Chapter 14 – the plane ride home

Sara pulled up to the front of the hotel to find the rest of Gibbs team already there and arguing. Gibbs groaned; how could such a great team of investigators act like children most of the time.
"Are they always like this" asked Sara
"Pretty much, but that's what makes life fun" said Abby with a smile.

The team climbed in and Sara finished the drive to the airport.

Once there everyone pilled out of the car with McGee and Tony landing in a heap on the floor. Tony sprang to his feet first, dusting himself of and looking like he meant to do that, just to annoy McGee.

"Well Gibbs it was nice to meet you at last" said Sara to Gibbs
"It was a pleasure to meet you to, and say thank you to Grissom for me"
"I'm sure she will" said Abby with a cheeky wink

Sara wished the rest of the team a pleasant flight and promised Abby she would email her soon.
Abby stood waving until Sara was no longer in sight.

"Right, check in this way" Abby said decisively.
Gibbs grabbed Abbys bag again before following his team to the check in desks. "You guys better hurry up unless you want to walk back to DC" barked Gibbs at the rest of his team.
"Yes Boss"
"Come on Abbs this way" he said much more softly leading Abby towards the first class check in desk

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"Hello how may I help you today?" Said the very attractive read headed attendant.
Oh no, thought Abby, it had to be a red head, Gibbs is going to take one look at her and realise he doesn't like me like that after all.
"2 reservations Gibbs and Sciuto"
"Certainly sir. Here are your tickets. Anything else I can help with?"
"No, thank you"
Abby was astounded. The attendant had obviously been flirting with Gibbs and he hadn't taken the bait once, perhaps he had meant what he had said last night, perhaps this thing between them what ever it was could work.

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They didn't have long to wait for the plane to arrive.
"May all First Class passengers make there way to the gate please"
Gibbs stood took Abby bag yet again and with confused looks from the rest of the team he and Abby boarded.
It wasn't long before the other three agents and the rest of the passengers boarded the plane and the take of routine was started.

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Once the plane had levelled off an air hostess made her first rounds, "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Two glasses of champagne please"
"Certainly sir"
"Gibbs, you never drink on a plane" said a very confused Abby.
Gibbs took her hand "True, but I feel like celebrating" he said with a wink.
"Here you go sir. And if you don't me asking what are you celebrating"
"Us" was the only reply she got from Gibbs.
The stewardess continued her journey as Abby turned to Gibbs "Is that why you changed seats?"
"You mean a lot to me Abbs and I'm going to start showing you just how much, If that's Ok with you?" Gibbs said adding the 'My Girl' sign to Abbys cheek
"OK"

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"Will you please move your arm Tony"
"No you move yours, it's my arm rest"
"Is not"
"Is SO"
"Quiet" Ziva almost yelled "both of you will move your arms before I remove them for you. Permanently"

Tony and McGee looked at each other, then at Ziva both knowing she was quite capable of carrying out her promise, show she choose to.

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Both sets of NCIS passengers settled in to conformable conversation, before falling asleep.

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"Come on Sleeping Beauty, time to wake up. We're almost home"
"You know Gibbs I could get used to you being the first thing I see when I wake up"
Gibbs was taken aback by the pure love in her eyes for him and the sincerity in her voice "me to Abbs, me to"

This small exchange did not go unnoticed, after all there is very little room to hide on a plane. One of the airhostesses had seen and heard everything while she was carrying out her pre-landing checks. She wondered what this very handsome very dashing man could possibly see in someone like, well like that. There had to be a mistake, she had to get advice from a friend. She made her way to the back of the plane to were her colleague was.

"Hey, Hannah hows it going up here?"
"No bad. You?"
"Confusing. You know that good looking chap up in first class?"
"Which one there are a couple"
"The one sitting next to the Goth chick?"
"Oooh him he's cute. What about him"
"Do you think those two are like together or something? I mean I've been flirting with him the whole flight and nothing. I so much better looking than her"
"Perhaps he's gay"

There was a muffled cough from the near by washroom.

"No definitely not. Well I don't think so anyway, not the way he's been chatting to that woman. They just seem like the oddest couple ever."
"I don't know I've seen odder. Well as much as I love gossiping about the passengers we have to get ready to land"

And with that the 2 ladies dispersed to complete there rounds.

They really should have checked to washroom though Tony DiNozzo. He had overhead everything. He knew that the Boss and Abby were close, they always had been, but could it be something more? No way, right? He needed a second opinion and possible a third.

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"Hey guys you'll never guess what I just over heard" Tony said as he returned to his seat.
"I do not care to gossip Tony"
"Not even when its about the Boss and Abby"
That got McGees attention "What about the Boss and Abby?"
Tony retold everything that he had over heard.
"They have to be wrong, Abby would never date Gibbs" Said McGee with sadness in his voice. He may not be with her anymore but they were still very good friends and she would have told his wouldn't she?
"Well Abby does have a thing for older man" replied Tony
"I will go sort this out" Ziva said standing up and making her way to the first class dividing curtain.

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"Abby?"
"Yes Gibbs"
"Are you tired"
"Not really, nothing a Caf-Pow wouldn't fix, why?"
Gibbs took a deep breath "You fancy going out for dinner later? With me?"
"Yes!" Abby squeaked before laughing at herself "I would love to Gibbs but…"
"but?" said Gibbs sounding suddenly worried. Had he pushed things to far to fast?
"Do you mind if we get a take out and go back to yours"
Relieve washed over him "Cause not Abbs, anything you want"
"Yay"

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Ziva was very good at surveillance techniques, but on a plane there really isn't a lot of space to be secretive. She peered round the curtain slowly trying to locate Gibbs, but it was Abbys pigtails that stood out the most. She could just about hear Abby laughing but that was nothing strange, Abby laughed all the time

"Excuse me miss, you'll need to take you're seat now we're making our final approach"
"Certainly" Ziva replied with defeat in her voice, she had found out nothing.

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"So, what did you see?" asked a very excited ton and Ziva sat down again
"Nothing. There as nothing to see. I think you are mistaken Tony"

The plane landed and everyone gathered there belongs and headed off the plane. It was not a surprise to see anyone that Gibbs was yet again carrying Abbs bag. Tony promised hiself that we would be paying special attention to these two. If there was something going on he would find out what it was.