She knew solving Agent Macy's murder was important, but everything important in her life was riding on what happened between Gibbs and Alejandro Rivera. She tried to approach Gibbs, but he was distant, distracted. The best she could do was ask Tony to keep a close eye on him while in the field and hope for the best. But as Alejandro hounded her for results,s he had to resort to something a little more forceful to get Gibbs to talk.

She held her breath as the lab doors shut and the click of the lock echoed in the quiet room. "This is a lockdown," she explained.

"A what?" Gibbs tried the door and turned with a glare.

"We're going to talk, Gibbs."

"Like hell, not now." He reached for the remote and was surprised when she ducked away.

"Yes," she snapped. "Now." When he didn't respond, she continued. "Since when did I become the kid in class that the teacher won't call on? The evidence in my report says that you killed Pedro Hernandezand you're not even willing to talk to me about it!"

"Didn't think I needed to."

"But I owe you everything," she wiped at her eyes as a tear formed. "You're Gibbs. No one needs to know the truth about the Hernandez investigation. I am willing to do anything for you. I just need you to tell me what to do."

Gibbs swallowed hard. She shouldn't be offering to put her career, her life, on the line for him. "No," he shook his head. "You don't, Abbs. I've only ever needed you to do one thing."

"My job." She moved closer. "But it's different this time, I mean, it has to be, right?" They were a family now. It was different.

"No," he started, "it doesn't." Just then her machine beepedand the image she'd been working on was clear. "Former Army Ranger Jason Dean. He works for Bell."

"I bet his knife matches Agent Macy's wounds." Abby commented sadly.

Gibbs sighed. Abby kept falling deeper and deeper into his problemand he was almost to the point where he wasn't sure how to keep her safe. "You know too much."

"What do I do?"

"Send your report to the task force. All of it." The only way to keep her safe, was for her to do the right thing.

"I know. You shouldn't have to tell me, right?"

Gibbs smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her forehead. He knew she and Tony needed to stop spending the night. The fallout of this report had a great possibility to turn uglyand he wanted them as far away from the mess as possible. But he couldn't have that conversation at work and not without Tony. He heard the lab doors unlock and he turned away before he could change his mind.

Abby watched him leave and then turned back to her computer to bring up her report. She knew Gibbs wanted her to tell the truth. That way, when things got messy (and she knew they would) she wouldn't be involved in the fall out. But as much as Gibbs wanted that to be true, no matter what her report said, she was involved.

Highlighting a section of her report, Abby clicked delete.


Tony wasn't surprised to find that Gibbs had run off again to Mexico without an explanation. He figured they had a few days to talk things over, but when Gibbs left early for work, Tony knew they wouldn't find him at NCIS.

"Abbs…" Tony peeked around her lab to make sure they were alone. "We're gonna stay at your place tonight, if that's okay. We could stay at mine, but your place is closer."

Abby nodded. "He's okay, right?"

Tony shrugged. "We have to believe it."

"You knew he was leaving, didn't you?"

"Yes? No? I don't know," Tony sighed. "He was awake long before either of us, but stayed in bed for a while."

"Like he wanted that extra time with us, to remember us."

Tony nodded.

"You think he's coming back?" Abby's lower lip trembled.

Tony reached out to take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think that he wants to come back."

Abby gave a little nod and then took a deep breath. "Okay. Keep me in the loop."

"Will do." He reached up to give her pigtail a little tug. "Love you."

"Love you more," she replied as he headed out the door.


Tony was shocked to find Gibbs at the airport as they escorted Hernandez's body back to Mexico. "Where the hell have you been?" He started as soon as they had the chance to be alone. Tony had sent McGee to pick up some water for the flight back. "You know, a little warning, notice, check in… anything would've been appropriate. Abby's been a wreck worrying about you, that Goddamn report. She refuses to talk about it, no one has seen it or seems to know where it is, though she swears she's handed it over."

"Has she handed it over?"

"Really, out of all that… that's what you get from this conversation? She's been worried sick about you." And so have I, he wanted to add.

"DiNozzo…"

"No, don't DiNozzo me! We're involved as much as you are! This isn't just about you anymore, Gibbs. This goes beyond work. We're family now," he shouted. "This isn't just us worried about a coworker, this is us worried about our partner." He took a deep breath. "We're staying at her place for now. Who knows who might be watching your place. We'd like you to join us."

When Gibbs didn't say anything Tony opened his mouth to continue, but then shook his head and clammed up when McGee returned.

He didn't try to stop Gibbs from going home instead of to NCIS, but he did make Abby's lab his first stop. "He's home."

"He is?" Abby perked up. "Is he in the building?"

Tony shook his head. "No. He went home." Tony glanced over at the guard he'd assigned to her before he'd left. "Having fun?"

Abby rolled her eyes. "We're doing manicures next."

Tony grinned. "Pizza and a movie tonight? I think we need a little down time."

Abby perked up again. "Hear that, Darrin? You get the night off! My very own special agent will watch my back tonight."

Darrin nodded. "What time will you be leaving, sir? What time should I resume..?"

Tony tried to keep from smiling. "I can always just crash in the guest room if that's okay? Abby?"

"Sure," she played along. "You're welcome to spend the night. Looks like you get the whole night off, Darrin."

"Thank you."


Abby tried to act surprised when Gibbs eventually made it into her lab, but judging by the look on his face, Gibbs was the one surprised. Abby introduced Darrin. "I had no idea why Tony would assign a guard, except when I look at you, I know exactly why."

"Abby, I'm sorry." His mess was growing exponentially by the day.

"Gibbs, why would you say that to me?! It terrifies me when you break your own rules."

Gibbs smiled softly at that. They talked briefly about Mike, both still hoping he was still alive, despite the fact that they hadn't heard from him.

"Ducky seems to think his finger was shot off while he was still alive, for whatever it's worth. Gibbs, do they have him still? Do they still have Mike?"

Instead of answering, Gibbs wrapped her in a tight hug and pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek. The first contact they've had in days.

"Can you tell me who they are?" He didn't answerand she watched him walk away. "I guess that's why super heroes have secret identities."


"Tony, it's not safe…"

"I need to keep eyes on Alejandro. I've got Vance's support, so I'm not going lone wolf, not like Gibbs." He hugged her tighter.

Abby shivered as his fingers traced an imaginary design on the bare skin of her back. "He didn't come tonight, is he still around?"

Tony pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I have an agent on him, he doesn't know, but I'm sure he knows. Last update, he was home."

"Why doesn't he want to be here, with us?"

Tony shrugged. He wondered the same thing. "He's… I think this case is bringing up every emotion having to do with Shannon and Kelly. Every emotion he's wanted to hide away for the past twenty years. I honestly don't know if he's capable of loving us right now."

"Tony," Abby pushed away enough so that she could look him in the eye. "He still loves us, okay? He still loves you." She knew Tony was really struggling with being left out when it came to some of the facts. Some of the stuff she only knew because she had discovered them on her own.

Tony sighed. "You know sometimes… and I know I'm probably just saying this because I'm exhausted and sick of all this shit. And believe it or not, I feel guilty that I might not be back for Ziva's citizenship thing, but… I honestly… He's told me nothing. Nothing. Everything that I know, it's because I've seen it happen or because Vance has told me. I'm so fucking out of the loopand it hurts. We're family now, shouldn't he be telling us…? Hell, you know more than I do."

"Not because he's told me. I… And the less we know, the less people will be after us."

"Abby, everyone knows he loves you, you're already a target."

"Nah, they think the report…"

"What about the report?" He had a suspicious look on his face.

"What do you want to know?"

"All this talk about the report, yet no one has seemed to have seen it."

Abby sat up and grabbed Tony's sweatshirt and a pair of underwear. "Get dressed."

"What?"

"Just get dressed. Nothing fancy, just… clothes." She slipped on a pair of shorts on and waited for Tony to pull his jeans back on. Taking him by the hand, she grabbed the keys for her apartment and tugged him down the hall.

"Where are we going? Abby!"

Abby tugged him down the hall to the elevator to the basement. When they finally reached the laundry room, she turned to face him. "Never know when the walls have ears."

Tony grinned. "You've learned a lot."

"Gibbs isn't the only one… going lone wolf."

"Abby," Tony warned. "What's going on?"

"I had a sit down with that lawyer lady and… we came to an understanding."

"Oh God, you threatened-?"

"No," Abby laughed. "That was my back up plan. Surprisingly, she cares about Gibbsand she didn't realize what Bell's men were capable of until others started turning up dead. Including Bell. I gave her a fake report, which she's signed and notified Alejandro that she's received it. Then she disappeared. To London and then… Paris, maybe?"

"Did you pay her off?"

"I… have contacts. And apparently she has a bit of common sense. I told her they would hunt her down if she stayed here and they caught word that she was holding the report. They don't have much reach in Europe. And you know, the fancy shoes…"

"Does Gibbs know?"

"No," she shook her head. "From what I know… he thinks she's taken the report and run. But… even if they find the report, it's incorrect. I… I couldn't do it, even though he asked me to. So my first line of defense is that she took it and ran, if they manage to hunt her down… it won't convict him."

"Does she know that you… changed it?"

"Good God, of course not! Only you. And Gibbs would, if it ever shows up. He thinks I wrote the truth though."

"Jesus, what a mess."

"Right? So just do me the biggest favor of all and bring yourself back in one piece, okay?"

"For you, I'll do my best. But for now, can we go get naked again? Your bed was much warmer than the basement laundry room."


As time passed slowly, Gibbs tried to distance himself from his lovers. He had no idea when or where Paloma or Alejandro would strike next. Having his father staying with him was a both a blessing and a curse. He didn't have to tell them they couldn't stay, with Jack in the guest room they couldn't spend the night without Jack figuring out what was going on between the three of them. But at the same time, Jack loved spending time with Tony and Abby, so they were still at his house quite a bit – almost every weekend.

"I like this one, Leroy. You should keep her." Jack sighed happily as he brought a spoonful of Abby's gumbo to his mouth.

Abby grinned and glanced at Gibbs. "Thanks Jack, glad you enjoy my cooking."

"You'll have to come to Stillwater for a visit once this mess is taken care of."

"I would love that, Jack! Maybe Gibbs will drive me up some time. Gibbs?"

Gibbs shrugged. "If you want."

Jack frowned at the way his son brushed off Abby's question. "You're welcome too, Tony."

"Thanks Jack, that'd be nice." They finished dinner with Abby and Jack carrying the conversation, Tony chiming in occasionally. Gibbs watched as Abby told a story, her hands animated. He missed the excitement of having them around – her cheerfulness and the steady stream of chatter between her and Tony that he could usually hear from wherever he was in the house.

Tony watched the way Gibbs watched, almost longingly, as Jack and Abby talked. He thought it over and wondered if he could get Gibbs away for just a few hours.

Since Abby had cooked, they all tried to keep her out of the kitchen, but she refused, wanting to help with the wash up as well. "I make such a mess when I cook sometimes, only fair that I help wash up." As soon as she was mid-story with Jack, Tony reached out to grab Gibbs' wrist and tug him to the living room. "Come to Abby's tonight, please."

"I can't, my dad…"

"There is an agent outside. Please, we miss you."

Gibbs glanced away.

"Come on, you don't have to spend the night. Just a few hours, tell Jack its work related… I… I miss you. Just, please." Tony sighed and dropped his hold on Gibbs as they heard Jack approaching.

"You two skipping out on dish duty?"

"Nah," Gibbs grabbed the coffee mugs from earlier. "Just picking up a few last things to wash."

By the time they were ready to leave, Tony had given up on Gibbs meeting them at Abby's. "Thanks for cooking, Abby. I'll have to come up with something next weekend." Tony grinned.

Jack nodded. "I remember when you made that pasta a few weeks back. You're a good cook too, you both are. I now understand why my son keeps you around."

Abby, Tony and Gibbs all shared a look.

"Filling your team with people that can cook, smart idea. Though I can't see Tim doing much in the kitchen."

"Ha, no." Tony laughed. "But he's good for picking up a bottle of wine at the grocery store."

"Very important," Jack nodded.

"Alright, we'll see you soon. Bye Jack." Abby wrapped him in a tight hug. "Night Gibbs," she hugged him as well.

"Night." Tony gave a little wave as he headed out the front door. He turned in time to see Gibbs watching Abby as she headed for her car and then look at his father.

"Jack, I've got to run to NCIS and pick up a few things. You alright for a few hours?"

Tony didn't hear Jack's response as he hurried down to get in the car with Abby. They had arrived in his car. Jack hadn't asked, but everyone in Gibbs' life was using the buddy system. No one questioned Tony about staying with Abby, and Tony figured the rest of the team was glad she wasn't alone, even though there was an agent outside at all times. He didn't want to get Abby's hopes up, so he didn't mention the possibility of Gibbs coming over, but he couldn't help but hope.

They got to Abby's apartment and Tony scanned the parking lot hoping to see Gibbs' care. He saw the guard parked at the front and gave a little nod before putting a hand to Abby's lower back and urging her forward. They took the elevator up to her floor and rounded the corner to see Gibbs leaning against her front door.

"Gibbs!" Abby ran forward and threw herself into his arms with force.

Tony was quick to unlock the door and hurry them in. He wrapped his arms around both of them once the door was shut and nuzzled against Gibbs' cheek as Gibbs nibbled over the spider web on Abby's neck. The three of them stumbled down the hall toward Abby's room. They all moved in a blur, and in minutes they were all naked and crawling onto Abby's bed. Tony eagerly reached for the lube and pressed it into Gibbs' hands before flipping onto his back and lifting his hips for the pillow Gibbs had grabbed. Gibbs wrapped an arm around Abby and pulled her in close, his head dropping forward to catch one of her nipples between his lips as he worked first one finger and then two into Tony. As soon as Tony was ready, Gibbs released Abby and moved the hand that had been holding her close, to cup her cheek. "Don't touch yourself, okay?"

"Okay," Abby whispered and then stretched out beside Tony and squeezed her thighs together.

Tony wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close with one hand. He reached for Gibbs with the other. They watched as Gibbs stroked himself a few times before rolling a condom on and adding lube. Gibbs' mind went blank as he slowly pushed into Tony – the stress of the past several weeks melting away. The only thing he was aware of was the warmth surrounding him. He watched through hooded eyes as Tony and Abby kissed and rather than touch herself, her hand moved down Tony's chest and stomach until she grasped his cock and stroked with Gibbs' thrusts.

Tony was surprised when Gibbs was the first to lose control. For someone that was always in control, even when he let either Tony or Abby take the lead, it was surprising that he wasn't able to hold on the way he always did. Gibbs never allowed himself to find release first unless Tony or Abby specifically wanted to spoil him and made it clear that's what they were after. As Gibbs crumbled forward with a groan, Tony and Abby separated, pulling him between them.

"You haven't…" he started, but Tony shushed him with a kiss.

It took a few moments for his brain to solidify again, but once he was back, all he could think of was that neither of his lovers had found release.

Tony was painfully hard and as much as he wanted to give Gibbs some time to recover, he was focused on the discomfort of being so close, yet unable to fall. "Abbs…"

Abby lifted her head from where she was returning Gibbs' earlier favor, nibbling his neck, and nodded. As she started to climb over Gibbs, he moved to his back to help her over, pulling her down for a quick kiss. As Abby rubbed her body against his, he was surprised that his dick took interest again so quickly. Instead of letting her continue toward Tony, he pulled the condom off and tossed it toward the trashcan and pulled Abby down over himself with a grunt.

Abby cried out with pleasure and steadied herself as her body adjusted to the sudden, but welcome intrusion.

"C'mere," Gibbs reached for Tony and then indicated that he should kneel by his head and that Gibbs would finish him off with his mouth. Gibbs hardly had his lips wrapped around the younger man before Tony exploded over his tongue. The trust that came along with using his mouth and the touch of his lips was all that he needed. He held himself upright by holding onto the bed frame and once he was able to move his legs again, he pushed Gibbs into a seated position with Abby still in his lap, so that Tony could move behind him and wrap his arms around the older man's chest and kiss the back of his neck.

Despite not having been touched at all, Abby wasn't far from release either and Gibbs held her close as her body trembled with the aftershocks of an intense, emotional orgasm.


TBC…

So clearly I'm spoiling you. Life hasn't exactly slowed down, but I've been in the mood for NCIS fic rather than original writing (though it won't pay the bills, and how are flat!Gibbs and I supposed to travel if we don't pay the bills!?), so… yer welcome.

More probably soon.