Chapter 12 is up!!! ENJOY!!!

--

Abby woke slowly to the feeling of someone lazily running their fingers through her raven black hair that wasn't in pigtails. "Morning." She mumbled, turning towards Gibbs and wrapping her arms around his waist. He smiled against her hair as he wrapped his arms around her tightly, saying,

"Morning Abbs." She smiled and said,

"What time is it?"

"Around 9." Gibbs replied, and Abby sighed. Gibbs' smile widened and she looked up at him, saying,

"Something funny?"

"Nope." Gibbs said, trying to fight his smile.

"I like your smile…" Abby said quietly, reaching out with a finger and tracing his smile. He grabbed onto her hand and said softly,

"I like you, Abbs."

"Good. Me too." Abby said cheekily with a smile, and he just chuckled and pulled her close.

"Abby, promise me you won't pull another stupid stunt like you did yesterday." Gibbs mumbled into her hair, and she pulled back, looking him straight in the eyes, and said,

"I promise. But, there's an exception." Gibbs raised an eyebrow, and she continued, "If you're life is on the line, I might pull another stunt like that to save your life."

"Abby, listen to me, your life is worth much more to me than mine." Gibbs said quietly, and Abby said,

"But your life is worth much more to me! I can't lose you, Gibbs, I just can't!"

"Then, let's not lose each other, okay?" Gibbs said, wanting to lift the serious mood.

"Okay," Abby said with a smile, kissing him on the nose, bringing back the playfulness mood.

"Hungry?" Gibbs asked quietly, and Abby shook her head. "Tony and Ziva went to pick something up, you sure you don't want anything?"

"On second thought, how about a Caf-Pow and a bagel?"

"Sure. Call him." Gibbs replied, tossing her his cell. She caught it and dialed Tony.

"DiNozzo."

"Hey Tony!" Abby said cheerfully, and Tony said,

"Hey Abbs. What's up?"

"Can you grab me a Caf-Pow and a bagel, toasted?"

"Sure. The usual?"

"You know it. Bye Tony, and thanks!"

"No problem, Abbs. Bye." They clicked off and she snuggled back down in Gibbs' arms.

"McGee downstairs?" She mumbled, and he nodded. "Too bad." She said with an evil grin, and Gibbs smiled but shook his head.

"I'm gonna grab a shower, Abbs." He said, kissing her and getting up. She called after him,

"Want some company?"

"Later." Gibbs countered, and Abby retorted,

"Have fun in your cold shower!" Gibbs just smiled and shut the bathroom door. She heard the shower run and got up, putting on and NIS shirt and a pair of shorts. She went downstairs and past a snoring McGee. She slipped downstairs and ran her hand over Gibbs' boat before hopping inside and laying down with a pillow before she heard footsteps and smelt her bagel.

"Abby." Gibbs called, and Abby sat up, replying,

"Right here." Gibbs smiled and shook his head, climbing up and sitting next to her, handing her a bagel and a cup of Caf-Pow.

They ate while Abby chattered on about her latest bowling tournament. When they finished, Gibbs lay back, pulling Abby with him. She snuggled into his arms, but after a few long moments Abby could feel Gibbs getting restless.

"I'm gonna go hang with the team. Have fun working on your boat," She kissed him softly and disappeared upstairs. Gibbs smiled as he sat up, Abby always knew how to read him. He began to work on his boat, thinking in depth about the man trying to kill Abby. Namely, Mikel Mawher.

As he worked, he spotted a piece of black paper lying on top of his TV set. Gibbs made his way over to it and picked it up. He scanned it and as his fury mounted, he crumbled it up and lobbed it in the trash.

He grabbed his gun and jogged up the stairs. With a slight wince he called, "I need some more sandpaper for my sander. Be back in a few hours." He started for the door as Abby caught up with him and said,

"Why?"

"The only store I go to. Mr. Hays Woodworking, it's a couple hours away. The best in the business." Gibbs said, remembering his rule: always be specific when you lie. Although he hated to lie to Abby.

"All right," Abby said quietly, knowing something was up with Gibbs, but figured she would talk to him when he got back and started working on his boat again. She leaned up and kissed him tenderly, and that kiss almost got him to confess everything and hold her close, but that wasn't going to happen. He couldn't let it happen.

"Hurry home." She whispered in her ear, and he broke down, a little, pulling her close, framing her face with his hands and saying softly,

"I love you, Abby." He knew that this could be the last time he'd see Abby and be able to tell her he loved her, so he had better take advantage of it.

She smiled and replied, "Love you too, Jethro." Gibbs smiled at the use of his first name again. With a quick kiss on her lips he was gone. As he sped away from the house, he agonized over having to lie to Abby, but it was better for her. This was something he needed to do, and something he needed to do on his own. Revenge was sweet, but only when you, and only you, administered it.

--

A few hours passed while Abby started playing charades with Tony, McGee and Ziva. As the hours crept by, Tony was doing a charade of Gibbs sanding his boat when Abby jumped up and dashed downstairs, followed by Ziva, Tony and McGee.

She threw the closet door open and said, "He's got tons of sandpaper." With that Tony and McGee began looking around while Abby hugged herself and whispered,

"He lied to me. Gibbs lied to me."

"For a good reason, I'm sure." Ziva said soothingly as she laid a hand on Abby's shoulder and dialed Gibbs, whose cell was off. Ziva swore in Hebrew as Tony found a crumbled up letter in the garbage and handed it to Abby. She read it out loud,

"Gibbs, how dare you steal my girl? Now it's time we meet, again. And for the final time. One of us will walk away, the other will die. It's that simple. You want to kill me, come to the old abandoned warehouse exactly 4 miles from D.C. Come alone, or else. But be prepared, I plan to kill you and then her. Tell no one. M."

Tony swore under his breath as he called Jenny and McGee ran outside to gas up the car. Ziva kept her hand on Abby's shaking shoulder as she whispered, "He's gone on a suicide mission, just to keep me safe."

"I'm sure…" Ziva began to say, when Abby burst out,

"The bastard!" Ziva was shocked, and so was Tony. Tony recovered fast, feeling the same way.

"Let's go, Abby I assume…"

"Hell yeah I'm going." Abby interrupted and the three ran upstairs and jumped into the car, with Ziva driving. Tony and McGee allowed her to drive because she would get them to the warehouse the fastest, and time was of the essence. Gibbs already had a few hours head start.

"We'll save him, Abbs." Tony muttered, as he was sitting in the back with Abby, his arm around her shaking shoulders.

"I hope so. I, I can't live without him, Tony, I just can't." Abby whispered, letting her vulnerable side show, which was a rarity.

"We'll get there." Ziva promised as she weaved in and out of traffic, hearing horns became a constant, though the federal plates kept any officers from pulling them over. They were used to Feds driving that fast.

Especially the ones that knew Ziva's car.

--

Tried to put some fluff in the beginning and some humor when it wasn't fluff anymore, so I hope you liked this chapter! Thanks so much for reading, and let me know what you thought of it! Adios for now!!!