Chapter 38

Étienne smiled at Fornell. "Tu dois te calmer maintenant Tobias " (You must calm down now Tobias) You are going to make your self ill." Tobias looked down at the floor, his jaw hurt from clenching his teeth.

"If I'm ill as you say , it's because of you ! You criminal !" His face was flushed and his fists were clenched as he shouted.

Étienne looked at Fornell with his eyebrow raised. His face had otherwise become flat and expressionless. He was wary and backed up 2 steps taking Abby with him by grasping her upper arm. His blue eyes were ice cold.

"What do you seek Tobias?" Étienne's voice was clipped and low.

"Some justice you Ass! There aren't any consequences for you! You just go around doing what the fuck you want, to whoever the fuck you want, whenever the fuck you want! You kill people, you blow shit up! You have no conscience. People and stuff don't mean anything to you!"

Étienne's eyes narrowed and if possible became even colder. Abby started to step forward, but Étienne's arm swept her behind him. He had positioned himself with his left foot forward and his side toward Fornell.

Abby tried to go around him again without success. Étienne had loosed his arm from Abby and Mike came forward and drew her back to the doorway with him. Mike recognized the transformation of the encounter from one of confrontation to one of extreme danger. Mike felt that despite Fornell's long friendship with Gibbs, the current circumstances and pressures that had been placed on Toby had forced him to his limits. Mike was certain that right now Tobias had lost track of the fact it was Étienne standing in front of him, not Gibbs. He stepped forward both hands palms out.

"Alright you two, enough is enough! Y'all have gone too far! You're friends for Heaven's sake! Take a breath and back off!"

Fornell stared at Mike and panted through his teeth. Étienne did not move and just continued to watch Fornell. Fornell pointed a finger at Étienne.

"See that? See that? That's what I mean! Look at him! He's not human! He doesn't give a shit about anybody or anything!"

Mike glanced at Étienne and then back at Fornell. Mike saw a cobra waiting to explode in Étienne.

"I see a man waitin' to see if he has to defend himself and his wife. What're you seein'?" Mike said angrily with disparaging gesture. He stepped between the two men.

"I see a killer, a man without a conscience like I said!"

Mike looked over his shoulder at Étienne. He scowled fiercely.

"You plannin' on killing Tobias? I know you got your own kind of honor, so I'm gonna get an honest answer. If ya are, I got plans to make. Bodies ain't so easy to lose in this neck of the woods."

"Only if he attacks me or mine." Étienne did not move. His voice was calm and empty. His stance remained relaxed at first glance, but everyone in the room knew it was not so. Mike remained between the two.

"Go get some fresh air Toby." Mike said with a toss of his head toward the door. Fornell shook his head angrily and looked as if he were going to speak.

"Go get lost and keep your mouth shut if ya know what's good for you." Mike said with equal anger. Étienne turned his icy stare back to the FBI agent. Tobias went wide eyed, and pale. He saw his own death there in ice blue eyes. Toby turned and went out the door.

Abby sat thoughtfully in her bed twiddling her thumbs rapidly and biting her lower lip in agitation. She was waiting to see which man would be coming to her bed, Gibbs or Étienne. If it was Gibbs, she would talk with him about what happened this evening. If it was Étienne, she had some questions for him about events. She also was not sure exactly what it was she wanted to know. Did she really want to know the paths he had had to follow to reach this end? From the explosion to now? If she did, would she be able to look into his eyes and still feel the same way about him/them? She loved the man, both men! She wanted a future with them! Her son… his love for his father was endless. It was definitely returned and then some. Abby buried her face in her hands.

She feared some kind of prosecution for him. No for them! How could they go about prosecuting a man whose dichotomy in personality often prevented one aspect from knowing the behavior of the other? Jethro had told her that sometimes he knew, as if from a dream what had happened while he was not in control. The doctors had told her it was not a form of insanity. Instead it had been a defense mechanism, reinforced over and over by his imprisonment and torture. He was more than functional. He certainly didn't need a psychiatric hospitalization.

She found both aspects of Jethro to be loving and worthy of her love. She knew Gibbs had been an effective agent for NCIS, using subterfuge and ruthlessness as needed to accomplish his goals. Étienne was an extension and an exaggeration of traits already present in Gibbs. Both men had unshared experiences however. They had indeed become their own persons over time. They both loved her without reservation. Of that one thing she was absolutely certain.

Abby rearranged her position into the Lotus position and closed her eyes. After following a pattern of deep breathing she felt her mind and body reach a state of complete relaxation. Slowly, after drifting in her state of mindlessness for a period of time (she was never sure how long she stayed in such a state), she began to see a point of light move toward her. After an unknown period of time she saw Jethro at their wedding. Just a snapshot in time. It was quickly replaced with one of Étienne, with the wind blowing through his hair on the Eiffel Tower, and a half smile on his face. The pictures became superimposed on one another. She began to sort through other pictures in her mind, one after another, without emotion. The first time Jethro had kissed her. The wildly passionate encounter with Étienne on his stairs. Her meditation continued, clarifying her focus and slowly bringing her emotions into her awareness.

The grayness began to recede and she began to become aware of her surroundings. She heard voices that gradually became clearer. Mike, Étienne's accented English. Her next awareness was smell. She smelled lemon oil and her own perfume mixed with a clear, clean scent and men's cologne that she associated with Jethro.

Slowly she stretched her limbs and her spine. Reaching above her head to stretch she became aware she was not alone. She inhaled and turned her head with a big smile.

"Hi Honey. How are you?"

With a look of concern Jethro looked back at her. "It's more important for me to know how you are."

She frowned a little and he reached out and with his thumb rubbed the line between her eyes. Then she smiled, shifted her position and slipped her arms around his neck. She slipped her fingers into his silky hair, enjoying herself and pulling his lips to her own.

"Is that a good answer?" she said smiling when she drew back.

Gibbs gave her a crooked smile back. He looked rueful, but he pulled her closer.

"Well, after all that's happened, I figured there could be hell to pay."

"Really…well I've decided I'm keeping you. Both of you."

They kissed again, longer this time. Abby gazed lovingly into blue eyes that had darkened with passion.

"Well, the way I look at it that means I'm a very lucky man!" His voice was lower and husky. He leaned into her and caught her mouth again.

Just as Jethro settled Abby more into the bed and lay down beside her, they heard a voice calling up the stairs.

"They're all gone. I'm lockin' the door to this house. Just warning ya. I'm goin' home where I belong."

Abby answered him while arching her head back so Jethro could lick and suck her neck.

"Thanks for everything Mike! Night!"

Abby guided Jethro back to her mouth. She could kiss him forever. When she drew back she pushed him over onto his back and began covering his face with kisses. When she began to nibble on his throat while unbuttoning his shirt he began to laugh.

"G'me me a second! I can get things off for ya!"

Abby pulled back and posed seductively. "Really? Let's see."

Narrowing his eyes at her he left the bed in a blur. His clothes began to fly around the room. Abby clapped her hands laughing as he poised next to the bed.

"I think you have too many clothes on lady." he growled.

She giggled and flung her arms out. "I think the view is mighty fine from here. Impressive in fact!"

His body was a complete turn on for her. She found him beautiful from handsome face and striking eyes all the way down. His muscles were defined, his 6 pack was apparent. Slim hips, defined legs, powerful arms and chest. His erection was firm, long and pulsing. Abby turned quickly onto her stomach and before Jethro could grab her she was on him. His fingers slid into her hair and his head fell back with a groan. His hips moved without his awareness. The moment began to come too quickly. Jethro pulled her head back from him. Abby met his slit eyed gaze. He shook his head no to her.

"Not now." he growled. "I want more." Abby's face was flushed as she nodded.

Jethro pulled her up out of the bed against him. With his mouth firmly attached to hers, he cupped her buttocks and pulled her against his pulsing erection and ground his hips into her. Abby moaned into his mouth and grasped his shoulders. She wasn't sure when her clothes disappeared. She was only aware of her need becoming desperate. She was so empty, so empty. Speech was beyond her and she gripped Jethro's head as he suckled her breasts. When his mouth returned to hers he rolled her left nipple and tugged at it. She cried out into his mouth and her head fell back. She became boneless as he nipped then sucked her ear.

Jethro grabbed her right hip and slid his hand down to pull her thigh up toward his hip. Abby hooked her knee over it and panting she flung her arms around his neck pulling herself up to straddle him. She felt his hands support her buttocks, then one hand slid between her legs, two fingers sliding deep. Abby cried out.

"Your so wet Baby, so wet for me!" Jethro's voice was hoarse and staggered with panted breath. "Climb up Honey. C'mon, I need to be in you!"

Abby couldn't speak but she did as he asked. She slid up his body, burying her face against his neck and shoulder. She then came down. Gibbs reached with one hand and put himself at her opening. Grasping her hard again, he thrust up as she slid down. They came together hard and deep. Abby cried out as Jethro snarled. He turned to his right and leaned her against the closet door as he adjusted his footing.

He began to thrust, his rhythm getting faster as he lost himself in her wetness and heat. Abby's hips rose to meet him moaning continuously. Her senses overwhelmed Abby and she screamed as she felt herself breaking apart. The strong muscles of her sheath milked Jethro fiercely and as she came he cried out, shattering with her. His thrusts savage but irregular as he ejaculated deep into her heat.

Finished, he held her in place as they gasped together. After a few moments he loosed his hold on her enough that she could slide her feet to the floor. He slid from her warmth with his mouth on hers. His hands moved up to her waist, holding her. They remained pressed together, kissing and stroking one another. Reluctantly Jethro drew back. He smiled as he saw Abby's face. Her eyes were still closed, her lips swollen from his kisses as she smiled. He leaned close to her ear.

"Are you OK?" he murmured softly to her.

"Oh! I'm good, real good but don't get lazy. I have plans."

Jethro chuckled and kissed her cheek "You do?"

"Mmm hmm. Bed. You. Me. Now."

"A wise man knows when to surrender gracefully." Jethro said with a smile as he scooped her up and they returned to the bed.