Wounded Warrior Project

Enter the Goth

Inside the crowded elevator, Anisa cast a sidelong glance, across the bodies of McGee and Tony to see if she could catch her eye. When Ziva merely stared straight ahead, Anisa moved to gain Ziva’s attention:.

“Ziva?” Anisa turned to face her cousin, leaning past Tony to speak unimpeded, brushing against his chest with the side of her breast, much to the agent’s delight. She held his arm casually at the elbow, as if to balance herself. His eyes roamed downward, peering down the enticing vee of her not-crisp-white blouse, slightly rumpled from her travels. As his eyes slid lower, the vining tattoo growing from under her white cuff entranced him, yet she gave him no time to inquire about it.

“Yes?”

“This Abby person – she is not here?” Anisa asked casually.

“She is in her lab. Would you like to meet her?” Ziva offered freely.

“Yes! From what you have told me, she sounds delightful.” Anisa smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Is this acceptable, Agent Gibbs?”

Gibbs nodded and smiled back at the dark haired woman. Ziva and Anisa stayed on the elevator to return to Abby’s level, leaving the menfolk to the business of the tortured soldier on Ducky’s table.

“Interesting coworkers, Ziva,” Anisa grinned crookedly at her cousin.

“Never dull!” Ziva exclaimed as the doors slid open. The raven-haired beauty bounced to her feet from behind a line of computer consoles.

“Ziva!” She effused, “Your cousin?” Abby stopped dead in her tracks, recognizing the newcomer. Speechless, she gaped for a moment. Anisa hesitated slightly, unsure of her welcome and the black haired girl’s reaction to her appearance. With a calming breath, the visitor reached out.

“Anisa Shannon,” she introduced herself, extending her hand to Abby.

“Abby Sciuto, ma’am. This is such an honor …” The words gushed from Abby as she pumped Anisa’s hand. “I, well, we, uhm, yeah, I was at one of your demonstrations last year.”

“Ahhh, I see. Did you enjoy the demonstration?”

“Yes, very much!” Abby enthused.

“I must admit that I am surprised to find people who are familiar with my work amongst Ziva’s coworkers.”

“I’ll bet!” Abby agreed excitedly. “I am just amazed, Ziva!”

“Amazed?” Ziva asked in confusion.

“I would never, in a hundred million years, guessed you’d know someone like Miss …”

Anisa broke into the conversation, cutting off Abby neatly, “That’s enough, Miss Sciuto,” she stated calmly, with an authoritative air that brooked absolutely no arguments, or further revelations.

“Of course …” Abby continued, her black brows knotted nearly together in consternation. “I didn’t realize …”

Anisa held up a hand to silence Abby once more. “Ziva is well aware of who I am personally and professionally, Miss Sciuto. I do not wish for anyone who may be listening to know, however.”

Realization finally dawned on Abby’s face, realization that Ziva's cousin wanted to protect her professional identity, if not her profession.

“I see!” She bubbled out.

Anisa smiled indulgently at the younger woman. “Dear, I am apparently hosting an impromptu dinner party this evening for your coworkers. Please tell me that you will be able to attend?”

Abby gushed, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” She bounced slightly as she also offered, “Would you like a tour of my little world?”

“I would be honored,” Anisa accepted her invitation graciously, peering with interest at every gadget and gizmo Abby pointed out. Anisa asked a few questions, much to Abby’s great delight before the trio found themselves back near the door, where the little tour had begun. When the tour was finished, the two women shared a friendly hug before the cousins made their way to the elevator once more.

Once safely inside, Anisa turned to face her cousin, her eyes widened in amusement, and said, “I believe the girl needs to limit her caffeine intake.”

Ziva laughed, smiling so that her happiness actually reached her eyes, or a change.

“Anisa, may I inquire …” Ziva began.

“Inquire?” Anisa asked innocently.

“Gregor travels with you?” Ziva smiled coyly, amusement lighting her dark brown eyes.

“Of course,” Anisa exclaimed as she gazed an her cousin in confusion.

“This should be an interesting dinner party,” the NCIS agent observed with a soft chuckle.

“Are not all my dinner parties interesting?” Anisa asked, concerned.

“This one more than others.”

“Ziva!” Anisa spoke sharply. “You know perfectly well that I would not allow Gregor to behave inappropriately before guests.”

“Really!” Ziva countered in disbelief.

“Well, not Anisa’s guests anyway,” Anisa grinned.

“You really do make a distinction between Anisa and the Mistress, don’t you?”

“I must, cousin. Otherwise, I would need more counseling than I offer …”

“True,” Ziva conceded. “I hadn’t really thought about that.”

“Thought about what?” Anisa inquired, lapsing, without as much as a hesitant breath, into their shared native tongue.

“That you, of all people, would desire so strongly to keep your work life separate from your personal life …” Ziva glanced around the offices, noting where each of her team mates were.

“I struggle daily, cousin,” Anisa sighed softly, leaning closer to Ziva, for only her ears to register the next statement, “It is difficult when no one will allow me to bury the past, move on, and when, as with Gregor, I must live my profession.”

“Like being deep undercover, with no end in sight,” Ziva sympathized quietly, pulling her cousin in closer for a warm embrace.

Across the low walled barrier, Tony watched in earnest, while McGee observed the two women, surreptitiously, or so he thought.

Anisa kissed Ziva with a quick peck on the cheek, then whispered conspiratorially, “May I have your permission to play with your friend, Tony?”

“Play? How so?” Ziva asked, curious.

“From what you have told me, and what I have seen just today, I believe I make him quite uncomfortable in more than one way.” Anisa explained, fully aware that Tony’s ears pricked upon hearing his name, and his cocky grin had grown wider as he pretended to engage in a phone conversation.

“You mean to torment him a bit?” Ziva continued.

“Just a bit, to watch him squirm …” Anisa giggled, then turned to cast a very alluring look to the man in question, who cheekily winked at her, making to hang up and join the women.

“I shall enjoy this game,” Ziva laughed, knowing her cousin’s habits so well. She laughed as Anisa waved to both Tony and McGee as Anisa called out, stopping Tony’s advance in midstep, “Until tonight, gentlemen!”

McGee stood and smiled at her with a friendly grin and a little wave. Tony began to advance once more, thwarted when Anisa turned her back to him and made for the elevtor.

“I can’t wait,” Ziva told Anisa, with Tony and McGee both thinking the exact words themselves.

“Me either,” Anisa agreed with glee.


Dedication: Dedicated to Wishing on a Dream. Thank you!