A huge 'thank you' to finlaure, for taking the time to beta.

Thank you all, for keep coming back, I'm happy you enjoy this story!

A/N: For all the Tiva fans, there is a little something at the end of the chapter ;)

Enjoy!

-13-

The sugar had worked wonders for her body. The dizziness had decreased to a minimum and finally the pain killers too seemed to work, leaving only a slight pulsating pain in her head.

While Gibbs and Tobias left her a few moments earlier to go upstairs to talk to Leon about Gibbs' epiphany, Tony went to the Local Leos for an update on the fire case.

Tim and Ziva went to the coffee shop to look around for possible camera footage and witness reports.

Fornell already had taken the names and credentials of the few who were on the scene but the two field agents would check around in the various small shops at that corner for more witnesses, or anything that could help them.

All the while Abby stayed at Gibbs' desk and waited for someone to come back. Abs still sat there when the two old friends reemerged in front of the desks with a slightly annoyed facial expression.

An hour of Director Vance' company had the tendency to do that, Abby decided.

"Let's go Abs." Clearly not in the mood to say much, or anything at all about the conversation with the director Gibbs held out his hand to help her up.

"How is your head?"

Once she was on her feet the raven-haired woman spoke up. "Do you know that feeling when you just had one drink past the level that doesn't affect your mind- you know not enough to knock yourself out but too much to not affect your body" she paused and linked her arm with his. "I can pretty much say I walk the line between those two."

She was finished with her description when they reached the elevator, leaning against his side as they waited for the cubicle to arrive.

With his arm around her form he tried to help her hold her body steady.

Aware that she tried to hide how much her legs were still shaking.

The door closed behind them when Gibbs spoke up.

"Let's get you home to bed."

Abby had to bite her lip to hold back the comment that threatened to leave her lips.

Tobias on the other hand didn't feel the restrain to be quiet.

"Geez Jethro, the poor thing just had an accident, give her some time to recover."

Gibbs merely raised an eyebrow while Abby began to laugh.

"She called me by your name when she was out" Tobias answered the unspoken question.

Jethro only nodded. He had figured as much after the knowing look he presented him with when the topic of Abby's mysterious boyfriend came to live.

Abby's voice ended the silence in the elevator.

"By the way Tobias, thank you! Did you hurt yourself?"

The FBI-agent smiled. "You're welcome. Don't worry; I can handle a little bruise now and then."

While Abby snuggled closer against Jethro's body the man himself silently thank his friend again for helping her.

Later that evening Abby laid on top of the sheet of what had become their bed the last couple of days.

Gibbs had made a sandwich for them after he briefly had talked to the team, which was still looking through the footage Tim and Ziva had collected of the various cameras around the coffee shop.

No noteworthy leads were found considering the fire.

Now the special agent was taking a shower, leaving a worrying Abby on the bed.

She knew without having seen them, that at least two agents where somewhere outside the house on protective detail.

She furthermore wasn't allowed to be without protection, orders from the man in the shower. This order meant that either Gibbs or another agent was with her, night or day.

There was no question with which agent she would spent the night, the question was how.

Gibbs was the kind of man who didn't mix work with pleasure.

Abby knew the current situation made her the centre of his work again which most likely meant that pleasure was out of question.

She just hoped Gibbs wouldn't decide that it was better to not come to bed with her.

Ever since their relationship had taken a turn Abby didn't get enough of his strong arms embracing her tightly at night.

For the first time in god knew how many years she felt home, home and safe.

When she came to think of it, it was amazing how she grew so attached to the change in a matter of only three nights.

The opening bathroom door let her focus back on the man himself.

Broad shoulders, damp mussed up hair, equally damp skin and a white towel loosely around his waist; it was a sight that let her muscles at the pit of her stomach clench in a very pleasant way.

It seemed her fear was unsubstantiated as he lay down beside her once he re-entered the bedroom.

"It is a shame." Abby muttered out loud as she snuggled against his bare chest not caring that her skin and shirt dampened with every passing moment.

"What is a shame?" Gibbs asked back as his arm pulled her form even closer to his body.

"That my head is still spinning, it's just a shame to waste this opportunity. I could eat you alive after seeing you only clad with this towel."

Her fingers went to the upper edge of the fabric, tracing the border where skin met the terry cloth of the white towel.

She grinned as the muscles beneath her fingertips tensed with every moved inch.

"Abs." It was a plea.

"Yeah" she said with a mischief tone, slipping her hand under the white fabric just far enough to let a shiver run through his body and a gasp of surprise leave his lips.

Abby enjoyed the teasing, it gave her a chance to think about something else than the danger of the month. Abs enjoyed even more that she had such an enormous effect on him, a visible effect.

"Abs." Now it was a warning.

With a small smile she kissed his chest and freed her hand.

"You need help with that?" The Goth asked as she let her hand travel over the swelling bulge beneath the towel.

With a soft groan he grabbed her hand and brought the entwined fingers up to his chest.

"No Abs, you've helped enough for the moment."

Wiggling free out of his embrace she sat up, turned around, crossed her legs and stared onto his chest.

"Am I right to assume that this is it?" Her voice nothing more than a whisper, not looking up she didn't see the fear on his face. Instead Abby continued after taking a deep breath. "Just a few kisses and some hugging? I mean not that I don't like your embraces, on the contrary but…"

When she looked up she saw only his conflicted expression. "I need to keep you safe Abs." He took her hand in his. "I can't let something happen to you."

"What better way to protect me than to cover my body with yours?"

"Abs."

"Gibbs, we have no idea who and why somebody is behind me, so far there is no lead."

She paused, closed her eyes and carefully rubbed her fingertips over the pain free area of her forehead to ease the throbbing of the reemerging headache.

"I don't have the self control to not touch you Gibbs, especially not for god knows how long."

She felt the bed shift as Jethro sat up, moments later his fingertips were carefully circling at her temples.

"Believe me Abs, I know, I have the same problem!"

His ringing cell phone disturbed their conversation. Swearing inwardly he dropped his hand from her head and turned to the nightstand to answer the call.

"Yeah Gibbs."

Without further ado, Tony began with his report.

"We have the number plates of the car.

None of the cameras captured the driver; we can't even say if it is a male or female suspect we are looking for.

No surprise the car was stolen yesterday. The BOLO is out."

"Thanks Tony, keep me informed."

After his returning from the cops Tony had helped Ziva and Tim to look through the footage.

It was way past nine pm when they finally had found something they could use.

Once they had the picture of the car Tony had sent them home. He had done the rest and gone home after the phone call with Gibbs.

Tony was glad to be home himself. A headache was slowly building up not to mention the worry about the lovable, unique Goth.

Gibbs gut. This man was the most effective warning system this planet had.

He hoped that one they he could be a tenth this good like his mentor was.

After unlocking the door, entering and relocking he crossed the small entrance area and the living room until he was in front of the small gun safe.

Following his usual nightly routine including a shower he made his way to the bed.

The sigh that left his lips was one of relief when the cool mattress came in contact with his skin, outstretching his arm his hand came to rest on the bare back of the woman who already had made herself comfortable earlier, slowly starting to rub her back.

"Anything new?"

Tony rolled over till he came to rest pressed against her side, "No."

Ziva sighed as his fingertips traced invisible lines on her skin.

"Did you call Gibbs?"

"Yeah right after you two left."

No words were needed after that. Silence dominated the room only disturbed by rustling of fabric and soft sighs.

Much later after some intensive body exploration, Ziva partly rested on top of Tony and answered his unspoken question; she knew he was dying to ask.

"Gibbs."

His fingertips stopped at her lower back.

"What's with Gibbs?"

The naked woman lifted her head and placed it onto her palm staring at Tony's face, which was partly illuminated by the soft glow seeping through the window from the outside.

"It's Gibbs. Abby's boyfriend is Gibbs." After a short break a smile broke free on his face.

"Lucky Bastard."

A moment later Tony's voice became audible once more: "Now, we only have to find someone for Tim."

Ziva's laugh was soft. "Good luck, he always seems to have a thing for criminals."

So what do you think?

A/N: Dedicated to WithTheGrain for her similar towel scene in one of her stories.

This chapter was already beta-ed when I read the story, + I was too lazy to rewrite...;) At least I'm honest!