Author: aserene
Title: One in a Billion
Rating: T
Spoilers: Everything is fair game
Summary: Abby throws a party to celebrate life and death.
Abby was happily walking outside with Jethro trotting along lazily. She scratched the dog behind his ears as she held her umbrella over her carefully. It was a glorious fall day, the kind where the leaves were the right shade of amber and red, and the crisp scent of autumn hung in the breeze. The sky was a clear blue with no clouds to block out the unseasonably warm sun. For October 28th, it was exceptionally beautiful, for Abby it was exceptionally depressing.
Unbeknownst to anyone she had taken this day harder than most. Sure the whole team had been awfully silence on this day that would mark the forty-fifth year of life of one of their companions only instead it would mark six months of death. For all her Goth-like endeavors, death was one thing she had never grown to accept. It could be why she got the small orchid tattoo on her shoulder, but of course no one knew about that so she didn't have to explain it. Jethro nudged her a little and she turned to throw him a stick. The dog retrieved as he always did and was just about to drop it at her feet when his ears shot up and he took off in the opposite direction.
"Jethro NO!" Abby shouted, but the dog did not listen. She ran trying to avoid stumbling in her large boots. She followed the dog into a wooded area and skidded to a stop. Jethro was seated in front of someone who had a dog whistle hanging from delicate fingers. She tried to back up afraid of what could happen now that the stranger had gain the trust of her dog.
"Hello Abby."
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"Jethro I really don't think you have an option," Ducky said gently.
"The answer is no."
"Abby just wants the team to have something happy in their lives once again. She wants to honor someone they all cared about and to enjoy her favorite holiday. You really can't refuse."
"I can and I am."
"Jethro, I hate to bring this up but Ziva could get you there with very little trouble."
"No, No, and no. Since when do they listen to what Abby says? I told her no Halloween party, therefore no Halloween party."
"You can't ban her from having a party."
"I cannot attend."
"Jethro I really think..."
"Ducky!" Came the sugary high voice followed by the footsteps of a few more. Ziva, McGee, and Tony appeared behind the Goth.
"Abigail," Ducky greeted glaring at Gibbs. Gibbs remained silent.
"We've decided it will be a masquerade! That way we can combined all the holidays in one!"
"I see," Ducky agreed. "And what shall we be celebrating?"
"All Hallow's Eve," Abby began. "Dia de los Muertos and..."
"Samhain," Ziva finished quietly. Gibbs glanced at the two for a minute knowing exactly what they were thinking.
"Abby says she's got this Haunted mansion we can go to," McGee piped up trying to break the tension.
"Yep so we can watch the ghosts return, it'll be just like Davy Jones."
"I think you've got that myth wrong DiNozzo," Gibbs scolded trying not to cringe at the word ghost.
"Nah...He had ten days at sea and one on land, kinda like the in between time."
"In between time?"
"The time were spirits can cross to the realm of the living," Abby informed.
"You guys seriously believing in this Witchcraft and Wizard stuff?" Gibbs sighed. The team nodded. "It's not real. It won't be real, so scat," he snapped. The team began to leave surprised when Abby held her ground.
"Just because she's gone doesn't mean we can't remember her!" Abby snapped before turning and running out the lab. The team stared after her before glancing back at Gibbs who looked rather stunned.
"Get back to work!" he snapped and the team scattered, Ducky turning back to his guests. Gibbs slowly made his way to the lab and found Abby sitting in her chair with a German Shepherd alongside her. He tapped on the glass when he realized the door was locked. "Abby."
"I'm not interested in apologies."
"Abby open this door, right now."
"You can't make me."
"Abby, whose dog is that?"
"Mine."
"I thought I told you, you couldn't keep it."
"You were overruled." She could have sworn he said something like "figure" but she wasn't positive.
"Abby..."
"I'm not talking to you until you agree to come to the party."
"Okay, I'll come," Gibbs answered after a minute. Chances were if Abby would stop talking to him so would his team and Ducky and while he enjoyed silence he needed the normalcy. "On one condition." They couldn't think he was a total pushover. Abby looked over. "No ghost stories?"
"I know someone who will be very disappointed but I can live with that," she sighed unlocking her door. Gibbs entered slowly.
"And I'm not dressing up."
"Self expression heals the wounded heart my silver fox."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please? It doesn't even have to be outrageous, Tony is going as Bond, and McGee is going as a writer. Ducky's going as a Scotsman."
"Fine Abbs, I'll figure something out."
"I already did," she said smiling sweetly. "A regency gentleman."
"A what?"
"Pride and Prejudice? Mr. Darcy? Ringing bells here Gibbs?"
"I know who Mr. Darcy is, but...couldn't we go with something...else?"
"Like?"
"Like something less restricting."
"Oh...yea I got it, how about a God?"
"A God?"
"Yep, The God of War, I think it's fitting," Abby nodded. "But not just any God of War, we'll have to make you a good God of War."
"No leather Abbs."
"Come on Gibbs, please!" She begged.
"Fine, no leather pants."
"Okay...leather vest then." Gibbs sighed and nodded.
"Whatever you want Abbs." He kissed her cheek and scratched the dog behind his ears before leaving. Abby waited until he was off her floor before picking up the phone.
"We've got a small change of plans."
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The first of November came all to quickly for Gibbs tastes. That night Abby had decided to have her party. That way all the circus routines out on Halloween were safe in their beds or in prison and no one would get called out on a case. Abby had given the team a precise time to be there and warned them if they were late there would be consequences. Tony and Ziva had opted to carpool, McGee going with Abby and Jethro (the dog) who apparently was coming along. Ducky had asked if he could bring a date and Abby had assured him that was fine. Gibbs was happy for his old friend, even if he himself would be going solo. It wasn't the first time he'd gone to an event solo and he planned on going home that way as well. Women just didn't seem to have the same fire anymore, they were in short all the same.
The mansion Abby had scheduled this thing at was out of town. Gibbs was curious as to how she'd come across it, except the haunted part it didn't seem like her style. It was richly decorated and he knew the style was familiar to a townhouse he had once frequented. Those thoughts were ignored as he'd promised himself he would not get grumpy for Abby's sake. Abby herself was decked out in some sort of Goth Fairy outfit, he wasn't entirely sure what she was. Ziva was dressed as a ninja, something Tony was finding particularly amusing. DiNozzo was naturally in a tuxedo with a martini, shaken not stirred in his one hand and practicing his British accent. McGee looked quite at home with a scarf around his neck and a nice Professor like outfit. Ducky and his date were matching Scots, and Gibbs withheld the smile at his old friend wearing a kilt. There were some other people there, people he assumed were friends of Abby or the rest of the team. People he was sure he'd never met before. By ten though, those other people had left, saying they were still tired out from the day before and Abby had sent them on their way.
"Sorry you party isn't all that hopping Abby," he said gently.
"Just you wait Gibbs, the guest of honor hasn't made an appearance."
"That be the person who owns this place?"
"Something like that," she replied with a knowing smile.
"Hm...and who is this person?"
"Someone is who everything and nothing all at the same time," Abby answered cryptically. Gibbs shook his head, he'd figure it out eventually, in the meantime, he had have another glass of bourbon. The doors to the balcony had been opened and he felt the chill come in and silence descend.
Gibbs turned to the rest of the team trying to figure out what could possibly silence them when he saw her. Standing on the landing from the second floor was vision in emerald green. A Goddess from a time long ago, except he quickly realized she wasn't' supposed to be a Goddess. She was a princess, a warrior princess if the sword was anything to go by. It looked a lot like his from where he was standing, his equal in every way. She came down the stairs as Jethro (the dog) bolted up to her licking her hand and circling her legs.
"I believe now," he heard Tony say to Ziva who was smiling.
"Told you the surprise was good," Abby laughed as his vision in green reached the main floor.
"Very good, Abby," Ducky managed. "Jennifer..." Saying her name made her real and Gibbs who had spent the last six months chasing phantoms did not want this to be proven a fake. He turned on his heel and slipped out onto the balcony. He could hear her soft voice float outside on the wind and the laughter of his team as they seemed to just accept this phantom as their own.
"So I saved the best for last!" Abby said excitedly.
"And what is that?" McGee asked getting over the first surprise.
"A Hay maze! Come on it's a labyrinth outside!" The team went racing past him down the steps to the large yard in the back where a maze was set up. Even Ducky and his date went down to join them leaving only one person behind, with Jethro. The dog ran up to Gibbs sat beside him and barked once before turning back to the other person.
"A God of War, how fitting," came her light teasing voice. He said nothing but tensed as she came closer. She stood alongside him the material from her dress brushing his arm and hand. He turned to look at her, her face the same it had been, the hair a bit longer.
"Where have you been?" He asked trying to figure it out.
"Here, there, every where really," she answered.
"You're dead," he reminded trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "I know about All Hollow's Eve, about Samhain, those who believe get a wish. That's the only reason your here. You're a phantom, nothing more," he accused.
"Possibly." He could blame what the faint golden glow the encased her on the lights from inside the room but he wasn't sure it was just that. "Perhaps I am just a figment of your imagination, or perhaps I was sent back instead of sent on. Either way I'm here, flesh and blood."
"You'll forgive me if I don't believe you," he shot back. Her tinkling laughter filled the air and she leaned closer to him the heat from her skin merging with his own. He felt her small hands in his pants pocket and froze. She withdrew his knife and held out her palm.
"Do ghost bleed warm blood? Do phantoms?" She questioned. He shook his head. He made the cut on her palm, the warm blood seeping into his hand. He pulled out a handerkchief and banged her hand.
"Do angels bleed?" He asked her. She turned in a circle in front of him.
"No wings," she lamented. "So I'm not an angel."
"The devil then."
"No tail either, or horns," she clarified. They heard a happy shriek from the maze and turned to find the team dancing around.
"SNOW! It's snowing!" Abby squealed. The team laughing with her.
"The first snow is a magical time," Gibbs quoted. "On a day when magic is already at its highest."
"Perhaps it creates miracles," she suggested.
"Or second chances."
"I think we're on our third," she whispered as he tugged her closer realizing she had a sleeveless dress on.
"Third time's charmed," he paused staring at her, committing this moment to a never dying memory. "They told me the chances you survived were one in a million."
"More like one in a billion."
"But you're here."
"Sometimes, every once in eternity that one in a billion comes around, what matters is what you do with it."
"I want you to stay till we're both old and gray," he said surprising himself with the depth of emotion. She laughed lightly.
"You're already old and grey," she taunted.
"I can still take you junior director," he bit back. She laughed pulling away.
"Oh really? En-Guard!" She drew her sword from her side and let him draw his. They were plastic but still fun.
"You're going to fight in full length dress?"
"I have a great many skills," she answered cheekily taking a swipe at him below the belt.
"Hey! I would agree with that, but I'd rather get a full demonstration!"
"Getting slow old man?" She started running toward the maze and the team.
"I'll show you slow!" He took off after her watching as his team looked up and watched in amusement.
"Go Jenny!" Tony shouted.
"DiNozzo! Who's side are you on?"
"The lady boss, Boss', well at least right now. She's wearing heels and beating you."
"I'll deal with you traitors later!" Gibbs warned as he ran past them trying to catch Jenny. Unfortunately it was the shoes that were undoing. Jethro, the dog, had formed quite a habit for Italian shoes and was more than happy to circle Jenny's ankles causing her to loose her balance.
"Damn dog! Abby!"
"Sorry Jenny, he takes after his namesake."
"He would," Jenny muttered as she tried to regain her speed. However it failed and Jethro, the dog, managed to get the upper hand again by trying to get her to play and she went into a pile of hay. She was just about get up when she felt herself picked up.
"Gotcha," Gibbs announced happily scooping her up maiden style.
"Put me down!"
"Nah...want to see if any of your loyal minions try to save you. DiNozzo, McGee, Ducky?" It was Ziva who took a step forward. "Ziva?"
"Gibbs!"
"Now, now little ninja, she's quite happy where she is, aren't you Jen?"
"Jethro you son of a..."
"Ah ha, language."
"Gibbs really you should..."
"Ziva stay where you..." his last words were lost as the hay bale he was standing on fell and they fell into a giant pile of hay.
"I tried to warn you," Ziva shouted over the wall.
"Now when you stop being children, we'll be indoors where it's warm," Ducky announced leading the team away. Jenny looked down where Gibbs was slightly under cushioning her fall more.
"Your fault," she reminded.
"Hm...but that's exactly how I planned it," he informed. "See your pet ninja is gone, and Abby who we will discuss later, and the rest of the team."
"And your point is?"
"Well, we can go into a more in depth exploration of your skills and they won't be able to hear you scream."
"I do not scream."
"I beg to differ."
"Is there an or to this plan of yours?" He threaded his hand through her hair and pulled her closer.
"Not at the moment," he whispered before tilting his head up to kiss her. She quickly responded to the kiss, her hands framing his face tracing the little lines along his eyes. The kiss turned into kisses that lasted as they made their way back to the house and slipped in darkened entrance. The team was still partying telling stories and drinking. They slipped up a back stair case and stood on the second floor balcony watching the team below. She led him further down the hall to a beautiful decorated room with a large king size bed. "Don't like hay anymore?"
"It's itchy, you have something against a bed?"
"Not if you're in it," he smirked pulling her closer before lowering her against crisp white sheets. He was beyond aroused at this point, yet at the same time, he was hesitant. He'd kissed her in his dreams, made love to her in his dreams, but she was always gone in the morning. He didn't want to risk that again, and yet he could stop himself. He slipped the straps of the dress off her shoulders and let it pool on the ground as she removed his vest and shirt. He helped her with his pants and boots before covering her with his body again. He wanted to re-memorize every inch of it and kissed down her torso lower to a scar. That caused him to stop. In his dreams she was flawless, there was no angry red mark there, just soft ivory skin. She flinched away from his touch.
"Jethro..."
"These are new," he said by way of asking. There were four in total, two on her side, one on her thigh, and one on her back. She said nothing trying to redirect his attention but he held her gently letting his mind piece together what he knew was true. He held her close, kissing her lips softly before moving and kissing his scar individually.
"Leave them be," she said.
"If I were a God, I would take their pain away." He wouldn't take them away, they would be solid reminders of what he lost and gained.
"They're not so painful anymore." The urgency was gone from the moment. The passion and tenderness remained, as strong as they'd ever been. She pressed butterfly kisses along his neck and he responded till he shifted off her, not wanting to strain her with his weight. He spooned behind her wrapping her in his arms. She yawned content for the moment. "Jethro?"
"Hm..."
"You do want this don't you?"
"I want to love you in the sunlight," he whispered and she nodded turning into him. They'd both had enough time in the darkness, come dawn, everything would change.
The End