Abby, still clad in only her towel, sat next to Gibbs on her couch while he proceeded to dab ointment on her cuts and cover them with band aids. She couldn't believe that he was here.
"You don't have to do this Gibbs…really. I'm fine… not like I haven't fixed myself up hundreds of times before…" Abby spoke quietly.
"I know I don't have to Abby. I want to. It may be hard for you to believe, but I do care." Gibbs said softly.
"Now I wanna know why you were doing this Abby, and why you've been so pissed at me lately. So start talking." He stated more firmly.
"I can't tell you Gibbs. It's stupid… It's just… I can't. Please don't make me."
"Abby, if you were upset enough over something that you hurt yourself, it's not stupid, or meaningless, or anything else like that." Gibbs said as he brought his hand up to cup her cheek.
Abby dropped her head and leaned into his touch, defeated.
"I love you Gibbs."
"I love you too Abs."
"No Gibbs! No! You don't understand…. I love you… so much…. I'm IN love with you and I know you don't feel the same way and that I probably just ruined our friendship and I'm so fucking stupid and - "
"Abby! Abs! Shhh… I love you too…" Gibbs interrupted shyly.
"What…?" Abby was sure that she had heard wrong.
"Yah you heard me Abby. I love you. I'm IN love with you. Have been for a long time… Didn't wanna say anything, I never figured you'd want me. I'm just an old bastard ya know?" Gibbs said with a chuckle.
Abby just stared at him.
"Abs? You ok?" Gibbs said, still stroking her cheek.
"yeh…I just…uh…can't believe it." She laughed.
"Well believe it. Cuz it's true. I love you." Gibbs whispered as he guided her lips to his.
