Just finished this ... partly intended, partly only just invented...
Chapter Seven – Being Separated
Their ride to Abby´s home is rather quiet, both being deep in thoughts about what exactly has happened. Abby can´t help but think that Jethro seems to know the city-streets very well. They are out of the center of town rather quickly and when Abby tells him which street she lives in, he just nods and doesn´t need more explanation. Thank God, Abby thinks, because she doubts, she would have been a great help, showing him the way.
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When they reach her home, Nanny Claire is working in the front garden. She looks a bit worried when she sees Abby climbing out of an unfamiliar car. Abby notices this and asks Gibbs to say hello to Claire and confirm that everything is all right. She tells him that Claire is deaf and that he needn´t worry, she would translate for him. So after introducing Claire and Gibbs to each other, Abby tells Claire about her problem with finding her car, always taking care to speak as well as sign.
Every now and then, Jethro Gibbs clears his throat and nods in agreement.
Before leaving, Gibbs kisses Abby good-bye. "See you."
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That´s unbelievable, Abby thinks, as she realizes that she has completely fallen for this man -- "Jethro" his voice echoes in her ear -- and he seems to feel the same for her.Things like that don´t happen! Not to me!
Abby has heard friends talking about love at first sight, but she never really believed in it herself. She figures, this has to be the reason why she feels so unsettled, so uncertain about what to say. She tells herself, she has to be crazy, to act so completely un-Abby by letting an attractive and handsome man like him drop her off at her place and not even think about asking him in, let alone asking for more, like she always does when meeting some attractive guy.
In fact, she is afraid of more. And that kind of scares her.
"Oh, Abby. This can only mean, you really have fallen in love with him," she says aloud and then she uses her hands to sign while going on: "Nanny Claire, I think I´ve got a problem." And Abby´s face displays an expression that Claire knows all too well. Abby doesn´t know what to do, feels desperate and insecure, is at a loss and she looks as if she really just wants to cry.
"Oh, what a nice gentleman he is. Abby, dear, I cannot believe you do have a problem here. Let´s have a cup of tea." Claire knows, Abby needs her now.
The two of them sit down in Claire´s living-room and Abby tells Claire what´s bothering her.
"Abby, dear, remember? I used to tell you, the moment you really fall in love with someone, the last thing you think about is sleeping with him as soon as possible." Only Claire is able to speak with Abby in such plain terms.
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Entering his house, Jethro Gibbs closes the door and leans back against it. This is not what he has expected to happen ever again. Or at least not that soon and definitely not that way. And moreover, this is a pretty young woman -- both, pretty and pretty young -- and she looks so completely different to what he normally feels attracted to. Abby has jet-black hair, a pale complexion, black make-up and black clothing, making her skin appear even more pale, and a remarkable tattoo on her neck -- a rather exciting one, to be honest. And as to what she has mentioned, it´s not the only one. He is courious about the others!
Gibbs squeezes his eyes shut and tries to get his breathing under control as this afternoon´s events replay in his mind ... over ... and over ... and over again.
It´s useless. He grunts and heads for the shower.
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Later this evening Gibbs picks Abby up to take her to her car. Abby tries to not show it, but the nervous tension makes her all jumpy and shaky inside. Taking a deep breath she recalls part of her conversation with Claire, which had lasted the whole evening. In fact, Abby still is with Claire when Gibbs rings the bell -- a flashing light announcing the guest.
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"Abby, dear," Claire had signed, "when you introduced your nice companion, you signed his words and translated mine to him. So I assume he does not know sign language. Right?"
Abby had pondered over Claire´s observations thoroughly and had then come to the conclusion that Claire was obviously right.
"Yes, I think so," Abby had finally replied.
And Claire had suggested: "So, why not try this: Remember, what you used to do as a child? You signed the most unpleasant things instead of saying them aloud and noone knew you were being rude. Exept of course your parents or me, if we recognized it. Or if accidentally the person opposite knew ASL. Well, that was too bad! But it helped you deal with your nervousness as well and find the right words. I bet you needn´t be nervous with him, Abby, but it´s worth a try, isn´t it?"
Abby sighs, as she remembers Claire´s advice. Yes, she will try.
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Like their ride to Abby´s place in the afternoon, their journey back to the exhibition center starts out calmly.
Gibbs is all gentleman, smiling warmly, his eyes sparkling softly. Inside, however, he feels uncertain. Uncertain like Jethro Gibbs seldom does feel.
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While standing under the drizzling water of his shower Gibbs had fully become aware of what he had done. Kissing an actually completly strange girl as if they have been together for ... well, at least long enough to kiss that way. God, I did not even know her name then! And Abby, she had not rejected, though. But I am so much older than her! And he has never had such intense kind of feelings towards a woman her age or who had been that much younger than him – must be nearly 20 years, he figures. And maybe she was just intimidated by this difference in age and therefore did not resist?
Deep inside Gibbs knew (and still knows) that´s not the case. He simply knew she only could have reacted the way she did because she had felt the same: The magic of love at first sight.
Neither hot, nor cold water had been much of a help when he had entered his house and had rushed towards the shower in an attempt to get rid of the rising feeling that he is only able to describe as panic.
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Gibbs decides to control his feelings, because he can see that Abby feels uncertain, too. This afternoon, at the fair, he remembers, Abby had waved her hands through the air wildly before saying or doing something.
Gibbs notices, Abby is acting like that again.
The feeling creeps upwards again, desperately trying to find a way to the surface. Abby stiffens in her seat. Run! she hears an inner voice call out to her. Don´t show your feelings! He maybe has in the meantime become aware of what he had done and now he realizes I am too young for him. Or maybe he believes that I think he is too old? He does not know how much I am attracted by his age -- much more than any age else! But I cannot tell him. God, I cannot even sign it! And Run? No option! I am sitting in a driving car, need to fetch mine... .
Yet, Abby starts to sign nonetheless...
To be continued...
A/N: My intention actually were to skip the ride back to the parking-lot, and just have a small confession when they both arrive there.Want to try something. Now this has to wait till the next chapter: Secret Confession