Proofread by the lovely finlaure, thank you!

Thank you all for the kind words, putting me on alert or this story and for keep coming back to read! You guys rock!

HAPPY Easter!

Enjoy!

-6-

After an hour or so of talking with the director about budget- whatever, he was happy to leave the office, pick up Abby and take her home.

Home. That thought brought a smile to his features. A smile, that vanished as soon as he reached the handrail of the balcony.

As soon as he saw her, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Something was wrong, very wrong. Abby was sitting at his desk, like she had said, but the instead of the cheery Abby he expected, he looked down at a silently crying one, who just ended a phone call.

With fast steps he took the stairs two at a time and arrived at the corner of his desk when the elevator doors opened and his team stepped out, arriving back at the navy yard from their assignment.

Crouching in front of Abby, the special agent looked up into her eyes.

"What's wrong Abs." Her hands began with a wild dance, not able to use words, too caught up in whatever happened.

*There is a fire* She sobbed. *The whole complex is on fire, they couldn't extinguish it yet.* Abby's eyes were shining with fresh tears, as she continued *Old Misses Rayn died, they couldn't get her out* with that she let he body slummed against his, hiding her face in his shoulder while the team came to a hold at his desk, looking just as worried as he was.

Abby wasn't the type of woman that cried. Actually he only had seen tears in her eyes a few rare times. For once when she thought she was the one bringing Tony behind bars with her evidence, the second time when they thought Tony died in an explosion, of course the time when Kate died and… Come to think of it he had seen her cry more often than he had thought.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was a silent crier, or maybe the fact that he knew what her eyes had seen over the years.

Abby was a strong woman, reluctant to show someone when she was worried or scared, showing only the once she trusted how fragile she could be at times.

Without looking to the team Gibbs spoke up. "Tony, call the local police and find out what happened at Abby's place."

"On it boss." A second later he heard Tony punching numbers into the phone.

"Ziva, call Ducky tell him I'm on my way to him with Abby."

"On it boss."

"Tim, get her something to drink and follow us."

"On it."

He held her tightly against his chest has he walked with her to the rear elevator.

Abby was still hiding her face when they entered the morgue. Ducky had already made space on one of the slabs, where Gibbs guided her to. He intended to push/ help her into a laying position.

Abby had a different opinion.

*Let me sit* she sobbed and added "please."

Standing right in front of her he placed his hands right beside her thighs, looking her straight into the face.

"Are you okay?"

The Goth nodded. "It's just, she was such a nice person, the best neighbor I've ever had. You know she once had bought me a tattoo- magazine."

A reassuring smile formed itself on Gibbs face.

"We will find out what has happened Abs."

Shortly after that the elevator doors opened and the rest of his team appeared.

Reluctantly he stepped away, giving Ducky some space while walking over to her right hand.

There was nothing the ME could do –not on a medical level- all knew that but Ducky had the talent to calm someone with his sheer presence.

McGee quickly brought Abby the Caf!Pow before he came back to stay next to Ziva.

Tony came straight to the point.

"Witnesses say the fire started beneath the apartment of Abby's neighbor, but it is too soon to tell they need to extinguish it first before a fire-inspector can look properly."

He paused.

"It doesn't look like an accident. The flames spread too fast." Tony paused.

"The cop I talked to will call me as soon as he has news."

The special agent glanced to his love, before he turned around again.

"Abby liked the woman who died in this fire dearly. I want to be kept in the loop, make sure the locals are aware of that."

"Yes boss, there is more." He paused again.

"The residents will probably be allowed to check if there is something left that can be used. They have about an hour, most likely tomorrow afternoon and of course only if there is no danger, such as collapsing."

"Thanks Tony."

Together they crossed the short distance to gather in front of the slab looking towards Abby, who had calmed down noticeable.

McGee spoke first.

"If you need a place to sleep, you know there is always room at my apartment."

The forensic scientist smiled softly.

"Thanks Timmy but I'm crashing at Gibbs' place."

To hide a smile Ducky turned around and walked towards his desk.

No one said a thing, either they figured it wasn't the time to comment on Abby's statement or because it was just as normal for Abby to be at Gibbs place as it was normal for him to bring her Caf!Pows, give her kisses on her cheeks or hugs when others got slaps on their back of their heads.

It was probably the latter.

Ducky on the other hand was aware that there were other reasons for Abby to pick Gibbs, besides earlier the day when she had visited him, she had told that she would stay with Gibbs till her foot was healed up well, now she would stay at his place a little while longer.

Eventually Ducky turned again. Face under control. "I'll let Palmer know, what happened, he can help you clear Abby's things out of her apartment, tomorrow."

"Thanks Ducky." Gibbs said.

"I'm going to call the detective again." Tony said.

Before he turned to leave he hugged Abs and kissed her cheek.

"Everything will be okay."

"I know." Abby told him slightly smiling. "I have you all in my life."

Abby stayed a little longer with Ducky, while Gibbs went to speak yet again with the director.

Hours later after a light dinner Gibbs had ordered, or better talked her into, Abby rested in comforting darkness in Gibbs bedroom.

A blanket was resting on top of her while listing to music from her mp3-player.

The man himself had been in the basement ever since Abs went up to bed.

It wasn't really time for bed yet but Abby needed some time alone while she knew he needed to be in the basement unwinding as well.

All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind while she kept on listening to the music.

How could someone do something like that?

Mrs. Rayn didn't deserve to die, she wanted to do so much more before her time was over and now her life got taken away by some cruel fellow for what reason ever.

Another thing kept her mind busy. They had planned she would spend a few days at Gibbs place, now her staying would take a little longer, at least till she found a new home and that worried her because she didn't want to overstay her welcome. It could affect their newly found togetherness, something Abby didn't want.

With those thoughts on her mind she fell asleep only a short time before Gibbs crawled under the sheets, pulling her close.

Abby's alarm clock woke them both the next morning.

Though Abs wasn't the one who switched it off it was Gibbs, who had found himself resting under a slowly waking Abs.

"M'sry… didn't mean to sleep on top of you."

Instead of answering he pulled her a little closer for a good morning kiss.

"I don't mind you on top of me." Jethro said a soft smile on his face.

Abby smiled back, tried to, although her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

Knowing her long enough, Jethro knew she had something on her mind other than the loss of the old lady, he could pin it down but he knew if the point was there she would tell him.

With a soft touch he let his fingers wander up and down along her spine, causing her to shiver at times.

"You know you can talk to me Abs." She sighed and looked back into his eyes while her fingers traced the lines on his face. Stroking over his eyebrows in opposite direction until her fingertips reached his temples, where she changed the destination down his cheeks to the corner of his lips.

"I don't…" the rest of the sentence was left unspoken as Gibbs' cell phone decided to chime that very moment.

It was Tony, who disturbed the tenderness as he decided it was time to call his boss for an update.

At least they knew after the short conversation that they could indeed go and check if something had survived the flames.

In a good two hours they would meet up with her friends in front of her old home.

But for now the couple stayed in bed for another half hour. Snuggling, kissing and making out.

Gibbs would have like the answer to his question but since he was a man he was easily distracted when a hand went into his boxers.

"Want to help me to balance on one foot in the shower?"

He couldn't help but help her, especially with the double meaning in her innocent question.

After an extensive and downright erotic shower session Gibbs went downstairs to make some coffee while Abby stayed in the bedroom a little longer, putting on some cloths.

That is how he found her. She wore underwear and the skirt she had picked. The tee-shirt she wanted to wear was resting on her lap, with her arms partly in the opening.

The Goth stared out of the window into the distance lost in thoughts.

She didn't notice Gibbs' reappearance in the room, or that he sat down next to her.

Only when he spoke up she refocused on her surroundings.

"Are you okay Abs?"

"Yeah, sure." She put on her shirt before she looked at him completely.

"What is it then?"

She sighed and took the coffee cup from his hand.

"I'm just worried Gibbs, I mean we planned for me to stay here for a few days now I'm here a little longer… I just don't want to invade your home; I don't want to overstay my welcome, I don't want to ruin what just started between us." The woman lowered her eyes to the cup and stared at the brown liquid. "I don't want to annoy you by being here all the time, I don't want to lose you because everything went to fast…I mean we…"

His lips on hers stopped the outburst.

"Abby let's just take one step at the time. Let us find out what happened at your former home, I don't mind you being here, actually I kinda like you here and I wouldn't mind if you would stay for good. This house has enough rooms for you to get privacy if you want, but if you still want your own place when everything is over I'll help you look for one, let's just see what comes next."

Another tender kiss followed. "Don't worry about it now. We will cross the bridge once we arrive there, for now you are staying here."

He didn't say more; instead he watched Abby's face break out into a relieved smile.

"It's time to go."

The Goth nodded swallowed the rest of her coffee and limped down the stairs with Gibbs help.

They arrived pretty much all at the same time in front of Abby's former apartment-complex. Ziva and Tony came in one car, McGee and Palmer in the other one.

While Gibbs spoke with the detective who was still on site, Abby and the rest of the team searched through the mess, Abby once called her home.

With the help of her friends she could save almost everything that had survived.

Luck had been on her side.

Her furniture was gone not through the fire but the amount of extinguishing water, but most of her clothes, pictures and documents, decoration items could be saved.

It didn't take long till everything was packed and safely secured in the trunks of the three cars.

Now her stuff was on the road to Gibbs' place, were it would find a temporary home.

What do you think? Did someone expected that?

Dedicated to ncislove, just because we had a similar idea ;)