A huge Thank you to finlaure for taking the time to proofread :)
First of all, thank you guys, you are awesome! Now, I apologize for not replying and updating sooner, but the last three days were mildly said 'a bit not good'...
Thank you for you patience! I will reply tonight, okay I will try to reply tonight!
One with the story!
ENJOY!
A/N: Written before 'Enemy on the hill'. Gloria is alive.
-20-
Abby woke up early the following morning. Not fully awake she took in her surroundings. Gibbs' unique smell was still present, though less wood- more fresh soap. He had been home for a shower. Abby was pleased. Gibbs tended to get lost in worries and the urge to go after the bad guys, even more when someone was involved he cared for.
Another aroma tickled her nose. Coffee.
Additionally she could smell the tormenting ill-smelling, expensive aftershave only one person she knew would use.
Anthony DiNozzo.
Quietly she spoke up. "Good morning guys" finally she opened her eyes.
Both men got up from their seats on each side of Abby's bed.
Tony bent down kissing her forehead. "Abs, next time just take some days off if you need a break. There is no need for such drastic acts."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After Tony had made room, Gibbs bent down as well but instead of the cheek he aimed for her lips.
Completely surprised by the open statement it took her a few seconds to respond.
Tony chose not to comment and turned his smirking face toward the window.
"How are you Abs?" Gibbs voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke against her lips. She waited to answer until he had straightened up and looked back into her eyes.
"Tired, but otherwise okay."
She sat up and smiled at Gibbs who brought the pillows in position for her to lean against them.
"But I'm hungry and I sure would love a sip of that coffee of yours."
"Let's find out what your doctor thinks about that."
Half an hour later Abby had her answer. To her dismay Laura told her, there would be no food until the late afternoon except maybe a few spoons full of jello and no caffeine for another 24 hours at least.
Annoyed with the situation Abby asked the question Gibbs knew she would sooner or later.
"When can I go back to work?"
Laura glanced to Gibbs who shook his head. Both actions didn't go unnoticed.
The Doctor excused herself and hurried out of the room, leaving her patient in the capable hands of her friends.
Said patient sat in bed staring at L.J. Gibbs waiting for an explanation.
An explanation she, already knew, wouldn't like at all.
Without breaking the eye contact Jethro addressed Tony. "Tony…"
"…go call Ziva and ask how long it will take till she arrives with the evidence." DiNozzo finished the sentence when he already was out the room.
Jethro sat down on the edge of the bed.
Green eyes staring at blue eyes, her shoulders tense.
"You are dead." His facial expression was tense.
Her green eyes were wide as she stared at Jethro.
"I feel pretty alive right now!"
"It is easier to protect you when everybody believes you are dead. Only the team and the director are aware that you aren't."
"That means I'm doomed to stay inside this room for god knows how long, I don't think so!"
He bent down to peck her lips, trying to calm her down.
"Don't worry Abs, once you are allowed to leave you will get out of here."
"How? In a body bag like the one you put Tony in that one time?"
"A body bag wasn't high on my list of possible diversions, especially not after what happened."
"Good."
She relaxed back into the cushions, before she tensed up again.
"Mom?"
"She knows you are okay."
She sighed in relief and lowered herself into the pillows again.
Finishing his coffee with one last swallow he spoke up again.
"Since you know your mom, it won't be a surprise that I had to promise her a visit when all of this is over."
Abby grinned, "Yeah, I know how she is." She grinned. "And while I know her, you are going to come with me, my handsome fiancée."
"Abs…" She left him no chance to say more has her fingertip landed on his lips. "Don't worry my silver-haired-fox I won't hold you to anything, I might have done the same thing to stay with you. Well on the other hand you could have waved with your badge and gun or you could have used your glare to…"
'Hmm' Jethro's lips stopped her talking with a soft kiss.
"I didn't say it to be able to stay with you." That was all he said before he let his lips linger on hers.
A soft knock became audible which let them break apart.
The white door opened seconds later. The team, including Ducky, entered the hospital room.
Abs welcomed the greeting hugs and kisses with a huge smile.
"It is so good to see you all."
Gibbs had gotten up from the bed to sit on his chair again, reclaiming her hand.
Ducky sat down on the chair he had sat the day before, while the three musketeers moved to the front of her bed.
Abby let her eyes travel from one to the other before they landed back on the three standing agents.
"Please sit down, I'm feeling like I've to face the inquisition here."
Tony and Ziva helped themselves to the chairs of the small table and Tim sat down on the bed next to her feet.
"Now what killed me?" She looked expecting from one to the other until she focused on the evidence back in Tony's hand.
Clearly visible through the translucent bag was a chocolate bar.
Her gaze stayed on the bag as it was handed over to Gibbs who places it on top of her lap.
"Where did you get the chocolate from?"
Abs stared unbelieving at the chocolate bar, not able to look as something else she spoke up.
"It was in the grocery bag you left on the porch."
Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"I didn't leave a grocery bag on the porch, Abs." Her eyes met his before she glanced back toward the evidence bag now resting on the bedside table.
Gibbs let his hand slowly caress her cheek.
"What's wrong with the chocolate?"
"It was used to poison you." His voice was soft but his face showed clearly the signs of a struggle to keep calm.
"How?"
The ME spoke up. "It appears that someone injected strychnine into the chocolate. Didn't you taste a bitter aftertaste?"
Abby shook her head.
Ziva's voice broke the silence. "Luckily you are a bite-and-go eater. Another bite…"She broke up in the middle of the sentence not wanting to speak out loud what everybody thought.
Silence settled in the room until Tim's voice became audible.
"What about your boyfriend."
The scientist looked at her friend a little uneasy, fighting the urge to look at Gibbs right away.
"Hmm, what about him?"
Her hands began to play with the edge of the blanket.
"He didn't try to contact any of us? Isn't he worried about you?"
Timmy's gaze was fixed upon the woman in the hospital bed, so he didn't notice the glances the rest of the crowd sent toward Gibbs.
Eventually she broke the eye contact to glance toward Gibbs as well. "Could you get me some Jello?"
Getting up from the chair he spoke up. "Tony, Ziva get some coffee! Ducky would you talk to the Doctor for an update?"
The three nodded in unison and left followed by the fearless leader the room.
As soon as the door was closed behind them Abby spoke up.
"He knows where I am."
"Why didn't he show up then?"
Abby bit her lower lip, avoiding the eyes of her friend.
"Tim, as far as I know he never left my side."
"Oh."
"Ooh." It took a few moments 'till the meaning sunk in but then he surprised his friend with a, "Finally."
What do you think?
...
We still have some chapters to read here, but I'm thinking about an sequel... I have a few ideas. What about you guys anything you want to read?