A/N: Guys, sorry for the short chapter, still working all the hours known to man, please forgive me. In response to a couple of questions about Gibbs' wife, to be honest I hadn't thought it through, I know that he said he would never cheat but it is Abby...

Also thanks for all the reviews of One Shot, I wrote it really late at night after work but it seemed to fit the mood I was in.

Bring on bank holiday Monday!!

Chapter Eight

Hand in hand they walked out of the restaurant. By this time the sun was setting casting shadows that roamed around Central Park. Both had silently decided to walk rather than getting a cab as the night was still warm.

Stray couples walked past Gibbs and Abby at various times, never giving the strange couple a second glance always to caught up in their own destinations. Other than these randoms they had the park to themselves and even though neither of them spoke Abby instinctively moved closer to Gibbs whenever a stranger walked past.

Gibbs felt Abby slow down as they reached the edge of the park at 59th street. She seemed to be pulling back, almost unwilling to leave the park. Curiously Gibbs turned to face her, a questioning look in her direction only resulted in a sheepish look from Abby rather than an answer.

"Abbs?"

" You realise when we leave this park everything chances. This is it, once I step over this line Susie Harvey doesn't exist any more." Abby said looking at the floor, one foot drawing an imaginary line on the ground.

" This is the end of an era, I should be happy, no more late nights struggling for money, but for some reason I'm sad. I can't help it, she has been such a big part of my life for so long, dictated so much of me and now I can finally be myself but I almost don't want to let go"

For a moment Gibbs was floored by her admission. He thought she would be happy to let it all go and finally be free, that she could be the person he had grown to adore all the time instead of locking her away and constantly looking over her shoulder. He moved to stand in front of her forcing her to turn her gaze from the floor to his face. Putting both hands on her shoulders Abby felt herself being pushed towards his body heat and his thumb gently rub the left side of her neck causing her to bend and a shiver to run through her.

"Abby. Susie was a safety net for you but at the same time she was holding you back. I promise you I will always be there for you but sometimes you have to trust yourself that you can make the right decisions."

Abby just stood staring at him. She often listened to his words of encouragement but this was the first time that she had actually felt them. Within his space she felt that she could do anything, her body could take anything, she mind could be attacked, her sense of self lost but when she was with Gibbs she could repeal it all. Never before had she been so content and yet so scare for what she was about to lose.

Gibbs did the only thing he knew how to do. Taking her hand in his he looked at her, gave it a tight squeeze, and pulled her over the line.