Lesson II -- Stage N2 of Sleep
"It is my duty to keep you cultured, Gibbs," Abby says beside him, hopping in place to keep warm.
They stand before his home, two bags of groceries in either of his arms, and a pile of DVDs in both of hers. For a few moments, Gibbs finds it difficult to open the door without the full use of his hands, receiving no help from Abby as she watches in delight at his futility. When he finally gets it open, he sighs in relief, grinning at the shrill "yay!" from behind.
He enters through the doorway, wiping his feet across the mat. He waits for her to pass before kicking the doors closed with a solid slam. He easily removes his shoes, and when he's done, he finds Abby having as much trouble with her boots as he had with the door. Always the gentleman, he helps her after setting down the bags. With a sneer, he tickles the sole of her foot, causing her to nearly drop the mass of plastics over his head. He's always been one for revenge, too.
"Gibbs!" She cries in laughter. Before she can get him, he's run off with the grub and out of her sight. "I'm gonna get you, Gibbs! With God as my witness, I'm gonna get you."
Depositing the heavy bags on the counter and then into the fridge in the kitchen, he enters the living room, finding Abby crouched over his DVD player in a most promiscuous fashion. A wide grin on his face, he walks over to her.
"What're we watching this time, Abs?" He tries to peek over her shoulder, but she successfully safeguards her stash from his leering eyes. What exactly he's leering at, one may never know. To see the mighty Gibbs with his libido in a knot is as good as any form of payback.
"Turn on the heat and I'll tell you. I'm freezing' over here!" She isn't very cold, but loves and takes any chance to order her boss around.
"Yes, ma'am." He passes her a hardy salut and walks to the controls. She loves it when they switch roles.
When he returns from turning on the heat, he finds her on his couch, sitting Indian style. She's fuddling with his remote with one hand, holding a warm coffee in the other. He moves to sit beside her, reaching across her outstretched arm to retrieve his cup. He can see she's resisting the urge to slap his arm as he so rudely blocks her vision of the screen.
She's still messing with the configurations of his archaic television set when he's made himself comfortable. "Haven't got all night, Abs."
"You and I both know that's not true." She's right, and he laughs. He wouldn't want to spend his time, especially his nights, doing anything else, with anyone else.
"Got it!" She slouches back against the couch and props her feet over the coffee table. He follows suit, a sly arm weaving its way around her shoulder. He watches her blithely as she nuzzles her head beneath his arm. She presses 'play' and the film begins.
Minutes pass and, astonishingly, he finds himself enjoying the unusual film. Abby, naturally, has seen it a dozen times before, and announces every other line before it's said.
//Care for a little necrophilia? Hmmm?//
"Sounds like someone I know," he states into the air plainly, though it's obvious he's baiting a certain goth.
With a sharp gab to the gut, she responds. "I'm not obsessed with death. I just find it interesting, is all. Get that through your thick skull for once, Leroy Jethro Gibbs." She prods an arm out and kiddingly pokes his temple with an astute index finger. He chuckles at her trademark bluntness.
"Alright, alright. Got it." They settle back down, the remainder of the picture filled with the same light banter.
When the film is over, he stretches his arms out and above. Before setting them back down, he realizes that she is fast asleep. Lifting a strain of hair from off her face, he looks at her. Her eyes are motionless, but there lies a slim smile on her lips. He grabs the remote and shuts off the television, leaving only the glow from a distant window to light their figures in the room. Reaching for a blanket mantled at the edge of the sofa, he softly pulls it around her and himself.
Her head still shored against his taut chest, he tilts his face to apply kiss to her temple with a gentleness unrivaled. He wraps a careful arm around her and whispers in her ear. "Night, Abby."
And with that, she stirs awake. With a lazy yawn, she mumbles, "Tony would be proud of you, Gibbs."
"Hm?" He silently slaps himself for waking her. The oddness of her statement puzzles him.
"For watching such a cult classic. I'm proud of you, too." As if she never woke, in an instant, she is asleep again, breathing slowly to the rhythm of his heart.
"Thanks, Abs." They lie in the warmth of the sofa, enveloped in the warmth of the blanket, asleep in the warmth of each other's presence.
Can you guess the film Gibbs and Abby watched? Extra credit if you can!
Stage N2 - Stage N2, a light sleep, is characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes, which represent the mind beginning to slow its processes and entering a more tranquil state. Muscular activity begins to decrease as conscious awareness of the environment disappears.
Next: Lesson III -- Stage N3 of Sleep.