They lay together, naked, limbs entwined, Ari's arms around her waist, his cheek resting against her chest, he could feel her heartbeat; Abby's arms around his neck, clutching him as close as she could get him.

They knew it was coming; it was inevitable. They wanted to hold on to what they had for as long as possible. He knew it would end badly for them, she knew she risked everything, especially her job. He had not done what he ordered to do. He couldn't do it any more and the chances were that he would be executed for his failure to obey orders.

So they clung to each other. He was done with the killing and he could not go back. He was homeless, jobless and stateless. The one thing in his life was the woman he was holding.

He glanced in the window, seeing what he had hoped against all hope and rationality that he would not see. Knowing that she had a terrorist in her house… in her bed.

He clamped down on his rage and disappointment. She was guilty, and she better have a damn good explanation.

They were naked, lit by the moonlight, and he noted with satisfaction the scarring on his enemy's shoulder. He made that. He had been a marine sniper for many years, served in war zones, and dealt with wounds in the field. A glance at the mangled mass of scarring told him that Haswari had not sought medical assistance. Rather treated the wound himself. Possibly this was a weakness that he could use against the man.

Gibbs gathered himself together. Clamped down on his temper. Ari Haswari was there for a reason, and that could be nothing good. That his beloved forensic scientist had chosen to lie with this man, to keep his presence hidden from Gibbs said some very bad things for their relationship. But Gibbs wanted answers and he was prepared to maintain the high ground.

Years ago she had given him a key. For no other reason than she was his honorary daughter, in place of his lost child. He was alone, and it was a risk, but he was betting on one thing, emotion. Abby was emotionally involved with this man, and Leroy Jethro Gibbs was betting that Haswari felt more than a passing fancy for her.

Softly he slid the key into the lock and turned it very gently. With a small click the door swung open. Not on the chain, Gibbs noted with a mild feeling of irritation. He had told her often enough. Put the chain on the door. He could hear his words and see her rueful smile. Humoring him.

Silently he let himself in. Slipped across the darkened hallway to the door he knew was her bedroom.

He pushed the door open. It swung back gently on well-oiled hinges, and he stepped into the bedroom. Haswari's back was to the door, which made it even easier for Gibbs to step up to the coffin, and put the muzzle of his gun to the back of Ari's head.

"Get up." Gibbs' word dropped into the silence like dimes into a tin cup.

"I will go with you." Haswari sat up slowly, keeping his hands in view. Abby stirred and woke up. Her eyes flew wide, "no… Gibbs… please… no." She reached out to her lover in desperation.

Gibbs gave Ari a little nudge with his gun. "Get dressed." That his enemy was being so co-operative was strangely disappointing. Abby's eyes were bright with tears, and he felt his anger stirring again. Why?

She had never believed that Gibbs' eyes could look at her so coldly. Ari finished dressing, and did not resist as Gibbs dragged his arms back and put the handcuffs on. This was goodbye, and the pain in her heart strangled even her grief and fear over the look of disappointment and disapproval on Gibbs' face.

She rose then, her long black hair swishing around her shoulders, naked in the moonlight, she embraced her lover.

Unable to crush her body to his, Ari buried his face in the side of her neck. "Hush my love." He whispered into her skin, the roughness of his unshaven chin tickling her, "we knew it would come to this. Be safe, my love."

She had to try. "Gibbs… I…"

"We'll talk about this tomorrow." Implacable, cold… so far from the Gibbs she knew and loved.

She subsided then, knowing that further protest would be useless, and that her captured lover might suffer if she pushed it. She could only watch as Ari was taken away. In chains, as they had both known it would be.