*****
There was a steady stream of people in and out of the gym and fitness centre throughout the day but few stayed for more than an hour. Gibbs didn't blame them. The hotel was notoriously known for being the perfect haven for couples and most of those who visited would rather spend time with their other halves working up a sweat in entirely different ways.
He didn't blame them for that, either, and would have preferred to leave, too, if only the woman waiting for him in his suite was really his wife. Hell, he was sure that if he ever did genuinely go away with Abby for a romantic weekend, he wouldn't want to leave their hotel room at all.
The couples they were mimicking had, though. Maybe that was what had caught the attention of the person or people responsible for killing the men and abducting the women. Or maybe it was someone jealous of what they had, someone who'd wanted to rip them apart.
Either way, it was their job to find out – and to hopefully find both missing women alive though Gibbs knew the chances of that grew smaller with every day that went by.
Tony was one of only a couple who stayed for as long he did. He tried flirting with a couple of the women in the gym, much to Gibbs' amusement. One of them appeared interested – until her bulky husband showed up – and another looked like she wouldn't mind flirting back but seemed too self-conscious to do so.
The blond woman working out on the treadmill beside Gibbs himself seemed interested – in Gibbs, not in his younger agent. He returned her smile politely in the mirrors in front of their treadmills but tried to avoid all eye contact after that.
Unfortunately for him, she was also one of the few who seemed to have no where better to be and Gibbs noticed she seemed to follow him around from one piece of equipment to the other.
He settled himself on one of the bench presses, setting the weights accordingly, and found himself hoping she didn't offer to spot for him. He managed to lift the heavy weights three times before a slight commotion caught his attention and he almost lost his grip when he noticed the cause of it.
Someone close by whistled, low and with intent.
Gibbs' jaw clenched as he set the weights back on their stand and sat up to watch her approach.
A light blush staining her already flushed cheeks, Abby smiled at him softly when she reached him, sitting down on the bench he was straddling when he inclined his head. The scent of jasmine and something else uniquely Abby washed over him, lightly fragranced but wholly intoxicating and he found himself reaching out to brush her hair back from her face – to check the earpiece was in place, he told himself firmly, and not because he wanted an excuse to touch her.
Playing her part well, she leaned her cheek into his palm. Her hands moved quickly, forcing him to drop his gaze down to them so he could catch what she was trying to say.
*I'm done in the spa. The woman there knew we're supposed to be newlyweds. Thought it'd be more convincing if I sought you out rather than spend the afternoon on my own.*
Gibbs reluctantly dropped his hand from her cheek, noting over her shoulder that the blond woman was watching their exchange with no small degree of interest. *Your timing couldn't be more perfect. Though you should really have got dressed first.*
She glanced down at herself, arching an eyebrow. Other than the slight gaping to the robe she wore – something a newlywed woman wouldn't readjust sitting in front of her husband, Abby told herself – she thought she looked presentable enough. *Didn't want to go back to the room to change first. Besides, I think I'm wearing more than Workout Barbie over there.*
He grinned at seeing the words signed; it was something he didn't see said using sign language often. *So you noticed her.*
*Please, Gibbs.* She rolled her eyes, her hands growing more animated as an unimpressed expression arranged her features. *I was watching through the window for a bit – nice muscles, by the way. Saw her stalking you and thought I'd come and stake my claim. Though if you'd rather I leave you to it...*
He grabbed her wrist with one hand when she started to rise, halting her movements with a look. "Staking your claim?" He asked in a low voice, leaning close to keep anyone else from overhearing their conversation and to add credibility to her cover story of being partially deaf. His gaze dropped for a split-second to glimpse the cleavage shown by the gaping robe but Abby didn't seem to notice, much to Gibbs' relief.
Abby herself couldn't help but think pretending to be hearing impaired had its advantages. She shifted a little closer, so much so that her knees nudged his and smiled when it was his turn to arch an eyebrow. "You're supposed to be my husband," she told him simply, her voice quiet, her green gaze holding his blue eyes.
"That I am." His hand free to move back to her cheek, Gibbs took advantage of the opportunity to sign *my girl* against her cheek. He watched over her shoulder as the blond woman lost interest but the man who he suspected was responsible for the low whistle when Abby arrived continued to watch them intently. "Wanna go grab a late lunch?"
Abby paused, listening intently to something he couldn't hear. He watched her roll her eyes before her hands started moving again. *Ziva said we should get room service. Gotta make it look convincing.*
*Ziva might have a point.* He shrugged his shoulders, eyes scanning the gym. He watched Tony get up and excuse himself, knowing his agent was going to join his teammates in their suite. *McGee on his way back upstairs?*
*I think so. He didn't really acknowledge me, which I guess is the point.* She sighed and dropped her hands to the bench between them. "The spa here's great. The masseuse told me they do pamper sessions for couples." She rolled her eyes again at the look he couldn't keep off his face. "Nothing hinky. I told her we probably wouldn't have time but let her talk me into buying a gift set. It's going to be added to the bill..."
"And charged to the room." He smiled at her. "Not a problem, Abs. Charge whatever you want to it." Neither of them were paying for it after all, though Gibbs couldn't be certain he would be able to deny her anything she asked for even if he was footing the bill. He noticed the expression on her face change slightly, her eyes losing their focus as her cheeks flushed. "Abby?"
"I'm fine." Brought back to the moment by the sound of his voice, she gave him a distracted smile as her hands began to move again. *Tony's joined Ziva and McGee in the room upstairs.*
*What's he saying?* Concerned at the look on her face, Gibbs found himself leaning forward, almost as if he hoped he'd be able to hear the voice of his agents through the earpiece she wore.
Her blush deepened. *He doesn't think we're convincing enough. He heard some of the staff talking about us.*
*Talking...?* He glanced around, noting two attendants lower their heads when they caught him looking in their direction. "Looks like we've got an audience," he murmured lowly.
"Workout Barbie seems to be taking more of an interest again, too," Abby commented quietly after completing her own surveillance of the room. *Tony says we've got to do something to show we're for real.*
"I bet I can guess what," Gibbs murmured, both eyebrows rising when her blush returned full-force, confirming his suspicions. *You okay with this, Abs?*
*Would it matter if I wasn't?* Her lips quirked upwards. *I'm fine, Gibbs. Really.* When he still didn't look convinced, Abby gave him a challenging look. *I can handle anything you can.* The signing was accompanied by a small, reassuring smile, one that gave nothing away to anyone watching.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach – excitement, nerves, anticipation – but Abby forced herself not to let them show.
"You sure about that?" Gibbs dropped his hands onto his knees, watching her intently. He didn't want to push her, didn't want to do anything she was uncomfortable with, but the flirtatious nature of their relationship had always been there, had always been so close to the surface...
Her smile softened and she gave him a small nod. "Positive."
Taking a small breath as if to steel himself for what he was about to do, Gibbs leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers almost tentatively at first. When she made no attempt at pushing him away and instead closed her eyes, he increased the pressure, his own eyes sliding shut as his hand slid to the back of her neck. Her lips parted, encouraging him wordlessly to deepen the kiss.
Leaning further towards her, into her, he let himself forget for a moment where they were and what they were supposed to be doing. Later he'd tell himself that he allowed himself to get caught up in the role he was supposed to be playing. One kiss ended and faded into another, neither willing to pull away and actually end it.
The sound of someone wolf-whistling again broke through the moment and they parted somewhat breathlessly, the glint in their eyes stunned even as they managed to school their expressions.
"Think that was convincing enough?" He asked quietly, his hand moving to rest over hers as he caught his breath.
Her smile faltered for a split-second and she inclined her head slightly. *Tony thinks so.* She hesitated for a moment, before giving him another smile and getting to her feet, walking out of the gym with twice as many eyes on her as before.
Gibbs waited a beat before following her, ignoring the knowing looks and smirks he got from the people he passed on his way.
*****
