A/N: Big hugs to Gosgirl for all the motivation and help to get going with this one...and thank you to everyone for continuing to read and for the reviews :)

Chapter 17

The first streams of early morning light filtered in through Gibbs' bedroom window just as he was beginning to emerge from sleep. Drowsiness hung over him like a thick blanket but the feel of a soft body under his hands slowly lulled him out of unconsciousness and back into the world of the living. His heavy eyes fought against the desire to look down on Abby and see her bathed in the soft yellow hues that he knew would warm her face, but in the end his need to catch a glimpse of her eventually won out.

Blinking his eyes open, Gibbs held his breath as his gaze focused on the raven haired beauty held securely within his arms. He was lying on his back with Abby snuggled into his side, her head resting on his shoulder and one of her hands settled on his bare chest, her fingers weaving through the sprinkling of silver hair. A long smooth leg was draped over his thigh, her knee hovering just below his groin and her foot tucked between his legs.

One of Gibbs' arms was stretched under her, his hand placed over her lower back. While the other hand had reached across them both and was curled over her hip, the tips of his fingers edging over her sleep shorts to feel her warm skin. They were both naked from the waist up and he took a moment to enjoy the gentle pressure of her upper body pressed against his, her soft breasts awakening every part of him and her sinuous curves tempting him further.

His eyes fixed on her sleeping face, contentment flooding through him when he took in how peaceful and comfortable she was being held by him. To Gibbs, there was never a time when Abby didn't look beautiful and in her restful state she was radiant. The increasing brightness from the sun as it rose brought a glow to her cheeks, her full sensuous lips parted as regular faint breaths escaped.

He pushed back an errant tendril of her dark hair and couldn't stop himself from touching his lips gently to her forehead. Abby stirred but didn't wake, sighing then trying to move even closer to him before she resettled again. They would have to get up soon enough but he wanted her to get as much rest as she could.

Even though Abby had said she was feeling better, Gibbs still wanted to make sure she was ready to return to work without any persistent effects from her illness or from their emotional weekend. His concern had long ago moved past being that of a co-worker, and now it went beyond the boundaries of friendship; she was the most important person in his life and the last thing he wanted was to see her suffering.

Gibbs hoped their physical activities hadn't placed any further stress on her recuperation but she hadn't showed any signs of slowing down and he wanted to believe that because she was happy it may have sped up her recovery. It had been hard not to notice the sparkle in her eyes or the blush in her cheeks since their first time together and although the sex was partly responsible for that Gibbs could also see she was returning to her usual bubbly self. If he had been the reason for her initially taking so long to get better, then he hoped his commitment to her and to their relationship meant she would be fully recovered sooner rather than later.

Gibbs thought back to the events of last night, still amazed that Abby was in his bed. They had laid together, both of them unwilling to move until the grumbling of their stomachs had forced them out of bed. They'd showered together first, their reluctance to be separated from each other eventually being overcome by their need for food and the water running cold.

Dressed in their sleepwear and seated on the couch in Gibbs' living room, they ate the Chinese food they'd bought on the way home from Abby's apartment. Gibbs gulped it down, barely chewing before he swallowed and finished before Abby had even made any kind of impression in her food. Reclining back on the couch he'd let out a relieved sigh, indicating that his belly was now as fulfilled as the rest of him.

When Abby had finished eating she'd pulled her legs up in front of her and leaned against the arm of the couch to look at him. Running her hand back and forth over the blanket that sat over the back of his couch she'd asked him why he chose to sleep there rather than in the perfectly good bed that was upstairs. The question had taken him by surprise and at first he had contemplated telling her that it was just easier this way, but Gibbs knew she'd see through the lie and be hurt by it. So he had told her the truth; that he couldn't sleep in a bed alone anymore, or more to the point, he couldn't sleep in that bed alone. His memories of Shannon there were just too much for him to deal with on his own; she invaded his mind and overcame his body almost to the point where he felt like she was there with him. And when he woke from dreams about her, certain he could smell and feel her, he had to deal with his loss all over again. He'd given up trying to sleep in the bed a long time ago, because all he ended up with was a weary body and an empty heart.

Abby had scooted closer to him on the couch, taking Gibbs' large hands within hers as he had explained to her how difficult it was to return each day to the place he called home and not feel like he belonged. His basement was different, and that was why he spent so much time down there; it had always been where he'd go when he wanted time on his own. It was his sanctuary and the place he felt most comfortable. But the bedroom, and the bed, were places where he'd never been able to let go of the feeling of emptiness. The only reason he could be there now was because Abby was there; she took away his feelings of loneliness and she was responsible for filling the void that he thought would be left as a raw open wound for the rest of his life.

When they had returned to bed a short time after finishing their food Abby had pulled Gibbs into her arms, telling him if he felt like he needed to sleep on the couch then he should wake her and they would sleep there together. He didn't think it would be particularly comfortable for both of them to spend the night squeezed onto the narrow area he had trouble getting his tall frame on, so for both their sakes he needed to sleep in the bed. Not just for comfort but for their future. He'd told Abby he was serious about their relationship and to stay true to his words Gibbs couldn't expect her to sleep on the couch and he wasn't willing to not spend the night with her. With Abby in the bed he didn't think he'd have much trouble staying put and he knew all he had to do was hold her close and any doubts he had would vanish.

Lifting his t-shirt over his head Gibbs had thrown it to the end of the bed, then grasped onto the hem of Abby's shirt and slipped it off as well. "Wanna feel the warmth of your skin," he'd whispered, brushing his lips over hers as they lay back.

After several long and passionate kisses Abby relaxed against him and within minutes they had both fallen asleep, Gibbs never once thinking of leaving the woman in his arms.

Feeling the rhythmic beating of her heart against him now, Gibbs didn't think he'd ever return to sleeping on the couch, not when Abby was with him. He rolled his head to the side, looking at the clock to find they still had fifteen minutes until they had to get up and get ready for work. Gently trying to shift Abby's weight off him without waking her Gibbs lifted her slightly, easing his legs out from underneath her and standing up beside the bed.

"Gibbs..." she mumbled sleepily, sitting bolt upright before she could even open her eyes. "I'll come with you."

Abby started to drag herself to the edge of his side of the bed but Gibbs stopped her before she could stand up. He smiled at her eagerness to follow him because she thought he was headed for the couch, but he also couldn't stop the pang of guilt at making her anxious that he was leaving. Seeing the rise of goosebumps on her skin as the covers slid off her body, Gibbs retrieved his t-shirt from the bottom of the bed and slipped it over her head while prompting her to put her arms through the sleeves. Placing his hands gently on her shoulders he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Just gonna use the bathroom, Abbs."

"Oh, okay...guess you don't want me going there with you..." she grinned, her eyes flickering open and closed as she lay her head down on one end of his pillow and clutched it to her chest.

Gibbs chuckled at her sleepiness and looked down at her wrapped around his pillow. The memories he had in this room, those that had kept him from wanting to stay here would in time be joined by ones filled with Abby. He would never replace ones he had with Shannon, but Abby made them easier to live with and easier to accept as being good memories not ones that would haunt him. Both women were special to him in different ways but he was slowly starting to believe that he could have happiness with Abby and that by him being happy she was too.

Once he'd finished in the bathroom Gibbs walked back into the bedroom to find Abby had rolled over to face the middle of the bed. He sat down on the opposite side from her and shifted under the covers. Slowly inching closer to her, he laid his head next to hers and held onto her waist, moving closer until they were touching. Piercing green eyes were revealed from behind her drowsy eyelids and Gibbs stared on in awe at the love he saw shining in them. Abby's fingers travelled over his jaw and tilted his head so she could sweep her lips across his.

"Morning," she murmured lazily against his lips, placing her hands over the center of his chest.

Gibbs smiled, lifting his head up and kissing each of her eyelids before returning his head to the pillow. "Can't think of a better way to wake up."

"You stayed here all night," Abby sighed, nuzzling into his neck.

Gibbs closed his eyes, his hands moving under the large t-shirt that covered her to spread out over her back. Her skin felt cool under his touch and he tried to bring her closer to him under the covers while his hands began to warm her with gentle strokes up and down. "Not gonna sleep on the couch anymore unless you're there...or unless you kick me outta bed."

"Can't see me kicking you out of bed...not when you give off so much body heat." Lifting the t-shirt up over her stomach Abby pressed against his naked abdomen and her legs pushed between his before Gibbs could even suggest getting another blanket for her.

Feeling her shiver against him, he didn't know if it was because she was cold or if it was because of how close they were. It also worried him that she still might not be well enough to go back to work in spite of how well Abby said she felt. Gibbs wondered whether the new flush of their relationship was hiding the real effects of how her body was recovering.

"You sure you're okay to go back to work?" He asked, watching her carefully to gauge her reaction. "We'll manage if you wanna take another day off, you can stay here and rest."

"I'm fine, Gibbs...Jethro. I'm much better than I was, and I need to get back and see what kind of damage has been inflicted on my lab."

Gibbs hoped that his agents had kept a watchful eye on Abby's lab while they were gone. Partly because he didn't want her getting stressed, but also because if too many things had been changed from how she liked it he knew someone would eventually have to pay, and he didn't want to be on the receiving end of her wrath. She was a gentle yet energetic woman who took a lot of time making sure others were happy, but when she was pissed off she could scare even the likes of him.

"Okay, but if you need to come home–"

"You'll be the first to know," she finished off his sentence, the mood shifting quickly as her hand worked its way down over his ribs and lower so her fingertips could tease under the boxers that covered his hips. "You know, there's another way you can warm me up."

Abby drew one of her feet up along the inside of his calf muscles, stopping at his knee then moving back until her foot reached his. She playfully started to rub their feet together and when Gibbs felt her teeth start to nip along his shoulder he knew they were either going to be late for work or he needed to stop things before they went too far.

With only the barest shreds of fabric keeping him from her, Gibbs was aware of just how little effort it would take and he could be inside her again, her heat surrounding him. He groaned, not from pleasure but in frustration; he didn't want any of the team suspecting anything had changed between him and Abby, at least not yet.

"Abbs..." he warned softly, lifting her chin level with his and rubbing his nose alongside hers.

"I know," she sighed deeply. "But when a girl's got a sexy blue-eyed Marine in her bed, you can't blame her for trying though right?"

On the outside Gibbs stayed calm, but he couldn't deny the rush of longing that burned through his veins when Abby had said 'her bed'. As far as he was concerned it was her bed now, it was their bed. And as much as he wanted to stay there with her and create another memory if he didn't move now then his team, Tony especially, would spend hours speculating on why he was late.

"Not easy for me either," he admitted, his lips seeking out hers while his eyes remained open. As he watched Abby's eyes drift shut, Gibbs committed the sight of her sun-kissed features lost in the intimacy of the moment to his memory. Closing his own eyes he savoured the feel of her as she pressed open-mouthed kisses against his lips, leaving him breathless.

After several moments Gibbs reluctantly ended the kisses and rolled away from her. He pushed the covers off him, feeling Abby's absence instantly. As he sat on the edge of the bed trying to rub away the remnants of sleep from his eyes, he felt her fingers lightly trace over his lower back and the dimples that seemed to have become more than a fascination for her. "If I'd known you had these I might've spent my nights fantasizing about them rather than other parts of your anatomy."

Gibbs looked over his shoulder to find her grinning at him mischievously and couldn't help but return her look of heat with a hint of amusement. He'd had more than his fair share of erotic thoughts about her before they were together, and he'd lost count of the number of times he'd almost lost a finger to the blade of a saw while he was working down in the basement due to his wandering thoughts.

"Though maybe not, I'm particularly fond of those parts," Abby continued, bringing him back to reality. "But these," she purred grazing her thumb around the indentations, "are a welcome addition to an already extensive list of things for me to think about when it comes to you."

Gibbs took hold of the hand that rested over his back and lifted it to his mouth and kissed each of her knuckles. "No need to just be thoughts any more, Abbs...but I am gonna have trouble keeping my mind on work today knowing what I have to come home to tonight."

They both jumped at the sound of Abby's alarm going off on her phone. She'd set it the night before, well aware of how soundly she would sleep with Gibbs' arms around her. Abby pulled her hand out of his grasp and collapsed onto her back, reaching out to switch off the alarm.

Gibbs got to his feet and started to gather his work clothes. "Why don't you take a shower while I get started on some breakfast?"

Normally the only breakfast he had was a cup of coffee before leaving and another as soon as he got to work, but he wanted to make sure Abby ate. Taking a t-shirt out from his drawer he slipped it on, watching Abby as she dragged her slumped form out of bed and over to the bag with her clothes in it.

Walking up behind her Gibbs swept her hair away from her neck and pressed a lingering kiss on the soft curve, darting his tongue out to get one last taste. "I'll be downstairs."

Twenty minutes later he was pouring his second cup of coffee and making Abby some toast when he felt her hand cup his silk-clad backside and gently pat him. "When I met Special Agent Jethro Gibbs all those years ago, can't say I ever imagined I'd end up in his kitchen, with him dressed in boxers and a t-shirt making me breakfast."

"Makes two of us...can't say I'm disappointed though," he said handing her a coffee before he started to butter two pieces of toast for her.

Taking a bite out of one of the pieces Gibbs put it in Abby's hand and took a step closer to her, taking in her appearance. Her tousled hair had been put up into her customary pigtails and she now wore loose black cargo pants and a tight fitting black t-shirt with what he took to be some kind of chemical formula printed on it. The chunky boots she had on elevated her height slightly so she was now level with him and Gibbs leaned forward inhaling her scent. He could smell vanilla which emanated from her hair, mixed with a hint of berries that seemed to flow from her lips. "God, Abbs, you smell good enough to eat."

Abby smiled in satisfaction and Gibbs knew she was aware of the effect she was having on him. He patted her backside in imitation of her earlier gesture and grinned. "Just gonna take a shower, won't be long."

Not long after they were out the front door and Gibbs was weaving his way through traffic. As they pulled into the parking lot he looked at the woman sitting next to him. This would soon become their daily routine; waking up together, getting ready for work and driving there together. Gibbs could think of nothing in life that he wanted to do without her. He just hoped that her zest for life and her need for excitement wouldn't mean that in time she'd get bored with him.

TBC...