A/N: Thanks for all the nice review. I can't deny they have a certain effect on this storyline...
A bath? Why not? Your wish is my command ;-)
Chapter 8
"Don't let him annoy you, Abigail," Dr. Mallard suggested when he was leaving. "And if he does, then just leave him alone for awhile."
No, she could never leave him alone in this current situation and it would take a lot for him to really annoy her.
-x-
At nights, Abby would sneak to lie down on the far side of Gibbs bed, thinking, for a few minutes only, to make sure he is comfortable. Watching him sleep, she listened to his breathing, which was more even, now that he wasn't highly feverish anymore. After a couple of minutes she would then continue to sit in the chair beside his bed, reading and drinking coffee or tea. Only when she had been awake for much too long, she would take a nap, lying down on the yoga mat Ziva had brought along with her over-night bag Abby kept at her lab.
On one occasion or two however, she had startled awake, finding she had fallen asleep in bed beside Gibbs. One occasion had been particularly embarrassing for her:
On Thursday, Abby had managed to convince him that taking a bath was much better and less taxing for his circulation than having a shower. She prepared it for him, even as he glared at her when she didn't leave the bathroom instantaneously.
"Okay, okay," she grinned and couldn't help teasing him a little. "I'll be waiting right behind that door; just in case you want me to wash your back."
He would have been one lucky man to simply be able to say 'yes'. But it was just teasing. Nothing serious. That was how they both were looking at it, weren't they? Yet, they both enjoyed walking that invisible and admittedly dangerous line.
"Thank you." He smiled at her and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. He wouldn't call her, but it was good to know she was around.
Sighing, he let his aching body immerse in the warm water. He closed his eyes, and bit by bit he managed to carefully draw deeper breaths. Abby had added just the right amount of eucalyptus essence to the water. He found himself reminded of her aroma-massage offer, and he wondered if he should have agreed to it and if it would have changed the outcome of this nasty illness. Since then, one week had passed already. He was starting to feel better now, but the fever had really worn him out.
Later, when he tried to stretch out in bed a little, he found that his muscles didn't hurt as much anymore and the pressure on his forehead was almost gone. Sleep came fast and on Friday morning, Gibbs woke from a restful, quiet slumber. He immediately noticed that he continued to feel ... different; tired still, but a lot better than he remembered having felt the previous days. Relaxed, even.
The day was dawning already and like two or three times before, he found that the chair, Abby had been sitting in for days, was empty. She had been around and there for him practically whenever he had woken up. Except for...
He turned his head and a smile washed over his face. Like the previous night and the night before, he found her lying on the far side of his bed; curled up, uncovered and sound asleep.
It took him some effort to turn around and reach for the woollen blanket lying at her feet and gently cover her up. He was only just about to cover her shoulders, when Abby suddenly jerked awake.
Still drowsy, Abby was unable to back away. It took her a moment to realize that she had fallen asleep beside him again, and she was feeling extremely awkward that he had caught her asleep in his bed.
His hand was resting on top of hers, clasping it even, and ready to hold her back, should she think about jumping up. She failed to read the way he was looking at her.
"I'm ... sorry." Stammering her excuses, Abby tried to pull her hand away and get up.
But Gibbs held her hand a little tighter and slowly shook his head.
"Sleep," he whispered. "It's okay," he reassured her, nodding his consent.
His eyes were falling shut, but he fought to stay awake waiting for her to close her eyes before he went back to sleep as well.
She looked beautiful and he didn't mind at all that she had sneaked into bed beside him. He actually regretted that it wasn't going to happen any more, now that she knew that he had caught her lying in his bed. She just didn't know that he had found her lying there twice before...
-x-
With eyes closed, Abby had waited for Gibbs to nod off again. Her heart was pounding heavily and it seemed to take an incredibly long while until she eventually dared to remove her hand very carefully and slowly.
She felt like crying. This was so not meant to happen. Ever!
-x-
When Gibbs woke up a few hours later, there was nothing to give away that Abby had ever been lying next to him. Everything was silent. At first he thought she might be downstairs, but after a couple of minutes, there still was no sound to be heard.
His look fell upon a handwritten note that was leaning against the thermos on his nightstand. Frowning, he reached for the small sheet of paper. Sitting up in bed, he read the lines Abby had put there...
Tbc...
A/N: Small cliffie here, BIG cliff ahead...
What's going to happen next?
