Disclaimer: Not mine. Which is actually very sad.
A/N: If this chapter was a movie, it would be rated R. Just a warning
Also... I'm sorry this took so long. The story has been basically finished for a while but it was lacking something in the transition. That something turned into this.
Visitors
Abby's Hospital Room
Gibbs entered Abby's hospital room, clutching the cup of ice chips and anxiously watching as the doctor finished her examination.
"How's it look Doc?" He finally asked
"Looks good." Dr. Morgan smiled, "Take it easy and we should have you out of here in a week."
"A week?" said Abby, dismayed
"You live alone Abby." The Doctor explained, "If you had someone to take care of you, you could probably leave sooner"
"She has someone." Gibbs looked looked the Doctor in the eye, "She has someone to take care of her."
"Ok. I'll be back to check on you in a few hours. Take it easy and no caffeine." Dr. Morgan and the nurse left, leaving Gibbs and Abby alone. She grabbed the ice chips and began sucking on them furiously.
"I was hoping for a Caf-Pow." Abby admitted
"We go by the Doctors rules today Abbs." He brushed the hair out of her eyes and sat down.
"You need to sleep, Gibbs."
"I'm not leaving."
"I wasn't asking you to." She lay back, already exhausted from the simple act of eating ice chips. "lay with me."
"I don't know if there's room, Abbs." Gibbs looked at her, "I don't want to hurt you." The sentence hung in the air as they looked at each other.
"There's room Gibbs." Abby smiled lazily at him, "Did you see my morphine pump?" She showed him her IV proudly. "Dr. Morgan was right, it is the only benefit of being shot. That and the scar."
"Don't joke about this Abby." said Gibbs , sharply. He buried his face in her neck. She could feel his tears, hot on her skin.
"I wasn't joking" Abby whispered, holding on to him, rubbing his back until his breathing evened out, "Scars are cool."
Gibbs began laughing as he settled in beside her, careful not to disrupt the wires and tubes connected to her. She lay on his chest and closed her eyes- breathing him in.
"I'm going to take care of you Abbs." Gibbs held her gently as she fell asleep. He watched her breathe before finally closing his eyes and allowing himself to sleep.
Abby's Hospital Room the following day
Agent Lee stood in the doorway, staring at the hospital bed. Gibbs and Abby lay together and he was spooning her. She held his arms around her body. They fit together perfectly.
"Excuse me?" Agent Lee whispered. When she got no response, she continues, "Abby? You awake?." She stood in the hospital room for a few more minutes.
"How long do I have to pretend to be asleep before you go away." Gibbs looked at Agent Lee with one eye, half opened.
"Sir- Special agent Gibbs." Agent Lee stuttered, "We really can't wait any longer to fill out the incident report. It will only take a few minutes."
"It's fine Gibbs" Abby sat up slowly, "I'll do it and while I'm at it, maybe you should go home a take a shower."
"I smell that bad?" Gibbs teased
"No, you smell good," She kissed him impulsively on the lips, "but it's probably a good idea anyway." Abby smiled at Gibbs. He hesitated before kissing Abby on the cheek and promising to be back soon. As soon as he left, Abby turned to Agent Lee, "Did you bring me what I asked for?"
"Of course." She answered, pulling out a thermos full of Caf!Pow.
"And as promised, the name, location and password of the best underground S&M club in DC." Abby handed her the information in exchange for the Caf!Pow.
"You do actually have to fill out this incident report." Agent Lee opened up her laptop and sat down, "You talk, I'll type."
"Are you going to tell who you are going to the club with?" Asked Abby as she sipped her Caf!Pow.
"Are you going to tell me whats going on between you and Agent Gibbs?" Agent Lee asked. They grinned at each other and settled in to fill out the incident report.
Autopsy
Gibbs walked into the room, his hair was still wet, he had obviously thrown on the first clean clothes he could find.
"Jethro" Ducky and Jimmy stood over Abby's shooter who lay naked and cold on the autopsy table. "Mr. Palmer you may leave, if you wish."
"Thank you Dr. Mallard." Jimmy excitedly turned to leave before turning around, "I left trivial pursuit on your desk, tell Abby I said hello." Gibbs walked over to Ducky and stared at the body, not acknowledging Jimmy's existence.
"Three bullets to the chest. I thought you might need to see him."
"I'm not here about that" Gibbs said, "Though I can't say I'm sad to see him on your table."
"No one is." Ducky said, "Is it too early for a drink?"
"It's after Five" Gibbs answered, "No one could complain, Hell I'm not even working today."
"How is Abby?" Ducky asked, pouring them drinks.
"She seems Ok. Tired." Gibbs sipped his scotch and stared at the dead body, Ducky was right, he did need to see the man who tried to kill Abby laying on Ducky's autopsy table.
"That's to be expected." Ducky said, "It takes time to recover from a traumatic injury."
"I don't like seeing her this way." Gibbs admitted before finishing his drink and pouring himself another. "She's not like herself."
"She'll get better Jethro." Ducky assured him, "It's only been a day."
"She's been hurt so many times Ducky" Gibbs looked away, his expression pained, I can't help but wonder."
"It's not your fault Jethro." Ducky gripped Gibbs's shoulder, "It's not your fault."
Gibbs held with face in his hands. It was a rare vulnerable moment and Ducky was at a loss for words.
"Ducky I..." Gibbs stumbled over his words, "I love her." Ducky was silent as he considered the statement.
"That is starting to become abundantly clear. For how long?" Ducky said
"Long time Ducky" Gibbs looked away not wanting to meet Ducky's eyes.
"And Abby? Does she reciprocate your feelings?"
"She doesn't know."
"How does Hollis feel about this?"
"I haven't told her yet."
"Jethro!" Ducky scolded
"I've been a little busy" Gibbs looked away, "What do I say?"
"If only because it's the easiest thing to remember, tell her the truth."
"Easier said than done"
"It usually is." Ducky poured himself another drink, "We're friends Jethro. And yet, for reasons unknown to me you seemed determined to not include me in your life. And would you like to know the worst part?"
"Yes Ducky." Gibbs said, "I would."
"I now owe mister Palmer fifty dollars.
NCIS: Director Shepard's Office
Jenny sat behind her desk, rereading Hollis Mann's letter of resignation. She looked up, calmly. She had been waiting the entire day for Gibbs to barge into her office.
"Hello Jethro."
"Director" Gibbs walked over to a chair and sat down, staring at her.
"You've been to see Ducky?"
"I had to see the body." Gibbs admitted, "I had to make sure he was really dead."
"So did I." Jenny looked at Gibbs, "How is she?"
"She'll be fine." Gibbs said, determinedly. "I need to take some time off."
"Of course" She opened a file on her desk and grabbed a pen, "How much time do you need to take off."
"At least two weeks." Gibbs answered, "Maybe more."
"As much as you need." Jenny looked him, in the eye. "Both of your jobs will be waiting for you."
"Thank you Jenny" Gibbs said simply, "For everything."
Abby's Hospital Room
Ducky found Abby sitting in her hospital bed, eating Jello and compulsively flipping through the channels.
"Abigail. Already on solid food, well done." Ducky walked towards Abby and embraced her.
"Ducky!" Abby lit up when she saw him. She hugged him tightly, "I missed you."
"And I you." He smiled, "How do you feel? And be honest."
"I'm ok." She smiled before admitting, "I'm sore, fault for giving up the morphine drip. And they won't let me have any caffeine. It's not fair."
"Stick to Jello for now." Ducky said, "You have to allow yourself to heal.
"You sound like Gibbs." Abby laughed
"He came to see me today."
"Needed to see the body." Abby surmised, "And you of course. I see that you have brought things with you."
"Ah yes." Ducky picked up the large bag he brought with him and pulled out several board games. "Mother and I made you a basket of good cheer. The Trivial Pursuit is Jimmy's. And he says hello, by the way."
"Oh fun, its been years since I played chess with actual pieces." Abby picked up the chess set and looked at the pieces with wonder.
"Chess ought to be played with actual pieces." Ducky set up the board and swung the table over Abby's bed, "It's the game of Kings, it deserves some level of grandiosity."
"Like at Hogwarts?" Abby asked
"Hogs what?"
"Oh Ducky."