I know you probably hated that Abby has cancer and all that, but give me a chance to finish the damn story before you go eating my spleen lol. Okay, don't forget this is from Gibbs' point of view. Enjoy.

Gibbs drove through the traffic wildly, Tony had one hand on the ceiling. He was slightly worried about the expression on the face of his boss. He was angrier then usual, but there was more to his expression then just anger. Worry lined his face, Tony saw more there then just friendship, but he knew better then to voice his opinion.

When they reached the post office Gibbs was out of the car and up the steps before Tony had even undone his seat belt. Gibbs ripped open the package and pulled out the key as he strolled towards the mailbox. He slid the key smoothly into the lock and pulled the door open. A single disc in a clear case sat in the middle of the box. He snatched it and shut the door. 'He might continue to use this box to drop messages.' He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called headquarters. "I want a team at my position watching the PO Box 343 round the clock. And the second anyone opens that box other then me, bring them in."

Gibbs threw the disc to McGee, who took a quick look and put it into his CD drive, tapping the keyboard a few times to bring it up on the main screen in the middle of the room. Gibbs stood before it, almost fidgeting. 'Proof of life.' he thought as the picture came up, it was Abby. She was unconscious, lying on a concrete floor. Blood had dried on her face. A media presentation started. "Hi Gibbs." Talon smiled. "Thought you'd like to see how your little friend was doing." He nodded slightly and then turned the camera on Abby. Her eye was almost closed, it was black and bruised. Her face had a multitude of cuts on it. She was tied to a chair. Her black hair lay in strings around her neck, her face was battered to such an extent that parts of it were bulges. He grabbed her face with his hand, the camera appeared to be sitting on a stand, forcing her too look at the camera. She seemed to slip in and out of consciousness, her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her face wasn't the only part of her body that was mutilated, her arms had several bruises where it looked like he had restrained her by holding her arms. Gibbs' face grew angrier, he remembered that afternoon in Abby's lab where he had held her by her arms until she told him the truth, and she ended up crying into his chest. Talon let her head drop back down to her chest. He walked further towards the camera, Abby could be seen in the background trying to lift her head. "If you ever want to see her again, you better be prepared to die Gibbs." But Gibbs was ignoring Talon, he watched in the background as Abby mouthed something. "Play that last five seconds back McGee, slower." McGee did as he was told. Gibbs watched her again and it became clear what she was saying.

I love you.

Gibbs slammed his hands down on his desk. Ziva and Tony jumped. "I want her back people. And I have a feeling that this man has no problem killing Abby and choosing a new hostage." He spoke in a low tone through his teeth.

Gibbs stood in the elevator alone, trying to figure out how he could find her quicker. His mind travelled back to her coffin. "I love you too Gibbs." She'd whispered into the dark. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. Holding her there he felt like he could protect her from anything, no matter what it was, and it was those hours he lay awake in the dark with her in his arms that he realised that he liked it. He opened his eyes and watched the numbers change on the display. He had woken to her snuggled comfortably in his chest, leg wrapped around him. He stroked her hair. He had no idea what the time was, it felt like they had been in their own universe for days. His stomach protested. She moved, lifting her head slightly, remembering where she was and smelling Gibbs' aftershave. She pretended to be still asleep, she moved her hand up behind his neck. "Abby." "Yes?" she knew she'd been made. It was a rhetorical question, he did not answer. They lay in the darkness, entwined, and though he had protested, his good sense getting the better of him, he did not attempt to remove himself from her or her from him. "What's the diagnosis?" he felt it was the right time to have the conversation. "It's kidney cancer. The only treatment is surgical removal. The doctor says I have a slim chance that it will not return. The problem with this type of cancer is that it easily spreads to the lymphatic system..." she started to discuss the way the lymphatic system wards off pathogens. "Abs." "Right. I have to have a partial nephrectomy, which pretty much means they're going to cut part of my kidney out." she paused. "Three months ago, I had a CT scan as a work related scheme, it came back that I had a tumour, they did a needle biopsy on the mass during the CT and found that it was what they thought, but they told me to come in every three weeks because if it didn't grow I might not have to have any operation. Then about five days ago I got a phone call, they told me that if I didn't come in for the biopsy this week, then I would have to have a complete nephrectomy, where they cut your entire kidney out and some of the surrounding lymph nodes. The news was based on an MRI I had last week that told them it was growing." Gibbs listened intently. "When are you going in?" "I haven't made an appointment, I never called them back." she sounded ashamed. He almost shook her, "Abs!" he was shocked. He almost threw the lid of the coffin open. "Give me their number!" He sat up and got out of the coffin. , She propped herself up on an elbow. "It's in my phone." giving in. 'Maybe I should go in. He's right, I should have called them earlier. What the hell was I thinking?' Gibbs called the surgery and booked her in for that day. He snapped his phone shut. "What the hell were you thinking Abs?!" He was angry. She felt her eyes stinging. "I was scared." He softened. "I understand Abby." She began to cry again. He pulled himself into the casket again, and held her tightly. "I'll be there with you the whole time." She tried to smile, and she wiped her tears away. "That's enough crying I think." she tried to act tough, straightening up and brushing a hand through her hair. He looked at his watch, "We have about an hour, but you aren't allowed to eat..." She groaned. "What?!" she sighed and rolled her eyes.

He was there the whole time, he held her hand while she lay, makeupless and without black clothing on, hospital garb without a back. Her tattoos stared prominently at him. He kissed her gently on the forehead as she babbled about something on the monitor, she was nervous and so she spoke constantly. The nurse came and gave her a pill to take, "This will make you drowsy my dear." she said as she watched her take it, her face screwed up at the taste. She patted the nurses hand and thanked her. The hospital staff already loved her. They informed her that she shouldn't have to stay in hospital very long if there were no complications. Gibbs stood by her bedside, while she became sleepier. Her words began to slur, "I feel really, really funny Boss man." she slurred, her arms waved madly, he dodged one of them. "Yup." he replied. "Are you gonna be here when i get back from my trip Gibbs?" she asked, her eyes wide. "Yes Abby. I'll be here." The nurses rolled her trolley to the doors and informed him that he was allowed no further. He nodded to them. He gave her one final kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "You're gonna do great Abs." they wheeled her through the doors and disappeared from sight. He stared at the doors for a few seconds and prayed he was right.