CLOSE PROXIMITY
Author: Gosgirl
Rating: Eventual M in last chapter.
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Category: Romance/friendship
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. NCIS and its characters are the property of DPB and CBS. If I had a silver-haired, blue-eyed Marine to play with, do you think I'd have time for writing?
Summary: Gibbs and Abby set off to Stillwater to spend Christmas with Jackson, ahead of an oncoming storm. First time Gabby. Written for Jo_R in the Gabby Shipper Forum SeSa.
A/N: Posting this a bit late... apologies. This story and With the Grain's awesome 'Snowbound' were written independently but at the same time for the same Gabby Shipper Forum SeSa, which just goes to show how in tune we both are with some stories - not surprising really given we occupy the same gutter! ;P
Chapter 1 – Setting Out
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Gibbs?"
"Come on, Abbs. It'll be fun." He jammed the last of the packages into the front seat of the truck alongside their rucksacks, grinning at the dubious expression on Abby's face as she emerged from his house.
"I suspect a Marine's idea of fun doesn't always match mine," Abby pointed out. "My idea of fun would be a coffee in one hand, bourbon in the other and snuggling down in front of a blazing fire, not racing to beat an oncoming storm."
"Just coz you Southerners can't handle snow," Gibbs teased, looking her over as she came to a halt in front of him.
Abby was dressed in just about every layer of winter clothing he'd ever seen her wear...
... warm black trousers, chunky hiking boots, what looked like at least three jumpers and a thick down jacket that swamped her slender frame, and gloves... and were those extra mittens hanging out of the end of her coat sleeves and that she was currently waving around to make her point?
He had to admit Abby looked adorable in her furry winter hat and woollen scarf wrapped round her face. She looked like a mischievous pixie, although he suspected she'd hit him if he told her so. The only features visible were her vivid green eyes, rosy cheeks and a pout that was way too sexy for his blood pressure.
"I'll have you know I love snow, Gibbs... preferably from inside a warm house or when I'm building a snowman... or when I'm beating your ass in a snowball fight. Now if you're talking hurricanes or tropical storms or torrential rain, then I'm your girl."
He grinned as he took the last of the bags Abby handed him and turned away to finish packing the truck.
Abby thought Gibbs always looked good whatever he wore, but he looked particularly edible today.
Thick dark trousers and over a sweater he had that damn red hoodie that always made her want to climb all over him, a winter weight dark short coat on top of everything and he was wearing warm gloves... and a teasing crooked grin and twinkling blue eyes that told her he was having fun with her predicament.
"Don't worry, Abby. We're well equipped..."
His voice drifted over his shoulder, giving her a very good view of his taut butt as he secured the load and slammed the door of his truck. She dragged her eyes away from his ass before he caught her ogling as he turned back to face her. "Look, we've got extra clothing, sleeping bags, food and coffee if we get stuck. It'll be fine."
"Oh, I see, fun and fine... well, that's just peachy," Abby grumbled, biting her lip. "Don't get me wrong, Gibbs. It's the best Christmas present I could have, spending it with you and going to see Jackson. I'm just not used to travelling on the roads in these conditions."
Gibbs had invited her to go with him to Stillwater to spend Christmas with Jackson and she'd jumped at the chance.
They'd both taken some extra days off work and it was now mid afternoon Christmas Eve and they were about to set off, aiming to arrive in the evening and spend the next few days with Jackson.
Which was a fine plan... until a storm was forecast to sweep into the state late on Christmas Eve. But Gibbs was confident they could beat it and make it to Stillwater ahead of the weather if they left fairly soon.
"Trust me. We'll be fine." He walked up to her, resting his hands on her shoulders, knowing there was real concern underneath the good natured grumbling.
Abby sighed, giving him a wan smile, "I know and I do trust you, you know I do."
And she did... she always did. She was just being jumpy.
"Then let's get going." He squeezed her shoulders and ushered her into the front of his truck, and she scooted over to settle into the middle seat.
The passenger seat and floor were full of the presents and emergency supplies they might need if they got stuck, as well as rucksacks with their clothes for the next few days. Gibbs had packed them inside the cab instead of in the flatbed of the truck to keep everything dry.
Looking round the packed cab, she thought that at least one bonus of being crowded was that she got to sit right next to him.
There wasn't a lot of space in the front of the truck and she was practically sitting pressed against him from knee to shoulder, which was very distracting... or at least it would be if she could feel anything through all these damn layers.
The traffic was moderately heavy on the roads leaving the city as everyone tried to get a head start on the holiday. Snow from previous falls still lined the roads but the main highways remained clear and as they headed out of the city, Abby was struck by how beautiful it all looked... magical.
With luck and clear roads, it was usually around a five hour drive to Stillwater, probably less if Gibbs was driving, Abby thought to herself with a smile, although...
"Sure you're feeling okay?"
"I'm fine." He frowned, puzzled, and looked askance at her question.
He was driving much slower than normal, presumably in deference to the road conditions but she couldn't help teasing him.
"Well, it's just you seem to be obeying the speed limit... which you gotta admit is not normal, Gibbs. I almost feel compelled to check your forehead to see if you're feverish."
He rolled his eyes, grinning at her, "Can't intimidate the snow like I can other drivers, Abbs. Besides... precious cargo."
And she was left wondering whether Gibbs meant her or the presents for Jackson.
As they cleared the outskirts of DC, Gibbs glanced over at Abby and suggested, "Why don't you get some shuteye, Abbs. You've been working long hours lately."
"And you haven't?"countered Abby.
"Not as much as you."
Although the MCRT had been busy, Abby had been snowed under with evidence from the other teams as well, and had put in even more hours than usual in order to finish up in time to have these next few days off.
She'd been functioning on about four hours sleep a night for the past week and even fuelled by a constant stream of Caf!Pow, she was feeling the effects.
He was worried about her.
"Mmm, you may have a point there Very Special Agent Gibbs. Okay, maybe a little nap," she conceded, smiling at him gratefully.
As they pulled onto the interstate, the steady pace and the quiet inside the cab lulled Abby to sleep. Although he was concentrating on his driving and the traffic around them, Gibbs was acutely conscious of the woman beside him.
When her head gradually slipped down to rest against his shoulder as Abby dozed, he had to stop himself from wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. He contented himself with occasionally leaning his cheek against her head, enjoying the calm and the closeness.
After a couple of hours, Abby drifted awake, becoming aware of the firm shoulder underneath her cheek. When she blinked and raised her head, she met a pair of very close, amused blue eyes before they turned back to the road.
"Feel better?"
"Mmm, how long was I asleep?" Abby sat up, stretching her arms and rolling her neck to ease the kinks, missing the way his eyes raked over her.
"Couple of hours," he told her. "Traffic's building up."
"Time for caffeine then," she declared.
Abby scrabbled for both thermos of coffee, one made to his liking filled with his usual tar as she referred to it, and the other sweetened with milk and sugar, or weakened as he called it.
Pouring his coffee first, she handed Gibbs his travel mug. He smiled warmly at her as she held onto it between gulps so he could concentrate on the road.
Abby basked in the feeling of sitting close to him, surreptitiously studying his profile, the strong nose and firm jawline, and a neck she could just sink her teeth into, and the wrinkles at the corners of his piercing blue eyes that only showed when he smiled... which he seemed to be doing more and more around her lately.
"Thanks for inviting me along, Gibbs. I don't want to get in your way or intrude."
"Glad you're comin', Abbs. Haven't been to Stillwater for Christmas since... a long time."
The last time had been the year before he lost Shannon and Kelly, the last time they'd all spent the festive season together with Jackson.
While his relationship with his father was much improved and he'd enjoyed Christmas last year when Jackson had visited DC, this time of year was still not an easy time of year for him.
He wondered if it ever would be.
Abby's soft voice broke into his thoughts and what she said startled him, "And it'll help having me there... almost as a decoy... a buffer?"
Gibbs should have known Abby would be perceptive enough to realize part of his reasons. He knew Jackson was excited about his son visiting him and Gibbs didn't want to disappoint his dad when he still couldn't quite make the effort to be thoroughly festive.
He'd hoped Abby's presence would ease that somewhat... both for himself and his father.
"Sounds cold when you put it like that. Didn't mean it that way," Gibbs picked up her hand and entwined their fingers. The last thing he wanted was to upset her or have her think he was using her. "Wanted you with me."
"It's okay. I don't mind. In fact, I'm flattered that you think I can help. I get that Jackson will be really excited about you coming for Christmas and you don't want to disappoint him. But I also know that Christmas is a difficult time for you... and always will be. I'll try my best to help."
She felt him squeeze her fingers and looked down at their joined hands on his thigh, enjoying the warmth of his larger hand that swamped hers.
"You always help, Abbs."
And she did... more than she probably knew or that he could easily admit to her.
He was beginning to anticipate and enjoy spending time with her outside of work and at holiday times more and more. She'd come to mean so much to him in the years they'd been friends.
Gibbs couldn't imagine his life now without her.
A short time later, traffic began bunching up ahead and they eventually slowed to a crawl. It was hard to see too far ahead as the falling snow blurred in the lights. After a while, brake lights ahead indicated that everything was grinding to a halt.
Half an hour passed and there was no sign of movement ahead, and the light was rapidly going.
Gibbs had resisted turning the engine off to keep the heat up, but he could sense by Abby's silence that she was becoming concerned. Once the dark closed in, the road surface would quickly become icy rather than just wet and even driving in his truck would become difficult.
Abby tried to get an internet connection on her iPhone but couldn't get a signal. Gibbs swallowed his amusement at her muttering to herself and suggested dryly, gesturing at the radio, "Try the old fashioned method?"
She threw a glare his way as she reached for the radio and he bit back his grin.
The radio forecast didn't do much to reassure her as the latest weather reports had the storm moving into the area more quickly than was previously expected... which they'd already worked out by looking out of the window. The snow was falling thickly now and settling, and with the traffic unmoving, the road couldn't be kept clear by the vehicles. If the wind increased much more, it would soon be blizzard conditions.
Up ahead, several of the truck drivers had jumped down from their cabs and were gathered in a huddle by the side of the road. Gibbs slid out of the truck and made his way forward, returning after a few minutes with news, via the drivers' CB radios, of an accident up ahead which was blocking the road.
"No one's going anywhere soon, Abbs."
"Oh... Well, I guess it's sleeping bags after all then."
Abby looked round the cab of the truck, wondering how they were going to squeeze into sleeping bags in the confined space and not freeze by morning. Ending up as an ice cube on Ducky's autopsy table wouldn't be her first choice of location for Christmas morning.
"There's a motel up ahead... " Gibbs' voice was reassuring, breaking into her thoughts. "Looks like it's had a power cut but even without heating, it'll do as shelter."
"Okay, sounds good and probably the best we can do. I'll try Jackson, see if I can let him know."
As Gibbs followed the other vehicles into the motel's parking lot, Abby tried to ring Jackson to let him know they'd be delayed. Not getting a call through, she fired off a text, hoping that it would reach him or he'd be bound to worry.
Grabbing their rucksacks, they slithered towards the motel entrance as more cars began arriving, their occupants obviously deciding that stopping was a more sensible option than spending the night of Christmas Eve shivering in their cars.
TBC...