Gibbs didn't speak as he drove towards the house. Jenny sat in the passenger seat chatting away with only Ziva answering her. Abby sat slouching while she stared out the window, she knew what was coming; everyone would be happy and cheery that she was home and then as soon as everyone was gone and Ziva had made a swift exit Jenny and Gibbs would come down on her like a ton of bricks.

"Did your dad tell you two?" Jenny questioned, neither girl spoke as Ziva hoped Abby would respond.

"We're all going to down to see your grandad for a while in a few weeks time," Jenny shifted slightly so she could peer into the back at her daughters.

Ziva smiled "Sounds good, mum."

Abby didn't react like she normally did. She was yelling and screaming with excitement, she wasn't jumping up in down in her seat the best she could without the seatbelt locking on her. No. This time Abby just sunk down lower in her seat and continued to stare out the car window absent-mindedly biting on her nail.

"You excited Abby?" Gibbs asked glancing at the mirror. Abby nodded in reply and pulled out her ipod and putting her headphones in before anyone else could ask another question. Jenny sighed and squeezed her husband's knee.

"She's hurting, Jethro. She's needs us to be patient with her," Jenny reassured quietly

"What she needs is a kick up the ass and to be grounded until she's 21," Gibbs muttered harshly.

"Yeah because that will fix everything."

The car fell into an unpleasant silence.

"Mum?" Ziva piped up after a while.

"Yeah, Sweetie."

"Why did you leave Tony in charge of watching the dinner?"

"Kate's there too," Jenny laughed lightly.

"Ok, now I get it," Ziva giggled, Gibbs smiled slightly at the sound.

The remainder of the journey was spent with Gibbs, Jenny and Ziva actually laughing and messing around. Gibbs pulled into the drive way and was glad to be home.

Abby was a little bit more reluctant to get out of the car but the stern gaze from her father made her move. She refused to meet anyone eyes. She knew how this worked; now everyone knew that she wasn't going to die she was met with stone cold anger then after the yelling, there would be the interrogation. Question after question that Abby knew she could not answer and might not be able to answer for a while. They were pissed and she knew that the next few weeks would be absolute hell. What she didn't know was that Gibbs and Jenny would make sure she was never alone for more than a minute at a time because they were besides themselves with worry that she'd do it again and this time, she'd succeed.

Ziva knew she should focus on Abby but her mind kept wondering to Ray and the baby and how everything was going to fall into place for her. A little earlier than she'd like but who was she to question it. Sure, her sister was...sick? But she was fine, right? No more episodes like this ever again. So yeah it wasn't mean to think of how everything in her life, besides Abby, was perfect. Couldn't she just spend a few hours being happy for herself and her boyfriend before she had to play babysitter to her over-emotional sister and if that made her self-centred, so be it.

Everyone sat around the table enjoying each other's company. Ducky, Tony, Gibbs and Kate were laughing at the lengths they'd gone to catch the latest murderer. While Jenny tried to stop Jimmy, Tim and Ziva bickering over what film they'd watch after dinner. Abby sat quietly deep in her own thoughts.

"Why don't we just ask Abby?" Jimmy suggested, "What'd you think we should watch, Abbs?"

"Sweeney Todd?" Abby said glancing at him.

"I love that movie," Ziva agreed.

"Yeah, it's like the creepiest musical in the history of musicals" Jimmy smiled.

"Great explanation there, bro," Tim laughed.

"Shut up," Jimmy muttered.

"Boys," Ducky warned.

"Sorry, Dad," They answered in unison.

"Can I go get some air?" Abby asked quietly.

"Um...I don't think that's such a good idea-" Jenny began but Gibbs cut her off.

"Yeah but don't be long, desert will be ready in a few minutes," Gibbs' tone wasn't cold but it wasn't how he normally spoke to his youngest.

Abby stood and left without replying or making any attempt to communicate with anyone.

"Are you sure we should be letting her go off on her own. You heard what the doctor said,"

Jenny said.

"I don't want her thinking we don't trust her and any ways one of us are going out in exactly thirty seconds to check on her." Gibbs took a long drink from his beer and then began to stand up.

"Can I go out, Uncle Gibbs, I need to talk to her," Tim asked.

"Fine by me," Gibbs nodded.

"Thanks."

Tim went outside onto the front porch and seen Abby sitting on the top step with a patchwork blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Jethro was sitting next to her and she had her arm wrapped tightly around her dog

"Hey, Abbs," Tim smiled sadly as he sat down next to her.

"My dad got you checking up on me?" Abby sighed.

"No," Tim lied weakly.

"So now your lying to me as well?" Abby stared out at the street.

"Abbs, we need to talk," Tim sighed as he itched his forehead.

"This doesn't sound good."

"What's going on with you?" Tim asked trying not to make it sound harsh.

"Why don't you ask your best friend?"

"You are my best friend," Tim said in confusion.

"I'm talking about Sarah and her band of merry cheerleaders."

"Sarah? What's she said?"

"You'd be quicker asking what she hasn't said."

"Ok, now you're not making any sense. I thought you and Sarah got along great."

"So did I," Abby laughed humourlessly.

"Abby? Has Sarah and her friends been bullying you?" Tim asked in shock as Abby merely nodded tears shinning in her eyes.

"Why didn't you come and tell me?"

"Would you have believed me? And it wouldn't have made a difference, she said if I didn't she'd knew people who could hurt you and Zee."

"Is this why you did what you did?" Tim asked.

Abby nodded again, "She said that nobody wanted me and that you just wanted to get in my pants and that I was a worthless whore and I made my family sick."

"Oh my god."

"She made it very clear that everybody was better off without me here and that if I didn't disappear she'd tell everyone what Ari did to Ziva and I know for a fact that Zee couldn't handle everyone knowing so technically I was taking one for the team."

Tim didn't answer he just turned sideways and pulled Abby against his chested.

"I love you, Abby Gibbs and nothing Sarah and her stupid friends can do will ever change that," Tim kissed the side of her head.

"I love you too but that isn't going to change the fact that people are picking on you because I'm younger than you."

"It's none of their damn business!" Tim muttered angrily "I don't care about them or their opinions, all I care about is that you're safe and that I haven't lost you."

Meanwhile everyone else sat quietly in silence no one uttered a word they were all deeply worried about Abby, Gibbs walked outside to see why Abby had been outside for such a long time and he needed to get her into bed and her sedative into her, he didn't want his baby to have to take drugs or for him to have to force her to take them it simply broke his heart.

"Come on princess, bed and say night to Tim"

"Ok Daddy"

After about half and hour everyone had left since no one felt up to watching the movie they decided Saturday would be whole day of movies and relaxing this was the first week in 7 months in which Gibbs' team weren't on call so they were going to make the most of it.

Gibbs gently placed a kiss on Abby's forehead when her phone went off, it was Tim, he decided it was for the best that he took her phone downstairs as not to wake her.

"Hey, I finally get to see what Abby's chick friends think of me" Tony chuckled to Kate smugly whilst picking up Abby's mobile "This Sarah girl sounds a promising start..." He trailed off as he read the first text...