Chapter Three

Gibbs stood leaning against the doorway and watched as Tony adjusted his hair for the millionth time as he prepared for his date with Abby. Catching his eye, Tony took a step back, looked himself over and turned to face him. "How about this?"

"You look fine."

"Fine? That's it? No offense boss, but if I wanted to just look 'fine' I'd have gone through your closet."

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "It's not a blind date; she knows what you look like. You don't have to try and impress her."

"Of course she knows what I look like, and she knows the great lengths I go to look nice on a date. If I just dress normally…" Tony trailed off.

"She won't think you're all that interested? That you're doing this just for me?"

"I don't know."

"She knows, Tony. Just go, have fun, and let her ask questions. It's not a test, you can't fail."

"But what if she-"

Gibbs pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "It's her choice now."

"I know."

"So go… get out of here."

"I'll come right over afterward."

"I know." He didn't have to, but Gibbs knew Tony wouldn't be able to stay away. He took one more look in the mirror and then took the keys that Gibbs held out in his hand. "I think I'm ready." Gibbs tried to lean in to kiss him one last time, but Tony ducked out of the way. "I can't show up with my lips all swollen from kissing you. That would just rub in the fact that we're together."

Gibbs rolled his eyes, swatted Tony on the ass as he followed him down the stairs and then messed his hair before heading to the basement. "Have fun."

Tony glared at him as he smoothed his hair back down. "Not nice."


Tony shifted nervously outside Abby's apartment door. He knew the code to get in through the main building door and hadn't buzzed up, but as he waited for her to open the door, he wondered if she would have preferred that he had.

The door opened moments later, and Abby waved him in at the same time as pointing to her phone which was pressed against her ear. "I know… I know. Look, I've got to run, can I call you and give you an answer tomorrow? I don't know if I'll have time before Christmas…. Oh, well in that case… January fifth? It's a date!" She exchanged a few more pleasantries and then hung up and turned to Tony. "Sorry about that – some people just won't take no for an answer!"

"You're already scheduling dates for next year? I was never even that good." He hoped his mask of DiNozzo charm was firmly in place.

"Well, what can I… Oh, Tony, that date is with a fellow forensic scientist. She asked me to look over an article on electrophoreses. It's not a real date. Not like tonight." She smiled at him and then turned to grab her bag and jacket. "Ready when you are."

Again Abby had decided to tone down her attire for her date with Tony. She had contemplated asking him if they could just sit and talk at her apartment, but he had been so excited at being able to get them a table at a trendy new Italian restaurant, that she didn't have the heart to ask him to cancel. She was quick to notice that his clothes had been freshly pressed, his shoes shined, and every strand of hair on his head looked as though it had been perfectly placed.

He opened the car door for her once they arrived, and she could see him mentally debating whether or not her should offer his arm, or if that would seem too forward, so she slipped her arm through his before he could decide.

She had expected the nice clothes, the nice restaurant, but what she hadn't expected was the private dining room, the flowers and the expensive wine already chilling. "Tony…"

"Do you like it?"

"It's… beautiful, but I can't even imagine what it cost you." She let Tony help her out of her jacket as she stared at the deep colors of the table décor, and the way the candle light flickered off the wine glasses.

"That doesn't matter, here have a seat." He pulled out the chair for her and then gently helped her scoot in before taking his own seat.

It didn't take long before a waiter was in to take their order and pour the wine, and all the while they chatted as if they would over any other dinner. Abby slowly tried to edge the conversation toward Gibbs, but Tony kept the topics light and easy. Once they were finished eating, Tony offered dessert, but Abby declined, so Tony grabbed the bill. He walked her back out to his car, his hand hovering at her lower back. He was just about to open the car door for her, when Abby stopped him.

"Abby?"

"Are you done with the 'perfect DiNozzo date' pretense yet? When do I get to talk to the Tony I know and love?" She couldn't help the way he blushed slightly as she said she loved him.

"What do you-"

"Tony, you've talked non-stop since we got here, and while I know you're a chatty guy, this isn't you. Let's go dancing, grab a beer and talk. Really talk. You don't need to impress me, Tony. I… I have questions; they aren't going to go away."

Tony ran his hand through his hair and shifted. "This was a little overboard, wasn't it?"

"It was beautiful Tony, the effort… I'm shocked and amazed that you would do something like that for me. But it's not necessary. Just let me ask my questions, okay? If there is anything you don't want to, or can't answer, that's fine – it's your personal life, but I just-"

"I'll tell you anything you want to know, Abbs. Anything!"

"Let's go dance first. You're too tense." Abby grabbed his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "Let's go have some fun."


Two hours later, Tony and Abby collapsed into a booth, and wiped the sweat from their foreheads, deciding on water rather than a beer to quench their thirst.

"That was fun." Abby smiled and then slipped a straw into her water and took a big sip.

"It was. We should do that again. We haven't done anything like that in a long time."

"We should. We haven't done much of anything in awhile. Does… does Gibbs not like it when you go out?"

"Gibbs? Nah, in fact, he'd prefer it if I went out, let off some steam with someone else. He's not big on going out."

"So why haven't you been out? I mean, if Gibbs doesn't mind…"

"I have been going out on occasion."

"…because when I asked you…oh."

Tony winced at the hurt look on her face. "It's not like that, it's just… as things progressed with Gibbs, I felt guilty that it was me with him not you, but at the same time, I felt guilty going out with you while I was with him because of how I feel about you. I didn't really know at that point how he felt about you, and…" Tony shrugged and hoped she understood. "In a club, your sex-appeal is lethal. I mean, you're pretty deadly any time of the day, but add low lights, alcohol and sweaty bodies. I don't think I could have kept myself in control, and… yeah."

"Ah. I guess I understand, I just…" Abby paused as the hurt look returned. "Why didn't you tell me about you and Gibbs? I mean, I can understand Gibbs not saying anything, he's pretty secretive. But you? You used to tell me everything, but you never told me you were even interested in Gibbs."

"Because he was yours, I mean, after everything you told me in regards to how you felt about him, I shouldn't have even looked at him in the first place. But then, I never thought anything would happen, so why tell you that I had fallen for him too? And then… when things did happen, I knew how hurt you would be. I just… I couldn't do it. I should have, I know that now. I'm so sorry, please; you have to forgive me for that." Tony leaned across the table and took her face in his hands. "Even if you decide against us, please… I can't lose you as a friend."

Abby slapped his hand away and rolled her eyes. "I'm pissed at you for not telling me way back when you decided you wanted him riding your ass at home besides just at work. But you're not losing me as a friend. I'm a little hurt that you would think you had."

"You always forgive people too easily, but this time I'm glad you are. After everything we've been through together, I just… I've lost a lot of people in my life, not the way Gibbs has, no one except my mother has died. But it's just-"

"Everyone else has walked away from you voluntarily. I know. I won't do that to you, ever. So stop assuming that I will. Now tell me about you and Gibbs."

"What do you want to know?"

"How everything started."

"Well,… I, uh…"

"Spit it out."

"Didn't Gibbs tell you?"

"Yes."

"So why-"

"Because I want to hear your version."

Tony's hand moved to the back of his head, rubbing the spot that Gibbs usually slapped. "It started after my dad came to visit, that really just threw me for a loop."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"I wanted to, but both you and Ziva seemed so charmed by him that I didn't think you'd fully get how I felt about everything. I mean, he… he's my dad, and that'll never change, but he… he used me, he always has and I just... It hurt to see you so charmed by him."

"Tony, I would always pick your side when it comes to the two of you. I would do anything to have one more conversation with my dad, because we had a great relationship. But I know that's not always the case, and believe me, I can see right through the charm. But I don't think he's a bad guy, he's just… he's lost."

"Tell me about it," Tony agreed. "So I went over to have a bite to eat with Gibbs. He had dad issues too, you know, so I figured that maybe I could pick his brain a bit, he could tell me what to do. But I just got so… so frustrated. I needed to vent and I needed some sort of connection and so I kissed him. When I fully realized that I was kissing him, it was both amazing and the most terrifying moment of my life!"

Abby could only imagine. She remembered how weak she felt in the knees after the first time Gibbs had kissed her cheek.

"I was convinced he was going to beat me into next week after that. I told him he'd have my resignation first thing in the morning. That's when he kissed me back. It was pretty hot." Tony reached across the table and rested his hand over hers. "I wanted to tell you, I wanted to call you and tell you everything, but I was scared that you… I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"It's ok. I understand why you didn't. So what happened next… you guys fall into bed?"

Tony blushed. "No, not right away. I was too much of a mess. And believe it or not, the boss is a talker. He wanted to figure everything out before we took things that far. You can't get more than two words out of him at work, but get him in bed and he's all feelings and emotions and blahblahblah."

"I thought he was bad with relationships."

"Me too. Said he's trying to change."

"Who would've thought that you'd be the one to get him to open up?" She didn't mean it as an insult and when Tony smiled, she knew he understood. But at the same time, she couldn't help feeling a little second best. "So, he as good in bed as I always thought?"

Tony grinned, "You'll have to join us and find out."

"Tease."

Tony's smile faded and he tightened his grip on her hand. "I really just want you to know that it's not just about sex for us. It's not why we want you as part of our… our relationship. Okay, well it's part of why, I mean, I've had some pretty wicked fantasies about you," Tony's smile grew wide when Abby blushed, "but you keep us sane. We see so much death in our line of work, but no matter how rough our day has been, we can always count on you to make it better. Even if it's just a quick hello in the lab or a simple phone call. But we want it to go beyond that. Gibbs wants to come up from the basement and curl up with you on the couch and listen to you talk about your day. I want to be able to work with you in the kitchen, drinking a glass of wine while we cook."

"Do you live at Gibbs' house?"

"Not technically, no. It'd look a little awkward on the change of address form, but I'm there a lot. Sometimes I just want to watch movies alone, or if I know I'm hanging out with friends on Saturday morning, I'll spend the night back at my apartment."

"Ah. So how," she wasn't sure how to ask, or what exactly she was asking, "how will it work, for the three of us?"

"You know how we used to be? How we would go out and dance until we couldn't stand, and then drink beer and confess all our dark secrets?" At her raised brow, he amended his statement. "Ok, most of our secrets?"

"Yeah."

"It'd be like that again, only with Gibbs coming up from the basement to slap the back of my head for gossiping, and then he'd kiss you, even though you're the bad influence on me. Just because things changed between he and I first, doesn't mean you still aren't the favorite. You can do no wrong in his eyes."

"Whatever." Abby rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious. So you and I will get to go out and have fun – I've tried getting him to go out, but so far no luck. So I'll have my girlfriend to go out with, and we'll go home to our cranky boyfriend."

"Wow, cranky boyfriend? You make it sound so exciting."

"Oh, trust me, coming home to the cranky boyfriend is pretty damn awesome."

"And you won't even give me any hints?"

"Nope." Tony winked, "you've got to experience it for yourself."

"I hate you."

"No you don't." Tony grabbed his jacket and motioned toward the door. "Come on, I think it's time we call it a night."

"No, I don't." I love you. Abby grabbed her purse and jacket and slid from the booth. He drove her back to her apartment in comfortable silence, both of them going over the evenings events in their heads. He pulled up in front of her building and parked before getting out to open her door and walk her up to her front door. She dug her keys from her purse and then turned back to face him.

"I had fun tonight, thanks for coming out with me."

"I'm glad I got to spend time with you and talk. Really talk."

"You had fun?"

"I did." Abby smiled shyly. Tony was standing so close, and suddenly she felt as though she had butterflies in her stomach.

"Good." Tony leaned in slowly, his gaze dropping to her lips and then briefly looking back up before closing the distance to finally kiss her. He hesitated, his lips only lightly touching hers, until he felt her fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt. Taking it as a sign that she was okay with the kiss, Tony deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around her to pull her in close.

She kissed him back with just as much enthusiasm until the need for air overwhelmed her. "Tony…"

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

"S'ok."

Tony leaned in timidly and kissed her one last time before pulling her keys from her hand and opening her apartment door for her. "You know where to find us when you've made your decision."

"I know. But Tony, this can't be an overnight decision. I need some time to think about it, okay?"

"I understand. Night."

"Night."


Gibbs was already in bed and half asleep when Tony raced up the stairs and stormed into the bedroom, his moving at a million words a minute as he started explaining his date.

"Slow down, DiNozzo. Get ready for bed and then come tell me."

"Oh- okay, alright." Tony stopped mid-sentence and huffed out a small sigh before heading to the master bathroom. He decided on a quick shower in order wash off all the sweat from all the dancing at the club with Abby.

He didn't take long in the bathroom, but when he stepped back into the bedroom he thought Gibbs had already fallen back asleep. He frowned at the thought of having to wait until morning before telling Gibbs about his date, but then he remembered the feel of his lips pressed to Abby's and he decided he had enough to think about to keep his mind occupied until morning. He grabbed a clean pair of boxer from his drawer – right next to one of the drawers that would be Abby's if she decided to accept their offer.

Tossing his towel in the hamper, he moved to the bed to join Gibbs. As he curled up to the older man, he was startled when Gibbs' arm tightened around him. "You two have a good time?" Gibbs pressed a soft kiss to Tony's temple and wait for Tony's long-winded explanation to begin.

"The best!" Tony pulled away so he could lay on his back, his hands linked behind his head. "And maybe you were right, maybe I didn't need to go all out for dinner, but I think she appreciated the effort, at least, she said she did. You think she did?"

"I'm sure she did."

"Well, anyway, I was really nervous, you know, and for some dumb reason, I kept avoiding her questions, I know," he glanced over at Gibbs, "stupid of me, huh?"

"Nah, not stupid. Understandable."

"She called me out on it, and I thought for sure things were over. Then she suggested we go dancing, so we did, and then we talked afterward. It was just like how it used to be. God, I didn't realize how much I missed her!"

Gibbs smiled at how happy Tony sounded. It wasn't that he didn't think he could give Tony what he needed, but there was more that Abby could give him. Tony still liked going out, being goofy and having a good time. Gibbs preferred to stay at home, drink a beer on the back porch, and while Tony enjoyed that too, Gibbs knew that there was a part of him that wanted to go out on real dates. Abby would do that for him. "See, I told you that you had nothing to worry about."

"I know, but still. It's Abby, it's not just any random date."

"The exact reason for why you shouldn't worry, you think Abby needs all that fancy crap?"

"Hey, just because she enjoyed her date with you in your dusty basement, doesn't mean she wouldn't appreciate a little effort." Tony rolled onto his side to look at Gibbs. "What do you think her final decision will be?"

"I don't know." He leaned in to press a soft kiss to Tony's lips. "I don't know."

"How long do you think she'll take to decide?"

"Don't know that either."

Tony was quiet a moment. "What if she says no?"

"Tony, it's her choice, and if she says no, then she's doing what's best for her and we'll respect that. You won't lose her as a friend, you know that."

"I kissed her," he had to confess, "did you?"

"I didn't."

"Should I not have? Are you angry?"

Gibbs ran his fingers through Tony's hair reassuringly. "If you felt it was right, then I'm glad you did. And no, I'm not angry. I hope we'll both be kissing her soon."

"Why didn't you? You're missing out! Ok, kissing me is pretty damn good, but… I know you've thought about it. Were you just being that much of a gentleman?" When Gibbs didn't answer right away, Tony scooted closer. "Gibbs?"

"I… I can't kiss her and then have her say no."

"Oh." Tony worked his way into Gibbs' arms as he suddenly found himself to be the one offering comfort. "She'll say yes." He tangled his legs with Gibbs' and then reached over him to click off the bedside lamp. "But if not, we've still got each other, right?"

"That'll never change, Tony."

"I know," Tony nipped at his neck. "Shut up before you make me all sappy. I'm trying to sleep here."

"Oh you are, are you?" Gibbs grabbed his ass and pulled him closer. "Doesn't feel like it to me."

"Well, I was… but then you distracted me. Now you're gonna have to finish what you started." Tony pushed his growing erection against Gibbs and grinned.

Rolling him over, Gibbs pinned him to the mattress. "I'll see what I can do."


Abby slid under the covers and shivered at the cool sheets against her bare legs. It was difficult to get comfortable when she knew that halfway across town Tony was likely curled up next to Gibbs doing God knows what. As much as she wanted to throw her hands up and say 'screw it' she knew this wasn't something she could make a quick decision on. As much as she wanted it, wanted them, there was a part of her that felt like she would end up a third wheel, that once the fun and newness wore off, they would resent her as a permanent fixture in their relationship. She wasn't sure she could handle it if they suddenly resented her. Maybe, keeping her distance and staying 'just friends' was her safest bet.


TBC…