Abby and Gibbs rode in silence. It wasn't discussed, but Gibbs drove his truck towards is house. Abby loved his truck. It was sturdy and reliable, just like him. Abby started to feel slightly guilty about being too harsh on him. Without thinking, she lifted her hand and ran in through his hair. It was so soft she couldn't resist doing it again, and again. Over the last year or so he had let it grow a bit, and she liked it. Gibbs leaned into her touch and smiled. She brushed her hair away from his eyes. As much as she liked his hair, she loved his eyes. The startling blue changed colors with his mood.
Gibbs pulled into his driveway, walked over to her door, and opened it for her. She gave him a quick peck on the lips before heading up the steps to the door. It had rained earlier and since it was March the ground had started to freeze. Abby slipped and ended up painfully on her back. "Ow! Karma."
"Abbs, are you ok?" He hurried to her to help her to her feet.
"Just hurt my ego is all."
"Better not take any more chances." Gibbs swung her into his arms easily. She giggled and let him carry her inside and set her on the couch. Gibbs started a fire, which was roaring before long. Abby changed into a set of black pajamas with white skulls she had left at his house. She had stayed with him last after Kate had died and Ari was out of the picture. Gibbs wore sweats now along with an old NIS shirt. Gibbs wrapped a blanket around Abby.
"Gibbs, about earlier..."
"I'm sorry, Abby. I'd blame it on the case but you deserve better than that. I only wish you had told me what I did wrong."
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have told you what I did in the lab. I am scared of confrontation but sometimes my temper wins, and is isn't pretty. I was scared I was losing you, and it isn't just today. I blew up at you over it all. Plus, I miss my mom."
"Losing me? To who? You...hold up? What about your mom?"
It hit Abby like a ton of bricks. She didn't tell him that her mom had died! She wanted him to be her hero, but how could he if he didn't know? "Gloria died in the fall. I miss her like crazy. I had just lost Kate, too. I thought I was losing you to Ziva."
"You need to tell me these things, Abigail." He used his stern voice now, but only for a second. "I am so sorry about Gloria. You know how much I liked, respected, and admired her. I don't want you to go through something like that alone ever again, understand?" Abby nodded. "And Ziva...is that why you didn't warm to her for so long? You liked Kate right away, and the two of them are a bit alike. Ziva, she...Abby, if I tell you something, will you keep it a secret?"
"Yeah."
"It's imperative this doesn't leave this house, Abby. Ziva was Ari's sister." Abby's eyes grew wide, but she stayed silent. "She was his Moussad handler, but you obviously know now he was a mole. Ari did have it out for me. Ziva backed me up and shot him in the end. She saved my life, Abbs. Why did you think you were losing me to her?"
"You treated her differently. You were gentle with her. She's been really late and you didn't do much, McGee said. Last time Tony was late you head-slapped him. I used to be the only one who you let be late. Stuff like that."
He shook his head. "Nice to know my team is gossiping about me. That doesn't mean anything, Abbs. I may have cut her some slack because what she went through and she was in a brand-new country without family or friends."
"So you were just being compassionate?"
"Yeah." Gibbs tweaked her nose. "Trust me, you'll always be the favorite." He leaned in to kiss her slowly, and she persuaded him to share her blanket. She cuddled against his side.
"I struggle with self-doubt sometimes," Abby said, yawning slightly. " I sometimes feel like I'm not what people need and I end up trying too hard. I don't speak up for myself."
"You're everything I need."
"I'm worried that you only kissed me because I asked you to."
"I've wanted to kiss you forever. Almost did, too, after Ari shot into the lab. And after you had duck taped Chip to the floor, and after you ate that Clownie Cake in the lab."
"I have to hold myself back from kissing you every time you walk into the lab. Since you've grown your hair out, I've always wanted to do this." Abby grabbed the back of his head and speared her fingers through his hair and kissed him deeply. He moaned into her mouth.
When they broke, Gibbs rested his head against hers. "You mean you wanted to kiss me when I grew my hair? Shoulda done that ages ago."
"No, silly. I wanted to kiss you when I first saw you. I just like this." She ran her hands through his hair again."
"What do you want for your birthday?"
"You."
"You have me."
"Good. You have me too."
"Anything else you want?" Abby giggled and grinned. "Uh-oh," Gibbs said.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
"Abbs, you're nuts, that isn't out yet!"
"I know! If you could pull that off I don't know what! Here's what I want. I want you to read the first four books so we can read the next one together."
"Already read em, Abbs."
"No way?! You've been holding out on me! What other secrets do you have?"
"Well, let's see..."
TBC...
Author's note: I know I said two parter but a plot bunny grew.