Title: Made to be Broken 37 – Flesh and Blood
Author: Jo. R (driftingatdusk)
Rating: FR-13
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Category: Post-ep, Angst, Romance
Spoilers: 'Flesh and Blood', 'Ignition', illusions to a previous chapter in the series, 'Bounce'
Summary: Some rules are made to be broken.
****
Arriving at work to find a case to keep her mind busy filled her with relief, even as she felt sad for the victim of the bomb blast and any family he might have left behind. Abby Sciuto donned the familiar red boiler suit, rolling her eyes at herself when she looked down at her mismatched socks and shoes.
"Really need to get a grip, Abby," she told her reflection in mirror of the ladies restroom. "Someone'll notice something eventually."
Securing her hair into high bunches either side of her head, she gave herself a hard look before turning on the heel of the foot wearing the strappy sandal and walked with her head held high to the garage where the victims car had been towed.
She might not feel like everything was okay but she wasn't going to let anyone else know that.
****
He half-wished he had time to go and get a Caf-Pow before going down to see what she'd found. Half-hoped, because the other part of him just wanted to see her.
With the long, determined strides those around him had come to expect, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs made his way to the lower level of the NCIS Headquarters. He hadn't seen her since Friday, since driving her back to her apartment and leaving her there, heading back to an empty house that didn't feel like a home without her in it.
Two whole days, three whole nights.
He'd picked up his car keys more than once, only just managing to stop by reminding himself of the reasons for their forced estrangement. He had to protect her, had to keep her safe.
No matter how hard it was for them both in the short-term.
He barely managed to keep his lips from twitching when he saw her feet sticking out from underneath the car, amusement turning to bewildered concern when he noticed the socks and shoes.
"Mix-match Monday," she'd said with a bright smile.
Too bright.
He'd replied with a comment about 'make-my-day-Monday', and had wished as soon as he'd said it that he could take it back.
Under different circumstances, at a different time, he knew he wouldn't have had to ask.
****
She'd originally entered the observation room adjacent to interrogation to get a good look at Anthony DiNozzo Senior. Within minutes, she'd formed an opinion of the older DiNozzo and she felt a little traitorous towards her Tony that she couldn't bring herself to immediately like his father.
A few minutes into her observation, with Ducky's commentary to keep her company, the door to interrogation opened and Abby felt her heart ache afresh.
Gibbs.
He stopped and stared into the one-way glass for a minute and, for a split-second, she let herself believe he was looking right at her.
She missed him.
Missed his kisses and his company, missed the feel of his arm warm and heavy over her waist and hips as she slept.
Missed going to sleep knowing he was beside her, missed waking up the same way.
She would get to see him every day at work but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
She watched him talk to DiNozzo Senior, felt annoyed on his behalf when the other man refused to sit down, trying to use the fact he was standing to prove his superiority over the silver-haired agent.
When he walked into the room, only Ducky's presence stopped her from wrapping her arms around him and drawing his mouth down to hers for a long, lingering kiss, the kind she'd been dreaming of all weekend.
She went without question when he ordered her out of the room, glad to be given an out, not sure how much longer she could stand being in the same room with him but being unable to touch him the way she very much wanted to.
****
He told himself it was because he was desperate to find DiNozzo Senior a chaperone he could trust to get the job done but Gibbs admitted later that it was desperation to see her that drove him to find her in her lab that afternoon.
Her music played as usual but Abby didn't dance or sing along as she would any other day. He thought she seemed subdued as she stood at the computer in her main lab, her eyes fixed on the screen.
She didn't even tap her foot along to the beat and that told him instantly that she felt the same way he did.
Gibbs didn't waste time with small talk. He walked straight up to her and took her hand, ignoring the way she spoke his name as a question, ignoring the confusion on her face as he led her to the elevators and ushered her inside, hitting the emergency stop just seconds after the small metal box began to move.
Drawing her against him, he held her almost roughly, pressing his mouth against hers without giving her a verbal explanation.
Abby wasted no time in reciprocating, the fingers of one hand digging into his shoulder while the other curled around the back of his neck, her body flush against his. She kissed him back with everything she had, pushing him against the far wall of the elevator.
His cell phone ringing broke through the haze that had fallen on them and Abby moved back just enough to let him pull it out of his pocket, her head falling to rest against his shoulder. Gibbs kept his arm around her waist, taking a moment to catch his breath before flipping the cell phone open.
"Gibbs." He listened for a few moments, his hand tracing circles on the skin of her lower back where it had come to rest underneath her shirt. "Five minutes, DiNozzo." He hung up without saying goodbye and held her for a minute longer before gently pushing her away. With a finger curled beneath her chin, Gibbs tilted her face upwards, leaning in to brush his lips lightly against hers before drawing back with a regretful sigh.
Her smile was sad but understanding, and she took another full step back, straightening her clothes. "I take it that wasn't the original plan?"
"No." A ghost of a smile flickered over his mouth for a moment. "I need someone to babysit Tony's dad. Someone I can trust to keep an eye on him."
"Me?" She tilted her head to the side when he nodded slightly. "I could give him a tour." A shoulder rose and fell. "Flirting would probably help, too, if he's anything like his son."
He reached out to cover her hand before she could reactive the elevator. "Not too much flirting, Abs."
"Nothing that means anything," she promised softly. With her back to him, Abby activated the elevator and stared at their blurred reflection in the steel doors. She kept quiet until the elevator jerked slightly, coming to a halt before the doors began to open. "I miss you."
She slipped out between them before he could reply. Gibbs followed a few steps behind, listening to her overly bright greeting of DiNozzo Senior, wondering if he was the only one who picked up on how false it seemed.
****
Going home to an empty house was not something he was used to, nor was it something he really wanted to have to get used to again. Gibbs was relieved when Tony DiNozzo accepted his invitation to dinner, hoping that being able to concentrate on the younger man's problems for a while would take his mind of his own.
It did, for a little while. Then Tony leaned back on the couch, bottle of beer in hand, and gave him a sidelong look that forewarned him of what was to come.
"What's going on with Abby?" Tony asked, the concern that overrode his curiosity the only thing that saved him from a traditional Gibbs slap to the back of his head.
Gibbs hesitated, taking a swig of his own beer before answering evasively. "Don't know what you mean, DiNozzo."
"That might work with McGee or Ziva but it won't with me." Tony watched him intently, his eyes too-knowing for Gibbs' liking. Then again, he'd all but confirmed the nature of his relationship with Abby to his younger agent some months ago when he'd made a comment about the pact the two had made to head to Vegas. "She's not herself. Neither are you."
"Things change, Tony," Gibbs said eventually. "They'll be back to normal soon."
"You hope," Tony added for him. The younger man shrugged and focused his attention on the peeling label of his beer bottle. "My guess is that it's something to do with Ms. Hart and her icy blue eyes." He glanced up at Gibbs, his expression vaguely pained. "She's an attractive woman, boss, but compared to Abs..."
"She doesn't." His voice a little sharper than he intended, Gibbs took a moment to calm himself by stacking their plates. "She doesn't compare to Abby."
Tony gave a small nod after a few moments of tense silence. "Then I'm guessing there's more going on than I know about." He waited for Gibbs to either confirm or deny it, unsurprised when he did neither. "Thought so." With a sigh, he closed his eyes as Gibbs got to his feet, dirty dishes in hand. "Then I guess I'll just have to hope things get back to normal soon."
"You and me both," Gibbs muttered, loud enough for his agent to hear but the words were uttered as he walked out of the room, giving Tony no chance to reply.
Gibbs busied himself in the kitchen, washing the dishes and cutlery, wiping down the benches. He returned to the living room to find Tony spread out across the couch, his beer bottle clutched against his chest as he dozed in the flickering light of the fire.
He sighed and draped a blanket over the sleeping agent, grabbing his cell phone from the pocket of his jacket in the hall before turning the key in the lock and heading upstairs.
Lying on the bed he'd once shared with Abby – hoped to share with her again – Gibbs hit the speed dial number that would dial her number and waited impatiently for her to pick up. He heard her voice, husky with sleep, and let it wash over him, missing her all over again.
"I miss you, too, Abs," he told her quietly, knowing by the lack of greeting on her end that she'd checked her caller ID before answering. "I just wanted you to know."
****
End.