A/N: You didn't really think I was going to just post this and leave you all wondering about what Gibbs went all the way to the mall for, did you? Come on, am I really that- Oh, wait, nevermind, I can be that evil. I have to admit, this isn't my best work, and the presents are pretty... Stupid, actually. It was three in the morning, and even though I was practically dead on my feet, I couldn't sleep. So I wandered downstairs to the computer and started to write this. It hasn't been passed on to my editor (I love you!), so all mistakes are my own. I probably should have sent it to her, but I kind of like(d) having my little secret story. Sorry! Anyways, yes- on with Gibbs and Abby. By the way- I'm not sure if I want to continue this so that Gibbs and Abby get together or not- what do you guys think? Who knows- I guess I could bring in Kate and Tony if I did.

Gibbs walked into NCIS Headquarters on Christmas Eve feeling rather proud of himself. He hadn't chickened out of bringing Abby's Christmas present. He vaguely wondered if he should have brought Kate, Tony and Ducky something, but then decided he didn't really care. Ducky was his friend, and they would invariably get together for the holidays, so Gibbs had a bit more time. Besides, he could always drop by Ducky's and no one would think anything of it. But if he showed up on Abby's doorstep, who knew what people would think? He told himself that he really didn't care what anyone else thought… And neither would Abby. But it did matter- to him. Not so much for himself, but for her. The rumour mill would have a field day- the Goth lab rat is sleeping with her boss… The typical stereotype for both groups, really.

He was at work early- earlier than anyone else, at any rate. After all, it was a holiday… He had tried to convince his team that he was the only one who really needed to come, but they had refused to let him be at work on his own- especially not on Christmas Eve. Abby had even gone as far as to accuse him of being a stereotypical 'Ebenezer Scrooge'. He had, however managed to convince them to come in late, even though he had lied and said he would be in late too. Maybe he was a bit of a Scrooge? But no- he had, after all, bought more than one Christmas present… Or, well, he was going to.

He rounded the corner and saw his desk. He blinked several times in rapid succession as Christmas music floated to his ears. There was a very large box sitting in the exact middle of his desk, and it was decorated with tinsel and lights and other various Christmas-y things. There was a miniature Christmas tree, complete with tiny lights that actually worked and little ornaments. Someone- and he suspected that he knew who- had spent an awful lot of time and money trying to get him in the Christmas spirit. And that someone had defied his orders in one way or another… They were either here early or they had stayed late, both of which he had specifically told them not to do.

He sighed and finished walking to his desk. He decided that he would open the present, only something else caught his eye. Something that was more important than presents. A card…

He tore off the envelope and started reading quickly, with every intention of punishing whoever had done this for insubordination.

He laughed suddenly. Not his usual chuckle, but an outright laugh. "Okay Abbs, very funny, come out…"

Abby appeared behind him seemingly from out of nowhere. "Hey boss-man… Aren't you going to open your present?" she asked innocently.

He spun around. "Where did you come from?"

"Well, originally, I was born in New Orleans, but I stayed at my-"

"Okay, okay, I get it… You were hiding from me and you're not going to tell me where, right?"

She grinned. "You've got it, Mr. Scrooge. So go on… open your present."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine, but only if you'll open yours, deal?"

"Gibbs, I don't have a present…"

He tossed her the box he had brought with him. "Yes you do."

"You know you didn't have to buy me a Christmas present…" she reminded him.

"You didn't have to buy me one either. And, just for your information, I wanted to get you one."

"Well, I wanted to get you one too… Besides, I think you could use a little extra Christmas cheer…"

"Fair enough…"

They tore off the outer layers of their presents at the same time, each of them secretly anxious to find out what the other had bought for them. Abby laughed when she discovered that there were several layers of wrapping paper.

Gibbs, on the other hand, was getting frustrated. Upon ripping the first layer of wrapping paper, he had encountered a box. After opening that box, he discovered another box covered in shiny wrapping paper. After opening five boxes, he was relieved to find the actual present. And he laughed… She had bought him paint.

Abby tore off her final layer of wrapping paper and gasped. "Oh my God! Gibbs, you really, really shouldn't have!" Still holding his gift in one hand, she threw her arms around him.

"Abbs… Abbs? Abby, what's the big deal?"

She let him go abruptly. "Sorry, I just- You really didn't have to do that!"

He grinned. "So… you like it?"

"Mmhm… But- I don't understand- why?"

"Where do I start? Because you put up with me for starters. Not to mention the fact that you're so amazing in the lab… I could go on and on."

"Okay, but how did you know that the exact thing I've been looking for was the perfect picture to put up in my living room?"

"Well, actually, I just sort of thought that you probably didn't have too many pictures of any of us- never mind the five of us."

She grinned. "Well, it's still the perfect picture. And you even got it blown up for me!" She looked at him. "Go ahead, ask me. Ask me why I bought you paint…"

"How did you know that I was going to- Oh, never mind, I'm not even going to ask how. Why did you buy me paint Abbs?"

"So that- when you finally get finished with your boat- you can paint it…" She grinned, feeling quite proud of herself. "I don't think that you'll need it anytime soon, but it never hurts to be prepared…"

Yes, Gibbs- who always kept a picture of the five of them in his wallet- had bought Abby a rather large picture frame and had blown up his picture to put in it. Abby, ever the insightful lab rat, had bought several cans of paint. Only she hadn't exactly known Gibbs' favourite colours, so she had bought red, black, green, white, blue- just about every colour she could think of, except for pastels, of course. All in all, Christmas had been quite eventful for the two of them, and it hadn't even begun.

Abby and Gibbs each successfully hid their presents from the rest of the building for the entire day. Kate and Tony wanted so desperately to ask Gibbs about the sudden change in his desk attire, but neither of them had a death wish, so they didn't. Which ended up being their loss, as Gibbs was in a better mood than he had ever been in at Christmas time. So he probably would have told them- though whether or not it would have been the truth was debatable. He was in the mood, and he didn't care if anyone knew it.