Part Eleven
It was the first day they would all be back at work together and Abby couldn't help feeling a little giddy at the thought. Finally, she thought, things could get back to what passed as normal for the NCIS team and they could all start really moving on.
Deciding that her relationship with Gibbs could use a little moving on, too, put her in an even better mood. She just had to figure out how to broach the subject with him, how to let him know she was ready for more than what they'd already shared.
Exiting the elevator with a bounce in her step, Abby took a moment to survey the squad room, her smile growing wider when she realised all four of her favourite agents were sitting behind their desks.
"Hey, guys," she greeted them brightly, waving as she moved to stand in the centre of their section of the squad room.
"Hey, Abs, looking good." Tony was the first to move out from around his desk, hugging her without hesitation.
She hugged him back just as warmly, catching Gibbs' eye over his shoulder and winking. "You look good, too, Tony, but that could be because I haven't seen you in almost two whole days."
"It's not my fault you're never home when I call," Tony protested, stepping back and rolling his eyes at her. "Never knew you were such a social butterfly."
The speculative look Tony gave her did not go unnoticed by Gibbs, though he was thankful neither Ziva nor McGee seemed to pick up on it as they, too, moved to welcome back the forensic specialist. It was a reminder that Tony was good at observing people, and a reminder the younger agent was one of Abby's closest friends and favourite confidants.
"What have you been doing, Abby? It must have driven you crazy to be away from work?" Ziva released her after accepting her hug and arched a questioning eyebrow. "I expected you to come back early."
"I was tempted," Abby admitted, "but luckily I had something else to keep me occupied." At the questioning looks she was given, she smiled and shrugged. "One of my friends is getting married in a couple of weeks. I've been helping her organise things while I've been off."
"Sounds like fun," Ziva commented, though the expression on her face seemed to suggest she really thought the opposite and made Abby chuckle.
"I thought it'd be a nightmare, too, but I'm actually enjoying it. She's really happy and that makes me happy so..." Abby shrugged and smiled again. "Well, as much as I love seeing you guys, I've missed my lab, too, and I'm sure my babies have missed me."
Gibbs stood as she started walking towards the elevator, falling into step beside her without comment. Abby gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing, letting him walk with her. Once inside, it didn't surprise her that he hit the emergency stop, plunging them into a dimly lit stillness.
"You sure you're ready to come back?" He asked instantly, searching her face for any sign that she regretted the decision. "You've got another week of leave you can take..."
"Another week of trying to find things to keep me busy," Abby corrected with a smirk. "Though I think Carol would rather I quit my job and become her wedding planner full time but I really don't think a career change is on the cards."
"Glad to hear it." He moved closer, invading her personal space without apology and slid his arms around her waist. He didn't protest when she leaned up to kiss him, though she could tell he was as surprised as she was when what started as a light, undemanding kiss turned into something that made them both need to take a step back when it was done. "You want to go for lunch later? Think we need to talk about a couple of things."
Abby smiled, enjoying the look in his darkened eyes. "I agree. I think there's something very important we need to talk about and work isn't really the right place."
"I'll meet you in the squad room at lunch," Gibbs murmured, reaching past her to activate the elevator once more. "If we get a case..."
"You'll call," she finished for him. She leaned in for a quick kiss before the elevator doors slid open, slipping out before he could react. "See you later!"
Gibbs watched her go, wondering how he'd manage to school his features into a neutral expression when he returned to his agents.
Their lunch date didn't go as planned, with the team catching a case just an hour into their working day. Abby assured him it was fine, that he didn't need to worry about her and made alternate plans.
She left the Navy Yard after a short conversation with the bride-to-be and got into her car, turning the music up as she drove towards the mall. She sang along to her favourite songs, her heart light and happy.
Getting out of her car, she started to turn away only to pause, part of her good mood evaporating as she felt someone's gaze on her. Looking around and seeing no one, she told herself she was just being paranoid and continued on into the busy shopping mall.
It never failed to amaze her how many people there seemed to be about, no matter what time of day it was. People always seemed to find time in their busy schedules to hit the shops and, while it amused her on one level, she couldn't understand it on another. Shopping was not her favourite thing.
She had duties, though, being the appointed maid-of-honour in her friend's wedding. Duties that involved running last minute errands and making sure the bachelorette party she was organising was one of the best the bride-to-be had ever been to.
She took a break halfway through completing her tasks, grabbing a sandwich and a bottle of water for lunch. Sitting at a table in the busy food court, she looked around, her gaze moving instinctively from face to face as she indulged in one of her favourite activities: people watching.
There were the awkward teenagers, obviously into one another but both unwilling to make the first move. There was the quartet of business women, grabbing a quick lunch together and catching each other up on the latest gossip. There was the business man in a perfectly tailored suit trying to grab something to eat at the same time as taking a no doubt important phone call on his cell.
There was the man who sat across the room from her, watching her, the same guy she'd seen in both the stationary shop where she'd picked up the invitations and the cake shop where she'd finalised the arrangements for the wedding cake.
Feeling cold and not really knowing why, Abby abandoned the rest of her sandwich and took her bottled water and shopping bags with her as she headed to her final stop of the day, checking over her shoulder every couple of minutes to make sure he wasn't there.
When she made it to the popular lingerie store without incident, she convinced herself she really was just being paranoid and decided to distract herself by not only picking out a present for the bride – and groom – to be to enjoy on their wedding night but by buying herself something, too.
A matching bra and panties set in dark red went onto the counter straight away and she continued to browse, deciding to treat herself to a nightdress decidedly sexier than the traditional Victorian funeral gown she wore on occasion.
The negligee she chose for herself was short and fitted in all the right places, a combination of dark green satin and black lace that she knew would look good even before she was convinced to try it on by the eager sales assistant.
Staring at her reflection, picturing how she'd complete the look with her hair and make-up, Abby tried to imagine what Gibbs' reaction would be to it if - when, she corrected herself with a grin – he saw her in it.
Maybe, she thought to herself, she shouldn't worry about how to broach the subject and should just turn up on his doorstep dressed in the negligee, heels and a long coat. It was one way of telling him she was ready for their relationship to move on.
Smiling to herself, she added the negligee to her purchases and changed back into her regular clothes as the cashier rang up the sale.
It wasn't until she reached the parking lot that she saw him again, getting into a car parked half a dozen spaces away from her own and wondered if maybe she wasn't being paranoid after all.