Disclaimer: Do not own 'em

A/N: One or two more chapters after this one (?) and this chapter is very sad, or so I think… Read. Enjoy. Review.

Part XIII:

It was the day both of them had been dreading the whole time, Sunday morning. Gibbs woke up in the guest bedroom and buried his face into his pillow. The clock had read nine, which meant his flight left in four hours. He got down to the family room and Abby was sitting on the couch. One glance at her, and he wanted to stay but he knew he had to get back to D.C. He was supposed to meet Stephanie and the lawyers Tuesday to finally finalize the divorce. He had pushed the lawyers to the breaking point to get it pushed through faster than the usual fast. He set his bag down near the foot of the stairs and walked over and sat down next to her on the couch. Her immediate reaction was to scoot over and curled up against him.

"Abbs," He said simply.

"Gibbs," she reciprocated snuggling up closer to him, placing her head on his chest as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

They snuggled in silence for a few minutes. Abby just loved listening to his heart beat while he ran his fingers through her hair, which wasn't yet up in pigtails for the day. It was in these moments that she realized all he would have to do would be to ask her to come back with him, and she would. Though, she knew he wouldn't he knew she wanted to stay and help Wade and her mom. Gibbs in turn realized that all Abby would have to do was ask him to stay and he would, but he too knew she wouldn't say anything. She knew how much he loved NCIS and wouldn't ask him to stay. No matter how much she did want him to.

"Hey," said Wade solemnly as he walked into the room and he picked up Gibbs's bag, "I'll just get this in your car for you."

Gibbs nodded in approval as he pulled Abby closer to himself and held her there. They stayed just as close for as long as they possibly could. Then, suddenly the grandfather clock went off signaling noon, and Gibbs knew he had to go. He made a motion to get up, and Abby sat up straight beside him. He turned to look at her and he could see the tears forming in her eyes. He lifted a hand and gently wiped them away before they even had a chance to fall.

For s small, perfect minute, their eyes met. Abby knew had she been standing. As his eyes penetrated hers, her knees would've buckled and she would've melted to the floor. Gibbs then used one gentle hand to angle her chin up and then leaned slowly towards her. His lips made a soft a sweet contact with hers and he placed a hand on the back of her neck for support as the kiss deepened. Then, he pulled softly away and pressed his forehead to hers. Both set of eyes closed in euphoria absorbing the moment, and then it was over, he stood up and then turned to help her off the couch.

"Walk me to my car," He said in almost a whisper, it wasn't a demand, more of a request, and she nodded.

Both of them dragged their feet through the dining room and to the foyer, and then out the door onto the driveway. Gibbs's rental sat gleaming in the driveway, and in the moment, Abby just wanted to set it on fire. He brought her by the hand over towards the driver's side door then pinned her up against the car, extracting one last kiss good bye from her lips.

"I love you, Abbs," He whispered softly as he pulled away and stepped back to admire her.

"I love you too," She managed to get out before stepping aside and allowing him to get into the car.

Abby watched him drive away for as long as she could stand it. Then, as she felt another tear roll down her cheek, she turned abruptly and went back inside. She walked through the door and sat down in the chair that sat near the coat rack. Growing up she had never figured out why there was a chair there. Now however she knew its exact purpose as the tears were falling fast and hard.

Gibbs on the other hand, in a showcase of all his self control, didn't allow himself to even think of Abby until he was on the plane, safely up in the air. On the way to the airport he didn't even allow himself to stop, because he knew if he did, there would be no way of stopping himself from driving full speed back to Abby. Which is exactly what he wanted to do, go back to Abby. However, he knew he would go stir crazy if he stayed in that town longer than a couple days.

As he looked out the window and looked down at the clouds he started to laugh. He had finally found her, the woman he could legitimately see himself spending the rest of his life, and he was leaving without her. He could easily classify this as the stupidest thing he had ever done. However, somehow he could justify it to himself. He was meeting with Stephanie and their lawyers in a month. He had annoyed the lawyers enough to make them want to push through the papers as soon as possible.

He finally allowed himself to reflect on the few days he had spent with Abbs down there, and what was waiting for him when he got back to work the next day. He hated the idea that he was going to be returning to an Abby-less work. He frowned as the pilot came over the intercom.

"We're beginning our descent," said the pilot's calm voice, "Please buckle up and stay in your seats. We'll be landing shortly."

This announcement didn't mean much to him except that sad little fact of he was just farther away from where he wanted to be, with Abbs. He exited the plane, and his phone was immediately ringing in his pocket. He whipped out the cell phone as he walked out of the airport.

"Yeah? Gibbs," He answered and he suddenly heard Marrow's voice in his ear.

"How was your break?" said Marrow.

"Eventful," Replied Gibbs shortly, not wanting to get into the details.

"Oh," replied Marrow and then he continued, "I called because we have a Staff Sergeant who went missing a couple hours ago, we just got the call, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind coming in."

"Nope," said Gibbs.

"I have a few new staff personally that you need to meet, c'mon straight up to the office," said Marrow nonchalantly.

Gibbs grunted in approval and closed his phone. One of the newbies would most definitely be Abby's temp; Marrow had agreed to hire a temp for a while to give Abby some time. Gibbs went into the parking garage and retrieved his car; he was in the director's office within the half hour.

"Ah, good of you to join us, Agent Gibbs," Director Marrow greeted him as he walked in, and he made a small smile in return, as though he were glad to be there, "I'm sorry to inform you that Agent Fortenger's reserve unit was called up when you were gone. Now, this, is Agent DiNozzo he just got called up from a police unit in Philly. And this is Miss Sciuto's temp, Marisol, she will be filling in until we get a straight answer from her."

At that moment Gibbs noticed the tall, cocky, brown haired man, and a short woman with a light blue pants suit on. Gibbs gave them a little nod and then Marrow dismissed them. Gibbs and Tony split with Marisol, and Gibbs led Tony to their area of the squad room.

"Your desk," said Gibbs gruffly as he pointed to the desk across the small aisle where you would walk.

"Thanks," said DiNozzo as he eagerly put his bag down beside the desk.

"I have lots of rules, I don't expect you to remember them, but I do expect you to follow them," Gibbs said angrily as Tony came over to his desk, and spilled his coffee all over the floor, "Rule number twenty – three never mess with a marine's coffee if you want to live."

"I'll clean this up and get you a new one then," said Tony and Gibbs nodded.

"Yep, you will, I'll be down in autopsy, bottom floor," said Gibbs realizing quickly that Ducky was the only one who knew he had gone to Louisiana to find Abby, and he wasn't really in the talking mood, then again he never was unless he was with Abbs.

He walked sadly down into the autopsy room, where Ducky was standing over an old body's charts from a six year old cold case.

"Ah, Jethro," said Ducky spinning around to see him enter.

"I don't really want to talk, Duck," said Gibbs as he sunk into a chair beside Ducky.

"No need Jethro, I spoke to Miss Sciuto a few minutes ago," said Ducky, "I called her when Marrow told me you would be returning today, and without Abigail."

"Tell me what to do, Duck," said Gibbs putting his head into his hands and Ducky just shrugged.

"I have no words of wisdom here, Jethro," said Ducky solemnly, "You two are going to have to work this one out for yourselves."