Early on when they first met he saw this look on her face a number of times. A look that spoke of unguarded desire. But the look vanished later on to be replaced by respect and with time even love.
They had become friends and even thought he had felt the attraction in the beginning he had his rules to remind him it would have been a mistake. When those lingering glances vanished he was glad at first until he began to miss them. But over the years, as they grew closer he knew had he given in to temptation he probably would have ruined a friendship like no other.
And that it was. A kind of friendship he had never experienced before in his life. He loved and adored Abby. He would do anything to protect her and anything to take away the pain.
But that look he saw tonight, just for a fleeting second, on her lovely face, had hit him hard. Because he felt himself respond without wanting to. Even now, just thinking about it, he felt butterflies invading his stomach. He felt restless and scared as hell.
For the most part of the night sleep had evaded both of them. As the sun came up Abby found him in the kitchen drinking coffee. When he wouldn't meet her eyes she knew something was very wrong.
"You ok?" she asked him only to get a grunt in return. Taking a cup of coffee for herself she stood beside him utterly lost.
As he began to walk away and telling her he needed to get to work early, he missed the tear that ran down her cheek and the hurt expression on her face.
Standing alone in his kitchen she wiped away the tears and fled from his house. On the way to her apartment she desperately tried to figure out what she did wrong. Did he somehow guess her feelings that came to the surface for just a fleeting moment in the basement. She just knew that it was somehow her fault that he wasn't even looking her in the eyes.
He screwed up big time. When he arrived at the bullpen after downright fleeing from his house and her, he wanted to turn right back and rush over to explain. But he knew she would be gone by now and he just didn't have an explanation.
When he saw her come down earlier this morning, tousled hair framing her beautiful face, all he could do was hold on to his cup of coffee and not look at her for fear of just jumping her right there. He had never felt such a strong reaction toward her before.
Sure they flirted all the time and he had always admired her in her skirts and the occasional dress, but he never actually felt such a desperate need for her or anyone for that matter.
That look she gave him in the basement ghosted around in his head as realization hit him hard. God, he didn't only love Abby, he was in love with her. A loud groan escaped him as his head sunk down to meet his hands half way.