"Rex?"

Rex stumbled forward, obviously drunk. "Addison, you can't love him… it's you and me, remember?"

Gibbs tried to position himself in front of Abby, but she nudged him aside and stepped forward. "Rex, I really appreciate all your help, but I'm not the person you thought I was. My name is Abby, and I was confused after the explosion of the night club. When you found me… I didn't know what to think." She took half a step back as Rex got too close. "I don't know who Addison is, but if you know more, maybe I can help you find her."

"Abby…" Gibbs growled. He didn't like the way this guy looked so desperate to get his hands on Abby.

"S'ok Gibbs," she whispered.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS," Rex snapped at Gibbs.

"Hey, watch it," he growled again, this time putting his hand on Abby's back. "Come on Abbs, let's go before things get out of hand." Out of respect for Abby he was willing to walk away. As much as he hated that this guy thought Abby was his, the man had taken care of her for a week and despite Rex being off his rocker, the outcome could have been much worse.

"You can't leave me again, Addy. You can't!"

"Come on," Gibbs gave her a little nudge and after a moment's hesitation, Abby turned and walked away. He could tell she was upset, but there was something in this guy's eyes that unsettled Gibbs. He was confident enough in their relationship – whatever it was exactly – that she wouldn't be mad for long. But when she shrugged away from his touch as they neared his car, he worried that she might stay upset a little longer than he thought. "Abbs, I know you can take care of yourself, but this guy…"

Abby sat stiffly in the front seat, staring straight ahead. "I don't need to be rescued from every guy that looks at me."

"I know," he said softly, not wanting to upset her further. "It wasn't out of jealousy, this guy is nuts. We don't know what he's capable of."

"He was drunk, and yeah… in need of his medication on a regular basis, but it doesn't mean he's a bad guy. I lived with him for a week and he took care of me. I can't just…" she sighed. "I don't know."

"You're a good person, Abby. Sometimes I worry that you're too trusting, too forgiving. Hell, I worry that you'll be too forgiving when it comes to me."

"I just want to help."

"I know. Do you know his last name? Maybe we can do a little research and then… come up with a plan." Gibbs would rather her forget all about him, but he could see that it would mean a lot to her so he was willing to help. Especially if it meant he could keep an eye on her as well as keep her at a distance from Rex.

"I don't," she shook her head. "But maybe Rosita can ask around at the lunch that the church serves every weekend. Someone there might know."

Gibbs nodded. When all else failed, go to sister Rosita. Maybe that was a rule he needed to add.

Rosita didn't know Rex, but she promised to ask around and get back to them. Monday at NCIS was slow, so Gibbs left Tony in charge for an hour while he strolled through the park where they had met over the weekend, hoping to find Rex on his own. He was almost back to NCIS when he felt like he was being watched. Slowing his pace, Gibbs turned and scanned the streets around him. He was certain he spotted Rex in the distance, but then a bus passed in front of him. When it was gone, there was no sign of Rex anywhere.

His gut was twisting.

"DiNozzo. Conference room."

"On it boss," Tony jumped up and headed toward the stairs up to the conference room, but slowed when he realized Gibbs wasn't behind him. "Boss – Oh!" He hurried after Gibbs and stepped into the elevator behind him. "What's up?"

"The guy that Abby was with while she was… gone… I think he's following her."

"You do?" Tony had gotten the run down on what had happened at the church the day of her memorial. "What makes you think that?"

"He was at the park after you left. Just saw him down the street from NCIS. He was agitated when he saw Abby, kept calling her Addison, wanting her to go with him. I don't trust him, he needs help."

Tony nodded and straightened, "so you want me to casually assign someone to tail her during the day, plain-clothes guy outside the window into her lab? She's staying with you still, right? I can have someone circle your neighborhood."

A smile tugged at the corner of Gibbs' mouth. At work Tony always seemed to know what he was thinking – Tony was senior field agent for a reason.

"But boss, do me a favor and don't lie about it. Maybe mention that you think you saw him, that you're concerned. If she figures it out, tell her I assigned the guard."

Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"Whatcha got for me, Abbs?" Gibbs strolled into the lab and called out one of his most favorite lines.

Abby jumped up from the desk and rushed toward the computer. "I…." she spun around to face him, "wait, I'm not working any cases yet, I don't…"

"I know," Gibbs smirked.

"Tease."

Kevin smiled briefly before turning back to his tests. It hadn't taken much for Abby to win him over. She had spoken to Vance and once Abby was ready to return, Kevin had been offered a job with a smaller, private firm. A glowing recommendation from NCIS had put him as one of their top candidates and then a phone call from Abby had sealed the deal. It had made her daily visits to the lab less stressful for the both of them, and he was willing to listen to her advice and suggestions on tests, despite her not being officially able to work cases for another week.

"Let's have coffee," Gibbs reached out and offered his hand, which Abby eagerly accepted. "I want to talk."

"Uh oh," Abby followed him to the elevator. "You wanting to talk?"

"Just want you to listen to what I have to say."

"I always listen," she leaned against his chest as they rode the elevator to the main floor. They walked out of the building hand in hand and Gibbs led her to the coffee shop on the Navy yard. She smiled and waved at everyone she knew, and even those she didn't. Almost everyone on the navy yard was aware of what had happened to her, and everyone was beyond supportive. She smiled at a man in a dark grey shirt, but he didn't smile back – instead turned the other way.

"Was out earlier, for a walk," he started once they were at their favorite table, a bit out of the way.

"You should've called me up!"

"Shhh," he quieted her gently, "I was out walking around, felt like I was being watched. I saw Rex again. I think he's trying to follow you."

"Gibbs…"

"I just want you to be aware. We've got Rosita asking around for information, but I don't want this to get out of hand."

"He wouldn't hurt me, if that's what you're worried about."

"I don't know this man, Abbs, I don't know what he's capable of. He thinks you two belong together and you walked away from him." Gibbs couldn't image how he'd feel if Abby walked away from him and into the arms of someone else.

"Did he say something?"

"No," Gibbs shook his head, "I just caught a glimpse of him watching me, a bus drove past and when it gone so was he."

"Gibbs," Abby sat forward and reached out to cover his hand with hers. "I hate to say it, but I think you're a little paranoid."

"Something doesn't feel right, Abbs. I don't trust him and I want you to at least be aware of that. I'm trying…" he let out a ragged sigh. "I'm trying to be open and honest with you here."

"I know and I…" Abby trailed off when she saw the same guy from outside ordering coffee at the counter. He twisted as he reached for a napkin and she saw his gun and badge under his jacket. "Oh my God, please tell me you didn't."

"Didn't what?" Gibbs sat back, unsure of what she was talking about.

"You're having me tailed." She nodded to the man at the counter. "I saw him outside and even though I smiled at him, he just looked away. Now he's here, and I saw a badge and gun. You have him watching me!"

"Abby, calm down. I didn't…"

"Don't lie to me Gibbs!"

He wasn't going to rat out Tony. Tony might have been the one to assign the guard, but Gibbs had spoken up about the concern. "I just want to make sure you're safe. That's all."

"I can't believe you." Abby pushed back her chair, stood and grabbed her Caf-Pow. She dropped it in the trash and headed back to NCIS.

Gibbs watched her leave. As soon as she was out the door, the man at the counter approached. "I heard she figured me out, Tony said she was pretty quick to pick up on stuff like that. I tried to keep a low profile, guess it didn't work."

Gibbs nodded. "Keep an eye on her still."

"I will. You have a picture of this Rex guy yet? Tony said he'd get one to me as soon as possible."

"Not yet, Tony will keep you up to date."

The man nodded. "Okay."

Gibbs picked up his coffee and carried it back toward NCIS. When he arrived, McGee and Ziva were at their desks, but Tony was nowhere to be seen.

"Uh, boss…. Tony just took Abby home, said he'd call you soon. But Abby looked pretty upset, maybe you want to go too?" McGee suggested.

Gibbs nodded and picked up the files he had been reviewing. He wasn't officially back at work on a full-scale basis until Abby was – giving him the option to leave if needed. He grabbed his keys and headed to his car. He debated on picking up dinner on the way, maybe flowers or something. He'd never really felt the urge to do something like that for one of his ex-wives, but he hated that Abby was upset with him. He decided that sorting things out with her were more important so he headed right home. He expected DiNozzo's car to be in his driveway, and was surprised when it wasn't. He doubted Tony would have dropped her off and just left, but if Abby was upset, maybe she'd asked for time alone.

He unlocked the front door and let himself in, listening for any sign of where she might be. The silence that greeted him was unnerving so he called out for her. "Abbs?"

He listened, but got no reply. Just before calling out for her again, his cell phone rang. "Yeah, Gibbs."

"Hey boss…. That didn't last long."

Gibbs snorted.

"She said you hired her tail, told you to tell her it was me."

"Wouldn't have mattered, she knows I'm behind it all. No need for her to be pissed at the both of us."

"I guess," Tony sighed. "She asked me to bring her back to her apartment. So I just dropped her off. Doesn't want company, but agreed to let me walk her in and take a look around since it's been empty for a few weeks."

"Good."

"Yeah, I'll get my guy parked across the street for a while and have him follow her if she goes anywhere. But she mostly seemed interested in going through all her belongings. I don't think she'll go anywhere. You gonna go talk to her?"

Gibbs shrugged. "I'll call her, if she wants some space, I'll give it to her."

"Just don't… don't wait too long. I'm not trying to involve myself in your personal life but she's my best friend and even if she's mad, she needs you around."

"Thanks for taking her home, DiNozzo."

"Sure boss."

TBC

Thank you so much for all the kind comments and reviews. Life has been a little crazy – extra work hours, online courses and I've started playing soccer again – whew!