This is probably my favorite chapter so far. I hope you enjoy!

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Thursday felt like a repeat of Wednesday. Fornell had already left by the time Abby woke up and Donny informed her that Fornell would be working late again. She tried to be her usual happy self, playing video games with Donny, then playing card games with Russ when he came in for his shift. She waited up a while after Jack arrived at 2200 for his shift, but if Fornell was going to ignore her, she would ignore him right back.

"Want a drink, Jack?"

"No ma'am, I can't when I'm on duty."

Abby rolled her eyes at him and moved over to Fornell's liquor cabinet to see what he had. "Not even a glass of wine?"

"No thank you."

"Hmph." Abby pawed through the various liquor bottles, not all that surprised to find that he didn't have much, but she settled on a single malt scotch and headed upstairs.

She had taken three long drinks before the idea of using a glass crossed her mind, and another few drinks before she realized that maybe watering it down a bit, or at least having a few ice cubes might help. Damnit, if I were with Gibbs, he'd kick me out if I even hinted at watering down my drink.

She unzipped the garment bag containing her dress and hung it over the closet door so she could look at it. She wondered what Gibbs would think about it, if he would smile appreciatively at her and look her over like he had when she was dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Or if he would outright tell her she looked beautiful. She wondered…

Abby reached for her phone and dialed Gibbs.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Don't you ever check your caller I.D.? I know it's you that I'm calling."

"You okay, Abbs?"

"I'm fine Gibbs. I'm just bored."

"You aren't off at some club, are you?"

"If I was, would you come rescue me?"

"I think I'll leave that to your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend. He's not even here. I think he's still mad and he's getting revenge by ignoring me."

Gibbs sighed. He didn't like that Fornell wasn't around to help keep her safe, but he couldn't complain. He didn't like the idea of him cozying up to Abby on the couch at the end of the evening. Instead of talking about Fornell he decided to try and change the subject. Ziva had told him about their shopping trip and that Abby was excited about her new dress. He remembered Shannon spinning in circles after she'd purchased a new dress. He didn't understand excitement over new clothes, but if it made her feel better… "You all ready for the dinner tomorrow? Ziva told me you found a new dress."

"I did! And it's gorgeous! I wish you could see. It's a vintage inspired dress, black lace and really poofy around my legs. It pinches in nicely at the waist. Very sexy. It sounds sexy, right?"

Gibbs chuckled at her enthusiasm over the dress. "It does."

"What about you, Gibbs. What are you wearing?"

"For what?" He didn't think that Fornell had spoken to Abby about him being at the dinner – it still hadn't been figured out, but Gibbs knew he would be there. One way or another.

"Right now, Gibbs. What are you wearing now? I'm in my nightgown. It's all white, but you've seen it before when you saved me after that creep was after me because I was in Timmy's book. That's actually the exact nightgown I'm wearing." Abby paused to take another drink from the bottle. "But not the cap, I left that at home."

"Abby, are you drinking?"

"I am, in fact, drinking. But you haven't answered my question. What are you wearing Gibbs?"

He could hear her take another long drink and knew she was making some sort of face at whatever her drink of choice was. "Clothes."

"Oh Gibbs, that's so…" Abby thought for a moment, "non-descript. What are you wearing?"

"Jeans and a shirt, one that I got at sears according to DiNozzo. And I just pulled on my red sweatshirt."

"That's sexy too, Gibbs." She took another long drink. "D'you have sawdust all over? I remember the last time I was visiting you, and I ended up with sawdust everywhere. But that's okay because it smells nice. It smells like you. Or do you smell like it? With a dash of Old Spice to spice it up a bit."

"What are you drinking, Abby?" He could imagine the frown lines across her forehead as she looked at the bottle.

"Glen… Glenfid-dd-dd-dich. Glenfidd-ddich."

"Glenfiddich?"

"Yeah, that. It's not very good. You want to come over and drink with me? I'll show you my dress. You might have to help me in it though."

"I would like that Abbs," he figured she wouldn't remember their conversation, "but you know I can't. I don't even drink scotch. I stick with the bourbon, remember?"

"I know, but maybe you could just swing by with your red sweatshirt covered in sawdust? I miss you Gibbs. I miss you a lot, and some saw dust might help."

He hoped she wasn't going to have too big of a headache in the morning. "Abby, you need to get some sleep."

"I know," Abby yawned.

"I'll see you soon. And Abby?"

"Hmm?"

He could hear that she was half asleep. "I'm sure you look beautiful in your dress."

"Mmhmm. Thanks Gibbs."

He wasn't sure if she hung up purposely, or if the phone slipped from her hand and shut on its own, but he was fairly certain she was asleep. He knew she had been drinking, but the way she told him she missed him had touched him in a way that he couldn't describe. It tore him up inside that she was actually asking him to be there for her and he couldn't - Fornell was in his way. He wanted to go to her, to tell her she would be okay and that he would make everything go away, so that she could return to NCIS like before. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he'd settle for having things go back to how they were.

He thought awhile longer and tried to get back into the flow he'd had working on his boat, but his mind kept drifting back to her asking him to come over.

"Screw it." Gibbs put away the tools he was using, and then carried his empty coffee cup upstairs. He checked his back pocket for his wallet, grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter and headed out to his car.

He circled the block twice before he pulled up in front of Fornell's house. He waved at the agents he knew were stationed across the street and knocked on the door. He was please when Jack Moore answered with his gun drawn - at least one of Fornell's agents was prepared.

"Agent Gibbs, what can I do for you?"

"I'm here to see Abby."

"She went to bed a long time ago." Gibbs waited for Jack to step aside and then entered. "Agent Fornell didn't say anything about you stopping by."

"He doesn't know."

"Oh, I um… well, I guess you are on the list of approved visitors, but I think Fornell didn't want anyone visiting."

"I'm not visiting Fornell." Gibbs took the stairs slowly, unsure of why he was really there, or what he intended on doing. He listened for a moment outside Abby's room when he saw the light was on. Hearing nothing, he pushed the door open.

He smiled when he saw Abby. She had obviously been sitting on the floor, leaning back against the bed as they talked. Her phone lay by her side and she was resting her head back on the mattress.

"Oh Abbs." He crouched down beside her and ran his hand along her cheek, smiling when she leaned into his touch. He stood to pull back the covers on her bed and then moved back to her side and bent down to lift her off the ground.

She mumbled something that he couldn't decipher, and leaned against his chest. "Time for bed. Come on."

"Mm, I hafta call Gibbs and say g'night." She snuggled against her pillow when he put her down.

"I'm right here, Abby." He tucked the blankets in around her shoulders and sat beside her. She was asleep again, the alcohol likely dulling her senses. He was sure she otherwise would've woken up when she was moved, especially since there was a target on her back. He leaned over her to press his lips to her forehead in a soft kiss. "Sweet dreams."

Satisfied that she was okay, he stood and went in search of a glass of water and some Tylenol for the headache she would undoubtedly have when she woke up. With the water and medicine set out on her nightstand, Gibbs was ready leave. He smiled down at her, and then telling himself she had meant what she said, he slipped his sweatshirt over his head and draped it over her.

Abby sighed and rolled toward the wall, taking the sweatshirt with her.

Gibbs was halfway across the room before he noticed the dress hanging over her closet door. He looked from the dress to Abby, and then back to the dress. She was right, it was sexy.

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The sun peeking through the window shades caused Abby to pull the blanket up over her head. Her mouth was dry and her head hurt; she felt like she had gone three rounds with the devil the night before.

Blinking at the clock on the nightstand, Abby was distracted by the bottle of water and the Tylenol beside her bed. Whoever had brought that to her was a godsend. She figured she owed Fornell big time, as well as a bottle of scotch.

She struggled to reach for the water, but her arm caught in fabric. As her eyes adjusted to the light, the bright red of Gibbs' sweatshirt lay in stark contrast to the white and pink sheets she was sleeping on. She sat up with a start, ignoring her throbbing headache. "Gibbs?" She pulled the sweatshirt up to her nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled just like Gibbs after a long night in the basement.

She tried to remember the night before. She remembered the drinking and the phone call. And she remembered Gibbs tucking her in, but that had felt like a dream.

Abby took the Tylenol and then slipped the sweatshirt over her head. It was going to be a long day.

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TBC…