"Hi, Abbs, how's it going?...Really?...Yeah, Ducky told me….We met a few days
ago….That's a good idea, you'll meet Erin then……No, she's been staying with me for a
while….No, not really…Might turn out that way though….You bet she is!...Chinese will be
fine."
Back on the boat he told Erin.
"Abby is going to visit us tonight. She runs the lab at NCIS. She's a pretty interesting
character. Brilliant at work and fun to be around. I think the two of you will get along well."
He hoped they would. Erin definitely needed some friends and in his eyes Abby was highly
qualified.
They spent the time left with a game of chess, and Gibbs wound up thinking that maybe he'd
taught her too well. She gave him a hard fight and won two out of five games.
Just as they were finished, Abby came down the footbridge, swinging the plastic bag that held
the Chinese food so that Gibbs hoped it didn't contain soup.
He stood up and took the bag so that Abby could climb on board. They hugged hello.
"Abbs, I've been missing you."
"Yeah, me too. NCIS is not the same without my grumpy old boss-man."
"Abby, this is Erin – Erin, Abby."
Abby stepped down into the cockpit, gave Erin a bright smile.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
"My pleasure." They shook hands.
"How did you two meet?" Abby asked inquisitively.
Gibbs jumped in.
"We both came by a car accident and helped get the people out. And since Erin hadn't found a
place to stay yet, we thought she might as well stay here on the boat with me."
Erin was glad he left it at that.
They sat down to eat, Abby filling Gibbs in about the latest bureau gossip. She noticed Gibbs
attitude was completely different from how he was at the office. He was relaxed, easy-going
and she was ready to bet on something going on between him and Erin.
Later when Erin had left for the bathroom Abby told Gibbs about a case they almost had that
day.
"A female lieutenant was found dead in one of the boat houses at the naval academy. Tony
and Kate went to look at it, and since they couldn't find any cause for her death took her to
Ducky. Obviously she'd been raped shortly before she died. And then we found it was a
suicide. Overdose of sleeping pills. But we couldn't find any kind of DNA except of her own.
No sperm, no fibres, nothing. There are no witnesses, nobody knew of a fight or anything else
that might give us a clue. Don't think we're going to be able to track him down."
"You know that happens from time to time Abby."
"Yeah, I do. But it's frustrating."
She looked at Gibbs.
"What's going on between you and Erin?"
"Nice interrogation technique, Abby. Sudden change of subject."
"You're not going to tell me?"
"No!"
But Abby wouldn't be Abby if she gave up this easily.
When Erin came back, she invited her to go out for a good set of "girls-talk".
Erin liked Abby. She was smart and humorous. She looked at Gibbs who nodded approvingly.
"Sounds like a good idea," she answered.
"Let's see…tomorrow I'm at the "Vampire's". How about Friday?
"Sure."
Gibbs offered to bring her to Abby's place.
"I'll go, check on the house. Abbs can drop you off there."
"Ok, then," she gave Erin a smile, "it's Friday night for the girls…hey, I think I got to go.
Have to be in the lab on time tomorrow and my coffin's waiting for me."
They hugged and Abby "danced" back to her car.
"Wow!"
Erin looked at Gibbs.
"Yeah, that describes Abby."
"What was she saying about a coffin waiting for her?"
"She sleeps in one."
"No – but then, why not? I like her."
"That's good. I hope you and her can become friends."
They had collected all the left-overs and packaging and Erin picked up the plastic bag.
"Let me take this to the dumpster. I need to walk a few steps."
Gibbs looked at her. She had not actually said "alone", but he'd heard it anyway.
Erin didn't wait for an answer but stepped off the boat and walked along the foot-bridge.
When she came back, she didn't climb back on board, but went to the end of the bridge and
stood there, observing the nighttime scenery.
Minutes ago, when Abby had left, she'd suddenly been overcome by a big black wave of
sadness and loneliness. It had seemingly come out of no where and she'd had to get away
from Gibbs who would eventually have noticed and asked her what was on her mind.
And how should she explain to him what she didn't understand herself.
Maybe the problem was her feeling too good. The way Gibbs acted towards her, the fact that
she was as close to feeling safe as she'd ever been, the idea of Abby and her being friends, all
this made her feel better than she ever had felt in her whole life. And then, in the short
moment of silence after Abby had left the 'Morning Glory' she had realized that this was like
a day-dream. This was not her life; this would end as soon as Ben called for her. The big
black wave came rolling in.
Gibbs had watched her standing motionless, hands in her pockets, staring into the dark and
looking so completely lost he could actually hear her silent cry for help.
He left the boat and walked up to her.
"Hey sailor…" he softly whispered, standing behind her.
She hadn't heard him come but she had sensed his warm body standing behind her before he
spoke.
"Are you ok?"
She took a deep breath.
"Yes, sure."
"You suddenly looked so sad…." He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is there
anything I can do for you?"
How could it feel so good to have him standing so close?
Gibbs slowly reached out and embraced her from behind. He felt Erin stiffen and opened up
his arms a little to give her more room.
"Shhh….easy." His words were barely to be heard; just a breeze in her hair.
Erin knew it wasn't wise to find comfort in this illusion of a new life. But Ben was then and
Gibbs was now.
She relaxed and leaned against Gibbs' chest as he tightened his grip around her. She soaked
up the warmth he gave, savoured this moment of feeling safe and protected.