"Ziva, does Gibbs seem a bit… different today?" Tony asked, just after Gibbs had left.
"You know, he does. This morning he totally flopped out and now he seems perfectly content."
"Flipped. He totally flipped out. What do you think, Probie?"
"Maybe Gibbs is just stressed from the case."
"Cases like this don't stress our dear boss. And what was with the lipstick?"
"He could have a new lady friend." Ziva spoke up.
"The only time he's left the Navy Yard today was with us. That must mean…" Tony said, stroking his chin, thinking. They all looked at each other, the realization lighting up on their faces.
"She works here." Tony said ominously.
"So… what ladies work here?" Ziva questioned.
"You." Tony smiled.
"Other than me, Tony."
"The director." Tim added, knowing she and Gibbs had a past.
"Agent Lee." Tony laughed.
"Yeah right. Besides, she and Palmer are totally going at it." McGee replied. They thought for a moment, coming up with nothing.
"Ah!" Ziva exclaimed, smacking herself on the forehead.
"What?" Tony asked.
"Abby!"
Tony and McGee looked to each other, cracking up. It was hard enough to imagine Gibbs with anybody, let alone ABBY. Tony was nearly in tears by the time he'd calmed down.
"Gibbs... and Abby?" McGee replied.
"Never in a million years." Tony said.
"But—" Ziva tried.
"They're polar opposites, Ziva."
"Besides… it's Abby." McGee remarked.
"What's Abby?" Gibbs asked, waltzing in.
"Uh, nothing boss." Tony said, lying terribly.
Gibbs only looked at him, uninterested, "Anything on the BOLO?"
"I'm checking it right now." Tim replied.
"What did Abby say?" Ziva asked, smiling.
"Not a whole lot." Gibbs replied, a hint of a smile behind his words.
Tony opened his mouth to say something but McGee interrupted him, "She was last seen five minutes ago at the Luna Grill and Diner. 1301 Northwest Connecticut Avenue."
"Tony, Tim, with me. Ziva, go see if Abby needs anything." Gibbs said, already on his way to the elevator.
"Right, boss." McGee said following.
"Hey, Ziva!" Tony whisper-yelled.
"What?" She asked, turned to go to Abby's lab.
"See if there's anything going on with Abby. Maybe she knows who Gibbs' new girlfriend is. You know how he always talks to her."
"Okay."
"DiNozzo!" Jethro yelled from across the room, in the elevator.
"Coming, boss!" Tony yelled back, smiled at Ziva, and took off.
**********
"Hello Abby. How are you today?"
"Ziva! I'm fantastic! Like you don't even know! I've been having the best day of my life!" Abby replied, ecstatic.
"That's… wonderful." Ziva said, slightly taken aback.
"Sorry. I'm just really, really, really great." Abby said in a more calm, sincere tone.
"So, um, do we have anything?"
"Well, I matched the DNA from the cigarette to the DNA found on Petty Officer McDaniels."
"Okay."
"Then, I matched both of those samples to the DNA Gibbs brought me!"
"That means that the ex-wife was there the night of the murder and she was with Petty Officer McDaniels."
"Yep. And now you can get a warrant to search her house."
"Great. Thanks Abby."
"Your so welcome, Ziva." Abby replied, waiting for Ziva to leave. When she didn't, she got a little suspicious.
"So Abby…"
"Ziva?"
"You talk to Gibbs a lot lately?"
"Err…" Abby said nervously.
"Err?"
"What I mean is, yeah." Abby recovered, nodding.
"Oh, well you see… Tony and I and McGee were wondering about him."
"As in?"
"Do you know if he's seeing anybody?" Ziva replied bluntly.
Abby froze. She had no idea how they could possibly know, if they even did know. Why would Ziva be asking these questions if she didn't know?
"Uh, no I don't know if he is." Abby lied miserably.
"Hmm. We were just a bit confused because he's been acting very abnormal today. And then there was this dark red lipstick on his jacket—" Abby took a sharp breath in, stopping Ziva.
"Abby? Are you okay?"
"Fine! I'm fine!" She said, a little too quick.
"Abby. What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing. I mean, there's nothing I'm not telling you. That doesn't even make sense. It's a double negative and in grammar that's wrong."
"Don't try to change the subject. In fact," Ziva said, taking a closer look at Abby, "You have eyeliner, mascara, a bit smudged if you will, but no lipstick."
"Damn, damn, double damn." Abby whispered, turning around, her back to Ziva.
"Do you expect me to just go away?"
"Maybe." Abby replied, biting her lip.
"Abby, please," Ziva said, grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her around, "just talk to me."
Abby took a deep breath in. She wasn't sure if she should tell Ziva or not. It's not like it would hurt anything if she did, as long as she didn't tell anybody else. Gibbs' Rule # 4: If you can't keep a secret, tell one person—if you have to.
"G-Gibbs and I… we're…" Abby couldn't finish, partly because she didn't know exactly what she and Gibbs were.
"You are…?"
"We're something… does that make sense?" Abby replied, looking down at her twiddling fingers.
"I… I think so. Meaning you're sleeping together?"
"No! I mean… not yet. Well... I'd rather not talk about that side of the relationship."
"Fair enough."
"And you cannot tell anybody! Especially Tony or… or anybody!"
"I got it, I got it. Calm down, Abby."
"Thanks for understanding, Ziva."
"You understood about Lieutenant Sanders. Which I thank you for."
"Of course, Ziva. Now give me a hug."
Ziva smiled, leaning into a comforting hug from Abby. It's always good to have someone you can trust, and now they both knew that all too well.
**********