Title- Left

Author- PTBvisiongrrl

Part- 1/1 (COMPLETE)

Date-

Rating – M

Pairings/Characters- Gibbs/Abby, Tony/Abby

Spoilers- Hiatus

WARNINGS- None this time, really. Assumes previous and ongoing Gabby relationship that is AU.

Disclaimers- Unfortunately, I don't own any of these characters, and make absolutely no profit from taking them out to play…although Gibbs and Tony can frisk and cuff me ANYTIME, and Abby is a goddess.

"You left me, without a word." Abby's voice was a harsh whisper. The dark figure in her doorway had woken her; momentary fear was quickly replaced with anger as she realized whom it was. "For four months."

"Abs-" Jethro started. Since he had made the decision to stay in DC, it had become a burning need to go to her, to reclaim her—to apologize and earn her forgiveness. "I needed time to figure things through. I remembered again, yes, but it also felt like Shannon and Kelly had just been yesterday at the same time." He could see from her face, the bare shoulders beneath the tightly clasped bed sheet. It took a minute to make out a lumpy shape in the bed beside her, a heart stopping moment that told him more than her tone that he had been away too long and that it had not been a good idea to come here at 1 AM.

Abby crossed her arms, leaning elbows on her knees. "This is too late to do any good, Gibbs. You need to leave."

"I see that," Gibbs replied, the despair evident in his voice. "And I'm sorry, Abs."

"Don't apologize, Gibbs." Abby wiped at a tear rolling down the side of her nose. "Don't go weak now when I need you to be the hard bastard to my bitch. Just give it up, let me go. I can't do this. I can't walk around, living my life, trying not to worry if you're going to leave me again."

"I love you, Abs." Gibbs scrubbed at his face, then ran his hands through his short hair in frustration.

"Love me enough to let me be, Gibbs," Abby caught a sob before it escaped. "I let you go, pushed you out of my heart—let someone else in, to heal me."

"Who?" Jethro asked. He thought he knew the answer, based on what he had felt at the office these past few days after his return, but he wanted confirmation.

"You don't need to know, Gibbs." Abby shook her head. "I don't want you harassing him."

"Back with Tim?" Gibbs asked. "He's a good man. Didn't think he was your type, really, but then again, I thought I was. Sometimes I'm wrong."

The lump on the bed began to turn over, but Abby stilled the body with a hand. "Go away, Gibbs."

Gibbs still hovered, even as Abby lay back and rolled over to spoon her bed partner. "Palmer?" he asked, not giving up easily.

The lump on the bed sat up quickly. "Boss, she doesn't want to talk to you. Please get the hell out so I can get some sleep." Tony yawned and lay back down. "You can slap me upside the head tomorrow."

Leroy Jethro Gibbs did what he almost never did. Admitting defeat, he turned and left.