Dedicated to STLFAN for making me lol irl with the witty comment
And for the really nice comment! Thanks, you guys!
Abby tried to fall back asleep, and after 30 minutes of frustrated tossing and turning, she finally slipped into another nightmare.
"I'm sorry, Abby, but you should have listened." Gibbs said, tossing his luggage onto a boat.
"I will listen, Gibbs! I promise!" She cried. "I won't drink any more caffeine, and I won't bother you, I'll even play my music quieter! Just please, don't leave!" He held her arms to her sides to stop her from hugging him. He kissed her forehead and turned back to the boat. She ran after him, tugging his jacket and even locking her arms around his legs. "Please, Gibbs, please." Instead of watering the ground, her tears withered the plant life they fell on. She was begging with an unresponsive Gibbs when Mike Franks appeared on the boat's deck.
"Dammit, Probie! She's even worse than your lady-Director! Want some help?" Mike raised a Sig Sauer and pointed it at Abby. He pulled the trigger and she woke up. The blankets were tangled around her legs, and she was covered in a cold sweat. Her pillow was tangibly moist and she was breathing hard. Gibbs knocked lightly before entering and sitting next to her on the bed. When he felt her forehead for a fever, she began to sob. He gently pulled her onto his lap and freed her feet from the blankets.
"I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry, Gibbs. I'm s-so so s-sorry. I'll n-never scare you like th-that again." She clung to him, and he rubbed her back while she slowly calmed down.
"You alright, Abs? I've never seen you so emotional. Not even when Kate died."
"I'll be fine." She strode to the bathroom.
"Abby, ignoring this is not going to make it better." He followed.
"I'm not ignoring it, I'm fixing it." She began to apply makeup, so he leaned against the doorframe.
"How are you fixing it? Maybe I can help."
"You don't need to help."
"Yes, I do."
"Well, you really can't help."
"I can't help?"
"Not that I don't want you to, I really wish you could help, I just need an attitude adjustment."
"An attitude adjustment?"
"Yes. I'm going to simply be happy that you're here and then when you go back to Mexico I'll have more memories to remember. I don't want to just remember crying, Gibbs. Why would I want to remember that? I never cry, never ever ever. Well, I guess it's not never ever ever anymore, since I've been crying so much lately, but hardly ever."
"Abby, you don't need an attitude adjustment." He set his hands on her shoulders. "I'm not going back to Mexico. We discussed this, remember? I'm staying here, with you. I've retired, so I can live off the money the Navy sends me, and savings."
"You promise you're not leaving?" He looked into her guarded eyes. They had never been like that before. Even when she had nearly been killed, her eyes had always been wide and innocent. You could almost see into her soul, back then. Now she was cautious, wary of the man who had hurt her.
"Abigail Scuito, I swear to you on the graves of Shannon and Kelly, I will never leave as long as you need me." Her eyes cleared an instant before she took his breath away. He allowed her to hug him as long as she needed, and he hugged her back, breathing shallowly. When she released him, he slowly took in a lungful of air. She noticed, and grinned while wiping her eyes. "Anything you feel like doing today?"
"Not really. You?"
"Nope." He grinned. "We keep having this problem. I need to run a few errands. Have lunch without me, ok?" He kissed her forehead before leaving. He grinned as he heard her sigh and flop onto the bed. He drove quickly to the local music store, and spent hours finding the right song and getting it on cassette. The kid behind the counter kept trying to get him to buy a CD player, but Gibbs was firm. In the end he got his cassette, for a small labor fee (the kid charged him 5 bucks extra to play the song on a CD and record it to a cassette). Gibbs put up with it for his Abby. As he pulled into the driveway, he felt slightly nervous. Leaving Abby alone hadn't been a good idea lately. He slipped the cassette into his back trouser pocket. There were no alcohol or caffeine containers in the kitchen, and he found Abby lying on his bed, bopping out to her music player. He could almost hear the words from the doorway even though she was wearing headphones. He tapped her shoulder and signed 'Your ears are broken.' In reply, she stuck out her tongue, but did turn the volume down and take out one ear phone to listen to him.
"What's up, Gibbs?"
"Come on downstairs, I want to show you something."
"Is it the saw-horse bench?" She bounced off the bed excitedly. He didn't respond, just lead her to the basement and slipped the cassette in the player. He pushed some junk out of the way and hit the 'play' button. He set Abby's arms on his shoulders, placing his hands on her waist. "Gibbs, I can't slow-dance!" She giggled.
"Okay." He slid his socked feet under hers. "Listen." The opening chords of the song moved to the first verse.
You with the sad eyes But I see your true colors Show me a smile then, And I'll see your true colors
Don't be discouraged
Oh, I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow
"Oh, Gibbs." Abby whispered as they moved around the room. He felt his shirt getting wet from her tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but began trying to dance along. She stumbled a bit at first, but he supported her weight and soon she set her feet on the floor. They danced until the end of the song. "Oh, Gibbs." She whispered again as the sound faded away.
"You understand, now, Abs?" He asked gently.
"Yeah. I get it." She smiled shakily. "That's beautiful, Gibbs." He responded by signing 'That's my girl.' on her face. She hugged him tightly. They had a quick informal dinner of spaghetti and canned sauce before saying goodnight. "Back to work tomorrow."
"You ready? I think we're annoying Jen, leaving in the middle of the day so much."
"I've got this. As long as you're here, I'll be fine."
"I'll always be here, Abs." They hugged and parted to their separate bedrooms.
~A/N: song is True Colors by Cyndi Lauper~