Sorry about the delay, I was out of town for the weekend. Glad people have been enjoying it thus far!

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"We've got a problem."

Gibbs stared down at the black and white photo of Fornell smiling happily at Abby in a dimly lit bar. Fornell was right, they did have a problem. Gibbs didn't like the way he was looking at her. "What's this about?"

"Abby."

I can see that. Gibbs didn't give Fornell an answer; instead, he used a steely glare to encourage his friend to continue.

"I was involved in a case a year ago where a woman was held hostage on the lawn by the Washington Monument, and I-"

Gibbs cut him off. "Christ Fornell, the problem?" He didn't need the details; he needed to know Abby's involvement.

"We weren't able to save her, though we did kill the perpetrator, and apparently her boyfriend has been getting revenge by going after the agents involved, specifically targeting their significant others. Long story short-"

"-Please-"

"I found this in my mailbox. Apparently he thinks Abby is my girlfriend."

Gibbs almost would have laughed if he hadn't been concerned for Abby's safety. Almost. He lifted the photo to get a better look. He remembered that night. The team had ended up working a case with the FBI and although sharing with Fornell was not his strong point, Gibbs remembered that the outcome had been in their favor and both teams had gone for a drink that night at a local bar. Gibbs stood and looked to Tony, who was pretending not to listen. "DiNozzo, get Abby up here." He turned to look at Ziva, "Start gathering officers for protection detail-"

"That won't be necessary. DiNozzo, put the phone down." Fornell instructed. Tony sat with the phone halfway between its cradle and his ear, unsure of what to do. "I've already spoken with Abby. The way I see it, she has two options: The FBI can send her to a safe house, or she can play along and hopefully help us catch the bastard. She has agreed to help. I just came from her lab."

"No."

"No?" Fornell rocked back on his heels with an amused expression on his face. "And why is that, Jethro?"

"Because she belongs at NCIS, that's why. Remember the last time she went off to help the FBI? She wasn't happy about it. You need to clear Abby's participation in whatever undercover mission you think you're going to run, with me. And I say no."

"I'm not asking her to work at the FBI; she can keep working here for all I care. I just need her to play the part. You really want to get in a pissing match over your lab tech? Why?"

"She's mine, Tobias. Back off."

"I've got my own forensic tech, I don't need yours. This isn't about poaching one of your people. I need her help, and she agreed. I'll be here at seventeen hundred to pick her up." Fornell held his breath as he walked back toward the elevator, only allowing himself to breathe again once the elevator doors had shut and he was on his way back to the lobby. He'd half expected Gibbs to join him for a private conversation, though he was glad to have avoided it – at least for the moment.

As he walked back out to the car, Fornell pondered life with Abby. She was pretty… in her own way. She had agreed to tone down her Goth persona when they were out together, and to steer clear of the party scene until they were certain she was safe. She also agreed to his request that she move into his two story townhome and in exchange he agreed to upgrade his internet connection and sign up for Netflix. He would drive her to work each morning and pick her up on his way home. There would be an agent in his home at all times during the day, and two across the street where Mrs. Hanson lived around the clock. She had been happy to take the large sum of cash and a free vacation in exchange for the use of her home.

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Gibbs watched the elevator doors close before he stepped around his desk and headed toward the back elevator to Abby's lab. He delivered a gruff 'get back to work' and noted, with satisfaction, that none of his agents questioned him. He was sure they had all heard enough to know where he was headed and why. He could feel the blood pounding through his veins as the elevator inched toward the lab, and he tried to take a few deep, calming breaths if only to calm himself so that he wouldn't frighten Abby.

Gibbs strode into Abby's lab like he had something to say, when in reality, he wasn't sure where to begin.

Abby was waiting for him. Fornell had been down to see her first, and she knew it was only a matter of time before Gibbs stalked in, demanding that she do the exact opposite of what Fornell had asked her to do. She wasn't, however, prepared for him to walk in and say nothing. Abby turned and leaned back against the table when she heard him walk in. She waited for him to speak, but when all he could do was stumble over her name, she helped him out. "What do you expect me to do, Gibbs? I can't just go off and hide somewhere." She let her features soften to reassure him. "I'm a big girl; I know what I'm doing. And Tobias will take care of me."

"I'll take care of you. I will keep you safe."

"You're always coming to my rescue, I'm sure you could use a break."

A slight look of hurt flashed in Gibbs' eyes. He always enjoyed being her knight, riding to the rescue. If he couldn't have what he truly wanted with her, than he would settle for the thrill of protecting what he couldn't have. Her suggestion that he needed a break from being the rock from which she drew her strength confirmed what he had always felt. He was too old for her, and tended to find enough of his own danger. How could she expect him to take on her demons when he couldn't even fight his own?

"Gibbs," Abby reached out to touch his arm. "No one does a better job at protecting me than you do, but this time… they aren't after you, they're after him - well, me, but it's because I was seen with him."

Gibbs moved to stand beside her and mimicked her stance, leaning back against the table. "Why were you sitting so close to him in the first place?"

Abby watched as the red-headed woman stepped up beside Gibbs at the bar. Hell, he didn't even have to do anything; the red-headed women practically threw themselves at him. She didn't understand it, and maybe when she was a little less busy in the lab, she'd test out some theories. There had to be something scientific about it, there just had to be.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"They are worth a lot more than a penny, but because we just solved a case, I'll share for free." Abby turned and smiled at Fornell. "I'm just checking out big red hitting on the bossman over there." Abby smiled at the nickname she made up for the woman invading Gibbs' personal space.

"Oh?" Fornell immediately regretted asking the question.

"Yeah, you know…" Abby knew she'd had more than enough to drink, and that she probably shouldn't open her mouth, but since the question had been asked, Abby found she really couldn't stop blabbering. "He always seems to have a red-head attached to his side, and from what I've seen he hasn't exactly gone looking. There has to be some sort of scientific explanation, like, maybe something in the way he smells. He does smell good. Have you smelled him? Maybe he smells extra good to people with red hair. Do I smell like I have black hair?"

"Diane doesn't have red hair and from what I understand, she threw herself at him."

"Hm, well… there very well may be kinks in my theory, but…"Abby nodded towards Gibbs. "Look at that. She's all over him and I bet they haven't even exchanged names yet."

"I wouldn't worry too much Abby."

"Worry?" Abby gave an exaggerated wave of her hand. "Psh, I'm not worried about Gibbs. He's a big boy and can take care of himself. Tell me more about Diane. How is Emily?"

Fornell smiled and touched the rim of his beer glass to Abby's. "Emily is good. She keeps talking about getting a tattoo on her neck though. Not sure how I feel about that. As for Diane… don't get me started. We're supposed to be celebrating the case tonight."

"Point taken."

Abby crossed her arms defensively across her chest. "I do believe you were wrapped tightly around the red-head catch of the day."

Gibbs refused to fall into the trap of the 'was he or wasn't he' dating game with Abby, so he ignored her comment. There had been a beautiful red-head at the bar that night, she had walked over to talk to him, and he may have bought her a drink, but Gibbs considered himself to be a gentleman, and he wasn't about to pick up some random woman at a bar and take her home.

"Alright, well, Fornell was filling me in on Diane and I might have had a bit more to drink than I should have that night and… I could have been launching insults toward the red-head that made her way to our table to check you out."

Gibbs thought for a moment, he probably would've enjoyed Fornell's thoughts on Diane. They'd done their own fair share of story swapping over the years, but the stories never got old. Suddenly Gibbs was irritated that they had been close enough to be mistaken as Fornell's girlfriend. "You know you don't have to do this." There had to be a way to get Abby out of it.

"I know, but at least this way I don't have to leave for God knows how long. This way, I can still work at NCIS; I'll just have a different house to go home to at the end of the night."

Gibbs was glad that she would still be around, but the idea of calling Fornell's house 'home' had sparked a slight flame of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. "I'm sure we could figure something else out."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. Fornell isn't so bad. You two are very similar in some ways."

"Not so sure that's a compliment, Abbs."

"Sure it is, he's a lot like you. Smart, loyal, kind, a little mean, and a lot stubborn." Abby smiled and socked him lightly in the arm. "You both married the same woman."

That point hit home for Gibbs – they had both fallen for the same woman once, what was to say it wouldn't happen again?

"Plus, people have died because of this guy. I want to help Fornell catch him so this guy can't tear apart any more lives. I want to feel like I've made a difference."

"I know you do, and you do make a difference with your work here in the lab. Did you ever think that maybe you were supposed to be in the lab helping that way rather than setting yourself up as bait?"

"This way I can do both. Don't forget that I'll be here every day like usual, I promise." Abby covered her heart with her right hand. "Scout's honor."

"Scout's honor means nothing if you aren't a scout, Abbs."

"You paid attention to McGee when he gave his scouts a tour! That's so cute, Gibbs."

Gibbs ignored her attempt at humor, but gave up his attempt to change her mind. Once Abby had decided to do something there was no point in trying to change her mind, it wouldn't happen. "Alright, if you're sure, then do what you need to do. I won't stop you, but…"

"On the record, you don't approve. I understand."

"Just so we're clear." Gibbs leaned in to press his lips to her temple softly before heading back upstairs.

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TBC….

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