Kate stood in the doorway to the bathroom, watching Abby wipe the eyeliner and mascara off her cheeks. So many thoughts were racing through her own mind that she didn't even want to think of what Abby's mind might be holding. First the breakup for another woman, then the death of Nick, followed by almost being arrested, having to admit what she had done and to top it all off, Gibbs pouring his heart out to her. Yeah, she didn't want to be in Abby's head.
"Do you think he really feels that way about me? Or is he just pulling some sick stunt to take my mind off of all the things that are going on?" Abby asked Kate as soon as she realized she was there.
"Come on Abbs. I know that you can answer that question for yourself," Kate replied, not sure whether these words would comfort or hurt her best friend.
"I don't want to answer it myself. I want someone to tell me. I am tired of making decisions on my own and determining things on my own. We can all see where it has led me. I slept with Nick and then almost got arrested. Thanks to me, you are no longer on Fornell's good side."
"Screw Fornell. He is like Gibbs, no one can ever be on his good side." As soon as Kate said these words, she realized how they could have confused Abby. If it was impossible to be on Gibbs' good side, then how could he love Abby? "Ignore what I just said except for the whole screwing Fornell." Kate's mind processed what she had just said a little to late. "Okay, forget that too. Nobody wants to think about screwing Fornell." Damn, why am I making this so hard?
"Thanks for trying Kate, but truthfully, you didn't make me feel any better."
"I'm sorry Abbs. This situation is just so complicated," Kate appologized, walking over to Abby and pulling her into a hug. "Are you ready to face him or should we go get you a nice Caf-Pow?"
"Caffiene probably wouldn't be my friend at this moment, but talking to Gibbs seems like it would be torture," Abby said, pausing for a moment to further think her two options. "Let me go talk to him. He is probably no longer in my lab so when you see him... will you send him down?"
"Sure. You got it," Kate replied as the two walked their seperate directions.
Abby trudged into her lab and instinctly made her way over to her stereo to turn it on. With one flip of a switch, music began to lull her into her own little world where everything was okay. No one had slept with the wrong person. No one was dead. No one was thrown in jail. And most of all, no one admittted how much they loved someone. She wasn't really sure which hurt worse: the fact that the man she loved was dead or the fact that the man she loved was alive. Wait a minute. Did I just admit to myself that I love Gibbs? No way. Nick is dead and I love him, or loved him. I no longer love any guy, especially not Gibbs with his handsome features, gruff voice and piercing blue eyes that just make you want... STOP ABBY! You do not love Gibbs. You don't.
The rock music continued to play as Abby pondered the more recent thoughts that clouded out Nick's death. With her head in her hands, she didn't even notice Gibbs enter her lab carrying a Caf-Pow!. As usual, he turned down the music, but was surprised when Abby didn't lift her head. You think she would notice the noise that she considered music being made so that it was bearly audible. Of course with everything that was going on, Gibbs wasn't even sure that Abbs would notice if a bomb was to blow up right in front of her face.
Gibbs cleared his throat, hoping to grab Abby's attention from whatever thoughts were racing through her head. "Abbs?" Gibbs said quietly, not wanting to startle her.
Abby had known he was there. He was the only person who had the guts to turn down her radio. As tempting as it was at first, she had refused to look back. Watching Gibbs squirm was not something that happened often and with the mood she was in, his squirming would be something she reveled in. Although he had turned down her stereo, cleared his throat and called her name, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of her turning around to face him. He had to appologize first for yelling at her like that. Then it struck her. The smell of caffiene brought itself to her nose and she found it hard fighting the temptation.
"Thirsty? Brought you your favorite drink," Gibbs coaxed.
Caf-Pow! Ugh... she so needed one of those now, although she told Kate that she hadn't. Caffiene usually calmed her nerves... but it could make them worse. You don't need it Abbs. Be strong. She tried so hard to convince herself that the drink was not important, but it was hard resisting the urge. Gibbs knew it. Damn him. "Thanks," Abby said, turning around to grab the drink out of Gibbs' hand.