Chapter 18
Gibbs stood quietly looking down at the grave, his eyes dry. Everyone else had left but he felt rooted to the spot. He had failed and so many good people had paid the price. His eyes stared unseeing; his heart heavy, Restin was dead but so was…
Gibbs jumped slightly at the hand on his arm
"Hey boss man" a soft voice said gently, "Its time to go" Abby said, as she put her arm through his
"I thought everyone had gone" he said quietly not looking away from the grave
"No Gibbs" was all Abby said as she gently laid her head on his shoulder,
"Come on, you cant stay here" she said to him pulling gently at the immoveable strength of him, hoping he would come away, knowing she couldn't make him if he didn't want to.
She felt a small shudder ripple through him and then she felt him turn, his hand touching hers on his arm. She smiled slightly, a sad smile.
"So you want to get drunk or work on your boat?" she asked, trying not too look back at the grave diggers moving in too fill in the hole.
"Both" he said refusing to look back, but it taking every once of strength he had not to turn back and look at the proof of his faliure.
"Great" Abby said, "I'll help you do both" she told him as they neared the car, looking up to smile sadly at the people gathered there "we all will" she added
"Indeed Jethro, I do believe it is just what the doctor ordered" Ducky said watching the grief in his friends eyes, and noticing the way Gibbs leaned very slightly on Abby, he smiled, Jethro would be just fine he thought.
The end
