Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters are the property of Belisarius Productions and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended.
Title: After All These Years
Rated: M
Category: Romance/Friendship
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
A/N: I started writing this in late January hoping to have it done by February 14 but I guess that was wishful thinking on my part (or poor planning). But it's still February and this is a Valentine's Day fic. Hope you enjoy.
Carrying a Caf Pow! in his hand, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs entered the NCIS forensic lab looking for the special goth scientist that worked there. Her usual music boomed through speakers threatening to shatter test tubes and glass beakers so he knew she was close by even though the outer lab area was vacant. His eyes swept into the next room where her desk sat and he was brought to an instant halt, his gut clenching at what he saw.
The sliding door between the two rooms was shut and his eyes stared through the glass with an intensity that could have burned a hole through it, if that were possible. Even though he couldn't see much of Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto, he could tell she was sat at her desk, probably looking at something on her computer. A brown-haired man stood beside her, bent over with one hand braced atop the desk and his other hand atop her shoulder. His tall slim frame is what blocked Gibbs' view but it was his hand upon his scientist that made him want to grab the guy and punch him.
Gibbs had always felt protective of Abby, even a little possessive, so when any guy looked at her longingly or stood a little too close, his first instinct was to physically remove them. But this time, like many times in the past, he stood rooted to his spot because really, he had no right to interfere in Abby's personal life. She loved the attention of most men as long as it didn't get obsessive. Plus, she was a touchy feely kind of person and others noticed and reciprocated her innocent affections. But it all still bugged Gibbs beyond measure.
Just as he was about to step forward and activate the sliding door, the stranger in the next room straightened, spun around and came through the door towards him. He looked at Gibbs as he passed by without even a nod of acknowledgement and continued on his way out. Immediately, the muscles throughout Gibbs' body relaxed and his eyes brightened as he now found himself all alone with his favorite co-worker. Perhaps glaring at the man's back had been effective after all.
The glass door had slid shut once again but Gibbs stepped forward, making it open and it was then that Abby looked up and saw him for the first time, launching out of her chair and into his arms. This was the kind of greeting he loved and looked forward to.
"Gibbs! Happy Valentine's Day!" Abby greeted exuberantly, her arms wrapped tight around his neck, her soft curves pressed fully against his front.
Rocked back on his heels, Gibbs wound his arms around her waist and relished the closeness he had with this woman. Little moments like this with Abby in his arms, fueled his imagination most nights before he fell asleep. He loved the way her body fit perfectly against his as the smell of her edgy perfume and the sound of her happy voice smoothed his natural rough edges, relaxing his mind and body even further.
It was only a few seconds later that she separated from him and reached back towards her desk, silencing the pounding music and grabbing something else in her hand. "This is for you," she stated, holding out a red box in the shape of a heart with a black silky bow tied around the center. "They're coffee-flavored chocolates."
Looking into her shining green eyes, he was touched that she had thought of him on this special day. She was the only one in his life that ever made Valentine's Day a little less painful since Shannon and Kelly were gone. Unable to stop himself, he cupped her cheek in one hand and leaned forward, pressing his lips near her ear. "Thanks, Abbs," he murmured softly and felt the skin against his cheek shift as she smiled.
As he took the candy from her, she took the Caf Pow! from him and slid the bright red straw between her teeth. Her eyes never left his as she gently pursed her lips and sucked. Gibbs was mesmerized and felt his body twitch as he watched her red lips wrap around the straw, and he struggled to shift his focus onto something else.
Forcing his gaze beyond her shoulder, he spotted a large bouquet of black roses in a vase upon her desk. Obviously he wasn't the only one with romantic notions in his head regarding the forensic scientist. He wasn't aware that Abby was seeing someone, but she usually kept current relationships private, maybe mentioning them only when they no longer existed. His heart dropped as he realized that maybe the plans he had made for them after work were never going to happen.
Turning, she looked at the beautiful arrangement with him. "Those are from Director Vance. Can you believe it?"
Gibbs let out a slow breath and again relaxed. Leon Vance presented no threat… did he? Realizing he had been clenching his fists, he relaxed his fingers, not liking the way this damn holiday had his emotions on a roller-coaster. Abby leaned over her desk, pulling the sweet fragrance from the flowers into her lungs, and Gibbs' gaze fell down the length of her body, the muscles in his groin responding to what he saw.
Because of her stretched position, her red blouse pulled a little tighter across her round breasts, the v-shaped opening in front widening, giving him a peek at a pink bra with lacy edges. A little lower, her short black skirt lifted a bit higher on her thighs revealing the tops of her fishnet stockings and more lace. He bit back a groan just in time as he watched the way her calf muscles flexed when she went up on her toes, leaning even further over the desk.
Suddenly realizing the compromising position he was in, he swiftly shifted the box of candies in his hand to cover the front of his pants, effectively hiding his maddening arousal. He knew he should say something about the flowers or about Vance, but at the moment, he didn't trust his voice. Gratefully, Abby didn't give the silence a chance to become awkward.
She flopped down into her chair and looked up at him. "He's taking me to lunch, also," she stated, her eyes sparkling and not leaving his as she took another sip of her drink.
Damn, she was good at that, Gibbs thought as he licked his lips. Were hers as tasty as they looked?
He had to clear the desire from his throat before he could speak. "Got something you're trying to tell me, Abbs?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual.
Abby's eyebrows shot up. "About me and Director Vance? No," she responded, shaking her head. "He wants me to know how much he appreciates the work I do, and I think he's trying to get through this day the best way he knows how this year."
Gibbs knew the feeling all too well, even though he had tried moving on with other women, Vance was at the stage of telling others how he felt before it was too late. You can't tell someone how much they mean to you when they're no longer around.
"So, what can I do for you, Very Special Agent Gibbs?" Abby asked light-heartedly, pulling him from his thoughts.
He shifted on his feet and for some reason felt nervous because of what he was about to ask her. "Wondering if you'd want to have dinner with me after work," he stated, his words more steady than he felt.
A full grin broke across Abby's face. "Oooh, so are you my Valentine's Day date?" she teased in a smoky voice.
He smirked at her flirtatious tone, liking the tingles that slid across his skin. "Either me or Vance."
"What if I choose both of you?"
Gibbs narrowed his eyes and withheld the growl that threatened to crawl from his throat. "I don't share," he told her lowly and noticed the way her breath caught in her chest. Turning on his heel, he headed for the door. "Pick you up at seven."
Straightening from her bent position of looking through her tabletop magnifier, Abby placed her hands on her lower back and leaned backwards, trying to relieve a nasty kink in her muscles. Ever since returning from her lunch with Director Vance, she had been absorbed in dismantling a smashed cell phone in order to get to the internal call log.
Rubbing her tired eyes, she knew she needed a break and a Caf Pow! Gibbs hadn't brought her one since early morning. Punching a button on her phone, she rang his desk but got Tony instead.
"Why are you answering Gibbs' phone?" she immediately demanded.
"Everything okay, Abbs?"
"I'm feeling frustrated. Where's Gibbs?"
"You sure you want him to help with your frustration?" Tony responded and she could hear the teasing in his voice. "I'm available."
"Tony…" she sighed and couldn't help but smile. "Sorry I snapped at you. I'm in Caf Pow! withdrawal."
"Hmmm, I can't help you with that, Abbs, coz Gibbs has me chained to my desk doing McGeek work. They're in interrogation right now. You know, physical activity is the best cure for frustration. Specifically why lying on your back with your feet…"
"Bye, Tony," she cut him off and hung up.
Chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip for a few seconds, she made the impulsive decision to visit the interrogation observation room. Any chance to watch Gibbs interview a suspect could be the highlight of her day, if not the entire week.
Entering the darkened room, she felt lucky to be the only one there except for the communications tech who was recording the interview. Stepping closer to the one-way mirror, she saw that McGee was sat across the table from the suspect and Gibbs was slowly pacing, circling the small room like a lion stalking its prey. Her eyes devoured the way he moved then hesitated for a few seconds before he stepped around behind the suspect, obviously making the guy nervous.
Blue jeans that rode low on his hips, an olive green polo over a white t-shirt fit him perfectly, giving her a mouth-watering view of his bare forearms. He wasn't wearing a sport coat and she practically drooled with the way the short sleeves rode up his thick biceps. He was easily the sexiest man in the room. Hell, he could have been wearing grease-stained coveralls or nothing at all and still have taken the sexiest title.
Oh. Nothing at all. She gave herself a second to enjoy that image with a smile she didn't need to hide.
Gibbs moving again drew her attention to the small pad of paper he held in one hand and a pen in the other as he took notes and consulted what he'd already written down. McGee was conducting the majority of the interview and eventually Gibbs stopped beside him, near the corner of the table, listening intently as the exchange between the two other men heated up. His eyes were narrowed, his brow furrowed, and Abby felt a warm flush envelope her middle.
This was the reason she came to the observation room, to watch Gibbs, to let her mind and gaze wander across his entire body from the soft wisp of hair over his forehead to his strong chest, flat stomach, lean hips. Every time she did this, it was sweet torture because of the desire she felt for him. And it was killing her.
For the next couple of minutes she was so engrossed in watching Gibbs that she was barely aware of McGee rising, cuffing the suspect, and leaving with him. Gibbs remained and leaned on the table, his back to her, studying the file that was left behind. Abby's eyes drifted down his long back where his shirt was pulled tight, revealing wide muscles that dipped together at his spine. Below his waistband, his backside filled out his jeans perfectly and her consideration of his ass never failed to raise her heart rate.
Then suddenly he shoved the papers into the file, closed it and straightened before looking directly at her, but she knew he couldn't see her through the one-way glass. And she was lucky for that because her mind was still on a one-way track. His current position gave her a side view and she wondered what his body would look like naked, fully aroused… the thought made her ache.
Gibbs was about to turn and walk out the door when behind her, the tech unexpectedly flicked on the light and Abby saw Gibbs' surprised expression when he saw her standing there, watching him. She was too slow in diverting the lustful thoughts in her head and he could clearly see and read the look in her eyes. Maybe it was because of what her eyes revealed that his own expression changed, and it made her breath catch, her heart stop as he stared back at her.
A second later his cell rang and he dropped his gaze to answer it, so Abby took the opportunity to slip out the door. He was distracted and busy and she couldn't face him right now. She needed to get back to her lab so she could be alone to think. Think about what had just happened. Think about the look she had seen in his eyes.
Smoldering hot.
Thigh-clenching intense.
Had she imagined it? Had she only seen what she wanted to see?
When Gibbs next looked up at the one-way glass, he no longer saw Abby and he started pacing the room, ending the call as quickly as he could. Flipping his cell phone shut, he raked a hand through his hair, angry with himself for revealing too much of himself to Abby. He had been surprised to see her in the first place, but then when he read the look in her darkened green eyes, the moment became unguarded and his own desire had slipped out.
Walking behind the interview chair, he swiped at it with his hand, banging it forward against the table. She had seen the look on his face and run away, and he felt like an ass for scaring her. No doubt she had never expected to see a look of longing from him and now that he had given that away, it disgusted her. But what about the expression he had seen on her face? If his phone hadn't rang, he would have strode into the next room, shut the light off, and locked the door. Her gaze told him that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But then why the hell had she run away?
Knowing he wasn't going to get any immediate answers, he gave a heavy sigh, grabbed the file, and headed back to the bullpen. He had work to do and the complications with Abby would need to be smoothed out later.
A/N: To be continued... please leave a review!