Thanks for the reviews and especially to ilikegoo for giving me the idea for this next chapter

CHAPTER 8

Gibbs must have drifted back to sleep, the activity of the last 24 hours taking its toll, his eyes soon shot open though when he heard footsteps in his hall and somebody calling his name. It was Ducky, "Shit". He had forgotten that he had promised to go with Ducky to visit his mother.

Gibbs tried to get up but Abby had him pinned to the floor, "Abs, wake up, you need to wake up"

"Um, too tired, just want to snuggle" and to emphasis her point, she tightened her grip around his waist.

"No Abs, we've got to get up Ducky's here".

Abby was soon up on her feet, desperately looking around for Gibbs' marine T-shirt.

"I can't find my t-shirt, where the hell did you throw it?" a note of panic in her voice.

Gibbs had a quick look around, fully aware that Ducky's steps where getting closer to the basement door. He couldn't see the t-shirt anywhere but he did find his own, hanging from the cabin of the boat.

Grinning to himself, remembering how it got there, he grabbed it and tossed it to Abby," Here, wear mine".

Upstairs Ducky was wondering where Abby and Jethro were? He had seen Abby's hearse parked outside Gibbs' house and he knew it wasn't unusual for her to spend Friday nights with him. Normally when Abby stayed, she would have greeted him in the hall by now or he would find her lounging in Gibbs' sitting room watching something on TV, but the house was unusually silent.

He took a quick look in the sitting room, no Abby. He made his way to the kitchen and noticed that the jug of Gibbs' coffee maker had boiled bone dry. That was strange. Turning off the coffee maker, he headed towards the basement.

Reaching the basement door, he could hear muffled voices, even though they were very quiet, he could just make out it was definitely Abby and Gibbs. Descending the stairs, he was amazed at what he saw, a glimpse of Abby's naked back as she slipped on a t-shirt and Gibbs struggling into a pair of jeans.

Gibbs looked up at him and just smiled. What else could he do?

Abby was very calm, she walked over to a stunned Ducky, kissed him on the cheek and gave him a little hug. "I'm going to take a shower, I leave you boys to talk".

Gibbs watched Abby climb the basement stairs, his blue eyes sparkled when he realised how little the t-shirt covered. He was glad that Ducky had his back to her or the poor man might have keeled over with a heart attack.

Once Abby had disappeared, he turned his attention to Ducky who wasn't looking particularly pleased

"What do you think you're doing?"

Gibbs raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Oh, I know exactly what I'm doing"

"I didn't mean it like that. Seriously Jethro, what do you think you're doing?"

Gibbs leant against his workbench and studied his friend. They had been through a lot together over the years. He had been there to help pick up the pieces after his last three marriages and his disastrous affair with Jenny had ended. This man knew him warts and all.

Gibbs was wary on how to progress with the conversation. Ducky cared deeply for Abby and Gibbs knew that if he ever hurt her, Ducky would personally castrate him. He winced at the thought.

"Jethro, are you going to say anything or are you going to be your usual reticent self"

Gibbs looked at his feet, "She loves me Duck"

"Do you love her?"

"Yes, with all my heart"

"Jethro, you must understand that I care for Abby and that I don't want to see her hurt".

Gibbs lifted his head to look at his friend "I won't hurt her Duck, she means too much to me"

Ducky wasn't completely convinced, he was well aware of Gibbs' track record with women. ' "I'm just worried Jethro that now you've seduced her and the thrill of the chase is over, you'll tire of her and I will have to pick up the pieces".

Gibbs couldn't believe what Ducky had just said. "It's Abby you're talking about not just some red head I've picked up at a bar. I've loved her from the first moment I saw her, despite the tattoos, the dog collars and the loud music, I love her Duck. And for your information, she seduced me".

Ducky remained silent for a moment, digesting what Gibbs had just said. "I'm sorry Jethro but I had to be sure".

Gibbs placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "I know, Duck, I know".

"Have you got plans to tell the rest of the team?" "What about Vance, I hope you haven't got Abby in trouble, you know what his like about intimacy amongst team members"

Those words hit Gibbs like a steam roller, he had slept with Abby twice and neither time did he take any precautions.