I'm back with a new chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to my beta VG LittleBear and to KrisShannon for the nice review.

I don't own anything. The characters and the original episode story belong to CBS.

08x01 – Spider and the fly (2)

"Derryn, you stay with them. You Stay With Them."

Exhausted Gibbs left the elevator. Immediately he saw Derryn in front of the autopsy doors, who gave him a small nod.

"You can go home. The danger is over."

"Yes, sir. Good night."

"Good night."

The doors opened with a swish, and allowed Gibbs entry to autopsy. The only light in this room was the lamp on Ducky's desk. The medical examiner and the forensic scientist were sitting in chairs in front of the desk. From the loud snoring it was obvious that Ducky was asleep. Abby had laid her head on her arms on the desk, but she was awake. She looked towards the door when she heard it open, and jumped up when she recognized Gibbs.

"Gibbs!"

He opened his arms, and steeled himself for the coming crush. And she didn't disappoint him. Abby wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed him tight, but he didn't care. He closed his arms around her, and hid his face in her hair.

"I was so scared. What happened? Where is Alejandro? Is your father…?"

"It's over."

Surprised Abby pulled away from him, and looked at him with big eyes.

"It is really over? Like over over?

"Are there any other meanings of the word which I don't know?"

"No, I just… I just want to be sure."

"I assure you that Rivera will not touch you ever again."

"I would say that this means you got him," yawned Ducky.

"We did. He went to the safe house, and killed Paloma for us."

"So you won't go to jail, right?" Abby asked still with a little fear in her voice.

"No, I won't."

Happy, she squeezed him again.

"Does this mean that we can go home?" Ducky asked, and walked to his two friends.

"Yes Duck. You don't need protection anymore. Rivera will go to jail, because he murdered his sister. While he didn't intend to do so, it's proof that he intended to murder my father and me."

"Those are really good news."

Ducky grabbed his and Abby's jacket.

"Then I think that I will say good night for today."

Abby released the bossman, and took her jacket.

"Yeah, I think I will too."

"Oh, you will come with me," declared Gibbs.

"Why? You said we don't need protection anymore."

"I promised that I would bring you with me."

"Your father wants to see me?"

Gibbs just smiled secretly, and put his arm around her waist.

"You will see."

Of course she asked him like a million questions, while they drove to his house, but she had no chance. Not one word came over his lips. So when they entered the house she was skeptical. The first one she saw was Jackson Gibbs on the couch.

"Abby. How nice of you to visit us."

"Hi Jack."

She walked over to him, and gave him one of her famous hugs.

"Did you ask Gibbs to bring me?"

"That was me," a familiar voice said behind her.

Surprised Abby turned around, and watched as Mike Franks walked into the living room.

"Mike!"

She threw her bag on the ground, and ran to her friend. Smiling he opened his arms, and she threw herself in his arms. Franks stumbled a few steps back, while trying not to fall. Gibbs helped his mentor. He took his arm, and pulled him to Abby. Franks gave him a thankful nod.

"Hey kiddo. The probie told me that you were worried because of me. I'm flattered that you care about me that much."

"Of course I care about you. You are my friend. Since when are you here?"

"Hm. A few days, I guess."

Suddenly Abby stiffened. Slowly she pulled away a bit, and looked him in the eyes.

"You've been here, in Gibbs' house, for days?"

"Yes."

"You knew it?"

Abby stepped out of Frank's arms, and walked to Gibbs', who put his gun away.

"You knew it, and you didn't tell me?"

Abby was angry, and Franks noticed it too. Quickly he grabbed Abby's arm, but she shrugged him off.

"Why did you do this?"

Tears had built up in her eyes, and everyone heard that her voice nearly broke. Sighing Gibbs turned to his favorite forensic scientist.

"Abs, I couldn't tell you, because Rivera and Paloma had to believe that Mike was dead."

"You could have told me! I never would have told him! Never!"

"Abs, you already knew too much. I didn't want you in this any further."

"So instead you let me mourn for him? I thought he was dead, Gibbs! Dead!"

This was the time when her tears rolled down her cheeks. Gibbs took a step towards her, but Abby stepped back. Her problem was that Mike was standing behind her, and he pushed her forward, so she stumbled in Gibbs' arms, who pulled her tight against him.

"I'm sorry," murmured he "I thought it was the best for you. I know that you wouldn't have told anyone, but I needed you out of this."

He rubbed his hand up and down her back, until he got a small nod from her. Then he pulled back a little, just so far that he could see her face, and cradled it in his hands. He brushed away her tears with his thumb.

"Why don't you sit with Mike and my father on the couch, while I make us dinner?"

He got another nod, and he rewarded her with a soft kiss on her forehead. When Franks put his arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the couch, she didn't protest.

"I will help you with dinner," said Jack, and followed his son to the kitchen.

Abby put her arms around Franks, and cuddled against him.

"You know that he loves you and that he just wants to protect you, do you?" Franks murmured quietly.

"Yes."

"Good. This case was hard for him. He never wanted any of you involved in this, and that you got pulled into this that deep… well, he really didn't like it."

"I know. I really do. And I understand his reasons. If I would have been in his position I probably would have done the same. But it is still hard."

Sighing, Abby relaxed into the cushions, and listened as Mike told her about his escape, and recuperation in Mexico, while the Gibbses pulled a meal together.