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---

Tony and Ziva arrived to find Gibbs and Fornell sitting across from each other at the table, their shoulders squared. Abby was pacing in the kitchen and there were four other agents and a local cop sitting at the table.

"We got a case, boss? Should we call McGee?"

"Tony!" Abby launched herself into Tony's arms and clung to him tightly.

"Take her to Ziva's apartment. I want you two to keep an eye on her tonight and tomorrow." Gibbs pushed away from the table and stepped up to his agents. He stroked Abby's hair softly as he explained what had happened.

Tony was glad to have his arms full of Abby – the idea of her being in danger over someone else's mistake gave Tony the urge to slam Fornell against the wall, though judging from his split lip, Tony guessed that Gibbs had already taken that route. "We'll watch out for her boss. No one gets past us."

"I know. I'll be in touch." Gibbs watched as they escorted Abby out to the car, but was interrupted by Liam, the local policeman that had been called in.

"I just got off the phone with dispatch. A cable repair guy was accosted a few miles from here. He said the man stole his shirt and van and then told him to wait 30 minutes before moving from the parking lot. He said that the man claimed there was a sniper watching him and if he moved, he'd be shot. Poor guy nearly crapped his pants."

"Bring him in to FBI headquarters; I'd like to talk to him." Fornell stood and pulled his keys from his pocket as he passed Gibbs.

"This isn't over." Gibbs growled, referring to their earlier argument.

"It never is with you, is it Jethro?"

---

Abby sighed, "Guys, I've got a problem."

"We know, Abbs. But you're safe with us. We won't let anyone get you. You've got NCIS behind you now, not the FBI." Tony followed Ziva and Abby up the stairs to Ziva's apartment.

"It's not that. I've got a bigger problem."

"What's wrong?" Ziva unlocked her door and let both Abby and Tony step inside before she shut it and flipped the deadbolt.

"Gibbs."

"You know how he gets. He just has a hard time sharing with Fornell and the FBI. Combine that with how much he worries about you? He's bound to be a bear." Tony set Abby's bag beside the couch and flopped down with a sigh.

"Yeah, I guess."

Ziva watched as Abby struggled for a response. "You know Abby, I could use some help preparing the guest bed. Could you help me?"

"Sure." Abby followed Ziva down the hall and into the guest room, but stopped in the doorway when she saw the bed was already made.

"I thought that maybe you would rather talk away from Tony. He can be a bit…" Ziva thought for a moment. "Well, he can be many things, but childish comes to mind."

Abby shrugged. "I don't know - this whole undercover situation, living with Fornell, it's really opened my eyes to a few things."

"Like what?"

"I don't know."

"Abby, what's bothering you?"

"It's nothing, really. I think it's just the stress of this morning. I just… I'm just really stressed, that's all. Tony is probably wondering what's taking so long." Abby turned and headed back to the living room.

---

The next morning, Gibbs called to check in; there had been no sightings and no further threats. With reluctance, Gibbs gave them the go-ahead to go to the mall so that Abby could get a dress. Fornell had agreed to up security around the home in order to get Gibbs to back down about calling off the whole thing and putting Abby somewhere safe, far away from DC.

Ziva strapped her second gun to her ankle and then waited as Abby pulled her jacket on before they headed out to the car. It was a short drive to the mall, and by the time they got there, Abby had mostly been able to put the drama from the previous day behind her and was looking forward to shopping on someone else's dime.

They started off searching the bigger department stores, but Abby wrinkled her nose at everything they looked at.

Too long.

Too pink.

Too slutty.

Too floral.

They moved on to a smaller dress boutique - the small size of the shop and the single entry from the mall put Ziva at ease and she was able to focus a little more on dresses and a little less on the potential for a threat against Abby.

Abby and Ziva politely refused help from the sales woman, opting to search through the dresses on their own. With an arm full of dresses, Abby stepped into the dressing room leaving Ziva on guard right outside. The first dress she tried was a simple black strapless dress. She looked herself up and down in the mirror before stepping out to show Ziva.

"It's so boring."

"It looks nice, but it does not seem like something you would wear."

Abby tried dress after dress, showing Ziva half of them and vetoing the other half before they were even fully zipped.

"This one looks like I'm wearing a garbage bag tied with a bow!"

"Excuse me?" The sales woman stepped up behind Abby and Ziva as Abby stood in the hallway looking herself over in the mirror. "I couldn't help but notice you seem to be struggling to find a dress. We just got this one in and maybe you'd like to try it?"

Abby looked at the garment bag and shrugged. "Sure."

The sales woman hung the bag on a hook jutting out from the wall and unzipped it. Abby gave a slight gasp when the sales woman pulled out the 1950's inspired 'New Look' dress. She admired the pinched waist and the slight scoop of the neck line. Abby took the dress from the woman and disappeared into the dressing room. The way the black lace was so bold against her fair skin, the way the layers of tulle petticoats made the skirt so full and swish around her calves… "I love it!"

Ziva waited for Abby to step back out and smiled widely at her friend. "You look beautiful. This is the dress, yes?"

"Yes." Abby spun in a slow circle. "This is the dress."

Abby checked her reflection in the mirror again and smiled. "I can't wait for him to see it, it'll make his jaw drop."

"Although he is a man, I do not think Fornell appreciates the finer things in life, like a beautiful dress."

I meant Gibbs, Abby wanted to answer. "You're right. Tony will appreciate it though. I'll show him."

Ziva laughed. "Tony will certainly appreciate you in a dress."

----

With the dress picked out, the two women headed to a nearby café for lunch. It took a little persuasion, but after agreeing to sit in the back corner, away from the window, where Ziva could keep an eye out for potential trouble Ziva finally agreed to lunch.

"So Abby, yesterday, you wanted to say something, but you stopped yourself. Why?"

"It was nothing Ziva, really."

"It did not feel like nothing."

"This whole situation has had me thinking, that's all. I guess, when a person's life is in danger they tend to start thinking about all the little things in life and what they mean. It was nothing serious, I promise."

"Abby."

"Alright," Abby took a long sip of her ice water before continuing. "Okay, so you know how you can be friends with someone and then suddenly see them as maybe something more? But you don't really want to do anything about it because you don't want to ruin the friendship, especially since you work so closely with them."

"Ah," Ziva gave an understanding nod. She figured it would be hard to work with someone so closely, living with them and pretending to be their girlfriend, and not start to feel a little something. "It is understandable."

"But Ziva, you can't say anything to him, or to anyone else! He's so stressed already, I don't want him to think he has to worry about my feelings, too."

"My lips are secured."

"Sealed."

"Yes, that too. But if you want to talk about it, I am here for you. It must be difficult living with Fornell and then realizing you are falling in love with him."

"Yeah…"

----

TBC…