This is a companion story to And That Is Why I Love You but you don't need to read that to understand this.
Gibbs' House.
The sunlight streaming through the windows wakens him from the best nights sleep he has had in a long time and he reaches lazily across the bed for her. His hand encounters only mattress and he sits up rubbing his eyes and sleepily calling "Abs." He listens for a moment but cannot hear the shower running or any other indication of someone else in the house. Rising from the bed he hurriedly wraps a robe around him and looks out the window. "Ah hell." Her hearse is gone. He picks up his phone and calls her throwing it angrily on the bed when she doesn't answer. Then he starts to dress continuing to call as he does so but she still does not answer.
Abby's Apartment.
Watching his name on her caller id tears slide down her face. Oh god what have I done? She'd gone to him as a friend. Too tired to fight her demons, those faces alone and knowing he would always fight for her until she was strong enough to fight for herself. His simple admission had changed that. No, be honest with yourself Abs it was your response that changed things. You didn't have to tell him you heard. You didn't have to admit your feelings or take him coffee barely dressed. You could have just thanked him and walked away. Walked away from this dangerous thing as you have so many times in the past. What have I done....
Gibbs' House.
Standing at his front door with his car keys in his hand he pauses then turns around and walks back down the hall to his kitchen. He places the keys on a table then crosses the room to his coffeemaker needing the familiar ritual to calm his pounding heart. He is astonished to see a folded piece of paper where his cup normally is but realises it makes perfect sense. Wanting to leave him a note she'd know, as she knew him, this was a place it would be found quickly. Unfolding it he reads with trembling hands
Gibbs, I know how you feel about apologies so I won't but you know last night can never happen again. We are who we are and it would never work. We have to move on. Abby.X
"Damn you Abs" he curses as he drops the note to the floor and begins to prepare his coffee. What had he done....
Abby's Apartment.
Curled on her couch she tries to block the images of him from her mind. The gentleness of his touch. The feel of his lips on her skin. His voice whispering in her ear. The absolute rightness of their coupling. So much more than she had ever dared to dream.
No! You know it can never be. There were so many reasons against them it would be madness to start. The age difference. The fact he was looking for a new family. Sure she'd love kids but not for a few years and as for marriage....no way!! But there was simply no denying Jethro was a traditional type of guy. Then there was the team. There was no way if something happened between them they could keep working together. McGee was OK with her dating guys outside NCIS since they'd had that really good talk when she'd started dating Marty but the Gibbs....he would not take that well. DiNozzo would be resentful that someone else was getting the attention and affection he so badly craved from the Boss and Ziva....a pounding on the door interrupts her thought. She goes to open it and is not surprised to find him standing there.
"Abby?"
"Gibbs."
Her heart breaks at the uncertainty in his tone and the pain in his eyes. She had not meant to hurt him but clearly she had. "I guess you'd better come in." So he follows her inside searching frantically in his heart for the words to convince her that their feelings for each other should not be denied. That what they had done should happen again.