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Chapter 7

Abby was awoken by a dull ache to her hand, a gentle reminder of how she had got into this serene state. Unfortunately as she became more conscious the dull ache became a throb. She reached over to snuggle into Gibbs, hoping he could find a way to distract her out of her pain, but she found the bed empty. She ran her hand along the sheet, it was cold to her touch, he had been gone a while.

Panic gripped Abby, what if Gibbs was having second thoughts and had regretted the previous night's events. With tears in her eyes, she slipped Gibbs' Marine T-shirt over her head and made her way downstairs.

As she reached the bottom step she could smell coffee brewing in the kitchen. Her body screamed caffeine but her mind and her heart said she needed to find Gibbs and she knew exactly where he would be.

Descending the steps to the basement, Abby prepared herself for whatever Gibbs had to say. If he had regretted last night she would have a fight on her hands to convince him otherwise. Gibbs was stubborn and once his mind was made up, there was very little anybody could do to change it.

Abby stood at the bottom of the steps and looked over towards Gibbs. He had his back to her, busying himself with some paper work at his workbench. "I know you're there Abs" said Gibbs as he turned to face her.

All the doubts that Abby had, faded away when she saw his face, he was smiling.

Gibbs' smile quickly vanished when he noticed that she had been crying. "You've been crying baby"

"Gibbs, I've been so stupid, I woke up and found you gone, I thought you were having second thoughts about us, I knew that once you made up your mind I wouldn't be able to change it, so I started to cry and to top it all my finger hurts"

Gently taking Abby's hand, Gibbs steered her towards a chair and indicated for her to sit, "Abby, calm down, take a breath and listen to me"

"I'm an early riser" Abby started to giggle.

"What are you laughing at? I'm trying to be serious here".

"Sorry Gibbs, it's the image I've got in my head, seeing you as an early riser"

"Abby, you're incorrigible" said Gibbs, rolling his eyes. "I don't need a lot of sleep and since we had such a late night last night I thought you would like a lie in. Being Saturday I didn't think you mind".

"Gibbs, it panicked me to find you gone, I thought that you thought that last night was a big mistake and that you were down in the basement trying to come up with a plan on how to tell me."

"Abs, you're babbling!"

"Sorry Gibbs, I'll shut up now"

Gibbs continued. "Because I didn't want to disturb you I thought I would come down here and work on my boat for a bit and to draw up some plans for your coffin."

He walked over to his workbench and picked up the piece of paper that he had been working on when Abby had come down to the basement. He handed the sketch to Abby.

She scratched her head, "Gibbs, it looks great that's if I understood what all these lines and measurements mean. I don't think I'm cut out to be a carpenter, look what happened the last time I tried." Abby held out her injured finger. "And it still hurts".

Gibbs gently kissed the finger "Come on, let's go upstairs, I'll sort out some pain killers for you".

Abby smiled, "It's ok Gibbs, I'm feeling better now, I think your kisses must have magical powers."

"Isn't it about time you start calling me Jethro"

"I don't know if I can call you Jethro, you've been Gibbs to me for far too long. It just seems natural for me to call you Gibbs"

Gibbs laughed. "OK Abbs, if that's what you want".

There was a brief moment of silence as Abby digested what Gibbs had said. She still needed to hear from him that last night wasn't a mistake. As though he could read her mind, Gibbs cupped her face with his hands, "I don't have any regrets about last night. It was fantastic, the most mind blowing sex I've had in along while, and the reason for that is you. It wasn't just sex Abs, we made love last night and I don't think I've really made love like that since Shannon". He bent down and kissed her lightly on the lips. Abby leant in and deepened the kiss. She needed to confirm that this man meant what he said. Gibbs responded, crushing his lips hard against hers.

Next thing Abby knew was that Gibbs had her pinned between him and his boat, with his hands all over her body and his lips still crushed against her's. Gasping for air she moved her hands down his chest until they came to rest at the waistband of his jeans. "Gibbs, no foreplay, I'll want you in me now".

Sometime later Gibbs founds himself, buck naked on the basement floor with Abby draped across his chest. His bottom felt numb and his legs ached but he resisted the urge to move, just in case he woke her. She looked so content, she had that little smile on her face that he loved. He often wondered what made her smile and today he hoped it was him.