Thanks for the reviews, I can never have enough. Here's chapter 18. I've already written chapter 19 so I might publish it later on tonight.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

CHAPTER 18

Abby sat staring at her cell phone wishing for it to ring. She glanced up at the clock in the lab, they should have touched down in LA by now but Gibbs still hadn't rung. He promised he would ring as soon as they had landed. She tried McGee's cell phone, no answer. What was with these guys? Had they forgotten how important it was to ring her, to tell her they were safe? Had Gibbs forgotten his own rule, Rule#3, never be unreachable.

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She was in her lab that morning when he came to tell her that he was leaving for LA. She was sitting at her desk eating a bar of nougat.

"Still on the nougat rush then Abs?"

"It's strange as it's something I use to dislike and now I'm craving for it more than Caf-Pow. "

"Very hinky"

She smiled at his use of her catchphrase.

"Abs, I came down to tell you that McGee and I are off to LA for a few days"

"Is it something to do with Special Ops? "

"Yes, Vance wants us to liaise with the Los Angeles Office on this operation"

"With Special Agent Macy?" asked Abby, a note of jealousy in her voice.

"Agent Macy?"

She looked directly into his face. "You know her Gibbs"

Gibbs smiled. "If you've got any info for her Abs, let me know first".

"You're not going to talk about her" pressed Abby

"Nope"

"Have you've got history with her Gibbs? Is it something I need to worry about?"

Gibbs kissed Abby on the cheek. ""Yes and no"

"Is that all I get? Yes and no" snapped Abby

Gibbs placed an arm around her shoulder. She tried to shake it off. "Don't be like that. I'll tell you about her when I get back. Remember there are no secrets between us."

Abby looked sheepishly at him.

"Sorry Gibbs, I'm just worried. The last time you guys went to LA, one of you didn't come back"

Gibbs pulled her closer to him and smiled. "You shouldn't worry yourself over McGee, I'll bring him back Abs". He kissed her tenderly on the cheek again and walked towards the elevator.

Abby watched his retreating back and whispered. "Just make sure you'll bring yourself back too".

The next thing she knew she was in a darken elevator, pressed up against a wall with Gibbs' lips pressing down on hers. She felt his hands wander under her blouse and up her back, pulling her closer to him.

"Abs, I will come back I promise" whispered Gibbs as he kissed his way down her neck.

"Gibbs, you haven't got time for this" she sighed as she felt his hardness press against her thigh.

"I've always got time for you Abs", he groaned as he began to undo her blouse.

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McGee was in the squad room gathering everything he needed for the LA trip. He was busily searching through his desk for his Ipod when he noticed Ziva hovering.

"McGee, do you know where Gibbs is? I need to give him this report before he goes to LA"

"You'll probably find him saying goodbye to Abby"

"I'll go down to the lab then" said Ziva as she began to walk in the direction of the back elevator.

Suddenly realising what he had just said McGee run after her. He needed to stop her as he was worried on what she might find when she got down there.

He found Ziva waiting for the elevator.

"It's either stuck McGee or Gibbs is using it as his office again"

"I think he could be talking to Vance. I saw him head this way"

Ziva noticed the light on the elevator come on. "I think it's on its way back up now"

The doors opened and out came Gibbs.

"McGee, ready to go, pick up in 45 minutes"

"Yes Boss, see you then". He turned and headed back towards the squad room leaving Ziva behind to talk to Gibbs.

"Need to be quick Ziva. Haven't got a lot time"

Ziva looked him up and down. He's hair was slightly ruffled and was that lipstick at the corner of his mouth? It was a shade she recognised.

"Here's the report you wanted, all the info is there. Should be a good read on the plane to LA"

"I plan to sleep all the way otherwise I will have to listen to McGee chatter for the whole flight. 5 hours is just too long."

Ziva laughed. "I think he's worried about spending time with you. He doesn't know what to talk to you about"

"I think we'll find something even if it's just the weather" he laughed.

Ziva gently touched his arm. "Gibbs, be safe, see you when you get back"

"I will" he smiled

She watched him as he walked towards the squad room, he seemed different somehow. She noticed a change in Gibbs several months ago but hadn't quite put her finger on it. She now knew that most of the evidence pointed at Abby but she needed to find out for sure.

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Abby was getting very annoyed with Gibbs. She looked at the clock again, his flight had landed an hour ago and he still hadn't rung. She tried to ring McGee but only got his voice mail. She was really, really pissed when she called Gibbs for the last time. The phone rang and she waited until it went to voicemail. "Gibbs, if you don't ring me within the next hour you will be on lean rations when you return. There will definitely be no welcome home sex for you". As she said those final words she heard laughter behind her. It was Ziva.

Abby turned to look at her "I guess we're busted".

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Gibbs looked around the arrivals lounge for McGee. The young agent had gone to pick up the keys for their rental and had been gone awhile. He flicked his cell phone open to ring Abby but the battery had gone dead. He was meant to charge it that morning but he had been distracted in more ways then one. He grinned as he remembered the events in the elevator. He was missing Abby already and it was going to be a tough couple of days without her.

"Boss, I've got the keys, the car's waiting outside"

"Hand them over McGee, I'm driving."

McGee paled, even after all these years working for Gibbs, he still hadn't got used to the man's driving.

Gibbs remembered that he had to make a call. "McGee, can I borrow your phone, mine's dead and I need to call Abby".

McGee handed his phone to Gibbs. "Looks like she tried to ring us already"

Gibbs looked at the number of missed calls. "I think I'm in big trouble. Our little lab rat is not going to be happy with me".

He dialled Abby's number.

"McGee, if Gibbs is with you, tell him I'm going to kill him."

"Abs, can I choose the method of my own demise?"

Abby was so relieved to hear his voice. "Gibbs, you were supposed to ring. I was worried that you and McGee were in trouble somewhere and there was nobody there to help you."

"Abs, you need to stop worrying and please stop calling us. McGee and I will ring you when we can. It's your fault my cell phone's dead, with the constant chatter from the Navy Yard to the airport".

"I was making sure you were safe"

"We were and we still are, Abs"

"I know"

"I need to go now"

"Wait there's something else I need to tell you, Ziva knows"

"Knows about what?"

"Us"

"How?"

"My big mouth"

"What happened?"

"I was frustrated Gibbs, I was leaving the umpteenth message on your phone and I threatened you with a punishment and Ziva overheard"

"What punishment?"

"There be no welcome back sex for you when you got home if you didn't return my call within the next hour"

Gibbs chuckled.

"I was so preoccupied with ringing you that I didn't hear her come into the lab. I only knew she was there when I heard her laugh"

"Laugh?" Gibbs sounded surprised.

"She thought what I said was very amusing. Her words, Gibbs."

"Is she ok about it?" questioned Gibbs.

Abby noticed the worry in his voice. "It didn't surprise her. She thought that there was something going on between us"

"Everything ok though?" Gibbs still sounded worried.

"Fine, she's happy for us and she's promised not to breathe a word to Vance."

Gibbs sighed with relief.

"Abs, we will need to talk to him soon"

"Sooner rather than later would be better"

"We talk to him when I get back"

"OK"

"I've got to go now Abs"

"Love you"

"Love you to. I'll call soon"

"Bye"

"Abs, am I still punished?"

"You won't find that out until you get home" and then she hung up. Gibb stared at the phone and then looked at McGee. "Remind me never to piss her off again".