An enormous 'thank you' to finlaure for taking the time to find my mistakes and scare them away ;)
Thank you all! I'm still positively astonished how well-liked this story is! And again, sorry I haven't replied to the reviews yet, I will!
Enjoy!
-24-
Abby didn't eat much of the dish her friends had prepared. It had nothing to do with the taste, on the contrary it was delicious- sadly her stomach wasn't back to its old self yet.
With a glass of water in her hand she sat on the couch, her legs rested on Gibbs thighs, whose one hand rested on her shins while his other hand held a magazine. Her mp3 player rested on her stomach while she listened to her favorite music with closed eyes.
Tony and Ziva were playing cards while Tim read a book.
It was past eight when Gibbs cell phone announced an incoming call.
Not hearing the cell but feeling the movement Abs opened her eyes and watched Gibbs take the call, just like her friends did.
When he ended the call and turned his head to look at her she switched off the music and pulled out the earplugs.
"The district attorney who handles the case you are supposed to be a witness, called Leon about your files, it seems the evidence got lost in the evidence locker. They put it in after the verdict. Leon managed to delay the hearing for the time being, but he can't promise a delay 'till you are alive again."
"Since the case had been an FBI case I don't have any files, they are in the archives of the FBI, I suppose."
While Gibbs knew about the case, none of the agents had been around at that time.
So it wasn't surprising that Tony spoke, "FBI-case?"
"Well they had some minor problems with the technician who was supposed to work the case, since they needed someone fast they asked director Morrow nicely for my help." She grinned at Gibbs and spoke up, "that's when they started to persuade me into a job-change."
"Anyway, all files were with the evidence, I wasn't allowed to keep any, since it was FBI business. That means when I'm still dead, he probably will walk free. Which would be very shitty, cause he is a very bad guy."
"Then let focus on getting you alive again."
"Yeah! Any news at all?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"Your substitute found nothing, now Ducky rechecks what he can."
Abby could see there was more he wasn't telling her.
"The call earlier today, what did Leon want from you?"
He hadn't planned on telling her about the topic of the phone call.
With a sigh he spoke up.
"Ducky got a phone call from Laura. Someone who said was your cousin wanted to know about your condition. Laura told the fellow that you died and that I would arrange everything. Leon decided to call in the FBI. We have to at least make it seem real, which means an investigation is in order and a funeral."
Abby sat up and crossed her legs staring at Gibbs. "Who will lead the investigation?"
"Fornell."
"Does he know I'm alive?" Gibbs shook his head.
She sighed and closed her eyes again, speaking up with a smile evident in her voice. "You know he is going to kick your ass for not telling him."
"Yeah, especially since I didn't react to any of his calls, after he found out you are dead." Pausing, he rubbed gently over her leg, "He can kick my ass tomorrow in the private briefing with Leon."
"We are going to the Navy yard tomorrow?"
The special agent shook his head.
"Ziva and I are going to the navy yard tomorrow; you stay here with Tony and Tim."
"Great." She sighed and sounded anything but pleased about that announcement as she stared at the ceiling.
She loved her friends but slowly but surely the feeling of being trapped snug into her body, leaving her edgy. Sure she just arrived in this house, nicer compared to the hospital but still she was watched and locked away.
Seeing the Navy yard and her lab would have been a welcome change from hospital walls and unfamiliar rooms in general. It was home.
"I hate to be dead." Abby muttered softly.
There was no answer from her friends and she expected none. Only Gibbs hand curled around her hand and tightened his hold around it. Pouting, Abs switched her music back on and closed her eyes.
To her surprise the following day turned out to be okay-ish. The two guys kept her busy with movies and board games.
When Gibbs and Ziva came back late in the afternoon with Tobias at their heels Abby was laughing about a movie scene on the television not noticing the arrivals before a Caf!Pow container blocked her view to the screen.
Eagerly turning around on the sofa to face the man that held the cup, kneeling on the soft cushions she had the perfect height to peck his lips, take the drink from his hand and hug herself to his chest. "Thanks." Only then did she noticed the FBI agent who held take-out bags in his hand.
"Hey." The Goth smiled at the man behind Gibbs.
"I've to say Abby, you look good for being dead."
"Well, you know how it is, don't you?"
Tobias let out a small laugh. "Yeah."
The only one who wasn't really able to follow the conversation was Ziva, who hadn't been a member of the team that time when Tobias had played dead.
The evening passed quickly as they ate and talked about the next steps such as the announcement of Abby's 'funeral', the investigation itself and how they would proceed after the funeral.
While Abby was present in body, her mind had drifted to the strange feeling in the back of her head. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she should be aware of, but whatever thought was nudging her in the back of her mind she couldn't focus on it.
After Tobias left, with the promise to visit her again the next day, Abby got to her feet as well, pecked Gibbs' cheek and excused herself to go upstairs to bed.
Maybe she would have an epiphany during sleep.
Sleep came, quite some time later. When she had stepped back into the room with only a towel wrapped around her body she found herself opposite Gibbs, who unwrapped her not much later.
His teasing fingers and hot kisses managed to let every thought vanish from her mind.
Needless to say that she hadn't had any sort of epiphany other than she really had missed his tenderness.
The feeling that she was missing a vital point however stayed present for the next five days.
It had something to do with the way she had earned a free trip to the hospital, Abby had figured as much, but that was it.
Her state of mind hadn't gone unnoticed by her friends and after the umpteenth question if everything was okay, the Goth gave up on trying to force her conscious mind to remember. Sooner or later she would remember no need to let them worry about her state of mind. They had enough to do with her safety.
Abby settled down on the couch again, her legs across Jethro's lap.
It had become a ritual to them. Another ritual was that Tony and Ziva cleaned the dishes after dinner. To Abby's amusement they needed an awful lot of time to clean the few coffee-cups and the forks they all used for the take-out they ate 99% of the time.
It had been the second evening when Abby had stated the obvious signing. *You realize they make out?* Gibbs had nodded, a lopsided grin visible on his handsome face.
This evening however Abby couldn't find a comfortable position. She was still moving her butt from one side to the other when the couple entered the room after the 'kitchen-duty'.
With a peeved sounding sigh, Abby's eyes flew open again, the Goth sat up, grabbed the small pillow on which her head had rested and placed it on Gibbs' lap.
Jethro merely raised a eyebrow and lifted his arm to give her room to move, her friends pretended not to watch while she made herself comfortable with her head on his lap, her face against his stomach. Her fingers snug under his shirt.
Abby smiled into the fabric of his shirt as she felt Goosebumps rise under her touch, maybe she should go upstairs, chances were he would follow suit.
Later.
When Gibbs was sure she was comfortable he lowered his arm to rest on her shoulder, massage her tense muscles he could reach that way, causing her to sigh in contentment.
Finally resting comfortable sleep came fast.
What is Abby missing? Ideas?
I sure could use some smiles today! So, keep the reviews coming!