Chapter 4

Abby awoke slowly, her mind groggy, she turned into the warmth beside her and threw her arm over the body next to her, her mind paused as she processed the action she had just taken, her eyes opened slowly to see Gibbs sleeping beside her. She closed her eyes and then opened them again, yep he was still there she thought to herself, a small smile breaking over her face as she took in the pleasure of watching him sleep, really sleep. Abby had caught him taking a nap in Ducky's office a few times, but then he had alwyas instantly woken up, and he had still looked like Gibbs, her boss, but here he looked different, younger and freer somehow. The worries and pressures he faced daily had slipped away to reveal Jethro not Gibbs and her heart contracted at the thought that she would properly never see this man again. Without noticing a tear slipped down her cheek and fell onto Gibbs's hand. As if it had been an alarm signal Gibbs' eyes flew open and saw Abby staring into his eyes and crying silently.

"Abby?" he said gently, not moving, "Nothing happened" he tried to reassure her "you had a bad dream" he continued, his blue eyes watching her intently

"I know" she said quietly, her heart breaking at the look of worry in his eyes, she knew Gibbs would never take advantage of her, he didn't find her attractive, why would he? She thought bitterly. "That's the problem" she said not realising she spoke the heartbroken words out loud, until it was too late to take them back

Gibbs felt his heart stop beating at her words, his eyes turned puzzled as they sought an answer in her words, one that made sense

"Oh God" Abby said pushing away from Gibbs and sliding off the bed, the long old fashioned white nightdress hiking up as she did so

Gibbs sat up, getting of the bed and cutting of her escape route

"What did that mean Abby?" he asked calmly, as if asking a witness a question, inside though he was anything but calm, his heart raced and his mind kept repeating the words and there possible meaning

"nothing" she said looking for a way out of the room, and the situation; how stupid could she be, she wondered, as if she didn't already know he felt nothing for her except friendship, his reaction was giving it away now

"Yes you did Abby, what did you mean?" he demanded again, his eyes finding and holding hers

"I, I… Damn it Gibbs, I meant it's a pity you didn't take advantage of me, because it would have totally rocked, but you didn't and you won't and I feel really, really stupid, so will you just move it and let me go and kill myself, in the mostdisgusting fashion I can find" she said in a rush, her normal animation disappearing in a wave of self loathing.

"Finished?" Gibbs asked calmly, taking a step towards her, she nodded shakily, not trusting her voice or willing to meet his eyes anymore

"Good" said Gibbs from directly in front of her "So you wanted to be rocked?" he said quietly, Abby looked up almost afraid, she had only ever seen this deadly calm Gibbs once before and then he had been furious at her

"Would have been nice" she tried to quip back, but failing as her voice shook.

Gibbs pulled her chin up so that she had to look at him and then he lowered his lips to hers, his other hand snaking round to pull her tighter to him