Chapter 11
Gibbs walked down to the lab, deciding to forgo the elevator in order to give himself time to think, he entered Abby's domain to find McGee still sitting at the computer he had been working on earlier, Abby was no where to be seen
"McGEE" Gibbs shouted, causing the probie to jump and spin in his desk, sending sheets of papers flying everywhere
"Boss!" McGee exclaimed in surprise and fear
"Where is Abby?" Gibbs demanded quietly and coldly, he had given McGee orders to stay with Abby at all times, and yet she was nowhere to be seen.
"Umm she …" McGee started to say
"She is right here" Abby said crawling from under a table that housed one of her machines"There is no need to shout at poor McGee" she scolded Gibbs, bounding over to Gibbs, and throwing her arms around him in a hug and kissing him soundly "but thanks for caring" she added on, grinning as she stepped out of his arms
"I was more concerned that McGee hadn't followed orders" Gibbs said, turning to hide his grin, he stepped over to where Abby had been "you making something or breaking it?" he said nodding to all the components around the area, it looked like a child had been given free range with a screwdriver.
"Doing maintenance, seeing as I can't work on the case, I thought I would tweak my babies a bit" she said bouncing over and sitting on the floor, before she started to clean various bits. Gibbs watched her smiling slightly at Abby, who never ceased to amaze, confuse and delight him. Gibbs turned back to McGee who had finished picking up the sheets of paper and was typing again
"What you got McGee?" Gibbs asked, crossing to peer over his shoulder, not really able to see anything though due to his failing eyesight.
"Well I accessed the main server of Flynn's email account, and downloaded all the files and logs for the last 6 months pertaining to him I then crossed…"
"Short version" Gibbs demanded,shaking his headat the way everyone insisted on going into minute detail, maybe they had all worked with Ducky too long he thought sourly.
"Nothing yet boss" McGee said worriedly, fearing Gibbs reaction to that news "I'm waiting for the system to finish cross referencing, but it will be awhile Gibbs, he was a prolific internet user" he said quickly. Gibbs sighed and then nodded, hating waiting but not having any other choice at the moment.
"Any reference to his missing wife?" Gibbs asked suddenly, McGee looked over at him his eyes confused
"No Boss, she just disappeared, she used the internet a lot, going in chat rooms and online communities, but she just vanished, I can check to see if she accessed any of them after she left, but I did check Flynn's bank accounts and she hasn't withdrawn any money, or used her credit cards." McGee added thoughtfully, before turning back to the computer and typing again.
"It will take me a little while boss" he said, without turning
"Call me when you get anything" he said crossing back to Abby and crouching down to talk to her
"Want to go for coffee?" he asked her quietly, Abby looked up and grinned
"Ohh Gibbs our first date" she said smiling, jumping up and grabbing his hand "I want a Caff Pow though" she said, tossing her lab coat on to a bench and fetching her coat.
"Going for Coffee with Gibbs" she called out in a sing sing voice to McGee before the two of them left.
Abby and Gibbs walked the short distance to the coffee shop, and took a corner booth; Gibbs was silent on the way, his eyes alert and checking for any sign of threat but the trip was made without any incidence.
"So what's with sneaking out?" Abby said as she sipped her soda, her eyes searching over the cup, Gibbs watched her for a moment before replying
"Your staying at my place till this is over" he said, his tone broking no argument, Abby grinned at him
"Yeah I planned to anyway" she said laughingly "But its no wonder you stink at relationships if that's how you ask a woman to spend the night with you" she added impishly
"I think we need to …" he started his eyes troubled, and his tone tired.
"Don't go there Gibbs, don't even say it, I am staying with you, in your house, in your bed and we are going to be at it like bunnies, do you get that?" she demanded angrily, knowing full well that this had been coming. "No way are you claming up, not when I just found out how great you are in bed for such an old guy" she said teasingly at the end.
"Abby, I cant protect you, if I'm involved with you, I cant be objective" he said trying to sound reasonable, when the words were ripping him apart, he wanted Abby more than he could remember wanting anyone, but he wanted her safe more.
"No Gibbs, you get to order me at work, you get to tell me what to do, but that ends when we clock off, and no way am I letting you use this to run away and hide" she said her anger masking her fear and hurt.
"You can protect me just fine, if I am sleeping next to you" she continued and then grinned suddenly "Better really if I'm under you" she said softly, trying to make him remember how good it had been between them, she became serious again though "I cant let whoever this is take control of my life like that Gibbs, they already have too much control in that I cant work the case, and am under guard, don't give the bastard all of me Gibbs" she said softly, her eyes begging him to understand.
Gibbs watched her silently, his mind weighing the words against his duty to protect her, he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, until she forgot her fear, but if he did that she wasn't protected, because he wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything but her. He paused and took a deep breath
"No Abby, you sleep alone, but only till we catch him" he said, wanting to say anything but that "But I'm not running away Abby, we take up where we left off once we have this figured out" he promised her, his hand reaching out and taking hold of hers "I don't want to lose you Abby, and that includes you getting killed because I wasn't on the ball" he said gently, "I cant take the chance Abby, I wont risk you now when we have a long time to find out where this is going"
Abby snatched her hand back, her eyes dark
"This isn't over Gibbs, but I'll play it your way for now, but you are mine" she said with force "and don't you forget it" she added leaning over and kissing him sadly, praying that it wouldnt be tha last time, that he realy meant what he said.
Gibbs smiled gently at her across the table, the feeling was mutual, she was his Abby, his lab rat and he would protect her from everyone and everything, himself included.