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Hope you enjoy the rest

Chapter 7

The day progressed slowly for the team; Gibbs had gone over to Metro and had managed to get jurisdiction for the case for the time being, even though they had been angry that he hadn't called them in on Abby straight away. Metro had agreed to gv eit to them, thy understood about looking after their own adn so they released the body to Ducky for autopsy, Gibbs believed that they were, as always, snowed under and glad to relinquish the case to someone else. The first victim had been a Goth into all sorts of illegal and dangerous things, which in the eyes of some made her a low priority case, Gibbs thought otherwise.

Cover had also been arranged for Abby, a young woman in a pristine suit and immaculate blond hair. The team tried to accept her but she wasn't Abby and she was in Abby's domain, nor was she as quick as Abby, and that caused her to feel Gibbs's wrath resulting in her flinching every time Gibbs entered the lab, which only made his mood sink lower, and his temper shorter.

So far the only information they had was that the skid marks were made by a late model Chevy tyre, and the gun was stolen. No prints had been pulled of it, but the bullets matched the one in the first victim's skull, it was without a doubt the same Gun.

Kate had bought back the scrape samples taken from under Abby's nails, there had been DNA evidence there but no match had been found for it, so that meant he had no recent criminal record and didn't work for the government; the blood on Abby's rings had also proven to be his. On one hand this was good news, it meant that when they did catch him they had enough proof to convict, but it didn't tell them who it was.

As the day pulled to an end, nobody was in a rush to leave, they all wanted to follow up one last lead, one last call. They all wanted to find him now, and while Gibbs admired them for it, he knew that this case had an emotional toll that could burn them out quicker than anything else.

"Go Home" he called from his desk "Or go and see Abby" he added on "But I want you all to leave and get some rest" He stood and looked at each of them with various looks of shock on their faces

"But Boss…" Tony started

"No DiNozzo, go home and get some rest, there is nothing more to be done today except get tired and make mistakes" he warned "So go home or get fired" he warned. None of them moved

"NOW" he shouted bringing the bullpen to a standstill for a moment, then all three hurriedly shut down computers and files and grabbed there gear and silently left togther.

Gibbs watched them go and then sat back down, ignoring his own advice, he knew that they would go together to see Abby, then go for a drink, they had each other and they would see each other through this. All Gibbs had was his boat and he knew he would find no peace there tonight.

"Very good advice Jethro, some that I think you should follow" Ducky's voice said from behind

"In a while Duck" Gibbs said tiredly, able to let his guard down slightly with his friend, but unable to let go completely.

"No Jethro, I think now is better, I remember this case I had when …" he started smiling slightly as Gibbs turned his computer off

"Ok Duck, you win" he laughed grabbing his trench coat.

"Shall we let the young ones visit our Abigail first?" Ducky said gently, at Gibbs' nod he continued "then I believe a drink would be in order, don't you? I have some lovely single malt whiskey from Scotland stored in my office, perhaps you would join me?" he asked formally, knowing that Gibbs knew exactly where the single malt was kept and that the last thing Gibbs needed was to be on his own at the moment. Gibbs was alone far too much in Ducky's opinion.

……………………………..

Abby was sitting up in bed when her friends arrived, she smiled carefully as they entered, trying to be upbeat and cheerful for them, when in truth she just wanted them to go away and leave her alone.

"Hey Abby your replacement is a total…"

"Tony you are so one minded" Kate cut in before he could finish, neither of them noticing the pain in Abby's eyes at the word replacement.

"What? I was going to say nerd, it's not me that jumps to conclusions Katie" Tony argued, drawring out her name like some wild wes cowboy

Abby half listened to their banter, feeling a small sense of normalcy settle over her at the way they were still the same, they were, she thought sadly, it was she herself that was different.

"Where's Gibbs?" Abby suddenly asked in the middle of a conversation, unable to keep the question that was most in her mind from popping out. Kate and Tony looked at each other silently

"Still at work" McGee answered, earning a dig in the ribs from Kate

"He will be here later, I'm sure" Kate said soothingly seeing the pain in Abby's eyes at his absence. Tony looked at the two women trying to see what Kate was obviously seeing but missing it totally, McGee remained oblivious to the undercurrents as usual.

Abby soon began to tire, her pain medication taking effect and so the three friends and agents departed going to get something to eat and a drink, just as Gibbs had predicated, leaving Abby to drift to sleep, her loneliness pulling tighter around her at the strong team they made.

Gibbs and Ducky arrived 10 minutes after the others left, to find a sleeping Abby, Ducky decided to go and get an update on her condition and when she might be released, Gibbs sat silently by her bed watching her sleep.

When Ducky returned fifteen minutes later it was to find Gibbs asleep, his head on Abby's bed, her hand resting on his silver hair, Abby was still fast asleep. Ducky stood watching them for a moment, wishing that he could help his friends, but knowing that they were the only ones who could heal each other.

As the door closed silently behind Ducky, Gibbs woke slowly, his tired mind struggling to work out where he was, he felt Abby's hand in his hair and slowly moved it back to the bed. He stood and looked down at her for an eternity, noting every mark and bruise, every line of pain. He then slowly turned and left to his silent and empty house and his beloved boat, that failed to offer him the comfort andpeace it usually did.

Abby never knew he had visited.