Disclaimer: With the exception of one tiny spot of the plot, none of the characters is mine.
Time line: Set about eight months after "I Don't Regret a Thing", two day's after Abby's birthday.
Rating: T
A/N: To get the point you should read "I Don't Regret a Thing" first. Otherwise this probably doesn't make much sense.
You will in "Déjà-Vu" find an answer to the ending-scene of "I Don't Regret a Thing": What exactly did Gibbs whisper in Abby's ear that made her smile?
This sequel turns out to be longer than I thought it would, so I just decided to get it started. Might eventually be three or four chapters in length.
Beta: Pretty Dead Flower
-xxx-
Déjà-Vu
-xxx-
1. Where is Abby?
About eight months later.
A quarter of an hour ago the team has come back from a crime scene and Gibbs has instantly left again in order to get a Caf-Pow and take it to Abby.
And now, Caf-Pow in hand, Gibbs is leaving the elevator and he rushes into the bullpen, barking.
"DiNozzo!"
Tony jumps in his seat.
"Yes, boss?" Tony shoots.
"Where's Abby?!" Gibbs wants to know.
"Not in yet," Tony answers and he watches Gibbs getting closer until he eventually comes to a halt right in front of Tony's desk.
Gibbs glares at Tony with narrowed eyes as he bends down, placing the container of Caf-Pow at Tony's desk and his free hand gets a firm grip on the edge of the table.
A strange feeling settles in Tony's stomach. He has seen Gibbs look at him like this many times before, but the way Gibbs approaches him now, has a certain -- a different -- nature.
Tony swallows hard and adds a subdued, "... boss."
"Tony?" Gibbs sounds angry. "That, I have just found out by myself! Would I else have asked you?"
"No, boss," Tony stammers, while Gibbs keeps staring at him.
"Okay then. Where ... is ... Abby?" Gibbs tries again, emphasizing each word threateningly.
Tony cringes as he finds his first impression being confirmed. Hadn't Gibbs once before planted himself right in front of his desk in that exact way a couple of months ago? And hadn't the two of them right then had a conversation similar to this?
But other than then, Tony this time has an answer to Gibbs´ question.
"Abby called in sick about 5 minutes ago. She said she had tried the whole morning, but as we were at the crime scene... . She already feels better, she said and she might come in later that day. By the way, she told me to tell you -- and I am to quote: 'It is definitely not the fish's fault. I am about to make sure what it really is.'"
Tony falls silent as he ponders Abby's words. They don't make much sense to him. Or none at all. And why hadn't Abby simply called Gibbs´ cell and told him? Tony wondered if Gibbs understands Abby's words.
"What did she mean by that, boss? Abby should better go see a doctor. Food-poisoning is a pretty ... serious ... thing... . Boss?" Tony starts to falter when he realizes Gibbs´ absent-minded state.
To be continued...
A/N: Short, but it's a start. Next chapter -- a flashback --- will be longer.