Srsly, it wasn't that big of a cliff, guys. I could make it worse. Much… much worse ;) *off in search of evil hat...*

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No one noticed that Abby had rounded the corner in time to hear about Hollis, so she gave herself to the count of five before asking, "Gibbs, what's wrong?"

Rather than answer her question, Gibbs stepped around his desk and pulled her into a tight hug, a hand clutching the back of her neck, his nose pressed into her hair. "You're okay," he mumbled. "You're okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why? What's wrong?" Abby looked around at the rest of the team and then to Fornell before looking up at Gibbs. "What is it? Don't keep me out of the loop. Whatever it is, I need to know."

"This… what happened to us, it wasn't an accident. The driver… he was paid to do this to me, so I think…" Gibbs wasn't quite sure what to say. He didn't want Abby to freak out anymore than she already had.

Abby anticipated what he was trying to say so she finished his sentence for him. "You think you're still in danger."

"I… Yes. And so are you, as long as you're with me."

"I'm not leaving you, so don't even suggest it, Jethro." Abby folded her arms across her chest in protest. She thought he was crazy if he thought she was going to let him talk her into some witness protection program.

If the situation wasn't so serious he would've found her resolve rather comical. The fact that she called him 'Jethro' in front of everyone at work spoke volumes to how she felt. "I wasn't going to suggest anything, Abbs. You just need security."

"Oh."

Abby was filled in on the basic information that Fornell had dug up thus far... the bank info, the photos of Gibbs and his car, his usual work schedule. She found it slightly entertaining that everyone seemed to leave out one crucial bit of information out of their explanation: The arrival of Hollis Mann.

It wasn't until they were home again; the house searched and secured, a security team in place outside - that Gibbs tugged Abby down beside him on the couch. "Abby, I need to tell you something."

Abby snuggled against him, pressing her face against his chest. "Hollis Man is coming."

"How'd you…"

"I overheard Fornell say it this morning."

"You didn't say anything."

"I was waiting for you to tell me."

"Will you be okay with her around? You know that she and I finished a long time ago, you don't have to worry about… you know," Gibbs shrugged, "You know how much I love you."

"I know, I'm not thrilled, but I'll just hide out in my lab while you two solve the case so we can get back to our lives. Tony will keep me company. He doesn't like her either."

"You're much more tolerant that I would be."

"I have to be if I'm with you." Abby pulled back to grin at Gibbs before leaning forward for a kiss.

"Mm hmm." She started to pull away, but Gibbs' hand caught the back of her neck. He held her steady when he pressed forward into the kiss. He couldn't wait for his body not to ache. He wanted her, he wanted to prove his love, he wanted relearn every inch of her body, watch the way she squirmed under him and stretched over him. His fingers traced up her thigh and under her skirt until he felt the lacey edge of her thong.

"Gibbs!" Abby pulled away from the kiss and swatted his hand away. "You aren't well enough for that."

"I'll be fine Abbs, let's go to bed. Come on."

"We can go to bed, but we're just sleeping." Abby stood and held out her hand to pull him to his feet.

Gibbs followed her towards the stairs, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "But I want you, Abbs. I need you."

"You can have me when you don't still hurt. Come on, shirt off." Abby grabbed a bottle of oil that she was supposed to apply to the scars from surgery.

Gibbs detoured to the bathroom and then made his way to the bed, pulling his shirt off in the process. Abby sat beside him and gently smoothed the oil over the scars, already the red and irritated skin was starting to calm, and it looked much better than a few days prior when they left the hospital. Before heading to the bathroom to wash the oil from her hands, Abby leaned forward to press a kiss to his chest.

He was tucked under the covers by the time Abby returned. She pulled her shirt off, slipping one of Gibbs old shirt on, and then pulling a pair of shorts on. Her bruises had nearly faded, but the one on her hip and abdomen slightly distracted him from gazing at her pert breasts while she changed shirts.

"It doesn't hurt?"

Abby looked at Gibbs with a raised brow. "What doesn't hurt?" When Gibbs reached for her, Abby crawled towards him. When he raised her shirt a bit she understood. "Oh this bruise? No, not really. Not anymore. It's just slow to fade." Abby pulled her shirt back down over her hips and pulled the covers up around her as she snuggled into Gibbs' side. They had ended up switching sides of the bed, as Abby didn't want to accidently elbow him in the side where the new scars were. Gibbs hadn't been thrilled with the idea, he'd prefer to sleep between Abby and the door – for her safety, of course – but Abby had insisted with the threat of sleeping in the guest bedroom if he refused to switch.

Abby leaned up to kiss him twice before rolling back over to set the alarm clock on the night table.

With her back to him, Gibbs took advantage of her position and rolled over to his side and pulled her back to his chest. She giggled and struggled to set the alarm before relaxing into his hold.

"Gibbs, what are y-" Abby gasped when his rough hand pressed under the waistband of her shorts, pushing aside the fabric of her thong. "We can't… you're still…Gibbs!" Abby tried to wriggle free of his grasp, but once his fingers found their ultimate goal, she melted back against him.

"Shh, Abby. Let me do this for you." Gibbs whispered and then nipped at her earlobe.

"But what about…" Abby swallowed hard at his touch. "What about you?"

"I'm fine Abby. Let me do this. You need this as much as I need to touch you. I want to touch you. Please?"

It wasn't like she really had a choice. Although his grip was firm, she knew he'd stop if she really wanted him to, but this… she thought she'd never have this ever again. She thought she'd never feel his hands touching her, expertly working her body the way only he knew how. The faster his fingers worked, the faster the thoughts of losing him sped through her mind. When his thumb brushed over her clit and she came, Abby couldn't hold back the sob that escaped her.

Gibbs had been able to feel the tension roll through her body as he brought her closer to the edge, and he knew she needed to let it all go before she could move on. He continuously repeated how much he truly loved her as he worked her towards her climax and when he felt her pause momentarily before she cried out, he kissed her neck and pulled her tighter against his chest.

Abby couldn't control the sobs that wracked her body. She had nearly lost him. She had lost him, more than once both in the ER and during surgery. She could kick herself for having told him he could go be with his family, that she would be okay. She knew she wouldn't have made it, she figured she might have survived physically, but without him… she knew it wouldn't have taken long to waste away into nothing.

She struggled to open her eyes, to force herself to recognize that she was in her bedroom – their bedroom - with Gibbs, that he was okay, as the image of him edging towards death in the ER flooded her mind the minute her eyes drifted shut.

Slowly he felt her begin to relax in his arms. Her crying faded into an occasional sniffle, and only then did Gibbs slowly pull away.

"No, don't!" Abby was exhausted, but she made a grab for his shoulder as he moved away.

Gibbs saw it coming and grabbed her wrist, laying it back on the bed beside her. "Shh Abbs. It's okay. Let me just get a damp washcloth for you. I'll be right back." Gibbs kissed her lips, then the tip of her nose and then her forehead before easing from the bed and heading towards the bathroom. When he returned he helped Abby from her shorts and thong, and wiped her down with a damp cloth and then a dry one before sliding a fresh pair of panties on. He tossed the towels towards the hamper before gently sliding back into bed beside her and pulling her in. "You gonna be okay?"

Abby was half asleep, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, but she managed a quiet 'yeah' while pressing her face to his neck.

"I've got you, Abby. I've got you, and I won't let you go."

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TBC…

Not even a cliff-hanger. I must be getting soft…