CLOSE PROXIMITY
Chapter 5 – Crumbling Defences
Christmas dinner was relaxed and cheerful, both Jackson and Abby keeping up the flow of chatter and stories. Abby looking festive in a Santa Claus hat, green eyes sparkling.
Gibbs found himself relaxing as he hadn't done in years. He saw Abby glancing at him from time to time, concern on her face and knew she was worried if this was too much of a strain for him.
Christmas would always be a difficult time.
He didn't think that would ever change entirely and he'd always need his alone time. But looking at his father and Abby, he thought perhaps it was time to start looking forward and not back all the time.
He was sure Shannon would have kicked his ass long ago for not doing so sooner.
After dinner, Gibbs insisted on clearing up and wouldn't accept Abby's help, pushing her towards the living room to relax. Jackson made fresh coffee and grabbed the bourbon bottle. The pair settled down in front of the fire, Abby curling up on the rug while Jackson sank down in his favourite chair.
When Gibbs joined them, perching on the couch, it didn't take long for Abby to grab one of their bags and start rummaging for presents. When Abby handed Gibbs a wrapped package, he chuckled as he saw her almost bouncing on her knees in her eagerness for him to open his present.
A knife.
As he examined it more closely, Abby leaned over and pointed out the engraving on the handle... his initials.
"I know your knife got damaged in that bust last week and I don't know if you've replaced it yet but I thought you might like this..." she trailed off, biting her lip. She looked over at Jackson who was watching keenly and told him, "Rule nine: always carry a knife."
"I have a back-up but like this one better, Abbs." Gibbs hefted the knife in his hands, "Nice balance. Thanks." He bent down to kiss her, feeling her cheek shift under his lips as she smiled.
"And this is for you, Jackson," Abby went on, pulling out a larger but no less beautifully wrapped package. "I know you probably don't have many photos of Gibbs through the years or the team, so I printed out some photos of all of us."
Jackson leaned over to give her a thank you kiss and eagerly opened the album. He grinned as he leafed through it, Abby curling up next to his chair so she could explain who was in each photo and where it was taken.
Gibbs scooted nearer so he could see and smiled as Jackson paused at a shot of the whole team together for Thanksgiving at Ducky's. It was one he'd not seen before but he was drawn to Abby's expression in the photo as she looked up at him.
He'd been grinning at Ducky at the time and had missed it, but he felt his pulse starting to race at the softness in her eyes and almost shy, unguarded smile she was giving him. It was a look he sometimes caught on her face and one Gibbs was never quite sure how to interpret.
He glanced at the woman herself, who gave him an uncertain smile and turned her attention back to Jackson, who was by now exclaiming enthusiastically over the other photographs.
Jackson next reached for Abby's present, chuckling at her enthusiasm as she took it from him with a wide smile.
Abby's hands faltered when they unwrapped the box and held up the broach, whispering, "Oh, Jackson, it's beautiful."
Gibbs peered over her shoulder, thinking it looked familiar.
"It belonged to my sister and I thought you might like the design. Hope it's not presuming too much, Abby, but you're like family to me now."
Gibbs swallowed hard at the emotion in Jackson's face and voice.
"I shall treasure it, thank you." Abby pinned the delicate broach to her jumper, smiling up at Jackson and threw her arms round his neck, pressing her lips to his cheek. "I think of you as family too, Jack. You and Ducky, you're both like a father to me now."
Jackson squeezed her hands, smiling fondly at her. When Gibbs opened Jackson's gift to him, he looked at his father in amazement and Jackson chuckled, knowing his son would recognise it.
He held it out so Abby could see as Jackson explained, "It was my dad's pocket watch. Leroy always liked it as a kid."
Gibbs rested a hand on Jackson's arm, his voice thick with emotion. "Thanks, dad." Gibbs handed Jackson a wrapped box and rendered his dad speechless when it was unwrapped to reveal a carved chess set.
Abby leaned in for a closer look, picking up some of the pieces to inspect, glancing over at Gibbs. "These are incredible. They must have taken you ages."
Gibbs shrugged, thinking of the long hours and concentration that had gone into the small figures. He was startled to see his dad's eyes shining, "Thank you, son."
The argument this afternoon had left a sour taste in his mouth but for all their differences and the way they still butted heads all too regularly, he loved his old man. They'd managed to come a long way in repairing their relationship and finding a way forward in these past few years.
Gibbs handed Abby a smaller wrapped present and watched her face closely as she opened it. She gasped when she saw what it was. A carved wooden jewellery box with her initial carved and painted into the top, the elaborate design she always used to sign 'A'.
She whispered, "Oh my god, this is incredible."
"That's quite some design," commented Jackson as he leaned forward to admire the craftsmanship, feeling immensely proud of his son.
Abby looked up, explaining, "It's how I sign my initial."
"Stylish... and unique, just like you."
Abby smiled at Jackson's words while Gibbs rolled his eyes at the flattery, "I see you've been working on that whole awkwardness with girls thing, Jack."
"Been practising," grinned Jackson. He took the box from Abby to take a closer look. "Carving must have taken you ages. What's the wood?"
Gibbs shrugged, "Maple, it's light so the paint shows up more. Gotta take the carvin' slow so I don't mess up."
Abby traced her fingers over her initial before raising herself up on her knees to kiss Gibbs' cheek, her lips lingering and hand resting on his shoulder as she murmured, "Thank you."
Jackson hid a smile as he watched his son's expression soften as he looked down at Abby. Letting the silence linger while he poured himself another shot, Jackson eventually cleared his throat, drawing their attention, "Help me christen my present, Abby? Fancy a game?"
She grinned, "Love to, Jackson, but prepare to get whooped. I'm pretty good."
"Oh, you are, huh?" Jackson set up the chess set on a low table between them and Abby shuffled closer to sit cross-legged in front of the fire.
"She is, Jack, and just be thankful it's not poker," warned Gibbs with a grin. "She'd have the deeds to the store before the night was out."
He'd played both chess and poker with Abby and knew how she excelled at both, with perhaps poker taking the edge. For someone with such an expressive face, her poker face was faultless... although that was in itself a 'tell'. The less her face revealed the more likely it was that she had a killer hand.
Settling back against the couch with a refill and his book, Gibbs was content to watch the two of them sparring over the chess board. He knew his dad was good. He'd taught Gibbs to play chess when he was a boy but if anyone could beat Jackson, it would be Abby.
Gibbs caught Abby's eye as she saw him put his glasses on and she signed you look cute, grinning cheekily.
Brat was his rejoinder which made her laugh even more.
As Gibbs settled down with his book, he glanced over at Abby from time to time. He loved watching her when her concentration was elsewhere. She brought the same absolute focus to playing chess as she did in her lab and she had various expressions and habits that he'd come to love. When she was particularly absorbed in something, she had a habit of nibbling on that full bottom lip that always made his throat go dry.
This time, with the addition of the firelight playing over her dark hair and reflecting in her vibrant green eyes, the relaxed atmosphere and probably too much bourbon, he could feel his defences against her rapidly crumbling.
He was aware of his father's eyes on him from time to time as Gibbs looked up from his book, but deliberately avoided eye contact.
After a while, Gibbs could see Abby was gaining the upper hand. Jackson eventually could no longer spare effort to do anything other than defend himself, but Gibbs could see the outcome was inevitable.
Not only was Abby good at chess, she was very competitive and liked to win, usually opting to play an aggressive game against a new opponent so she could gauge their mettle. Eventually, with a good natured chuckle, his dad conceded when she had his king cornered. Abby offered her hand to Jackson and they shared a grin as they shook.
Jackson got up to make more coffee and Abby began packing up the chess set, again admiring the intricate work that had gone into each piece.
"I'm even better at strip chess," she said, impishly, causing Gibbs to choke on his coffee.
"Good to know," he grinned, when he recovered.
Before he could comment further, Jackson came back, handing Abby another mug and told them both, "Well, it's late, I'm off to bed... I'll leave you youngsters to it."
Abby scrambled to her feet, wrapping her arms round Jackson in a tight hug. "Thank you for making my day, my second favourite silver-haired fox. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."
Jackson held her at arm's length, looking moved, "You've made my Christmas too, Abby." He glanced at his son. "You both have. Best one I've spent in years. Goodnight, Leroy."
"Night, dad."
TBC...