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On Saturday Gibbs succeeded in bringing Abby out to the woods where he had spent much of his childhood. Jack had packed them a picnic lunch, and Gibbs carried the basket in one hand, pulling Abby along with the other.

"What kind of wildlife are we talking about out here?" Abby motioned to the forest surrounding them.

"Bears, Pumas…"

Abby grip on Gibbs' hand tightened and she gave a little tug, slightly worried. "Really?"

"No, no confirmed sightings for many years. Don't worry." His slight smirk telling her that he was just toying with her.

"Funny Gibbs. Real funny."

Gibbs led her further into the woods until they came to a small clearing with a deep stream running through. "Hungry?"

Abby nodded and watched as Gibbs spread a blanket over a large flat rock. They spread out their lunch and as they ate Gibbs explained more about growing up in Stillwater. He and his friends would come out to the woods and play cops and robbers, or flashlight tag during the dusky evenings of summer.

"So that's how you got so good at sneaking around? How you move around NCIS unheard?"

"Maybe. But you know, if you wore something other than those boots you always wear, you could sneak around as well. Sneak up on DiNozzo. It's easy to make McGee jump."

Abby gasped. "I knew you did it to try and make them jump. I have to tell them."

Gibbs reached out to poke Abby in the ribs, making her laugh. "You know they won't believe you."

"Oh, but they will."

Gibbs just raised an eyebrow causing Abby to roll her eyes. "But I wouldn't take that small amount of joy away from you at work."

Gibbs smiled in lieu of a thank you.

They cleaned up their lunch supplies and lay back on the blanket covering the rock, looking up to the clouds. Abby pointed out various animal shapes, Gibbs only grunting in reply. She suspected that he didn't see the shapes, but was humoring her. He was like that. He'd go along with just about anything so long as it made her happy. Sometimes she felt guilty, he didn't have to go along with everything she said just to please her, she loved him regardless. He wasn't completely incapable of saying no. If he thought it was in her best interest, he'd easily put his foot down, and she could tell by the look in his eye when he really meant it.

"Can we come back up here?"

Gibbs was almost unaware of her question, having automatically replied to the various animals she could apparently see in the sky. "Huh?"

"Come back up to Stillwater, spend some time with your dad. Just get away from DC and the craziness of the job."

"Yeah, we can come back."

"We have to go to New Orleans, too."

"Oh?"

"I think my mom would like to see you, it's been awhile."

It had been awhile. Back when Abby first started at NCIS, her family had been up to visit often. They were all pleasantly surprised that Gibbs had been able to sign, and Gloria had taken to him immediately. It had been a few years since he had seen Gloria, but occasionally he had walked into Abby's lab while she was on a video call with her family and had said a quick hello. But most of the time Abby kept in contact via e-mail, and Gibbs made sure she passed on his greeting. "I would like that, Abbs."

"Good."

They lay awhile longer before getting up and packing up the blanket. "What time are we leaving tomorrow?"

"I don't know, not too late. I'd like some time to read through what's happened at NCIS on Thursday and Friday rather than walking in blind on Monday."

"Ok."

They walked back hand in hand. Halfway through town on their way back to the store they spotted Dorothy who was standing on the sidewalk talking with a few friends. "Abby! Leroy!" She waved them over. "There will be a big community bonfire tonight at the park. Everyone is welcome. There will be hot chocolate and as many s'mores as you can handle."

Abby's eyes lit up. It was exactly her type of event. Gibbs wasn't so sure, but the moment Abby looked at him, her eyes lit with enthusiasm he knew he'd say yes before his lips formed the word.

"We can't wait. We'll see you there!" Abby hugged Dorothy and then headed towards the general store. "It'll be fun Gibbs, I promise."

"I'm sure."

That evening Abby wrapped up in a black sweatshirt that she had packed and handed Gibbs his red one. He looked confused when she handed it to him, not remembering asking her to pack it.

"I thought I'd toss it in. You look hot when you wear it."

Gibbs fought the smile that started to appear and slipped it on. He always felt slightly uncomfortable when Abby complimented his looks. He wasn't ashamed of his looks, but he figured his looks had long since faded since his days in the corps. But every time Abby complimented him on his gray, no she called it silver, hair, and his blues he couldn't help but smile. God, she was good for the ego.

"This sweatshirt is so… soft, and it fits just right to give me access to your neck." Abby wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled against his neck. "I love your neck, you know that? You in this sweatshirt is neck porn, Gibbs. It makes me want to rip it back off and make you a very happy man."

This time Gibbs didn't fight the smile. "You know, we could always stay here."

"Gibbs! There will be a bonfire and hot chocolate and s'mores. What more could you ask for? Okay, don't answer that, but we'll have fun, I promise."

"Alright." Gibbs smiled at her childlike glee as she pulled him out the door where Jack waited outside.

They found their way to the table containing Styrofoam cups of hot chocolate. Abby spotted Dorothy across the bonfire and left Gibbs standing with Jack as she headed over to say hello. Both men watched as Abby said hello to nearly a dozen people as she made her way over to Dorothy.

"She sure makes friends in a hurry, doesn't she?"

"Oh yeah." Gibbs sipped at the hot chocolate. It wasn't coffee, but it was warm and the night air was cold. "Yesterday… everything is okay with her, right?"

"Sure, everything is fine." Jack laid a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

"And everything between us…?"

"We're good, son. We're good."

"Thanks. I know I haven't been around… for awhile, but I want to be. I'd like to be around more. I didn't mean to push you away after they died, it's just that…" Gibbs voice was a whisper. These were the type of things he didn't like to say, but he knew he had to get it out.

"I know. I shouldn't have brought a date. That was my fault."

"I was angry at the world. Bringing a date was no reason to push you away for so many years. I'm sorry, dad." Gibbs set his hot chocolate on the park bench by where they stood and pulled his father into a hug. "I'm really sorry dad."

"It's ok, son. And I'm sorry too." Jackson held his son tightly, fighting the emotion gurgling in his throat. He had longed to hold his son for so long and now that it was actually happening he wasn't sure he could let go. Eventually they pulled back and both scanned the crowd for Abby.

Gibbs frowned when he didn't see her standing with Dorothy and her friends. "You see Abby?"

"No… I thought she was over with Dorothy."

"As did I." Gibbs scanned the crowd again before both men circled the bonfire looking for her. "Dorothy, have you seen Abby?"

Dorothy looked at Gibbs and smiled. "Why yes, I do believe she just stepped away with that old Sheriff, whats-his-name, Ed Grumby. I believe they went that way." Dorothy pointed over towards the train station.

Gibbs and Jack headed for the train station at a fast pace, but Jack grabbed Gibbs' arm stopping him before they rounded the corner. They could clearly hear the conversation.

"Look Ed, I've seen you around all weekend and you've got this look on your face that I don't like. What the hell is your problem?"

"Look Miss Sciuto, I know you are a strong woman and can take care of yourself, I remember that from the last time you were up here, but Jethro isn't worthy of your attention. Don't waste your time. Go back to D.C. and move on."

"And you are telling me this because?" Gibbs knew the low rattle in Abby's voice. It was similar to the one she used after Fred had destroyed a hard-drive in her lab.

"Because I've known Leroy since we were small. He isn't worth anything. You deserve more."

"What do you know about him? He hasn't been up here for years. And don't tell me you know the perfect man for me. I've already found him."

"Abby look at you. You're young, beautiful… you could have just about anyone. I know your type, you need more than what he can give you."

Gibbs heard Abby laugh. "You know my type? And what might that be? Ed, I'm going to tell you something and then I am going to walk away and you aren't going to speak to me again. Leroy Jethro Gibbs is more a man than you will ever be. Look at you, in your faded Sheriff uniform. What do you do? Settle disputes over cattle grazing? Gibbs makes a difference in people's lives; he's made a difference in mine. And that's all that matter to me."

"Abby, I'm just trying to…"

"You're just trying to piss me off because I turned down your pitiful job offer last time I was in town."

Gibbs looked shocked. Abby hadn't mentioned the job offer. It wasn't surprising that she had turned it down, she received job offers from the FBI and CIA regularly at likely four times the salary that Ed could've offered and she always had turned them down, but she always mentioned them. He wondered why she hadn't mentioned Ed's offer.

"That's not it."

Jackson squeezed Gibbs' arm. "She's a tough cookie, isn't she?"

Gibbs nodded and focused back on Abby.

Abby stood with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Well, I really don't care what your reason is, but you're pissing me off. Now, I'm going back to the fire and you aren't going to approach me again. I hope to visit Stillwater again soon, and when I do, if you see me, you will walk the other way, or step into a store or whatever you need to do to avoid me. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to see you and I don't want to hear about you. Leave me alone. Oh, and you tell your buddy Chuck Winslow he better leave Gibbs alone… or else. And that isn't a threat, that's a promise."

Gibbs and Jack watched as Abby cut across the grass and head back towards the bonfire in search of them. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were pulled up, and her fists were clenched. He could tell the way her jaw was tense that she wasn't happy, but she had a slight look of satisfaction on her face as she scanned the crowed looking for him. Gibbs slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I've been looking for you."

Abby turned in the circle of his arms and kissed him. "And I've been looking for you."

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TBC…