Sorry, meant to post yesterday, but there was a Sounders game… and didn't get home until mid-night and then up at 5:30am. Damn RL… getting in the way of my updating. Shameful.

Side note – medically, gibbs wouldn't be 'pain-free' yet, but if you want the sex… which I keep getting comments about… you shall forgive the speediness of his healing. Not saying that there is sex in this chapter, but… I'm just saying… I know. He would still be hurting.

---

Gibbs kept an arm wrapped securely around Abby's shoulders as they started their walk back through town. "Come home with me to DC, Abbs."

"There is nothing for me to do there. I can't work in my lab, and I don't want to sit home alone all day."

"You can stay with me in the squad room."

"I could maybe go help out the FBI… go work with Fornell for a bit…"

"What if I can get you back in your lab? You probably still won't be able to do the actual tests, but maybe keep an eye on how they are going?" Gibbs didn't like the idea of Abby working with Fornell, so he ignored the idea. The FBI had been trying to poach her for years, and a tiny part of him worried that if she spent any time over there she could be convinced.

Abby started to pout but Gibbs continued before she was able to say anything. "I'd bring you Caf-Pow."

He was desperate.

"Fine. But don't think I won't leave and come back up here again." Abby stopped in her tracks, "And next time Tony won't drive you up here."

"Point taken."

"Good." Abby grabbed his hand as they continued back towards the general store. "You know, you shouldn't be out and about without security."

Gibbs sighed. "We've got Tony. And Dorothy. She'd alert the media if there were any un-known out-of-towners lurking around."

"Yeah, well… Tony wouldn't do us any good if something were to happen now. He's busy getting loads of juicy details about you as a kid."

"He probably is, isn't he?"

"You know he practically idolizes you, don't you?"

"You know he loves you, right?"

"GIBBS!"

"No, not like that. I learned my lesson about the idea of you and Tony as more than just friends. But we spoke on the drive up. He was ready to lose his job over what he had to say about the whole situation. I'm glad he's such a good friend to you." Especially when I haven't been, he wanted to ad.

"He isn't fired, is he?"

"Nah."

"Good."

When they entered the store, Tony was listening to the story of how Gibbs had gotten his first black eye. He had flicked Emily Brown's ponytail one too many times on the second day of kindergarten and rather than tattle, Emily had taken matters into her own hands.

Jackson finished the story and looked back up. "Back so soon?"

"Apparently not soon enough," Gibbs growled. He didn't really mind Tony hearing about his childhood. His childhood had been leaps and bounds above what Tony's had been, but he had the image of being a hard-ass to maintain.

"What's the plan?" Tony looked to Abby for the answer.

"I think it's about time we head back to DC." She was still holding Gibbs hand so she gave it a tight squeeze.

"You're sure?" Tony and Jack asked together.

Gibbs rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"I'm sure."

Tony wasn't quite sure that he was doing the right thing by loading Abby's stuff in his car, but he wasn't going to argue.

Both Tony and Abby stood leaning against the car, people watching as Jack, no doubt, gave his son a few last words about how he felt about Abby. Abby nodded towards sheriff Ed Grumby. He sat at a window seat in the diner across the seat, laughing about something with one of the waitresses. "Just be thankful you don't have to wear an ugly jacket like that."

Tony smoothed his dark blue NCIS jacket. "It isn't the prettiest green I've seen."

"He's a winter," Abby decided. "He should wear cool colors. Olive green, like that, is a warm color."

"Well, it's a good think NCIS paid attention to my season when they hired me."

"Yeah… that's right." Abby rolled her eyes and the both moved away from the car as Jack and Gibbs stepped out. They said their goodbyes, again. Abby got into the back seat, letting the boys sit up front, and pulled her IPod out of her purse.

Gibbs watch Abby through the rear-view mirror until she was zoned out, maybe even asleep. He cleared his throat before he spoke quietly. "Thanks. For taking care of her."

Tony was quiet as she glanced over at his boss and then to the rear-view mirror to peek at Abby. "I'd do anything for her, boss. I almost lost her, hell, I almost lost you both. You're both family to me."

Gibbs nodded approvingly. He couldn't voice it, he didn't think he'd need to, but he felt as the entire team was his family. He though back to Thanksgiving the previous year when Abby had invited them all over for dinner. Thanksgiving wasn't far off – they'd have to plan something again, he thought. Tony smiled at the silence. "So… does this mean I still have a job after-" He laughed at the head slap.

---

Security was still in place outside the house when they pulled up in the early evening. Tony helped carry their things back into the house despite the fact that Gibbs was pretty much healed up and the splint on Abby's arm had come off.

Once Tony left, Gibbs could feel the pull of the case. On one hand, Abby had kicked off her boots and stretched out along the couch, while, on the other hand, he needed to call Ziva or McGee to get caught up. There was no way he'd call Hollis – not after what she'd said.

Abby watched with a small smile, the debate evident in the way he stood, tense and unsure of his next move. "Make you calls."

"No. No, I can do that later." It had been a hard choice, but once it had been made, he felt better.

Abby sat up, making room for him to sit beside her. He sat down and toed off his shoes and pulled his polo off. He start to lower himself to lay along the couch, but Abby tugged gently on the hem of his undershirt. "This one too."

As soon as his undershirt was off, Abby collapsed against him, pushing him back in the sofa. She was careful of his new scar, but his tight grip on her let her know that it was no longer painful. She pressed her lips to the soft skin of his neck, where it sloped into his shoulder and inhaled deeply. The lingering scent of saw dust put her at ease as she molded her body to his.

Gibbs slipped his hand under the back of her shirt, running his fingers along her spine before blindly tracing her cross tattoo as she snuggled against him.

"Abbs?"

"Hmm?"

Rather than ask for what he wanted, Gibbs lifted his head and brough his lips to hers. It took less that a minute for him to kiss the tension from her, leaving her boneless against him. His kissed started soft and slow and everytime their kisses became rushed, Abby was quick to slow them down. It didn't take long before his body responded to the fact that Abby clung tightly to him, but she didn't respond to his advances. Finally he pulled back, placing one last kiss to her forehead and looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"I want your full attention." She didn't want to make love if part of him was still thinking about the case.

"You've got it."

"No I don't. I can tell." She wasn't mad, or upset about it. There was something, she couldn't quite put a finger on it, that wasn't right.

Gibbs sighed and pulled her down into his arms. As they had kissed, there hadn't been room for anything but thoughts of her, but maybe she was right. Maybe, on some level, he'd been distracted still.

----

TBC…