looked up in disbelief. "What is best for me?"

Gibbs nodded. "Everyone deserves to be happy Ziva."

"Even me?"

"Especially you."

"Abby cannot lose another person Gibbs. Kate, the Director...She lost you for a while and she lost Tony and myself for a few months when the Director disbanded the team…She has lost too much already." Ziva looked away. "This is all my fault."

Gibbs reached over and took Ziva's hands, making sure she was looking at him before he spoke. "None of this is your fault."

Ziva nodded. More to placate Gibbs than anything else.

"We could make your position here permanent." Ziva looked at him. "Eliminate the liaison officer position and make you an official NCIS special agent."

Ziva smiled sadly. "I appreciate that, but it would not make any difference. I will still be his daughter."

Gibbs put a comforting hand on Ziva's shoulder. She was right. Nothing either of them or anyone else could do would change who her DNA told her she was. And because of that she was losing the one true shot at love she had. Gibbs trusted his gut and his gut was telling him that Ziva and Abby were made for each other. It had told him that from the minute the pair were introduced and Abby made her displeasure with the newest member of the team extensively known. A façade Gibbs saw right through.