A.N. – Yes, I know I already have an N.C.I.S. WIP up. I also know that I haven't updated that in a while. But this story is begging to be posted. I finished this chapter a few weeks ago and the next one is nearly written (most of it was written in one night, so that means I really like this story). I sincerely hope this turns out as good as it seems to in my head/on the plot map.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to N.C.I.S. All characters, settings, and objects familiar to the show are not mine. I am not making any money off of this fan fiction; it is purely for entertainment purposes only. Thank you and enjoy.

Chapter One: Meeting

Abigail Sciuto, Abby to most, smiled to herself; today had been a great day. She'd discovered 'who-dun-it,' Gibbs and the team caught the 'baddie' without getting a scratch and all was right in the world. Now, if only everyday was this perfect.

As she shut down her babies, thanking them for a job well done, she pondered which bar to go to tonight. Usually, when things went this well, the team went out for drinks together. However, tonight she was going alone. Ducky had a prior engagement, McGee was taking his sister out for a little 'sibling bonding,' Ziva had plans that she wasn't divulging, and Tony had been going on and on about the babe he was going out with all day so, needless to say, he was busy too. That just left Gibbs. But then he decided he just wanted a quiet evening in his basement working on his boat.

Abby sighed. She would have happily sat in the basement with him, his boat, and the good old bottle of bourbon, but she knew it would be a bad idea. Lately, it seemed, spending time alone with Gibbs outside of work was taking its toll on her and she didn't know how much longer she could control her feelings. Gibbs was exceptionally observant, but he could still be pretty dense at times. Still, she just wasn't ready to risk it... yet.

As she left the building and climbed into her hearse she decided to just stop at the bar only a block or so from her apartment. She'd have a couple of drinks then head home to spend the night alone... again.

"Your usual, Abby?" Jake asked, smiling in greeting. She nodded as her face lit up in a warm return smile. Settling into one of the stools at the counter she slipped off her cloak and set her bag down beside her as to keep an eye on it.

"Thanks, Jake," she said warmly as he set the drink down in front of her on one of the cardboard coasters that littered the counter and surrounding tables.

"Not at all," he said with a flirtatious smile that Abby was used to. "So, where are those hot agents of yours? It's been a while since I've seen all of you together here. Don't you usually go out as a group after a case?" Abby's smile dimmed a bit, but didn't disappear as she took a drink of the vodka and Red Bull mixture.

"Usually, yes. Tonight though, most of them were busy," was all she said.

"You said most. Who wasn't but didn't come to keep your gorgeous self company?" Abby shrugged, drinking more so she wouldn't have to say anything. "Come on; lay it all out for me. Was it Tony?" he asked. She shook her head in the negative.

"Not McGee, was it? I don't think he'd ditch you for almost anything."

"Nope. He's with his sister," was her only reply.

"Ziva?" Again she shook her head 'No.' "Don't tell me the great Leroy Jethro left you to drink alone! That silver haired fox of yours wouldn't leave you to fend for yourself on any account." This time Abby didn't respond at all.

"That dog." Jake grumbled as the answer became clear. "I gotta get back to work, Abbs. But if it's any conciliation, that hottie by the window hasn't taken his eyes off of you since we started talking." Jake called over his shoulder as he walked off to service the couple that had just walked into the bar.

Abby sighed into her drink, not bothering to look over her shoulder at the supposed hottie that had been eyeing her up. Normally, on days like today, she wouldn't say no to a little casual but harmless flirting. But she just hadn't been feeling it lately. 'Maybe I'm just getting old,' she thought wryly before chuckling into her drink.

"Care to let me in on the joke?" an older male voice asked as the chair beside her became occupied.

"Nothing really, just thinking to myself," Abby replied as she eyed the man next to her. He was a bit older than her, possibly around Gibbs' age but a year or two younger. His hair was a salt and pepper grey and he had a tan complexion that spoke of outdoor working, as well as a body that looked strong from hard work. He was dressed casually in a day to day jeans and t-shirt ensemble. To Abby he looked perfectly ordinary, but something in his eyes hinted at a darkness within. They almost reminded her of Gibbs eyes.

He introduced himself as Jason and as they shook hands in greeting she couldn't help but notice that his hands were callused and rough in almost the same manner as Gibbs'. They continued to talk as they sat together, drinking. Abby began noticing things subconsciously that reminded her of Gibbs. The way he preferred the heavier drinks, whisky and bourbon. The way his voice got almost imperceptibly deeper after a large swig. Even the way he spoke, short and straight to the point, reminded her of Gibbs.

Suddenly Abby looked at her watch at a glance and gasped. She'd been there nearly three hours! She apologized profusely as she began gathering her bag and donning her cloak, explaining that she'd stayed longer than she'd planned for and needed to head home. As she was about to leave he stopped her by the arm for a moment and handed her a business card with a murmur of 'Just in case.' She smiled as she slid the card into her pocket and headed out into the night, paying Jake on her way out.

As soon as she left the man she'd left behind sat back down with a smile on his thin, slightly cracked lips. Everything would work out this time around; he just had to be patient.

-0-

Abby arrived at her apartment soon after leaving the bar. As she shut and locked the door behind her she leaned against it to slide off her platform boots. She placed her bag on the couch and emptied her cloaks pockets of her keys, a gum wrapper, and the business card the man at the bar had handed her. As she looked at it she read the name Jason Farrow, beneath it simply said "Handy Man" and listed a local number. Beneath that, a second number following the letter C was scrawled in hasty chicken scratch. Abby smiled as she set the card and her keys on the dining room table and tossed the gum wrapper in the trash before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower and then crawling into bed.

As she wrapped the sheets tightly around her tired body she thought that perhaps tonight hadn't been so lonely after all.