Gibbs lay in bed, he couldn't sleep, and so much was going on in his head. He'd lost mike and his world collapsed around him, he now had nothing, all he had was work and dead bodies around him, he needed something new. A project? No that didn't make him feel any less... Empty, what could fill him again? He didn't know and it plagued him, especially at night.
The next day he went into work as normal
"Morning Gibbs, Ducky was looking for you" said McGee sadly
"Thanks" said Gibbs and made his way down.
The team had all been hit by Mike's death, and it was still fresh for them all.
He walked into autopsy
"Uh morning Jethro" said Ducky
"Morning, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes I did. Mr Palmer make yourself busy for a moment please"
"Ok Doctor Mallard" said Palmer and left.
"Now come sit" said Ducky walking to the desk
Gibbs sat, guessing this was going to be therapy session
"Now I think you need to talk" stated Ducky
"Do I?" stated Gibbs, he didn't want to talk
"Jethro, you don't need to keep it all bottled up, talk to me. I can see your struggling"
Gibbs sighed "yes I am. But what will talking do?"
"It will get it off your chest, and I may be able to help"
"I just feel so empty"
"How?"
Gibbs looked at Ducky stunned, "how?" he repeated "I have no one around me. All I have is work and that's it. Before I at least had someone else outside of the job. I've lost Mike that was everything to me"
"Then find someone outside work?"
"I can't, I work so much"
"Then find an understanding woman"
"I can't put another woman through that, I'm here too much"
"Then find a woman inside the job"
Gibbs couldn't think how he could meet a woman in the job
"Jethro, there is a woman around you all the time who would love to help you, and I think she needs to comfort and support as well"
This confused him, what woman was around him all the tine? Ziba? No he wouldn't take sloppy seconds after Tony
"Abby" said Ducky
"No Duck"
"Why not? She idolises you and you get on so well"
Gibbs was amazed Ducky would suggest Abby, a colleague at most
"No Duck, rule twelve"
"But you'd be happier, and so would Abby"
Gibbs shook his head "I'll think about it"
"Please do, you need something"
"Ok Duck, are we done?"
"Yes if your finished talking?"
"Yes. Bye Ducky" and he walked out.
Dating Abby? It would ease his emptiness, but would it kill their working relationship? He did love Abby but how did she feel him?
He slowly strolled along the corridor to Abby's lab. A conversation they had rolling around his head.
Abby had been set up and it brought up something he did a long time ago
"Then tell me how much I've been like a daughter to you, and how much you love me..."
He couldn't tell her that, he didn't see her as a daughter, but she was pleading with him
"Will that help?" he asked
"No... What I really need to know, Gibbs, is if your gonna love me... no matter what"
He just looked at her stunned unsure what to say, then words came
"I will always love you Abbs. Come here" he said and held her to him "they've set you up to hurt me, its wrong they did this to you but do what you feel is right"
"Thanks Gibbs. I love you too" and she left.
Is that how Abby saw their relationship? Just as father daughter? Why was he even thinking about them being more?
"Gibbs" came Abby enthusiastic voice
"Hey Abbs" he said as she charged at him throwing her arms around his neck,
He hugged her back "you ok Abbs?" he asked
"I'm tired, need caffeine"
Then he remembered he hadn't stopped on the way in to get her caf-pow
"Sorry Abbs I didn't stop on the way in"
Abby pulled from his arms "its fine, ill pop out for one"
"I forgot my coffee too" he stated,
With Abby away from him he felt the emptiness become more; when she hugged him it went away a bit.
"Abbs shall we go get a drink? There's no work in yet"
"I'd like that, thanks Gibbs. Ill get my coat"
Gibbs just nodded.
They stopped by the office; Tony and Ziba were now in
"I'm off to get coffee with abbs, I've got my cell" said Gibbs
"Ok boss" said Tony
They left and slowly walked to the coffee shop
"You ok Gibbs?" asked Abby taking his arm
He looked at her working out if she wanted honesty or comfort
"I'm ok, not sleeping but its ok. How are you doing?"
"I'm not sleeping, I'm very sad about Mike but its ok"
"Maybe we should have some beers at mine one night soon, might help us both sleep"
"Can I stay over too?" said Abby "I'd not want to drive hone after" she quickly added
"Course Abbs. Shall we do it tonight?" he had a prime opportunity to have her over to see if it was more than just father daughter feelings. But with her added bit about not driving home it gave him a small hope.
"Sounds good Gibbs" she smiled.
Back at work all he could think of was Abby and how later would play out.
The day soon passed
"Hey Gibbs" came Abby's voice
"You ready?"
"Yes can we go to mine to get my stuff?"
"Course Ill follow you then I can drive you to mine, save two lots of fuel" he suggested
"Ok" said Abbs following him to the parking lot.
The drive was slow and Gibbs put on the radio, it played songs about being alone and lonely, he quickly turned it off. They pulled up and Abby got out, waving for him to follow her out
"What Abbs?" he said leaning out
"Come in with me" she said
He nodded and got out, following her in. He remained silent not sure having Abby stay over while he was like this was a good idea; the seed had been planted in his head by Ducky, would anything come of it?
"Gibbs... Hey... Wakey Wakey" came Abby's voice
"Yes Abbs?"
"You coming inside?"
He was stood at her door "yes. Sorry"
"Day dreaming?" asked Abby as he stepped in
"Yes"
"That's cute, but very un-Gibbs" said Abby trying to be serious
"Got a lot on my mind"
"I bet. Now I won't be long" and she jogged off towards her bedroom.
Gibbs remained stood in the small hall way, he imagined how it would look if he kissed Abby, or even slept with her. It looked funny and wrong, as much as he adored her, she was too young and maybe he was just confusing it all
"I'm ready" came abby's voice
"Ok let's go" he said and turned to the door.
The car journey was quiet, but Abby out the radio on
"You really listen to this channel? Ugh Gibbs" moaned Abby
It made Gibbs laugh "its just background noise"
"Ugh" moaned Abby again, turning it off
Once back at home Gibbs helped carry Abby's bag inside an he carried it up to his bedroom.
"Now you hungry?" he asked Abby who was sat on the sofa
"No, are you?"
"Not really, beer?" he'd need it even if she didn't
"Yes please"
"Ok won't be a second" and he went to get two beers
He returned and handed one to Abby, she took it and grabbed his other arm "sit with me, please"
He nodded and sat down, then Abby opened her beer and snuggled into him, he wrapped his arm over her shoulders
"What's wrong Abbs?" he asked quietly
"I'm... I'm just... I feel so lonely at times and... And I miss being around people. That's all"
This was how he felt "and empty?" he suggested
Abby moved around and looked at him "yes, How'd you..."
"I feel the same" he interrupted "that's why I've been in such a funny mood since we lost Mike"
Abby just nodded, as did Gibbs and they just sat drinking their beers.
"Another?" he offered
"Please"
"Ill bring the crate in" Gibbs said and got up, he looked at Abby who looked sad "I won't be a second then we can snuggle up again"
"Thank you" half smiled Abby
Two beers became three then four
"Uhh Gibbs no more for me. I'm gonna go wash then get ready for bed" said Abby
"That's fine" was all Gibbs said, feeling the loneliness set in as she walked across the room.
He opened a fourth beer and sat drinking it, alone. He felt that the evening had given him nothing, he'd not talked to Abby or worked anything out about her feelings for him, he'd wasted a chance and now she was off to bed, his bed. Sofa for him then.
"Gibbs" came Abby's voice
He looked up, as she walked across the room bare footed with shorts and a t-shirt on
"You ok?" she asked
"Yeah, you?" he wasn't but couldn't tell her
"Gibbs?" she said sternly
"What Abbs? I'm tired and... That's it"
"Ok, hug?" she said and walked closer to him
He went to stand but she pushed him down and pulled him into her chest, hugging his head. He liked the contact, and wrapped his arms around her butt and thighs, it felt odd hugging her that way, it sparked reactions in him which was good and it was contact.
"Come on Gibbs let's go to bed" she said and pulled back, lent in and kissed the top of his head
"Bed? With you?" he wanted to be sure
"Yes, if that's ok with you?"
"Fine with me" and he stood.
Abby took his hand and lead him across the room flicking the lounge light off then headed up the stairs.