Closer Reality

A/N: FFNet was having a bad hair day when I posted the previous chapter and didn't send alerts out, so if anyone hasn't read the chapter which includes the visit to the cemetery, it might be worth reading that first as this one contains references to it. And Herman is canon. ;)


Chapter 51 – Surprises

When Abby made her way downstairs next morning, she found Jackson whistling cheerfully to himself as he worked in the kitchen. She watched him for a moment from the doorway, smiling to herself, relieved that Jackson seemed to be back to his usual self.

Jackson must have sensed her presence as he turned to throw a smile over his shoulder. "Morning Abby... or should I say sleepyhead."

Abby chuckled, walking towards the older man and wrapping her arms round him behind in a hug, which he straightened up into with a chuckle, patting her hands.

"I think I overslept," she mumbled, burying her head in Jackson's shoulder.

"We noticed," Jackson teased. "Did you sleep well, honey?"

"I did... too well. I still feel half asleep."

She'd woken slowly this morning and still felt sluggish. There'd been no sign of Gibbs next to her, his side of the bed cool and when she saw it was nearly mid morning, she figured he'd been up for hours. Given the stresses of the day before and how emotionally drained she'd felt at the end of it, Abby was mildly surprised that she'd slept so well anyway.

"Sounds like you needed the sleep though." Jackson turned so he could see Abby more clearly, examining her face.

"Must've done. How 'bout you, Jack?"

Jackson knew she wasn't just referring to how he slept and nodded briefly. "I'm okay, Abby, really. It was a strain yesterday but..." Jackson shrugged, searching for the right words. "I feel better today, as if a weight's been lifted somehow, which is odd because nothing's changed. The girls are still... still gone, but me paying my respects is long overdue. Been feeling guilty about that for some time."

She reached out to rub his arm. "I'm sure neither of the girls would want that, Jack. And neither would Jethro."

Jackson tilted his head in acknowledgement. "Still... it's done now and I won't leave it so long next time... not that I've got so long to play with, I reckon, but you know what I mean."

"I do, Jack." She hugged him again tightly and Jackson patted her back.

"You okay... after yesterday?"

"Yeah... I am, really I am. I know how difficult it is for Jethro to share stuff like that, so it meant a lot... not something I'll ever take for granted," she admitted softly.

Jackson nodded. "I can see that... What's Gloria up to today?" he asked, changing the subject.

Abby waved her hand. "Oh, she's visiting friends in DC... she's trying to fit in as much as she can. She doesn't come up here that often."

"She and Ducky meeting us at the hotel later?" Jackson turned back to the counter and started pouring coffee.

"Yup... and she'll be as fresh as a daisy long after all of us are asleep at the table. I don't know how she does it." Abby returned Jackson's grin and looked round. "Where is he? Downstairs?"

Jackson inclined his head towards the back door. "He's out back. Was just gonna take him a refill."

"I'll do it," Abby offered eagerly, picking up the mug and heading out the back door.

"Okay... your breakfast will be ready soon, we've already eaten... hours ago so don't be too long." Jackson chuckled as she turned at the door to poke her tongue out at him.

Dressed in his red hoodie and worn jeans, Gibbs was leaning against the wall on one side of the back steps, looking lost in thought as he gazed out over the backyard. She shivered slightly and pulled her sweatshirt up around her neck as she moved to join him. It was still a little chilly, but the wind had dropped and the backyard was sheltered so it felt warmer in the morning sun than it had for days.

Gibbs turned to greet her with a slightly melancholy smile, but his eyes were warm as he took the mug from her hands.

Abby wasn't sure if he wanted company or would prefer time to himself, so hesitated for a moment before starting to turn back. "I'll leave you to it... Jack said he's nearly done with my breakfast. He spoils me."

Gibbs put his mug down on the paving. "Abbs..." He reached out to snag her hand and pull her towards him before she could move away.

Abby smiled a little in relief and wrapped her arms round him, pressing her face into his neck and snuggling in as his own arms slid round her back to hold her tightly.

Sighing, she absorbed the solid feel of him in her arms, smoothing her hands over his back. "You okay?"

She felt him nod into her hair. "Workin' on it."

"Didn't hear you get up this morning... you shoulda woken me up." She inhaled deeply, nuzzling into his skin and felt his arms tighten.

"You were fast asleep... snoring away so I didn't wanna disturb you."

Abby pulled her head back to narrow her eyes at him, seeing the twinkle in the blue eyes. "I do not snore."

Gibbs smirked, nudging her nose. "Whatever you say, Abbs."

He'd woken early as usual and was content to watch Abby for a while, her dark hair spread across the pillow, a contrast to her creamy skin. She was so deeply asleep that she'd barely stirred when he shifted position, merely mumbling a sleepy protest and snuggling further into the bedclothes.

Gibbs had been tempted to wake her, to see those long lashes flutter and sleepy green eyes smiling at him from her pillow, to slide his hands and mouth over her soft skin, feeling such a rush of love and longing, it made him ache. But reasoning she needed her sleep, he'd left her and the warmth of their bed reluctantly.

Gibbs was brought back to the present as Abby huffed at his teasing and poked his sides and he snorted, trapping her arms. She chuckled and leaned into him again, relishing his warmth against the cool air. "Does that mean you didn't sleep well?"

"Nope... it means I did... better than I'd have done on the basement floor," Gibbs admitted and Abby squeezed him tightly in acknowledgement of what he wasn't saying.

"I'm glad," she told him softly.

After visits to his girls' grave in the past, he'd usually end up drunk in the basement, or working himself to the point of exhaustion, his hands raw, and snatching a few hours poor rest under his boat, the hard surfaces doing his joints or state of mind no favours.

The fact that he was able to sleep at all last night... that he wanted to sleep with Abby in their bed... said a lot about how she could ease his mind and comfort his body.

He still felt wrung out and emotionally raw but with his dad and Abby to think about today, he'd found it easier to face the morning after a visit than he usually did.

Before, he'd have either spent the day after alone in the basement or avoiding questions from his current wife about where he'd been the day before and why he was so withdrawn... again. Not having to pretend or deflect had eased the aftermath more than he'd expected.

And it wouldn't have been fair on Jackson or Abby either if he brooded too much, however much they might understand why. Shannon wouldn't have wanted that either. She'd have wanted him to lean on his dad and Abby, to let them in if he could.

So he was trying his best... tentatively feeling his way to see if he could cope with doing things differently. And so far, he was doing okay.

Gibbs buried his nose in her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo. "Slept okay coz you make a pretty mean pillow."

Abby laughed softly. "And you make an awesome and very sexy blanket."

The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the warmth and feel of a wraparound Gibbs, and it hadn't taken her long after their conversation to drift off... calmed and grounded by his nearness.

"You coming back inside? Your coffee'll get cold." She nodded down at the mug on the floor.

"Hmm, in a minute. Wait with me... wanna show ya something." Gibbs turned Abby so she was facing out into the garden. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and she leaned back into him. "Came out here to remind myself what was left of what Shan and Kels planted... what condition it's in."

Abby looked over at the tree which dominated the end of the backyard, Shannon's magnolia. "Well, that still looks peachy keen."

"It's a magnolia not a peach," he murmured in her ear and she giggled, elbowing him and he chuckled, nuzzling her neck.

"Funny guy." She rested her hands on his arms, squeezing gently. "And so do the Gardenias, though we shan't know for sure till they flower later on, I guess."

"There's a few more things I can show ya. What d'ya wanna do with the garden? You thought about it yet?" Gibbs asked quietly after a few moments comfortable silence.

Abby leaned her head against his cheek. "Been thinking a bit, like I said last week, I'd like to plant a few of their favourites if, er... if that's still okay, but only if it won't be too painful," she asked tentatively.

He nodded briefly. "That'd be good."

"What other stuff is still here? Can you show me? And maybe tell me what's missing?"

"You gonna choose stuff too, right? It's your garden, Abbs," Gibbs reminded her, turning her in his arms and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"I know... but it feels right to plant things for them and I love the plants you mentioned already. It's just great to have a garden again... it's been so long that I don't know where to start and if I'm not careful, I'll plant too much and we'll be knee deep in a jungle and have to hack our way out the back door with a machete." She rolled her eyes at herself. "You might have to stop me getting out of control."

"Like I could ever do that."

Abby chuckled and threw her arms round him, kissing him lightly. Gibbs framed her face in his hands when she broke the kiss, not letting her pull away and took her mouth again with a little more heat, and she ended up wrapped in his arms again as the kiss lingered. When they broke apart, she smiled softly, tracing his lips with her fingers and he kissed her fingertips.

Abby bent to pick up his mug and handed it to him, gesturing with her head at the garden. "Tell me... Show me... and then I can draw up a plan and we can look at it together sometime."

Gibbs smiled and took a sip of his coffee, snagging her hand and leading her round the garden. She already knew it pretty well and had a fairly good mental list of what was there already, but wanted to hear it from Gibbs what was special to his girls.

As he pointed out shrubs which had survived and talked about those the girls had planted which hadn't, Abby told him about the garden she'd had back home. "I used to have a herb garden and a vegetable garden... although Herman did his best to eat his way through that."

"Herman?"

Abby smiled. "Our tortoise."

Gibbs chuckled. "Of course he was."

"I'm sure Herman thought I'd planted all the vegetables just for him. We had a wire fence round it but until dad reinforced it, Herman used to just steamroller in and head for anything edible... which was pretty much everything I planted. Well, very slowly steamroller coz he never could move very fast," Abby chuckled.

"Shan used to grow vegetables too. Kels..." He broke off and took a moment to find his voice again. "Kels used to eat the stuff raw, till her mom caught her. She loved peas... straight from the pod." He stared down the yard, his gaze distant. "She used to get me to stand lookout."

"Which of course you did," she teased gently and he ducked his head with a half smile.

"Till Shan caught me."

Abby smiled as she saw Gibbs' expression soften at the memory. She could just picture it and imagine how Kelly had her dad wrapped round her little finger. "It'd be good to have herbs and vegetables again." She squeezed his hand and waited for him to continue.

Gibbs wandered a little further down the path and she trailed after him. "Stuff she liked... Daphnes I think they're called, had 'em in pots on the porch... and a few Chrysanthemums over there."

Abby nodded. "Both autumn bloomers. What about in the summer?"

"Told ya about the sunflowers." Gibbs stopped, wrapping an arm round Abby's waist. "The hedge and the trees Shan planted. Lavender... replanted that last year. Gone through a few lavenders over the years. Shan loved it. Steph planted that honeysuckle but Kels would've loved it. She liked anything smelly."

Abby laughed softly. "I'll remember that. Maybe a few Cyclamen then... some Hydrangeas." She gazed back at the house. "Maybe room for a fruit tree?"

"Fine by me." Gibbs nodded, pointing into a shady corner, laden with ferns. "Not sure where that frondy thing came from. Steph may have planted it and I never bothered taking it out but it's taken over a bit."

Abby shot him an amused glance. "That frondy thing, huh? Well, it's not a triffid."

Gibbs snorted. "No, that's more Diane's style."

Abby giggled. "Point. I think it's a Philodendron of some kind, not sure which. I'll have to check. Philodendrons are just so cool. Did you know that some have this symbiotic relationship with ants." Gibbs smothered a smile as he heard her voice switch to her lab lecturing tone.

"The ants' nest is among the roots of the plant, which totally helps keep the nest intact and the plant gets nutrients from the nest and produces nectar that attracts the ants. How cool is that? And the ants are aggressive enough to keep other insects away..." She saw his amused eyes and trailed off with a sheepish smile. "Sorry... anyway, they totally depend on each other, is what I started off saying before I got, erm, a bit sidetracked."

"Kinda like us then, Abbs."

She shot him a startled glance before smiling at him softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Yeah... just like us. Although which of us is the ant and which the frondy thing?"

Gibbs chuckled. "I plead the Fifth." He noticed she was shivering slightly and tugged on her hand. "C'mon, you're getting cold. We can finish this later and look out front as well. There's a few things out there Shan planted."

Abby gave him a bright smile. "Okay." She followed him back towards the house until he paused by a full raised bed near the house. "Jethro?" she queried softly as he stared down at the plants, his face suddenly drawn. She could feel the emotional temperature shift and hovered at his side, suddenly uncertain.

Gibbs shook himself, forcing a slight smile as he glanced at Abby. "Kels... she and Maddie planted a time capsule under there. Can you..."

"Be careful and not disturb it," she finished quietly, feeling her heart squeezed in her chest. She reached for his hand again, lacing their fingers together and leaned her head on shoulder. "Copy that."


None of them felt like doing much else for the rest of the day, still tired from the emotional demands of the day before and, given they were going out with Ducky and Gloria later on for dinner, it was likely to be a late night anyway. So the rest of the morning and early afternoon passed in a mixture of chores, relaxing, working in the basement, finishing off the 'tour' of the front garden, and cooking for tomorrow when everyone was arriving to spend the day before they all went to the fireworks.

Abby and Jackson took a short walk after lunch and when they returned, Gibbs was lying on the couch, reading. Jackson disappeared upstairs to take a nap, protesting that he couldn't burn the candle at both ends anymore.

After working on her laptop for a while at the dining table, Abby moved into the living room. Leaning in the doorway, Abby watched her partner stretched out full length, looking relaxed as he read his book.

Gibbs glanced over the top of his glasses at her. "You comin' in?"

"I am... when I've finished ogling."

Abby pushed off from the doorway and walked over to the couch, running her eyes over his long form. Crawling on top of him, Gibbs grunted as she wormed her way into the space between him and the back of the couch, shuffling until she got comfortable, flinging an arm and leg over him and resting her head on his chest.

His voice was low and amused. "You done fidgeting?"

"Not sure... I'll let you know."

Gibbs snorted and pulled the throw off the back of the couch and arranged it over her. Abby sighed as the warmth from the thickness of the blanket and the hard body underneath seeped into her.

She laughed as he rested his book partly against her head. "Glad I can be of service as a book stand."

"Good job."

Abby poked his side and Gibbs tugged a pigtail in retaliation before settling one arm round her back and rearranging his book. He ran a hand gently up and down the blanket, over the line of her spine and occasionally stroking up over her hair. Abby hummed in appreciation, almost melting into him, soaking up his nearness.

Letting the quiet of the room wash over her, Abby felt herself starting to drift, finding herself concentrating on the steady rise and fall of his chest and the calming thud of his heartbeat under her ear, the regular turning of the pages as Gibbs read.

She must have been half dozing for a while as she was barely aware when Jackson came downstairs much later, only focusing on her surroundings again when she heard his chuckle as the older man lowered himself into the recliner and Gibbs' quiet murmur in reply.

Gibbs glanced down at the woman in his arms, feeling content and at peace for the moment with his girl in his arms and dad nearby. The day of ease and relaxation had been just what he needed. He smiled as Abby stirred slightly, snuggling closer.

It was quiet for a while, except for the turning of the pages of his newspaper, before Jackson's voice broke the comfortable silence. "Looks like a comfy blanket."

Gibbs glanced at his dad, smirking. "It is."

"And warm too, I guess," Jackson commented.

"Oh yeah."

"You know this blanket can hear you, right?" Abby mumbled.

Jackson chuckled. "A talking blanket, huh?... I gotta get me one of those."

Abby cracked open one eye to meet Jackson's mischievous gaze as Gibbs' low chuckle rumbled under her ear. "This blanket's trying to sleep."

"It glares too," said Jackson dryly, mouth quirking in a grin as he turned back to his paper. "Not sure I want me one of those."


Later, as they got ready to go out with Ducky and Gloria for dinner, Gibbs sat on the bed, waiting for Abby to emerge from the bathroom. He glanced down at the envelope in his hand, smiling inwardly as he imagined Abby's reaction to the contents.

He looked up as the door to their bathroom opened and Abby emerged in a cloud of steam, wrapped in a towel. His eyes ran over the bare skin on show as she smiled and came to a halt in front of him, standing between his legs and resting her hands on his shoulders. He could see the odd stray droplet of water on her neck, his eyes following one as it trickled down to disappear under the edge of the towel.

"If you're going to wear the suit I think you are with this shirt, we may never get out the door tonight." Abby smoothed a hand over the soft material of the shirt, feeling the firm muscles and breadth of his shoulders under her hands.

He was in his dark blue suit pants, topped by a lighter blue shirt and dark tie and his jacket was slung over the end of the bed. The blue did incredible things to his eyes, which didn't exactly need much help at the best of times.

Gibbs held up the envelope he was holding and her eyes shifted, a smile tugging her mouth. "Divorce papers already, huh?"

Gibbs smirked, shaking his head, sliding his other hand to her hip. "Not a chance. Open it."

Abby threw him a curious glance as she complied, unfolding the paperwork once it was free of the envelope. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open and she shot an amazed glance at him.

"Oh... my... god. Is this what I think it is? You're taking me away... like, away on vacation?"

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "No... I'm taking DiNozzo."

Abby giggled. "Well, that would be totally hot... can I come and watch? Or better yet, join in?"

Gibbs snorted, pulling her onto the bed and rolling her beneath him, bending to nip at her neck as she squealed, clutching at his shoulders. Her towel slipped and when he pulled back, her hair was tousled, her soft curves spilling out of the towel and her lips were curved in a seductive smile.

"You... me... vacation... soon. S'what you wanted, right?"

"It is." Abby slid a hand over his shoulder to grab his tie, pulling him into a kiss which took his breath. When they broke, she murmured into his mouth. "You... have just earned yourself a gazillion brownie points... and if we didn't have to go out, I would show my appreciation, rip your clothes off and make you a very happy Marine."

Gibbs grinned, sliding his mouth down her neck to the spot over her spider's web tattoo that always made her shiver. "Hold that thought."

Abby squirmed under him, moaning softly as he suckled at her neck. Her hands roamed over his shoulders and she tried to pull him closer, feeling his shirt come free of his pants. She burrowed her hands under his shirt, stroking the warm skin of his back, feeling him rock his hips, arousal burning through her as she felt his reaction.

As his mouth skimmed back up to her jawline and mouth, Gibbs kissed her slowly, deeply before pulling back reluctantly. He nuzzled her nose and Abby smiled as he rolled onto his back with a groan, rubbing his hands over his face, trying not to think of the soft curves within reach.

"I know... we have to get ready."

Gibbs glanced down at where his pants were tenting. "I was ready."

"No kidding," she chuckled, trying to calm her overheated body. She grinned at him before feeling for the paperwork which had fallen to the bed when he'd grabbed her and read through it avidly. "Oh my god... it's gotta hot tub and a pool... and the location looks quiet enough, on the coast, I'll have to look it up... and it's near a marina, and oh my god, there's a boat we can take out."

"Uh-huh. There's not everything you wanted but..." He smiled at her excitement.

"Nearly everything... Jethro, this rocks!" She beamed at him. "How did you find the time to organize this... and without me noticing?"

Gibbs shook his head, rolling onto his side and pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder and resting a hand on her waist. "I didn't... Tony did. It's a place owned by a buddy of his... he sorted it all out."

"Wow... Go Tony. I'll have to thank him next week. Although I can imagine him pulling our legs at some of this." His raised eyebrow confirmed it and she laughed, waving her hand. "This is just fantastic. I'm speechless."

Gibbs snorted. "That'll be the day."

She leapt at him again, sprawling across his front and pushing him onto his back and her towel slipped completely this time, and Gibbs groaned as his hands encountered soft warm skin and slid down to rest on the curve of her ass.

She framed his face, kissing him soundly before murmuring against his mouth. "Thank you. So... I guess you could call it a honeymoon."

His boyish grin made her stomach flip. "Works for me."

By the time they'd untangled themselves and he'd straightened his tie and tucked his shirt back into his pants, Abby was starting to get dressed. He'd ended up escaping downstairs when the black thong Abby pulled on was joined by black lacy thigh highs, all of which did nothing to help him calm down.

Gibbs checked his dad was ready to go, called Ducky to see how they were doing and if they were on schedule to meet them at the hotel. By the time he came back upstairs again, pulling on his jacket, Abby had finished getting ready and he felt his pulse kick into overdrive when he saw the full outfit.

At first glance, it seemed to be all bare skin with her breasts scantily covered in wisps of black lace. On closer inspection, very close inspection, there wasn't too much you could see too clearly; it just seemed like you could.

The lacy top actually covered her entire top half while appearing almost transparent. The silky black camisole underneath and swirls of lace were all artfully designed to cover everything but leave patches of skin exposed, to tantalize that there was more on show than there was.

Long sleeves reached her hands and you could only see glimpses of the tattoos on her back. Her skirt was full, a fifties style, with layered black lace petticoats, which swished as she moved, and was reminiscent of the poodle skirt he remembered Abby wore for bowling sometimes.

"What?" Abby looked down at herself as she saw his stunned expression.

"Wow."

Abby giggled as she fastened the last pin in her hair. "Well, wow is good."

"Oh, wow is very good." He shook his head, a smile breaking out as he moved nearer, sliding a hand round her neck.

Her hair was piled up on her head, with loose dark tendrils draped round her face, and her make-up highlighted her best features, her eyes and smile. She looked breathtaking. Round her neck was the black velvet choker with a central emerald he'd bought her for her birthday a few years ago.

Abby leaned in close, the heels she was wearing putting her on eye level with him and she murmured in his ear. "And just for your information... the zipper's on the side." She winked at him as she pulled back and sashayed to the door.

"Top or skirt?"

Abby looked back from the door, a teasing glint in her sparkling eyes as she returned his grin. "Guess you'll have to find out."

TBC...