Title: Hammered
Rating: K
Spoilers: None
Summary: Standing on one leg proves a little too much for Abby. Established Gabby fluff.
Author's Note: This was written for the 'anniversary' prompt for February's Gabby Challenge on NFA. Okay, so it's a tenuous link. But hey. XD Thanks to Jo for the prompt!
Gibbs sets down his hammer and regards his work critically, smoothing a hand down the side of his boat and giving a slight nod at the even texture. The house is too quiet in Abby's absence; she's only been living here a couple of months, but he's grown used to the faint sound of her music drifting down from the living room as he works.
Tonight, she's gone out clubbing with the rest of the team to celebrate Ziva's third anniversary with NCIS. Gibbs was invited, but surprised no one when he chose the company of his boat instead. He hasn't been clubbing in over fifteen years, and doesn't plan to resume the habit now.
It's around two in the morning now. Abby will probably be home soon, and his coffee mug is empty. He heads up to the kitchen to refill it, and is about to go back downstairs when the front door opens to admit a somewhat unsteady Abby. "Hey, Gibbs!"
He looks out into the hallway, watching her balance precariously on one leg, trying to pull off her boot. She manages it – barely – and switches her weight to the other leg, attempting to repeat the process.
Gibbs makes it to her side just in time to break her fall, lowering her the rest of the way to the ground as she giggles. "Don't know how flamingos do it."
Seems as though his boat isn't the only thing that's gotten hammered tonight.
"Have fun?" he asks, amused by her inebriation. Abby isn't usually a heavy drinker, but on occasion she makes an exception. This is one of those times.
She leans against him as he pulls the stubborn boot from her foot. "Totally. The music was pretty crappy, but watching Tim and Tony dance made up for it."
He doesn't ask – he's pretty sure he doesn't want to know. "How much did you drink, Abbs?"
"A lot…" She frowns, trying to remember. "Timmy kept buying them for me. Guess the paycheck for his latest bestseller came in. And then… Tony challenged me to a drinking competition. Or I challenged him… Anyway, we had one."
"Who won?" From the state of her, his money's on DiNozzo.
Her body goes still as she concentrates on retrieving the answer from her alcohol-fogged brain, and then she giggles, a grin creeping onto her features. "I dunno…"
"Come on," Gibbs tells her, shaking his head good-naturedly as he helps her up. "You need to sleep this off."
She sways, shooting him a playful glance and pointing a finger in his face. "You're just trying to get me into bed."
With a soft chuckle, he puts an arm around her waist, guiding her toward the stairway. "Think I'll wait until you know which way is up before I try that."
"See, that's what I like about you, Gibbs," she says conversationally, balancing her weight between him and the railing as they ascend the stairs at a snail's pace. "You never… take advantage… you're always a gentleman."
"Uh-huh."
They reach the bedroom, and Abby turns to give him a clumsy hug, letting him support her weight fully. "I love you, Gibbs…"
Smiling, he holds her for a few seconds, kissing the top of her head. "Come on. You can hardly stand."
At his urging, she collapses onto the bed, burrowing under the covers he pulls up around her without bothering to undress. "Excellent detective work, Agent Gibbs. Another Meritorious Civilian Service Medal for you."
Her words fade as unconsciousness takes her, and he unfastens the heavy collar around her throat to allow her to sleep more comfortably. She doesn't stir when he pulls it off, nor when he kisses her forehead affectionately. "Love you too, Abbs."
END