Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Here you go Abby's arrival. Hope you enjoy. Also want to say Happy New Year to everyone since this is the last chapter to be posted in 2005. Yes sorry you have to wait until at least the 5th for the next one because I am leaving in the morning to go out of town for a while. Anyway! Enjoy and remember to tell me what you think! dark rolling sea.
Chapter Twelve: Abby's First Impression

Abby and McGee's flight landed on time and with no major hiccups. They were standing in the Ft. Wayne Airport looking for where their baggage was going. They found the carousel and waited. Abby turned to McGee.

"You got the directions to Syracuse?" Abby asked.

"For the hundredth time, Yes," McGee said as he watched the bags start tumbling down the chute to the belt sliding around and around. He saw the first of his bags come down and he shoulder his way between the other onlookers and grabbed it.

"Ok, I was just making sure," Abby said quietly turning back to the luggage. McGee glanced at her and rolled his eyes then grabbed the second bag. A third bag came down and McGee pulled it off.

"Are you almost done?" Abby asked as she clutched the only bag she brought with her. McGee smiled apologetically and counted his bags. All four of his bags were accounted for.

"Yeah, sorry," McGee said and started to pile them onto a trolley. Abby shook her head and lead the way towards the car counter. They got their rental car and finally made their way onto the road.

"How long?" Abby asked as she played with the radio. McGee looked at the clock.

"Hour and half," McGee said. Abby whined in the seat next to him and he glanced over. "Sorry Abby, it's the closest airport to Syracuse."

"Where are we going?"

"Kate warned us it was the middle of no where."

Abby settled into the seat and McGee concentrated on driving as he followed the directions he downloaded from the internet. They road along in relative silence for most of the trip and McGee only had to turn around once.

"Tim, you're going the wrong way," Abby said with a sigh as they got back on the road.

"No, I don't think so," McGee said searching the road for signs. He glanced at his directions then the road signs. A puzzled look came over his face.

"Yes, Tim, you are. We should be going that way," Abby said putting out the rear window. McGee looked around again and started to worry. He then realized that Abby was right and got off at the next exit and turned around.

"Told you," Abby said softly as she tossed her head to the side.

"Sorry," McGee said with a fake smile. Abby smiled wide and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's ok, Tim," Abby said as they got back on the right path and headed back towards Syracuse Indiana.

They finally got into town and they found the motel, and asked if the McPherson's had checked in. The clerk told them yes but he couldn't give them the room number. Abby protested but McGee simply pulled his cell phone out and called Gibbs.

"Gibbs," he said into the phone.

"Boss, we're at the motel but they won't tell us where you're family is," McGee said trying to turn away so he could hear over Abby's ranting.

"I'll come on out, just walk towards the rooms," Gibbs said a smile on his face after hearing Abby yell in the background.

"Right, Boss."

"And, McGee?"

"Yeah, Boss."

"Make sure you bring Abby with you," he said with a smile then closed the line. Kate looked at him and smiled then got up and walked out the door with Gibbs right behind her.

Kate looked towards the office and saw McGee emerge with Abby in tow as she was still glaring at the poor soul behind the counter. McGee nodded when he saw Kate and Gibbs and pulled Abby with him across the parking lot. Abby finally turned her head to yell at McGee for pulling her from the confrontation but then she saw Kate and smiled.

"Kate!" she yelled and bounded over to her. Kate smiled and opened her arms as Abby ran into her.

"Hey, Abbs."

"I'm so excited. It's finally happening, big ole' grumpy Gibbs is going to finally mellow out!"

"Hey," Gibbs said with a fake scowl. Abby only smiled, took a side step and looked up at Gibbs with innocence.

"Hi, Gibbs," Abby said sweetly. Gibbs smiled and wrapped an arm around her. She hugged him then stepped back.

"Hi, Abbs."

"See, old Gibbs would never hug a member of his team like that."

"I've hugged you before, Abby."

"Only when I've just been shot at, or had my life threatened, or was scared I was going to die. See a pattern here?"

"You need to look for a new career?" McGee tossed in making everyone smile except Abby who tossed a glare his way. McGee smiled and threw his hands up in surrender.

"How was the trip," Kate asked.

"Good, except Tim took a wrong turn but we got here," Abby said with a smile. They finished getting caught up. Kate then said it was time to meet the family and that her mother had prepared a dinner for them and the rest of the family.

They made their way in a little caravan to the Todd house with Kate and Gibbs in the lead. They pulled into the driveway and Kathy Todd came to the door and stood on the porch. Kate led the way up the stairs with Abby and McGee behind her followed by Gibbs and his family. Kathy smiled.

"Mom, I'd like you to meet Abby and Tim," Kate said as she stopped on the porch and Abby and McGee came up next to her.

Kathy was staring at Abby, trying not to look so obvious. Abby had on a short black mini skit with knee high white socks. She had on saddle shoes on as well, with a white button down blouse. She had on her spiked chocker and the spider tattoo on her neck was displayed prominently. Her black hair was parted and pulled into two long pigtails that bounced when she bobbed her head. The black lining on her eyes and lips completed the Goth appearance.

"Hi," Abby said bubbly and extended her hand. Kathy smiled wide and reached out.

"Hi," she said softly. McGee came up next to Abby. He was dressed smartly in a brown suit with a tan shirt under the jacket and a light brown tie. He smiled nicely and held his hand out as well. Kathy let go of Abby and gripped McGee's hand.

"Hello," McGee said politely.

"Nice to meet you," Kathy said regaining her senses. "Come on in, the food is almost ready. Kate, it's just us and Josh and his family, plus Ryan and his. The rest can't make it and your father is still tied up helping Uncle Julius."

"All right, Mom," Kate said softly as she led the rest of the group into the house. Kate went around the house and introduced Abby and McGee to the part of her family that was there. They were greeted with mixed reviews as each person took in the appearance of both Abby and McGee. Kate's nieces and nephews were all a bit taken aback when they met Abby, but it seemed to impress her niece A. J. the most.

They sat down to dinner just as the door opened and Grandpa came in. Everyone looked up and Kathy got up and greeted him. They weren't expecting him, but it wasn't unusual for him to drop by for dinner on occasion.

"Gramps, wasn't expecting you," Kathy said.

"Got room for one more?" he replied eyeing the table. His gaze landed on Abby and he stopped for a moment before continuing towards the table.

"Always, Gramps," Kathy said and got another plate down pulling a chair from corner over.

Gramps sat down between McGee and Hunter. Hunter looked up at him and smiled broadly. Grandpa smiled back at him then turned to McGee. McGee looked nervous and Grandpa decided he was better off talking to the kid next to him instead of the stiff.

"Hey, little guy."

"Name's Hunter."

"Hunter? That's a good strong name."

"Thanks."

"You know much about history, Son?"

"Nope, I'm only seven."

"Only seven, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"Anyone ever tell you about Gettysburg?"

"Gettysburg?"

"Yeah, kid, it's a battle field."

"Where?"

Grandpa smiled. It had been a long time since someone openly expressed interest in his stories or knowledge. Mostly these days everyone either pretended or flat out ignored him. He looked down at the boy.

"Pennsylvania."

"Where's that?"

"You don't know where Pennsylvania is?"

"Nope, if I did I wouldn't have asked."

"True. It's on the other side of Ohio from here. Ohio is next to us. Anyway, this was a great battle in the American Civil war. Some say the turning point, some say not. Two great armies came together.

"On one side you have the South, The Army of Northern Virginia. This was led by General Robert E. Lee. He was a great man, a military thinker. He knew how to use his troops, but he made a mistake at Gettysburg, yes he did. Anyway, his right hand man was dead by now, that was General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson. Jackson was a crazy son of a bitch, but he won battles. Man wasn't scared of nothing. Course he died before Gettysburg shot by his own picket line."

"What's a picket line?" Hunter asked.

"Picket line? It's the first line of defense for a stationary army. They set up around the outside of the army and stop anyone coming and going. Except this time they shot first and got the General in the arm. They didn't think anyone was out.

"Course time of Gettysburg, Lee had General James Longstreet, known as Old Pete. Course there was A. P. Hill and Armistead, and Pickett too. Then there was Jeb Stuart he led the cavalry."

"My uncle's name is Jeb."

"That right?"

"Yep."

"Anyway, they were all at Gettysburg. And the south they did pretty good the first two days, but the union, they were strong and held the high ground. The Alabamian boys tried to take the right flank on Little Round Top, but the boys in blue from Maine stopped them.

"Now there is a real American hero, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. He had just assumed command of the 20th Maine on the way to Gettysburg a few days before. They were lined up on the end of the line, no one beside them. They couldn't fail and when they were out of ammo, you know what Chamberlain did?"

"No I don't," Hunter said enthused.

"He led a right wheel forward charge down the hill with fixed bayonets. Stunned everyone, but most importantly stunned the Rebs coming up at him. He stopped their charges and took prisoners that day and saved the union flank."

"Really?"

"Yessiree. Course then Lee orchestrated Pickett's charge on the third day and annihilated a whole brigade. Pickett never recovered mentally from that and blamed Lee till the day he died. Famous line said that day after Lee told Pickett to form his regiment for a counter attack. He said 'General Lee I have no regiment'. Anyway, the union made a major mistake that day."

"What was that? I thought they won?"

"They did win the day, but some think Meade, that was the head of the union, some thought that Meade could have won the war that day. He didn't pursue his enemy. He didn't attack. He was timid because he had just assumed command."

"But they still won the war in the end right?"

"Of course," Grandpa said laughing. "But it took two more years."

"Oh."

Grandpa continued his history lesson with Hunter while Kathy watched Abby the entire meal. After the dinner Abby and McGee went off with Gibbs, Ann, Jeb, and Kylie but before Kate could join them Kathy grabbed her arm.

"THAT is your maid of honor?" she said in a hushed whisper.

"Mom, please, Abby is my best friend."

"Caitlin, look at her."

"Mother, I work with her everyday."

"And she always looks like that?"

"Yes, Mom, she does," Kate said a little annoyed. "Look, she's going to wear the dress I picked out and she is going to be fine. Everything is fine. It's my wedding."

"Kate, she's all dark and…"

"She's Goth, Mom. It's ok."

"I don't know."

"It will be fine. Trust me," Kate said with a smile and the walked away from her mother as she watched. Kate walked up to the group and smiled as she joined in. Gibbs eyed her, as he had been watching her exchange with her mother. Gibbs glanced at Kathy to find her still eyeing Abby. He smiled.

TBC…