Abby spent much of Saturday going over details of the FBI charity event with Fornell and the other agents. She memorized the layout, where the armed agents would be located and the various exits in case of emergency. Though the hiring hadn't been completed for the extra servers, they had a profile on everyone working in the kitchen, and Abby looked over the information and memorized their faces. She needed to know who she didn't have to worry about. A person could change a lot with a little hair dye and makeup.

After dinner, Abby retreated up to her room and found that McGee was online.

Abby: Hi McGee!

TMG: Abby! How are you doing?

Abby: A little bored. I miss NCIS. Is my lab still standing?

TMG: Last I checked. Gibbs has had me hovering over the temp lab tech making sure she doesn't touch your stuff.

Abby: She was going to touch my stuff?!

TMG: No! No, Gibbs just wanted me to make sure she didn't. He doesn't want you to be upset about the state of your lab when you come back. When do you come back?

Abby: I dunno. I need to ask. Maybe Monday?

TMG: I hope so.

Abby: Aww… you miss me?

TMG: No, Gibbs is a bear without you around.

Abby: So you're saying you don't miss me?

TMG: Abby, of course I miss you! We all miss you. I didn't mean it like that. You know what I meant. It's just that Gibbs hates working with other lab techs. We all do, they don't work as fast as you. That's what I meant. You know what I mean, right?

Abby: I know what you mean, Timmy. I'm just playing with you. Anyway, I'm logging off again. Talk to you soon, okay?

TMG: Sounds good. Bye Abby!

Abby: Bye!!!!

Abby logged off and sat back with a smile. She had been a little worried about things between her and Gibbs with the way she had snapped at him over the phone. Their very brief and limited interaction at the restaurant the night before hadn't been enough to reassure her that everything between them would be okay.

She followed her usual bedtime routine and once she was tucked under the blankets, she reached for her phone. Sucking in a deep breath, she dialed Gibbs.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Hey Gibbs."

"Abby." Gibbs waited a moment. "You okay?"

"I'm good, I just wanted to call…" Abby wasn't sure why she was calling. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"I'm just working on the boat, you're not interrupting anything. You sure that you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Good."

"It was good to see you last night. I wish you could have stayed. You guys solve the case?"

"We did, around four this morning."

"That's good." Abby hated the short and simple answers they gave each other. "Gibbs?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we okay?"

Gibbs sighed and stepped away from the boat to lean against the work bench. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't know, but it just seems like… I don't know. I'm sorry I yelled at you over the phone the last time we talked. I know you just want to do what's best for me, but I just hated the idea of sitting around here for so long. God, I just want this all to be over."

"I'm not mad at you Abby. I want it to be over too."

"I miss work."

"I know you do."

Abby took a chance. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Abbs. You know, you didn't call at all last week."

"I know. Tobias kept me busy each evening so that I wouldn't be so completely bored. I usually just came home and crashed at the end of the night."

"So Tobias let you out on occasion? Glad to hear you weren't a complete prisoner."

"You know Gibbs, phones work both ways. You could have called me, you know."

"I didn't want to interrupt anything."

Abby laughed. "I'm sure. Oh, Gibbs? Can I come back to work yet?"

"I expect you in your lab Monday morning and you better not be late."

Abby squealed. "Yes Sir!"

"Good night Abby. I'll see you Monday."

---

Abby managed to convince Fornell to don his Sunday best and accompany her to church on Sunday morning. He put up a good fight, but eventually Abby's persuasive green eyes won him over and he agreed.

Abby blinked against the harsh sunlight as they stepped out of the church and when her eyes were able to focus, a large smile spread across her face.

"Oh God." Fornell sighed at the man leaning against his car.

"Tony!" Abby was a blur across the parking lot and launched herself into DiNozzo's waiting arms.

"Hey Abby." Tony tightened his arms around her in a hug. "Agent Fornell."

"DeNutso."

Tony pressed a light kiss to the top of Abby's head before looking back at Fornell. "You know, your agent's are worthless, I asked where you guys were and they told me – no questions asked. I could've been a psycho-killer and they just gave out the information freely."

"You're on the contact list, of course they told you where we were." Fornell growled.

"Well, whatever. Anyway, I'm here to borrow Abby for a few hours. She's had time with Ziva, but I haven't seen her in forever, so c'mon Abby. I'm parked two cars down." Tony pointed her toward his car.

"I don't think so." Fornell reached out and grabbed hold of Abby's arm. "You need proper security."

"Relax Tobias, it's Tony. Except for Gibbs, I can't think of anyone I'd be safer with. I'll be fine."

Fornell frowned. He knew she was close with her team, but after everything, it hurt to think that she thought couldn't keep her just as safe. "I don't know…"

"I'll have her home by midnight." Tony turned and walked Abby back to his car. As he peeled out of the parking lot, he was fairly certain they weren't being followed, but on the drive back to his place, he was sure to take the long way home, and change lanes often. He'd picked up supplies the day before, so he was stocked with Chinese food, movies, a Caf-Pow! and a few other snack items.

Abby relaxed into the sofa as Tony locked and dead bolted his door. "Oh Tony, I'm so glad you showed up today. I've missed you!"

"Missed you too. Gibbs has been… unbearable the past week without you around. We've really noticed a difference, he's been awful."

"Oh Tony, I'm sure part of it has to do with your attitude."

"Me? Have an attitude? No…" Tony grinned. "But really, I don't think he was this miserable during his last divorce. Ow." Tony rubbed the spot where Abby punched him.

"That's not nice Tony. He's been stressed."

"I know. But he misses you. We all do."

Abby sighed. "I miss you all, it's been pretty boring living with Fornell. Well, I take that back. It's gotten better this past week, but the first week was so boring. You think Gibbs would have cared if I had snuck away to stay with him?"

"Are you kidding? There was a bet that he wouldn't last the week, we all expected him to come kidnap you and hide you away under his boat."

Abby smiled. She assumed living with Gibbs would've been much more fun; evenings in the basement with the boat, breakfast in the morning at the table, and if she was lucky she could curl up to him on the couch and watch TV before bed. "I'd have run away with him."

"I believe you."

As the credits rolled on their fourth movie, it suddenly dawned on Abby that it was approaching mid-night. "You should probably take me back to Fornell's house - it's getting late," she told him reluctantly.

---

Monday morning Abby was up before Fornell and sleepily greeted Jack as she made her way to the kitchen. As much as she missed NCIS, she knew she needed to get serious about the upcoming charity formal if they were going to catch this guy. She needed Vincent to believe her and Fornell as a couple. Since the incident a week ago, they had heard nothing from Vincent.

So far the applications that had come in for the available positions at the event had all checked out, but Abby felt it in her gut that he would be back. And this time, she would be ready.

As focused as she was on catching Vincent, Abby was thrilled about heading back to NCIS for the first time in a week. Abby looked up from her cereal when Donny let himself in for his shift of watching the house. Jack made a move to grab his jacket but Donny stopped him. "Wait. I've got bad news. Let me just get the boss down here so I don't have to repeat this." Donny held up an evidence bag containing a piece of paper.

Abby set her dish in the sink while Donny went in search of Fornell. They came down the steps a few moments later, with Fornell nearly finished dressing for the day, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.

"This was delivered to the FBI front desk. They called and asked me to pick it up and bring it over." Donny handed the evidence bag to Fornell.

Fornell grabbed the bag and read the note aloud. "I hope you'll enjoy seeing Abby in her dress as much as I will. The vintage style suits her. Tell her I'll see her soon. Signed V."

Abby shivered and let out a sigh when Fornell moved to put his arm around her. "We won't let him get you."

"I know." Abby took the letter and looked it over. "There has to be some sort of hint as to where he's hiding. I need to get this to a lab. Can I bring it to NCIS with me today?"

"Abby, I don't think going to NCIS is a good idea. I'd like to keep you nearby. I can set up security at the FBI. I'll get you full use of the lab there to run your tests."

"What about NCIS? What about Gibbs?"

"I'll handle him. Get your stuff."

---

Fornell hadn't expected Gibbs to burst into his office two hours later, but he wasn't surprised either. "What can I do for you, Jethro?"

Gibbs slammed his hands down and leaned over the desk to get in Fornell's face. "You know damn well why I'm here, Tobias."

Fornell leaned back in his chair - he didn't think Gibbs would jump over the desk and attack him, but a little distance between an angry Gibbs and himself wouldn't be a bad thing. "She's safe. The whole floor of our lab is locked down. Security is as tight as the White House."

"I want in."

"I'll take you down for a visit. I'm certain Abby would love to see you."

"No. The dinner on Friday."

"It's FBI only and the guest list is closed. Not to mention the fact that Abby won't be able to stay focused if you're around. She's got a part to play and with you there you know she won't be able to focus."

"She doesn't need to know I'm there."

"What are you saying?"

"I want to be in the building, keep an eye on everyone."

"It's not a good idea."

Gibbs pulled out the chair and sat opposite Fornell. "And why is that? You called me this morning to tell me about the second letter. This guy will be there and you know it. Abby needs all the protection she can get."

"I can't promise anything, but I'll see what I can do."

Gibbs nodded and hesitated a moment before getting up. His hand was on the doorknob when he turned back to Fornell. "I'll see you Friday." Both men knew that if Fornell didn't get him in, Gibbs would get in on his own.

-----

TBC…