March 6th, 2009
Ziva stands in Abby's lab. She one arm crossed over her chest, with the other perpendicular to it. She chews on a hangnail on her thumb. She barely hears a word Abby says. Her mind wanders. She looks up, and finds Abby staring at her.
"You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"
"I..."
"I something on your mind?"
"I guess," she replies.
"You want to talk about it?"
"No," she shakes her head.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Ziva?"
"Huh?"
"You usually aren't this distracted."
"I know. I just have a lot on my mind, right now."
"You always have a lot on your mind."
"More than usual."
"Because of the case?"
"No, it has nothing to do with the case."
"Boy trouble?"
"No."
"What else is left?"
She allows herself to make eye contact with Abby. She looks at her for too long. She looks away abruptly, knowing that it's probably too late.
"Wait a minute. Are you pregnant?"
"Shh!" Ziva hisses.
"Are you?"
She shrugs, "I don't know. I might be."
Abby walks away. She rummages through a drawer, and returns with a cup. She hands it to Ziva.
"What do you want me to do with that?"
"Pee in it. We'll find out right now."
"Abby..."
"You're not going to be able to focus on the case, if you're worried about whether you are, or not."
"And if I am?"
"Just pee in the cup," Abby insists.
Ten minutes later Abby looks up from her computer. Ziva stares at her, in irritation.
"What is taking so long?"
"I just want to make sure."
"Just tell me, am I, or not?"
"Not, to ruin your day, or anything, but..."
"I am?"
"You are."
"Oh," she exhales.
"So who's the father?"
"Do not ask me that, because I cannot tell you."
"You don't know?"
"I know, I just can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Abby, stop asking questions."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"You just found out, so I'm going to give you time to process."
"Give her time to process what?" Gibbs questions.
"The DNA evidence that you brought me, was not a match to the suspect."
"I thought she would want a little time, to come up with a new theory, before she told you," Abby covers.
He turns to Ziva, "Well do you have another theory?"
She looks up, from her computer screen. She finds Gibbs standing in front of her desk, staring at her.
"You ok, Ziva?"
"Uh huh," she nods.
"Something on your mind?"
"Yes."
"You want to talk about that something?"
She shakes her head, "Not, now."
"Later."
"Later," she repeats.
"Ziver?"
"Yeah, Gibbs?"
"You know who is a great listener?"
"Not her," she glances in E.J.'s direction.
"Don't worry about her. That isn't your concern. She is not your problem."
"But she could cause me problems."
"I don't think she will. I think that has probably ran it's course."
"I doubt it."
"Why don't you go down, and see Abby?"
"I'll see what she has for us," Ziva agrees.
"I was just down there."
"So... right, she's a great listener."
She vacates her seat, and walks away from her desk. She leaves the squad room, and rides the elevator to the lab. Ziva finds Abby staring at her computer screen, frantically typing, as usual. The music blares from overhead.
"Abby?"
"I have nothing new. I'm busy, do you need something?"
"To talk."
Abby stops, mid-keystroke. She grabs the remote, and flips off the stereo. She spins around, and looks at Ziva.
"I'm listening. You have my full attention. What do you need to talk about?"
"Do you remember March, of 2009?"
"March 6th, 2009? I remember it like it was yesterday. Why are you bringing it up?"
"That's what I want to talk about."
"Really? You never wanted to talk about it then. Every time I asked, you just ignored me."
"I shouldn't have."
"Why are you bringing it up, now? Are you pregnant, again?"
"No," she shakes her head.