'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! He just asked me to stay at his place! Abs, reality check, ok…he is just being Gibbs. He is just worried about your safety, nothing else. Get your mind out of the gutter, girl!' Unfortunately, these internal debates rarely ever got Abby anywhere. And no matter how many times she tried, she couldn't help hoping that one day Gibbs might just want her for something more than a friend/co-worker. It was especially hard in times like these when Gibbs offered her something of himself. In the past, oh eight or so years that she's known him, the only other person Gibbs has ever confided in was Ducky.

"Bad thoughts, Abs, bad thoughts!" Mentally trying to shake herself, Abby hurried to gather her things. Luckily, she had packed light having only brought one change of clothes, Bert, and her toothbrush. She decided not to bother with changing her clothes, (1) because it was already 2 in the morning and (2) she'd just crash as soon as they got back to Gibbs' place anyhow. 'Good thinking, Abs" she said in her best Gibbs voice, knowing he would appreciate her rationale.

"Abs, you about done?"

"One sec, Gibbs. Who would have ever thought nuns could be so messy? I mean, really? I just want to make sure that I left everything in order…well, order enough."

"Well, while you do that, I'm going to get the car. Wait here until I get back, hear me?"

She quickly popped her head around the corner and did a fake salute, "Yes, sir!"

"Don't call me sir, Abs."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Gibbs laughed all the way to the door, remembering that same conversation when she had come in on a Sunday. It was still as adorable now as it was then….damnit! The rest of the way to the car, Gibbs was chastising himself. 'You had to go and open your mouth, old man. Now she's going to be sleeping under the same roof as you. God knows what she has on under that night gown…' "Stupid!" 'How am I going to do this?'

'Ok, done. Now, I know he told me to wait, but he's just being silly.' Abby grabbed up her bag and black purse and headed for the door. Shutting the door behind her, she stepped out onto the curb to wait. Unfortunately, she missed the step and fell onto the blacktop. As she struggled to get back up…the rain fell.

"Ah, crap!"

Abby realized too late that not only was she unable to get back into the convent (the door had automatically locked behind her); she hadn't bothered to bring her parasol with her. 'Not that it would do much good anyhow. Gibbs is gonna be pissed!' So, having resigned herself to standing in the cold rain, she waited…

Gibbs, meanwhile, was very glad he had told Abs to stay put. The last thing he needed was to have to worry about her getting sick after all of this. Pulling around to the front, his hopes quickly vanished. "God damnit, Abby!" He sped up and stopped just short of too close to her. The look on her face told him she knew he would be upset.

"You don't have to tell me, Gibbs. I should have listened to you. Like always, you were right. It's just that I wanted to meet you so you didn't have to come all the way back in and--"

"Just give me your bags and get in the car, Abs."

He watched as she nodded silently and slid into the car. Putting her bags in the trunk, Gibbs willed himself not to think about her shivering, cold and wet in the rain. Or the fact that her white sleeping gown was now almost see-through. 'You're fucked,' he told himself.