Chapter 1
Abby spun around in the chair her hand hitting the desk and pushing each time she came around her knees drawn up stocking feet planted on the seat. She tilted her head back and pushed the next time harder giving her a few more rotations before she'd have to push again. When she opened her eyes she saw Gibbs was sitting on the corner of her desk watching her.
Startled she gave a brief yelp that made him smirk. "Hey," she exclaimed when he gave the arm of the chair a kick sending her spinning again. She heard him chuckle as he sent her round a few times much quicker than she had managed with her hand.
Reaching out he halted the rapidly rotating chair with one hand and on in her knees to keep her in the chair. She went to stand up but he keep his hand on her calve. "Stay put or you'll end up on the floor," he laughed removing his hand when he was sure she'd remain sitting.
Gibbs looked at his watch then her and said, "I thought you were out of here hours ago?"
"I'm running finger prints," she said dropping her feet to the floor.
Raising a brow he took in her outfit, a red silk slip dress that would have just hid the black guarder and lace topped red stockings if she had straightened her skirt. It only took a moment for her to rearrange her dress, but the image was already scratching around in his head burying itself deep into his memory. "A little dressed up for lab work."
She shrugged and looked down at her dress smoothing out the fabric. "I got stood up?" she said looking back up at him. "He didn't show. I was closer to here than home so I figured…" she shrugged again. A small smile appeared at the deepening frown on his face. "No big deal," she said rising and heading for the lab to see what the small chime had uncovered.
He watched her slide out of her chair and walk into her lab. Angry at whatever loser would have done that to her and happy she wasn't spending the evening with the apparent loser. Standing he followed her into the lab and stood behind her at the computer. A smirk appeared when he realized how tiny she was without the large shoes. "What have you got, Abbs?"
She heard the amusement in his voice and turned to look up at him. Giving him a questioning look she asked, "What's so funny?"
Smiling down at her he placed his palm flat on her head and drew it to his chest. The top of her head just barely reached his collar bone. "I think I could fit you in my pocket, Abbs." He reached under her arms and hoisted her up on her counter. "All legs," he said when the additional height only brought her a bit taller than him. No suggestiveness in his voice a simple observation as he took a stepped back to look at her.
She swung her legs lightly. "Are you calling me short," she asked narrowing her eyes.
"Calling no, observing yes," he said a slow grin appearing.
"Why don't you come a little closer and observe it again?" she said an evil smirk appearing as she swung one leg out with a little force.
He stepped right up to her hearing the challenge in voice. "Well?" he asked leaning in hands on the counter either side of her hips. A small shadow of doubt rose when he saw the mischievous look in her eyes remained. Abby swung her leg up and his thighs clamped down on her foot a few inches short of contact.
"Good reflexes," she said a raised brow added to her expression.
He stood up and reached down grabbing her under the knee as he released her foot. Pulling her knee up to his chest he slipped his hand free and wrapped it around her legs pulling over to tuck against his side as he moved into her. When his body hit her other leg, he placed his palm on the inside of her thigh and pushed it open stepping between her legs. He'd moved so quickly she couldn't register surprise until he was already right up to her.
He leaned in to her ear and growled, "Bad Girl," smirking at the small gasp and slight shiver that ran through her body. Leaning back he glared at her holding the smirk in his head.
She took in a breath her eyes wide a small blush pinking her cheeks. A deep pulse had pushed itself right between her legs and her body had decided intercourse might not be a bad idea. She also felt the thin fabric of her dress teasing her harden nipples. He looked unaffected and it kind of pissed her off. "And…" she said glaring back at him trying to ignore the throbbing between her legs.
Neutrally he stared at her, but his nostrils flared as her scent reached him. He took in her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils wondering if his eye looked any different because her reaction to him was making him hard. "How long," he commanded his tone soft but authoritative. She gave him a confused look but he could tell she knew exactly what he was talking about because the heat in her cheeks deepened and spread down to her chest.
"How long what?" she asked amazed at how steady her voice was considering the way he was looking at her.
He pushed her legs a fraction wider and inhaled a long slow breath. "Need me to spell it out?" he asked brow rising.
His actions brought a fresh surge of fluid and she could tell by the look on his face she wasn't the only one to notice. Swallowing she watched him biting her lip unsure what he wanted to hear.
The indication on her face was familiar. It was the look she gave him when she wasn't sure how he would react to some piece of evidence she'd found. "I want the truth, right now," he said eyes narrowing. His body was telling him to get on with it already, but for now he had control over the urgent messages demanding attention. When she didn't say anything and a helpless expression appeared on her face. "Sign it if it's easier, Abbs" he said dropping the stern expression.
She signed, "Five."
"Five… Five hours, weeks, months what?" he asked.
She sighed and looked at the hollow of his throat and signed, "Years."
Gently lowering the leg against his hip he reached under her chin and tilled her head up. Her eyes remained on his throat. "Up here Abbs." Her eyes made slow progress up to his face her eyes finally connecting with his. "Years?" he questioned a note of disbelief in his tone. She nodded the faded blush rushing back. "Why didn't you come and talk to me?"
She whispered, "Right"and looked away again.
"Look at me," he said a hint of irritation in his voice. When she did her eyes welled up with tears. Cupping her cheek he said, "Oh Baby. I'm Sorry," as a few large tears spilled out of her wide unblinking eyes. He pressed her eyes gently closed releasing the tears. Wiping her wet cheeks with his thumb he said, "I just need to see your eyes, ok?" She nodded taking a shaky breath. "You can tell me anything," he said gently massaging her shoulders down her arms.
"What was I suppose to say?" she asked.
"The truth… I always want the truth from you," he said keeping his eye connected with hers.
"I am the exact opposite of any woman I have ever seen you with. And you think I have the courage to walk up to you and say I'm in love with you?" Oh God she thought seeing the look on his face. She tried to push him back and get off the counter.
"Stop that," he said frowning holding her waist to keep her still. When he was sure she wasn't going to trying and scramble over the back of the counter he let go of her. He reached up and pulled the pigtails out of her hair letting it fall down her back. Raking his fingers through her hair he said, "You've been in love with me for five years?"
He felt a tinge of irritation at this holding her under the jaw he said, "You should have told me Abbs. Told me the moment you realized it." It took a moment to realize why he was irritated and he said, "You could have saved me from marrying that bitch Stephanie."
It surprised a watery laugh from her that immediately turned into sobs her hands covering her face. She felt his arms wrap around her hugging her close to him. Her hands dropped from her face and pressed it into his chest her arms winding tightly around his neck. "I'm sorry," she cried her body shaking.
He took a hold of her upper arms and drew her back from him. "Abbs, not your fault I married that gift from hell." She shook her head pressing her head against his chest her arms wrapping around his body. Confused he said, "Then why are you crying?"
Her hand rose, "Relived," she signed.
Stroking his hand over her hair he asked, "Because you told me." Her hand appeared again and signed yes. He rocked her slightly making slow circles in her back letting her cry herself out. As she dry quiet her breathing slowing he said, "Want to come over and have dinner?" She sat up. "We need to talk." A worried expression crossed her face and he smiled at her running his fingers through her hair his eyes moving over her face. "Scared of me?" he asked meeting her eyes.
"No," she sniffed reaching back and grabbing a tissue.
"Then why do you look worried?" he asked a smirk on his face when she blew her nose at the volume. The last time a woman let loose like that was Shannon. He'd laughed the first time he'd heard her and she'd told him he should be flattered it meant a woman was comfortable with her man. Considering he'd been vomited on by Abby more than once in the same day when she'd come to work with the flu he was pretty sure she was comfortable with him. He crinkled his nose remembering the smell of his car when one of those times occurred as he was trying to get her out of it.
"What?" she asked.
"I was just remembering the time you kept vomiting on me," he chuckled.
"I never did anything like that," she lied hitting him in the chest.
"You most certainly did, he said and all you said was oops."
"Hey I said I was sorry."
"See, told you there was vomiting, on me, in this relationship."
"We have a relationship."
"Woman," he said shaking his head stepping back to help her down. "I'm talking vomiting she's talking relationship." He set her on the floor and tilted her head up to look at him. "The type of relationship will be discussed at dinner, ok?" She nodded and he dropped a brief kiss on her lips before turning her towards her office, "Get your coat. I'm driving."
