"I think she would have liked you too Ziva." Abby said as she wiped her eyes and disentangled herself from Zivas' comforting embrace.
Ziva just nodded her head.
"I'm so sorry about this Ziva... I wanted us to have fun and here I am crying all over you. I know you hate all the 'crying women' stuff…" Abby trailed off apologetically.
"I do not mind Abby…with you, I do not mind…although I do not know why." Ziva said with a funny expression on her face.
'With you, I do not mind with you' had Abby heard her right? What exactly had she meant by that? Nothing, Abby, nothing... You're reading too much into it. Abby once again thought to herself.
The sound of Zivas voice brought her back out of her thoughts.
"Just so you know, I am not as cold and heartless as I seem Abigail." Ziva revealed.
Abby usually HATED when people used her full first name. The only person she let get away with it was Ducky… but for some reason, she didn't mind it so much coming from Ziva.
"I didn't really think you were Ziva…but why do you always act that way? Why do you always hide yourself?" Abby asked in response.
"Abby…" Ziva started as she stiffened and sat up straighter, putting her walls back up.
"Hey, none of that, I spilled my guts to you, I told you something that I've never told anyone else… don't make me feel vulnerable all alone…" Abby demanded.
Ziva sighed and looked into Abby's eyes, trying to read her… She finally had her chance…this was it…but could she trust her? Could she really tell her things that she had told no one else? Ziva wondered to herself before beginning to speak.
"Abby… in Mossad, you learn very quickly to put up walls, and you learn even faster not to get attached to anyone, because chances are, that person will probably not remain alive for very long. They teach you to survive by whatever means necessary and they train you to use every ASSET you have to your advantage, whether it be escaping torture or extracting information…" Ziva explained.
"My father is the Deputy Director of Mossad, so I guess you could say that I was pretty much born into it… I joined as soon as I was old enough and have been there ever since. When you have something drilled into you for so long, when you have to be a certain way for in order to survive…it is hard to change, to say the least….but I do care Abby, more than you know." Ziva finished quietly.
Abby didn't know what to say, but she certainly understood a little bit more about Ziva and why she was the way she was.
"Ziva…." Abby said slowly
"What did you mean when you were talking about using your assets to your advantage?" she asked.
Ziva just sighed and looked down at her hands. "I have done things that I am not particularly proud of Abby…"
"I'm not going to judge you Ziva." Abby reassured her.
"If it meant fucking my way out of torture, I did it. If I was ordered to have sex with someone as an interrogation technique to obtain information, I complied… whether I liked it or not, I did it…although I never liked it." Ziva said the last part so quietly, Abby could barely hear her.
Abby scooted closer to her on the couch and wrapped her arms around her, just as Ziva had done for her earlier. Ziva stiffened at first, not used to the contact, then relaxed into her embrace.
"I don't think any less of you for it Ziva… just so you know." Abby whispered.
Zivas body was in overdrive. Her skin tingled at the contact with Abby.
After a few moments, Abby pulled back slightly so that their faces were only inches apart.
"Ziva?"
"Yes Abby?" Ziva responded huskily.
"Can I kiss you?"
Holy fuck… Ziva thought. Is this actually happening? Did she really just ask if she could kiss me? Better give her an answer… Ziva mentally chided herself.
"Yes." Ziva breathed. "Please."
Abby leaned forward and ghosted her lips over Zivas before applying more pressure. She immediately pressed harder and after a few seconds of nibbling, she ran her tongue along Zivas bottom lip. Ziva moaned low in her throat and opened her mouth to Abby's probing tongue, meeting it with her own before lightly biting at Abby's bottom lip, then soothing the same spot with her tongue. The kiss continued for several minutes before they both pulled back from lack of oxygen.
"Wow." Said Abby as she ran her fingers over her now kiss swollen lips.
"yeah…" Ziva agreed.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Ziva spoke up.
"It is very late and I think that it is time I go home." Ziva said regretfully.
"No." Abby said.
"No?"
"No. Stay the night here, it's Friday and neither of us work tomorrow… we can both go get breakfast tomorrow morning. I've been having a mean craving for pancakes…and I… I want to spend more time with you… get to know you better. We can make a weekend out of it." Abby declared
"Ok…" Ziva replied cautiously.
Abby leaned in close to Zivas ear. "This isn't Mossad Ziva, and I'm not going to hurt you… however, I would like to kiss you again sometime this weekend." Abby finished.
Ziva smiled. "I think that could be arranged."
Abby changed into her pajamas and loaned Ziva a pair to wear to bed. She took Ziva's hand and led her to her bed that was made up with black satin sheets. She pulled back the covers and they both climbed beneath them. They lay so close that their sides were flush together. Abby took Zivas hand and entwined their fingers. After a few moment Ziva turned slightly on her side and moved her lips close to Abby's ear.
"I loved kissing you Abigail." She said as she placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
At that, Abby smiled and turned on her side as well and draped her arm around Zivas midriff.
"Thank you Ziva. Thank you for listening, and caring and opening up to me. That means a lot."
Ziva just faced her and smiled a sleepy smile.