My first ever fanfic. Please R&R… oh, and enjoy too!
More chapters to come as I have time to finish them…
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Gibbs paused to rub the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. Eyes closed, he silently cursed the monitor in front of him, blazing bright in the darkness of the bullpen. He couldn't understand how computers had become so popular – so necessary. Nothing was better than a pad of paper and a pen, he thought. At least they didn't cause headaches.
He looked at his watch. Almost 2200 hours. He stifled a yawn and shifted uneasily in his chair. The last few days had been long and tiring, but satisfying. Typing up case report could wait until tomorrow, he knew, but that wasn't why he was still here.
He was waiting for her.
The soft ding of the elevator was his cue. He quickly snapped off his monitor and desk lamp, while grabbing his gun and keys with his other hand. On any other day he'd have waited for her to come over to his desk before acknowledging her, in his typical manner. But not today – today he was hers.
As he approached the elevator he saw a pale hand wrapped around the frame, holding the door open. He snagged her hand in his as he slipped into the elevator, wrapping his fingers around hers. She had already hit the button to take them to the lobby.
They moved together silently to his car. He slowly released her hand as she climbed into the passenger's seat, then made his way around the front of the car to driver's side making sure to stay in her field of vision. Once he had closed his door, she quickly pushed the power-lock button with trembling fingers and let out a jagged breath in time with the dull thud of the door locks engaging.
"Hey, Abs," he said as he leaned over to brush his lips across her forehead. Her skin was cool and clammy. "I won't let anything happen to you."
She nodded, almost absentmindedly, her eyes focused on something in her memories. He kissed her again before starting the engine. She curled up, her knees wedged under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs, as he drove along the familiar route to his house.
He pulled into his driveway and quickly went over to the passenger's side to help her out. Her eyes were glassy and somehow darker than normal. He was forced to lift her out of the car, one arm under her knees, and the other around her back. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and nudged her nose under his chin. He kicked the passenger door shut and carried her up the porch steps. Fumbling slightly, he unlocked the door using the hand sticking out from under her knees.
Once inside, he placed her gently on his couch before returning to lock the front door. He could leave no door unlocked tonight if he wanted Abby to get any sleep at all. He squatted in front of her and took her hands in his. "I'm going to make some coffee," he whispered. She nodded as she looked through him.
Making his way to his kitchen, he felt his cell phone begin to vibrate in his jacket pocket. He quickly snapped it open and answered, "Gibbs."
"Ah, yes, Jethro. I am calling to find out how our dear Abigail is doing?"
Gibbs scooped coffee grinds into the basket of the coffee maker before flipping it on. "She's okay, Duck. No worse than last year. I just got her home."
"I am relieved to hear that," the doctor replied. "You take good care of her, Jethro. She trusts you."
"I know," he said as he poked his head into the living room to check on her. He watched her as she adjusted pillows before wrapping herself in his fleece throw, relieved to see her moving.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to give me a call. You won't be disturbing anyone here tonight. Mother has just discovered a there will be a three hour wrestling special on television later tonight, and she insists on staying up to watch it. I must say that these supposed wrestlers who use body paint and props and bizarre costumes have no resemblance to the wrestlers of the early –"
"Duck! I've gotta go."
"Oh dear. Yes, my apologies. Go tend to your guest. I'll see you on Monday."
Gibbs flipped his cell phone shut and thought briefly about slipping into the stream of coffee spilling into the carafe. Not worth wasting a pot of coffee, he decided. Once the coffee was made he poured two cups and carried them out to the living room, placing them on the table in front of Abby. She looked at him and smiled weakly before taking a small sip.
"Abs," he sighed as he sat down beside her, "good to see you're back with me." He lifted his arm and she slid over until she was pressed against him, her legs draped over his lap. "You wanna talk?"
She shook her head before burying it in the warmth of his neck.
"Okay. No talking, but you let me know if you want to. Deal?"
He felt her nod against him. He adjusted the blanket around her shoulders before wrapping his arms around her. He rubbed her back rhythmically and before long found himself gently rocking her. Tears slipped down her cheeks onto his neck, and he was overcome again, as he always was, with the silence that enveloped her while she cried. Sobs could be wracking her body, and yet she never let out more than a whispered groan. It was the one thing about Abby that always left him unsettled, even after all these years.
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