Chapter 7 Disclaimer & Warnings -- Please read the first chapter
Warning – Child rape and abuse discussed in detail in this chapter, also a tiny bit of language. If you have a difficult time with this I have another story in the works that is much lighter. I would like my readers to enjoy my stories. This story is more therapeutic than anything, but I hope that you all can gain some wisdom from what Abby, and I, went through.
"Abby, here is Bert," Jethro says suddenly walking up and sitting on the low table in front of the couch, "Why don't you let Bert tell us what happened? Then you let us decide how we are going to feel. But Abs, I will always love you too."
"No, you will be mad at what happened and judge me." Tears start down Abby's cheeks.
"Abby you are safe here in my home." Jethro says making her look him in the eyes, "No one is allowed to judge or hate you in my house. We all love you."
"I love you too." Abby says throwing her arms around him in a big hug, while Bert the hippo is caught in between them and emits a loud fart. This causes all three people in the living room to laugh.
"Bert, what won't Abby tell us?" Tony asks hoping to catch Abby off guard. Abby settles against Tony's side and starts playing with the button on the front of his polo, "Bert, we need to know so that we can help Abby, ok?"
"He didn't stop with that first time." Abby finally says, "He kept hurting Abby every time her family went to visit."
Tony tries not to tense his body but the anger starts to brew again.
"Bert, how long did Scott keep hurting Abby?" Jethro asks not really wanting to know the answer but also knowing it could mean a charge of statutory rape if the abuse had gone on long enough.
"He wouldn't stop. All those years and he wouldn't stop. I tried to make him stop a couple of times but he would just tell me I had no choice. He said that if I told now that everyone would think I had wanted it, but I didn't. I didn't want it. It started getting so wrong."
"When did Scott stop hurting Abby, Bert?" Tony asks soothing Abby and hoping she wouldn't panic again.
"She was 16 when her family was visiting during a long holiday weekend. Everyone else had gone out to a big party. Abby didn't feel good so she stayed behind. She was asleep when he came in drunk. She was scared that he would hit her if she fought him since he was so drunk. He was still horrible because he couldn't get an orgasm. He kept pushing into her until he finally went soft cursing that it was her fault and then fell asleep on top of her."
The room remains silent for several minutes, both men trying to contain their anger over this latest revelation of horror done to the one they love. Finally Abby continues softly saying, "I had a date with my boyfriend at that time four days after that happened. I was still really sore and my legs were even bruised. I told my guy that I didn't want to do anything and he got concerned because we usually had sex a lot. I started crying and finally told him what was happening with Scott. He said that either I tell my parents about it so it would stop or he would tell them, but either way he said it was going to stop because no one should hurt me like that."
"He was right Abby. No one has the right to hurt you, ever." Tony holds Abby close so she can't see the angry tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
Jethro looks at his hurting kids and wishes he could take the hurt away from both of them. Sensing that Abby might be at her limit of talking again he decides that it is time to start getting everyone to help preparing for dinner.
"Tony, whenever you think you feel up to raiding the freezer downstairs I think some steaks are in order for dinner. I'm going to go uncover the grill on the porch and start it up."
"Sure, do you want me to wake up McSleepingbeauty and Ziva to help with the cooking?" Tony asks still holding Abby.
"Only if you want them to help." Jethro answers walking out of the room.
"I'll help you Tony." Abby says detangling herself from the blanket she and Tony had been wrapped with.
"Why don't you go wake up the others then while I brave the cold of the basement." Tony suggests.
"You are just frightened that Ziva will throw something dangerous at you for that comment about her snoring."
"Hell yes." Tony laughs walking toward the basement.
The team manages to prepare quite a feast for themselves despite the short lived food fight with the peas and the rolls getting a little too brown. Towards the end of the meal Abby cannot finish a sentence without yawning. Jethro gets up and grabs a bottle of wine and five glasses. Ziva and Tim clear the table and prepare to wash the dishes as their punishment for the lack of peas at the meal. Tony walks with Abby back into the living room claiming their spot on the couch.
"You really should consider going to sleep." Tony says to Abby as she yawns to the point of shivering.
"I don't like to sleep after I have thought about, well, what we talked about."
"Just have one glass of wine Abby." Jethro says pouring the wine. Secretly he hopes that Abby will relax enough to sleep soundly without nightmares. He keeps his and Tony's glasses small so they can watch over Abby during the night. After three rounds the team is relaxed and beginning to nod off in the living room.
"I reallllyy don't want to sleep guys. I can go for days without sleep." Abby protests but is betrayed by a huge yawn before she can protest further.
"Tony, you and Abby take my room. Ziva can take the guest bed upstairs. Tim can have the guest bed he already used, and I'll take my air mattress in my boat."
"But isn't it too cold in the basement?" Abby asks worriedly.
"Naw, besides it will be the furthest away from Ziva's snoring." Jethro laughs as Ziva throws a pillow. Everyone notices that Abby is barely able to keep her eyes open. Jethro nudges Tony and points upstairs.
"Come on Abs," Tony says helping the half asleep Goth off the couch, "Time for you to get some shut eye."
Abby pulls some clothes out of the dresser in the guest room and heads for the shower in the master bedroom. She hurriedly finishes and by the time she heads for the bed Tony is already half asleep on top of the blankets.
"Here, you get between the sheets so if I get hot I can throw a blanket off without you getting cold." Tony says pulling the sheets open.
"Tony you know I trust you more than anyone except Jethro so just get under here before you freeze. You know if the electricity goes out again it will be like the Arctic in here."
"If the electricity goes out I think we all will in a big pile in the living room in front of the fireplace." Tony says moving to get in beside Abby.
"You still love me right brother?" Abby asks snuggling into Tony's arms.
"Always, mia sorella, always." Tony says kissing the top of her head.
Jethro Gibbs tries to sleep but even the comfort of being in his mostly finished boat cannot push him under. After a phone call to Mike Franks to give him an update on Abby's situation, Jethro decides to make a silent check of his house. Not that he suspects anyone of trying to breaking into a house with four armed Federal agents in it during one of the worst snows in recent history, but his gut just won't let him rest. He can still feel the tension between Abby and Tim because of Tim's outburst in the conference room. Nothing further has been said about it, but that is the problem. Jethro knows it will need to be discussed between the two former lovers. He had not missed the look in Tim's eyes when Tony took Abby up the stairs. Even though Tim knows that Tony and Abby are practically brother and sister in heart, the jealousy that HE was not chosen to help Abby had shown in his eyes. Jethro throws another large log on the fire and carefully positions it with the poker. Staring into the flames he does not hear the near silent footsteps approaching him.
"Jethro" Ziva says calmly, not wanting to startle the man.
"Yes Ziver?" Jethro answers without moving.
"We need to start talking to Abby about starting therapy as soon as possible."
"I know that. But I also know she will fight going to any doctor."
"A friend I had many years ago never got help and never found peace."
Jethro suddenly turns and looks worriedly at Ziva.
Reading the question in his eyes, Ziva answers, "No it is not I, I promise. She was a daughter of one of my father's guards. She never got help and died in a car wreck before she could ever find peace. I do not want to see the same haunted look in Abby's eyes that my friend always had in her eyes."
"If the roads allow tomorrow I will have Ducky come over and start to talk to her about it."
"He is qualified to help her, yes?"
"No, unfortunately he isn't that specialized. But if anyone can convince Abby to go it will be Ducky. That or I'll carry her there kicking and…" Suddenly both agents look upstairs as they hear loud screams. They begin running up the stairs. Tim appears out of the guest room and is right behind them going up the stairs toward the screams of their friend.
Tony is already mostly awake; Abby has been tossing and turning since falling asleep a few hours before. He has tried to calm her with soothing words and has almost fallen back to sleep when he is suddenly awakened by ear splitting screams. Abby is thrashing in the bed and will not wake up. As the three other people run into the room Tony is trying to untangle them from the sheets. Jethro sits on the side of his bed and takes Abby into his arms.
"Wake up baby. It's just a nightmare baby. Wake up for Daddy." Jethro slowly rocks Abby. Memories of comforting Kelly flood back into his mind and a few tears slip down his cheek. Seeing the tears on Jethro's face Tony quickly motions for Ziva and Tim to join him outside the room.
"Abby is going to be fine now. Just try to sleep the few hours until morning." Tony says directing the other two away from the door.
"Where are you going to sleep?" Tim asks as they walk down the stairs.
"Don't worry about me. Nite McGee." Tony says but just before Tim's door shuts Tony adds, "Tim, you aren't worried that I would try anything with Abby right? I saw your eyes before we went upstairs."
"No Tony, I can honestly say I don't think you would try anything with Abby. Especially right now with her so vulnerable, Gibbs would kill you."
"Tim, she is the closest person I will ever have to family and a sister."
"I know. I know Tony. Um… do you think it would help if I told her about going to therapy when I was younger?"
"Yeh, I remember that now. I don't know, maybe. We'll have to wait and see how much of a fight she puts up about getting help." Clasping the younger man on the shoulder, "That's brave of you, and loving. Go to sleep for now 'kay."
"Okay, night."
Tony stares at the unfinished boat and decides he just can't leave Abby even with their 'Dad' with her. He grabs the air mattress and drags it upstairs to the master bed room. Softly opening the door he drags the mattress into the room and beside the bed. He stifles a sob as he hears Gibbs begin singing a lullaby to Abby. He still hears Abby's soft crying as she has her head buried in her adopted father's chest. Tony lies down on the air mattress and wipes his eyes. He prays and vows to any and all the saints he has ever believed in to let Abby heal and justice be done.
A/N – Yes this took a long time to post. It also took a long time to write and process. I didn't realize until I talked to a dear friend this week that this is the First time I have ever written about this particular part of my life. So I will not ask for forgiveness for the delay, just understanding. Just be assured that the next chapters only get better, as does Abby, and me.
