Disclaimer: not my characters and so on... If you sue me all you will get is my 1991 craptastic car.
A/N: Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby traditional bluegrass song. You probably heard it in Oh brother where art thou as sung by Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss & Emmylou Harri
Abby's lab at NCIS
Hollis found Gibbs in Abby's lab. Abby was holding the baby and Gibbs had his arm draped over Abby's shoulders. Hollis was struck by how natural Abby looked with a baby. She never would have believed that someone so Goth could also be so maternal. She wondered if Gibbs would ever look at her the way he was looking at Abby right now.
"Hollis!" Said Gibbs surprised. He jumped up and crossed the room,
"I brought Abby the evidence from Georgia Rice's apartment." Hollis motioned to the large box she was holding, "You need to sign for it."
"Sure thing" Abby whispered. "Let me just put her down." Abby took the over to the pack n play Tony had picked up from Malcolm Rice's house.
"Malcolm Rice made it out of surgery." Hollis said handing Abby the evidence.
"Yeah, Ducky called" Gibbs said, his eyes never leaving Abby.
"I'll sign for that now." Abby grabbed clipboard from Hollis and signed her name with a flourish.
"You'll talk to Jenny about that thing." Abby turned to Gibbs and smiled at him.
"Course Abbs." He kissed her on the cheek. "Hollis, can you finish up the paper work I've got to talk to the Director about something."
"Sure." Hollis followed Gibbs onto the elevator
"What do you have to talk to Jenny about?" Hollis asked
"Sargent Rice's parents are on their way from Seattle. They should be here tomorrow morning. Abby wants to know if Maggie can stay here until they arrive. No reason to put the baby in foster care if we can avoid it."
"That's what social services is for Gibbs." Hollis said gently, "Maybe it would be better..."
"You think that the baby would be better of in foster care instead of at home being cared for by her grandparents until her father can come home?" Gibbs looked amazed. "As soon as that kid goes in the system it will take weeks to get her back out." The elevator doors opened and Gibbs walked out without saying another word to Hollis.
Later that Night
Gibbs had fallen asleep on Abby's futon while watching her fill up test tubes with various liquids.. She was running tests on every piece of evidence they had. Abby wanted this case closed and done with and she was to be pursuing that goal with an almost rabid intensity. He awoke several hours later to the sound of Abby's husky melodic voice singing
Go to sleep you little baby Go to sleep you little baby
Your momma's gone away and your daddy's gone to stay
Didn't leave nobody but the baby
Go to sleep you little baby Go to sleep you little baby
Everybody's gone in the cotton and the corn
Didn't leave nobody but the baby
You're a sweet little baby You're a sweet little baby
Honey in the rock and the sugar don't stop
Gonna bring a bottle to the baby
Don't you weep pretty baby Don't you weep pretty baby
he's long gone with the red shoes on Gonna meet another lovin baby
Go to sleep you little baby Go to sleep you little baby
You and me and the devil makes three Don't need no other lovin baby
Go to sleep you little baby Go to sleep you little baby
Come and lay your bones on the alabaster stones
And be my ever lovin baby
Gibbs sat up and watched as Abby walked around her lab, holding the baby, wrapped in a black silk shawl. She sang gently and Gibbs found himself thinking about what a wonderful mother Abby was going to be.
Abby had switched to another song. She had grown up singing. Her rendition of the classic bluegrass song had a jazzy flair, so often found in New Orleans. It was husky and melodic. He found himself being lulled back to sleep. He had to actually shake himself
He checked his watch. It was almost time to take Maggie to meet her grandparent's and hopefully see her father. He hated to break up the moment. Abby was obviously enjoying herself. It was rare to see her so peaceful. He was surprised when she turned to him and smiled brightly.
"Gibbs!" Abby said, "How long have you been up?"
"A little while." Gibbs admitted, "It's almost time."
"I know." Abby looked at the baby and smiled, "I'll miss her."
"Me too Abbs." Gibbs offered Abby his Arm, "I'll buy to a Caf-Pow on the way."
Gibbs drove and she sang lullaby versions of her favorite songs to the baby on the way to the hospital. When they arrived, Sargent Rice was sitting up in his bed talking to his parent's and and sister. He was recovering remarkably fast.
"Maggie!" Sargent Rice called from his bed when he saw Gibbs and Abby walk into his room. The baby began to smile and and reach for her father. Abby tentatively handed the baby to him, making sure he was strong enough to hold the baby before she let go.
"You must be Special Agent Gibbs and Abby Sciuto." Sargent Rice's father shook Gibbs hand, "I'm Marshal Rice, we spoke on the phone, I don't know how to thank you.
"No need." Gibbs said
"You saved my son and my granddaughter." The old marine almost choked up before continuing, "I expect nothing less from a fellow Marine.
"She a great kid." Abby said growing tearful. "Awesome taste in music.
"You figured out that she likes death metal." Sargent Rice laughed,
"Any kind of metal really." Abby said, "I made her a few Cd's"
"We also brought the car seat and diaper bag. " Gibbs said.
"Bye Maggie." Abby kissed the baby on the head and was rewarded with a huge smile. Gibbs felt a lump in his throat and began thinking about his own daughter. They stayed for only a few more minutes. After shaking a few more hands and exchanging cards, Gibbs led Abby out of the room and back to the car.
That night Gibbs sat in Abby's living room. They shared a bottle of red wine and talked about the look in the Sargent's eyes when he saw his daughter and realized that she was alright. For once Gibbs and Abby got to see a family reunited instead of torn apart. The success brought a high with it and Gibbs was actually smiling and joking with Abby. It felt like old times, before the explosion and before Lt. Col Mann.
Abby opened a second bottle of wine and they sat closer on the couch, facing each other. Coltrain played softly in the background.
"You were really great with Maggie, Abbs." Gibbs smiled at her and poured himself more wine.
"So were you." Abby cover his hand with her own. She didn't say that she was sorry about his daughter, she didn't have to. The gentle touch said it all. Her eyes caught his attention, as they often did and he found himself gazing into them.
"Abbs."
"Shh." Abby placed a finger on his lips. He placed hand on the side of her face and brought his forehead to rest on hers. He felt her tears, wet on his cheek. He kissed them away one by one. She closed her eyes and breathed him in... sawdust, alcohol, and a hint of gunpowder-- undeniably Gibbs. She wanted to say his name out loud...
Which is why her mouth was slightly open when he kissed her lips. It was almost chaste but lingering, with a hint of something more.. His hand was on her neck, softly and possessively. Neither of them moved, unwilling to break the spell.
Suddenly the shrill ring of his cell phone blasted them apart. Gibbs fumble with his jacket until he located the phone. It was Hollis. He silenced the ring and put the phone in his pocket.
"I..." Gibbs sighed deeply and looked away, "I can't."
"OK." Abby signed, unwilling to trust her voice. She smiled brightly while the tears in her eyes threatened to spill over. He let himself out. She wasn't watching him when he signed,
"I'm sorry" He drove home to work on his boat, knowing that Hollis would be waiting for him.
TBC
A/N: I know its short but it was how the chapter came together. The next one is longer.
A/N: Thanks for the fantastic reviews. They make me smile and write faster.