Chapter 8: Private Matters 2

McGee opens his eyes lazily while settling himself farther into the cushions of Gibbs' couch. After a few moments he feels the urge to move again, so he opens his eyes slowly once more, and begins to wiggle around. As she shuts his eyes, something lingers on him--something he is unsure of. Taking a moment to yawn quietly, his eye-lids lift for the third time. It is this time he notices a pair of blue eyes staring back at him.

He nearly jumps off the couch while attempting to straighten himself against the comfortable cushions of the couch. "Boss."

"Ma-Gee…" Gibbs is amused at the man taking a break on his couch. "Could I get you anything--warm milk?" His tone half-teasing and half-sincere.

"No thanks…boss." McGee swallows; nervously. "When'd I fall asleep?"

"I was hoping you could tell me." He shrugs. "Ducky left an hour ago…you were out when he was leaving." He shrugs again. "Hour--hour and a half, maybe."

"…maybe…" He exhales the breath he is holding. "I should go."

"Sit. Stay awhile…" Gibbs offers.

"Uh…" He smoothes his tie. "I'm not in any sort of trouble am I?--because I swear to it that Tony played a part in it, too."

"Is that so?"

"…most likely…" His pulls his lips in a bit. "…yes…"

"DiNozzo's the reason for Abby hating you?"

"Abby does not hate me."

Gibbs nods. "You hate her?"

"Of course not!" McGee can hardly stand just being asked that question. "I could never hate Abby."

"Agreed." Gibbs sips from his coffee mug. "…what seems to be the problem?"

"Uh…"

"I'm all ears…" He indicates his freshly cut hair. So short, his ears are undeniable. "…wouldn't hurt to talk about it."

The younger Agents leans back against the couch more stiffly now. Such an unexpected display of kindness from Gibbs makes him uneasy and without a clue on how to respond.

"Why're you being so nice to me?" His words slurred.

"I don't have to be."

"I know…" His forehead creases. "…that's why I'm a little nervous."

Gibbs rolls his eyes to the ceiling, "Aw come on McGee--you're always nervous."

"Am not."

"Are to!" His voice sharp, but his eyes warm. "…just level with me, alright?"

"…about Abby?"

"…'bout anything." Gibbs shrugs while downing the last bit of his coffee. "I'm here to listen."

McGee studies his team leader for quite a while before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Pushing his shoulders back, he stretches his muscles.

"Go." Gibbs says lowly.

"Uh…well…see…" He loosens his tie a little. "Abby's got it out for me ever since Ziva came back. She's miffed I patched things up with Ziva--but why would she even be bothered by something like that?" Gibbs does not answer because he knows McGee isn't finished. "She's acting as if I did her wrong--like I cheated on her. Why the hell shouldn't I have fixed things with Ziva?" Gibbs stares into his empty fireplace. "Now she's got some whack-job after her--some whack-job she's dating, a 'boyfriend'--who we know nothing about." He scoffs. "And she called you of all people the other night when she was nearly attacked by this…bastard…"

"She was scared."

"We had dinner plans!" He insists. "All she had to do was call me--tell me she was scared and while I was getting over there as quickly as I could, I would have phoned you--the rest of the team." He sighs. "…but she didn't and by the time I got there you were barking orders at me--to take DiNozzo to my place so he could sleep it off."

"He wasn't in any condition to do a job."

"So you change my job description and make me the dependable babysitter?" He sounds hurt. "…I wanted to be there for Abby…and you wouldn't let me…Gibbs."

Gibbs knows it is his turn to speak, but he does not know what to say. The issue at hand is something he did not see coming. He had no idea that part of McGee's problem had to do with him.

"She might have thought better of me…all knowledge of my dealings with Ziva completely forgotten…" He looks into the empty fireplace as Gibbs continues to do. "Maybe things would have gone back to normal…well…semi-normal…" He is afraid to pull his gaze from the depths of the darkened opening. "…then again, I probably sound like an idiot…an emotional Probie--all the things Tony teas--"

"No, McGee. You're not." The Marine shakes his head slightly. "There's nothing wrong with feeling the way that you feel." He stops, hoping McGee will say something, but he does not and Gibbs is left to fill the silence. "Abby'll come around, but she needs time…" He sighs. "Took her a little while to set things straight with me…I kept things from her…I kept things from all of you, but I really kept her in the dark…I think we all did at one time or another."

"…she's in the basement…" McGee offers a cheap shot at a reason. "A lot could be missed when you're down there by yourself." Gibbs gives him a look. "…or not…especially with Abby."

A comfortable silence falls between them and the empty fireplace serves as their focal point. Neither making any move to stand up nor speak again for the rest of the night.