Whew, I had family in town this weekend – thus the delay. Poor Abby was bored at home with Fornell. Things are about to change!
----
By the start of week two Fornell had recognized how unhappy Abby seemed to be. He'd hardly spoken to her during the days of the first week and she usually disappeared up to her room right after dinner while he worked in his office. When he dropped her off for work Monday morning, he thought he'd try a different approach.
"I was thinking maybe we could grab a bite downtown and see that movie they've been playing commercials for the past few weeks. You know, something fun?"
Abby's eyes lit up. "Dinner and a movie? That's like a real date, Tobias."
"I figure we should probably make an effort. We'll get an undercover agent in the theater with us. I don't like that it's so dark, but I don't think you'll be in any danger."
"Sounds good. See you at five?" Abby waited for him to confirm before getting out of the car and heading in towards the lobby. She smiled and waved to security as she showed her badge. In her lab there was a Caf-Pow! waiting on her desk with a post-it note from Gibbs. He had left a sample of a sticky substance they'd found at the crime scene they'd been called to in the early morning hours. She hummed a happy tune as she moved from computer to Major Mass Spec and over to the plasma to switch everything on.
It didn't take long to load the substance so that Major Mass Spec could do the dirty work, so her attention was soon focused back on the computer screen when she heard hurried footsteps and the sound of her Caf-Pow! spilling out over the floor.
"Timmy!"
"Sorry, Abby… I wasn't watching where I was going. I'll… I'll get you a new one." McGee grabbed a roll of paper-towels and began to mop up the spilled Caf-Pow.
Abby frowned, but turned her attention back to the computer while McGee wiped up the sticky red mess from the floor.
"Whatcha got for me, Abbs?"
Abby hardly glanced over her shoulder from her spot by the computer when Gibbs entered. She had just about been ready to reach for her drink when McGee spilled it. "A spilled Caf-Pow."
Gibbs reached around her to place a fresh drink by her keyboard. "I said, whatcha got for me, Abbs?"
Abby grinned and turned to wrap her arms around Gibbs in a tight hug. "You're the only one I could ever love, Gibbs! You always know when I need a new one." With that she turned and stuck her tongue out at McGee. "You're just in time my silver fox, Major Mass Spec has just finished."
"You plan on making me wait?"
"I just aim for a little suspense."
"Abby, do you know what it is, or not?"
"Jell-o shots."
"What?"
"The sticky blue stuff you found on the kitchen counter. I'm surprised Tony didn't figure it out. They must've been having a party, because it's blue raspberry jell-o and vodka. They taste pretty good, actually, though I prefer lime jell-o myself. Well, not that I do jell-o shots often, but if I had the choice I would pick lime. What flavor of jell-o shots do you prefer, Gibbs?"
"Never tried one, Abbs."
"Never tried one? Gibbs, you need a little culture in your life."
"I get plenty of drinking culture by working with DiNozzo."
"Yeah, and on your boat." Abby muttered.
Gibbs raised his eyebrows at her and tilted his head slightly. "Is that all you got for me?"
"Is that all? That's all you sent for me to check! Who do you think I am Gibbs? I don't randomly create new evidence for you." Abby calmed and smiled when she realized he was just teasing.
Gibbs smiled and waited for Abby to offer her cheek for his usual kiss. He was nearly out the door before he turned around. "McGee?"
"Yeah, boss?"
"Don't touch her Caf-Pow."
---
"That was the scariest movie I've seen in a long time. The blood and guts were great! I'm going to have to see that again." Abby babbled joyfully alongside Fornell as they walked from the movie theater to a fifties diner down the street.
"I really don't get why you'd watch something like that. Won't it give you nightmares?"
"Nightmares? Tobias, I'm not ten. Movies don't give me the creeps. Ex-boyfriends who stalk me do."
Fornell raised an eyebrow. "Understandable. I've heard you're no stranger to stalkers."
"I better not be the gossip of the FBI."
"No no, nothing like that. I've just heard there have been a few close calls."
"From who?"
"Jethro. He worries about you."
"Oh." Abby was glad that the dark of the evening hid her blush.
They were seated in the far back corner and it didn't take long for their orders to be placed and their food to arrive.
"So," Abby asked as she dipped a fry into the ketchup on her plate. "How often is Emily with you?"
"Every other weekend, Wednesday evenings, and various holidays. Not as much as I'd like, but with the way the FBI keeps me busy, it's for the best."
"Have you gotten to speak to her now that she's away until this case is solved?"
"No." Fornell shook his head. "No, not yet. Soon I hope."
"That must be hard."
"It is, but Diane is a great mother, so I know she's in good hands."
"That's good to hear, Tobias. Too often kids get caught up in their parents fighting – always bad mouthing one another. I'm glad you recognize Diane's parenting skills, even if she is a bitch."
Fornell reached across the table and briefly rested his hand over Abby's. "Thanks. That means a lot."
Abby smiled in return. Now that he had lightened up a bit, he wasn't so bad to be around.
---
Abby squealed with delight when Fornell picked her up on Tuesday and suggested bowling with the nuns. He'd already arranged for a group of agents to be at the bowling alley, and judging by the fact that Abby had wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, he knew he'd done well with the idea.
At the bowling alley the nuns peppered her with questions about her new relationship until Sister Rosita picked up on her discomfort and pulled her into the hallway leading towards the bathrooms. "Abigail, when exactly did you plan on telling the truth?"
Abby cringed at the use of her full name. "The truth?"
"Tobias seems like a lovely man, and I'm sure you have lots of fun together, but I can tell that you aren't in love. What's going on?"
Abby hesitated a moment and then sighed. "I… I can't tell you. He isn't my boyfriend, or whatever you want to call it. This is about work. I would tell you more if I could, but… I can't. I'm sorry."
"Are you in danger?"
Abby figured one small white lie wouldn't hurt. "No, and this is actually more about his work, not mine. He's FBI. I'm just helping him out. He's a friend of Gibbs."
Sister Rosita's eyes sparkled at the mention of Gibbs. "How is Agent Gibbs?"
Abby smiled. Sister Rosita knew Gibbs well and always asked about him when she saw Abby. "He's good. Things have been busy at NCIS, but I'm sure he'll stop by for a visit once things settle down a bit."
"I look forward to his visit. Let's get back out there. I don't want the others to worry that we've skipped out on them."
When they rounded the corner Abby couldn't help but laugh. Tobias had a nun on either side of him, both trying to correct his bowling stance much to the dissatisfaction of the other. Fornell glanced back over his shoulder at her, and by the look in his eyes she knew he was begging for help. Abby sat back with a smug smile on her face. She had the feeling this was going to be a fun evening.
---
Abby laughed as they walked out to the car. "High score of 82, I couldn't be more impressed Tobias. Well done."
Fornell grumbled something about spending his free time on more important things.
"Sure, sure. But once this is all over, you should take Emily bowling. She would like it."
"I'm sure she would."
"We could go bowling with the nuns again. I'm sure they would be so distracted by Emily that you could actual bowl without going through proper bowling technique each time you step up to the lane."
"I don't see why we couldn't do something like that. I know Emily would enjoy herself." They rode home in comfortable silence, Abby nodding off a few miles from the house. Fornell nudged her shoulder softly when he pulled into the driveway to wake her. "We're home."
Abby rubbed her eyes and followed Fornell up the front step. She gave a cautionary glance once over her shoulder, but nothing felt out of the ordinary. After locking the door, she wished Fornell and Agent Terry a good night and headed up the stairs.
It wasn't that late but Abby was exhausted, so she climbed the stairs to her room and got ready for bed. She climbed under the covers after setting her alarm for the following morning. She was nearly asleep when she remembered that she hadn't called Gibbs, nor had she called him the evening before. She could hardly open her eyes to see the screen on her phone, but she just wanted to say a quick good night.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
"Hi Gibbs."
"Abby? You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Why?"
"You usually call later than this. It's only ten."
"Ah," Abby muffled a yawn. "I know but I'm going to bed early. It's been a long evening. We went bowling with the nuns this evening. Sister Rosita says hello."
"Thank you. Bowling, huh?"
"Yeah it was…" Abby fought another yawn. "…a lot of fun. I bowled a 164. Tobias…." Abby giggled. "He bowled a high of 82."
"Tobias bowled an 82, huh?" Abby missed the way he said Tobias' name. "Alright Abby, I'm glad you had fun."
"Mm hmm."
"Get some sleep."
"Uh huh."
"Goodnight Abby."
"Night Gibbs."
---
Gibbs hung up and set his phone on the workbench before returning to the boat. On the one hand he was glad that Abby was getting out. Monday at work he could tell she'd been a little down having spent the entire weekend at home with Fornell and with nothing to do. On the other hand, the way she easily tossed around "Tobias this… Tobias that…" was a reminder of the relationship, whatever it was, that was forming between them.
----
TBC…