Author's note: Spoilers for Hiatus. But surely a big enough fan of the show that would be reading fic, has seen that episode.

This chapter suggests a way that Abby and Gibbs could have met and bonded.

Since this chapter was written before Hiatus came out, I have not changed NCIS to NIS which I know it should be, and taken writer's liberty of making him an agent eventhough I now know he didn't become one until after his family died. No Franks either.

-Abbyforever

CHAPTER 3.

**Ten Years Before**

"Mr. Gibbs, you have to wait out here. The doctor's are doing all they can." The doctor tried.

"Try harder. She is not going to die!" He said grabbing the doctor by the collar. The already silver-haired man was obviously trying to hide his fear of losing the little girl, but expressed every emotion as anger.

"Sir, we need you to take a seat and just wait. We won't know anything for the time being." He said scurrying off. Gibbs just threw his coat at the chair and continued to pace.

"So, will Paige be okay?" Abby asked the neonatal doctor.

"She is doing well. When a baby is born at thirty-five weeks with complications it is always risky." The doctor told her.

"Great bedside manner." The girl muttered.

"Do you have anyone you can call? Maybe the baby's father." He asked having not seen any family since Abby had been rushed into the hospital.

"No!" She said loudly at that second. "I have every right to know how my daughter is. Just me." She said angrily. Gibbs looked up from his seat for a sight. A young woman that he aged at no older than sixteen appeared seconds away from slogging a doctor. Not that he didn't understand the feeling. Even with her dark, curly hair down, he could still see what appeared to be a large tattoo on her neck. And despite her casual attire of fairly tight black pants and a large t-shirt with something written that he could see was

'Android Lust' despite not knowing what that was, he could also see a medical bracelet on her wrist indicating that she was also a patient newly released from the maternity ward.

"Let me just check if you can go in and see the baby yet." The doctor said moving to the other side of the hallway.

"Bastards." She muttered and then approached the seats where Gibbs was. "Do you mind?"

"No." He said and she sat down next to him.

"Abby." She said offering her hand to him. He took it and noticed the out-going nature of that simple gesture.

"Gibbs."

"Nice to meet you Gibbs." Abby said and he could tell she was obviously trying to forget about whatever was upsetting her with the doctor.

"You too. Having trouble with the bastard doctor's here too?" He asked trying to achieve the same goal of self-distraction.

"Oh, they are unbearable. Won't tell me a thing, as if they didn't watch me birth the baby just yesterday." She complained. "Sorry. I could really use caffeine." She said suddenly.

"Yep."

"I'll be right back." She said getting up. "If Dr. Knows-nothing comes back tell him where to go and how to get there." Abby said and he had to smile at her.

"Here." She said offering him a steaming cup.

"I didn't tell you that... "He started, before the odd girl interrupted him.

"Black, no sugar." Abby said.

"How did you?" He asked looking at her curiously.

"Marine hair cut. I have never met a marine that had anything other than black coffee." Abby explained.

"You know a lot of Marines?" He asked.

"I wanted to get a job with NCIS after I get my Masters'. I have some great friends there." She explained sipping the coffee.

"I work for NCIS." Gibbs revealed.

"Isn't that funny?" Abby said and the excited grin on her face was contagious.

"Miss. Sciuto." The doctor said trying to get her attention.

"What?"

"You can see Paige now." He said before taking off.

"Well, it was great talking to you Gibbs. Maybe one day I could run into you at NCIS." Abby said before following the doctor, where she had seen him go.

"Jethro, have you heard anything yet?" Ducky asked when he finally found his friend.

"No, she's still in surgery." Gibbs said disposing of the empty coffee cup.

"Still?" He asked sitting next to Gibbs where Abby had occupied previously.

"Duck, you're not helping."

"Mr. Gibbs." Another doctor said walking out of the theatre to notify Gibbs.

"Yes."

"I'm afraid I have some news." He said looking down. No matter how many times he had to do this for his job, it never got any easier.

"Hey there, handsome stranger." Abby said when she spotted Gibbs again in the children's ward. He didn't look up from where he was seated.

"Can I help you?" An older man asked when he returned to Gibbs' side with coffee. He looked deeply upset and Gibbs looked like he was in shock.

"Abby Sciuto." She said putting her hand out. "I met Gibbs last week. Can I talk to you for a second?" She asked Ducky pointing to a small area away from Gibbs.

"Sure. Beautiful baby you have there." He said. Abby had Paige in a carrier that held her close to her body. She was asleep so her head was tilted to the side, and her curly black hair was still spiky.

"Thank you."

"Premmie?" He asked seeing her size.

"Yeah. But she's doing well. Doesn't need the humidicrib anymore, so that

's good. What's the matter with Gibbs?" She asked.

"He lost his daughter Kelly. I'm not sure if you knew her." Ducky tried.

"No. That is horrible. How is he dealing with it?" She asked.

"Like everything else. With anger and frustration. I am really worried about him." Ducky admitted.

"He looks really bad." Abby agreed. "I just want to hug him."

"We need to talk about this." Jason tried.

"Turner stay the hell away from me. I mean it." Abby yelled back.

"I want to see my daughter." He said.

"You don't have a daughter. I do but any part of you that goes anywhere near her, you're gonna lose." Abby threatened.

"I could get custody." He said trying to push passed her

"You could try. I wouldn't recommend it though." Abby said. "And the only reason you want her is to hurt me."

"That's not true." He said unconvincingly. "Where is she?"

"You don't even know her name." Abby yelled. "How did you even find out where I moved to?"

"I don't know her name because you haven't told me."

"What a great father." She taunted as she closed and bolted her front door.

"What are you doing here?" Gibbs asked when Abby walked into NCIS.

"I came to see you and this place. And some friends of mine that work here, that haven't met Paige yet." She said happily.

"Where is Paige?" He asked.

"My friend Stephen stole her. He's on his break anyway so I told him while they were occupied I would come and see you. So how are you doing?" She asked sitting on the edge of his desk.

"Keeping myself busy."

"If only." Abby huffed.

"What?" He asked, as she located herself on the edge of his desk.

"I need a distraction. Come with me to lunch." Abby said spontaneously.

"Abby I have so much work to do, and... "

"You need a distraction too and I am not taking no for an answer. You have by the time it takes me to go get my daughter to pack up your things and be ready for lunch." She said instantly standing up and making for the elevator.

"I think you've met your match, Jethro." Ducky commented, being present to give his report to Gibbs.

**end of flashback**