Disclaimer. I have nothing to do with the show NCIS. Just playing. I will put the toys back in the box when I am done.
A/N: I little more swearing than I've had so far. Nothing really-- i just want to warn the faint of heart.
League Night
Ducky's House One Week Later
"Jethro!"
"Hey Ducky." Gibbs looked grim and carried a bottle of Scotch in his hand.
"To what do I own the honer?" Ducky asked as he let Gibbs in and showed him to his den.
"Women."
"Oh. Oh Dear." Ducky poured both of them a drink. It had been a week since he kissed Abby and he was, in simple terms, a mess. Gibbs couldn't have explained what made that kiss so different from the thousands of others he had given her over the years. But they had crossed the line.
Contrary to popular gossip, he and Abby had never had an affair. He hadn't been lying when he told Hollis that there was nothing between Abby and Himself. In his mind, she had always remained unattainable. Until he kissed her.
The moment his lips touched hers the world exploded with possibility. The impossible had suddenly become possible and his reaction had been to run away. Run away and avoid her at all costs. And he didn't know why.
He couldn't deny that he felt a real affection for Hollis. She was his match in so many ways. For once in his life he was following the sensible path. It didn't stop the dull ache that had settled in his chest since he purposely started separating himself from Abby.
Gibbs had gone to Ducky's because traditionally, Ducky was the only person he could talk to about these thing. But the fact that this involved Abby made that an impossibility.
"Donald?" Ducky's mother walked in, dressed in a long white dress and large straw hat. "Our guests are arriving any minute." She carried a croquet mallet and was surrounded by tiny dogs.
"Yes mother, we'll be out in a moment." Ducky waved her off. "I gather not all is well in paradise?"
"It's a relationship, not paradise." Gibbs grumbled. "That perspective explains why you are single."
"On the other hand, it also might explain why you have been married so many times." Ducky paused to sip his drink, "I hope that if I was lucky enough to be loved by a beautiful women, in spite of my many faults, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss her."
"Ducky?" Gibbs blinked in surprise, thinking that he was somehow referring to Abby.
"Hollis suits you quite well." Ducky patted Gibbs on the back, "I think you may have met your match."
"Maybe I have." Gibbs said to no one in particular.
The doorbell rang and Ducky sighed before getting up to answer it. "That would be our guests. A few weeks ago, mother invited Tony and Ziva over to play croquet. I must admit I never thought they would take her up on her offer."
"Croquet?" Gibbs asked no one in particular. Tony walked in. He was holding a croquet mallet in a manner that can only be achieved by someone who grew up with money. He looked totally comfortable with Ziva on one arm and Ducky's mother on the other.
"Boss?" Tony said with surprise, "You joining us?"
"No, DiNozzo." Gibbs said shortly before realizing with some surprise that DiNozzo was probably the person in the room who had the most experience juggling two women.
Gibbs stopped that thought in in tracks. He wasn't the kind of guy that juggled women and he wasn't about to become one. He wouldn't see Abby outside of work anymore. It was that simple.
Abby's Lab
Instead of going over to Ducky's for their weekly croquet game, Abby had decided to go into her lab and wallow in self pity. She hadn't felt comfortable in her apartment since Gibbs had kissed her and left her. She had only been going home to shower and change, preferring to sleep on the futon in her lab. When she was able to sleep, which wasn't often.
She didn't hook up with guys in relationships. She didn't have that many rules, but that was on of them. The intense guilt at this transgression was the only thing that kept her from chasing Gibbs down and fucking him just to make sure that he was real.
Her energy hummed with desire for him. It overwhelmed all reason. She felt feverish and anxious—totally alert even though she hadn't slept in days- no caffeine for hours. She wanted him
I'm in love with Gibbs and its making me sick...
Abby's Lab One Month Later
Lt. Colonel Hollis Mann watched as Gibbs handed Abby a Caf-Pow, he refrained from kissing her in Hollis's presence but the desire in his eyes was clear. Something had changed between them in the last month. She could almost pinpoint the exact moment she lost him. The moment she witnessed Gibbs and Abby with that baby she knew nothing would be the same. Sometimes she thought that she could actually feel him slipping through her fingers. Hollis didn't know what kept brining Gibbs back to her
She sighed deeply and looked away. It had become her new habit since joining NCIS-- looking away, ignoring to obvious, pretending everything was Ok. Mann knew that she should be happy about the break in the case that Abby had just given them but she had come to dread these moments. The clear pride and affection in Gibbs's eyes when he looked at Abby disturbed her.
"Thanks Abby." Colonel Mann interrupted their conversation when it became clear that they had moved off the case and onto Abby's plans for a new tattoo.
"See you tonight Abbs." Gibbs said as they walked away.
"Be there or be square" Abby signed without speaking. Even though Mann could sign, she wasn't as fluent as Gibbs and Abby. By the time she registered what Abby signed she was too late to catch Gibb's reply.
"What's tonight?" She asked, trying to sound casual.
"League night." He answered, "Sister Mary Ellen broke her toe lifting weights and has to sit out for a few games. I'm an alternate"
"Abby bowls?"
"She's better than I am." Gibbs replied, "I'm off to interrogate our suspect. Care to join me?"
"I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle" Hollis replied. She turned and headed towards director Sheppard's office.
NCIS Director Sheppard's Office
Jenny Sheppard sat in her office reading a DOD report for the second time, looking for nuances that weren't there. Her assistant calling to let her know that Lt. Colonel Mann wanted to see her, came as a welcome distraction.
"Hollis" Jenny called from behind her desk. "How can I help you?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Hollis replied.
"It's eight o'clock on a Friday and Gibbs is closing our most prominent domestic case as we speak." Jenny walked over to her wet bar to fix them a drink. "Fantastic job by the way. I knew bringing you on board was a good idea."
"Thank you ma'am." Hollis took the drink from Jenny, gratefully.
"Hollis, I told you, call me Jenny."
"Jenny." She paused. Hollis liked Jenny Sheppard and they got along quite well. The fact that she had a history with Gibbs was easily over come by the fact that it was, in fact, history. Jenny had willingly shared her inside information on Jethro, what he liked and what drove him crazy. It had almost felt like cheating, knowing the ways to push his buttons without having to learn the hard way.
"How is working with Jethro working out." The director smiled softly and sat on the couch, next to Hollis.
"Apparently he's breaking one of his rules."
"He takes his rules very seriously" said Jenny with knowing smile.
"It's difficult. Sometime I think we spend too much time together."
"Is that what you came to talk about? Because if you need to work on different cases for awhile..."
"Actually that might be a good idea. I think I'm ready to lead my own team."
"I couldn't agree more." Jenny said, "In fact I was already planning on talking to you about that. I've taken the liberty of choosing a few agent files for you to look through."
"Sounds great Director." Hollis smiled but it did not reach her eyes.
"That's not the only reason you're here is it?"Jenny said
"No it's not." Hollis admitted.
"Talk to me." Jenny said, "I'm not you're boss right now, I'm you're friend.
"Gibbs is going bowling with Abby tonight." She said finally before quickly finishing her drink.
"Tonights league night. It's the finals." Jenny said as she got up to retrieve a bottle of Brandy from across the room. If she was going to try and explain Abby and Gibbs's relationship to Hollis Mann, she would need the entire bottle. "You want to know about Abby and Gibbs don't you?"
"Yes." Hollis took the bottle from Jenny and poured herself another drink.
"I've been waiting for you to ask about them. Most people do, eventually. I don't know much really." Jenny sat down again. "They've known each other for at least ten years. I think she was interning in an FBI lab. From the way she tell it you would think that he rescued her from that place. Although I've been there and she's not that far off..."
"They're behavior is somewhat unprofessional" Hollis finally said.
"It doesn't interfere with their work" Jenny answered sharply, "In fact I believe it enhances it. For a long time, she was the only one who..." Jenny paused trying to think of a way to explain the moments over the past few years when Abby seemed to be the one keeping Gibbs going.
"I wasn't suggesting..." Hollis said defensively
"Yes, you were." Jenny took a deep breath, "But I understand. Both Abby and Jethro take some getting used too. Together they are almost impenetrable."
"She's such a big part of his life." Hollis looked away, "I don't know if there's room for me."
"I thought he was spending most of his time with you." Jenny said. "When he's not working that is." She knew for a fact that Gibbs had been spending most of his time with Hollis. When the Lt. Col. Entered Gibb's life, Abby began spending more time with both Jenny and Ziva.
"He is..." Hollis's reply was cut short by a sharp knock on the door followed by DiNozzo strolling in with Cynthia on his heels
"I'm sorry director. He insisted." Cynthia manged to look very sorry while simultaneously glaring at Tony.
"It's fine. It's after hours and I'm sure he will never do it again." Jenny was tempted to smack him on the back of the head, but she manged to stop herself. "Go home. Have fun on your date. I'll see you on Monday."
"Thank you director." Cynthia beamed and left the room in a hurry.
"You know somebody works too much when they're excited about getting to leave work at eight o'clock on a Friday night." Tony grabbed a glass and helped himself to a drink.
"DiNozzo, what are you doing here?" Jenny said.
"Sorry." He handed her a file which she took over to her desk and immediately began reading.
"I'll be back in a second." Jenny said, "I just need to read this over."
"Hot date tonight?" Tony asked Hollis with a his usual winning smile. Her face flushed quickly and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Tony" Jenny attempted to interrupt
"Gibbs is bowling with Abby tonight." Hollis said evenly.
"It's too bad about Sister Mary Ellen." Tony said, "She bowls a 280"
"DiNozzo." Jenny said again, "We were in the middle of a conversation."
"I'm sorry." Tony said, "Girl talk right?"
"Something like that." Hollis answered
"Some guy did something wrong and now you need to talk about it until you've reanalyzed every detail of the situation and every interaction involved." Tony stood up to leave, "Abby explained it to me after my now ex-girlfriend hit me in the face with her cell phone when I told her she spent too much time talking to her sister."
"That's how you got that black eye." Jenny interrupted, "You said you got in a bar fight."
"Bar fight sounds better than getting hit by a girl" Tony explained.
"He's got a point" Hollis said. "And I'm actually going to go. Thank you director."
"But we didn't get to talk about... anything" Jenny said carefully.
"No, it's fine." Hollis shook Jenny's hand and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Something I said?" Tony asked
"Isn't it usually." Jenny said smiling as she poured herself and Tony another drink. "But in this case, it's Abby"
"She's upset because of Abby?" Tony asked confused, "No one gets upset because of Abby."
"Because of Gibbs and Abby." Jenny explained
"Oh" Tony said, "Well that's a horse of a different color. I personally stopped trying to figure out their relationship a long time ago."
"Really?" Jenny said, pursing her lips.
"No." Tony admitted, "But I've spent years trying to figure them out and I've gotten no where. You and Abby have gotten close, doesn't she tell you anything?"
"Abby is surprisingly guarded when it comes to curtain subjects, Gibbs in particular."
"She seem down to you?"
"Abby?"
"Yeah."
"A little" Jenny admitted. "Have you ever seen her like this before?"
"No" Tony answered, "But I've never seen Gibbs spend this much time with another women either..."
"You don't think?"
"You don't?" Tony asked, "Abby is Gibb's girl, everyone knows that, no question. But Gibb's is Abby's. People sometimes forget that. She's not used to coming in second. Believe me, if the roles were reversed he wouldn't be happy either.
"But they've both been in relationships before." Jenny said, "Hell, Abby's in a new one every other week and Gibbs has been married four times times, I think she was in the last one.
"But they've always put each other first." Tony explained, "I gather it's actually been a big part of keeping them both single."
"But now Gibb's seems to be really trying."
"Exactly." Tony said. "And part of that involves putting distance between him and Abby. Outside of work that is. He's practically moved into her lab."
"Which doesn't seem to be making anyone happy." Jenny said
"Apperently he keeps touching her stuff." Tony said, "Her words not mine."
"I like Hollis." The director sipped her drink thoughtfully, "I thought that she would be good for Gibbs. Someone to keep him grounded."
"If Gibbs got anymore grounded he would start to grow trees." Tony leaned back comfortably enjoying the expensive brandy, "He needs someone to get him off the ground, teach him to fly." Tony motioned with his hand as Ziva walked in without knocking
"Tony why are you waving your arm wildly about?" Ziva sat down and looked at Tony, "Why do you never tell me when you are banging?"
"She means hanging." Tony explained, used to having to translate Ziva's attempts at slang. "Have a drink Ziva."
"All hell breaks loose the second Cynthia leaves. This is still my office" Jenny interrupted, "I was just about to call you." Jenny fixed Ziva a drink, "I need your help with a little puzzle."
"Jenny." Tony said warningly
"She can help."
"I'm great at puzzles." Ziva said, enthusiastically taking the drink Jenny offered her.
"She doesn't mean an actual puzzle." Tony sighed, "Why do you insist on using word play with Ziva when you know that while she can understand it in 8 other languages, English is not one of them."
Later at the bowling alley
Abby waited for Gibbs nervously. They never talked about the kiss. The next day, he pretended that it had never happened and she followed his lead. It was clear to Abby that Gibbs wanted to be with Hollis. She had to learn to except that or risk loosing Gibbs's friendship forever. It was not a risk that Abby was willing to take. She spotted him walking into the bowling ally and waved him over.
"I knew you wouldn't come prepared." Abby said. She wore a poodle skirt and a satin jacket. The look was made complete by the pair of cat eyed glasses perched on her nose.
"I'm always prepared." Answered Gibbs, holding up his bowling Ball bag and his own pair of bowling shoes.
"That's not what I meant." Abby said, "and you know it." She walked to the seating area and pulled out a back pack containing a leather jacket, a comb and a container of light pomade. "Have a seat."
"Only for you, Abbs" Gibbs sighed and sat down. He took off his own jacket to reveal a worn NCIS shirt. Abby had to remind herself to breath slowly as she stood in front of Gibb's and fixed his hair. He had let it grow long, well long for Gibbs. She took a minute to enjoy the feel of her fingers running though his hair. She added a thin layer of pomade to his hair and combed it into a greaser style.
"Put this on and try not to mess up your hair." Abby handed him a pristine white T-Shirt, a full size smaller than he usually more "We have to compensate for the fact that the rest of the team wears nuns habits." As if on cue the group of nuns walked into the bowling alley all wearing a more casual version of the habits he remembered nuns wearing during his childhood.
"You are enjoying this way more than you should be." Gibbs smiled at Abby before heading off to the mens room to change.
Gibbs earned the team's respect by bowling a 250 and buying two pitchers of beer. Abby watched Gibbs proudly as the sisters surrounded him, slapping him on the back and asking him to come back next week. Gibbs helped them to beat the Lutherans from the church down the street. They walked the sisters to their car and watched them drive away.
"I'm glad you came tonight." Abby said as she threaded her arm through his, and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Me too." Gibbs said
"Haven't seen you much lately." Abby said.
"I know." Gibbs said, "It's my fault. I've been spending a lot of time with..."
"It's fine" Abby said, quickly interrupted him, "It's good." She smiled brightly at him but he noticed that it didn't reach her eyes. "You've found someone, that's good"
"I've found people before." Gibbs sighed and opened the car door for Abby. She took her key's back from Gibbs.
"Coffee?" Abby asked, realizing that Gibbs needed to talk and knowing that she was usually the only person he talked to.
"Scotch." Gibbs answered, "Fernel sent it to me so I would have a good bottle for when he came over."
"Perfect. I have to stop home to change." Abby said.
"Why don't I meet you at your place than. I'll stop at home to pick up the bottle. It's on the way."
"OK." Abby answered, "But don't change, I love the outfit." She looked in up and down and gave whistled before closing her door and starting the engine. He got into his car and watched her drive away.
Abby's House
He arrived at his house and he ran in to grab the bottle and ran out just as quickly. He didn't want to chance running into Hollis. When they spent the night together, they usually stayed at her place, but she had begun to turn up at his house when he went there to work on his boat or spend some time alone. He shouldn't have minded. She was hinting about moving in together. It was probably time. Gibbs sighed deeply.
Even as he drove to her house, he knew he probably shouldn't be. It was a bad situation to be in. Alone with Abby and a bottle of hard liquor. But he missed her. He missed her so much that he was finding it difficult concentrate on anything but the curve of her neck and the sharp green in her eyes. Sometimes it overflowed until he had to touch her, even if it was just to brush his fingers softly through her hair before pulling a pigtail.
Ten minutes later, he was at Abby's house. After only a moments hesitation, he used his own key to let himself in. Billy Holiday was playing on her stereo. It was a departure from her usual taste but not unusual for when Gibbs came over to her place. In these moments she seemed to prefer something softer although there was a chance that she played it entirely for his benefit. He walked into the kitchen and found too glasses already set out with ice. He poured their drinks and brought them to the living room, along with the bottle.
Abby emerged from her bedroom moments later. Her hair was down, it was longer than he realized. She wore a mini skirt and a T-shirt. She looked smaller without her jewelery and platforms.
"I've missed you." He found himself saying
"You see me everyday" she told him. He could see her eyes beginning to shine with tears. He knew how much she hated to cry in front of people.
"Have a drink" He said, handing it too her. She took the glass for him and took a sip. "You've painted" He said, feeling ridiculous.
"A month ago." She answered
"It's been that long since I've been here?"
"Yes." She said simply, looking away. "I've missed you too." her voice grew husky, choked with tears. She hated crying on front of people.
"I'm sorry." He said, walking towards her.
"Nothing to be sorry about." She answered, "I have no claim on you. I know that." She looked at him with her large green eyes and his throat felt tight.
"Yes you do." he said simply. She smiled sadly at him before taking her drink. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat.
"Balcony." She said walking out without waiting for him. He was on her heals when they walked out. "Can't see the stars here."
"No." Gibbs confirmed, looking up. She stood against the railing and watched the street below. He came up behind her, she exhaled slowly as he wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, inhaling his scent. His lips brushed her cheek before he buried his face in her neck. "I'm sorry" He said
"Never apologizes" Abby said, "It's a sign of weakness."
"Not with you, Abs" Gibbs said, "Never with you." They stayed there for a long time. Not moving or talking. They were still holding each other when his phone rang.
"It's her" Abby said
"Probably." Gibbs said, without checking
"You shouldn't be here Gibbs." Abby walked back inside towards her front door.
"Abby." Gibbs said
"You know I'm right. I'll see you Monday. Go see your girlfriend."
"But..." He was in the hallway of her apartment building before he realized that she was kicking him out.
On the other side of the door, Abby locked the deadbolt with shaking hands and slid to the floor. She listened for the sound of Gibbs standing on the other side of the door. After a few minutes, she heard him sigh and walk to the elevator. It was only then that she allowed herself to cry.
TBC
A/N: Before You hate me- the next chapter is going up about 5 minutes after I post this.