Hey all, here's chapter six. I need your help wrapping this all up, what do you want to happen? I can't choose between a good or bad ending :( arg. This chapter had taken me all day to formulate... I read it about six hundred times. Enjoy it, I did.
Soon after the incident, Gibbs had decided the best action to take was none at all. And after bringing Abby a new Caff-pow, and passing her Bert, she quickly came around to his way of thinking. On entering the office the next morning he ignored the three silent ducklings seemingly deeply engrossed in their monitors and swung is briefcase up on to his desk, removing his gun in the same swift motion and placing it in the drawer. He sat down at his desk and turned on his computer, deliberately appearing busy, otherwise he would look available. And in his mind The boss should always have something to do.
The phone rang. Gibbs blinked hard in relief, his way of concealing his joy. He picked up the phone on the third ring. "Gibbs" He said. He nodded slightly, He hung up. The three looked up at him, eyes locked ready for a signal. "Marine's been shot dead at a naval base. Ziva, Tony, You're with me" 'Do not treat her differently' He assured himself." McGee I want you to find out everything you can about a Lieutenant Baxter Wilson." Gibbs was already on his way to the elevator. "Well? What the hell are you waiting for?" He shouted back at them.
The car ride to the crime scene was almost in complete silence, Ziva looked directly ahead not sure whether to be embarrassed by the situation, ashamed of spying or disappointed in her boss. So she decided the best thing to do was to not do anything. Tony was silent in the back of the vehicle, his eyes flickered between the two agents in wonder. 'she knows' he thought. His eyes lit with interest, he pulled his PDA from his pocket and wrote Ziva an email. Ziva's pocket rang. She methodically removed the machine from her pocket and opened her mail. She glared at the screen. She did not bother to reply to his email, figuring it would be a waste of time and energy.
Gibbs had seen the email. He felt his skin crawl at the thought of Tony knowing, though it did explain his quietness over the past two days. That also meant that Tony knew before Ziva, and judging from the message, he hadn't told her. He pieced together what had happened and made a quick judgement on how soon it would be until the director knew.
Jethro did not bother to knock on the directors door, he simply entered. Her secretary didn't flinch, it happened so often she knew better. He stood over her desk, intimidating but she could handle it. "Something the matter Jen?" The question he already knew the answer to. He was mad, mad that she of all people would believe that she had the right to interject in any part of his personal life. "Look Jethro, It's not up to me." she tried to dismiss his argument, "Damn right its up to you, director." he spat the last word at her. "What do you think gives you the right to judge my personal life? Accent on personal." She stood up. "Listen to me." Looking him straight in the eye " There is a strict code of conduct here, we have to maintain proffesional relationships only, we have to keep our relationships out of work." "It didn't seem to bother you when it was you and I." He said calmly, yet it hit her with a slap across the face. Yes she had been jealous, yes she had tried to rationalise it all day and yes he was right. "The only reason you have a problem with this relationship is that it doesn't involve you." He let the silence grow between them. "I've known you for years Jen. We've been with other people since us, why is this so hurtful to you now?" She leaned forward over her desk towards him, "Because this time I'm in a position of power, this time I am not young and naïve, this time I know better." He held her stare until she looked down at her desk, momentarily regretting her own words. Then he left.
Gibbs was almost worried. He loved Abby but once again it came down to protecting her. What would this do to her? Sure, she could take any comments from people, and give them back twice as harshly. But what would this do to her career? And with this information public knowledge was she safe? The only thing he had ever promised her was that he would keep her safe. Telling her that this could not work out was not an option, if that was what he decided he would not offer an explanation. But that was not what he wanted. He wanted to hold her like he had that first night, to watch her get excited by the slightest mention of caffeine. He loved her child-like way of talking to him when she had a problem, and the way she could easily switch to seduction or a higher level of maturity. He did not want to let this get away, definitely not because of regulations either, they had never stopped him before.
Abby realised that the entire building knew. Apparently the open door of her office made it easy for passer-bys to witness their actions, she was surprised that Gibbs hadn't been more careful. She was a little less then her playful self, she was prepared for any attack on her relationship with Gibbs. She would almost welcome it. However, in her mind she continually reminded herself that by not being happy she was allowing those same peoples judgement to affect her. Something she did not want to happen.
Abby sat in Gibbs' basement, whisky in hand. She sat on the boat. Gibbs stood sanding to her right. Abby's head was tilted forward and she looked up at him through her jet black fringe, her strange green eyes looked brighter in the dim light. He stopped sanding and cocked his head to one side, dropping the sanding block on the bench before walking over to Abby. She sat in between two lengths of wood, soon to be the bottom of his boat. He put one hand on either side of her, resting on the beams. She twisted her feet around like a little girl, looking up at him. "Let's rechristen the boat." she said mischievously.
