Title: Season of Joy

Author: Alicia Rose

Pairing: Gibbs/Abby

Rating: M

Gibbs certainly had a surprise when Hollis Mann showed up at the NCIS building at the beginning of December. They had broken up years ago and he hadn't heard from her since. The last he knew she'd retired from the army and gone to Hawaii. The way she explained it, she hated retirement and had decided to become a part time NCIS agent. He was disconcerted, as she just as easily could train as an agent in Hawaii. Why here?

When Gibbs had asked his goddaughter Amira what she wanted for Christmas, she asked to spend more time with Gibbs and his team. Friday nights became Christmas movie nights at his house during December, with any team members who could make it. Friday December 20th found Leyla, Amira, Gibbs, Tony, and Tim gathered in Gibbs' living room to watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Gibbs had cooked a pot roast, and everybody sat on the couches, their stomachs full. What bothered Gibbs was that Abby was absent. She had only come to one movie night and had left early, before the movie had ended. She had missed Thanksgiving too, the first team Thanksgiving in ten years, opting to visit her brother Luca in New Orleans. He knew going back home was good for you, but he sure had missed her.

He couldn't fathom why she wasn't here now. Abby loved The Grinch, and the movie nights bad been her idea. After Thanksgiving she had bounded into the bullpen and hugged Gibbs before he had gotten both arms out of his coat. She grabbed his hand and dragged him into the lab, and he told her about Amira's Christmas wish, and Abby had squealed and told him he should, no,needed to start having Christmas movie night. She had made sure he had the right stuff to do it, too. The next night had been a late one for Gibbs and his team. He'd come home to find a new TV and Blu-Ray player hooked up, as well as a stack of Christmas movies, three bean bags, and what looked like a plastic purple inflatable chair. Abby was fast asleep on his couch. He gently shook her awake. "Looks great, Abbs." He kissed her cheek, as he always did. That night she slept in his guest room. Gibbs didn't get much sleep on the couch. All he really wanted to do was go and cuddle up against her. Hold her. Keep her there. His feelings for her weren't something that he'd recently discovered. If he was honest with himself, they had been there for years. He'd fought and hidden them, but it was coming increasingly hard to do just that. Especially since she'd taken to kissing him on the cheek often. But she hadn't even done that lately, and Gibbs was feeling sick over the fact that she had been pulling away from him.

Gibbs was brought back to the present when Amira jumped on him. "Where's Abby?!"

"Going to find out, sweetie." He held up his phone.

"We can't start without her!"

"No. We won't." Gibbs sent Abby a text. Grinch tonight. Amira wants you here.

She texted back immediately. Won't it be crowded?

Crowded?

Hollis is there, isn't she?

No! But I want you to come. Why do you think she's here?

She came back.

Yeah, to work at NCIS.

For you.

Maybe. But I am not getting back together with her.

Oh?

Come over, Abbs. Amira won't start the movie without you. And I miss you.

I'll be there. I just need to change.

:)

Abby showed up half an hour later, donned in a Grinch costume and green makeup. She had captured the Grinch's face perfectly, and Gibbs couldn't help a wide smile. She hugged him first, then everyone else. Gibbs was happy to see that Abby's smile was brighter than he'd seen it in a while. She smiled even wider when she saw that he had even put up a tree and several Christmas decorations. He also couldn't help but feeling hopeful; had she been pulling away because she was jealous of Hollis and thought something was happening between the two of them?

Amira was excited for the movie, so they settled in. Amira insisted on sitting in Gibbs' lap and putting the large stuffed bear Gibbs had given her for her birthday next to them. Tim and Tony both chose bean bags, and Abby sat in her inflatable chair. Gibbs found himself enjoying the movie a lot, but kept stealing glances at Abby, who'd catch his eye and smile at him. She also signed to him that she was glad he'd put up a Christmas tree, and he signed back that he'd done it for her and he wanted her to help him decorate it tomorrow. Gibbs had put in for Christmas time off for his team, which Vance had approved immediately. Tim and Tony were both going to spend it with family, Leyla was taking Amira to meet her cousins, Ducky was visiting friends, and Palmer and his wife Breena were going to the Bahamas. They'd never gotten a honeymoon. The entire team, including Gibbs, had chipped in to give the couple the trip as a Christmas gift.

BANG!

"Aaaaugh!" Gibbs jumped up as Amira scrambled off his lap. Tim and Tony were laughing, and Abby sat in a pile on the floor. The chair had popped! When Gibbs had heard Abby scream, his blood ran cold, but now he joined in the laughter. Abby glared at him and seized a pillow and threw it at him, which hit him in the face. Everyone froze, but Gibbs smiled slightly.

"Where did ya get that thing, Abbs? Doesn't seem solid."

"I got it in the 90's. It lasted a while!"

Gibbs signed to Abby. You're going to pay for that pillow.

Oh yeah?

Remember I told you it won't be on the head? Abby blushed and ducked her head, but she had a wicked smile. Gibbs shook his head at her and Amira grabbed her bear and sat in the other beanbag, leaving the spot next to Gibbs open, which Abby took. She took off her shoes and snuggled in next to Gibbs. He felt the familiar swooping sensation in his stomach that he always got when she was near, and their earlier interaction, and the sign language in a room full of people felt...intimate. He once gain noticed how bright her smile was now.

When the movie finished Amira had fallen asleep. He carried her to Leyla's car and they hugged goodnight. Tim and Tony left soon after that, as they both had early flights. They all planned on a gift exchange get together before the new year, as none of them really had the time to go shopping yet. Abby hugged each man tightly and wished them a Merry Christmas, but Gibbs knew that she's cal them on Christmas anyway.

When they were alone, Gibbs turned to Abby. "Glad you came tonight."

"Me too."

"Why did you thing I was dating Hollis?"

"Well, she's here, and you already did."

"That's in the past. I don't want her back. It didn't work the first time around."

"She wanted commitment."

"She did. But I really don't want to talk about her now. She's leaving next month for whatever assignment she gets and I don't expect to see her again."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Do you want to spend Christmas with me?"

"With you? Really? You wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all."

"I do! We can decorate the tree tomorrow and I want to bake cookies and go caroling and visit the Children's hospital with you on Christmas eve and go sledding and shopping, I already got your gifts though, and I want to go to Midnight Mass..."

"I'll do all those things with ya." She launched herself into his arms and hugged him tight. She kissed him on the cheek and giggled when she saw that she had left some green makeup. "Go wash that stuff off. You can stay here tonight."

"Only if you do one thing for me."

"Stay with me while I sleep this time. I was too cold last time I stayed."

He nodded, barely able to speak. "You got it." Did she know that was exactly what he wanted? Abby yawned, so Gibbs took no time in cleaning up and locking his house (for her) and took her arm and led her upstairs. Instead of bringing her to the guest room, he steered her towards his own bedroom. She looked up at him, her eyes uncertain. "Bed's more comfortable and the sheets are clean, Abbs." She changed into pajamas she had brought in her bag in the bathroom, and he turned down the bed. Once she had finished brushing her teeth, Gibbs ducked into the bathroom. When he came out, he found her in bed and propped on pillows. He climbed in next to her. "You comfortable?"

"Yeah. You sure you're ok?"

"I am, Abbs. I like having you here." She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "What's wrong?"

"It's a headache."

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Hoping it would go away when I relaxed. Where are you doing?"

"Kitchen. Be right back." Gibbs returned several minutes later with a plate of roast for her to eat, a bottle of water, and two Advil. "Eat. It'll make it better." She ate gratefully and took the two Advil. Gibbs took the plate from her when she was finished and put it in the bathroom. Abby offered him a drink from the bottle of water, which he accepted.

"Thank you. I feel better already."

"It's those Caf-Pows you drink, Abby. You drink too many, and you work too hard and don't eat enough. I really need you to take care of yourself."

"Look who is talking! Just how many coffees do you drink a day?"

"Touche. Do as I say, Abbs..."

She giggled. "Hit the light." He did, and the two of them chatted until Abby fell into a deep sleep.

Gibbs woke completely wrapped around Abby, who had turned to face him during the night. Her head was pressed up under his neck and one of her arms was around his back. His legs covered hers. One of his hands rested on her neck, the other was fisted in her hair. He took several deep breaths to try to calm himself. He tried to pull away and give her more room because he didn't know whether she she would be comfortable with this, but when he tried to move she let out a soft moan of protest and tightened her own grip. How was he ever going to handle having her here for the next four or five days?