So sorry about the delay, real life has been a bit of a bitch and working 14 hour days has been less than enjoyable. I hope this final chapter was worth the wait. Again, sorry about the delay.

---

By the time they were upstairs, Abby had her shirt off and was working on pulling Gibbs' polo out from his slacks.

"Abby…" His warning was softened by the fact that he was nuzzling her neck.

"What? You said 'anytime within reason.'" Abby reached back to unhook her bra as Gibbs used his foot to push open the bedroom door. "Is this not within reason?"

Gibbs laid her down gently and then pulled back to tug his shirt over his head as Abby wiggled from her skirt. "It's within reason." He shucked his pants and lowered himself with a feral grin.

---

Abby blinked against the harsh sun-light streaming in through the window; they had been too comfortable to get up to draw the curtains shut the night before. She rolled over and pressed her lips to Gibbs' chest.

"Mmm," Gibbs tilted her chin up and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Morning."

"Morning." Although she was happy to be headed back to NCIS to spend her days surrounded by her friends, Abby wasn't quite thrilled about giving up her solo time with Gibbs. "What time do we have to be at work today?"

Gibbs lifted his head to look at the clock; it was just past 6a.m. "At 0800."

"So we've got about two hours?"

Gibbs recognized the grin that was slowly spreading across Abby's still somewhat sleepy face as she pushed him onto his back and peppered several kisses across his chest. "I mean, this is within reason, isn't it?"

"It might be." Gibbs ran his fingers through her hair as his body confirmed that it was indeed within reason. Gibbs shivered as Abby left a trail of kisses down his chest and across his stomach. "You know, you can't do this at work, right?"

"I know." Abby dipped her tongue into his bellybutton. "S'why I'm doing it now. Just relax and enjoy."

---

Abby fiddled nervously as she waited for the elevator to take her and Gibbs up to the squad room. She hadn't been at NCIS in over two weeks and she couldn't wait to get back into the swing of things. After her morning romp with Gibbs, she was slightly more relaxed, but then Gibbs had told her that they had a date at the new jazz bar downtown, and it sent her mind into over-drive.

Abby jumped at the ding of the elevator and rushed out between the sliding door and right into Tony's waiting arms. "Tony!"

"Hey Abby, welcome back!!"

"It's good to be back!" Abby hugged him tightly and then rushed to McGee and then Ziva to hug them each as well. "I've missed you guys so much!"

"How are you?"

"I'm good. Real good." Abby glance back at Gibbs as he settled at his desk. "Sometimes I start to think too much about it, but Gibbs pulls me out of that funk, and then we saw Sister Rosita at church yesterday, and then we saw Vincent, but he's much less scary hooked up to all those machines in the hospital."

"I will kill him. I have friends in Mossad who owe me a favor. He will not leave the hospital alive."

"Ziva," Gibbs warned.

"I know it's not what you do here in America, but…" Ziva trailed off at the looks Gibbs, McGee, and Tony were giving her.

"Thank you, Ziva. I don't think Gibbs was telling you not to do it because he doesn't want you to kill someone, but he'd prefer to do it himself. But I appreciate the offer." Abby pulled her friend into another hug, and then turned to Gibbs. "Is Ducky in autopsy?"

Gibbs nodded and watched as Abby scurried off toward the back elevator.

---

Abby jumped when two hands gripped her hips. "Gibbs! You scared me."

The corner of Gibbs' mouth twitched upwards in a smirk when she turned around to face him.

"You have something for me?"

"Nope, just checking in on you."

"Oh. Well," Abby stepped away from him and moved around her lab pointing to various machines and trays of chemicals. "My lab was a complete mess and Major Mass Spec. has needed lots of love just to get through the basic stuff that was needed for a cold case that I'm working on for Agent Thomas. Whoever was in here did not follow the manual like I wrote out. And my chemicals are out of order!"

Gibbs waited for her to circle back around and then caught her arm when she was in reach and pulled her in close. "But you're okay?"

"I'm okay." Abby wanted to kiss him, but she knew the cameras were rolling and if security caught them, the tape would be circulating NCIS by the end of the day. She pouted briefly, but then a smile spread across her face. "My office..?" There were no cameras in her back office.

Gibbs leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek like he usually would, lingering long enough to whisper in her ear. "Not within reason."

Abby stuck out her tongue and watched him stroll toward the elevator and then called out to him. "See you tonight!"

---

Abby loved how Gibbs automatically brought her back to his place, no questions asked. There was nothing wrong with her apartment, but there was some unspoken agreement that Abby would stay with him. Abby let herself wonder briefly if she should get a few more things from her place and bring them over. But she didn't want to press the issue, so she decided to follow Gibbs' lead.

Gibbs offered to let Abby shower first, but Abby dismissed the idea and suggested they save time and shower together.

"If we take too long, we'll miss our reservations." Gibbs warned as he slipped his shirt over his head. It hadn't been easy to be in the same building with Abby and not spend the day in her lab. It was even worse to have to refuse her advance in the lab, so he wasn't about to refuse her now - being around her made him feel like a teenager again.

"Get your mind out of the gutter," Abby winked. "I'm just suggesting a shower to save time and water. Sheesh."

They finally stepped from the shower when the water ran cold and Abby shivered as Gibbs wrapped a fluffy towel around her. They moved seamlessly around one another as they dressed. Abby had some reservations about wearing the same dress she'd worn a few days prior at the dinner with Fornell, but once she slipped it on and caught Gibbs watching her out of the corner of his eye, she forgot all about the first time she wore it.

She couldn't decide if she should leave her hair down, or pull it up. In the end she settled on a pony tail high on the crown of her head. She kept her makeup simple as she only had the makeup she kept in her purse, and then dabbed on a drop of her gunpowder perfume which she also kept in her purse.

Gibbs shaved and ran a comb through his hair before stepping into his walk in closet to change. He pulled out a suit and then grabbed two button up shirts, he'd let Abby choose the color.

"Blue. It matches your eyes."

---

Gibbs parked a few blocks from the jazz bar they'd decided on for their date. It wasn't cold, so Gibbs didn't mind the walk. They strolled hand in hand and a few doors down from the jazz bar, Abby paused when she heard her name being called from across the street.

"Abby!"

Abby turned just in time to catch the young girl that was flying towards her. "Hiya Emily!"

"Did you like my room?" Emily Fornell asked. "My daddy said you had a good time visiting."

"I did, thank you." Abby looked up as Fornell stepped up to where they were standing. "Tobias, what are you doing here?"

"Abby. Jethro." Fornell nodded. "Emily got home this morning, so we came downtown for dinner and now we're headed for some ice cream."

Abby didn't want to say anything, so she nodded to his arm. "How did you get down here?"

"Cab."

"Oh, ok. Everything okay?"

"Fine, thanks."

Emily tugged on the skirt of Abby's dress. "Do you and Mr. Gibbs want to come for ice cream with us?"

Abby caught the small smile on Gibbs' face, she knew he was fond of Emily. "I'm sorry sweetie, but we haven't even had dinner yet! We can't have dessert first!" She looked up to see both Fornell and Gibbs avoiding looking at each other. "But I saw the cutest little stuffed animals in a window a few shops down. Why don't we let the boys talk and go have a look?"

Both men opened their mouths to protest, but said nothing when Abby shot them both a look. Fornell waited until Abby and Emily were out of earshot and then turn to Gibbs. "I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm sorry."

"I know."

"And just so you know, nothing happened… I think some lines might have been blurred. There was nothing between us."

"I know that too. And just so you know," Gibbs glanced over to where Abby and Emily were looking at a window display. "She's mine."

"I can see that. I'm glad you figured that out."

"Abby," Gibbs called. "We don't want to lose our table." When Abby stepped up to his side, Gibbs reached out to shake hands with Fornell and then gently tousled Emily's hair. "Keep your dad in line for me, will you?"

"Yes, sir. Bye Abby!"

---

Gibbs tightened his arm around Abby's waist as they were led to a table. He was well aware of the eyes on them – well, mostly on her, but there had to be people wondering how a guy like him ended up with a woman like her.

Abby swayed her hips delicately when she stepped in front of him as they made their way between other tables. He like that they were both seated to one side of the table and although they could see the band, they were far enough away that they could talk without the music over-powering them.

They ordered their dinner – both ordering a glass of wine to go with.

"So, how many of those to get you to dance with me?"

"How many what?" Gibbs didn't follow.

"Glasses of wine." Abby answered as if it were obvious.

"Oh," Gibbs shrugged. "Do they sell wine by the barrel at this place?"

Abby rolled her eyes, but then changed the subject. She was just happy to be on a real date with him. Gibbs. Her boss. Her silver fox. She could hardly believe it – they were out for dinner and it wasn't her birthday. His hand was resting over hers and he wasn't trying to comfort her. It was just 'because.'

"Abby?"

"Hmm?

"You okay? You looked a little lost."

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About?" He didn't want her lost in thought about Vincent.

"About how I'm the luckiest woman ever."

"And how do you figure that?"

"I'm here with you."

Gibbs rolled his eyes at the dreamy look she shot him. "I dunno, Abbs. I think I might be the lucky one."

"Oh, Gibbs…" They chatted easily through dinner and Gibbs was surprised at how much they had in common outside of work. He found himself telling her about how he had met Sister Rosita through Shannon all those years ago. Abby was delighted to hear stories about a younger Rosita and she listened carefully when he spoke about Shannon.

"Would you like dessert?"

"I'm too full at the moment. Can I get dessert back at your place?"

Gibbs was beginning to recognize the certain sparkle in her eye. "I could probably figure something out back home. Come on." Gibbs held out his hand to her.

"I'm not done with my wine."

"I'm not either, but we can finish it after our dance."

"Dance?"

"I'm not going to bring you all the way out here, in that dress, and not ask you to dance."

"But earlier you said…"

Gibbs just watched as Abby started to ramble.

"Never mind what you said, let's dance." Abby jumped to her feet and allowed Gibbs to lead her to the dance floor where a few other couples were dancing.

Out on the dance floor Gibbs pulled her in close and Abby easily molded her body against his. The scent of saw dust tickled her nose and she inhaled deeply. "At that dinner, all I wanted was for you to ask me to dance, and for a brief moment I thought you might actually do it."

"God Abbs, I wanted to so bad." He pulled her in even tighter. "I'm sorry I didn't. I should have, but I didn't."

"It's okay. We're dancing now, that's all that matters." Abby waited until he looked at her and pressed her lips to his. "We're dancing now."

"Mhm," Gibbs kissed her again, then pressed his cheek to hers. They moved a little slower than the music suggested they should, but no one else seemed to care. Gibbs held her tightly, loving the way that even with clothes on she seemed to fit against his body perfectly. He inhaled deeply, nipped at her ear and then pulled back slightly. "Finish the wine and head out?"

"Basement, boat, bed?"

"I like the way you think." He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger and then took her hand and led her back to their table. They sat for a few more minutes to finish their wine and then Gibbs paid the bill before they headed back down the street toward his car. He noticed the slight shiver that ran through her body at the cool night air and offered his jacket, but Abby refused, instead opting to wrap her arm around his waist and hug herself close to his side.

Arriving back at his place, pausing upstairs in the hallway only to let Gibbs hang up his jacket, Abby led the way down to the basement and hopped up to what she decided was her place on his work bench. She was beginning to appreciate the silence and comfort of his basement, the only sounds the steady scratching of the sandpaper against the wood. Abby watched with interest as he worked, noting the way the muscles in his forearms tensed and relaxed and then tensed again as he worked. She smiled at the curve of his ass as he leaned over the boat to grab a new sheet of sandpaper and giggled when he looked back at her and arched a brow.

"What are you smiling about?"

"You've got a nice ass."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm, firm. Shapely. Shall I continue?"

Gibbs set down his tools and walked over to her.

"Because I can, even though this," Abby pointed to the two of them, "hasn't been going on for very long, I make it a point to be very aware of my surroundings, and you're around me fairly often in the lab, so trust me. I know what I'm talking about. You've got a nice ass."

Moving in close, Gibbs touched his lips to Abby's. "You ready for dessert yet?"

"I am."

"Good," Gibbs kissed her again and then dropped his lips to the side of her neck and then out to the neckline of her dress. "Because I've been waiting since Friday to peel this thing off of you."

Abby hopped off the bench and rushed to the top of the stairs. "Dessert has been served." With a grin she disappeared from his view, and he could hear her laughing as she rushed toward his bedroom.

"Dessert, indeed." Gibbs smiled as he flipped off the lights.

----

The End.