Fall of Recovery
A/N: Apologies for taking so long to update this series; I got diverted into Tibbs land to complete a story. This chapter follows on from the previous chapter which tagged Lost at Sea where they talked about telling the team about their relationship. This chapter is a short fluffy diversion into cabin land again before tagging the next canon episode, Namesake in chapter 8. Huge hugs to Withthegrain for technical cabin help!
Chapter 7 – Revealing
"I know we should have finished this earlier when the weather was warmer, but I gotta tell ya, Gibbs, right now, from where I'm standing, there are… unexpected advantages," Abby announced, stepping back from the wall she'd been working on to run her eyes over her partner.
Gibbs was working on the adjacent wall, clad only in a pair of shorts, looking as hot as she felt… in more ways than one. It was a cool fall day outside but almost too warm inside the cabin where they had the fire going to keep the material at the right temperature.
They were 'chinking' the cabin walls to seal them for the winter, which was supposed to have been completed in warmer weather, but their caseload over the last few weeks had prevented them finding enough time to get up here for the day and overnight they needed to finish it off.
So today they'd built up the fire inside until the temperature was way too hot… but it also meant that Gibbs had discarded his shirt, which was just fine by her.
And even without the added distraction of a half-naked Gibbs within reach, Abby was feeling fairly hot herself and was down to shorts and a T-shirt, her hair scraped back in a ponytail. Although despite being sticky and uncomfortable, Abby decided the positives totally outweighed the negatives as she watched his gleaming back and shoulder muscles flex beneath the skin.
Running her eyes up the line of his spine, she grinned as met an amused blue-eyed gaze as Gibbs glanced over his shoulder. "You finished that wall yet?"
She waved her trowel. "Working on it… and I have nearly finished. I'm just taking a break."
"Uh-huh."
"And admiring your… handiwork."
Gibbs grinned. "That what they're calling it now?"
"Well, there's a lot to admire." Abby wandered over to lean in for a light kiss, resting a hand on his chest, smiling as a thought struck her. "Hey… maybe we should've asked Ben to help with this bit too… that way I could've had two half-naked hot men in here tonight." Abby giggled as he buried his head in her neck and growled against her skin. "Or perhaps not."
Gibbs ran a hand down her back to her skimpy shorts to squeeze her ass. "You got that right."
She smiled as he stepped back. "You done with your wall yet?"
"Just about."
"Does that mean there's a chink of light at the end of the tunnel and we can stop soon?" she asked, innocently and Gibbs shot her a look, rolling his eyes and she giggled.
"If there is, it means we've missed a bit." Gibbs moved over to inspect the wall Abby had been working on. "Let's finish and then we can relax."
"Okay, can we let the fire die down then… before I pass out, and not just from the heat?" Abby grinned.
"Yup. We can cool off outside. It'll start to cure and harden overnight"
She sent him a mischievous smile. "I'm hoping it won't be the only thing."
"Count on it." Gibbs grinned down at her before tugging her ponytail. "C'mon, wall won't do itself."
"Slavedriver at work… slavedriver at home… slavedriver here, I just can't escape," Abby muttered, squealing when he pinched her butt.
Working side by side, they finished chinking the remaining wall and Gibbs banked the fire before they escaped from the cabin into the dark cool evening outside, relieved to be out of the heat.
Retrieving the food they'd brought with them from the cooler, Abby passed Gibbs a beer as he towelled off. As she stood, easing her back muscles, Gibbs handed her a towel and Abby took it with a grateful smile.
She stripped off her sodden T-shirt, enjoying the way Gibbs' eyes ran over her body. "As fun as that was, I'm glad it's done and that we don't have to drive back tonight. That was more tiring than I thought it'd be… more fiddly."
"Yeah. My back won't thank me later." Gibbs started to pull on a clean T-shirt and sweatshirt.
"As long as we keep warm… and I'll give you a back rub later," Abby promised as she pulled on fresh clothes.
Gibbs grinned. "You're on."
They sat in the open doorway of the cabin to take advantage of the residual heat of the dying fire, while enjoying the peace and silence of the dark evening and night sky as they ate. Abby sat behind Gibbs on one of the wooden tree trunk 'steps', her arms loosely around him, loving the way he relaxed against her.
Abby broke the comfortable silence. "You realize it'll soon be a sort of anniversary?" Gibbs twisted his head to eye Abby warily and she giggled at the look on his face. "No, I don't mean that kind of anniversary… relax, it's not a trick question."
"Never was very good at remembering those."
Abby leaned in to nuzzle the short hair at the back of his neck, pressing a kiss to the skin. "So I gather… no, it's a sort of anniversary coz it's just over two weeks now since I had a nightmare."
"Two weeks, three days."
"Aww, Gibbs, you've been counting."
Gibbs nodded. "It's something worth remembering."
Abby squeezed her arms around him. "It is."
"Also means I've gotten some sleep too," he teased.
Abby giggled, reaching around to tickle his sides and he grabbed her hands. "Yes, that too… I'll give you that one." Abby went on after a moment. "But I'm so relieved… not that I wanna jinx it by thinking myself into a nightmare tonight. You'll have to wear me out so I can't do anything else but sleep."
"Was planning to." Gibbs lifted one of her hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Been worried about ya. Maybe this'll help too… now we've told everyone about us."
"Good point, I'm sure it will and I'm so glad we have… no more sneaking around and hiding." Abby rested her chin on his shoulder. "You sure Vance was okay about us when you talked to him?"
Gibbs nodded. "Told ya he was."
"But does that mean he really is fine or does that mean you didn't give him a chance to be anything else?" Abby could imagine the succinct way Gibbs would have delivered the news and the staring match that ensued.
"Maybe a bit of both." Gibbs turned his head, holding Abby's gaze. "Told ya it wouldn't make any difference."
Abby smiled shyly, warmed by Gibbs' certainty. "I know, but the Director must have said something."
Gibbs tilted his head. "Told us to keep it out of work."
"Which we have done already…" Abby pointed out.
"Uh-huh."
"So we don't need to buy him extra toothpicks then?" Abby started kneading the muscles across his shoulders and he dropped his head forward to allow her better access.
Gibbs snorted. "Not for that reason." Gibbs paused before asking, "Was there a problem with Tim?"
Abby hesitated, her hands stilling. "Well… not a problem exactly. Why? Did he say something to you?"
Gibbs shook his head. "Not directly… looked as if he was working up to it."
"Oh, damn." Abby gnawed her lip. "Maybe I didn't handle it too well? Aw hell… and I didn't want it to affect the team."
"Hey, if he has a problem, it's his… not yours… or ours. Okay?" Gibbs was determined Abby wouldn't take the blame for any issues McGee might have with their relationship.
Abby rested her forehead against the back of Gibbs' neck, soaking up his solid warmth. "Okay. I'll try. I just don't wanna hurt him."
"He say anything to you?" Gibbs asked.
"No, not exactly," Abby admitted, continuing with her massage. "Well, Tim was surprised at the news so it got a bit awkward but he did say it explained why I've been so sneaky and jumpy lately." When Gibbs glanced over his shoulder, a barely there smirk on his face, Abby smiled sheepishly. "I know, I know… I can't hide anything, can I?"
"For someone with a good poker face, you're a terrible liar, Abbs."
Abby chuckled, nuzzling into his hair. "Totally."
Gibbs smiled, before turning the conversation back to McGee by querying softly, "Abbs… what else, about Tim?
Abby sighed, knowing he'd realize there was more. "Well… Timmy asked me if I was sure about us and if you were looking after me… and I answered yes to both, of course."
Gibbs turned to kiss Abby, cupping her cheek. "Not your problem. Don't let him make you feel guilty."
Abby nuzzled against his palm, smiling slowly. "Okay… Boss."
"I'd be more worried if Ziva started hoarding paperclips."
"I'm sure Tony will give us a heads up about that if she does." Abby giggled. "I knew it would be difficult with Tim… could've been worse, I guess. Maybe I'll just remember how everyone else greeted the news… especially Jimmy."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
Abby grinned as she explained. "He was so sweet. He grabbed me and picked me up and swung me round… and then panicked and put me down again real quick coz he thought you were nearby somewhere, although where he thought you were hiding out in autopsy, I'm not too sure. I think he thought you might headslap him into the Potomac for grabbing me."
"Mighta done."
"Now don't you go scaring him, Gibbs. I know you enjoy freaking him out deliberately, don't deny it," Abby laughingly finished, seeing the gleam of amusement in Gibbs' eyes. "He said he hoped we'd be as happy as he and Breena… isn't that sweet?"
Gibbs smirked. "It is… sweet."
Abby snorted, slapping his shoulder. "Stop it."
"Yes, ma'am." Gibbs chuckled as he turned round. "You're right, Abbs. He's a good kid."
Abby wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. "And I'm so glad we told them all… especially Tony. He means a lot to me, Gibbs… he's looked after me so many times when things have gone… hinky in my love life. I didn't like keeping us from him."
"No need to now."
"No… you get the big brother 'talk'?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Got the 'look after her' talk. Would expect nothing less from DiNozzo."
"So all our family know now…" she hid her grin in his neck, "and you've no idea how good that sounds."
Gibbs huffed a laugh. "Oh, I do."
"We have a lot to celebrate now after such a horrible middle of the year… us, Kyle, Ducky being okay, Jimmy and Breena."
"Not gonna argue with ya." Gibbs felt Abby shiver slightly behind him. "You're getting cold. C'mon, let's go in."
Gibbs stood, taking her hand to help her up and they moved inside, closing the cabin door behind them. Abby sat cross-legged on their double sleeping bag, watching Gibbs rake the fire, the temperature inside the cabin more bearable now. She smiled as he joined her on the floor, stretching out beside her.
"Been thinking."
Abby grinned. "Uh-oh. You feeling feverish."
Gibbs reached over to tickle her and Abby squirmed out of reach. "Thought we could invite everyone over for Thanksgiving."
Abby's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
She knew how difficult holidays were for Gibbs, with all the reminders they carried of Shannon and Kelly. So this was big for Gibbs to offer something like this, not only as a another step in their relationship but for how much his team had become his family.
Gibbs nodded, lacing his hands behind his head. "Uh-huh."
"Who are you and what have you done with my anti-social Gibbs?" she teased gently.
Gibbs smiled before shrugging. "It's family… and thought you might like to make some new memories, Abbs."
The wide smile he got told Gibbs he'd done okay.
"And you'd be right… and I can cook for everyone, it'll be fun… Although we'll have to work out how to seat everyone, that table might not be big enough on its own. I wonder if Ducky will let me borrow his turkey roasting tin… the one I have is way too small. I need to make a list."
Gibbs grinned as he watched Abby's focus turn inwards. He could practically hear the wheels turning. "Be easier for everyone to meet Kyle there too, if he hasn't got any plans."
"I'll ask him." While the team knew about her 'new' brother, there hadn't been an opportunity yet for her to introduce Kyle to them all. Abby chewed her lip. "Do you think Ben and Mary and their kids might come too?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Dunno. They usually go to Mary's parents so they can see the kids."
"Oh… okay, never mind. And I guess it might be hard to keep the cabin quiet once Ben starts talking anyway."
They hadn't made a conscious decision not to mention the cabin, although Abby knew Gibbs wish for privacy in his life meant he wouldn't volunteer any information. But it had somehow just not come up in conversation… unconsciously almost as if it was something that was theirs and theirs alone.
Gibbs rolled onto his side, resting a hand on her leg. "Luca gonna be staying at home? You haven't seen that niece of yours for a while."
Abby nodded. "I know… I don't know what his plans are but I guess so… he usually stays at home for Thanksgiving. Too many in-laws to visit down there, although he said he'd try and be up in D.C. before the end of the year."
"Or we can make sure you get down there sometime. Maybe both of us take a trip next year."
Abby stared at him. "Wow… I mean, just wow."
Gibbs grinned. "Knew I'd make you speechless one day."
Abby grinned and his body began reacting to the gleam in her eye as she pushed him onto his back and crawled up his body. "Well, you usually do that by giving me something to occupy my mouth."
Gibbs framed her face in his hands, pulling her in for a kiss which deepened and lingered. When they broke for air, they were both breathing heavily. He nuzzled her nose, murmuring against her mouth. "Sounds like a plan."
TBC…
