So... I'm pretty sure you all will forgive the sketchy posting schedule the next few days after this chapter.


Gibbs was already in bed, a pillow behind his back as he leaned against the headboard. He had a woodworking magazine in his hands, and he had put on his glasses rather than squint through the soft light of his bedside lamp. Abby hesitated in the doorway, her eyes sweeping over him. She could see he was wearing some sort of sleep pants, dark blue, but he didn't have a shirt on. Her eyes swept over his arms and across his firm chest. He was strong, but his muscles weren't huge – just perfectly toned, she decided. There was a light smattering of hair across his chest and his stomach was as toned as someone much younger.

Gibbs glanced up when a floor board creaked under her feet, and then set the magazine on his bedside table. He pushed the pillow down, and waited until she shut the door and then sat on the edge of the bed before clicking off the light.

He held up the covers for her, waiting patiently as she tied her damp hair back before settling in beside him.

The bed was large, and as soon as she was settled under the covers, Gibbs reached out and pulled her close, wrapping his arms securely around her. Abby moved willingly into his arms to snuggle up against his chest. He smelled like saw dust, and now that he didn't have a shirt on, his own scent was amplified. She couldn't help herself and before she knew it, her lips were pressed against his chest. She kissed him once, twice – until the low rumble of his laughter cause her to press her ear to his chest so she could hear it better. It wasn't often that Gibbs laughed so when he did, it felt as though her heart was doing flip-flops in her chest.

"Abby?"

"Hmm?" Abby pulled back enough so she could look up at him, his face becoming more and more clear as her eyes adjusted to the dark bedroom.

With her face tilted up toward his, Gibbs took advantage by kissing her softly. He had been waiting since he had stolen a few kisses in the elevator a few days prior. He could feel her hesitation as her body tensed, but she pressed into his kiss just as eagerly. When he pulled away, he brushed his thumb gently along her lower lip. "You have a question?"

"You..." Abby tried to get her mind back into working order. "You said you couldn't start anything. I might be wrong but this feels a lot like-"

Gibbs cut her off with a second kiss, this time his tongue seeking entrance. Instantly, her lips parted.

She allowed him control of the kiss until she felt an all too familiar heat causing her to squeeze her thighs together as she tried to ease the dull ache. "Gibbs," she pushed him away and rolled onto her back to catch her breath. "I need… I can't just…"

Gibbs leaned up on his elbow and traced his finger along her spider web tattoo. "What do you need from me, Abbs?"

"I… I'm not asking for happily ever after, Gibbs. I just need to know that this isn't just fun for tonight, and then it's back to kisses on the cheek tomorrow."

"You think I would do that to you?" He tried to mask the hurt, but judging by the way she winced at his question, he wasn't successful.

Abby turned her head to face him. "No, I don't, I just… I don't want to set myself up to fall any harder than I already have."

"Hey," Gibbs pulled her back into his arms, this time with her back to his chest. "I will always be there to catch you when you fall." His lips found the sensitive skin just behind her ear, and he kissed her twice before moving his lips down the side of her neck and out along her shoulder as far as the neck of his t-shirt would allow. "I can't promise happily ever after, but I can promise to try."

"That's all I want." She knew they needed to talk, really talk, but his lips on her skin and his promise to be there for her was enough for now.

Gibbs kissed his way back up her neck and then nipped gently at her ear lobe. She couldn't do much, besides hold on to the arm he had wrapped firmly around her. He tormented her slowly with gentle kisses and nibbles along her soft skin. He brushed his finger tips gently across her breasts, the fabric of the t-shirt doing more than his actual touch. He slipped his fingers under her shirt, tracing back and forth across her belly, smiling to himself as her stomach muscles tensed and she tried to keep from laughing.

"Ticklish?"

"Mm, a little."

"Good to know."

Keeping her eyes open was becoming more and more difficult through his gentle torment. He gently pushed the shirt up, further and further, only touching the skin that was exposed. Eventually, as she became impatient, Abby wriggled free of his grasp, and tugged the shirt off over her head before settling back in his arms.

"What's this?" Gibbs' fingers brushed lightly over a fading bruise over her ribs.

"Just a bruise, it's almost gone." Abby's hand flattened over his, pressing the warmth of his palm against her skin.

Despite the free access, Gibbs took his time before his finger tips flicked lightly at her raised nipples. He did it over and over again when her head dropped to the pillow and she left out a quiet moan. She reached back for him, her hand coming to rest against the side of his face. Gibbs pressed a kiss to her palm and then continued his focus on her body.

With one arm still wrapped firmly around her middle, Gibbs let his free hand drift back down across her belly, his fingers circling her belly button before tracing the lacy edge of the underwear she was wearing. His thumb brushed over her hip bone before he brought his hand down over her mound, his fingers adding a little pressure as he sought out the growing wet spot on her panties.

Abby bit her lip at his touch. As good as it felt, there was still a layer between them and she wanted nothing more than to slip out of her underwear and toss them across the room. When his fingers finally slipped under the band of her underwear, Abby shifted her hips and parted her legs, giving him greater access to her core.

Gibbs pressed a finger between her folds and teased over her opening. He wished he could see her face, but judging by the needy sounds she kept making, he was doing alright. His finger moved easily in her wet heat and after a few gentle strokes he added a second finger to the mix, drawing a ragged moan from his girl. Every so often he'd put his thumb to her clit, causing her muscles to jump below his hand.

He felt an electric shock shoot right to his groin as he continued to work moan after moan from her. He pushed his growing arousal against her back side and growled in her ear about the effect she was having on him. It didn't take much more before she was trembling in his arms, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she clung to the last shreds of her control.

He nipped at her neck again, soothing the slight pain with a kiss. "Come," he curled his fingers just so and pressed his thumb to her clit, "for me."

Gibbs held her tightly as she rode wave after wave of her orgasm. When she finally settled back against him with a happy sigh, he wiped his wet fingers on his own thigh and helped her to shift in his arms so she was facing him and he was able to kiss her properly.

As Gibbs kissed her, Abby's hands roamed slowly over his body. She could feel his dick pressing firmly against her thigh, but she chose to ignore it.

"Abby!" Gibbs growled against her ear.

"I know what you want," Abby pressed her face against his neck and giggled when he growled again as her hands continued to move everywhere but where he wanted. Abby mouthed her way across his collar bone and then pressed her mouth over one of his nipples. She nipped at him playfully and then repeated the action to his other nipple before slowly moving down his abdomen.

She wasn't surprised when he wrapped his hand in her hair and gently guided her lower. He wasn't forceful, and when she stopped to lavish attention to the skin over his hip, he didn't push her further. As she kissed her way across to his other hip, the tip of his erection brushed under her chin, leaving a streak of pre-cum in its wake.

"You'll be the death of me, Abbs," Gibbs panted as he watched Abby move between his legs.

Abby looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling in the faint light of the moon coming in through the window shades "Wouldn't be a bad way to go."

"No, but I'd prefer another go at this tomorrow and the next day and the day after…" Gibbs was cut off when her tongue darted out to collect another bead of pre-cum that had formed.

Abby grinned before sliding her mouth over him, giggling around his cock when it forced another hoarse growl from his throat. Abby encouraged him to set the pace for his gentle thrusts into her mouth. She set about using her tongue the best way she knew how, making quiet appreciative noises as Gibbs praised her, his voice rough with want and need.

Suddenly Gibbs stilled and pulled her off, brushing his thumb along her lower lip, wiping at the small string of saliva that still connected her mouth to his cock. "Not as young as I used to be," Gibbs gave a little shrug. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had someone so willing in bed – Hollis had looked at him with disgust, and the exes had hardly participated once they had found their own release.

Abby climbed her way back up his body and kissed him, pushing aside any of his fears that maybe she wasn't interested if he couldn't keep up with her. She gripped his shoulders and rolled onto her back, encouraging him to move with her.

He pressed his lips to the fluttery pulse point on her neck as he pushed up to guide a hand between them to align himself with her slippery opening.

"Oh my God, Gibbs!" Abby's hands flew to his chest and she stared up at him with wide eyes. "What about… about Kevin? He's just down the stairs." It suddenly dawned on her that they weren't alone in the house.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking about him? Now?"

"I just… I thought I heard something and I forgot… I forgot we weren't alone in the house, and…"

Gibbs let out a soft chuckle. When things first started he had been surprised she hadn't refused his advances because of someone else being in the house. "He isn't to come upstairs unless its life or death. And he can't hear us."

Abby visibly relaxed under him and smiled. "It kind of adds to the excitement – being in a position where someone could walk in on us."

Gibbs pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "We're not doing this at NCIS. Don't get any ideas."

"Gibbs," Abby purred. "I could lock the door of the ballistics lab." Abby arched up as he nibbled along her neck. "There is a corner of my lab where the security camera doesn't quite reach. Or, no one would suspect anything if the emergency switch was deployed in the elevator." She knew she had gotten to him when he gave a sharp thrust against her, his cock sliding deliciously against her thigh.

"You think of us doing this stuff… at NCIS?"

Abby traced her fingers along his face. "More than once."

"Anywhere you haven't thought about us?"

"Here. It's the one place I would let myself fantasize about us. I wouldn't be able to set foot in your house again without blushing if I had let myself get lost in that dream."

"It's not a dream." Gibbs leaned down and kissed her, taking a moment to savor her soft lips before sinking into her welcoming heat without warning.

"Gibbs," Abby couldn't help but whimper.

"Easy." Gibbs encouraged her to wrap her legs around his waist, his fingers digging into her thigh as he held her close.

Abby moved with him, meeting him thrust for thrust as he pushed into her. Her breath caught in her throat as he stared down at her with an intensity that she had never seen before. Her heart stalled in her chest as it slowly sank in that it was truly happening. She surged upward to kiss him, her fingers digging into the taunt muscles of his back. Catching his lower lip between her teeth Abby gave a little tug before letting her head fall back against the pillow as she gasped in pleasure.

Gibbs pressed his lips to her ear and whispered to her, telling her how much she had an effect on him. Not just right then in bed, but every day, every time he walked into the lab or she showed up at his house.

"Gibbs… I need," Abby wasn't sure what she needed. More? Less? Using what little strength she had, Abby pulled Gibbs down to her and then pushed him to his back, rolling with him as he moved.

Abby tossed her head back and moaned once she was seated over him. His hands were on her hips, keeping her moving, and Abby loved the way his tongue came out to wet his lips as she tugged at her own nipples.

"Beautiful," he choked out. "Beautiful, Abbs."

Abby pressed her hands to his chest to steady herself as she rode him hard. She arched up as she tried to create that extra bit of friction she needed. She wasn't aware of his hand leaving her hip until she felt the sudden pressure against her clit. She let out a strangled cry as she fell forward, her toes curling as her body shook with the intensity of her second orgasm of the night.

Gibbs rolled them back over and pushed into her twice more before muffling his own cry against her shoulder. He stilled momentarily before lowering himself over her and then off of her to lie on his back.

As his breathing had slowed and he could hear his own thoughts through the blood that had been pounding through his veins, he reached blindly for Abby's hand. "Abbs?"

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

There was a brief silence before she shifted and then snuggled up to his side. "I'm perfect. You?"

"Mmm, me too." Gibbs turned his head to press a tender kiss to her forehead. As much as he wanted to curl up with her naked, warm body in his arms, he knew that they needed to redress in case he had to get out of bed in a hurry. He gave Abby an apologetic look as he reached for their discarded clothes.

Abby walked around the bed to take her clothes from him, and kissed him to show she understood, before heading to the master bath to clean up a bit before climbing into bed.

Gibbs welcomed her with open arms as she climbed into bed for the second time that night.


Abby woke slowly the next morning, reluctant to give up her dream-filled sleep. She had dreamt of picnics and long walks on the beach with Gibbs always at her side. She reached blindly for him, her hand falling on a cold pillow. She let her hand slip from the pillow – she knew she shouldn't be disappointed in the fact that Gibbs wasn't still in bed with her, and a part of her had expected to wake up without him. Just as she was about to pull her hand back under the covers, a warm hand covered hers and she startled.

"Morning."

Abby peeked through her lashes and was surprised to see Gibbs sitting on the edge of the bed. "Morning. I thought you left."

"Nah, I got up to have a quick shower, but I didn't want you to wake up alone. Instead I went down to start coffee." Gibbs lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"You should have woken me up. I could use a shower too, you know." Abby loved the grin that Gibbs tried to fight.

"I haven't showered yet." His eyes sparkled at her and Abby found herself mirroring his grin. She gave his hand a tug. "You aren't allowed back and NCIS this weekend, why are you even out of bed?"

"It's 0800, I haven't stayed in bed this long since I was a kid. Even then, I wasn't allowed to sleep in unless I was sick."

"I thought you didn't get sick?" Abby tugged on his hand again, this time using a little more strength.

"I don't." Gibbs moved over the bed until he was on his hands and knees over her. "Not anymore." He dipped his head to nibble at her neck.

Abby sighed happily as she tilted her neck to give him better access to her spider web tattoo. Just as she thought he was about to settle over her, his head jerked up and he listened intently.

"What?" Abby whispered. "What is it?"

Gibbs turned to kiss her quickly and then pushed off the bed. "The coffee beeped. I'll be right back."

Abby rolled her eyes as she watched Gibbs go in search of coffee – some things would never change.


Abby felt as though the rest of the weekend went by in a perfect bubble. They still hadn't had the chance to sit down and properly talk – she didn't think it was high on Gibbs' list of priorities. She didn't want to talk in bed, his naked skin against hers was hard to ignore, and with security always nearby, she didn't feel comfortable starting the conversation. The agents that were rotated through kept to themselves, reading, playing on the computer and watching TV. As much as Gibbs hated being watched over, he managed to turn his frustration into spending his time doting on Abby. They spent both mornings in bed, talking, kissing, touching – getting to know each other in a more intimate way than they ever thought possible.

They took a quick trip to the grocery store, and then spent time in the kitchen cooking together.

Gibbs told himself that security was actually there for Abby, and he himself was never far from her side. As much as he wanted to complain, the security agents were professional and kept out of his way. He heard Fornell call several times, but as requested, Gibbs wasn't bothered.

By Sunday evening, Gibbs decided that checking in with the outside world would be a good idea. Abby had told the team she was fine and that she was with Gibbs and that if she was needed, she was to be contacted through the FBI. With her phone off, and Gibbs calls going through the agent inside his house, they spent the majority of the weekend free of interruption.

They were down in the basement, Gibbs working on rebuilding his boat and Abby curled up on the bottom step with a science journal in her lap.

"Guess I should see if Tobias has come up with anything new." Gibbs set down his sander and reached for the beer on the work bench.

Abby nodded. "I'd like to think he's caught whoever it is and everything is over, but I have the feeling he would have called and insisted on talking to you."

"It'd be just like Tobias if he had caught the person and tried to wrap up the case without me."

Abby knew it would anger Gibbs beyond belief, but secretly, the idea of Fornell wrapping the case up was a good one – that way everything could return to what passed for normal at NCIS.

Gibbs brushed the saw dust from his hands and pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

Fornell answered on the second ring, and didn't give Gibbs the chance to speak first. "Talking to me again?"

"Thought I'd check in."

"Nothing new. I've been working every angle I've thought remotely possible, but there is nothing. I'm honestly at a loss. I've never seen anything like it."

Gibbs looked at Abby and shook his head. "We'll catch them eventually. Or maybe they've moved on, just tried to give me a scare and now are moving on with their life."

"Or it could be the fact that you've got an armed guard in your house twenty four hours a day." Fornell ignored the growl. "Speaking of, Kevin told me Friday that the reason I wasn't allowed to contact you unless it was life or death was because you had a woman over. Am I correct in guessing that the woman is Abby?"

"Yes." Gibbs glanced at Abby, but she had returned her attention to her magazine.

"She still there?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'll take that as a yes. Hey, maybe we can do dinner together. You and Abby, Sharon, Emily and I. I know Emily would love to see Abby."

"I'll ask her. Let me know if anything comes up tonight, otherwise I'll give you a call tomorrow from NCIS." Gibbs hung up before Tobias could say anything else. "Said you and I should have dinner with him, Emily and Sharon. Emily would like to see you."

"That would be fun! I'm curious as to who this Sharon woman is, aren't you? But it's up to you, if you don't want-"

"I'll call him tomorrow and see when he wants to schedule it."

Abby's face lit up. "Cool."

Tucking his phone back in his pocket, Gibbs brushed the rest of the saw dust from the front of his sweatshirt. "It's getting late."

"I should probably go home – I didn't bring work clothes with me when I grabbed some stuff for the weekend. Plus, we probably shouldn't drive in together tomorrow."

Gibbs caught her wrist as Abby stood and turned to lead the way up the steps. "I don't care if people know about us, Abbs."

"You've got a rule…" Abby shrugged. "I don't want you to change stuff just because we're… whatever."

"I added another rule, a little while back. Rule 51."

"Oh?"

"Sometimes you're wrong."

A look of confusion crossed Abby's face.

"Dating a co-worker can be dangerous. That rule is there for a reason. Nine times out of ten, it's not going to work. But sometimes," he brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. "Sometimes, it's the best thing that could ever happen to you."

Abby lifted her hand to Gibbs' forehead. "That's the sweetest thing you've ever said. You sick?"

Gibbs swatted her hand away and nudged her up the steps. "Don't get sick, remember?"

"I know." Abby turned to kiss him.

Gibbs followed her out of the basement, keeping a hand at her hip to ensure that she didn't get to far away from him. "Stay?"

Abby chewed absentmindedly on her lower lip. She didn't want to over-stay her welcome, but with Gibbs asking so nicely, she couldn't exactly say no.

"I'll stay."

"Good. Up to bed, I'll be up in a minute."


Emily was the first to spot Abby and Gibbs as they made their way through the crowded restaurant to the table in the back. "Abby! Sit next to me!" Emily waved them over and pointed to the chair beside her for Abby to take – leaving Gibbs at the head of the small table.

"Hey Emily!" Abby bent down to hug the girl and then offered her hand to the woman sitting beside Fornell. "Hi, I'm Abby."

"Sharon. Emily has told me all about you." Sharon smiled at Emily.

"This is Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, he works for NCIS," Fornell introduced the two.

"Gibbs." He shook her hand politely before having a seat.

Sharon was a petite blonde woman with a bright smile. She was wearing jeans and a simple t-shirt, and Abby suspected that she was just perfect for Fornell – low maintenance and easy going. Likely a welcome change compared to Diane and good for Emily to see, rather than just her mother who practically lived in heels and a business suit.

Dinner went well – Gibbs and Fornell discussing the latest NCIS and FBI news while Emily kept both Abby and Sharon entertained with stories from school. "… but I just got an 82 on my spelling test."

"That's great! I had a hard time with spelling when I was your age." Sharon praised.

"Mommy says 82 isn't good enough. I need to focus more, otherwise I won't get a kitten this summer."

Abby eyed Sharon over Emily's head. "I think you're doing very well in school."

"Thank you, Abby. I try really hard, but sometimes the words are hard."

"You'll do great, I'm sure of it."

"Daddy is really good at helping me with my school work, isn't he?" Emily smiled at Sharon.

"I dunno, sounds like you guys have more fun than actually getting work done," Sharon teased and then looked at Abby. "Sometimes I wonder if they are working on her school work, or just playing around."

"It makes your school work more fun, doesn't it?" Abby ran her fingers through the girls hair.

"It does. I wish I could spend more time with daddy and Sharon," Emily sighed.


TBC…