***I want to personally thank all who have given their promise of prayer and support to me…

KellyRoxton: thanks, I will write you when I need a shoulder to cry on.

LadyWriter29: you have already shown such great support to me, I can't thank you enough! You are awesome, lady!!

Mookie17: coming from an accomplished writer, your praise is high indeed, and the encouraging words are a balm to the soul…thank you.

ZivaDiNozzo: you have been an incredible encourager from the moment you first reviewed…thank you for all your words of praise. You have good taste too! Ziva and DiNozzo had better be an item this season!!!

Gibbs4Eva: I am so sorry about your health scare. I do hope you are well today, PM me so we can talk if you wish to. I don't like to pry.

Good Sir Knight: You are my laugh guru! If a laugh a day would keep the doctor away, then I would be cured tomorrow! Keep up the wonderful (and quite colorful) PM's, and count them toward a Master's in Pharmacology degree…lol You are a joy to have as a friend and colleague here on FF…and in Oz…

Ascifigirl: thanks for reviewing, and thank you for commenting so encouragingly to someone you are not familiar with. You touched my heart. I appreciate the words and the intent behind them.

Kayla Smiley: Thank you for sharing your health scare also, it helps knowing there are others out there who have gone through the same thing, and regardless the outcome, found that strength comes when you need it. From God, from family, from close friends, and sometimes...if you're really lucky...from wonderful people like all of you. Thanks! The PM invite is open.

**Whew! Thanks for letting me get that off my proverbial chest. I don't like to be long-winded before the start of a chapter, but I could not let that opportunity pass by. Now all of you on FF will know what special, special people are here. In spite of what one small-minded group of people tried to tell me in another forum...

Time is ticking away for our brother and sister psycho-team! Jethro is feeling sorry for himself again...let's give some nice, encouraging reviews to make him feel better!!

Not long now...ass whoopage is becoming imminent...and Gibbs is working up a bit of nice, healthy rage...

***Votes are in...counts are tallied! Go to my profile page and click on the poll to see the final result and the sex of Gabby Baby! YOU made it happen!!!!!***

Chapter 25

5 hours before final showdown

Abby

Abby had fallen asleep again, when she awoke it was to see the larger man sitting so still, so silent…staring at her. She hated these moments, times of sudden awakenings, finding him gazing so…intensely, so focused…as though boring holes clean through to her soul, seeking to own her. At first, finding him thus, she would plead, demand…cry and scream. All to no avail, for he would sit…impervious…sentinel to some quixotic seed within, awaiting it's birth with religious fervor. He remained unmovable, by pity, compassion, anger or wrath…he simply was as still and silent as the grave. And so, he took on an otherworldly air…was he real, or phantom? She did not know, but he scared the hell out of her.

Gibbs

4 hours before final showdown

The tactical team and S.W.A.T. were soon at base and up to speed. It was a hostage situation, and one of their own was involved, even Jethro knew when to pick and choose his battles. As soon as possible, after Vance's death, the General had seen to it personally that there was someone was "large and in charge". Fortunately for Abby's sake, the team, and even Jethro it was someone he was comfortable dealing with. Former NIS Agent Mike Franks was surprised as hell when he picked up the phone…then, instead of telling the General just where he could shove his pretty stripes…he'd said yes.

Mike soon got into his comfort zone and started everyone hopping. "I don't know what the HELL you thought you were pullin' here, probie…but this case is for shit! If we were back in 'Nam, I'd skin you alive for such sloppy fucking work!! My God, if we can't save that sweet little girl because of your inept…"

Tony felt rage bubble beneath the surface. "Sir…if I may speak?"

"And you! It was your pansy-assed fault one of our best agents nearly got herself skewered by some sick psychotic whore. Well, gentlemen…lets fix this before we have to plan one of YOUR funerals…" with that happy thought, he stomped out.

Tim felt the air returning to his lungs…for precious seconds he'd been holding it…hoping like hell the man didn't notice him and start yelling. "That was constructive…" he said, hoping to sound as though he were on their side, while secretly giving himself high fives for not totally pissing off his new boss on the first day. Two pair of piercing eyes turned, and he felt the temperature in the room chill to freezing in seconds.

"Uh…I'll just go see if Ziva needs anything…" he stammered before bolting right past her amused figure and out the conference room doors.

"Look, Boss, you did everything you could…" Tony began.

"He's right." The quiet defeat in Gibbs voice brought Tony to an abrupt halt. "I screwed up royal. I should have realized early on that Hollis needed help…I knew something was off, and what did I do? I ran away, just like always…" Bitterness crept in, hovered, and settled. "I always fucking run away…"

Tony drew in his breath to argue, then caught Ziva's eye. At the negative shake of her head, his shoulders slumped, and he left…quietly closing the door.

3 hours before final showdown…

I lay and watch her sleep, the woman that has held me captive for so long now. I finally feel free, free to love another woman. With tonight's sacrifice, the gods shall be pleased to grant me her heart…my Abigail.

My thoughts drift back to the simpler times, before trouble came…before HE came. The day my mother married him, Hollis and I knew…we knew that he would be the end of our happy existence…that our mother would choose HIM over us. And so she did, just a few weeks after our fifth birthday. Ahh…I remember our birthday well…for I had such intimate knowledge stored up in my mind from perusing the neighbor's collection of "reading materials" that I simply HAD to share it with Hollis!

Sweet, lovely Hollis…our neighbor wanted HER…but he was well pleased with me, we look astonishingly alike…and a mouth is a mouth… I however, I have no such intentions. I would have my Hollis and none other…

I shocked her when our lips first touched, but she was accustomed to pleasing me in all things. When the thunder outside rattled the windows, she jumped within the circle of my arms, and I smiled. I asked then…would she like to hold the thunder, and feel the power of the lightning? For, I told her…I held both in my hands. At her tremulous nod, I began to touch her.

That night, we explored much of what I had learned while under the tutelage of our dear neighbor. I brought tears of joy to her eyes as she passed from childhood to womanhood before my very eyes. Our bodies were young and inexperienced, but our souls were old…and we knew that we were destined to be together forever.

After our mother and her husband caught us in her room, I persuaded her to run away with me. We could stay together, and no one would stop us. I had taken the rifle from our step-dad's gun case, and we silently went down to the back patio room. Bracing ourselves, we strolled in…head's up, and faced them together…my love and I. I'll never forget the look on their faces when I aimed. Amusement on my step-father's…rage on my mother's. She reached out…and casually back handed Hollis, causing her lip to split…and bleed. Then she called her a two-bit whore and said we should have never been born at all.

Through all of this, Hollis just stood…stock still and white, with a red stain shaped like a hand on her cheek. Rage bubbled within me and I raised the weapon site to my eye. A flicker of unease passed over "daddy's" face before the blast took it clean off. A high pitched squeal…much like a pig's…made my ears ring. I quickly spotted her in my sights as she stared in horrified shock at the mess that was once her handsome husband.

"Your turn…Bitch" I snarled in my best five year old voice, before obliterating her. Hollis stood motionless throughout, still holding to her goddamned cheek. I grabbed the butcher knife that I'd already hidden beneath the enormous potted palm behind me and pressed it into her icy fingers. Giving her a push of encouragement, I sat back to watch my creation in work. It didn't take her long…before we were done, the floor, the chairs, and we…were all soaked with their blood.

I was never more proud of my twin, than at that very moment.