What Best Friends Do
by Caz
Rated M
Disclaimer is in force, so leave me be!
Abby heard the girlish giggle through Gibbs' door as she made her way to his house from her own home. She came to a halt before his door and sighed deeply. *Oh, God, Gibbs, not again. I can't put it off any longer and I am going to speak to you tonight, whether the broad likes it, or not*
Gibbs and Abby had been best friends for forever, it seemed, starting off as friends and eventually moving on to something more than friends. But they were not lovers. But even so, they would do anything for each other, even die, if need be, she was sure of that. Gibbs meant as much to her as she to him.
It was this thought that was uppermost in Abby's head as she stood in front of his door trying to pluck up the courage to break up what she was sure was going on on the other side. He was going to be pissed, she knew that without a shadow of a doubt, but even so, it had to be done. Abby had run out of time.
Abby took a deep breath and knocked hard with a hand that was shaking as much as the rest of her. She had no doubt that Gibbs knew who was on the other side, because when he finally opened the door he was casually propped up against the door frame with only a small, a very small, towel slung around his waist with a grim grin that only Gibbs would give to her under the circumstances, namely knocking on the door when he was in the middle of seducing his latest red-head.
"Abby, What a surprise, come on in." The sarcastic tone laced with his infamous smile, that he only ever used with her, comforted Abby a little when she realised that he really did not mind her intruding. But still she hesitated. Gibbs gave her a withering look, grabbed her arm and dragged her inside before she could squeak.
The living area was a disaster with several empty wine bottles littered on the table along with two half empty glasses. Soothing jazz music floated softly round the room and a trail of discarded clothes made their way towards his staircase.
Abby flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Gibbs, I didn't mean...I mean... I can come back later, if you haven't finished..." Her voice trailed off as her imagination run rampant as just what her boss was up to. Being no prude herself, far from it, if the truth be known, Abby could only cringe as Gibbs patiently waited her out.
Completely and utterly flustered, she turned on her high heals and started to head back out to the door, but Gibbs quickly moved to stand in front of her, blocking her way as he silently, and finally, read the needy desperation in her eyes. His became all business as he asked, "Abby, is something wrong?"
A movement behind them made Abby turn. The stunning red-head that Gibbs was entertaining was slowly gathering up her clothes, slipping on enough items to be able to walk from the house without being arrested. Her voice, although reluctant, came across as understanding as she smiled at her date and the intruder as she made her way towards them, zipping up her pants and then hopping on one foot as she put her shoe on and reached for the door at the same time, "Hey, guys, listen, I'm gonna run. I'll see you tomorrow maybe, Jethro. Thanks for a terrific evening."
She blushed daintily and eased herself around the two of them and the scent of lime massage oil assaulted Abby's nostrils as she reached up and planted a reluctant kiss upon the corner of his mouth. He barely got to kiss her back before she slipped through the door and was gone before he could blink. It was a long moment before Gibbs could pull his eyes away from the closed door, but when he finally did, he was back in control of his emotions.
Abby looked at Gibbs and started to apologise again for ruining his night, but he held his hand up in front of her face to stop her. "Abs, I know that whatever it is you've come to ask me is important, otherwise you wouldn't have gatecrashed my party. Now, tell me, What's wrong?"
Abby looked at him for a long time as she contemplated how to say what she had come to say. She looked afraid and Gibbs could sense that she was upset, worried and confused, and more worryingly, frightened. Taking her chilled fingers within his, he asked again, tugging her fingers to shake her from whatever was holding her tongue. "Abby, talk to me. You know you can tell me, please. You're beginning scare me."
She spun away from him and nervously wrung her hands together. He could feel her growing tension as she began to pace back and forth in front of him and felt his own tension increasing to the point where he actually held his breath.
"Gibbs, I went to see my consultant today." She turned to look at him and her eyes glistened with tears. She was trembling visibly now and her voice begun to choke. "She told me... She told me that I only have six months..."
She didn't get any further because Gibbs had dragged her into his arms and was hugging her fiercely, holding her head to his chest. "Oh, no, Abs, no, no no..."
She felt him gasp with distress and tried to push away from him so that she could finish the sentence, but when she looked up at him there were tears in his eyes. She touched her hand to his cheek and whispered with emotion. "Oh, God, Gibbs, I'm sorry, but, I'm not going to die. Well, I am going to die, but not yet. Well, at least I hope not yet." She slid to a halt as Gibbs gave her 'the look' Abba took a deep breath and spat out the rest. "But I do have only six months to get pregnant."
Gibbs went strangely silent as he tried to comprehend what she was telling him, eventually blurting out with disbelief. "Preg...pregnant?"
She nodded and smiled at him tenderly, reaching for his hand as she tugged him towards his couch. "Come on, sit down and I'll try and explain."
Abby took him over to his sofa and pulled him down. She turned to sit facing him but he had gone very quiet until, unable to resist the burning questions that now bubbled within him, he blurted. "Abby, damn it, tell me..."
"Well, like I said," She started. "I went to see Dr. Martin a couple of weeks ago for a routine check up. A few days later after I had a scan done and some other crazy tests. You would not believe..." Abby cringed at the sour look she was receiving from the man beside her as she prattled away and quickly for to the dreaded truth."And they found a tumour, Gibbs."
Gibbs swallowed noisily and she patted his hand reassuringly, took a breath and carried on. "She can remove the tumour, Gibbs, but in order to do so, she's going to have remove some of my reproductive organs. So, she said that if I want any children of my own I've got to have them within the next six months. That is all she is prepared to wait before she insists on doing the surgery."
Gibbs was amazed. "You mean, even in the 21st century nothing can be done. There's no other way!?"
She shook her head sadly still unable to believe the news herself. "No, no other way. It's attached itself to so many of the vital organs needed for childbirth that there is just no way of removing the tumour without removing most of my womb."
Gibbs reached across and lightly stroked her dark silky hair in an offer of compassion. "Oh, God, Abs, I know how much you've always wanted a kid or two."
She choked back the sobs that were now threatening her because of the compassion Abby was seeing on Gibbs' face and Gibbs pulled her into his embrace and she finally let go of the built up grief that had she had been storing all day.
Gibbs held her tight as she systematically saturated his chest. It didn't matter that it was his skin. It didn't matter that he was sitting there in nothing more than the skimpy towel. He was just there for her and that was all Abby wanted. His heartfelt question fell against her ear as he hoarsely asked her the one question that she wanted to hear. "Oh, my God, Abs, what can I do to help you through this?"
She slowly pulled back away from him and looked into his azure eyes. "I want you to get me pregnant, Gibbs." She hurried on before she could lose her nerve. "I mean, I can understand if you don't want to do this, but I've thought it over and over and it's got to be you, Gibbs. I want to have your baby."