A/N: Okay, I'm really pleased with all of you guys for putting up with me. I just have one tiny complaint, and that's against one reviewer, p-angelgmx.de. And it's really not a complaint, I just wish that you would have given me a chance (by reading more of the fic) before chewing me out like that. I am currently composing an email to you explaining my reasoning behind Abby's reaction to the whole situation. You seem like a very analytical person, and I'm glad you pointed that stuff out, but I wish you could've waited a bit, because almost everything you objected to is explained later. So I'm probably ruining the fic for you by explaining it, but oh well. On a happier note to you, I also want to thank you for giving your honest opinion...
By the way- I know this will be pretty boring/wordy/pointless for the next few chapters. I'll try to post them quickly so that you can get to the good bits... I'm warning you now- this is not over, and it's sure to get ugly...

"Jethro, turn around," ordered Ducky as he spread Gibbs' jacket over the cold metal surface behind Abby.

"Why Ducky?" asked Gibbs with a frown. He had not decided to humiliate himself and be a nurse only to be told he couldn't watch over her. And how was he supposed to watch over her if he couldn't even see her?

"Jethro, please just do as you're told. It's a part of being a n- an assistant," covered Ducky quickly.

Gibbs groaned inwardly, but did as he was told and turned around anyways. He had been set up at his own set up! Was that even possible? Well, when it involved Abby and Ducky- especially when it was the two of them together- anything was possible. He crossed his arms and began tapping his foot impatiently.

"Abigail my dear, could you- uh…" Ducky wasn't quite sure of how to ask his question. After all, Abby was incredibly self conscious, and she was sure to be more so after last night. Still, they couldn't proceed until it was done.

Abby noticed Ducky's discomfort and felt guilty for all of the grievances that she had caused and was sure to cause in the future. "Could I what Ducky?"

"Well, it's just that… I need you to remove your shirt please," he managed finally.

"Okay, sure, but why does Gibbs-? Oh! Oh, okay, I get it… Never mind…" she babbled sheepishly as she slid her shirt off of her body and let it fall to the floor. "Now what?"

Ducky couldn't help but stare at the bruises all along her now exposed arms; her shoulders, chest and abdomen had also suffered extensive purple marks. Even if he hadn't been before, McGee was now in the worst possible spot. He had a pathologist mad at him, as well as a team of investigators. "Um, could you lie down please," murmured Ducky softly.

Abby did as she was told and Ducky moved his light over Abby's head. "You may turn around now Jethro…" Ducky called over his shoulder as he finished preparing Abby for her quick yet enlightening X-ray.

Abby's upper body was left uncovered and bathed in light when Gibbs turned around. He gasped involuntarily as he saw that more of her body was a shade of blue, grey, green or purple as opposed to the normal, pale tone of her skin. Well, with any luck the bruises alone would be enough for Ducky to make her go home.

Ducky moved back and stood next to Gibbs behind the control screen. "Alright my dear, hold still, okay? And try not to say anything."

"Duck, I'm taking her home the second that we're done in here, whether she likes it or not, okay? And I'm not going to come back in either," Gibbs alerted his friend in a whisper. He looked at her lying vulnerably on the autopsy table. "I think I may take her to the doctor, or at least to a doctor."

"Jethro, you are not to take her to the hospital, or even to the doctor's for that matter, as she hates them both. Take her home and stay with her. Don't leave her house, and don't let anyone in. There's more to the story than we've been told," Ducky whispered back, taking extra care to make sure that Abby couldn't overhear them.

"I know Ducky, but she thinks that that's what happened to her. But you just don't get these kinds of bruises from plain old sex," murmured Gibbs, still watching her closely. She was getting restless, he could tell. If it hadn't been such an awkward situation- to say the least- he probably would have more than slightly amused at her subtle attempts to entertain herself.

"Let me assure you that I know it Jethro. I'm all too aware of what really happened to her, though it appears as though you picked up on it before I did. All I can say is that you had better get McGee on that table as quickly as possible."

The machine stopped moving and automatically shut itself off. Ducky looked up casually. "Alright my girl, now comes the hard part- the thirty minutes to an hour of waiting. I suggest that we make Gibbs take you out for some sort of a treat," suggested Ducky, knowing that simply spending time with Gibbs was a treat for Abby; just as spending time with Abby was a treat for Gibbs. "What do the two of you say to Gibbs buying ice cream?" asked Ducky as he began the tedious job of packing away his fancy machine.

Gibbs and Abby unintentionally ignored him.It wasn't like they didn't love Ducky to pieces, it was simply that they were a bit more preoccupied with each other. Gibbs reached down and picked up Abby's shirt. He handed it awkwardly to her, though not without storing the mental image of the impressive amount of bruising from close up. Oblivious to Gibbs' thoughts about her, Abby jumped off of the autopsy table with a grin and took her shirt from him, hastily tossing it back over her head.

She pulled his coat off with her and handed it to him. "Here," she handed it to him awkwardly. God, did they have some sort of fascination with embarrassing each other? "Um... thanks," she whispered.

He chuckled half-heartedly. "Anytime Abbs..." He pulled his coat back on and grinned at her.

"Hey, Ducky... If I'm taking me and Abby for ice cream, does that mean I should bring something back for you or what?" asked Gibbs. He already knew what he was ordering, of course. It had been so long since he had eaten ice cream and he was going to use this to his advantage. He had every intention of indulging in a double- if not triple- scoop peanut butter and fudge swirl cone.

"Please don't even bother Jethro... I should think that it would melt before you even left to come back here." Ducky grinned at the reactions of his two friends- complete and utter confusion.So innocent...Naturally, they had no idea what he was getting at, though Gibbs was sure to at least have a vague idea. "Might I suggest tha the two of you leave now? I believe that dear Abigail is sure to be getting impatient..." Ducky grinned; now that his back was to them, he didn't have to conceal his devious grin.

Taking that as a hint, Gibbs lead Abby gently to his car and drove to his favourite ice cream parlour of all time...