Chapter 11
As Gibbs drove to the NCIS building his phone rang, he grabbed it out of his pocket whilst driving and flicked it open, having seen Kate's caller id.
"Yeah Kate" he said
"Gibbs, Abby isn't here, her neighbours haven't seen her, and she isn't answering her mobile phone" Kate said her tone worried
"Damn it" Gibbs muttered, his foot pressing on the accelerator, "Get her address book, and see if she has gone to a friends house, maybe that Jenny she went out with" he told her, his heart racing at the though of a lost Abby, his voice outwardly calm and slightly hard.
"I've got her PDA Gibbs, but so far none of her friends have heard from her, I have a few more to try…" she started
"Then try them, then meet me back at NCIS" he said hanging up and speeding up as he threw his phone onto the passenger seat.
Gibbs entered the building at a run and headed straight for Abby's lab, the only place he could think of that she would go to.
He skidded to a halt as he neared the door, nearly shouting in frustration as he found it dark and seemingly empty, he paused for a moment straining to hear and then he slowly crossed the dark lab, his eyes slowly becoming accustomed to the darkness. His heart dropped as he saw the figure curled in a ball on the floor, fearing the worst he dropped down next to her and gently stroked her hair, his heart beating painfully in his chest.
"Abby?" he called softly, relieved to feel her breathing slowly and evenly "Abby" he tried again, sliding to a sitting position on the floor and gently pulling her into his arms, cradling her as he would a small child, still more asleep than awake she cuddled into his warm body
"Abby, wake up" he said more insistently, his fear being replaced by an anger that she had been so stupid as to run away, he felt her stiffen for a moment and then settle back down into his arms
"Gibbs" she sobbed softly "I'm sorry" she whispered turning her face into his chest, his anger melted into a physical pain at the sad words she had whispered.
"Hey Abs, nothing to be sorry about" he said, trying to work out what she was sorry for, and get his emotions under control.
"I'm not strong" she said sadly, "I'm not like you" she whispered, Gibbs paused trying to work out what she meant
"I should hope not, I'm a rotten old bastard and your my strange little lab rat Abby" he chided her, "you don't want to be like me" he added lifting her face and wiping the tears with his callused thumb.
"Do you want to tell me why you are sleeping here alone in the dark?" he questioned her gently, the investigator never leaving him, Abby shook her head against him
"Come on Abs. I may be good at figuring things out but I can't help you on this if you don't talk to me" he chided her gently
Abby took a deep breath, then whished she hadn't as pain lanced through her chest, Gibbs rumbled slightly beneath her
"Take it from one that has been there, small breaths are better" he laughed slightly, trying to ease her tension, Abby nodded a small sigh/ laugh escaping
"Could have told me sooner boss man" she chided him settling more comfortably against him.
"So why are you here?" Gibbs persisted after a moment of comfortable silence. He felt Abby stiffen again, then sigh
"I was too scared to go home" she said quietly turning her head away from him. Gibbs nodded against the top of her black hair and pulled her closer.
………………………………
Kate rushed down to Abby's lab, the same thought crossing her mind as had crossed Gibbs' when she had had no luck tracking Abby down, she paused outside the still dark lab at the sounds of voices coming from inside. She slowly leant against the wall, as relief at hearing Abby's voice washed over her, Abby was safe and Gibbs was with her. She pushed away and headed for the elevator, her hand reached out and pushed a button automatically, she stepped out when the elevator arrived and slowly walked to the morgue. She entered to find Ducky sitting at his desk
"There are rumours that you have a stash of Whiskey" she said slowly and carefully, each word prononced carefully,to Ducky, who stood and watched Kate concern in his eyes.
"Well I need some" she added, falling into the chair Ducky had just vacated; she then put her head on the desk and silently began to cry. Ducky patted her back gently, opened up a drawer and pulled out the bottle, without a word he splashed some in a glass and handed it to her
"Indeed I think you do" he agreed with her, watching her wipe her eyes and smile slightly "It is good to know that in a time of need a beautiful young woman will still come to me" he flirted gently, getting the smile he wanted, and a hug he didn't expect
"Always Ducky always", she said knocking the drink back in one, causing Ducky to wince at such fine single malt being abused like that.
