Yes! I'm on the interwebs again! Some internet issues the past few days, but I'm a.) home again and b.) online. Yay! Loving the response to this so far – thank you!


Abby smoothed down her skirt and adjusted her shirt for the third time as she stood in front of the full length mirror.

"You look fine, like yourself, don't worry." Gibbs pressed a kiss to the back of her head.

"I just feel like something is missing…"

"You look perfect to me, but at work you normally have your hair up," he moved his fingers along her scalp and held up her hair in two, somewhat sloppy pigtails.

"Right!" Abby reached for a brush and some hair ties from her duffle bag and set to work. It was as if her fingers remembered what to do and within minutes she was looking and feeling like her old self. "Thanks Gibbs!"

Tony had called at noon to double check that Abby was up to visitors and to ask what she felt like eating for lunch. She couldn't name anything off the top of her head as to what she wanted, so Tony had said he would bring a selection of items. Now at 1pm on the dot, Tony was ringing the doorbell with Ziva, McGee and Ducky in tow, all carrying big grocery bags.

"Hey guys," Abby smiled warmly as they carried their good to the kitchen.

Tony was the first to set his stuff down and make it back to Abby. "It's okay to hug you, right?"

"Of course!" Abby wrapped her arms around Tony's neck and hugged him hard, and laughed as he lifted her off the floor.

"We really missed you, a lot. Wasn't sure what I'd do without my best friend."

When her feet touched the ground again, Abby moved her arms to around his waist and snuggled into another hug. "I'm sorry, I wish I had remembered, or at least gone for help."

"It's all over now, but maybe we could put a tracking device in your arm or something. You know, just in case. Nothing big or anything, but-"

"Okay Tony, move over," Ziva nudge him away so she could hug Abby. It was rare for her to initiate a hug, though she had long ago learned to accept them from Abby, but like Gibbs, this was a second chance to be with her friend, so she pulled Abby into a brief, but tight hug. "I am glad you're back."

"Thanks Ziva, I'm happy to be back too." She smiled at her friend and then turned to hug McGee and finally Ducky. "I wish I had followed with my first instinct to find a doctor, instead of going to the free clinic so far away."

"Can't change it now, we're just glad you're okay. Tony tells me that you checked yourself out against doctor's orders."

"They only wanted me in for one night and I didn't want to be alone. Plus, I was already checked by a doctor and all my bumps and bruises are just about gone. Waste of time to stay in the hospital."

Gibbs moved away to poke into the grocery bags to see what needed preparing. They had decided on a BBQ and picked up chicken, beef and hotdogs – a little bit of everything. "I'll get the grill going."

Ducky turned and nodded, "I'll get the meat ready."

The rest of the group headed to the kitchen to prep the salads, though Tony directed Abby to a seat, insisting that she rest. "So how much do you remember?"

Abby shrugged. "I'm not sure. I mean, I vaguely remember everything as far as bigger events. It's the smaller details that are fuzzy. We were talking about work earlier, and it's like I can remember exactly what my lab looks like, but I was trying to remember how to get there."

"I think you will remember," Ziva encouraged. "I think it will be like riding a bike. You will get to the building and just know where to go."

"I hope so," Abby nodded.

"You remember the boss' rules?"

Abby cocked her head to the side. "Rules?"

Tony nodded, "I'm sure they'll come back to you, I'd give you a list, but don't think they've ever been written down. Stuff like, never mess with a Marine's coffee, never let suspects stay together, never date a coworker, always wear gloves at a crime scene."

"Sounds vaguely familiar, is he strict with these rules?" She asked casually.

"No doubt he'll go easy on you. Most of 'em don't really pertain to you since you're out in the field like we are, and you have to wear gloves for all your tests anyway. Don't worry, you'll pick 'em up in no time."

"You're right," Abby forced a smile and then looked away. If he was so strict with his rules, like never date a coworker, that meant that that either weren't taking this relationship any further – that it had all been about his grief. And if he really did love her and things were to continue, it meant he knew she wasn't getting her job back but wasn't saying anything.

"Hey, you okay?" Gibbs walked back in carrying an empty plate that the meat had been on. "Is it too much? They won't be offended if you need to go rest." Gibbs handed the plate to Ziva and went to kneel in front of her.

"No, I'm okay, I was just thinking. How long until lunch is ready?"

Gibbs' brow furrowed and he stood again and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "About five minutes, should we eat in the backyard or would you prefer to stay inside?"

"Outside would be nice." She got up and went to the kitchen to grab plates, utensils and napkins. "What?" She paused when she realized that Gibbs was staring at her.

"Nothing," he shook his head. "You just walked right to where everything was without asking where to find it."

Abby looked down at the stuff in her hands. "It's when I do things automatically that I remember more easily. When I think about things ahead of time, I start to doubt myself."

"You'll remember soon enough," Tony leaned in to press a kiss to her temple and then nudged her out of the way as he reached for a big bowl for the salad he was working on.

"I know." She moved out of his way and carried plates, silverware and napkins to the table on Gibbs' back porch. "Hey Ducky."

"Abigail," Ducky turned away from the grill with a smile, "you look good despite having spent a week on the streets and the confusion of yesterday. I hope you were able to get a decent amount of sleep last night."

"I did," she nodded and set the plates around the table. "Nice to sleep in a real bed, makes me want to do more for those who are truly homeless. Sleeping on cardboard behind a building isn't exactly comfortable."

"No, I'm quite certain it isn't."

"I meant to ask Gibbs earlier, but… what about my stuff? My apartment? Do I still have that?"

Ducky thought for a moment, "I believe your friend Carol had started to box things up, but I don't believe any of the furniture has been cleared out yet. We were down in Louisiana and then preparing for yesterday, so she hasn't had much time."

"I just hate that everyone had to go through this while I was only a few miles away."

"Well I can't say that it was easy, but nothing we can do to change it. But we're all so relieved to have you back, especially Jethro."

"I just feel guilty," Abby shrugged. "Like now people are so worried about me going away again, something happening, that maybe they are saying or doing things because they feel like they have to."

Ducky frowned. "No one is saying anything they wouldn't have willingly told you to your face before this whole mess, what makes you say that?" He flipped the meat and went to sit beside her at the table.

"I don't know, it's nothing specific, but… the way everyone has acted… it's like they all think I'm so perfect, and I'm not. I don't remember everything, but I know I'm not perfect and…"

"And you're worried that you won't live up to their expectations if you don't remember exactly what things were like beforehand?" He was willing to bet it also had to do with the budding romantic relationship between her and Gibbs, but he didn't want to approach that topic until Abby was ready.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Just be yourself, Abigail, that's all you can do. The rest will fall into place." Ducky looked up when the backdoor opened and Gibbs came out, followed by the rest of the team carrying various salads, bread and stuff to drink.

"Everything okay out here?"

"Yep, just… trying to remember stuff."

Gibbs frowned when she turned back toward the table and he looked to Ducky, "we need a few spoons to dish things up," he gave him a meaningful glance and the two headed inside. "What's wrong with her?" Gibbs asked as soon as they were inside and the door was shut.

"Nothing is wrong, she's just adjusting. She just worried that she's not quite the same Abby that everyone remembers and wants her to be. It's to be expected, she'll likely have high and lows for a couple weeks, maybe even months to come. I've no doubt Vance will want her to see someone quite regularly for a bit before she is back at work fulltime, but it would be good for her to spend time at NCIS and let things come back naturally. And don't ask her if she remembers; perhaps remind her of some of your favorite memories by commenting on something you remember and leave it like that. She's openly admitted that when she tries to remember things it's harder than when it just comes naturally."

"I know, Duck. I don't want her to feel pressured to remember things."

"Good," Ducky grabbed a few serving spoons and they headed back out. The team was already seated with Tony on one side of Abby and Ziva on the other. McGee was across from her leaving a spot next to McGee and a spot at the head of the table opposite Tony. Gibbs had this natural urge to want to be close to her, but when he say her laughing at something Ziva had said and holding onto Tony's hand, he smiled at the sight and took a seat opposite Tony as Ducky sat beside McGee.

He kept an eye on her all through lunch, but she seemed to enjoy herself, asking questions to clarify things she wasn't sure of, and listening as Ducky shared stories from his past, many that Gibbs had never heard before.

It was well past five before everything was picked up and their visitors were saying goodbye and heading out the door.

"That was nice," Gibbs commented as he put the last of the leftovers in a container for the fridge.

"Mm hmm," Abby poured herself a glass of water and stood staring out the kitchen window.

"Abby…?" Gibbs wiped his hands on the kitchen town and moved behind her to wrap his arms around her middle and nuzzle against the side of her neck, but the moment she tensed, he backed off. "Abbs?"

"Are you sure you love me? That this... us… is okay?" She turned slowly to look at him.

He could tell she was fighting against any show of emotion, but it was easy to see the fear and worry in her eyes. "Abby, what would make you question that?" He thought he had been very clear earlier in the morning.

"Tony was reminding me of your rules and rule-"

"Says to never date a coworker, I know. But did he also remind you of rule 51?"

Abby shook her head. "But if rule 12 doesn't apply to us… is it because I won't get my job back? Am I fired from NCIS?"

Gibbs moved close again and wrapped her up in a hug. "You'll have your job when you're ready. I don't know when that will be, but I think Vance will want you to see someone, a shrink or something to talk about what happened. And he wants to be sure you still know what you're doing." Abby started to talk again, but Gibbs quieted her and continued. "And rule 51 is sometimes you're wrong. Don't worry about rule 12."

Abby snuggled against him and mumbled against his chest. "I don't know how I'll ever remember all your rules."

Thinking for a minute, Gibbs grabbed her hand and gave a little tug. "Come with me," he urged.

Abby followed him up the stairs to the guest room and sat on the bed as Gibbs rummaged through the closet. Eventually he returned with a small wooden box that she had never seen before – at least not that she could remember. "What's this? Have I seen it before?"

"No," Gibbs shook his head, "no one has ever seen it." He sat beside her and lifted the lid. He looked down at the contents for a minute and then handed the box to her. "I've written them all down here, the rules. A few other things I've saved in here," he picked up a photo of Shannon on horseback, "but mostly just the rules. Maybe being able to read them will help you to remember."

Abby looked at the photo he had picked up. "Where was this taken?"

Gibbs was shocked that she asked. It wasn't that he minded, but before Abby had tread very lightly when it came to Shannon and Kelly, and now she wasn't as hesitant.

"I took the girls out to the beach for a few days before I left the last time. We stayed in an old airstream, rode horses and made food over an open fire. Shannon made friends with a camper who happened to be a photographer and offered to take photos for us. I found them in an envelope in the mail when I returned for their funeral. The film had gotten lost and the photographer had just gotten around to getting them developed and had no idea that the girls had died."

"Gibbs… you don't have to share all this…"

"I know," he leaned over to kiss her forehead, "but I want too. I know it's not easy for you right now, but I don't want to make things more difficult by you worrying what you can and can't ask."

Abby turned her attention away from the photos and picked up a small scrap of paper. "Never mess with a Marine's coffee…" She tilted her head to look at him with a grin. "As if anyone would even consider touching your coffee."

"Lot of stupid people out there, Abbs." He leaned in to kiss the side of her head again. "I'm going to go finish cleaning up and get the dishwasher going."

Abby nodded and watched him go before scooting further back on the bed and spreading the rules out over the sheets in numerical order. She was determined to remember them all.


TBC…