Title: Pie, part 2
Author: ami (boymommytotwo)
Pairing: pre-Gibbs/Abby, Humor/Friendship/pre-Romance
Spoiler: minor for 1.03 Seadog
Prompt: Dedication
Word Count: 900
Rating: K
Disclosure: Own nothing except my original ideas. We have Don Bellisario et al to thank most everything.
A/N: Unbetaed so all mistakes are my own. Constructive feedback is always welcome. If you don't know the definition of constructive, please pass.

thankyouthankyouthankyou for the comments and adds! and i can say that this part is a direct result of someone asking for it! amazing how much one wants to write when someone asks for it!

"I know a little place right downtown here... up for a little walk?"

"Of course!"

They continued to walk with Gibbs' arm around Abby. Their strides matched perfectly thanks to Abby's tall frame. She still clung to her jacket which she held in front of her, and Gibbs ran his hand across her shoulders every so often when he thought he felt her shiver. As they got away from the basketball court lights, it got much quieter. Storefronts were closed already and there were other people walking by them on the street: families, young people, other couples.

Other couples. Get your head on straight Jethro. He shook it off and as he was searching for another train of thought Abby looked up at him.

"What is it?"

Shit.

"What do you mean, Abbs?"

"You just shook something off. What was it?"

Oh man. This is not a good idea.

"I just caught a chill," he fibbed. "The place is just up around the next block." Abby saw right through him and she was too gracious to him to call him out on it. That would sure run out someday, but he'd take it today. She put her jacket on her opposite arm and then snaked her arm around Gibbs' waist. With his arm around her shoulders, they pulled each other close. When they rounded the next block their destination was clear.

Gibbs loved Chatman's. It was trendy (not the draw for him) but it was quiet, the service was always good and the food was home-made amazing. He reached out to open the door for her and found their way to a table.

They each ordered a piece of pie and made more small talk about the commander and the kids who were so excited to have the lights back on tonight at their basketball court. They ended up talking about how they had each played sports in their youth. To his surprise, Abby had also played basketball when she was younger, in the city rec league. Gibbs shared a very little bit about his high school football days. The waitress took away their plates and brought more fresh coffee. She left them alone with a smile and a nod.

Abby warmed her hands around her cup. "So do you have plans for the weekend, Gibbs?"

Not much more than he usually did: work around the house, laundry, boat. "Not really. Weekend chores. You?"

"hmmmm... Not much really. There hasn't been a concert I've wanted to see in weeks now, seems like summer's all the way gone, and I'm just... I don't know... unsettled... with bars and music and stuff right now. Sick of it, maybe, a little bit."

Gibbs looked up at her from his coffee, cocked his head a bit and she met his eyes. She seemed more somber, certainly more overall serious than she normally did. A ball of concern rose up in him, and he tried to shape it, keep it manageable. He focused on 'concern'. Concern of a mentor, friend, supervisor.

Gibbs found himself asking, "Why, do you think?" And 'mentor, supervisor' left his brain as his hand left the side of his coffee and reached out for one of hers. Their fingers entwined naturally and they just rested their hands atop the table. He still hung onto 'friend'. Yep, friend.

She seemed to consider the question very thoughtfully; she didn't have the answer ready. "I don't know. Really. It might be out of a desire to grow a little bit, as in see what else there is to life. Like, feeling like I need to grow up a little. But I don't want to lose that part of me and my life and my personality... maybe it's just I feel like it needs a different place? That the bars and concerts and going out and everything... maybe it needs to take up a different 'percentage' almost?" She paused and tried to laugh it off. "You know, I do percentages well... maybe I should look into that."

Gibbs made a non-descript sound of acknowledgement. He just wanted her to keep talking. Her smile faded quickly.

"I don't know, Gibbs... just feeling a pull for something... more." They lapsed into a reflective silence then, still holding hands and each of them caressing the other however subtly. They sat that way for quite some time, it felt like, until another late-night patron decided they needed to come sit down a shy table away from them. It sort of shuffled the moment and they looked back at each other's eyes.

"So what were you shaking off earlier?"

Could try to play dumb. He reached for his wallet and looked up for the waitress. "When was that Abbs?"

That illicited a big sigh. "We were a block from here, Gibbs. Right before we turned the corner."

Gibbs chuckled as he put cash down on the check and stood up, stepping aside to offer Abby a hand in joining him.

She kept up. "You know darn well what I'm talking about." They made their way to the door together, still hand-in-hand.

"I know, Abby." Gibbs opened the door for her. The crisp night air hit them both. He took her jacket from her and held it for her to put on. "Are you sure you don't want to be an agent? You know, things don't work out for DiNozzo, I might need you to leave your lab..."

They started to walk, resuming their original position with Gibbs' arm around her shoulders, as they headed back to the block surrounding the courts where their cars were parked.

"You know when I let you not answer, I'm actually winning because if I wanted to make you talk I could."

Gibbs stayed quiet and signed to her as she looked up at him. I know, Abbs. I know.