Fic: Hesitation 1/1 Posted on behalf of gabbyfan923 for atlashrugged
gabbyfan923 asked me to post this on her behalf.
Title: Hestitation
Author: gabbyfan923
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Murder 2.0, Bloodbath, Frame-Up
Summary: For atlashrugged for the GAFicathon.Three things requested: Gibbs' basement, car conversation (occurs in car not about car), and a new weird nickname that Abby has for Gibbs. Three things she doesn't want in the story: Abby/OC, Gibbs/OC, or helpless Abby with Gibbs coming to the rescue.
Something about this last case struck, angered, and confused him. He found himself unable to focus in the end as he turned off his desk lamp and headed home. Just as he arrived at his car he saw her.
“Abs?”
“You said I could stay with you tonight.”
‘Oh shit, I had.’ Just one more thing to add to his confusion since he knew that she knew the case had been closed.
“There’s no threat anymore. We caught the guy.”
A pregnant pause surged between them as they both played their poker faces; neither one giving in to saying what they were thinking beyond that fact. After a few moments, which later he would blame on how tired he was, he sighed and unlocked the doors and opened the passenger side, gesturing for her to get in.
“Thanks, Gibbs!”
His reward was her smile--a smile which both captivated and amazed him. Even on his worst days a smile from her seemed to brighten things up…yet at the same time, her smile had the ability to frustrate him since he knew she played it up sometimes, knowing he could never deny her.
For the first half of the ride he says nothing, knowing that she would understand; however, soon the questions in his mind begin to wear on him.
“Abs?”
“Hmm?”
He notices she’s staring out the window, obviously daydreaming about something…or someone.
“You ok?”
She turns towards him and he meets her eyes, which she had been avoiding. Suddenly, he understands…she was neither scared nor feeling vulnerable tonight. No, she had a completely different reason for getting into his car.
“I’m fine, worrywort. Just didn’t feel like being alone tonight and you had promised me a night in with you.”
He smiles as he realizes she had done it again; made a statement which she obviously believed to be factual and therefore the end of a conversation.
“Worrywort?”
“It just popped up in my head…’cause you’re always thinking I’m some damsel in distress, which I am totally not.”
“Oh, I remember how you deal with men who try to---“
“Yeah, like that hired gun from that nerd who embezzled, or that creep Chip who tried to frame Tony! I---“
“Like I said, I remember.”
He said it jokingly as to not make her think he was trying to change the subject too quickly-which he was. Because each of those times had terrified him…not to mention the time Ari shot at her. They had made him realize that his life, however downplayed it may seem, wouldn’t be worth as much without her in it.
“Good. So…are you still working on that same boat?”
“Nope. Starting from scratch. I just have the frame downstairs…just like the last time you stayed over.”
“Oh, I am almost embarrassed about that! I can’t believe I totally knocked a piece of wood out of that beam! I was thinking you’d for sure never talk to me again!”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could do that would make me do that.”
Another awkward silence filled the car as he entered his driveway. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and yet…
“So…since I’m staying over at Casa Gibbs, do I get to pick the glass I drink from tonight?”
His mood lightened, seeing her look joyful and light-hearted as she traveled through his house.
“Sure. I’ll just put your bag up in the guest---“
“Woah there ‘speedy’! Let’s have a drink first.”
He had to admit to himself that out of all the nicknames she’s given him over the years, “speedy” wasn’t so much of a pulse-racer. Trying to hide a smile, he guided her downstairs by placing his hand on that certain spot on her back. He could almost swear he felt her gasp as his hand connected with her body.
An hour later they sat in his basement laughing over incidents that occurred through the years. Each time she smiled, he smiled in return unable to help himself. He took in how beautiful she looked as she laughed without care or worry; her eyes sparkled as she recalled certain memories…he was entranced with her.
He knew he hadn’t listened to a word she had said in the past few minutes, but he was struggling. How do you make the decision whether or not to chance a wonderful friendship on emotions? Moments later he saw her stretch and finish her glass.
“You ready for bed Abs?”
“Definitely.”
He heard her walk up the stairs, trying hard not to clink the glasses together as she held onto the banister. He thought to call out to her, but decided it could wait as he finished putting away his tools and turning off the lights.
Once he arrived upstairs he noticed her bag was gone; thinking she had carried it up to his guestroom herself, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair wondering if he had missed his chance. Kicking off his shoes he began his journey to his bedroom, stopping briefly at the closed guestroom door.
He tried to convince himself it was for the better good; they worked together after all…not to mention the age difference. Opening his door he stopped cold.
“Um, Abs?”
“Don’t say anything for a minute, ok? Just hear me out.”
He nodded silently, being struck by the image of her lying on his bed in nothing more than a black silk nightgown.
“I may be totally off base here, but I’ve gotta try…Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I love you. And I know, it’s scary and goes against all the rules but---“
She never got to finish her sentence as he crossed his room and captured her lips with his. She didn’t need to hear the words in return from him that night, she felt them. And despite all odds, both felt complete since they had finally found someone who expected them to only be who they were…nothing more or less. They could figure out everything else in later.
Finis
Title: Hestitation
Author: gabbyfan923
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Murder 2.0, Bloodbath, Frame-Up
Summary: For atlashrugged for the GAFicathon.Three things requested: Gibbs' basement, car conversation (occurs in car not about car), and a new weird nickname that Abby has for Gibbs. Three things she doesn't want in the story: Abby/OC, Gibbs/OC, or helpless Abby with Gibbs coming to the rescue.
Something about this last case struck, angered, and confused him. He found himself unable to focus in the end as he turned off his desk lamp and headed home. Just as he arrived at his car he saw her.
“Abs?”
“You said I could stay with you tonight.”
‘Oh shit, I had.’ Just one more thing to add to his confusion since he knew that she knew the case had been closed.
“There’s no threat anymore. We caught the guy.”
A pregnant pause surged between them as they both played their poker faces; neither one giving in to saying what they were thinking beyond that fact. After a few moments, which later he would blame on how tired he was, he sighed and unlocked the doors and opened the passenger side, gesturing for her to get in.
“Thanks, Gibbs!”
His reward was her smile--a smile which both captivated and amazed him. Even on his worst days a smile from her seemed to brighten things up…yet at the same time, her smile had the ability to frustrate him since he knew she played it up sometimes, knowing he could never deny her.
For the first half of the ride he says nothing, knowing that she would understand; however, soon the questions in his mind begin to wear on him.
“Abs?”
“Hmm?”
He notices she’s staring out the window, obviously daydreaming about something…or someone.
“You ok?”
She turns towards him and he meets her eyes, which she had been avoiding. Suddenly, he understands…she was neither scared nor feeling vulnerable tonight. No, she had a completely different reason for getting into his car.
“I’m fine, worrywort. Just didn’t feel like being alone tonight and you had promised me a night in with you.”
He smiles as he realizes she had done it again; made a statement which she obviously believed to be factual and therefore the end of a conversation.
“Worrywort?”
“It just popped up in my head…’cause you’re always thinking I’m some damsel in distress, which I am totally not.”
“Oh, I remember how you deal with men who try to---“
“Yeah, like that hired gun from that nerd who embezzled, or that creep Chip who tried to frame Tony! I---“
“Like I said, I remember.”
He said it jokingly as to not make her think he was trying to change the subject too quickly-which he was. Because each of those times had terrified him…not to mention the time Ari shot at her. They had made him realize that his life, however downplayed it may seem, wouldn’t be worth as much without her in it.
“Good. So…are you still working on that same boat?”
“Nope. Starting from scratch. I just have the frame downstairs…just like the last time you stayed over.”
“Oh, I am almost embarrassed about that! I can’t believe I totally knocked a piece of wood out of that beam! I was thinking you’d for sure never talk to me again!”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could do that would make me do that.”
Another awkward silence filled the car as he entered his driveway. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and yet…
“So…since I’m staying over at Casa Gibbs, do I get to pick the glass I drink from tonight?”
His mood lightened, seeing her look joyful and light-hearted as she traveled through his house.
“Sure. I’ll just put your bag up in the guest---“
“Woah there ‘speedy’! Let’s have a drink first.”
He had to admit to himself that out of all the nicknames she’s given him over the years, “speedy” wasn’t so much of a pulse-racer. Trying to hide a smile, he guided her downstairs by placing his hand on that certain spot on her back. He could almost swear he felt her gasp as his hand connected with her body.
An hour later they sat in his basement laughing over incidents that occurred through the years. Each time she smiled, he smiled in return unable to help himself. He took in how beautiful she looked as she laughed without care or worry; her eyes sparkled as she recalled certain memories…he was entranced with her.
He knew he hadn’t listened to a word she had said in the past few minutes, but he was struggling. How do you make the decision whether or not to chance a wonderful friendship on emotions? Moments later he saw her stretch and finish her glass.
“You ready for bed Abs?”
“Definitely.”
He heard her walk up the stairs, trying hard not to clink the glasses together as she held onto the banister. He thought to call out to her, but decided it could wait as he finished putting away his tools and turning off the lights.
Once he arrived upstairs he noticed her bag was gone; thinking she had carried it up to his guestroom herself, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair wondering if he had missed his chance. Kicking off his shoes he began his journey to his bedroom, stopping briefly at the closed guestroom door.
He tried to convince himself it was for the better good; they worked together after all…not to mention the age difference. Opening his door he stopped cold.
“Um, Abs?”
“Don’t say anything for a minute, ok? Just hear me out.”
He nodded silently, being struck by the image of her lying on his bed in nothing more than a black silk nightgown.
“I may be totally off base here, but I’ve gotta try…Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I love you. And I know, it’s scary and goes against all the rules but---“
She never got to finish her sentence as he crossed his room and captured her lips with his. She didn’t need to hear the words in return from him that night, she felt them. And despite all odds, both felt complete since they had finally found someone who expected them to only be who they were…nothing more or less. They could figure out everything else in later.
Finis