Spending the night at Ducky's house, meant that he drove her to NCIS the following morning. "Any change?" Abby stood in front of Tony's desk, glancing over her shoulder at Gibbs' desk, a small part of her allowing herself to believe that he might be sitting there, even though she knew it wasn't possible.
"Haven't heard anything, so I doubt it."
"Okay… let me know."
"I will…. Abby?"
"Yeah?" Turning back in time to see him stand, she knew what he was after so she met him half way for a hug. Pulling away as Ziva rounded the corner, Abby moved to her and wrapped her in a hug as well. They hadn't been overly friendly the first few months, but with their leader in the hospital, she needed to rally the troops.
"He will remember you, Abby. He will remember all of us."
"Hope so." With one last look, she was off to her lab.
Ziva watched Abby until she was out of sight. "She is in love with Gibbs," she said to herself.
Tony glanced up at her, but said nothing. There was no point in trying to deny it, though he wasn't about to confirm that they had been in a relationship. That was for Abby to share if she felt the need.
They worked quietly through the day and into the evening. Tony left periodically to check on Abby and make sure she had gotten a bite to eat at some point, but for the most part, the three agents sat at their desks going over every bit of information they had without Gibbs' memory.
She watched McGee and Tony bent over their desks working quietly and then her gaze turned toward the window. It was getting dark outside, as the hours passed. Unable to sit and wait any longer, Ziva grabbed her jacket and circled around her desk, heading toward the elevator. "I'll be back."
The drive didn't take long, but she circled the massive parking structure twice as she tried to come up with what she could say or do to make him remember them. She hesitated outside his hospital room. It was late and visiting hours were over, though flashing her badge and gun had kept the nurses from asking her to leave. The room was dark, but she entered anyway.
Reaching for his hand, she was startled when he grabbed her arm.
"Yeah?" He eyed her cautiously. His gut told him she was okay, but he was so confused after everything Franks and the doctors had told him.
"Ziva," she introduced herself.
"We work together?"
"Yes. I'm a Mossad officer attached to your team."
"Mossad? When did they start doing that?"
"It's been a year."
"Don't feel bad, I worked with that M.E.-"
"Ducky, ten years, and you don't remember him." She didn't have time for small-talk. As much as she'd like to ease him back into his old memories, the lives of thousands were counting on him.
"You always finish people's sentences?"
"Only when I'm in a hurry. Abu Sayyaf is planning a terrorist attack on the Navy. It will be as devastating as-"
"Nine-eleven," Gibbs cut her off.
"You remember nine-eleven?"
"No, my boss told me." Gibbs moved to the edge of the bed and got up.
"Director Shepard?"
"No, no… my boss. What can I do?" He stood toe to toe with her, wanting to do something to help.
"Try to remember!" Ziva cupped his face in her hands, almost as if she was going to shake the memories back in place.
"I've been trying to remember ever since I woke up in this room!" He cried out. He tried deep breathing and relaxing, he tried watching the news, he had tried everything he could think of to will the memories back in place.
"Well try harder!"
When he glared at her, she nodded. "There, that's a start."
"What? What is?"
"The old Gibbs-stare. You have used it on all of us, McGee, Tony, Me."
"What're you talkin' about?" Gibbs shouted at her angrily.
Not knowing what else to do, Ziva grabbed his hand and used it to smack herself on the back of the head. She saw a flicker of something in his eyes so she continued. "Ari..." She fought back tears. "Ari killed Kate. And I…" she sobbed, "I killed Ari."
"Your brother," Gibbs said after a few moments.
"You killed your brother…" He watched the tears roll down her cheeks. "To save me." Suddenly something clicked and he pulled her in to a tight hug.
"I'm sure he remembers you, Ducky, yes… he'll be here in just a few-" Hearing the elevator ding, Tony slammed the phone down and jumped to his feet. Moments later, McGee was at his side. "Boss!"
"McGee…" Gibbs strode past, holding his head up with confidence as he made his way toward the stairs to MTAC.
"No, I'm McGee…" McGee trailed behind, giving Tony a sympathetic look.
"GIBBS!" Abby flew around the corner, launching herself at Gibbs, nearly knocking him to the ground in the process.
"Hey Abby, good to remember you, Abbs." He returned the hug as he struggled to keep walking toward the stairs. "Ducky." With one arm still around Abby, he reached out a hand to his old friend. "How could I forget your mother left you on a bus."
"I have no idea, Jethro."
"Should you be out of the hospital, Gibbs?" Abby looked him over.
"No time, Abbs. I'll talk to you two later." Halfway up the stairs he turned to look at the screen down below. "I should've know it wasn't Galib."
"No-" Ziva started.
"I'd have made the same mistake," Tony interrupted.
"Well yeah, DiNozzo. I know. That's why I'm so pissed." He reached around to head-slap his senior agent, ignoring the big smile on his face.
"Aww, you didn't forget me!" Tony smiled widely.
The three agents followed him up, leaving Ducky and Abby to wait in the squad room. "It's so good to see him back," Abby threw her arms around Ducky's neck. "So happy he's got his memory back."
Ducky smiled and returned the hug. "It most certainly is. I can imagine a few things might still be blurry, but seems as though he'll be making a full recovery."
"It's Gibbs," Abby laughed. "You expect anything else?"
"No, I suppose not."
They were alone only a few minutes before Tony, Ziva and McGee headed back down the stairs, looking substantially less happy than before. "Cape fear blew. They wouldn't listen to Gibbs… he's uh… with the director right now."
Abby's face fell and she couldn't ignore the feeling of dread in the bit of her stomach. It wasn't much longer after the team arrived in the squad room that Gibbs followed. They all stood, unsure of what to say as he circled his desk and started opening his drawers.
"Oh, uh… I got 'em boss. I, uh, got them from the medics when they took you," he handed Gibbs wallet, badge and gun back.
"Appreciate it," Gibbs took his wallet and slipped it into his pocket and looked over the gun and badge before circling the desk to stand in front of Tony. "You'll do," he said, handing them back. With a firm grip to the shoulder he added. "It's your team now."
Tony opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead his eyes darted to Abby and then back to Gibbs when he spoke to McGee.
"Tim, you're a good agent. Don't let him tell you otherwise." He still had a lot to learn, but McGee was a quick learner. He had no doubt Tony would teach him well.
"I won't, boss." McGee stumbled over his words, unsure of what was happening.
As soon as he turned toward her, Abby felt tears well up in her eyes. He couldn't be leaving NCIS. All they needed was a long weekend, a little more rest and she was certain she could have him back at his desk by Monday. "Gibbs…" But when he cut her off with a finger to her lips and a kiss to her cheek she knew in her gut that he was done.
There was something in the way she looked at him that had Gibbs hesitating before walking away from Abby and closer to Ziva. "I owe you."
"I will collect." Ziva smiled softly.
Gibbs gave her a little nodded and then looked to his friend. "Give me a ride home, Duck."
"Of course." Ducky frowned when Gibbs passed him and looked out over the people Gibbs had left speechless in the squad room. He turned toward the elevator to see Gibbs had turned to look at them as well.
"Semper Fi."
The elevator doors opened and the two men left without another word.
"Abby, I'll…" Tony reached out to her.
"No. I'll be okay. He just needs a little time with the boat I think. I'll go see him first thing tomorrow."
"Sure you don't want me to give you a lift home?"
"Tony… I think maybe you should talk to the director." Ziva interrupted. She had no doubt Gibbs was done with NCIS. She could see it in his eyes. "Abby, I could give you a ride home, if you like?"
"No. I'm fine. I'm fine." Maybe if she said it enough it would be true. The rest of the evening was a blur as she gathered her things and headed home. She wanted to detour by Gibbs' house to make sure he was okay, but if she knew him as well as she thought she did, he needed his boat more than he needed company. Ducky would call her if he was worried.
Back in her apartment, she still couldn't shake the sense of dread, similar to what she had felt the morning of the explosion. She tried to eat, but ended up throwing away half of the sandwich she'd made.
Not long after there was a knock at her door. "Gibbs?" Abby pulled the door open with force, her hopes fading at the sight of Ducky. "Ducky, is he okay?"
"Well…" Ducky stepped into her apartment when she waved him in. "I'm afraid it's rather complicated." He took her hand and led her to the couch. Once they were seated he continued. "He's not coming back."
"I don't know, Ducky. He loves NCIS. Maybe he just needs a break. He's got more than his fair share of vacation days saved up."
"I'm afraid I'm not just talking about NCIS. I just dropped him off at the airport. Wouldn't tell me where he was going, Only a number of someone who he said could get a message to him in case of emergency."
Abby stared wide-eyed at Ducky for more than a minute. "So just like that… he's gone?"
Ducky nodded. "I'm sorry, Abigail. It's as if he just wants to be done with this life and start fresh somewhere else."
"But what about…" She didn't know how much Gibbs had told Ducky of their relationship.
"I'm so sorry, Abby. I tried to talk him into giving it some time, but he wouldn't hear it, barely said anything to me. He just threw a few things in a bag and asked me to drive him to the airport. If I said no, he'd just have called a cab."
"So he's just leaving us? I get that he lost a family already, I mean… I can't even imagine, but now he's just leaving us? I thought we were his family. He always said we were his family. We were all he needed."
"I don't know Abby. I don't know what to tell you, when I don't understand it myself. I thought we were his family, too." Usually the one to be understanding, Ducky felt like the years he had considered Gibbs to be part of his family were a lie. He understood that everyone had secrets – he had a few of his own – but to walk away from family was more than keeping a few dark secrets.
"Gibbs and I… we were… we were together. It's not that we wanted to keep it from you, but it's been kind of new for us and we were just sort of getting the hang of how the relationship was working and… I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
"Abigail… I appreciate you telling me, but despite not having known for sure, I was fairly certain there was more to your relationship than being just friends. You tend to wear your emotions on your sleeve and while I couldn't pin-point exactly when things changed for the two of you, it was quite obvious how you felt."
"Ducky?"
"Yes, my dear?"
"We're still family, right?"
"Of course! Maybe not the way mother assumes, but yes. We're family."
"Promise me one thing, okay?"
"And what might that be?"
"Don't ever walk away from me. I give you full permission to not like what I do, or be angry with me, or… or whatever. Just don't… don't walk away from me."
"Of course not," Ducky pulled her into a tight squeeze. "Will you be alright tonight?"
"Yeah," Abby wiped at a tear and nodded. "I'll be okay."
"I think tonight calls for some scotch, a fire in the fireplace and a good book."
"Have a drink for me. Not sure I could handle it tonight. I think if I started, I wouldn't be able to stop."
"You sure you'll be alright?" Ducky hesitated as he headed for the front door.
"I'll be fine." Abby pulled him into another tight hug. "I love you Ducky. I don't say that enough."
"Maybe not in so many words, but I always know." Ducky pressed up on his toes to be able to kiss her forehead. "Only a phone call away."
"I know." Abby watched him leave and then shut the door. Unsure of what to do with herself, she sat back on the couch and stared at the blank TV screen. Unaware of how much time had passed, she jumped when there was a soft knock at the door. Maybe he didn't leave, maybe he couldn't do it. Abby once again rushed to the door, and swung it open without checking through the peep hole. "Ducky called you too, huh?"
Tony nodded, a sad smile on his face.
Abby stepped aside and let him in following him back to the couch. He shrugged out of his jacket and sat down. Once he was seated, Abby sat beside him, leaning into him. "You're freezing. Outside long?"
"I walked here."
"From NCIS?"
Tony nodded. "Didn't trust myself to drive."
"I'd have come and picked you up." Abby hugged herself to him to try and warm him up.
"I know. Didn't trust you to drive either."
Abby gave a sad laugh at that. "What are we going to do, Tony?"
"I have no idea. I have no idea how to lead a team." He had sat and struggled for over an hour in Director Shepard's office. You'll do. You'll do. You'll do… He had no idea what to do! He still looked to Gibbs as for what to do, and now to be in charge of it all himself?
"You'll figure it out, Tony. We're all a team. We'll figure it out together."
"How are you so calm?"
"Because if I let myself freak out, I'm not sure I'll stop. Still hoping to wake up tomorrow and realize it's all been a bad dream."
"And if you don't?"
"I don't know. I guess I just can't wrap my head around the idea that he doesn't love me enough to stay. I could understand if he couldn't deal with NCIS anymore, but to leave us? Leave DC…? I mean, I get that he had a wife and a daughter and he lost them, and… oh, God, it explain so much about him, but I… I thought he loved me. I thought he loved me more than he loved his exes."
"He did. I could see it in his eyes. Trust me."
"I don't know what to trust anymore."
"I ever let you down?"
"No."
"Well..?"
"Gibbs never… has everything just been pretend on his part? Was I just.."
"No. You were never just a replacement. Never. I saw him around Diane, and the one before. He never once looked at them the way he looked at you. And that was before you were even together. Maybe he just needs a week off. Hey, maybe you'll get a phone call next week telling you where to send your stuff. Maybe… maybe he'll come back for you."
"No," Abby shook her head and then rested it against Tony's shoulder. "You didn't see the look on his face. He's done here."
"God, Abby. I'm so sorry. Out of any of us, he'd never hurt you. I don't get how he can do this to you. I don't get it." He pulled her in and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Maybe he just doesn't remember that he loves you?"
"Will you stay tonight? I thought I wanted to be alone, but I don't. I don't want to be alone."
"I'll stay."
They ended up in bed a short while later. Abby kept her cool as she tidied up around her apartment before getting into her PJ's and climbing into bed beside Tony. "Night Tony," she whispered before switching off the bedside lamp.
As soon as the room went dark, the emptiness Gibbs had created swallowed her up. She tried to hold back a choked sob, but Tony was right there and she found herself being wrapped in his arms and held tightly to his chest.
The first week without Gibbs went by in a blur. The team worked together the best that they could, but no one seemed to know their role while they sat in the squad room trying to figure out what to do next. Down in the lab they were extra cautious as to what they said around Abby. She had Gibbs' photo posted everywhere, and despite the fact that the team kept bringing her Caf-Pow! she didn't drink any of it, caffeine with-drawl adding to her misery.
By the second week, she'd gone back on caffeine and the team was able to relax a bit more, still treading carefully on what they talked about when she was around. They didn't say anything about the fact that Gibbs' face was still plastered on every screen.
By week four they had all come to accept that Gibbs wasn't coming back, and that Tony was the man in charge. Every so often they would bicker like before, but without Gibbs to put them all back in their places, they left irritated with one another until Abby called around to each of them, soothing hurt feelings, stroking egos and doing her version of Gibbs' 'tell it like it is'.
After the first week where she mostly holed up alone in her apartment after work, Abby began spending more and more time with Tony outside of NCIS – eventually meeting up at her favorite bar, or grabbing a bit to eat at his favorite Italian restaurant.
"How're you doin', Tony? I haven't been up in the squad room much, they still giving you a hard time?"
"Nah," Tony took a swig of his beer. "Been okay the last few days, I just… sometimes I feel like I need someone to tell me if I'm doing things right, you know? On the occasion that I've led a case before, I always had the boss to keep me on the right track. Even if he let me believe I was in charge."
"And now?"
Tony laughed. "I think Palmer has become my Ducky. Is that weird?"
Abby shook her head. "Not at all. If he's a good sounding board for you, then good for you," she laughed. "And actually, not to make this not about you, but I think it's good for Jimmy. Sometimes I think he feels a little out of the group."
"Yeah, maybe."
"We should include him more often when we do things as a group."
"He's got Ducky."
"Tony!" Abby reached across the table and socked him in the arm. "Ducky is teaching him to be an ME and he's been a great mentor to him, but they don't go out to bars or have lunch or watch movies the way the rest of us do. We need to find him a hot date."
"We haven't done that lately, not the big group of us. Not like we used too. And you're right. If Palmer spends any more time with dead people, he'll never get laid."
"Hard to be the boss and a friend, isn't it?"
Tony nodded. "Sometimes I think it'd been better if Gibbs had left the choice up to the director. Like, if he quit and she said I was team leader, I think they would respect it more. But since he just handed his shit to me, they… I dunno, they still hope he'll come back."
"We all hope he'll come back, but Tony…" Abby sighed. "It's not because we don't believe in you as team leader it's just… we miss him. Don't you?"
"Yeah." Tony raised his hand to the back of his head. "But then again I've mostly recovered from all the brain damage he had been inflicting on me."
"I'd gladly help you with that, if you like…"
"No thanks, you hit hard enough as it is." He rubbed his shoulder where she had socked him earlier and made a pouty face at her.
"Come on," Abby reached for his hand. "If you come dance with me, I'll kiss it and make it better."
"Deal, as long as you make the dance look real sexual and are overly flirtatious with me when we walk out to catch a cab home. That guy at the bar has been eyeing you all night."
Abby rolled her eyes as she pulled him out of the booth and dragged him toward the dance floor. It wasn't hard for her to tell which guy Tony had been talking about. The man shifted uncomfortably on the barstool, hardly covering up his gaze as she pressed her body up close to Tony's. "Least you could do is grab my ass and look like you're enjoying it. I'm not going to do all the work."
"Such a fuckin' tease." Tony grabbed her ass and held her close as they moved to the music. They danced to three songs before Tony tensed and leaned in to whisper by her ear. "Incoming."
"Mind if I have a turn with you on the dance floor?"
Abby kept her arms around Tony as she glanced back over her shoulder. "Sorry, we were actually just leaving." Turning back to Tony she gave a pretty smile. "My place or yours?"
"Sorry buddy." Tony grinned at the other guy. "I don't live far from here, my place?"
"Let's go then, lover-boy…" Abby suppressed the giggles as Tony led her through the bar and then ushered her into a cab. Once the door was shut, and the cab was pulling away from the curb, she couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. "Oh wow… too funny."
"Yeah…" Tony's smile dropped a bit. "But I didn't like the way he was looking at you."
"Relax. My place or yours?"
Tony leaned forward and gave the cabbie his address. "Mine. I've got cold pizza in the fridge from yesterday."
"Sold!"
The rest of the ride was quiet and when the cabbie pulled up out front of Tony's building he paid and escorted Abby up the front steps and inside. They opted for the elevator instead of the stairs, and a few minutes later they were shedding their coats inside Tony's apartment.
"I'll grab the pizza, want another beer?"
"Well, I'd hate for you to drink alone…"
"That's my girl…" Tony came back from the kitchen with a pizza box and two beers balanced on top. He plopped down beside her on the couch, and flipped on the TV. "Not much on right now… Hoarders, the news, that one late night talk show… whatever it's called…" He glanced over to Abby to see what she was interested in watching.
"Hoarders." They said together in agreement.
Abby sighed and took a slice of pizza from the box. "I can't believe it's a Friday night and we're eating cold pizza and watching a tv show about people with crap piled up to eye level."
"Hey, we were at a bar earlier. And we were dancing," Tony said around a mouthful of food.
"Yeah, but it's only just now ten. I think we're getting old." Abby stated ruefully, and then suddenly sat up. "Oh my God, I think you just got another wrinkle!"
Tony startled when Abby sounded so serious and then poked her with a bit of pizza crust. "That's not funny."
"It's okay, Tony. I think the last few weeks have given us all a few extra wrinkles. Maybe a few grey hairs as well." Abby scratched her fingers in the hair just above Tony's ear.
"Now I know why the boss was so grey."
"Silver," Abby corrected. "And maybe you're right. Try not to let the job run your life. And hell, we're off now. No work speak." Abby reached for a second piece of pizza and leaned back against Tony.
When the credits rolled, Tony covered a yawn and started to clean up. "You're staying the night, right? I am in no place to drive you home," he lifted up an empty beer bottle. He wasn't drunk-drunk, but between the beer they'd just had and the few earlier at the bar he wasn't going to make any stupid decision.
"Do you have any plans for early tomorrow? Because if so, I'll just call a cab. I want to be able to sleep in."
"Nope, got nothing all day. If you're a good girl, maybe I'll make you breakfast - DiNozzo style."
"Will you at least pull the broken bit of shells out of my scrambled eggs?"
"Oh second thought," Tony pretended to be insulted. "Maybe I'll sleep in and demand you make breakfast."
"Uh huh… can I borrow a shirt?"
Tony nodded toward the bedroom. "Top row, second drawer from the left. And I've got an extra toothbrush in the bottom drawer on the right, below the sink. Toothpaste is in the medicine cabinet."
"Thanks." Abby flipped off the TV and headed to Tony's bedroom and flipped on the lights. It wasn't the first time she'd stayed over, but the previous times it had been planned so she'd had her own stuff along. She loved his room. It was sleek and modern, and the sheets likely cost more than her entire bedroom set. She pulled open the drawer he had directed her too and she dug around until she came up with a faded old OSU shirt.
She took it with into the bathroom to change and then brush her teeth. The shirt fell just past the point of being indecent, but it was soft and comfortable. She brought her clothes out of the bathroom when she was finished and was folding them to set on the dresser when Tony came in and did a double take.
"Jesus Abbs, how am I supposed to sleep next to you like that?"
"With your eyes closed. Besides, what's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing. I've just never seen an old shirt look so good." Tony peeled his eyes away and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. By the time he finished Abby was in bed, leaning back against the headboard flipping through a magazine as if she belonged there.
"Mens fitness, Abby? Something you'd like to share with the class?" Tony flipped off the main light and walked to the other side of the bed.
"Mm hmm… What a bunch of beefcakes in this thing. I might have to subscribe just for the eye candy. But I have to say," Abby motioned to the stack of magazines on the night stand. "I was disappointed in the lack of naughty magazines. Has DiNozzo grown up?"
"Nah," Tony laughed and switched off one of the bedside lamps. "I just hid them earlier. Didn't want you telling Ziva my secrets."
"Ah." Abby put the magazine back and then switched off the bedside lamp closest to her before settling down beside Tony. "I had a good time tonight, Tony." She reached out for him in the dark, accidentally hitting him in the nose.
"Ow!"
"Oh, sorry," she laughed before leaning in to kiss him sweetly on the lips. "Thank you."
"Any time, Abbs. Any time." Tony rubbed his nose. "Next time why don't you skip the punching though, okay?"
"I said sorry," Abby laughed again, and leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose at the same time as he tried to kiss her forehead. "Ouch, Tony!" Abby reached behind her to flip on the bedside lamp. "Hold still, I was trying to kiss your nose to make you feel better. And clearly it's not going to work with the lights off."
Tony held his hands up in mock surrender. "I won't move!"
Abby grinned at him and then leaned over to place a slobbery kiss to the tip of his nose.
"There, better?"
"Mmm," Tony nodded. "Although that sounded a little forced. And can I move now?"
"Yes you may." Abby settled back down beside him, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
He wiped at his nose, making a show as to how slobbery her kiss had been. "Kate's dog didn't even slobber that much."
"Aww… Toni." Abby smiled at the memory. Kate's parents had taken the dog home with them when Abby had decided she couldn't keep it with her crazy work schedule. "How would you know, if she had gotten close enough to your face, she'd have bit you." Abby leaned forward and snapped her teeth together with a playful growl.
"Oh yeah? Well…" Tony leaned forward, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck to hold her still as he leaned in for messy kiss. "Take that."
Abby laughed and leaned in for another kiss. She wasn't sure if it was the beer, or the fact that she hadn't made out with anyone in over a month, but suddenly Abby craved the close contact. She moved willingly when Tony pulled her whole body in closer. She giggled as he worked his mouth down her neck and then back to her lips.
"How is it that you still taste like Caf-Pow! even after beer and pizza?" Tony stared down at her, a goofy grin on his face.
"Because I'm just that sweet, Tony, that's why." She pulled him down for another kiss, opening up for him eagerly as he sought to deepen the kiss.
Again he moved down her neck, back up and then nibbled at her ear. "The rest of you just as sweet?"
"You'll have to experiment to find out…" Abby tilted her head giving him more room to trace her spider web with his tongue.
Tony took it as a go-ahead to remove his shirt from her, grinning big when he saw that her lacy thong was a perfect match to the red of the shirt she had borrowed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you planned this." Her skin was pale against his dark sheets as she lay back. His shirt was long forgotten as he dragged his eyes over shapely breasts and firm stomach. He reached out to trace over the ridges of her ribs and she writhed below him. A cool breeze blew in from the window that had been left slightly open. He preferred his room a bit on the colder side while he slept, and seeing her nipples pearl from the chilled air, caused his dick to jump to attention.
"You just going to spend the night staring? Because if so, hand me one of those dirty magazines I know you've got hidden in here somewhere."
"Third drawer on the right," Tony nodded over his shoulder and then leaned forward to nibble at her collar bone, and kiss his way to one of her nipples, sucking at the little bead while rolling the other one between two fingers. When Abby's hands slid into his hair, he smiled against her skin and glanced up in time to see her head press back against the pillow and a soft moan escape her lips.
"Tony…"
"Relax Abby, I'm not staring… give me a chance to explore."
"Hurry!"
"Maybe I should take inventory of all your tattoos before I go any further." Tony laughed and blew a raspberry against her stomach as he continued to move lower, dipping his tongue in her bellybutton, making her laugh.
"You're a funny boy, DiNozzo… All that talk and I thought you liked to please women. Didn't realize you had to do so much window shopping like a fucking girl, my mistake," her eyes sparkled as she urged Tony into action.
Tony reached down and ripped her thong off causing Abby to gasp. "Had to show a little of my brute strength. Don't want to confuse you." Then, he dropped his head to kiss the red mark on her hip where the lace had dug in against her skin as he pulled. He had no problem being a little rough, but this was Abby and he'd always worry he was too rough or too strong despite the fact that she could probably kick is ass if she tried.
"You're gonna take me shopping for a new thong, Tony."
"Mmm," Tony nosed his way down the crease of her hip, her scent filling his nose. "Let's buy several so I can rip those off too."
"Tony!" Abby's knees fell outward giving him a wide open invitation as she propped herself up on her elbows. "Do something. And if you quote a movie right now, I'm going to finish this party in the bathroom. Alone."
Tony gripped her hips and pulled her closer, burying his face between her legs. He smiled to himself when she cried out and fell back onto the pillow with a sigh. He kept a tight grip on her hips, making note of every little twitch, arch and happy sigh as he used his tongue to taste, probe and flick against her clit.
Her hands twisted in the sheets and Abby cried out again. "Tony, I need… God, Tony, I need you to fuck me."
Nibbling along her sensitive flesh, Tony pulled away. "Anything you want, baby." He moved off the end of the bed to remove his shorts, and then circled around to his nightstand to grab a condom. He stroked himself a few times under Abby's appreciative gaze before rolling the condom on and crawling back on the bed. He settled again between her legs and leaned forward to kiss her, nipping at her lower lip in the process.
He groaned when her hand wrapped around him and she encouraged him forward, directing him toward her warmth. Tony gritted his teeth as he pushed in. It was one thing to take his time, but he couldn't ruin the family name by coming the instant he entered her. "God Abby, you feel so good."
"Mm, so do you." Abby pulled him close again for a kiss and wrapped her legs around him, tilting her hips just so. "Move Tony, move."
Her first orgasm came quickly, and Tony loved the way she called out for him, her eyes half shut as the waves of please wrapped around her. He held off on his own, watching and memorizing every little thing that made her smile, sigh and moan. He was surprised she only needed a few minutes before she was back at it again, this time pushing him to his back to ride him, her breasts bouncing deliciously in his face.
He pushed upwards to capture one of her nipples in his mouth, causing Abby to ride him harder the more he sucked and nibbled on his tasty treat.
His fingers dug into her hips, but as his hands tensed he relaxed so as not to hurt her. As much as the pleasure center took over his brain, he couldn't get over the fact that he was with Abby, and despite all his urges and everything she no doubt wanted, his first instinct was to protect her and keep her safe. The idea of leaving a mark on her, albeit sexy, was something he would have to work up to, if he ever got the chance for a repeat.
She rode him good and hard, holding his face to her breast and then pushing him away so she could kiss him. "Harder Tony, I need it harder."
Suddenly Tony pushed her away and in a blur had her on her hands and knees on the bed. He crawled up eagerly behind her and ran his hands over the smooth pale skin of her ass and ran a trail of kisses along her spine as he fingered her.
"Come on Tony, I'm not going to break." Abby gave him a sharp look over her shoulder.
Before she could add anything to her sharp remark, Tony reached forward and wrapped his hand in her hair, pulling her back onto his dick without warning.
"Yes, God… like that."
He kept his hold on her hair for a while, but eventually let go in favor of gripping her hips, occasionally reaching around to tease her clit or pinch her nipples.
"So close Tony… Again, I…" Her words were a jumbled mess as she pressed back, arching when he pressed his fingers against her clit.
"Come on baby…." He flicked against and again as he thrust, trying desperately to give her what she wanted before he lost his self-control. The moment she cried out his name, he pushed her forward and thrust into her at a staggering pace. It took less than a minute before he latched his mouth onto the back of her neck, and his hips stilled as he came, filling the condom in several spurts.
After a moment to catch his breath, he rolled off with a laugh. "That was fucking unbelievable." Even though his legs were like jelly, he managed to pull off the condom and tie it off before tossing it into the trash.
"I don't know if I can move." Abby grinned at him, her eyes half closed.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Tony cuddled up close, tangling his legs with hers.
"Not even a little."
"Don't think I left a mark on your neck, either." He brushed her hair back to check. "Nope."
"Shame. Maybe another time."
"I'd like that." Tony reached over her to turn off the light and then pulled her close.
Abby nodded and her eyes drifted shut. "But for now, sleep."
Tony switched on the coffee pot and paced the kitchen – trying unsuccessfully to smooth down his hair. He couldn't believe he and Abby had actually… He shook his head. Despite how he'd always felt about her, he should've put a stop to it. He wished he could have blamed it on being drunk, but they had been tipsy at most… and that was back at the bar.
But Abby was still hurting and he had used it to his advantage. She was his best friend and if he had ruined that over one amazing night with her…
Abby shuffled into the kitchen, his OSU tee on, and moved right into his arms. "Thought you said you didn't have anything to do today." She mumbled against his chest sleepily.
"I don't."
"Then why are you pacing the kitchen at 7am instead of snuggling with me?"
"Abby, I shouldn't have…"
"Shouldn't or didn't want..? Do you regret last night?" She stepped back to get a good look at him.
"What? No, I don't regret it. Not because I didn't want you, but you… I just shouldn't have… I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Tony, I'm not ready for a relationship… not that it's what you want from me, but I know you and I know that you know me well enough to know that. But you're my best friend. I feel safe and loved when I'm with you. I was kind of hoping for round two. You're seriously packin' and you've been holding out on me."
"You don't regret it?"
"Tony," Abby's face went serious. "I would've said no if I didn't want anything that happened last night to happen. And you would've respected me. Simple as that."
"You amaze me, you know that?" Tony cupped her face in his hand and kissed her softly, thanking every possible lucky star that she wasn't upset with him.
"So we can go back to sleep for a while? Then I can wake you up with the best blow job you've ever had."
"Sold."
"Next time I wake up," Abby started as she crawled back between the sheets, "I expect to find you next to me."
"Yes ma'am." Tony pulled her close and pushed his nose into her hair, inhaling deeply. It wasn't perfect, she wasn't his but he would take what he could get. As the tension drained from him, he found his eyes drifting shut. The next thing he was aware of, Tony felt warm. Warm all over. It wasn't uncomfortable warmth, like when he was sick and had a fever, and it wasn't the type of warmth from laying in the sun or working out.
As he drifted closer to consciousness, the feeling of heat drained from his extremities and began to feel more localized in his core. Tony's eyes shot open at the slight tug on his balls. His look of shock met a smug, sultry look in Abby's eyes, her dark make up smudged from the night before. He was torn between staring at her mischievous green eyes and how his cock slid so easily between her pouty lips.
They hadn't really engaged in oral sex the night before. He'd gotten a taste of her, but she'd made it clear that she wanted him to fuck her (hard) and so he had.
But now she was taking her sweet time, teasing him and doing something with her tongue. "Jesus Abby, I'm gonna…" If he came now, he likely wouldn't come again for a while, though he would have no trouble getting hard again. He thought his warning would have her pulling away, but she kept at it, humming a little when he stroked a finger along her face. When he knew he was beyond stopping, he gripped her face and pumped ever-so-gently into her mouth until he cried out her name and came.
The next thing Tony knew, Abby was curled up by his side, her arms wrapped around him. "Wow, I don't even know what to say."
"Best wake up ever?"
"Oh yeah!" As his heart rate slowed, he let his hand trail down her side and over her hip until Abby stopped him and pulled his hand back to her waist. He pulled her close and kissed her, unable to thread enough words for a thank you. As Abby relaxed against him, he again tried to work his hand between her legs. "What gives?" He pulled away, a little hurt at being turned down. "You gave me an incredible blow job and now I can't touch you? I just want to make sure your needs are met too."
"And I appreciate that - that you want to do the same for me, but Tony, you've got to learn to accept pleasure. I think you've had too many girlfriends who expect you to take care of their needs and if your needs aren't met, oh well. We're friends. I wanted to take care of you this morning. Easy as that." Abby leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss to his lips. "But now I've got to get home, I told Mrs. Evans down the hall that I'd take her grocery shopping this afternoon, and I need to get in a quick shower in first."
Tony sat up in bed and watched as she gathered her clothes from the day before and slipped them on. She glared at him and tossed her ripped panties at him, unable to hold the glare when they landed on his head. "You're taking me shopping on Monday after work, unless we catch a hard case."
"Only if I get to pick the style"
Abby laughed as she pulled her shirt over her head. "You can have a say, and if you're good I'll model them for you. But I have the right to veto anything uncomfortable or unpractical."
"Deal."
"See ya."
As soon as he heard the front door shut, Tony fell back on the bed with a heavy sigh.
TBC
Thanks for all the reviews/story alerts – means a lot. I know this OT3 isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those that are, I'm glad you're giving it a chance.
