Closer Reality

Chapter 10 – Planning Ahead

After work that evening, Ducky followed Gibbs and Abby home in his Morgan. Abby was making good on her promise to Ducky from last year of them both making a Christmas pudding together, complete with the Mallard sixpence.

Gibbs closed the front door behind Abby and Ducky, who were in mid conversation and almost oblivious of their surroundings as they shed their coats and headed for the kitchen without pausing in their chatter or, as far as he could tell, taking a breath.

Gibbs shook his head, grinning to himself, as he followed them.

"Right," Abby grasped her hands, bouncing on her toes just inside the kitchen doorway. "I'm just gonna grab a quick shower and then I can make a start on dinner, and then you and I, Duck-man, can start on that kick ass pudding."

"Well, I can begin dinner, Abby, if you wish?" offered Ducky, looking between the two of them.

"Or I can," added Gibbs, starting the coffee maker and grabbing the teapot for Ducky, who refused to drink his coffee.

"Oh... okay, then. It's already done, it's my stew, Ducky, and it's in the fridge so it just needs putting in the oven." She kissed Gibbs and Ducky on the cheek in turn as she headed toward the stairs. "You boys be good till I get back."

Ducky chuckled as he watched Abby disappear upstairs. He turned to Gibbs, seeing the amused affection clearly visible on his friend's face as he gazed after Abby.

When Abby had vanished, Ducky smiled at Gibbs as he turned back. "I know Abby always looks forward to Christmas, but she seems even more excited this year... which is hardly surprising given how this is a fresh Christmas for both of you."

Gibbs smiled back. "It's good to see her looking forward to it."

Ducky opened the fridge and removed the covered dish, pausing as he turned back. "I realize Christmas will always be difficult for you, Jethro, so I hope having Abby here will ease that somewhat."

Gibbs nodded, reaching for the mugs. "It does, Duck."

Ducky held up a finger. "And I know she understands those difficulties."

"She always has," confirmed Gibbs. "But I don't want her to hold back if she wants more for Christmas."

Ducky uncovered the dish and turned the oven on, glancing at Gibbs as he did so, seeing the concern. "You know, Abby once confided in me, and I don't think she will mind me breaking this particular confidence in the circumstances, that she poured all her energy and effort into Christmas at work because she would be alone at her apartment on the day itself... because she didn't have anyone to share it with."

Gibbs turned to lean back against the counter, folding his arms. "Told me the same thing once, Duck."

"Well, now she has someone to share it with... and so do you, but I imagine she will still respect how much you want the day to pass... quietly," said Ducky thoughtfully.

Gibbs tilted his head in acknowledgement. "First time in years I've looked forward to it rather than dreadin' it... or hopin' it'd go quickly." Or spent it drunk in the basement.

"That I can understand, Jethro. And I was never more pleased to watch Abby go through the building over the past week with her usual impersonation of a Christmas tornado..." Ducky smiled as Gibbs chuckled. "It's one more sign that she's feeling more like her normal self."

Once the dinner was on and Abby had returned downstairs, hair still damp, Gibbs left the two of them in the kitchen while he went for a shower and then trotted down to the basement to work some more on the toys for the children's hospital.

Abby and Ducky turned their attention to making the pudding, happily chatting as they worked. Partway through, Abby glanced over her shoulder towards the basement door.

"Y'know, I hate shopping, Ducky, and I still haven't got anything for Jethro for Christmas. I mean what can I get the man who wants nothing?"

Ducky laughed. "You say that every year, Abigail."

"I know I do and every year it's just as hard... even more so now, which is kinda odd but it is." Abby reflected, frowning. "Maybe coz this year I want it to be special, y'know."

"Well, I have a feeling this year that you being here with him and your new relationship will be enough of a present for Jethro," said Ducky with a warm smile.

"Aawww, Ducky, that's so sweet." Abby wrapped her arms around Ducky from behind and he chuckled, patting her arms, leaning back and enjoying one of her warm wrap-around hugs as she continued, "Perhaps I oughtta just tie a red ribbon around my neck and let him unwrap me... I mean..."

Realizing what she'd just said, Abby could feel the flush creeping up her neck as Ducky laughed. "I would feel fairly confident in predicting that Jethro would consider that an ideal present."

Abby giggled softly. "It's a nice thought, Ducky, but this is not getting me any nearer an idea for a present."

Ducky thought for a moment. "Well, my dear, if it helps at all... I've seen a few of the presents Jethro's wives have bought him over the years, before they became the respective ex-Mrs Gibbs."

"A lot of them were merely material presents... and some were aimed more at benefitting them than being something personal to Jethro... things for the house and such like," Ducky reflected. "I can't speak for all of them certainly but the ones I saw carried little sentimental value. And we all know how Jethro views material things for the sake of it."

Abby gazed at Ducky thoughtfully before nodding. "Thank you, Ducky... that is actually very helpful."

Ducky patted her arm warmly. "And I do know that Jethro has kept all the presents you've given him over the years."

"Has he?" asked Abby, a blush rising again.

"Yes, so I do think your worries are groundless. And I was being serious when I said that you being here will be more than enough for him."

Abby smiled shyly. "It's the same for me too, Ducky. We've spent some Christmas Days together before, although not very often as I know it's just a day he likes to treat like any other, and it was mostly me just checking he was eatin' somethin'... but being a couple now puts this on a whole other level, and I can't tell you how special that is."

From down in the basement, Gibbs could hear their voices, if not the actual conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter and paused in his work to savor the sounds drifting down the stairs.

It had been a long time since laughter and so much life filled the rooms of this house. He was sure Shannon would approve.

When Abby called down a while later that dinner was nearly ready, Gibbs ran up the stairs and paused in the kitchen doorway. "Puddin' all over the kitchen yet?"

Ducky laughed, turning from the counter. "Oh ye of little faith, Jethro."

Abby narrowed her eyes in his direction. "For that I oughta put you on half rations."

Gibbs grinned, holding up his hands. "Just askin'. Nice apron, Duck." The older man was wearing Abby's skeleton apron and Gibbs found himself wishing he had a camera to hand to capture the sight.

"The pudding is proceeding apace, isn't it, Ducky?" intoned Abby solemnly, a smile tugging at her lips.

"It is indeed, Abigail..." confirmed Ducky, smiling at the young woman. "And we are having fun in the process."

"We are, Ducky... great fun."

"Although I fear we may have put in a trifle too much alcohol," commented Ducky, peering into the bowl.

"My hand slipped," giggled Abby. "You can smell the fumes from here."

Gibbs leaned over the bowl, sniffing. "Wow... Nobody light a match."

Abby laughed and nudged Gibbs before handing him another beer. Turning, she grabbed the lists from their place on a hook on the cupboard, scribbling something down.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow as he sipped his beer. "More?"

Abby chuckled, waving her pen at him. "I'm actually adding something to my list, Jethro... that socket in the guestroom needs looking at. We don't wanna electrocute poor Jack on his first night, do we?" When Gibbs nodded, Abby went on, smile widening. "You might as well take advantage of your resident electrician... although I did add something to your list earlier as well."

Gibbs picked up 'his' list, grabbing his glasses and throwing a glance her way. Ducky smothered a smile at the picture of domesticity the two of them made. Gibbs pointed at one item. "What's that one?"

Abby looked where he was indicating. "Dresser drawer sticking."

Gibbs peered at it again before snorting. "Your writing's almost as bad as Ducky's."

"Hey," Abby grinned, punching him on the shoulder.

Ducky smiled fondly at the pair of them. "I am reliably informed by Mr Palmer that no one's writing is as bad as mine, Jethro, and I don't have any problem reading Abigail's handwriting."

Gibbs grinned. "Proves my point."

During dinner, Abby caught Ducky up on how the unpacking was going and Ducky asked about her psych eval appointments, offering encouragement when she grimaced and commented that she couldn't wait for them to be over.

Moving onto more pleasant subjects, they talked about everything and anything to do with the upcoming Christmas.

Ducky and Abby did most of the talking and Gibbs was content to watch them both, relaxing as the sound of their voices washed over him. Ducky had been a semi-regular visitor when he'd been living here on his own, but Gibbs had a feeling that they'd be seeing more of the older man now that Abby was living here, as well as the rest of the team... and he was fine with that.

She'd only been here a few weeks, but Abby was already making the place feel more like a home than just a house... more lived in than it had felt for years, simply by her warm presence.

Gibbs was taken aback sometimes by how right that seemed... how much he'd missed that feeling.

For once, he looked forward to coming home at the end of each day because it wasn't to an empty house. It was even making him think about not working half the night any more and trying to get home at a sensible time, caseload permitting. With any luck, he'd be able to persuade Abby to do likewise.

When they'd settled on the couch after dinner with coffee for them and more tea for Ducky who was occupying the recliner, Abby curled up in what had rapidly become her corner of the couch.

She swung her legs across Gibbs' lap, smiling when his hands rested on her sweatpants, massaging her calf muscles. "What are your plans for Christmas Day, Ducky?" she asked.

Ducky shrugged, looking on with approval as the two of them relaxed on the couch together, pleased they were able to be so open with each other in front of him. "Oh, nothing special."

"Will you go and see your mom?"

Ducky paused, looking down at his mug, thinking carefully how to word his reply. "Yes, Abby, I will... maybe in the morning."

"Come here afterwards, Duck," suggested Gibbs.

Ducky looked up, startled, glancing from one to the other. "But... are you sure?"

Abby smiled at Gibbs. They hadn't discussed it but she was delighted to hear him offer. "Of course, Ducky. Jack'll be here too."

"We hope," muttered Gibbs.

"Is there some doubt?" queried Ducky, frowning slightly. "I thought he was looking forward to coming here for Christmas and above all, to seeing you both."

"He rang... said he was still coming but offered not to," Gibbs explained, shrugging. "Said he didn't want to intrude."

"Oh... well, that's a kind thought in a way. It is your first Christmas together, after all... so perhaps he didn't think you'd want to share it," Ducky surmised, trying to ease the concern he could see in Abby's eyes. "And that is precisely why I also hesitated in case you didn't want me underfoot either."

"You'd hardly be underfoot, Ducky. I..." Abby stopped herself, glancing at Gibbs before amending. "We'd love you to come." She felt him squeeze her calf muscles and saw the approval in his eyes.

Ducky smiled, nodding. "Then I will, gladly... thank you both."

"Besides, you have to come, Ducky. We have custody of the Mallard sixpence and you need to reclaim it," Abby teased with a smile.

Ducky laughed. "That is very true and you will also have to tell me what I can do to help with the cooking."

Ducky couldn't help reflecting on past Christmases and also how recently it was that Gibbs had come to his Thanksgiving dinner, for the first time.

So perhaps even before he and Abby were getting together, Gibbs was starting to acknowledge that he was part of a family again. It was a very comforting thought that his friend was no longer walling himself off from everyone who cared about him, and Abby's presence could only enhance that.

After a while sitting in comfortable silence, enjoying the warmth of the fire, another thought struck Ducky. "How goes the self defence training with Ziva?" he asked.

"Oh, it's such fun, Ducky. I managed to throw Ziva today, although I suspect she let me. Give me a while longer and I'll be able to take down this big guy here," teased Abby, nudging Gibbs with her foot as he grinned at her.

"Well, that I look forward to seeing," Ducky said with a smile.

"So do I," Gibbs put in with a grin.

"We drew quite an audience today too." When Gibbs raised an eyebrow in her direction, Abby went on, chuckling. "What? It's two hot women rolling around on the floor, Jethro... of course, we'd have an audience."

Gibbs continued to stare at her before asking. "When's the next lesson?"

Conscious of Ducky smothering a smile, Abby fought the urge to roll her eyes at the possessive glint in Gibbs' eyes. "Tomorrow afternoon... workload permitting and no, you can't stand there doling out head slaps to anyone who stares at my ass or Ziva's. She wants me to tackle someone my own height... see if I can throw off a male attacker from behind with what she's taught me so far..."

Abby paused. "Which is kinda what happened you know where, with you know who. He, er, grabbed me from behind... though there's not gonna be much I could do against being drugged, I guess." She shook herself, feeling Gibbs squeeze her legs gently, encouraging her to go on. "Anyway... so Ziva volunteered Tony, who greeted the whole idea with great enthusiasm."

"I can imagine," commented Ducky dryly.

"And no, you can't volunteer yourself, Jethro... I'd find that too much fun rolling around on the floor with you... we can practice at home." Abby smiled sweetly at him and Gibbs harrumphed.

Ducky thought it was time to change the subject before he could no longer hide his own amusement. "How did it go with Director Vance today?"

"It went," said Gibbs, shortly.

"He raised the very objection you thought he would," Ducky asked.

"He did," confirmed Abby.

"And how did he view your suggested compromise?" queried Ducky curiously.

Gibbs shrugged. "He's thinkin' about it."

"Well, it strikes me he will have to accept it. There is no other alternative," Ducky pointed out.

"Well, there is, Ducky, and I will do it if I have to."

Both men replied almost as one. "You're not leaving."

Abby chuckled, shaking her head at the almost matching indignant expressions on both men's faces. "Aawww, guys, of course I don't want to leave and I don't think it'll arise but I am prepared to if I have to."

"Your job's your life, Abby," said Ducky gently.

"It was... but he's my life now." She smiled at Gibbs, meeting his blue eyes. "There's nothing more important to me than us."

Gibbs voice was soft as he reached for her hand. "Abbs..."

He didn't think he'd ever tire of the way she looked at him. It had been a long time since someone put him first in their life.

Ducky hadn't been surprised at Abby's insistence that she would take that step of resigning if she had to. There was a time not that long ago when her work was her entire life, and it was a measure of how far both of them had come that she could be serious about giving that up for Gibbs if she had to.

"Did you file the paperwork yet?" asked Ducky.

Gibbs nodded. "Yup... just got the death in service benefits form to do."

"The what?" asked Abby, eyes widening.

"Standard form, Abbs... death in service."

Abby waved a hand. "Yes, I know what it is but... I didn't expect." She stared at Gibbs, astonished.

"I'll, er, get you some more coffee, shall I?" put in Ducky, leaving the room to give them more privacy.

Gibbs gave his friend a grateful glance as he left before turning back to Abby, shrugging. "Makes sense, Abbs. Wanna make sure you're okay."

"But... but what about Jack," Abby protested. "I thought he'd be the beneficiary for something like that."

"He was, but want it to be you now," Gibbs told her firmly.

"Mine nominates Gloria..." Abby bit her lip.

He hushed her, seeing her anxiety. "Keep it that way, she'll need it more than I do if... something happens... Gotta change my will too," Gibbs added.

Abby stared at him, this time completely taken aback. "Your will... but isn't that for Jack too?"

Gibbs shook his head. "Nope... It was but want that to be you too."

"I.. Jethro, I don't know what to say."

Gibbs smiled gently at her, rubbing her leg. "Not like you... there's not much other than the house, but wanna make sure you've got a roof over your head and you get whatever's left if anything happens to me."

It was another way Gibbs felt he could show he was committed to this relationship, since he couldn't explain it very well in words. And he wanted to know Abby would be okay if something did happen to him.

Abby shook her head, swallowing around what felt like a boulder in her throat. In the same way Gibbs hadn't thought about sharing the household bills, this was something that hadn't even crossed her mind.

And it was certainly something she'd never dreamed of asking him. Something else it would take a while to get her head around.

But if Gibbs had respected her insistence on sharing household expenses and bills, then the least she could do was honour what he wanted to do with this... as uncomfortable as it made her feel to face the prospect of a life after Gibbs.

She wondered idly what had happened with his exes. But that was a conversation for another time, if at all.

"Don't really wanna think about that... about life after you," she revealed quietly.

Gibbs shrugged. "Just being practical, Abbs... and with my job and being older, it's likely I'll go first anyway."

Abby suddenly found it hard to get past this swell of emotion that was threatening to choke her. How could he sound so matter of fact about what would effectively be the end of her life too?

Although as this man had lost his entire world years ago and had somehow managed to rebuild his life into something meaningful again, she felt more than diffident about making that kind of comparison.

"I'm not sure I can cope with thinking about that right now, Jethro. Not that I don't appreciate it, I do... It means the world to me that you wanna take care of me like that. I just hope I never have to invoke either, I guess" she finally said, with a soft smile and he took her hand, pressing a kiss on her knuckles.

Ducky returned after a few more minutes and handed them both a refill, settling back into the recliner once he'd poured them both a shot of bourbon.

"Is Gloria visiting you for Christmas, as well as Jack?" Ducky asked, sensing a change of subject might be welcome.

Abby nodded, smiling. "She is, Ducky. She's really looking forward to it, and I, er, wanted to ask a favour."

"Name it, Abigail."

"Could Gloria stay with you while she's here, do you think?" said Abby.

Ducky gave her a warm smile. "But of course, my dear. I'd be delighted."

"It's just that we thought we'd keep on my apartment and some of the furniture so she could stay there while she was here and get rid of it afterwards," Abby explained, glancing at Gibbs. "But my landlord said he had a tenant who wanted to move in straight after Christmas, so that scuppered that plan... and Jack is not sleeping on the couch," Abby added, narrowing her eyes at Gibbs, who'd suggested precisely that already and he smirked and raised an eyebrow at her as she went on. "So, short of bunking in with Jack, which I'm sure Gloria would love..."

"Bet Jack wouldn't mind that either," said Gibbs with a smirk.

Abby chuckled. "I can imagine. So, we need to find her a bed and I don't wanna dump her in a hotel."

Ducky smiled. "Say no more, consider it done. The Mallard hotel will open its doors gladly... although I shall have to polish up my sign language a bit more if the poor woman is not going to have to resort to writing everything down, or ringing you for a video call halfway through an evening. I promise I will take good care of her."

"I know you will, Ducky, and she'll be delighted... she took quite a shine to you last time, if you remember," teased Abby.

Ducky smiled. "I do, and the feeling was mutual, I can assure you."

When Ducky left a while later, Gibbs came back to the living room to find Abby stretched out full length on the couch and he crawled over her as she smiled tenderly up at him. When she pulled him down into her arms, Gibbs settled against her, most of his weight off to the side but resting his head on her chest and she slid her fingers into his hair, stroking gently.

"Thank you for asking Ducky," she eventually said, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Should've asked ya first," he admitted, sighing as he relaxed into her touch. "Told ya I was rusty at this."

"No need... you knew I'd love the idea. It's gonna be a good day, I can feel it... as long as you're okay with it all?" She urged his head up so she could see his eyes.

Gibbs reached up to peck her swiftly on the lips. "As long as you're there... that's all I need."

He slid his arms around her waist more firmly and nestled back against her and they lay entwined like that, enjoying the intimate quiet until it was time for bed.

TBC...

A/N: Next chapter we might even start on the events of Faith, with Jackson arriving... it's taken me long enough!