"McGee! Where are we?"

"Boss, I've tried everything…I don't know where---"

"I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT!"

Everyone on the floor stopped and turned, silence overcame the area as they stared at the two men. No one moved for fear of breaking whatever spell was over them all.

McGee, surprisingly, stayed quiet then nodded in agreement and understanding, since he knew how hard the toll from Abby's abduction was taking on them all. Sitting back down at his computer he resolved himself once more to do nothing short of finding his friend.

Gibbs, on the other hand made much more noise as he slumped into his chair, sighed and ran his hands over his face. A few moments later he looked back up at his team, realizing that it wasn't just him that felt her absence; therefore, he did something highly uncharacteristic…

"I'm sorry."

No one asked him to repeat his words, nor did they comment on how rare it was for him to say. Grateful for this, Gibbs found himself staring at each member of his family. Tony, he noticed had gone with as little amount of sleep as he had since this entire endeavor had began; proving his assumption was the continuously growing 5 o'clock shadow on his normally shaved face…as well as the redness in both of his eyes. Ziva, who had been with the team the shortest amount of time, nervously tapped her pen against her desk as she followed up with surrounding LEO's. And finally, McGee…Gibbs knew that his connection to Abby was very deep; deep enough to survive a break up yet remain best friends…his desk, which usually was clear of clutter, was filled with empty coffee cups and Caf!Pows. He face was pained and tight with worry as he continued to feverously type on his keyboard.

Noting that his tension was only adding to the stress on the others, Gibbs muttered something about getting a cup of real coffee and descended down in the elevator.

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"I will never, no matter what you do to me, give you an answer to that question. Hit me, torture me, yell at me all you want…my feelings are MINE! And that, Henry…Dan…whoever you are, is THE TRUTH!"

Her pulse accelerated as she noted the fury in his eyes, and though she was proud of herself she couldn't help but wonder what would be next. What seemed like hours later, she was put off guard by watching him turn his back on her and storming out of the room.

Abby took the opportunity to further explore her surroundings. The, what looked like, four-posted full size bed across the room from her was covered in a comforter which held pale yellow and stark white flowers in the design. Various pillows were piled on top of the bed, making it appear homey and thus leaving a false sense of security within whoever inhabited the room. Next to the bed was a small dark-wooded night stand; bare except for the tiny yellow lamp which sat on it. Closer to her was a large bookcase that held, at her count, at least fifty porcelain dolls.

"Ick, freaky!"

She struggled against her bonds, against the drugs he had given her, and against her own guilt for thinking that some small part of her allowed this to happen. Shaking away the newly formed tears, she resolved not to let him win again.

Every part of her felt on fire, as if suddenly the room had transported into what others called "hell". Her fury overrode everything else…the terror and fear numbed, the guilt and self-doubt faded away, the care for her loved ones became less…nothing mattered to her. Nothing that is, except for surviving this.

Knowing she had no other choice, Abby reached within her inner most depths and recalled her hidden anger. Anger that she, instead of her parents, had been blessed with the sense of hearing. Anger at the other bullies she came across while in school; picking on those less able to fight back. Anger at having to experience pain at a young age. Anger at people who made obscene comments about her choice of clothing. Anger at those who tried to hurt her "family": Tony, Ziva, McGee, Ducky, and worst of all…Gibbs.

The moment her mind recalled his name, she felt as if her world turned right-side up again. Her heart beat faster at the thought of his face. Her mind ran into over-drive as she recalled the feeling of his lips on her cheek…and then more recently, on her sensitive breasts. Everything came back to her, as if she was watching their lives on a TV screen.

ABBY: I cut myself today installing a graphics card in my computer.
GIBBS: Okay? You want me to kiss it or something?
ABBY: That'd be really nice, but it's not my point.

She remembered what it was like to feel his warm breath on her freshly cut finger…

GIBBS: You tell Abby I want her.
ABBY: Oh Gibbs, I never knew!

She recalled the amused look on his face as she rode in on the cart.

GIBBS: I'd hate to start smacking you like I do DiNozzo.
ABBY: You wouldn't. You would?
GIBBS: It won't be on the head.

She shivered as she counted the number of times she got off from that conversation alone.

GIBBS: No one is going to hurt you, Abby.
ABBY: You're just saying that to make me feel better.
GIBBS: Did it?
ABBY: Yeah. Can you say it again?
GIBBS: Nobody is going to hurt you, Abs.

The sense of security…not in the parental-type, but the macho 'I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you' type…came rushing back to her. Along with the smell of his unique scent as he pulled her into a hug.

GIBBS: Not bad for a blonde.
ABBY: You know, there's no statistical evidence that say blondes have lower I.Q.s than any other hair color.
GIBBS: I'll take your word for it, Abs.
ABBY: There's more, if you're interested, Mister President.

'If he only knew', she thought as she re-saw the dangerous gleam in his eyes. She had known she was playing with fire when she arrived at HQ that night; yet at the same time she was thrilled at the prospect of his reaction.

Gibbs: "You're my favorite."

The last memory, the one when his warm breath caressed her face as his words made her heart flutter…that was when she knew. And just like that, she not only hoped for, but looked forward to her captor's next visit. Briefly she wondered if anyone else would question 'why', but she dismissed this as she did her depression. Because now…now, she knew what she would do.

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