And let the final chapter begin, and end, ah parting is such sweet sorrow
"I love you, Daddy, I love you" As the tape ends I look over and see him sitting there on the stairs, just staring at me, and I knew, at that moment, that it was over, but, there was a part of me that wasn't surprised.
"Jethro, hi, I thought…" "Thought what?" "I, um.." "Exactly, you weren't thinking at all, you had no right, no right." His voice faded out, obviously it was something very special to him, and I put two and two together and realized that it must be of Shannon and Kelly, "Jethro I am so sorry, I really didn't…." "I don't want to hear this right now Hollis."
The tone in his voice cut me, but I knew he had a point, yeah I probably shouldn't have gone through his things, but I just wanted some music or something playing in the background. I knew though, that it was over, so I decided to let him know this, so I could maybe leave with some of my dignity.
"Jethro, please, don't say another word, I guess I must have betrayed your trust by listening to this and I know trust is very important, and I know how much you loved them and I was trying to get you to move on and see that I am here now and I am your life, but I now see that I was never really yours, and I never can or will be yours,"
"Hollis I…." "No Jethro please, let me finish this." As hard as this is for me to do, I know that it is the best thing to do for myself and for Jethro, even if it breaks my heart.
"We had something the moment we started working together, I loved your passion your fire, your tenacity, everything that was you. You always were great with kids and you somehow got people to talk, even when they swore they wouldn't speak. You don't open up to people at all, it take you a very long time to open up, but when you do, there is a whole other side to you, one that I have had the pleasure of seeing, but I know it isn't all of you, and that is what I want. I want you to share everything with me, your feelings, your fears, your laughter, everything. But I have come to realize that I can't, nor ever will, have that openness, that openness belongs to one person, Abby."
"What Abby? What are you talking about Hollis? I have no…." "Jethro please, I don't think you realize it but you love her." He stares at me, processing what I just told him, "You say you take care of her like a father, that she is like the daughter you never really had, but I can tell that isn't true, your hand lingers far too long, you kiss her on the check all the time, you never say anything about her outfits…"
"Yes that is true but…"
"No buts Jethro, the biggest thing? Your smile, you always have a genuine smile when you are around her, you seem to lighten up whenever you see her, and she can get away with anything, things your team would get smacked for. All I am saying is that deep down I truly think you love her, and you may say that no one can take Shannon and Kelly's place, and you are right, but Abby? She can fill that void, I tried to take the place of them, she doesn't try, she knows that she never will and that is the one thing that gives you the capability to love her, Jethro, tonight I have realized that you and I in the long run would have never worked out. We are just two different people who want different things, and I would always be second to Abby, and I wouldn't want that, so I would try and stop it, I know I can't so, I am letting you go Jethro, I have fallen in love with you, and I know you don't and will never love me, so, I am saying goodbye."
Jethro just stares at me, and I know he knows everything I just said was true, and that was the hardest, he just nods, stands up, and gives me a hug. "I am truly sorry Holly, I really am." Finally the tears start falling and I pull back, "I know you are, and I know that when you came down here you weren't expecting for me to be listening to those tapes, but I did, and I am truly truly sorry, but I need you to promise me one thing Jethro," He nodded, "Be happy, and tell Abby how you really feel, before it is too late."
He smiles, a genuine smile, "Let me walk you out" I acquiesce, heading up the stairs first, followed by Jethro. When we enter the living room no one is there, Jethro and I give eachother a weird look, all of a sudden we hear laughing and we look out the window to see the entire team outside throwing snowballs and making snowmen. As we stood there I saw how when Jethro's eyes fell on Abby, they sparkled with nothing but pure love. I follow is line of eyesight to see the Director and DiNozzo engaged in what looks like a snowman building contest. With one last glance to everything in the house, I head for the door, Jethro right on my heels. I take the first step into the cold and realize just how much snow there was. Abby looked up and waved, I just nodded while Jethro smiled, we walked to my car and I turn to him once we got there.
"I wish you all the happiness in the world Jethro, you and Abby both. And I will actually miss the rest of the team," minus DiNozzo. "You take care too Holly." I nod and kiss his lips softly, savoring the taste, knowing it was for the last time. I get into my car and start the engine, but I don't move; surprisingly I want to see if Jethro takes my advice. About a minute later I smile to myself, start the car and drive off into the busy morning commute or DC, maybe another time another place, Jethro, another time.
The end
That is it, it is over, awh, so sad, I can't believe it, oh well, I have no idea what my next story will be but, it won't be in the perspective of Hollis, promise :)
Wait, you want to know what our silver haired fox did…..fine, I GUESS I owe you that much ;)
I walk over to the team, Hollis's words ringing in my head, you love her, you love Abby, I can see it. Looking back, I see it also, but I guess it took someone else to open my eyes for me. Now, I am not the one to show or act upon my emotions, I am always the logical one, but when it comes to Abby, everything is not what it seems, so, going along with that theory I walk towards her. She looks up and gives me that 100 watt smile and gives a slight wave, while she is dressed in snow clothing, I am not surprised to see that it has skulls and crossbones over it and her hair is still in pigtails. She runs and gives me a hug, thanking me for everything, but before she can fully pull away I do something illogical and directly from my heart, I kiss her, kiss her with all that I have. At first she tenses and I am afraid that Hollis was just saying that to make me miserable as some sort of payback, but soon I feel her relax against me and I deepen the kiss, allowing myself to taste and feel the uniqueness that was Abigail Scuito, my one and only love. We don't stop kissing until I need to breathe. I stare down at her and realize just how beautiful she is, especially when her lips are swollen and her cheeks are pink from the heat radiating off of her body. I look down into her green eyes and say, well, more, spell, those three words that mean so much to me,
"I love you"
"I love you too"
It is our own unique way of communicating, sign language, which is why I am glad she not only knows I mean more than a daughter, but that she feels the same way, and knows how important that is to me, I kiss her again, lighter this time, knowing that I have a lifetime to give her all the kisses in the world. As we pull apart we turn around to see four smiling faces and they come rushing over to congratulate us and to tell me not to hurt her and so on. I promised them I wouldn't, and not just because she is the world to me, but also because I know that Abby is good at hiding bodies, and leaving no evidence behind. As I am about to watch Ziva and Tim build a snowman I am poked by my Abby, my Abby, no one else's. "Yes sweetheart?" "Gibbs…..I mean, Jethro?" I nodded, "look" I turn my head just in time to see Tony ambush Jenny with a snowballs to which he was rewarded with a smack on the arm. They smiled at each other and I knew that something was going to happen between them, and I was alright with that, just as long as HE didn't hurt HER. Turning back to Abby I see her smiling at me, "What is it?" She just laughed at my confusion, "Don't worry my silver haired fox, I know how to hide bodies and leave no evidence behind." I smile at that, not surprised that she read my mind, actually that was an oddly comforting thought, well, just as long as it isn't my body she is hiding.