CLOSE PROXIMITY

Chapter 4 - Stillwater

When they eventually arrived in Stillwater, the streets were equally snow covered and the last half mile through town was possibly the trickiest of the journey, but they finally slithered to a halt outside Jackson's shop.

Jackson must have been looking out for them because he appeared through the door almost immediately, beaming a welcome. Almost pushing him ahead of her out of the truck, Abby wriggled out behind Gibbs and rushed round to grab Jackson in a bone-crushing hug, which he returned with equal enthusiasm, looking delighted to see her.

"I know I said it once but I want to say it again with a kiss this time. Merry Christmas, Jack," she told him, kissing his cheek.

"I'll not argue with that, Abby."

Gibbs watched indulgently. His dad and his... girl. If he dare he say it?

When Abby pulled back, Jackson turned to hug his son and Abby grinned at the sight.

Jackson took Abby's arm as he ushered her inside and Gibbs rolled his eyes as he was left to unpack the truck. He dumped the bags by the stairs with a muttered, "I'll take them up later," before heading straight for the kitchen with a determined stride.

Abby and Jackson shared a look and a grin, saying as one, "Coffee."

When they entered the kitchen, Gibbs had already poured a mug and was almost inhaling it. With a satisfied sigh after a couple of gulps, he then turned to pour Abby a mug, sweetening it as she liked it.

"I can't tell ya how great it is that you're both here. I thought I'd do breakfast for ya both. You must be hungry," his dad suggested, grabbing his own half-finished mug.

"I'm famished, Jack," she asked, sipping her coffee, sighing at the taste of a decent brew. "Do you want me to do anything?"

"Well... you could do that French toast you did for me in the summer."

Abby grinned, tilting her head to one side in a familiar gesture. "I can do that. Hit me with some eggs and I'll get right on it."

"You've never made me French toast, Abbs," teased Gibbs, sipping his coffee at a slower rate.

"Well, let me make you breakfast one day and I'll do you the best French toast you've ever tasted."

Suddenly realizing what she'd said and imagining the circumstances under which she'd like to make him breakfast, Abby could feel the blush rising up her face, not helped by the sparkle and smouldering emotions she could see in Gibbs' eyes but couldn't quite untangle enough to read.

Jackson turned away to hide his grin.

Over more coffee and heaped plates of breakfast, Abby caught Jackson up on news of the team. He knew he'd get more detail out of her than he would his son and Abby happily indulged him with stories, while asking interested questions about how Jackson was and how life in Stillwater had been these past few months since she'd seen him last.

Gibbs knew that his dad was delighted to have her stay at any time. She'd come to visit Jackson by herself for a few days after his dad had returned to Stillwater at the end of the summer when the Reynosa cartel was no longer a threat.

Since the death of her father, Abby had come to rely on both Ducky and Jackson more and more. She'd become especially close to Jackson during the summer when he was in DC in protective custody and essentially stuck at his son's house.

After breakfast, Gibbs and Abby cleared the table and washed the dishes between them.

"Where d'ya want these, dad?" asked Gibbs, indicating the boxes in the hallway with his refilled coffee mug.

"Just out back, son, please. Haven't got round to moving 'em yet." Not that he'd admit it to anyone, least of all his son, but Jackson was finding keeping up with the physical demands of running his store harder each year.

Abby followed Jackson through into the store and as they chatted happily, it wasn't long before she spied the mistletoe hanging over the entrance.

"Jack," she exclaimed, smiling, "you sly fox. Is this your way of getting a kiss out of every female customer?"

Jackson chuckled, "At my age, Abby, you gotta take your chances where you can."

Hands on her hips, she cocked her head to one side, smiling at him. "Get over here."

Abby grabbed Jackson's face in her hands when he came nearer and planted a smacker on him, much to his delight.

"Of course if you stood right there just under it, Abby, I'd have a queue down the street, don't ya think, Leroy?" He turned to his son with a grin.

"Across town," Gibbs confirmed with his characteristic half smile.

For a split second, there was a look on Gibbs' face that again Abby couldn't decipher, but then he turned away and picked up a box and was gone without another word.

Jackson saw a look of longing wash over Abby's face as she watched his son leave the room, but then she turned away to hide it. When Abby faced him again, she'd plastered on what Jackson was coming to recognise as her cheerful face... her mask to the world.

"Mind if I take a shower, Jack?" Her soft voice broke into his thoughts.

"Help yourself, Abby. Plenty of hot water. I thought you two might like to get cleaned up after a night spent roughing it."

"Thanks, that's really sweet of you and I might have a nap afterwards. Been a bit short on sleep lately with work and if I don't, I might fall asleep, head first into in the middle of dinner later," she kissed his cheek, forcing a smile as she moved away.

Jackson watched her climb the stairs, shaking his head, heart aching for her. As outwardly upbeat as Abby always seemed to be, Jackson knew her well enough by now to see that it was often a front.

She sometimes had such a melancholy air about her that it upset him to see it and he'd be seized with the urge to try and cheer her up. Jackson suspected his son had a lot to do with making Abby both happy and sad in equal measure.

Jackson had seen the way his son looked at his forensic scientist when he'd first met Abby during the case that brought the entire team to Stillwater. It was a look he used to see on Leroy's face when he looked at Shannon, and he was baffled why his son hadn't acted on it by now.

Jackson was positive that Abby felt the same way and when his son wasn't aware of it, he'd seen the way Abby looked at Leroy. It seemed to be obvious to everyone else but themselves.

What Jackson wanted for Christmas more than anything else was to see these two together. They both deserved happiness and nothing would delight him more than to see that happen with each other.

He'd only observed from the sidelines last Christmas as they'd danced around one another and was determined to push his son a little this year. Stubborn as he was, Leroy needed to get his head out of his ass before Abby gave up waiting for him and he lost her.

Gibbs placed the box in the storeroom and resisted the urge to kick it across the room.

Damn it.

He wasn't sure if he'd read Abby's expression correctly but coupled with the comment from last night, it had been all he could do not to march across the store and kiss her under the mistletoe... but it was hardly something he was going to do in front of Jack.

So he'd fumbled it and run away... as he usually did when it was something important.

When Abby emerged from the bathroom after her shower, she paused on the landing when she heard voices drifting up from below. Feeling slightly guilty about eavesdropping, Abby was about to move away when she heard something that stopped her in her tracks.

"When are you gonna do something about that lovely woman, Leroy?"

"Do something?" Gibbs sounded annoyed, and Abby strained to hear his low voice. "You make her sound like a problem to be dealt with."

Jackson's exasperation was clear in his voice, "You know exactly what I mean, don't try and deflect me coz it won't work."

Abby bit her lip.

Oh no, Jackson, please don't do this.

She knew how badly Gibbs reacted when pushed about something he either didn't want to talk about, wasn't ready to discuss yet, or didn't consider anybody's business but his own, and that seemed to especially apply to his father.

Abby couldn't hear what Gibbs said next as he dropped his voice even further, nor Jackson's reply but she heard Gibbs' next angry retort.

"Keep your voice down, she might hear. Anyway, it's none of your business, Jack."

Jackson's next words had her heart pounding. "Isn't it? When I can see how you feel about her. I don't like to see both of you miserable. You're family... and I think of Abby as family too now. There's nothing I'd like more than to see you two together."

There was a pause and a tired sigh from Gibbs, "It's not that simple, dad. She doesn't need a cranky old bastard like me. I'd be no good for her."

Oh, Gibbs.

"Shouldn't you let Abby decide that?"

"Just... don't interfere, dad. I'll be outside..." The sound of a slamming door effectively cut off the conversation, leaving Abby's mind spinning.

Shaking herself out of her daze, Abby retreated to the guestroom before she was caught listening. She needed to think over what she'd heard before she could pluck up the courage to go downstairs.

Abby tried to lie down and take that nap she'd promised herself but again her mind wouldn't let her settle and she tossed and turned, unable to drop off.

Could she take those words to mean that he wanted her after all?

Was Jackson right?

Abby eventually gave up the unequal struggle to sleep and got dressed. Joining Jackson in the kitchen, he greeted her with a typically warm smile as he turned from the sink. Happy to distract herself, she helped Jackson prepare dinner.

Jackson eyed her curiously as they worked. She looked cheerful enough as they chatted but occasionally seemed preoccupied and was unusually quiet. Once the dinner was in the oven, Jackson made a fresh pot of coffee and Abby volunteered to take some out to Gibbs in the yard.

Gibbs had shucked off his jacket as he worked. He'd soon warmed up shovelling snow off the path out back and was now chopping firewood.

Abby watched him from the doorway... enjoying the way the sweatshirt stretched across his broad back as he moved and the way his pants hugged his butt as he bent over to load the wheelbarrow.

Oh, be still my beating hormones.

Abby started guiltily when she heard his voice.

"That coffee for me, Abbs?"

Feeling herself blushing at being caught, she teased him back, "Don't tell me, the smell of the coffee wafted right across the yard and gave it away?"

Gibbs turned and gave her a grin as she approached.

He'd worked off his bad temper and the anger generated by Jackson's words as he always did, working with his hands. Sometimes it didn't matter what he did, but the soothing repetitive motion of using his hands usually calmed him and settled his mind.

He knew Jack only had the best of intentions but not for the first time, Gibbs wished his dad wouldn't interfere... wouldn't try to arrange everything and everyone. Jackson may be his father but sometimes Gibbs wondered if he understood his son at all.

He still treated Gibbs as if he was still a teenager. Jackson should know by now that the more Gibbs was pushed into doing something, the more likely he was to resist.

Abby's voice broke into his thoughts, "Dinner'll be ready in an hour or so."

"Better finish up here then and take a shower." He watched her carefully as he sipped his coffee, seeing her hands twist together nervously. "Something on your mind, Abbs?"

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you... just now" When he quirked an eyebrow at her, she elaborated, "With the mistletoe."

He shook his head, lips twitching, "You didn't. And I think you made Jackson's year."

She gave him an uncertain smile, breaking eye contact after a moment. Wanting to ease that uncertainty, he made a decision.

And he had to know...

Abby turned to go back inside, only to be stopped by his hand on her arm. He leaned close and nuzzled across her cheek to press a kiss to the soft skin in front of her ear, lingering longer than he usually did.

He felt a shiver go through her as he whispered, "Rain check on the mistletoe?"

She pulled back and a slow, seductive smile curled her mouth, "I'll hold you to that."

He loved to see that sparkle in her eyes and wanted to see it every day, preferably on the pillow next to his.

TBC...