Paste
Title: Because You Love Me
Author: Leandrastar2000
Pairing: Gibbs/Abby
Rating: M
Summary: Gibbs asks Abby to accompany him to a friend's award dinner and everything changes for them.
Author's Note: This idea was inspired by the Jo Dee Messina song "Because You Love Me". The last time I heard this song, it made me think of the Gibbs/Abby pairing and I started writing. Eventually the song will come in to play in the story. Not sure how long this story will be but would appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just love the characters.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Special Agent and former Marine tugged at the tie of his tuxedo as he stood in front of the mirror in his hall way. As tough as most people perceived him to be, tonight, he felt like a rookie. Tonight he would be attending the formal presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal to one of his former Marine Corps colleges and he was as nervous as he would be if he were the one receiving the medal.
"Hell Jethro, who are you kidding, if it were you receiving the medal, you would have found a way to get out of the event," he told himself as he adjusted his tie once more. "You will not disappoint your friend Gunny, so suck it up Marine," he scolded himself as he turned to retrieve his jacket from the back of one of his living room chairs.
His nervousness was not due to the fact he loathed formal events, but because his date to this particular event was someone who meant the world to him. They were going as friends, not even arriving together, but meeting there and yet he was finding it harder and harder every day to hide his true feelings from her.
He treasured her friendship, couldn't imagine going through a day without seeing her at least once. Not since Shannon had any woman taken up so much of his heart and mind as Abigail Sciuto now did.
As far back as he could remember he and Abby had shared a special connection, a connection that had only grown stronger over the years. Slowly he had found his feelings shifting from protective mentor to protective lion and his mate. He couldn't have said when that shift had completed its course, but he knew in his soul that if anything were to ever happen to Abby, he would be lost too. His life would not be worth living if Abby were not in it that was the reason he had not confessed his true feelings to her. He did not want to lose her friendship. He would much rather have her in his life as just a friend than to risk losing her completely if he confessed his feelings and she didn't return them.
Sighing in frustration with himself, he straightened his tie once more before grabbing his keys off the hall table and heading out the door to his car.
Abby stood flipping through the things in her closet. She didn't often have the opportunity to attend formal events and so she owned very few formal dresses. The majority of her wardrobe consisted of skimpy skirts and designer t-shirts. So, when Gibbs had asked her to be his date at his friend's awards dinner she had immediately started taking inventory of her formal attire.
She had never even considered telling Gibbs no, she jumped at every opportunity to spend time with her favorite Special Agent. Abby lived for his visits to her lab, not just because he fed her caffeine habit, but because she had loved the man from the first moment they had met.
From the moment they were introduced, Abby had felt a connection to Gibbs, a soul deep feeling that she had known him for a very long time. As the years had passed that connection and feeling had only grown and gotten stronger so that now Abby couldn't imagine a Gibbs free existence. Gibbs was her existence.
Gibbs didn't know her true feelings for him, but she cherished every hug, every kiss to the cheek, every slight touch that he subtly bestowed upon her and she cherished his friendship beyond all else. She longed to tell him how she really felt, but didn't want to risk losing him completely.
As these thoughts flitted across her mind, she continued to search for a dress to wear that wouldn't send the entire dinner party screaming for the hills. Just when she was about to give up her own wardrobe as lost and call Ziva for a loan, she found a dress in the very back of her closet that she had totally forgotten she even owned. It was somewhat conservative compared to everything else she owned, but it was perfect for the event Gibbs had invited her to.
Smiling to herself, she draped the dress over the end of her bed and made her way to the bathroom to make herself beautiful for the man of her dreams.
When Gibbs arrived at the hotel where the dinner was being held, he looked around for Abby hoping they could walk inside together. After several minutes he decided she hadn't yet arrived and made his way inside.
"Jethro," a voice called as he stepped into the ballroom and he turned to look in the direction the voice had come from.
Making his way towards him was the guest of honor, Sergeant Major Jerry Tennison. Tennison raised his hand in greeting as he approached and Gibbs headed in his direction.
"Jethro, I am so glad you came," Tennison said as he embraced Gibbs.
"Jerry, I wouldn't have missed seeing your lazy ass get a medal," Gibbs replied embracing his old friend in return.
"You're still as full of it as ever I see," Tennison said with a grin, "So did you come stag tonight Gunny?" Tennison asked.
"My date is meeting me here, she should be here any minute," Gibbs replied glancing at his watch.
Not two seconds later, a stir went through the crowd and Jerry let out a low whistle as he looked past Gibbs shoulder to the entrance way.
"Wow," Jerry commented, "I don't know who invited her, but I am damned sure glad they did."
Taking his cue from Jerry and the rest of the men in the room, Gibbs turned to see who had caused such a stir and his breath caught as his eyes took in the sight of his date for the night. Abby was always beautiful to him, but tonight she was absolutely stunning.
She wore her trade mark black, but the dress she wore tonight was anything but typical. Ankle length, the dress was made of soft black velvet. The shoulder straps, puffed sleeves and bodice were trimmed with beautiful black mesh roses. The lower front of the bodice sported black ribbon laces and two black ribbon bows adorned her hips. The gown tapered at the waist in a soft V and the skirt had one tier towards the bottom trimmed with black mesh roses, black ribbon bows and black lace.
Instead of her usual boots, tonight she wore black stilettos. Around her throat was a delicate black lace choker with a red rose in the center, the only spot of color in her ensemble, and at her wrists were delicate black lace cuff bracelets. Atypical for Abby she wore her ebony hair flowing down over her shoulders with soft curls scattered throughout. Never before had Gibbs seen her look so gorgeous and he found himself unable to stop gaping at her as she spotted him and made her way over to them.
"Damn Gunny, she's headed our way," Jerry said breaking Gibbs out of his stupor and he turned to see his friend following Abby's every move.
"Down Jerry, she's spoken for," Gibbs growled before he could stop himself and his friend turned to him in surprise.
"She's your date Jethro?" Jerry asked but Gibbs didn't have a chance to answer before Abby reached them and drew him into a hug.
"Sorry I'm late Gibbs, I couldn't decide what to wear. I didn't want to freak anybody out, but I didn't want to compromise my style either ya know and about the time I decided to give up and call Ziva for a loan I found this," she rambled.
"It's okay Abbs; you're not that late, I'm just glad you're here. I want you to meet the guest of honor for tonight. Jerry this is Abigail Sciuto. Abby this is Sergeant Major Jerry Tennison."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Sciuto," Jerry said holding his hand out for her to shake, but being the affectionate and generous hearted woman that she was, Abby pulled him in for a hug instead.
"It's nice to meet you too Jerry and please call me Abby," she responded pulling back and wrapping both of her arms around one of Gibbs'
"Guess I'd better go find my place before this thing gets started," Jerry said with a knowing look at Gibbs and patting him on the shoulder. "I'll see you later Jethro."
"Talk to you later Jerry and congratulations," Gibbs replied and turned to lead Abby to their table.
"He seems to be a nice guy," Abby said.
"Uh hmm," Gibbs replied still somewhat distracted by Abby's entrance.
"Something wrong Gibbs?" Abby asked and he felt her hold on his arm tighten a bit.
"Nope, nothing wrong Abbs, why?"
"Well you just seem a little distracted so I thought something might have happened," she replied.
"Something happened all right," Gibbs thought to himself, "You blew me away."
"Everything is fine Abbs, just thinking," Gibbs answered her.
"Promise?" she asked
"I promise Abbs," he replied and smiled to himself at her total trust in him.
"Good, now lets enjoy our night out," she said happily.
"I fully intend to Abbs, I fully intend to."
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