Title: I'm Not Sorry (chapter 14)
Rating: M
Spoilers: none.
Disclaimer: NCIS doesn't belong to me. If it did, certain things would be different. :)
A/N: Thank you again to all reviewers
Three days had passed at NCIS; Gibbs was still on leave and Abby had not returned either. Although McGee was the one who said they should mind their own business, he had worried constantly, trying to figure out what was going on.
The fact that Abby disappeared – 'sick' according to the Director, but not answering her phone – at the same time as Gibbs had remained a thorn in the back of McGee's mind. It was a constant irritation which finally came to the surface.
"What if Abby's in trouble?" He blurted out his thoughts, looking around at the others with wide eyes.
"What are you talking about, McProbie?" asked DiNozzo, most of his attention directed to the BOLO he was typing.
"Abby didn't show up on Tuesday, right?"
"She was here but the Director sent her home sick," Ziva corrected.
"No one saw her, though, except Director Shepard. The point is that she hasn't been here since last Friday, other than possibly a short time on Tuesday after the 3-day weekend. Later on Tuesday, Gibbs went home on leave after some sort of confrontation with Director Shepard. What if there's a connection?"
"What if there is, McGee?" Gibbs sat down at his desk as usual, a smile playing around his lips.
"Uh – Boss – I, I'm sorry about that, I was just – "
"Worried," Ziva stated, earning a grateful glance from McGee. "Is everything all right?"
'All right?' he thought. 'Try fantastic!' He couldn't resist a real smile. "Well I'm back, aren't I?"
"Now I know something's wrong," DiNozzo muttered. "Gibbs is actually smiling."
He was saved from having to defend that remark by the 'ding' of the elevator. A familiar voice rang out. "Hey guys! Did you miss me?" Abby bounced towards them with a fair approximation of her usual vigor – a combination of vitamins, happiness and plenty of sleep in Gibbs' arms had greatly increased her energy level. McGee, DiNozzo, and Ziva welcomed her with hugs. To their surprise, Gibbs didn't move.
"Gibbs, Abby's back," Ziva pointed out.
"I know," he replied, still smiling.
Abby danced – there was no other way to describe it – towards him and he stood to embrace her, kissing her slowly and thoroughly. The team members stood frozen, unable to process what they were seeing.
"Everything okay downstairs?" Gibbs asked, his left arm around her waist as he brushed back a stray hair.
She made a face and groaned. "I hate strange people in my lab! They never put things back and they mess with my babies. Major Mass Spec was not happy." She sighed, laying her head lightly on his shoulder, one hand on his chest. "I guess I'd better get used to it though."
"Why?" asked McGee, finally getting his vocal folds to cooperate.
She turned to face them, her eyes shining. "Because in the summer I'll be out on maternity leave, McGee." She kissed Gibbs once more. "Be careful, Jethro," she whispered. With that she was gone, leaving Tim, Tony, and Ziva in shock. For several minutes they just stared, alternating between Gibbs and the elevator.
"What?" Gibbs almost yelled, the amusement in his eyes putting the lie to his gruff voice. "Don't you have work to do?"
"Yes, boss."
"On it, boss."
"Yes, Gibbs."
Above them, unnoticed, Director Shepard leaned on the balcony and smiled. "I'm proud of you, Jethro," she murmured to herself, before turning to enter her office.
A/N2: There will be one more "dusty" chapter. ;-)