Disclaimer: not mine

Thanks to ncislove for taking time to beta

Thank you all for the reviews, they make my day ^^

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I might confused some of you with the last chapter, we were back where it started, with Charles...

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R&R! Enjoy!

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30

The arrest couldn't have gone better than it had. The two gentlemen had been too surprised after seeing Gibbs pointing a gun at them that they had surrendered almost immediately.

Even though the arrest was fast done, the interrogation along with the conversation with Leon had taken longer than expected.

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After that he had gone down to the morgue to consult his friend with his tortured little friend.

The last time the lemon was in use was over a week ago but still his maltreated member didn't agree with too much pressure of any kind.

First a little shocked Duck eventually admitted that it might have been better to not let Abby see it right away. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Some of the continuous opened scratches were still deep red around the edges, partly even raw.

With a sigh Ducky had given him a disinfecting, cooling unguent.

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After that he had made Ducky promise to not talk with anyone about what he saw.

Jethro on the other hand had to promise to talk with someone about what had happened, though not as to when he would do that.

The only other thing that was left on his to do list was taking his wife-to-be home.

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All in all he had been gone for about 6 hours when he entered Abby's lab, to find his soon to be wife fast asleep.

She was curled to a ball, her hands in front of her belly, lying on her futon right in front of her desk in the office section of her lab.

For the first time in 72 hours he was 'alone' with his thoughts and feelings and finally able to take a breath.

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His team was off duty for two weeks; two weeks they all needed and deserved.

For now he had send them home but he wanted to talk to them one by one the next couple of days.

First in line was the lying figure to his feet.

Franks would spend the night at Tobias' place and he and Abby could talk.

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"Hey Duck." His voice was just above a whisper, while staring down to his Abby.

The elder man closed the small distance with a smile.

"You certainly didn't lose your touch."

"It seems so."

Both men stood next to each other looking at the sleeping woman at their feet.

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"Thanks for taking good care of her."

The ME placed his hand on Jethro's shoulder.

"You know we all love her!"

Abby tensed and turned.

"And I love you all" said a very sleepy voice.

She opened her eyes and looked up to the men standing in front of her.

"You are back, can we go home now?"

He couldn't help but smile. Still not really awake she sounded like a little child, though she certainly wasn't one. His mind wandered to a very un-child like situation.

Before he finally answered "Yes we can!"

He slowly helped her to her feet.

"Pack your stuff we're on a two weeks leave."

Ducky hugged Abby goodbye and patted Gibbs shoulder.

"I'm going to come over tomorrow, if that is ok with the two of you."

But in fact he wouldn't accept a 'no' as an answer, he wanted to check on Gibbs' injuries once more, to see if the ointment showed effect.

Gibbs nodded with a smile, glad Ducky would keep quiet.

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It wasn't like he didn't want her to know, extremely impossible anyway; he just didn't want her to find out today.

Ducky turned and was already a few steps closer to the door when Abby's voice stopped him in the middle of his steps.

"Ducky wait." She turned to Gibbs.

"Let's invite them all over, they all missed you and all had a hell of a time, and tomorrow is Friday after all, let us just celebrate."

His facial expression was neutral before it broke in to a smile.

"Sounds good to me" Jethro turned towards Ducky. "Could you tell the rest of them?"

The elder man smiled. "Certainly, what time?"

Both men looked to Abby.

"How about 20:00?"

Gibbs nodded.

"It's settled then, I'll tell the others." With a smile he was gone.

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Gibbs waited till Abby had all she needed.

With her purse, coat and a small bag in her hand she turned around to find Gibbs following every move she made with his eyes, a soft smile on his face.

"Ready?"

She just nodded with an equal smile on her face.

He took her bag and let his arm move around her waist till his hand was resting on her belly again.

"Let's go home."

"Yes." Her voice was just a whisper while trying hard to suppress the fresh tears in the corner of her eyes.

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For god sake, Abby snap out of it! He is back.

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The tension didn't go unnoticed by Gibbs.

As soon as the elevator had closed its doors and the small cubicle had moved a bit he switched the emergency switch, let her bag fall to the ground and pulled her into an embrace.

"Abs, everything is fine, I'm back home."

He stroke her back with his hands.

"Yes you are back but Gibbs you were away in captivity…" She trailed off.

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Using 'Gibbs', was a clear sign of distress, only when something bothered her she used his last name.

Her tears fell freely.

"Trust me Abs, I've been in far worse situations."

"But…"

His lips found hers. He kissed her tenderly until he felt her body relax into his arms.

"I'm back Abs."

She nodded and closed her eyes as she felt his thumbs dry her cheeks.

"Let's go."

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The doors opened and an almost empty squad room presented itself in front of them.

Only one light was still switched on.

Tony sat behind his desk, apparently waiting.

The couple stopped in front of the desk.

While Tony smiled up to the couple; Jethro eyeballed Tony's chin.

He had acknowledged the coloration before, but now in the dim yellow light of the small desk lamp, the green-blue-ish of the bruise seemed to glow.

Abby noticed it too. Her eyes were fixed on Tony's chin and her face showed an expression of gilt, that it almost hurt to look at her face.

"Abs I told you, it's ok, it doesn't really hurt much and I deserved it."

Gibbs mentally noted to ask Tony why exactly he did deserve the punch.

The woman in Gibbs arm shook her head. "No you didn't, anyway what are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you guys to give you a ride home."

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Right my car is at home and so is Jethro's.

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"Thanks Tony" Jethro said while Abby's stomach growled again.

All three stared on Abby's belly.

"How about we stop somewhere, so you two can take a few things home with you?"

"In fact that would be great," Abby said with a smile and added rather quietly "I haven't bought groceries since the day you got shot."

Gibbs just stared at her. "To my defence, I wasn't home much."

Tony grabbed his belongings and followed the couple to the elevator.

"Ducky told you about tomorrow?" Abby asked while they stepped into the small cubicle.

"Yes."

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TBC..

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I do apologize if you guys hoped for a major showdown... I focused more on the reunion and bonding of Gibbs and Abby and the team...

Let me know what you think :)