Author's Note: Hey, you all. :) So I thought this would be nice. And I will definitely write more to "Telephone" next. I wanted to get this off my chest. Lol It's not that great, but I do like it. The believe-in-ichabbie hashtag helped to move this along. I think Sleepy Hollow Addicts created it. Please let me know if that's correct. Thank you for that tag. :) Here's a story for that hashtag. Enjoy. :) While writing this fic, I was reminded of Aerilon452's fic "On the Outside" on . So if you haven't already, please read it. It's really good. I hope she writes more of it. Ichabbie holding each other just puts me in so many feels. Lol

Abbie stepped into the cabin. All of the lights were turned off. Were they really trying to throw her a welcome back surprise party? They knew she was coming to visit them for the weekend. She wasn't here to stay. She flipped the switch on.

"Surprise," Jenny said.

Abbie smiled and shook her head at her. Her sister ran towards her and hugged her.

"Did you miss me?" Abbie said as she squeezed her sister.

"No. What would make you think that?" Jenny held her sister tighter.

"I missed you, too, Jenny."

Jenny let her go. "How is Quantico so far?"

"Kicking my ass, but I'm doing real good. I've learned so much."

"When will you come back home?"

"Nine more months."

"Hurry up," Jenny said.

Abbie laughed at her sister. "Okay."

Abbie then looked at Crane. He smiled at her. She pushed her fingers through her hair; his hands twitched by his side. They walked towards each other, stood in silence until he spoke.

He gave a slight nod. "Leftenant."

She did the same. "Crane."

"How was your trip here?"

"Good. It was good."

She wondered if they would talk about their phone conversations and how they stayed on the line with each other until morning. They've been doing that for four weeks straight until she came to visit. It wasn't healthy, but it was the only way they could express that they missed each other. They still hadn't told each other that yet. Crane was getting better, but he was still grieving his wife. She didn't want to wait, but she respected him enough to do so.

"I'm going to go pick up the cake and the food," Jenny said as she grabbed the keys from her pocket. "I'll be back."

They both nodded their heads as Jenny walked towards the door. "Take your time."

They stared at each other when she closed the door.

"Would you care for a beverage?" Crane said. He walked into the kitchen. Abbie followed him.

"No. I'm good."

He put his hands behind his back and stared at her.

"So, how have you been?" She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms.

He did the same. "I've been well for the most part. Jenny and I took a trip to New York to cheer me up. It was most astounding and extraordinary. It is such a busy little city."

"It is. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm bummed you and Jenny went without me though. You could have waited." She poked him in his shoulder.

"My apologies, Leftenant. Next time, we shall go together. To be truthful, as much as I enjoy Miss. Jenny's company, it wasn't the same without you."

"Thanks, Crane. And you're gonna have to stop calling me 'Leftenant' soon. It'll be Agent Mills to you."

"My apologies. It is a habit. I shall remember your new rank, Agent Mills." He smiled down at her.

"I don't mind if you still call me 'Leftenant' though, Crane."

"Are you sure? I would want to call you what you prefer."

She chuckled. "I don't mind." She would miss it if he didn't.

"That's good to hear. I would like to hear much more about Quantico."

Abbie told him about it: the training, the people she's met, Joe.

"It sounds like you are doing rather well. I'm pleased to hear that Joe is there as well."

"Yeah, he's happy."

Crane nodded his head.

They got quiet until Abbie spoke.

"How have you really been, Crane?"

He sighed. "Some days are better than others, but it is improving. You comfort over the phone is reassuring. Thank you for spending that time with me."

"It's what I'm here for." She placed her hand on his arm. "I'm always here."

His hand was on hers. "Thank you. What about you, Leftenant?"

"Oh," she removed her hand, "I've been alright."

Crane raised his eyebrow at her.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "It's just…I didn't know, Crane. I wasn't expecting all of this to be so difficult for me, for us."

"It's all right, Abbie. I know. Me, too."

"I still wish I could tell you, you know?"

"I know." He grabbed her hands. "I wish to return the sentiments."

"What are we going to do until you're ready?"

"As you once told my old self, 'we hug it out.'"

"Are you sure?"

"For now, yes. That's all we can do. We can always show it if we can't say it." Crane took off his coat, and Abbie took hers off, too. They placed them on a chair.

Abbie took his hands.

"I'll let you lead," he said.

She nodded her head and placed his arms around her waist. He was still as she stepped closer to him. As she wrapped her arms around his waist, her head fell on his chest; his arms tightened around her. He sighed; she closed her eyes. His fingers rubbed patterns on her back.

Abbie didn't mind this. She was grateful for this physical contact with Crane after so much distance between them. She missed him, wanted to tell him. They weren't used to holding back from each other. They were always honest and trying to suppress anything was hard.

"Did you need this, too?" she said.

"I did."

"Is it enough?"

"It comes quite close."

Abbie squeezed him tighter. "For now."

His fingers were in her hair. He kissed the top of her head and held her as close as he could. He wanted to tell her he missed her, too, but he wasn't ready.

"I'm sorry, Abbie. I don't mean to make you wait."

"I know. I get it, but I want to hear the words, Crane. We both need to hear them while we're apart. We may go crazy if we don't. Neither one of us needs that."

He chuckled. "Agreed."

They stood in silence, holding the other until they heard a key in the door.

"I'm back, guys."

They glanced at each other, and Abbie put her forehead on his chest, took a deep breathe, and let him go. She put space between them. Jenny stood in the threshold of the kitchen. She held cake and wings.

"So did you miss each other?" She walked into the kitchen and sat the food down on the table.

"Just a little," Abbie said, staring at Crane.

"A little, indeed."

They looked back at Jenny, then helped her set the table for dinner and dessert.