AN: Sorry it has taken me so long to update but my daughter has been ill.

Chapter 28

Gibbs stood in the empty hospital room, his phone still in his hand. Finally he would get to face Ari alone, with no one there to interfere. Gibbs looked at his watch and smiled; in just a short while he could finally wipe Ari of the face of the earth, and finally lay his ghosts to rest. Gibbs slowly put his phone away and took a deep breath before leaving the room and once more crossing to Abby's door, knowing that before he met Ari he had something to do first.

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Gibbs slowly pushed open the door to Abby's room and for the second time that day he walked in to find her sleeping. He crossed on silent feet and sat beside her bed, his eyes noticing the tracks her tears had made on her face, unbidden Liz's words flashed into his mind you left her crying. Gibbs sighed and ran his hand through his hair, the last thing he wanted to do was make Abby cry, Abby was the only one who had the ability to make him smile when he wanted to punch something. She had the strength to ignore him when he needed it, or to challenge him when a situation warranted it. He had never realised before just how much he needed Abby, not until he thought he might lose her. An image of Tony at Kate's funeral flashed into Gibbs's mind, and the realisation that Tony had left it too long. But he thought to himself, it was different, he and Abby were different and always would be. Gibbs stood silently and bent over Abby, his eyes taking in every feature before he slowly bent and kissed her gently. Knowing it would be the only time he would allow himself that luxury.

"I'm sorry" Gibbs whispered, refusing to believe that the moisture irritating his eyes was tears. With that Gibbs rose slowly and made his way out of the room, refusing to look back.

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Abby opened her eyes as the door closed, her hand fluttering to her lips where Gibbs had kissed her. She had heard him sit down, but had been too afraid to open her eyes. She had sensed something was wrong with him, but she couldn't bear to see the anger in his eyes again, anger directed at her and so she had pretended to sleep.

It had taken all of her strength not to reach out to him, as she felt his lips on hers. To reach up and hold him there, but his broken sorry had prevented her from opening her eyes. Gibbs would have hated that she knew of his pain, that she had heard his whispered words. Abby stared at the door and hoped that one day he would let her in, but she doubted it. Once more Abby felt her tears fall, but his time she made no attempt to wipe them away. This time she cried not only for herself but for Gibbs.

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Gibbs felt as if he had just said goodbye to Abby forever, but he wasn't sure why. This morning he had known who and what he was, now he felt as if someone had changed all the rules and forgotten to tell him. He squared his shoulders as he walked along the corridor, and took a deep breath. Nothing had changed he told himself, wishing he believed it.

Gibbs walked out of the hospital with his mask of self confidence and control firmly in place, at least on the outside.

Gibbs crossed over the road, jogging through the afternoon traffic and heading down the street. Gibbs walked for nearly an hour, detouring and backtracking on his route, just in case anyone was following him. When he was sure that no one was tailing him he headed towards the park where he was to meet Ari. His stride lengthening and his confidence returning; this was who he was, and this was what he did he thought to himself.