(More packing)

"Finally. Everything is in the van." Tony groaned, rolling his shoulder in an effort to lose the tension there.

"Let's take a break. Duck should be here soon," Gibbs commented as he went inside the house.

"I could watch her," offered Abby, hoping to get out of carrying more boxes.

"The more helping hands the sooner it's done."

"Alright," the Goth sighed dejected.

Meanwhile Tony grinned as he came to a halt just in front of the staircase, "Well that's interesting."

"Camera," stated Abby, disappearing outside again.

In the living room they found both, Ziva and Jethro, laying on the floor in front of the fireplace. The little girl's head rested comfortably on the dog's torso as one of his front paws lay on her shoulder, both sleping peacefully.

"Ziva," Gibbs gently called her as he crouched down next to the pair.

The little girl yawned widely as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"'ibbs." she mumbled between wide yawns, raising her arms in order to be picked up.

"Let's take a nap." He told her quietly as he settled her against his shoulder.

"Gibbs! I wanted to take a picture," Abby protested with camera in hand.

"Another time, Abs," he gave her a small smile, removing Mini-Ziva's hand from where it had come dangerously close to her mouth.

Followed by Jethro the team leader brought the sleepy girl upstairs.

"No," he sternly told the dog as the German shepherd jumped on the little girl's bed also.

"But he's clean," Abby said from the door.

"He's a dog."

"He's freshly bathed."

"Abs."

"Come on Gibbs, look at him. He's so sweet. Can you really resist those eyes?"

Gibbs rolled his own eyes but let the topic drop. Mini-Ziva as well as Jethro were already fast asleep anyway.

"If we aren't back before she wakes up again, he'll distract her - hopefully."

(Gibb's house – while Gibbs/Tony/Abby/McGee are away)

"Hello my dear," Ducky looked up from the newspaper.

"'ibbs." Mini-Ziva furrowed her eyebrows.

The older M.E. smiled at the mispronunciation of the team leader's name, which no one seemed to want to correct.

"Come here," he tried to distract the little girl and patted the spot next to him on the couch.

However his actions cause not her but the German shepherd to join him.

"Ah, Jethro," chuckled Ducky, "You know my boy, I meant Ziva. Not you."

The dog cocked his head, his questioning eyes on the man next to him.

"Down."

Ducky pointed to the floor but the mutt just lay down on the couch. Raising his eyes up to the doctor.

"Jet," Ziva giggled at the scene in front of her.

While the Medical Examiner tried to converse with the German shepherd, the little girl had made herself comfortable on the carpet. Intently observing the pair.

"I don't think Timothy allows you to be on furniture." Ducky scolded, scrunching his face theatrically to Ziva's amusement.

"Jet, down." Mini-Ziva laughed happily as she patted the spot next to her.

As the dog followed her order instantly and jumped of the couch to sit next to her, Ducky was once more amazed how much the little girl had changed since he had last seen her.

Not only had the young Israeli began to speak, but he was taken aback at the speed that the English had taken hold.

He also noticed that she laughed more openly now and generally was more at ease with the team, the last few hours were the perfect example for this.

(Gibbs' house – 5 pm)

As they returned from storage, Gibbs was greeted by the sight of Ducky and Mini-Ziva sitting on the couch. In the lap of the M.E. was a book, which he read to the little girl as she sat close to him, peering at the images in the book. She might not understand the majority of the words spoken but the excess of pictures in the book held Ziva's interest.

Both were so engrossed in the story that they didn't noticed the group's entrance. Only as the dog went to greet his owner they finally noticed their company.

"'ibbs," Ziva greeted happily and ran to him.

With practiced ease the team leader caught and lifted her into the air before he settled her against his shoulder, eliciting another laugh from his small agent.

"Missed me?" He smirked at Mini-Ziva, his eyes shining.

A muffled sound to his right directed his attention to McGee who had his hand firmly planted over Abby's mouth. With a raised eyebrow he turned to his agent.

"I can't hear anymore 'Awwws' today," he looked apologetic at his boss.

Meanwhile Abby's eyes got a murderous glint as she elbowed the MIT student into the ribs.

"Ow." McGee's grip lessened instantly.

"That wasn't nice McGee! Why can't you let me express my feelings?" The goth all but growled as she put her hands on her hip.

"I'll side with McTruth here," Tony muttered behind them.

"You are so..."

"Abs," Gibbs interrupted smirking, "Why don't you get the meat ready to be put on the barbecue?"

"Fine."

The goth stormed past the men into the kitchen. At the same time Gibbs looked at his agents.

"What?" The teenager demanded snappily, "It's true."

McGee could only nod in agreement.

"Be nice, remember 'no forensic evidence'." Gibbs reprimanded them and went with Mini-Ziva back to the couch, where Ducky still sat.

"You must admit, Abigail can be very ...bubbly... at times."

"Yeah."

-"Ani hole,"- Ziva suddenly mumbled against Gibbs' shoulder.

"Huh?"

"Boss, I think that means something like 'don't feel so good' or 'I feel sick'." McGee offered from his place in the arm chair, which he had won against Tony.

Gibbs looked questionably at his agent.

"She said the same thing shortly before she got sick at a crime scene..."

"She what?"

"This was in the very beginning. When the winter got to her. I promised not to tell you at that time."

Gibbs huffed in annoyance, "Stubborn girl."

"Well, I think it's just a case of too much excitement today," reassured Ducky as he removed his hand from Ziva's forehead.

"McGee could you get a bowl from the kitchen? In case that she really gets sick." Gibbs asked as he gently stroke Ziva's back while the little girl sat on his lap, burying her face in his shirt.

"Boss, Abby's in there." The agent pleaded, clearly unhappy with the given task.

Ducky chuckled and raised himself of the couch, "Stay, I'll go."

"Thanks." McGee was clearly relived.

"Can't avoid her forever." Gibbs commented.

"But I can try to stay out of her way till she has calmed down." His agent replied meekly.

"Probably a good idea," the team leader gave him a small smile, "You could get a small towel from the bathroom instead."

"Sure. On it, boss."

Seeing that the M.E. would probably use the opportunity to talk with Abby, he directed his gaze towards the teenager who now sat in the arm chair which McGee had vacated moments ago, patting the dog's head affectionately as the German shepherd had rested it on the teenager's lap.

"You alright?"

Tony looked momentarily up, "Fine. Just thinking that Ducky is probably right with what he said."

"How so?"

"A lot has happened these days. Or today. Depends on how you look at it."

"So?" Gibbs probed, feeling that there was more behind the teenager's words.

"You sure that you really want us here?" Tony asked bluntly after a minor pause.

"Yes." Gibbs immediately replied, "Don't doubt this."

"But it's a big change for you, too."

"Yeah it is. But I don't mind. Ya know, I..."

Further he couldn't talk cause McGee returned to them and the team leader silently motioned Tony that they would resume this talk later - when they were alone.

"Here," McGee handed his boss a wet cloth while he put another towel closy by, on the edge of the couch.

Mini-Ziva whimpered softly as Gibbs gently placed the cloth on the nape of her neck, but soon quieted down as the queasiness passed.

(Same time - Kitchen)

"They don't meant to hurt your feelings, Abigail."

"I know," Abby huffed, using more force than necessary to put the finishing touches on the last steak, "I'm just stressed, I guess."

"No one blames you for that."

"They wouldn't gang up on me if Ziva would be here," whispered the goth.

"You miss her," stated Ducky, a small smile on his face.

"Yeah. I mean, we just got her back and now she's sort of gone again! Mini-Ziva is really cute but she's not the Ziva with who I can talk about ... stuff..."

Since Abby had turned around to him, during her little speech, it was easy for the M.E. to envelop her in a hug, "It will only take 7 to 8 months in the worst case."

"Do you think they'll find an antidote before those months are up?" She asked once she had let go of the older man, hope evident in her voice.

"I'm not sure. Though seeing them I don't think either one would mind much."

"They really look like a family." She gazed at the direction of the living room.

"Yes," Ducky watched her closely, "Are you jealous?"

"NO!" She hastily said, her voice louder than necessary, "I mean... maybe..."

"Oh my dear," Ducky gave her another small hug.

"Gibbs will only work regular hours now, will he?"

"I think so. Also I wouldn't put it past him to pull all-nighter anyway. You shouldn't worry about him not having time for you."

Abby smiled slightly, "Ducky, you don't need to..."

"Things have changed for them, but also for us," he reminded her gently, "Just keep in mind that this is only temporarily. And they are all here. Alive and well."

"Slightly changed," Abby smirked.

"Yes," chuckled Ducky.

"Come on, my dear. Let's rejoin the others. I lit the barbecue shortly before you have arrived. So it will take a while before we can put the steaks on it."

"Alright, just let me put those into the fridge first," she motioned to now prepared steaks.

(Later - after dinner)

"I haven't eaten so good in a while," Tim commented absent minded.

"Cause you only eat this healthy stuff nowadays." Abby grinned, "I couldn't live without those sweet and tasty little doughnuts or ..."

"Abby, please," whined the agent, all of a sudden feeling a deep craving for those sweets and causing the team to laugh at him.

Meanwhile Ziva tried to grab Gibbs' beer as she sat on his lap, with her back against the team leader's chest.

"Lo," the agent said sternly, causing the little girl to drop her hand instantly.

"You learning Hebrew?" McGee questioned from where he sat with Abby on the floor on the other side of the coffee table.

"Enough to make communicating easier." He told them, handing a glass of juice to the little girl which she profusely refused to take, "Just a curious kid then, huh?"

"Hm... Lo mean no, right? And yes was ken." Abby inquired.

Mini-Ziva craned her neck to look at Gibbs. Her eyes silently asking what the scientist was talking about.

"Look," the team leader told her and motioned with his head to Abby, who started signing once Ziva's attention was on her.

As the conversation went on around him, Gibbs refastened his hold on the small girl, taking small sips of his beer and watching as his team chatted animatedly.

It wasn't until two hours later when he looked at his watch, smirking as he caught Abby yawning widely, "I think someone's ready for bed."

At his comment not only Abby but also Mini-Ziva looked at him frowning. The little girl had switched her place by Gibbs for the floor a while ago and now lay partly on Jethro, as the German shepherd slept next to the fireplace, which had been lit only a few minutes earlier.

"Gibbs! I'm not tired."

"You're about to dislocate your yaw," he smirked at Abby, rising from the couch, "But I don't mean you." His eyes rested on the small girl who narrowed her eyes at him.

"Ziva, come."

The little girl just clutched the dog's fur and stared at the team leader, stubbornly refusing to leave her new friend.

"Even now they still have their staring matches," whispered Abby, much to the amusement of Ducky and McGee.

After what seemed like hours, the little girl finally separated herself from the German shepherd and begrudgingly went upstairs, not giving Gibbs' offered hand a second glance.

"And I still win," smirked Gibbs good-naturally as he followed his shrunk agent.

"Even if it's only with compromise," he added in thought.

"No bath." Mini-Ziva questioned as the team leader helped her out of her daily clothes, careful not to disturb her still healing ear.

"No bath," affirmed Gibbs, smiling at her hopeful tone while he searched for Ziva's pajama.

"Huh," he frowned and looked around the room, "The one you wore tonight wasn't the last clean one you had, right?"

The little girl just looked up at him questionably.

"Guess we'll need to improvise," sighed Gibbs, silently cursing himself for washing Tony's newly bought clothes but not Ziva's.

The prospect of just using first the clothes, which Cynthia had bought in the beginning, had been too tempting, given the lack of having enough time to do simple housework.

"Okay, we need an alternative...," Gibbs mused inwardly, going through the stack of clean clothes at the same time.

"Sweat pants!" The team leader finally found what he was looking for – almost.

"Though, you seem to have no clean T-shirts," he sighed, "Tomorrow's washday then."

Ziva just watched him from where she sat on the bed, her brown eyes following him around the room.

"Here," he handed her one of his smaller NIS shirts, chuckling slightly as the shirt seemed to swallow her small frame, leaving one of her shoulders exposed.

"It will have to do till tomorrow," he smiled, slowly picking her up again.

Although Ziva had no clue what he had been talking about, she gave him a small nod and leaned back on his shoulder as he carried her downstairs again.

"You'll be sleeping soon," the team leader thought as they rejoined the others.

"Where's Tony?"

"He took Jethro for a walk," answered Ducky, sipping at his tea, "He should be back soon."

Gibbs nodded and motioned to Abby and McGee, "And how long have they been doing this?"

The older man laughed lightly, "Since shortly after you two went upstairs. I think it's the main reason why young Anthony bid his escape."

"Can't blame him," mumbled the team leader, silently observing how his employees danced really close to a quiet song from the stereo.

"Need to remind them of Rule 12." Gibbs gritted through his teeth in such a hushed tone that only Ducky could hear him.

"Jethro, why don't you let them be? They were an item and still managed to work with each other afterward."

"Yes and it only took months for McGee to behave normal around Abby."

"True." His friend laughed, his eyes coming to rest on the girl in Gibbs' arms, "It seems that our little dear has lost her battle against sleep."

"Uh huh. Though something tells me she'll wake up, if I move her to bed before everyone has left."

"I think it's time to leave anyway. Some people need to work tomorrow," Ducky teased his friend.

"Seeing how much I have do to tomorrow, I would rather solve a crime."

At this moment the front door opened, announcing the return of Tony and Jethro.

"Oh come on! Can't you two get a room or something?" the teenager huffed loudly, annoyed as he saw that the pair was still dancing.

"Ah Tony," Abby grinned squiffy at him, before her eyes suddenly turned to Gibbs.

"Hey Gibbs," she gave him a small wave.

"Abs."

"Uh boss, it's..."

"Don't try, McGee. It's obvious what you two were doing." Gibbs replied monotonously, causing Tony to grin widely while Abby and McGee squirmed.

"Well, I'll bit my farewell now, some poor fellows surely will need my attention tomorrow." Ducky told them while taking his coat and hat.

"Night Duck."

"Good night," Tony chirped in, having plopped down on the arm chair again.

"Uhm right, I'll be going too," McGee stuttered, hoping to escape before Gibbs would give him the 'stare'.

"Me three," Abby replied happily, "Good night guys," she fearlessly went over to the team leader, who had risen from the couch with Ziva still asleep on his arm, and kissed his cheek.

"Night Abs," he smirked at her and turned to his agent, slightly raising his eyebrow, "Night McGee."

As soon as Gibbs had said this, the two persons in question fled the house before Ducky had even a chance to go outside.

"They surely are in a hurry." The M.E. laughed before leaving the house himself.

"They better behave and don't get into an accident," thought Gibbs, knowing that McGee was still sober but at the same time not trusting Abby to be an easy passenger right now.

"Are they always this gross?" Tony asked once they were alone.

"Nope, if it wasn't for the alcohol Abby drunk, I would start to believe that they are hiding it in general." Gibbs rolled his eyes while shifting Ziva's weight on his arm, "Come on, we need to stand up early."

Tony looked around the living room where several beer bottles, along with leftovers from dinner, were spread out, "What about this mess?"

"Leave it. I'll clean it up after I've brought Ziva to bed."

"Great." The teenager smiled and went upstairs himself.

(Outside of Gibbs' house)

"They seem to be happy," Abby commented as McGee and she sat in his car, watching as the M.E. sped of in his Morgan.

"They are."

"It's kinda strange to see them like that."

"Wasn't it you who once commented about us being a family?" McGee gave her a small grin as he started the car.

"Yes, but I never imagined that Gibbs would actually take on the father role so openly for any of us." She gesticulated widely with her hands, setting her center of balance slightly off.

McGee grinned, "I never have seen him smiling and laughing so much before."

"I'm not really tired, you want to go for a drink?" Abby asked as they turned to the main road.

"Abby, I think you need to sleep." He gave her a wide smile before concentrating on the street again.

"But I wanna go out..."

~ FIN ~

Ani hole = I feel sick