Here we go again, I am sorry that my chapters are so short (waves at shopgirl909) but they take a lot of effort to write as they are. I try to update at least once a week, but I can't promise anything since my real life is a little chaotic at the moment.

Thanks to everyone who hit the review button like samcarter1980, luminosity45 and anon. I really appreciate it and it makes working on this story much more fun! stareagle I love Ducky and his humor too and he seems to always know what to say tanya2byour21. I also love the protective love that Gibbs and Abby have going on, s_m_Neal, so there will be a lot of Gibbs watching over his girl Ziver69. I hope you are right and this chapter was worth the wait FWandFS. Tell me what you think!

"Abs." Gibbs sighed into her hair as he held the woman he loved so much close. He could hear Tobias and Ducky whisper behind his back as they waited, but he didn't really care about what they said, he just savored the feeling of his girl in his arms.

"Gibbs I am so sorry!" Abby exclaimed when she finally ended the hug reluctantly but aware of the audience they had. She knew Gibbs was a private kind of guy and even now that she felt him hug her back she was afraid to overstep. "I didn't realize how this must remind you of Shannon and Kelly. I really am so sor…"

"Shh." he hushed her, putting his index finger to her soft lips like he had done once before. "This is not your fault! You have nothing to be sorry for and I will make sure that the similarities to the case of my family will end right here, you hear me?"

Abby nodded blinking away tears that threatened to fall. When Gibbs took away his finger she felt her lips prickle right where it had been. She was reminded of the last time she had felt this and that he had left her to go to Mexico right after hushing her up an kissing her cheek.

Abby couldn't help the anxiety that overcame her suddenly at the thought of losing the man before her ever again. She didn't know if she could survive it a second time, not when her feelings for him had grown so much stronger since he came back.

"Now, are you feeling good enough to answer a few questions for the FBI?" Gibbs asked her to make sure she was up to the task.

"Yeah, but Gibbs?" Abby asked, looking up at him feeling shy all of the sudden.

"Hm?" he prompted.

"Please don't leave me alone?" she asked with such a scared voice that it almost broke the gunny's heart. He didn't like it one bit when his lab rat sounded so afraid and he fought the urge to just take her in his arms and kiss the pain that he saw in her eyes away.

"I wouldn't dream of it Abs. I'm right here." he made certain to assure her quickly promising to himself that he wouldn't leave her side for anything.

Abby was exhausted. She was leaning heavily on Gibbs shoulder, fighting her tiredness without much success but at least feeling somewhat comfortable now that she was close to the man next to her again.

The FBI people had interrogated her for hours. She sat with a sketch artist and after the Agents around her saw the face of the driver that she could remember they were more excited than ever. They had shown her a few mug shots of him and she positively ID the man.

The Latino she had described was a fairly high ranking member of the gang the FBI had tried to take down for years now. His name was Alejandro Soto and he was the nephew of the 18th Street leader Andres Pena.

It was a huge thing but feeling the tense muscles of Gibbs shoulder under her head she knew he was as worried as she was. He had stayed by her side through the whole thing, never leaving her side for even a second and she was sure without him she would have broken down more than once throughout the process.

"You ok?" Gibbs asked her in a low and tired voice.

"Tired. Worried." she whispered raising her head from his shoulder reluctantly to look at him.

"Yeah me too." he told her brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face absentmindedly.

"Which one?"

"Both." he said, trailing a finger along her yaw bone lightly.

"What will happen now, Gibbs?" she asked trying to distract herself from the tingling feeling his fingers left behind on her skin.

"They will build a case against Soto and they probably try to lure out Pena with it. The problem is you are smack in the middle." he said, his tone indicating that he didn't like it one bit and that he would do anything to make sure she was ok.

"Bait, huh?"

"I won't let anything happen to you!" he told her fiercely, tilting her head up so she could see the promise in his eyes. Abby couldn't help the slight shiver or the goose bumps that his touch caused. It seemed to her that they were in their own little bubble right under the nose of many people who were busy around them. She could smell him and the scent intoxicated her. His touch combined with the look in his eyes made her feel like she was drunk and she struggled to keep her emotions in check so that the man beside her would not see what he was doing to her.

When Tony entered the room, he smiled as the couple sitting on the couch at the back of the room caught his eyes. His friends sat side by side, seemingly absorbed in their conversation. Both of them looked tired but strangely radiant with the love he knew they felt for each other.

Sighing he made his way over, fully aware that he would disturb the peace they seemed to be in at the moment. Sadly he brought bad news for Abby and he was frightened for his best friend.

"Abby. Boss." he announced himself.

"Hey Tony, are you all right?" she asked. Tony looked not only tired but he was pale and a haunted look was etched on his normally so cheerful face. Abby was on her feet in seconds to give the agent a bear hug. "You should rest, you don't look so good." she said with a concerned voice.

"Abby, you should sit down." Tony said as he untangled himself from the lab rat baffled at the fact that Abby would feel concern for him when it was her who was in grave danger. He caught Gibbs gaze and saw the apprehension in his boss' eyes. "Something bad happened Abby. I wish I wouldn't have to tell you this." Tony said with a sigh and he saw Abby collapse back into the couch, pulled into Gibbs side by his strong hands as DiNozzo told her what had happened while she was with the FBI.