Chapter Twelve
"Dad?" Kelly stood on the top of the steps and watched her father stare down at the sanding block in his hand. "Can I come down?"
"Of course, you don't have to ask."
Kelly worried her lower lip as she made her way down the stairs. "I'm sorry about earlier. I over-stepped a few boundaries, I think."
"It's okay, you don't need to apologize."
"Well," She shrugged. "I'm not sorry for what I said, I'm sorry that I said it while Abby was in the hospital and that you were really worried. I didn't need to add to the stress like that."
Gibbs opened his mouth to talk, but Kelly continued.
"It's just that I hate seeing you so… torn, you know? I just want you and mom happy."
"I am happy."
"I know, I know." Kelly sighed, but softened it with a smile. "You've got me back."
Gibbs returned the smile. "Sure do."
"Just think about what I said, okay?" Kelly hugged him and headed back up the steps.
"Where you headed?"
"Just upstairs. I'm going to call and check on Abby since I know you're too stubborn to do it and I know you're still worried."
0o0o0
"I can't sleep." Abby padded out to her living room on bare feet. Tony was lounging on her sofa, a football game on. It was early, but Tony insisted that she get some rest after the first two Bond movies they had watched.
"Head hurt?" Tony held his arm up so Abby could snuggle into his side.
"A little, but I just took some Tylenol. I just can't sleep."
"Still freaked out?" Tony pulled her in closer.
"A little."
"I'll call Gibbs." Tony picked her cell phone up off the coffee table
"Tony, no."
"Why? He's good at saying the right things. Remember when I had the plague? He always knew what to say to me to get me to settle down."
"I don't have the plague."
"He knew what to say when my car blew up."
"I know."
"I'm sure he would be over here before you could hang up if we called him. I know there is all this tension between you guys, but I'm sure that can be set aside for a day or two so he can comfort you. Let me just call him."
"If you at all value your life, you'll put the phone-" Abby was interrupted when her phone lit up and began ringing in Tony's hand.
"Wow, you weren't kidding! You and the boss really are connected." Tony held up the phone so Abby could see 'Gibbs' flashing on the screen.
"Tony, let me-"
Tony shook his head and answered. "Hey boss – oh, hey." He pushed up off the couch and quieted Abby's protest with a wave of his hand. "How're you?" Tony moved over to the window and turned to face Abby. "Yeah, she's doing fine. She'll be right out, uh huh, she was taking a shower, but I just heard the water turn off." Tony waved his hands again to keep Abby quiet. "So, how are things in the Gibbs' household? Oh yeah? That might be nice, but you'll have to ask her. Oh – hold on, I think she's… yeah, here she is." Tony grinned. "ABBY! Kelly is on the phone for you," he shouted.
Abby rolled her eyes and plucked the phone from his hand. "Kelly?" She listened to the youngest Gibbs' and made her way to her bedroom and shut the door to keep Tony from listening. They chatted ten minutes before Abby reappeared in her living room.
Tony smiled sweetly at her. "She ask you about coming over tomorrow?" Tony swung his feet back up on the coffee table.
"Yeah. I guess the whole team is invited."
"You said yes?"
"Yeah."
"You don't look thrilled with the idea."
"I know. I just…. As happy as I am for him, it kinda hurts to see him rebuilding his family." Abby confessed, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"You and Gibbs…. There was something there, wasn't there?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to do?"
"Do? Nothing. I'll get over him eventually."
"Just like that? You'll get over him? Last I checked, getting over someone you love isn't quite that easy."
"Tony, its Shannon. If it were someone like Hollis, then I would put up a fight. But Shannon, she's pretty much the reason why none of his other relationships have worked. What makes me so sure that my relationship with him would have lasted? Even if she wasn't still alive."
"Because he's Gibbs and you're Abby. That's why."
"It sounds nice, Tony, but realistically? Come on."
Tony pulled her into his side and hugged her tightly. "I don't get how you can love him so much and let him go. You are a much better person than I am."
"I just want him happy, that's all."
"What about you being happy?"
"I've been in love with him since the day I started at NCIS nearly ten years ago. Another ten years of quietly wanting him won't kill me."
"You're crazy. If I didn't know better, I'd say you love the pain of wanting him and not having him more than the man himself." Tony grinned when her hand slapped the back of his head. "Ow, you slap harder than Gibbs."
"Good. Okay, I'm going to go lay back down. Thanks for the hugs, Tony." Abby leaned up to kiss his cheek and the headed back to bed.
0o0o0
Kelly was curled up on the sofa when Gibbs finally emerged from the basement just past mid-night. "You still up?"
"Yeah, I'm almost done with my book."
"It good?" Gibbs circled around the coffee table to sit beside her.
Kelly shrugged. "Yeah, a little predictable, but pretty good." Kelly waited until he brought up Abby's name before setting her book down and shifting to look at her dad.
"Abby's alright?"
"I'd have come to get you if she wasn't."
"I know."
"She's in good hands with Tony."
Gibbs nodded. He couldn't argue how much Tony cared for her.
"I invited them over tomorrow."
"Tony and Abby?"
"Um," Kelly shifted uncomfortably. "Actually, your whole team. I hope that's okay."
Gibbs was a little shocked, but he knew it was a good idea. Abby's brief stint in the hospital had been a wakeup call for all of them. Some time together outside of work would do them all good. "It's fine. What time are they coming over?"
"Around four."
Gibbs nodded.
"Alright, I think I'm going to try and get some sleep. See you in the morning." She stood up and then turned. "I love you, dad."
Gibbs stood and hugged her. "Love you too." He moved around, turning off lights and locking the door before heading upstairs. Shannon had gone to bed a few hours earlier after popping her head through the basement door to say goodnight. He watched her for a few minutes before moving through to the master bathroom.
As he stepped back into the bedroom he looked around the whole room. Shannon's suitcases were still open, the zippered flap propped against the wall, and she looked like a guest in his room. He pulled back the blankets and slipped his legs under.
"Night Shan." Gibbs whispered before closing his eyes. There was no response.
Although he fell asleep quickly, there was no relief associated with his sleep.
"My name is Tess Martin, I'm an E.R. nurse at Bethesda and I have you listed as an emergency contact for Abigail Sciuto. Is that correct?"
"She okay?" Gibbs flew out of bed and reached for his jeans. "What happened?"
"There was a gang-related shooting downtown…I'm sorry sir, she didn't make it."
Gibbs gasped and it felt as though all the air was forced from his lungs. "She… she can't be gone."
"I'm sorry sir, there was nothing they could do."
Gibbs felt as though the world was coming to an end as he collapsed to the floor.
"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" The sound of Abby's clunky boots had him back on his feet. "Gibbs!"
"Abby?" He looked everywhere, trying to figure out where her voice was coming from. He moved room to room in his house, not noticing that it was now void of any furniture or personal touches. "Abby, where are you?"
"Gibbs! I need you. Save me! You have to save me!"
It wasn't until he made his way to the basement that he finally found her. She was lying on a table where the boat had been. She was bloodied and broken, and as he approached her could see her breaths coming in soft gasps. "Abbs…"
"You didn't save me, Gibbs. You didn't." He watched her choke as blood trickled from between her lips.
"Abby, no. Don't leave me. You have to fight. You have to fight to stay here, stay with me. Please-"
Gibbs shot up in bed, his heart pounding in his chest. The clock beside his bed read 5:36 and he could see the sun beginning to peak through the curtains. He tossed back the sheets and grabbed for clean clothes. He needed a hot shower to wash away the thoughts from his mind.
0o0o0
TBC…
Sorry about the slight delay. Some serious swooning going on over my first 'celebrity crush' (Clint Black) as he was in town Thursday night for a concert. More *hopefully* tomorrow!
*smooches*