Title: Forgotten

Rated: T

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Spoilers: Season 3-Ravenous

Author's note: Re-watched Ravenous the other day. Yesterday was my birthday and my friends are not in town and I felt forgotten, so I'm channeling it into this. AU where Gibbs did forget. Hope you like!

Abby had given up on Gibbs at 11 PM the night before her birthday. She had faith in him, that he would at least call to talk before the night was over. He had never failed to take her out for her birthday before, even when a case was like this one and he had been super late. They ended up eating fast food on a park bench. Twice she wanted to pick up the phone and call him herself, but she didn't want to be pathetic. Her mom had died in the fall and Abby was feeling exceptionally lonely. Surely he didn't forget?

But he had. No call, or even a text. Abby went to sleep with her hopes high that tomorrow eveything would be right again and they'd be okay.

Her friends had taken her out to a nice breakfast. Everyone on Gibbs' team had brought her black roses and gifts. She was glad for them, but furious at Gibbs. The way he had strutted into her lab like nothing was wrong at all got under her skin. It was all she could go not to throw one of the glass beakers at him, especially when he had snapped at her.

"Something botherin' you, Abbs?"

"No." Yes, you jerk!" She tried to bite down on her anger. She didn't want to be immature and selfish. He had spent the night tracking a missing woman, which of course was priority. But couldn't he spare a moment to say Happy Birthday? Her only thought was that he had obviously forgotten. She sighed again and hugged Bert.

The day continued on as such. She kept getting more and more pissed at him. She thought she had crossed the line when she was telling him how she found the identity of the missing woman.

"I've had a few wives, Abby, I know how it works."

"And yet you know so little about women." Everyone in the lab looked freaked out and panicky, and even Abby thought she was done for. All Gibbs did was glare at her and turn his attention back to the case. He didn't tell her good job for all the hard work she'd done or smile at her, which made her angrier. Finding out who Jessica was wasn't an easy task by any standards. Abby sat at her desk and brushed her tears away. Gibbs had his rules and now Abby made one for herself; Don't ever let Gibbs see you cry.

She had deep feelings for him; she had since they'd met. He was married at the time, albeit the marriage was circling the drain by then. She's been repressing her feelings for so long. In the back of her mind she was already upset at him for not returning feelings she hadn't even told him about. Now, however, she was angry at her friend for blowing her off, and he was being too dense to notice something was really wrong, or that he didn't care.

The team, as was their custom, were talking over the latest case in the bullpen. Jessica was safe and the ranger was now in custody. NCIS, the FBI, and the cops were all squabbaling over who got the case now. Abby had given up all hope for Gibbs remembering her birthday now, and was trying her hardest not to cry, as the director had called her up to her office. Abby proceeded with dread and a crushing sadness; not only was Gibbs being an ass, but he was going to grab the director into the events of the day? She had been kidding herself when she thought that she and Gibbs had a special relationship.

As it transpired, Director Sheppard had invited Abby to her office to present her with a birthday card and a cupcake. Abby thanked her and shared the cupcake, which was quite large. Director Sheppard noticed that Abby was subdued.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, really."

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

"It's Gibbs."

"You're mad at him." It wasn't a question.

"He forgot my birthday. And he's been an ass all day."

"He is a guy, Abby. You may have to tell him exactly what he did wrong. Sometimes they'll never figure it out."

"Even with friends?"

"He's had three wives, Abby. You're surprised?"

"No, but now he probably won't talk to me. I gave it to him in the lab." It was true; they had really gotten into it the last time he had come down. She'd been distant and cold and he'd had enough. He'd snapped at her, demanding an explanation for her behavior and called her childish. She'd snapped right back, telling him in a sarcastic tone that he was the great investigator, and to figure it out. He'd warned her to be careful and she told him to piss off, shut up, and listen to the forensics. He'd stormed out of the lab after that without a single word.

"He'll forgive you. If you tell him what mistake he made he'll apologize."

"He's Gibbs, he doesn't apologize."

"He will. I haven't seen Gibbs act the way he does with you with anyone else. He really admires and respects you."

"I hope you're right." The director bade Abby a good night, and Abby entered the elevator, followed by only one agent. The agent pressed the button for the squad room, and Abby stood behind him because she couldn't suppress her tears any longer. The doors opened to the squad room and the agent exited, and Abby saw Gibbs walking towards it. He caught sight of her tear-streaked face, and a flash of concern shot across his face and he began to run towards the elevator. Abby panicked and pushed the button to close the door before he got there. She rode down to her lab, grabbed her purse and keys, and made a mad dash for the stairs. She didn't see Gibbs anywhere as she made for her car and left. She still had plans to go clubbing tonight and wanted to freshen up a bit before her friends picked her up. She cleaned up in record time and called her friends to pick her up down the street so she didn't run into Gibbs if he showed up here. Abby reasoned that he wouldn't after the fight they'd had. They'd had spats before, but nothing like this. Abby felt ashamed, heartbroken, sick, and furious at the same time.

Abby put on a brave face for her friends at the club. They'd picked her up in great moods and she didn't want to spoil it. She did end up having a lot of fun, despite her fight with Gibbs. It had been mostly pushed from her mind until she spotted something while dancing. Gibbs was here. He was dressed in all black and his eyes scanned the room. They fell upon her before she could make a break for it. He strode toward her, and Abby was glued to the spot. God, he's handsome. His eyes were blazing and for the first time in her life Abby felt a bit afraid of him.

Several women had noticed Gibbs, and stared at him, agape. Abby felt a chill as he stood in front of her and took her hand. She stared at the floor.

"Do you wanna tell me what's going on, Abbs?" His voice was low and deep.

"I'm mad at you."

"I'd worked that out for myself."

"You screwed up, big-time."

"Tell me what I did, please."

"You forgot my birthday!" She said it quickly. The director had told her to be blunt, which she was now. "Or if you didn't forget you just didn't care. I don't know which is worse, to be forgotten about or not to be cared about. I get that you had a case but you couldn't have even spared a minute to tell my happy birthday?"

Gibbs' face fell. "God, Abby, I am so sorry. I completely forgot." He pulled her into a tight hug, right there on the dance floor."

"How did you know I was here?"

"Pinged your phone."

"You know how to do that?"

"Yeah. Abby, I never meant to hurt you. You need to know that."

"Why didn't you try harder when you knew something was wrong today?"

"Because you told me you were fine."

"But I wasn't. You should have known that."

"Abby, I never was good at those guessing games. If you need me to do something or I did something wrong, you need to give it to me straight."

"Was kinda hoping you remembered and had something up your sleeve."

"I wish I could say I did." A slow song started. "Dance with me, Abbs?" She nodded, and the two walked to the dance floor. Gibbs slid his arms around his waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck while they moved slowly with the music. Every cell and nerve ending in Abby's body hummed, like they always did when he hugged her or stood too close. Abby could feel every hard line of his body, and it was all she could do to keep her feet moving and to stay upright.

"I'm sorry I went off on you earlier, Gibbs. I told you to piss off and that was really mean. Do you forgive me?"

"Only if you forgive me for being an idiot."

"I do."

"Happy birthday. You're the most important thing in the world to me."

"I hated fighting with you."

"Then let's not."

Abby pulled him closer. "You should wear black more often. Did you see those women back there nearly hit the floor?"

"All I saw was you, Abbs. You look beautiful. I like when you wear your hair down." He ran her fingers through it and she shivered. He let his fingers trail her cheek. "So beautiful," he whispered. He curled his other hand into her side. Abby looked at him with questioning eyes. Gibbs lowered his face to hers and kissed just below her eye, then he kissed her nose.

"Kiss me," Abby whispered. "Now." Gibbs obliged and ducked his head to capture her lips with his. He kissed her deeply and she opened her mouth for him whimpering. The fact that they were in the middle of the dance floor was lost on them. They tasted, teased, tempted, and nipped for several minutes. They broke for air, gasping. Gibbs barely caught his breath before Abby kissed him again, with even more passion and heat than the last one.

"Let's get out of here, Abby. We can go to my place and talk."

"I came with my friends, I can't leave them..."

"Oh, get the hell out of here, Abby!" Abby's friend Rachel had materialized. "We're fine. Go with your man!" Abby hugged her and let Gibbs lead her outside, his hand on the small of her back. Abby laced her fingers through his. She felt nervous and excited at the same time. Was this the chance for her to tell him exactly how she felt? Was their friendship damaged from their fight?

TBC...Decided it's going to be a two-parter so stay tuned!