He had her trapped between him and the wall. His tongue was thrashing around with hers as she clawed at his clothes. Tony broke the kiss and pushed himself away from her. "I can't do this," he said wiping at the sides of his mouth.
Abby stepped towards him. "Sure you could."
He stopped her by firmly grasping her arms. "Yes, I could…but…I…can't. Get it?"
"No."
"Abby, as much as I want to," he looked her over in her nightie, "and do I ever, I can't. You're Abby, you're my friend. And Gibbs would kill me. God, he would worse than kill me. He'd…I don't know. I can't think while you lick your lips at me like that."
"I don't want you to think, Tony. I want you to-".
"Ah ba ba ba ba! If you tell me I don't think I could say no." Abby let out a heavy sigh and stepped away. She closed her coat back up thought about how ridiculous she must look, what a fool she was making of herself. Her bottom lip trembled and Tony felt awful. "I'm so sorry, Abbs. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." He stepped up to her and wrapped her in a hug. "Its nothing against you, really. You're a smart, beautiful woman and way too good for me and some fast romp in the sack. You deserve better than that. Better than me."
"You are too hard on yourself, you know that?"
"Well, someone's gotta be." He kissed the top of her head. "Come on in. I was just about to make something to eat."
"But its after midnight. Don't you know eating something this late isn't good for you?"
"Don't care. You gonna join me?"
"Umm, do you have something I can change in to?"
"If I say no, will you continue to wear that?" Abby playful jabbed him. "I'm sure I've got something."
They sat and ate their dinner, macaroni and cheese, with Abby dressed in a pair of Tony's sweat pants (thank God for drawstrings) and an old Ohio State T-shirt. Afterwards, they lay curled up on the couch watching a late night Jeopardy rerun, which she was kicking his butt at! ("That's not fair though! There was a whole category called "Forensic Science'!") The awkwardness of the evenings earlier events comfortably slid away and vanished. That is, until Tony brought it back up. "So what's with you trying to jump my bones?" Abby elbowed him. Tony groaned. "Just curious."
"Well, stop. It was obviously a mistake."
"Gee, thanks."
"Oh don't give me that!" she said trying to turn around to face him. "You were the one who stopped, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Throw THAT in my face why don't ya." Abby snuggled into him. "Seriously though. What's going on?" She didn't answer. "Its Gibbs, isn't it?" Abby just shrugged her shoulders. "You're in love with him."
"I don't know."
"It wasn't a question. You ARE in love with him."
"He loves me."
"Well, yeah." Abby lifted her head to look Tony in the eye. "You can't be surprised by that."
"I mean he really, really, really-".
"I know what you mean, Abbs. He's in love with you, too, the lucky bastard." Abby slightly smiled at him. However, the smile slowly slid from her face as she once again started worrying about Gibbs. "You need to talk to him."
"He doesn't want to talk to me. He's been avoiding me like the plague." She heard Tony groan. "Sorry."
"You love him, he loves you. I guess I don't see what the problem is."
"I blew it. Big time. I freaked when he told me. He isn't supposed to say things like that. Especially during-," Abby cut herself off realizing what she was about to say, but it was too late.
"Especially during what?" Tony asked. She didn't answer. "Wow. I didn't realize you were that serious. How long has that been going on?"
"It wasn't anything serious and it wasn't going on for long. Please, please, please don't tell anyone, especially Gibbs, that I told you that." He didn't respond. "Tony?" When he still didn't say anything she looked back up at him. He was staring off at nothing in particular. "Tony?!" she said this time giving him a little shake.
"Oh, sorry. Mental images I was hoping never to see." He outwardly shuddered. "You shouldn't be here, Abby."
She sat up on the couch. "I know," she said, running her hands over her face and through her hair. "But I don't know where I should be. Everywhere seems wrong or cold or empty." Except for the one place I'm avoiding.
"You should go to him."
"Its late."
"He won't care." She sat slumped over. "Go."
So she went. Right to his house. In Tony's clothes. She figured it was better than going in the night gown she was wearing. That might have been a little too forward. She could explain away Tony's clothes much easier than some lacy lingerie. She pulled up in front of Gibbs' house, but his car wasn't there. She thought about going inside and waiting, but decided to check the Navy Yard instead. Neutral territory is good, she thought.
Half way there she saw his car parked out on the street. She knew there was a bar around the corner he liked to go to. And she knew it was his car. How many people in DC have THAT car? She parked on the street in front of the bar, a few cars down and sat, debating on whether or not to go in. Normally, yes, she would just head right on in, but she wasn't exactly looking her best. If she was going to go make a public spectacle of herself, she would rather not look homeless. Then again, this was Gibbs. He never cared what she looked like or how she dressed. All that mattered was what he thought. She was about to get out of the car, had her hand on the door, when she saw him exit the bar. She got the door popped open an inch before she registered the light brunette with him. She was clinging to his arm and giggling. Giggling! Seriously?!
Fuck this, she thought as she waited for him and the chick to round the corner. She then closed her car door and started it up. She thought for a moment she was going to cry, but it passed and she drove back to her empty, lonely home before Gibbs would notice she was there.
Gibbs opened his passenger door for Mindy and she got in. Rounding to the other side, he also got in and they sat. "Thanks for letting me wait here for my ride. I didn't want to just stand out in the street this late at night alone."
"No trouble at all. I know it can get rough out here. But you really shouldn't just trust anyone you met in a bar only an hour ago."
"Are you saying you are untrustworthy?" she said with that little flirty twinkle in her eye she had had all night.
"I'm saying be careful. Some of the slimiest guys have all the charm." He briefly thought of DiNozzo and how Abby was probably still at his place, doing God knows what. He didn't want to think about it. That's why he came here in the first place, to not think about it.
He heard the rumble of a car that sounded very familiar to him, but figured it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. "She must have done a real number on you," Mindy said staring out the windshield.
"No. She was perfect. I'm the one who messed it up."
"I'm sure you didn't mess up that badly. And nobody's perfect. She'll understand that. She'll forgive you."
Gibbs sighed. "I don't know about that."
"If she loves you like you obviously love her, she will." They sat in silence as Gibbs thought about the wisdom of a drunk woman. It almost made him laugh out loud. "Well, there's my ride. Thanks for the company." She leaned over and kissed his cheek before getting out of the car. Gibbs watched to make sure she made it to the other car safely. It was time for him to drive back to his empty, lonely home.
