Okay this took me hours. I hand wrote this chapter, it was five pages then, but I'm sure it will be condensed when i type it. This is from Abby's point of view, features a flash back. Thanks again to my reveiwees I love you all:D
Abby woke slowly, groggily from her sleep. Her mind started to wake up as well, bringing images of the day before to the forefront. The first thing she noted was the smell and that she wasn't home, the room smelled of wood burning. The room was hot, she attempted to open her eyes, her right was partially open and tender to touch. Her head thudded and with every beat of her heart she felt the pressure in her head build. The room was dark with no windows but the light shone in from under the door and its sides casting an eery glow upon the walls and floor. But to Abby it was a beacon of light and proof she was alive. She brushed the hair from her face and looked down in surprise, she was no longer tied up. She remembered the day before, and the man it all came back to her. Who was he and what did he really want? She was on a bed a wooden sleigh bed. It had quilts on it but she lay above them all, her clothes still on from yesterday. Well she thought it was yesterday.
'How long was I out for?' She asked herself not knowing the answer. 'That means Gibbs hasn't found me yet' Fear knotted her stomach and tears stung her eyes. 'Does he even know I'm gone?' She choked back a sob. It felt so hopeless. Abby was a strong woman but this situation could mean never seeing Gibbs again. Abby took a deep breath to calm herself, 'It's no use feeling worried or upset, I just have to pull myself together and get out of here. Gibbs isn't stupid, he'll find me.' She felt reassured for only moment.
Several hours later after Abby had surveyed her tiny windowless room she felt more confident with her surroundings, she found a light switch but did not want to alert her that she was awake and so remained in the dark. The door swung open and light flooded in. The man had a slight cut about his eye but he no longer looked murderously angry. Abby stood, calmly retuning his stare wither her good eye. He carried a tray in his right hand and switched on the light with his left. He placed the tray on the table and was about to leave when Abby asked politely, "What time is it?" he answered without turning around, "0930" "Day?" "Monday." He stepped outside. "Who are you?" He almost liked her for a second, she stood there in front of him with dignity and courage, remaining calm in the face of her own death. "My name is Talon." He shut the door and a key clicked in the lock. "Talon." She repeated aloud.
Talon sat down on the sofa if the room outside, mentally reminding himself that she was a hostage not a woman, and that this was about Gibbs not her. He leaned back comfortably, fiddling with his camera, ready to take some proof of life photos. Perhaps he'd have to make her look a little less dignified...
Abby picked at the food, taking a moment to wonder if he had put anything in it and so she left it alone. She paced the floor, cold concrete, there was a bed a desk and a chair. The wardrobe in the corner was locked but the light in the room gave it more character. She figured taking the knife and fork provided with her food would be too obvious. The day dragged on, and without a watch she felt blind.
She wondered about Gibbs again, was he out looking or her? Did he even know she was gone? She would have been late for work by now surely he would know something was wrong. She sat on the bed and closed her eyes remembering one night a few months earlier.
Abby was not her usual self, she quietly did her work in the lab, no music could be heard, and no witty remarks came from her when Gibbs entered. Not only was it unusual, it was downright scary. Gibbs loved Abby's normal demeanour. All smiles and black lace, but when something was wrong Gibbs' harsh exterior changed completely and there was nothing he would not do for her. Gibbs slipped into her lab silently and covertly snuck up behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, she jumped. "Damn it Gibbs!" She shouted angrily, he lowered his hands. "Sorry Abbs, I thought you'd heard me." Concern lined his face, she softened. "No, I'm sorry Gibbs. I shouldn't have reacted like that." she shook her head and looked at the floor pacing and picking at her nails. She took a sip of Caff-pow, her head snapped up suddenly, "Is there anything i can do for you?" She asked quickly, realising that he never came down to her lab just for the hell of it. He walked towards her, grey suit perfectly in place. "You can tell me what's going on." He said slowly raising his eyebrows slightly and looked down into her face, his breath brushed softly across her cheeks. "Nothing Gibbs, I swear." she replied nervously turning from him to continue pacing. He grabbed her elbow, "Don't lie to me Abby." tears began to form, he forced her to look at him. His eyes caringly demanded answers. Her heart was twisted in her chest, this was unfair this was killing her inside and this was going to hurt people around her. She knew he wanted to help, to make her happy, and part of her wanted to tell him. But he couldn't help this time and it was private. She shook her head at him and tried to break free, she could feel her defences failing as his touch broke them down. Hours she'd spent psyching herself up telling herself that she should keep this quiet, it could only lead to something bad, she could handle it herself. But she felt alone, so helpless. She had been quiet for months, but this week it all came crashing down around her, this week she'd gotten the bad news. He kept a tight hold on her arm, worry stabbed at his heart 'This isn't like her.' she wrenched away angrily unable to release herself. He grabbed her other arm, holding her still. She almost glared at him. "There is nothing you can do Gibbs" She pleaded. "Try me." He stared deep into her eyes, their faces parallel. She relaxed her arms, contemplating whether or not to tell him. He continued to watch her face closely, almost unblinking.
"I have cancer." She said quietly to her shoes. It had almost felt good to let it out, she had told no one, alone for so long. "How long have you known?" He asked trying to hide his shock. "Three months." There was a pregnant pause. "Why..." he started, "Because I didn't want people to treat me differently just because I'm dying. Because I didn't want people to worry, because I don't want sympathy and because I don't want to accept it. I'm dying god damn it!" she yelled. Breathing a ragged sigh it sunk in for the first time in three months, what she was losing as well as her life. " I'm dying." she repeated. Tears streamed down her face unabated, sobs racked her body all the emotion and fear she had held back flooded out. Gibbs was suddenly holding her, stroking her hair. She cried into his perfect grey suit, black eye-liner and tears. They had stood there for a long time like that, Abby letting it out and Gibbs soaking it in. 'I'm going to lose my Abby.' He thought, his throat felt tight, his chest hurt. It was impossible, how could this have happened? This could not happen to his cheerful little gothling. He held her closer, holding back his own fears for her sake. "We'll get through this together Abbs. You don't have to be alone any more." She cried harder.
Gibbs had taken her home after that. He picked her up but she could not stop crying. He carried her thought the building, placing Bert the hippo in her arms. Tony, Ziva and McGee all stood when they saw the scene. Gibbs did not look at them. He gently placed her in his chair while he collected his keys and gun from the drawer. Then he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. She cried into his shirt, now tear stained and soggy, she gripped his suit jacket tightly. The team stared, concerned and questioning after them. Gibbs had glared at the people entering the elevator and they had exited, deciding that it was safer to wait for a few minutes. He kissed her gently on the top of the head as the elevator swept them to the car park. He put her into his car and drove her home. He left her alone during the drive. Letting her mourn. But inside he wanted to cry also. He loved her and now he was losing her. He carried her upstairs to her bedroom, and placed her inside her coffin. He brushed the hair from her eyes and stroked her arm while the crying subsided. She stopped crying and fell asleep. He watched her for a while and decided to be there when she woke up. He placed Bert in the coffin with her and shut the lid. As he did so he had a horrible image of her in the coffin, dead. He had an urge to open the lid and check her, but he thought that was irrational almost as soon as he had thought of it. Still, he shuddered.
He sat in her bedroom, bottle of whiskey on the table next to him. He knew where she kept her alcohol he had been there so often. He stared at the closed casket for hours. And he worried. Eventually the coffin lid lifted slightly, eyes peered out at him. He stood and opened the coffin fully. Her eyes were red rimmed and she sniffed when she looked up at him. She patted the dark red silk beside her, beckoning him to get in. He stepped in and lay down beside her, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She gave him a shaky smile to reassure him and pulled the lid down. "Thank you." She said. They were face to face in the darkness. "I love you Abby." He kissed her on the forehead. She put her arms around him, and he put his around her. " I love you too Gibbs." she whispered so quietly that she wondered if he had heard her at all. They held each other in the silence, strangely comfortable, letting all the problems go, forgetting reality. All that was left was Gibbs and Abby in the darkness.