Chapter 11 – Old Habits

As she'd promised, Abby brought Gibbs coffee in bed after they'd dozed for another hour, both of them eventually getting up and dressing when they heard everyone downstairs. They remade the bed together, Abby somehow managing to restrain herself from pushing Gibbs onto his back for round two.

When they walked into the kitchen, Gibbs got them some more coffee while Abby made them some eggs, her eyes widening when she overheard Ducky and Ziva discussing the squeaking sounds they'd heard earlier that morning. Clearly, she and Gibbs hadn't switched positions on the bed quick enough, not that she regretted it. He'd felt amazing pushing into her from behind and Abby was looking forward to experiencing the uninterrupted version once they got home.

"I don't think it was mice Ziva, there was a definite...rhythm, to it."

"You could be right Ducky, did you hear it Abby? I am certain it was coming from your end of the cabin," Ziva teased.

"Hear what? I didn't hear anything, no mice, nothing, until I woke up this morning to the sounds of you making breakfast," Abby answered quickly.

It wasn't a lie, she just left some things out.

She felt her cheeks burn, well aware that Ducky and Ziva knew the noises in question had been her and Gibbs. Looking away from them to find Gibbs watching her with a raised eyebrow, she rolled her eyes at him and turned back to the eggs in the pan, taking some of the toast Jimmy had been cooking for everyone and dishing hers and Gibbs' breakfast up.

"What are we doing today?" Abby asked, wanting to change the topic.

"Thought we could take some of those toboggans out," Tony nodded at the ones in the corner near the door. "Apparently there's a break on the other side of the trees out the back which is perfect for it, you up for that Miss Adventure?"

"Of course!" Abby beamed, taking the two plates over to the table and sitting down next to Gibbs. "Though I have to be careful not to break anything cos Kyle and I are going out clubbing on New Year's Eve, just the two of us, and I need to be able to dance."

As the words came out of her mouth Abby realized when she'd made plans with her brother for New Year's Eve she and Gibbs had still been only friends. Abby had asked Kyle to join them at the cabins but he was spending Christmas with his adopted parents so they had agreed to meet up to see in the New Year together.

She couldn't help but wonder if maybe Gibbs would be upset she wasn't spending that night with him instead. When she looked over apprehensively to try and gauge his reaction his face was expressionless as he ate, and that in itself was enough to worry her. Over the last day or so his emotions had been easy for her to read, he'd been completely open.

"I can test out the slope first," Tony spoke up, breaking the temporary silence and bringing Abby out of her thoughts. "Or I can push McGee and Palmer down the hill first, either works for me."

Abby forced a smile at him and turned back to Gibbs, leaning closer to him and trying to keep her voice cheerful even though she was worried about how he was avoiding her gaze. "How about it Gibbs, wanna go tobogganing? You must be going stir crazy being inside all the time anyway."

"Sure, Abbs."

She shifted on her chair nervously and placed her hand on his knee under the table, hoping the physical contact might make him say something more, or turn to look at her, but it didn't.

For several minutes Abby watched him as he moved food around on his plate, every now and then lifting the fork to his mouth but keeping his eyes trained down. She could see his jaw clenching when he stopped chewing and knew he was thinking about what she'd said; his demeanor had changed so rapidly, how could it have been anything else?

She wanted to try and put his mind at ease but was reluctant to do that with everyone else there. Gibbs would be even more upset if she started bringing up personal things and giving the others a front row view.

"Abby...do you want more coffee?"

Tony's voice startled her as he stood beside her with the coffee pot; she hadn't even seen him get up.

"No thanks Tony, I've still got some."

"Boss?" DiNozzo asked, getting ready to refill Gibbs' cup.

"I'm good," he answered gruffly.

Abby looked up apologetically at Tony, who had his mouth open ready to speak. She had some idea of what he was going to say and glared at him, shaking her head. They all knew Gibbs had a tendency to brood but the last thing she wanted was to make it worse if Tony felt the need to stick up for her.

She loved how Tony looked after her like an older brother, but this had to be between her and Gibbs. Abby would talk to him on her own, without the audience that seemed to be currently avoiding talking to each other as well.

She felt guilty that the atmosphere which had only moments ago been one of fun and relaxation had shifted unexpectedly to one of tense silence, an unwelcome dose of cold water being thrown over them because they were so aware of Gibbs' moods.

When Tony walked away Abby was about to return to her own breakfast but her appetite quickly vanished when Gibbs swallowed the last several mouthfuls of his coffee and got to his feet, mumbling something about having a shower.

Watching Gibbs place his plate in the sink and retreat upstairs Abby sighed and slumped in her chair. Ducky reached across the table to cover her hand with his, giving her a sympathetic smile. "I know what you're thinking Abby, and I'm certain Jethro's issues are not with you," he said softly.

Everyone but Ducky got up from the table, making excuses to leave the two alone.

"How can you say that Ducky, he's angry about me abandoning him on New Year's Eve after we just got together...and that's what I'll be doing, abandoning him."

"He's not angry my dear, he's scared, and that's an emotion he doesn't cope well with. Give him some time to gather his thoughts then talk to him."

Abby nodded and looked longingly up towards the bathroom door, wanting to join Gibbs and find out what it was that could possibly have him scared. She didn't notice Ducky leave nor did she hear McGee sit down next to her until he began talking.

"Abby...I know I've been a little standoffish with you and the boss and I'm sorry for that."

He looked down at his feet and Abby felt a pang of nervousness for him as well as a sense of pride.

Abby reached out to touch his arm. "I know you've been trying though Timmy and it means a lot."

McGee swallowed, shifting anxiously on the chair. "I guess I hoped one day you and I might have what you have with Gibbs, but when I look at you two together I kinda get the impression that anybody else either of you dated never stood a chance...Gibbs needs to hear that, he needs to know that nothing or no-one's gonna take you away from him."

Abby stared at him, taken aback by his honesty and willingness to help her try and see Gibbs' point of view.

"What makes you say that?" She finally asked.

"It's what I'd need to hear." Tim paused, looking over his shoulder to make sure no-one was listening. "I can see you have eyes for no-one else, we all can, but even Gibbs can get blinded by love."

Abby pulled him into a tight hug. "You're a good man Special Agent McGee," she whispered.

McGee returned her hug before getting to his feet and joining the others in the kitchen, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Abby sat on her own at the table for a few minutes, looking up when she saw Gibbs walk from the bathroom to their bedroom.

"I like the pendant around your neck Abby."

The sound of Ziva's voice stopped Abby from following Gibbs, her hand instinctively covering the joined hearts on the choker she'd left on from earlier that morning.

"Gibbs gave it to me...for Christmas."

"It is beautiful, it signifies the joining of two hearts does it not?"

Abby nodded and forced a weak smile to her lips.

Ziva sat down beside her, looking more closely at the pendant. "Yesterday morning when I woke to find that you were not in your bed or down on the couch, I had hoped you were with him...that you had finally found your way to one another."

"After all the heartache of waiting, of not knowing, in the end it was so simple...as if it was meant to be this way all along."

Not willing to wait to talk to Gibbs any longer Abby got to her feet, Ziva's voice comforting as she pushed her chair in.

"It was meant to be Abby."

Abby squeezed Ziva's shoulder as she walked past her and made her way up the stairs, not noticing how once again all sets of eyes were on her. She wasn't sure what she'd be walking in on with Gibbs, but Abby refused to let things fester. The last thing she wanted was for him to start having second thoughts about them being together.

Reaching out for the bedroom door handle, Abby took a deep breath before walking in. She leaned against the door after she'd closed it, twisting her fingers anxiously as she met Gibbs' eyes across the room.

"I'll cancel going out with Kyle," she said quietly.

Gibbs stood up from where he sat on the bed, bridging the distance between them in several quick strides.

"No, Abby, you don't need to do that...it's just..." He sighed and took a hold of her hands, bringing her with him to sit back down on the bed. "I want you to spend time with Kyle, he's your brother and you should get to know him, I guess it's just gonna take me a bit to get used to you going out to clubs...where there's other men."

It was then that she realized the confident and arrogant Gibbs she knew and loved, the one that was so dominant when he was in control, also had tiny cracks in his rough exterior where jealousy and uncertainty crept in.

"Gibbs, I won't be there for that, you don't trust me?"

She tried to keep the hurt from her voice but failed. Being honest with each other also meant all their fears no longer had to be as carefully guarded, but because they'd battled the jealousy of seeing one another with someone else so many times those same anxieties were now even more difficult to conceal because they were together.

The instant impulse of jealousy was one that had grown in both of them over the years, almost like a natural reaction of their bodies trying to deal with the pain of wanting the one person they couldn't have. And even though now there was no reason to feel that way, it was going to be a difficult habit to break.

"I trust you, I do, don't ever think otherwise Abbs...just don't like the idea of guys hitting on you."

Abby thought back to what McGee had said about Gibbs needing reassurance that she was only interested in being with him. She knew Gibbs trusted her, their relationship had always been open and honest even when they were just friends, this was more about him coming to terms with his own insecurities and doubts.

Placing herself in the same situation Abby was sure she'd feel the same, and she was certain she'd find herself with a similar dilemma sooner rather than later. She didn't like the idea of any woman, redheaded or not, trying to get her hands on Gibbs even though she trusted him. And now that she no longer had to sit back and silently watch as someone made a move on him, Abby had no doubt she would quickly make it known he was off limits.

"I'll have Kyle there and I'm more than capable fending off any advances Gibbs...this won't be like it was before, not now I have you. I'll never do anything to risk losing you and I don't want anyone else."

Gibbs lifted her hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles, turning her hand over to kiss the inside of her wrist.

"I know...I'll get used to it Abbs, I will, can't make any promises but I'll try not to be so over protective and possessive."

"I understand why you are." Abby framed his face in her hands. "But I still need to be me even though we're an us now."

Gibbs nodded and gently pressed his lips to hers, his hands moving to her hips to bring her around to sit on his lap. "Love you just the way you are Abbs, don't want you to change. It's all on me, just want you to understand that you're more important to me than anything."

"I do, every time you kiss me or touch me I know, and when you tell me you love me I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice." Abby leaned her forehead against his, losing herself in the endlessness of his blue eyes, the devotion she saw taking her breath away. "Nobody will ever make me feel the way you do...I haven't waited this long to be with you to let you go, you make me whole, you're the other half of my heart remember?"

Abby took one of his hands and lifted it to cover the united hearts that hung gracefully around her neck.

"I remember," Gibbs whispered, his fingers stroking over the softness of her skin.

The reality of Abby being all his would take some getting used to, he'd waited what felt like a lifetime to be with her, but Gibbs just hoped he wouldn't push her away in the process. His relationship with her went so far beyond what he'd had with anyone else since Shannon, almost to the point where he couldn't believe she wanted him...that she loved him with the same intensity that he loved her.

He would do whatever he had to do to keep her. Some things would need more work than others but Gibbs was determined to hold onto her. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Abby, and unlike all his failed relationships he was willing to make sacrifices to make her happy. She made him want to try to do better, to be a better man.

"You and Kyle go out and have a good time," Gibbs smiled, closing his eyes as he enfolded her within his arms. "Got plenty to keep me busy in the basement so I'll wait up for you."

"That means you'll smell like sawdust," Abby moaned, wrapping her arms around his back and nuzzling into his neck. "Can you wear my red hoodie while you're down there?"

"Whatever you want Abbs," Gibbs chuckled.

Abby crossed her legs behind his backside, moving them even closer as they sat in silence for the next few minutes. She sighed at the feel of his heart beating next to hers, her hands tracing soothing patterns up and down his spine.

"Wanna keep me warm Gunny?" Abby asked, kissing her way across his jaw line.

"Always," Gibbs growled, his fingers easing up under her sweater and t-shirt, Abby gasping at the contact of his skin on hers.

"Not that...though it is tempting."Abby pulled back from him and ran her hands over his chest. "Both of us should fit on one of those toboggans if I sit between your legs, with your need for speed we could give Tony a run for his money."

Gibbs wasn't going to turn down the chance to spend time with her or hold her, after the upset they'd just had he also wanted to give her added reassurance that everything was okay between them.

"I can steer and you can throw snowballs at him," Gibbs suggested, kissing her nose as she got off his lap.

Abby laughed, taking his hand as they left the room. "And that, Gibbs, is another reason why you and I make a perfect team."

TBC...