I'm so glad people are enjoying this fic so far! I'm having an absolute blast writing it, and your reviews have been awesome. Thanks again!

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"You should've seen the look on his face, McProbie." Tony was leaning over McGee's desk when Gibbs finally made it to NCIS after a quick visit to Fornell. "He looked like he was ready to rip my head off, but because Abby was there, he just ignored me and tried to slam the door in my face."

"What about Abby?"

Tony jumped up and rushed back to his desk. "Oh hey boss, you're running late. Not that you can't be late, you're the boss, but I was just… sorry boss."

Gibbs eyed Tony curiously at the mention of Abby. "DiNozzo, what about Abby?"

"Oh, right. Um, I sort of kidnapped her yesterday after church. I mean, Fornell was there when I took her, so I didn't really kidnap her; I just didn't give Fornell an option to say no. He was pretty pissed. We watched movies at my place until sometime after mid-night, and he was pacing like a father with a daughter on a first date when I dropped her off. He looked livid."

Gibbs was able to avoid laughing, but wasn't able to hide the smirk. "That's good, DiNozzo. Real good."

Tony gave McGee a smug grin at Gibbs' praise. It seemed as though the team worked extra hard for praise now that Abby wasn't around. Gibbs was always distracted and hardly acknowledged when one of them solved a case.

Gibbs wasn't the only one irritated that Abby wasn't around. Tony missed her too. He missed their casual gossip, sharing what they knew about the romance blossoming between Nancy in accounting and Ron in mail room. He missed her hugs and how he could hide in her lab if she wasn't too busy and escape from the stress of whatever case they were working on.

"Probie, I still haven't received the results from the faux-Abby. Go check on them."

"Me? Why do I have to go get the results? She'll mail them up when she's done."

McGee wasn't thrilled with Abby's absence either. It had been a few years since he and Abby had been anything more than friends, but he worried about her. He figured he trusted the FBI more than Gibbs trusted them, but he didn't like the idea of her being set up as bait to get this guy.

"I'll do it." Ziva needed a break from both McGee and Tony. Ziva missed Abby too, not because she spent that much time in her lab, but Abby kept the boys happy at work. If the boys weren't happy, Ziva wasn't happy; Tony made sure of it. Ziva was more likely to spend time with Abby outside of work. They tried to make time once a week to grab a drink after work and unwind, but she hadn't been able to even do that now that she was with Fornell.

Gibbs watched Ziva leave and then looked at his watch. It had only been two minutes since the last time he checked the time. It was going to be a long week, but if he had anything to stay about it, Abby would be safe and out of Fornell's house by the weekend – whether they had caught Vincent or not.

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Abby was up early and paced the kitchen while Donny made breakfast. There was nothing she could do at the FBI and Fornell decided it would be safer to stay home rather than go in to NCIS. Abby wasn't sold on the idea, but didn't put up a fight.

"Relax Abby, if we go by the note, he'll try something at the dinner on Friday and then it'll all be over – preferably with him in a body bag."

"I know, I'm just so bored! And anxious. I need to get out, I need to go to a party. I need to do something!"

"We could play a game?"

"I'm not ten."

"We could play a drinking game."

"Fornell would kill us both if he came home to find us drunk."

"Good point." Donny placed a small stack of pancakes in front of Abby. "Maybe Russ will bring a Caf-Pow! when he comes for the shift change."

"That would be nice. So… need me to kick your ass on the X-box?" Abby grinned at Donny. He wasn't Tony, but he was fun and as much as she'd rather be at NCIS, she didn't mind spending time with Donny – though she could do without Oprah. They finished their breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen before moving to the living room to play.

"I just want to get away from this mess, you know? Get out and forget."

"I know. We'll go out sometime, okay? I think it'd be fun. We could go party or something."

"Sometime? Like tonight?"

"I'd like to keep my job. And I'd rather not worry about some psycho coming after you."

"You could keep me safe." Abby grinned. "Just think about it."

"Right." Abby and Donny played X-box until Russ arrived shortly after two. Russ wasn't interested in play video games, and with a few fluttered lashes, Abby managed to talk Donny into staying a few extra hours to play.

When Fornell arrived home, Donny said his goodbyes and left with a quick kiss to Abby's cheek.

"Better not let Gibbs see him doing that." Fornell motioned to her cheek once the door shut.

"What do you care?"

"I don't, but I'd like to spare one of my agents a split lip."

Abby couldn't help but laugh.

She spent the evening with Fornell and Russ, but had a hard time sitting still. Her friends were out, Donny was probably out. Hell, for all she knew, Gibbs was even out. She knew there was a bar a few miles from his house where he went for a stiff drink every now and again for a change of scenery. "Alright guys, I think I'm going to watch a movie upstairs and then go to bed."

"Sleep well Abby," Fornell and Russ answered.

Abby headed up the stairs and shut the bedroom door before changing quickly and then settling on her bed to start a film. She wasn't all that into the movie, but it would do. For now.

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Jack Moore arrived for his shift just after ten. He'd stopped by the house across the street to check in with the agents stationed over there. They were watching a movie and reported no suspicious activity out on the street or in front of the house.

Russ said goodbye and headed home, leaving Fornell and Jack to lock up for the night.

"Is Abby asleep?" Jack asked.

"I don't think so, she was going to watch a movie before going to bed."

"Maybe I'll just peek in and say goodnight so that she knows I'm here."

"Careful, she's been a bit cranky lately."

"I don't blame her. She needs to get back to her life." Jack headed up the stairs and knocked softly. He wasn't sure if she'd heard him through the sound of the film, so he pushed the door open.

"Abby?" Jack looked around, but didn't see her. "Boss?"

"Yeah?" Fornell had followed Jack up the steps but turned toward the bathroom.

"She's gone."

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TBC…