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CHAPTER 14

It was 7.00pm Sunday evening by the time Abby returned home. Gibbs had reluctantly dropped her off outside her apartment. "Abs, let me see you to your door", "No Gibbs, if I do you'll stay and you can't, remember it's a school night and I need my rest" explained Abby "If you expect me to be in my lab nice and early tomorrow there's no staying over for you". They briefly shared a tender kiss before Abby jumped out of the car and walked to her apartment block.

Gibbs watched as she disappeared inside, he was missing her already but she was right, they both needed an early night. He sighed as he put the challenger into drive, it was going to be a very long night.

As soon as Abby entered her apartment she went to her bedroom and started to unpack. She giggled to herself as she lifted her newly acquired towelling robe, courtesy of the Ritz Carlton, out of the bag. Running her hands through the soft material, she smiled as she remembered everything that had happened that day.

They had spent most of the morning in bed, rediscovering the pleasures from the night before. They would have stayed in bed longer but they were rudely interrupted by the reception desk informing them that they had to check out by noon.

After leaving the hotel, Abby had suggested a quiet little café that they could go to for lunch. When they had arrived, Abby had insisted that they take a table by the window so that she could watch people walk by.

"Don't you find people watching fascinating?"

"It depends whom I'm watching", grinned Gibbs as he looked Abby up and down.

"Oh, don't be silly Gibbs, I'm serious, you can learn a lot about people just by watching them."

"So what can you see when looking at me?"

"I see an old grumpy ex-marine who is in love with a beautiful, green eyed gothic beauty" laughed Abby.

"No I'm being serious here Abs, if you're so good at reading people, what ya see?"

"A man that has been fighting demons for far too long" Gibbs tensed.

"A man that needs to know that he is loved and accepted for what he is." Gibbs looked away.

"A man that is loved by a woman who has no desire to change him "

"Abs" breathed Gibbs, his voice cracking with emotion.

"A woman who understands and is willing to share his love with two people he cannot forget" she felt a tear start to run down her cheek. "A woman who understands that she will never have all his heart as there will always be a little piece reserved for Shannon and Kelly."

Fighting back the tears, Gibbs got up from where he sat opposite her and knelt by her chair. She ran a hand down his cheek and wiped a tear away with her thumb, "and that is why I love you, my silver haired fox." Gibbs smiled at the use of his nickname, "I love you too".

Abby patted the seat beside her for Gibbs to sit next to her. "Shall we eat? All this emotional stuff has made me feel really hungry." Gibbs wrapped his arm around her. "Abs, can nothing distract you from food?"

After lunch, they returned to Gibbs' house to make a start on her new coffin.

Abby stood hunched over Gibbs' workbench, studying his plan, "Gibbs, I really don't understand this".

He leant over her shoulder, "Are you sure you want to build this coffin Abs, maybe you should start with something smaller, perhaps a bookshelf?"

Abby playfully elbowed him in the stomach, "Ouch, what was that for?" exclaimed Gibbs.

"For doubting my abilities, remember I can put my hand at anything" scowled Abby as she turned to face him.

Gibbs took her injured hand, "Look what happened the last time you tried".

"That injury was self-inflicted and it had nothing to do with building the coffin."

Gibbs stepped back and looked at her.

"What?" pouted Abby.

"Nothing, I'm just waiting for you to start"

Abby picked up the saw from the bench, turned it in her hand, sighed and dropped it back on the bench.

"Problem there Abs?" smirked Gibbs.

"It's no good; I'm never going to be a carpenter".

"Abby, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. What about if I build and you learn?" suggested Gibbs.

Abby smiled, "That'll be great, and then we've got a hobby we can do together."

Gibbs rolled his eyes "It's going to be a while before you can build a boat, Abs"

After an hour of the Gibbs master class in carpentry, Abby was beginning to get bored. "Abs, are you listening to me" said Gibbs as he showed Abby how to plane a piece of wood. "

"Sorry Gibbs, but I think I've learnt enough for today" said Abby as she tried to suppress a yawn. "I think I might be suffering from a lack of Caf-Pow".

"Or maybe you're just tired; it's been a hectic couple of days"

"Gibbs, do you mind if I go home, I think I need an early night, need to catch up on my beauty sleep." Abby winked at Gibbs. "I haven't had much sleep lately."

Enough reminiscing Miss Scuito it's time you went to bed and got some sleep.

An hour later Abby was still awake. She looked at her clock, it was only 10.00pm. She groaned, she knew she was tired but her mind was wide awake, all she could think about was Gibbs. Abby kicked her black comforter away, got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. The only thing that could relax her now was a nice hot bath.

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On returning to his house Gibbs found himself down in the basement working on Abby's coffin. He knew he was tired but he really didn't want to go to bed without Abby being there. Even though it only had been 2 days, Gibbs had got used to Abby being around. He had found that he was a happier person when she was with him; laughing and smiling more. He knew that since Jenny death he had become rather insular and had withdrawn into himself. The old marine Gibbs had return and the jokey laughing Gibbs had disappeared. He run a hand through his hair, reminding himself on how much he had change, he was definitely wearing his hair a lot higher and tighter these days.

Gibbs was finding it hard to concentrate; all he could think about was Abby. He knew that if his mind carried on this way he wouldn't sleep tonight. He put his saw down and poured himself a glass of bourbon, may be getting drunk would help. He took a sip and then stopped, he suddenly realised that the only thing that would help wouldn't be found in his basement. He put the glass down and ran up the basement steps.

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Abby was lying in her bath, when she heard footsteps in her hall. She didn't move, she knew who it was. She heard the bathroom door creak. "What don't you understand about not staying over?"

"Can't sleep Abs,"

"May be a relaxing bath would help, care to join me" smiled Abby.

Abby watched Gibbs as he removed his clothes. "What ya staring at Abs?"

"Something I like" Abby said as she made room for Gibbs to get in the bath.

"Ah, that's better I can feel myself relaxing already" said Gibbs as he settled himself behind Abby.

Abs leant back into his chest and felt Gibbs' arms wrap around her. Abby knew she would definitely sleep that night.