Both Jack and Gibbs turned to look at Abby as she rushed through the door. "Jack, wait!"

"Abby?" Gibbs opened his mouth to say more, as Abby crashed into him, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just…" Abby looked from Jack to Gibbs, and back to Jack again. It wasn't up to Jack to settle things between them. This was between her and Gibbs. They had their own relationship to work on and Abby didn't want her issues coming between them. "Tony made it sound like maybe things weren't going so… smoothly… down here."

Tony strolled in casually. "Okay, Abby, you don't have to take everything I say so literally."

Gibbs gave him a glare, but then changed the subject. "DiNozzo, give Ziva a call and see if they've come up with anything."

Abby didn't fail to notice that Tony was supposed to call Ziva, rather than Hollis who was in charge of the case. "Abby, let's go talk. I think there is breakfast still in the kitchen." Gibbs looked to Jack and Jack nodded.

"No, let's go for a walk."

"Sure, some fresh air would be nice."

Gibbs resisted the urge to reach out and grab her hand as they stepped out into the morning sun. He was certain Abby was still ticked at him, as she would've made the move to grab his hand before they had even left. They walked side-by-side, quietly for awhile, as they each gathered their thoughts, and filtered the unnecessary bits from their mind.

Gibbs led the way, and Abby followed.

Abby was about to open her mouth to start the conversation when she realized that they were nearly in the woods. "Gibbs?"

"Just a minute." This time he did grab her hand, and he led her a bit father until they came to the same spot they had picnicked the last time they were in town. "Our spot."

Abby smiled. "Yeah, our spot."

Gibbs watched as Abby lowered herself on the flat rock where they had stretched out to look up at the clouds. He was too wound up to lay down at this point, so he waited a few moments for her to settle before he opened his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Abby."

Abby closed her eyes and sighed. She wished a simple 'I'm sorry' would be the end of it, but she knew there was more. There needed to be more.

"I… we, we both went through so much, and neither of us had the time to heal afterwards without being thrown into this ridiculous case, and I never should've gotten involved, but I… I have to protect you, Abby. I can't describe it, but I get this feeling… this urge… and I can't help it. I will go to the end of this earth to find the bastard that did this to you." Gibbs paced through the soft grass.

"Us, Gibbs. He did this to us."

"Yeah, us."

"It isn't about the case."

"What?"

"I didn't leave because of the case. I left because of Hollis."

"Oh. I know. I did too."

"Huh?" Abby sat up and watched Gibbs pace; his footprints leaving a visible path in the grass.

"I don't know why I didn't see it earlier. All that stuff you said about her being all over me… I just didn't see it. I thought office gossip had just gone to your head, and… and then you left, and she found out. She came over last night. She said some things."

"What things?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does matter, what'd she say?"

"It doesn't matter, Abby. She said some things and I kicked her out. She won't be a problem anymore."

"Makes it sound like you off'ed her." Abby cracked a small smile.

"Maybe I did."

"You didn't."

"How do you know? Maybe I'm up here hiding."

"She's working the case. You want this guy more than you want to off her. I can see it in your eyes."

"I do. But Abby, she won't be a problem. I promise. You know how much I love you. I'm sorry. I really am."

"I know. I think I might have over-reacted. It wasn't like you were encouraging her or anything." One look at the sorrow she saw in his eyes and she felt the anger she'd had stored up begin to melt away.

"No, I should've listened."

"You should have, and I was angry because you didn't, but still. I shouldn't have just left like I did. I should have tried to talk to you."

"You did, Abby, and I ignored it."

Abby sighed, she knew nothing would go back to normal until the case was solved and Hollis was back to Hawaii. "We're okay, Gibbs. I don't want you worrying about that. You've got enough on your plate. I'm not going anywhere. I didn't come up to Stillwater to get away from you; I came to get away from watching Hollis drool on you. I know you love me, and you'd never pick her over me, but I certainly didn't want to watch."

Gibbs gave a heavy sigh of relief. They were okay. He was sure they would be, but to hear it come from Abby's lips was just the medicine he needed.

"You have any idea how much I love you?" The pacing had finally come to a halt and Gibbs lowered himself beside Abby on the rock. "After this… once I get this guy. I think you and I could use a vacation."

"A vacation? Did you just suggest a vacation?" The idea of vacation to Gibbs had always been in the same category as a dentist visit.

"I did."

"Are you drunk?"

"No. I think we could use a vacation. We've got some healing to do."

"Healing?" Concern flashed in her eyes as she sat up. "Are you okay? What's been hurting?"

"No… emotional healing. You and I… we've been through a lot."

"We have." Abby grabbed the collar of his polo and pulled him in for a kiss. "And you owe me. Big time."

Gibbs just smiled.

----

TBC….