**For my own purposes, I'm going to play with time a little here. Since I already put Abby at about 8 weeks pregnant, I've got to speed up the length of time the rest of the team were away.**

Ziva David, Mossad officer and currently ex-NCIS liaison agent was troubled. Rare moments when she was granted permission to be alone, all of her thoughts focused on one man. A man whom she had seen almost every moment of every day for over three years. A man who aided in keeping her—and others—safe; a man who could make her simultaneously furious and aroused at any given moment. Her partner, her friend, and her lover. Not that anyone had known the last part. They had been very good at keeping their relationship (outside of the office) a secret.

The evening following Jenny's funeral had been hard on them both. Whispers of devotion and caresses of desire proved unable to sate the sadness they each held. Though she was born to take—and thereby accept—orders, it never made things easier. Especially after meeting him. For one moment they had entertained the thought of running away…of separating themselves from their respective agencies; however, once the moment ended, they knew it wasn't possible. Though they loved each other, it was part of them; their need to right wrongs, to aid in investigations…

"Come on, Ziva, Gibbs will get us out of this. We just have to wait."

"Like the time we were locked in that box?"

"Exactly…although, now that you mention it…you never told me how you got those rug burns."

"I recall telling you 'only when I am certain we are going to die'."

"Yeah…"

"It is still true, Tony…my little hairy butt."

They had made love countless times that evening, between the laughter and the tears. She remembered each touch, each kiss, each movement they had made together. Those memories were the only things that kept her sane these days.

Each time she picked up the phone to call him, or picked up a pen to write him, her heart ached. She could not find the right words…so she chose silence.

Instead of writing the person who held her heart, she began an email which was easier to begin…

"Dear McGee"…

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Three weeks following Director Vance's announcement, Timothy McGee sat in the basement of NCIS, surrounded by idiots. Well, to be fair they weren't idiots, in fact they were nice enough and highly intelligent…it was just that McGee was used to being a field agent now and having been reassigned to the cyber crimes unit was devastating to him.

It had now been a little over 24 days since the team had been dismembered, and it seemed his life wasn't any closer to returning to normal. While he and Abby spent most days having lunch together, he rarely saw Gibbs. He had received two emails from Ziva and one post card from Tony, who threatened his life if he were to mention it to anyone else.

However, his work had just gotten interesting about a week ago. Director Vance had called him up to his office, which was slightly terrifying. Though when he arrived, instead of being reassigned yet again (or worse yet fired), he was given a top-secret assignment. The disadvantage of it was he wasn't allowed to mention to anyone, including Abby or Gibbs.

The Director had told him of a potential traitor inside the agency, given him a list of 10 names and asked him to investigate each one's backgrounds. Several days later he had it narrowed down to three suspects. Although it was proving difficult to keep things from Gibbs…and Abby. He considered confiding in either Ziva or Tony, but thought better of it; since he then, in fact, would be leaking information similar to a traitor.

On an upside, the others in the department began calling him "boss" and treating him with respect not just because of his computer skills, but also because he was previous a field agent. McGee thought for once it was nice to get recognition.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Week ten into the pregnancy Ducky had given Abby the bad news of having to cut down on caffeine. Twelve weeks into it she actually started doing it. And at fourteen weeks, Gibbs begged Ducky to resend his advice, pleading that she was becoming less that desirable to live with. Sixteen weeks marked the point in which everyone decided to allow the dark mistress one cup once every three days.

"Um, A—Abby?"

"WHAT? Oh, sorry, Michelle. What's up?"

"Evidence from the crime scene…are you ok?"

"WHY does EVERYONE keep asking me that? I'm fine! F-I-N-E…fine! I mean just 'cause my lab coat won't fit me as of this morning, and just 'cause almost ALL of my clothes are either too tight or getting there…why should something be wrong?!? Oh, and let's not forget the aching back and swollen feet part. Don't know WHO would ever forget THAT!"

"Woah Abs."

"Gibbs! Thank god! Do you have it?!?"

"Agent Lee?"

"Oh, uh, right Sir…I mean Gibbs…Agent Gibbs. I'll just---"

"Abby, honey…come here."

Gibbs led her over to her desk and gently pushed her down to sit.

"You're scaring the…what'a call them, newbies?"

"I know, Gibbs. And…dangit!"

"What's wrong?"

Her head had been bowed this entire time, trying her best not to glance up into his disapproving eyes.

"Gibbs…Jethro. It's not that I don't love all of this, but…it's hard too."

"What's hard?"

"I'm not like other girls! I never really imagined being my age and pregnant. I always dreamed of singing in bands, catching bad guys, and going to parties in cemeteries. And then…well, you! And I got so in love with you everything changed. And now I'm gaining weight, I can't have caffeine and---"

She met his eyes now, hoping he'd somehow understand her dilemma.

"Now I'm this girl who is worried each time you leave the office, and sometimes when you don't. I get all weepy when we can't have dinner or sleep together and…"

"Abby---"

"I'm different. And I don't know how to be this person!"

"Abs…look at me."

Bending down, he traced her jaw line with his hand. For weeks now he had been feeling as if she was pulling away, but he had no idea how conflicted she had been feeling.

"Abby, I'm not in love with you---"

"Gibbs!"

"Shh…I'm not in love with you because you're perfect. Hell, I never expected you but now…you're all I want. You're all I see, every morning and every night. And yeah, things have changed. But I never expected or wanted you to. I don't want you to be some Stepford housewife. And before you even think it, Shannon wasn't either. Kelly was a surprise to us both, you know. Shannon wanted to travel more and write…having a baby changes things, but I hoped that…I mean—"

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs…I love you. And I think that was the longest and sweetest thing you've ever said to me. I think…I think these hormones are getting to be a little bit much, you know?"

Laughing, he nodded his head then captured her lips. Moments later, she broke it, panting heavily.

"Um…you know those hormones?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, they um…I mean I…wow. We need to go home like NOW!"

"Now? Abby!"

"Jethro, if you expect this baby to come out of me, then by god you----"

"Director? It's Gibbs. I need to run a few errands. Yes, I know. About an hour…tops. Right, ok."

Turning towards Abby, he saw her practically humping her computer chair. Grabbing her hand, he guided her into their elevator.

"I don't think I can wait."

She reached over him, flipped on the emergency switch and launched herself at him.

"Abby!"

"Gibbs, now! Please!"

"Abby, just…hey…oh!...no, Abs—"

"Hey! This is your kid, Mister and you did this! We did this. Whatever, just…I have never in my life been so…ugh! I'll be embarrassed later, ok? Just now? Please?!?!"

Taking control, he grabbed her arms and walked them over the other side of the elevator. Stripping her shirt off, he latched on to her breast.

"Ouch! Fu…Gibbs, tender!"

"Oh, damn…"

"Just…careful."

He grinned around the suction his mouth was making on her breast while also ripping off her belt.

"Thank you!"

Those were the last words spoken as he proceeded to "satisfy" her hunger. Surprisingly to him, she was dripping wet by the time her pants here off and her legs wrapped around his waist. For a moment he allowed himself to feel the cliché male pride as he was reminded that she not only wanted him but that she was carrying his child.

She was anything but static as he worked her clothes off…uncaring of her reactions, she allowed herself to fall into his arms. She didn't bite back the moans that escaped her lips, or the near-growls that erupted as she lifted her around his waist. Her nails traced patterns down his back as he thrust into her over and over again. Nor did she stifle the scream that followed her mind-blowing orgasm…s.

"Abs, we gotta get moving."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because if we don't Henry from downstairs will call the fire department again claiming the elevator is stuck."

"Oh, ha ha. One condition?"

"Anything."

"You come home tonight?"

"I'll be there."

Abby smiled and waved at Gibbs as she walked to her car. 'Yes', she thought, 'we can do this'.