A/N Okay, for something that I thought would be just a few chapters, this is getting a bit lengthy, and I know parts are repetitive, but hang in there, I will wrap it up nicely . . . eventually.

Chapter 20

Abby-normal

(Ziva's POV)

As we walk out of the stairwell, I spot Tony sitting with a smug look on his face and McGee gaping like a codfish. They both look disheveled, but the scene is refreshingly normal. I relax as we enter the bull pen until I realize that whatever passed between them was perhaps not so benign. My guess is that Tony told Tim that we slept together. Ah well, for what I have dragged him through, I'll let him have some amusement at my expense. I give Tony a suggestive smile, wink at him and raise a seductive eyebrow to add authenticity to his claim. McGee cannot reconcile the seriousness of my trauma with my flirtatious actions at the moment. Keeping him in a state of confusion is also a refreshingly normal endeavor.

"Should I get my car keys or has the Ninja found another weak minded fool?"

Tony seems to realize right after the words escape his mouth that he actually said them out loud to Gibbs, who bores Tony with a look that confirms his poor judgment.

While keeping Tony in the death stare, he pulls a folder off his desk and flings it on mine. "You've had 24 hours to wink at him, Ninja, now get this down to Abby in the lab." Ah, my cue to go and talk to her.

I turn to leave then he says, "Wait! Romeo, go with her." Ah yes, if I need an escort to go to the head I definitely need one in the stairwell. Sigh.

Tony gets up, struts out of the bullpen and offers his arm with a flourish, "Shall we, Juliet?" I accept the proffered arm with a smile.

Despite not looking at us, Gibbs registers our actions. "Don't encourage him, Ziver."

We turn out of sight of the bullpen and chuckle at our mutual defiance.

Once we are in the stairwell Tony begins, "So, how bad was it? Are you really back to work?"

"We had a good discussion and like you, I know he does not think this is a good idea and would prefer that I not be here, but he respects my decision to help with the case."

"So that's it? You're just back? This is Gibbs, and he doesn't just lie down and take it if he's been manipulated. What's the catch?"

I look at him quizzically wondering how he knew since he was not privy to our conversation.

He continues, "Gibbs cares about you too much to throw you to the wolves, so what is it? Psych eval? Desk duty? Let me guess, I'm not coming along for the exercise?"

"You are correct. I have restricted hours and I must be chaperoned while at work,"

"What about at home?" He flashed a devious smile at me.

"He didn't mention it but perhaps McGee would like to baby sit me this evening . . . "

"Oh, that is low!"

"Abby then?"

"Better, but still not what I had in mind. Anyway, do you really want anyone else to know how much you drool in your sleep? That is a secret I'll take to my grave if you pick me." He flashes me a smile, calling my bluff.

I cross my arms and face him, "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, are you blackmailing me?"

"Yes I am. Is it working?"

I tap my foot, "I have not decided yet. You will be pleased to know that you will have the honor of picking me up and dropping me off for the rest of this case. Gibbs says I have to earn his trust back and until then I have to submit to the terms he has set, or else I will be punished with a psych evaluation. I believe he is attempting to annoy me into taking leave."

Tony laughs, "You're both too stubborn to accept defeat in a battle of wills. You're lucky he didn't just turn you out. You really must have persuasive superpowers, at least when it comes to men." Another toothy smile is flashed my way. "I'm sure he'll enjoy seeing your pride pay a steep price as punishment for making him look soft. So what other unreasonable limitations do you have?"

I know I will be repeating this conversation over and over today, but they all need to hear it from me, so I might as well get it over with. I give him the basics then finish with, "He says that I have to tell everyone what triggers me to panic. It is like I have to announce my weaknesses to the world, and that is a bitter gum to chew."

He reflexively says, "Pill to swallow. Never mind. No one thinks your weak, and if they did they wouldn't dare admit it because you'd have them on the ground in seconds, thus proving that you are not weak. Do ya see the irony?"

"Yes, Tony, but no matter how much I am generally respected, it does not make this any less humiliating." My frustration has morphed into a real sense of dread.

He stands in front of me and holds both my hands, to get my full attention. "Hey, you want to work on this case to help the victim, right? Think of this as giving everyone else a mission so that they can feel like they're doing something to help you." Leave it to Tony to spin this in a way that is palatable. "Do you want me to go in with you? I mean, if you had a hard time talking to Gibbs who is, let's face it, a little more lively than a brick wall, are you going to be ready for whatever comes at you once you open Abby's door?"

I squeeze his hands, "I do not have a choice and not just because it was another one of Gibbs' orders, but I want to put her mind at ease. Thank you for escorting me, but I need to talk to Abby alone. Even if it takes a lot out of me initially, I will be better for it in the long run, and you can rest assured that she will be a suitably overprotective guardian in your place."

"I'll just wait out here, if you don't mind."

"I do not know how long I will be and I am sure Abby can bring me back." He looks away and I can tell that he does not want to give up protection detail. "But you are welcome to stay if you wish."

"I will be right outside the lab if you need reinforcements."

Tony opens the door for me. Honestly, I am not sure I am up for this. Abby cannot do 'normal' in the best of circumstances so I need to brace myself.

The plasma screens are dark so I know she was alerted that I was on my way. Instead of the exuberant tackling embrace I was expecting, she walks to me at a normal pace then hugs me gently. I wonder if Gibbs warned her to go easy on me. She goes to the door, flashes a superior grin at Tony, then shuts and locks the door effectively cutting him off from our girl time.

"I'm so glad you're here. Are you okay? Did you talk to Tony? I've been so worried!"

"Abby, I am feeling worn out, but much better, thank you. You will be happy to know that I kept my part of the promise, and I have to admit it was much less painful than I had imagined it would be."

"Well, it is Tony we're talking about. When push comes to shove, he's the guy you want to spill your guts to. Did you tell him about how bad your injuries were? What did he say?"

"Abby, where is your hairbrush?" She retrieves it from her desk drawer, rolls her desk chair to the middle of the room then sits.

"I was just thinking that it felt like a French braid day!"

Aside from it being a nice gesture, selfishly I thought it would be easier to talk if I was not facing her. I take down her pigtails, brush her hair then start braiding.

"I know that Tim and Gibbs filled you in on the details of what happened. Gibbs ordered Tony to stay with me and so I had no excuse to dodge the conversation. I just showed him some of the scars and that told him about all he needed to know. He has been very sweet and supportive, but I am worried that his concern for me will wear him down."

She answers with a light matter of fact tone, "Ziva, I hate to tell you, but that's not just Tony's issue. They're all worried. In fact they look like they did last summer. McGee felt guilty for not realizing the scene might upset you. I've never seen him be so hard on himself. He fell asleep in the lab last night and I don't think he'll go home until the case is solved or his clothes cause a public sanitation violation. Gibbs has that weary paternal look about him while he silently focuses on what little he can do to help the situation. Ducky, well he's always concerned, but I'm sure Gibbs made you talk to him first and he would tell you exactly how he felt. I have been willing myself not to call because I know you're in good hands and Ducky asked Tim and me not to harass you with kindness for a few days. Do you know how hard it is for me NOT to talk to someone when I'm worried? Not calling out of love? How wrong does that sound? I guess in this case restraint was a good thing, but still, I want you to know that I'm here for you anytime."

I paused half way through the second braid, "Oh, Ziva, I didn't mean to make you feel guilty, we would do anything for you, we love you and you're part of this family and family does things for each other without a second thought. You would do the same for us, and we know it. And believe me, with the track record of the team, the time will come when you'll be bending over backwards to help one of us get through a rough patch. You already helped Tony after Jeanne, and you were the one who brought Gibbs back to us after he was messed up from the boat explosion. It's just your turn right now, so sit back and let us fuss over you for a while."

A few tears drop onto her hair. I finish the braid in silence, secure it with the rubber band, then find a tissue. "Thank you, Abby."

She stands and we are facing each other, eyes red rimmed, and we both start laughing at the state we find ourselves in. She gives me another hug and I am relieved that the serious part of our talk is over.

"So, what's the plan? Did Gibbs really okay you to come back?"

"Well, I do not like to pull the damsel in distress card, but I find that if a young woman bats her eyelashes, honorable men cannot help but do her bidding, yes?" She looks up and I give her a mischievous smile. She laughs.

"Oh, I know it, Sister!"

"Anyway, Gibbs is reluctantly letting me work half days for the rest of this case, then I can be back full time. I cannot see any crime scene pictures or observe any interrogations. He does not trust me not to repeat yesterday's drama so I must be escorted everywhere, hence my shadow in the hallway. Once the case is over I will have more independence again, until then I am resigned to being coddled. Gibbs was with me when I woke up, and seeing him then, well . . . I can understand why he would be overly protective. I am lucky that he compromised at all."

"How's Tony doing? He must have been scared out of his mind. I mean from what Timmy said, you looked seriously out of it."

"Yes, Tony was . . . affected. He has been very fragile with me and uncertain of himself but at the same time very considerate. He has been getting me to talk and yet not letting me take myself too seriously, which is just what I have needed. I could not ask for a better partner."

Abby squares her body and puts her hands on her hips. "Oh Ziva, we are WAY beyond partner here, at least the rest of us see it even if you two are too messed up to admit it. Sorry, I guess I shouldn't say 'messed up,' maybe more like too individually complex that together, well, you may not be able to appreciate the simplicity that an outside observer would pick up on right away."

"I think we are just fine as we are for now. Anyway, Gibbs would prevent anything more."

"I think you two have caused Gibbs so much grief in that department that eventually he'll admit that the two of you deserve each other. I mean, come on! How could someone on the outside come in to one of your lives and really appreciate everything you've gone through?"

"I do not see Gibbs changing long established rules for our benefit, but it is a nice thought. I cannot think past right now so despite your chronic optimism, please do not go designing a maid of honor dress quite yet."

She jumps up and gives me a proper Abby hug. "You would pick me as your maid of honor?"

Not the response I was looking for, but I have to laugh at her enthusiasm. "Of course, Abby, but that is just hypothetical. Tony and I are just friends, partners, or whatever, but no more than that so you must not be pushing these romantic ideas around. I think that if things stayed the same as they are and I never marry, I would still be very fortunate. Right now I just have to get myself straightened out."

She squinted at me, "Okay, but if you ever want to tag team Gibbs with double eyelash flutters to convince him to get rid of rule 12, I don't think he could resist our combined persuasive powers. And you know if you ever do get a ring on that finger, I had better be the first call you make."

"I promise, Abby, and you know I do keep my promises."