Title: It's Been A While
Rating: T to be safe – just one curse word
Spoilers: Ex-File and beyond…sort of.
Author's Note: From Chirugal's 2010 Hiatus Week 7 prompt "It's Been A While". This has also set in motion a longer story – I haven't started it yet, but the ideas are milling around in my brain. This (and the future story) also comes from the Keith Urban song "You Gonna Fly" – the lyrics just fit. And I really don't like Hollis Mann. ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except what I write. NCIS and all its characters, plots, and quotes are all Mr. Bellisario's…I just play with them every now and then.
"Gibbs?"
By the time he hears her voice, he's already known she was in his house for the better part of five minutes. He heard her trademark boots come through the front door and across the house to the basement door ever so slowly, almost hesitantly. Then nothing – she stands still for what seems like an eternity – listening, maybe? – until she calls his name.
"Come on down, Abbs." Her footsteps on the stairs are still hesitant, although that might be due more to the combination of her heeled boots and the half-unfinished steps than anything else.
When her face finally comes into view, Gibbs has to squint a little in the dim lighting – damn, maybe it's time to start wearing those glasses down here – to see it. Her expression is…unusual – hopeful, almost.
"You're sure I'm not interrupting anything, Gibbs?"
"Oh, yeah, Abbs, the boat and I were just having a very meaningful discussion." He turned to pick up the ever-present bottle of bourbon on the worktable, then put it back and dug out the bottle of the good stuff. If Abby was upset about something, the least he could do would be to pour her a decent drink.
She snorted. "So…no Lieutanant Colonel keepin' you company?"
"Nope. She…left." He knocked back his coffee cup, emptying it so he could pour her drink. Gotta get a second cup down here for her.
"Left?" Her expression changes slightly, in a way he can't quite put his finger on.
"Yeah, Abbs."
Now he recognizes her expression, and he just barely has time to put down the bourbon before he's body-slammed by an enthusiastically-hugging Abby.
"It's been a while," he murmurs, and feels her smile against his neck.