Fic: Smoke and Mirrors [16/23]
Title: Smoke and Mirrors 16/23
Author: Jo. R (driftingatdusk)
Rating: FR-15
Category: Drama, Case-file, Romance, Angst, Action, Friendship
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Spoilers: Bloodbath, Hiatus 1&2, Murder 2.0, Broken Bird, Faith, Rule 51, Cracked
Summary: Someone from the past has a score to settle with the team.
My thanks as always to Lisa, and my hopes for a very Gabby-filled New Year for each and every one of my fellow shippers :)
~*~
Part Sixteen
~*~
Just over an hour later, and the three women were not only settled at a table waiting for their food to be delivered but had started on the bottle of wine Carol had insisted they order to go along with it.
Not wanting to start talking about her concerns and ruin what was shaping up to be a lovely evening with friends, Abby changed the subject whenever Carol tried bringing it up, pleased her friend took the hint after three attempts at discussing it.
When their food arrived, they ordered another bottle of wine, all three of them feeling distinctly more relaxed and more than a little tipsy. Abby switched to water after her first glass from the second bottle, reminding them both that she had to be at work the following day.
As their evening drew to a close, Abby pulled out her phone to call for a cab.
"Why don't you call your fox?" Carol suggested with an arched eyebrow, her attempts at looking innocent falling flat. "It'd save you the cab fare..."
"Ooh, yeah, call him!" Hanna agreed, nodding her head enthusiastically. "I wanna see him!"
"It's late," Abby protested. "He's probably..."
"... in bed?" Carol finished for her with a smirk. "I know he's old, Abby, but surely he's not *that* old. Can't see why you'd be so into him if he was..."
Rolling her eyes at the giggles escaping her friends, Abby selected Gibbs from her list of contacts. "I was going to say he's probably had a couple of drinks but I'll call..."
It didn't take him long to answer. "Hey, Abby. You almost done?"
Feeling warm just at the sound of his voice, Abby turned away from her whispering friends. "Just about to call a cab so I thought I'd check you're still okay with me heading straight over to your place?"
She heard the rustle of material in the background, and the sound of something heavy being put down. "I'll come and pick you up," he said as his way of confirming that he was more than okay with the idea. "Where are you?"
"You don't have to do that, Gibbs," Abby insisted, though couldn't quite keep the smile from lighting up her face, much to her friends delight. "I can call a cab..."
"I'll come and get you," he murmured, his tone leaving no room for arguments. "You were going to the Gallery, right?"
"Right. We're at Clydes, so I could meet you outside?"
"See you soon, Abs."
Taking that as a yes, Abby hung up after he did, turning her attention back to her friends and doing her best not to blush at the looks they gave her. "Looks like you're going to get your wish. He's on his way."
Carol and Hanna exchanged a high-five before giving her almost identical grins. "It's so sweet that he's coming to get you."
"Totally sweet," Hanna agreed with a sigh. "And you didn't even need to ask," she pointed out. "That's romantic."
Abby struggled to keep her blush under control and shook her head. "It's not romantic," she protested, "it's because he knows better than anyone how dangerous it can be to be out this late at night. He'd probably be able to quote statistics at you, too."
"Oh, come on, Abby, you think it's romantic, too, or you wouldn't be trying to hide that sappy smile of yours," Carol teased unapologetically.
She good naturedly put up with their teasing for the next half hour but was relieved when she saw the familiar car pull into the street outside. Motioning to her friends that her lift was here, she wasn't surprised at all when they insisted on walking her out even though they planned to stay for a little longer and make a home for themselves at the bar.
Walking a little quicker than her friends, clutching the bag containing her bridesmaid dress to her, Abby approached Gibbs as he got out of the car to greet her and open the passenger's door for her, an apologetic expression arranging her features as she kissed him briefly. "I'm sorry about this; they're insisting I introduce you..."
Glancing over her shoulder at the obviously tipsy women, Gibbs couldn't help but grin a little at Abby's embarrassment. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he stood at her side as they approached, nodding in greeting. "Ladies."
"Ooh, I don't see any ladies around here, do you, Hanna?" Carol gave him a flirtatious smile.
"Nope, but I see a very hot silver fox. Okay, two of them, but if I close one of my eyes and squint a little, there's only one of you," Hanna rambled. "You are so right, Abby. He's hot. Really, really, really hot."
"Hanna!" Hiding her flaming face against Gibbs' shoulder, Abby missed the wink he gave her friends. "Just stop talking, please!"
"Aww, Abby!" Hanna pouted. "Anyone would think you're embarrassed by us..."
"And we haven't started with the embarrassing Abby stories yet," Carol chimed in. She shrugged when Abby lifted her head to glare at her. "Okay, okay, I'll stop for now. But look for me at the wedding, Very Special Agent Gibbs," she continued wickedly. "I've got lots and lots of stories I'm sure you would love to hear about our girl here."
"Oh, yeah, you'll be coming to the wedding, won't you?" Hanna brightened at the thought of being able to torment their friend even further. "As Abby's date? Lucky girl."
"Well, I haven't been asked..." Gibbs answered slowly, arching an eyebrow at the woman snuggled up against his side. "I'd love to be there, or were you planning on taking someone else?"
"As if there could be anyone else!" Carol answered for her, waving her hands dramatically. "You're pretty much all she's talked about for months!"
"Ha. Try years!" Hanna disagreed. "Every time we managed to get together, it was always 'Gibbs this' and 'Gibbs that' and 'you'll never guess what Gibbs did today' and..."
"And I think that's enough from both of you," Abby interrupted, shooting both of her friends a good-natured glare. "We've got to get going and I'm sure the bartender has a fresh bottle of sparkling wine with your names on it already on ice."
"Aww, look! We embarrassed her!" There was no remorse in her tone. In fact, Carol sounded positively gleeful. She moved forward and accepted the hug Abby leaned down to give her. "It's been fun, Abby. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"I'll speak to you then." Straightening, Abby hugged Hanna before taking a step back to stand with Gibbs once more. "Get inside, both of you. The last thing this wedding needs is for the bride and one of her bridesmaid's to get a cold before the big day."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Bossy, isn't she? Wonder if she's bossy..."
"Hanna!"
The two giggling women half-walked, half-stumbled back into the restaurant, while Gibbs ushered an embarrassed Abby around the car to the passenger's side, taking the dress bag from her to put it in the trunk. "I really am sorry about them," Abby murmured, holding onto the car door once he'd opened it for her. "They're a little... merry."
"I like them," he answered, a grin on his face. Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against hers lightly. "Like you more."
"I'm glad." Abby smiled as she got in the car and he shut the door behind her. She watched him walk around the car and get into the driver's side before leaning across to kiss him soundly. "Thanks for coming to get me."
"Anytime."
~*~
They gathered together in an unofficial campfire, one of them always keeping an eye out for their boss. Tony, Ziva and McGee sat on their chairs in the middle of their section of the squad room, talking in low murmurs so that no one could overhear their conversation.
"Do you think we should say something?" Ziva asked quietly. "To let them know that we know?"
"We *don't* know," McGee pointed out, "so how can we tell them that we do?"
Tony fought back a smile; it wasn't often he knew something his teammates didn't but loyalty to Abby, and respect for his boss, kept him from using what he knew to gloat. "What's the point in saying anything? They'll be embarrassed if we're wrong - or mad, in Gibbs' case - and if we're right... Why not just let them tell us in their own time?"
Both Ziva and McGee looked at him in surprise. "That is surprisingly mature of you, Tony," Ziva told him, a suspicious edge in her tone. "Why?"
"No reason." Tony shrugged but struggled to meet their gaze. "I just think they deserve some time to themselves if they are together. And if they're not... We'll all be better off if we don't say anything. Our heads will thank us," he added with a grimace, rubbing the back of his head in memory of the so called 'Gibbs-slaps' - slaps to the back of the head - he'd received from the man they were named after over the years.
"We could wait a while," McGee said slowly, considering Tony's warning. "And see if they tell us, or if they do something that confirms it either way."
"Confirm what, McGee?" Their boss's voice made them all jump and scramble back to their desks with their chairs in tow. Gibbs watched them, a flicker of amusement in his blue gaze before it disappeared. "Dead marine at Norfolk. Gear up."
Tony watched as his teammates got their things together and headed for the elevator. He started to follow only to have Gibbs fall in step with him.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs spoke quietly. "You didn't tell them?"
"Tell who what, boss?" Glancing at Gibbs quickly, Tony shrugged a shoulder. "I know nothing."
Gibbs stared at him for a few seconds before nodding, a quick grin quirking the corners of his mouth before disappearing behind a noncommittal expression. He let his agent precede him into the elevator, lifting his hand on impulse to slap the back of Tony's head.
Tony made a show of flinching, rubbing his head mostly for show, and ducked his head to hide a grin.
~*~
The day of his review meeting with his lawyer had finally dawned. Mikel couldn't help but smile as he was led to the small room where it would be held, butterflies of anticipation dancing in the pit of his stomach.
He almost stopped in surprise at the sight of not his lawyer but Drew sitting at the table waiting for him but managed to school his features quickly. The guard who had led him from his cell nodded at the second guard already in the room and turned, closing the door behind him.
"It's okay, Mikel," Drew said soothingly, standing up when the three of them were alone. "Ian here knows the score. He's going to help us get you out of here."
"Really?" Mikel looked from Drew to the guard, Ian, and back again. "How...?"
Drew opened the briefcase on the table. As Mikel watched, curious, he saw Drew pull the material on the inside of the top of the case away from the sides, ripping it at the seams. After a few seconds, he withdrew a small box and opened it, shaking its contents onto his hand.
Mikel took an instinctive step back as Drew emptied his hand into the plastic cup of water on the table beside the brief case. "What's that...?"
"A small dose of GHB," Drew answered matter-of-factly. "Don't worry, Mikel, you'll be okay," he added soothingly on seeing the alarm Mikel couldn't keep from showing on his face. "You'll be unconscious for a few hours, long enough for us to get you out of here and into the ambulance I've arranged to be on standby."
"An ambulance...?" Mikel repeated.
Drew shrugged a shoulder. "They won't be able to treat you here, so they'll call for paramedics. When they do, my contact will intercept the call and pick us up instead. Ian here will be the guard assigned to come with us. He'll let us go when we've managed to shake off the police escort."
"Really?" Mikel turned disbelieving eyes onto the guard, who couldn't quite meet his gaze. "You'd do that...?"
"For a small fee," Drew replied, the corners of his lips tugging upwards as his eyes lit with a malicious gleam. "Our friend here got himself into trouble with some loan sharks. I promised I'd help him out if he did this little favour for us."
Mikel took a step towards the table, eyeing the cup Drew picked up and held out to him warily. "And you're sure this won't do me any harm? It won't... I won't die?"
Drew rolled his eyes but managed a reassuring smile. "You'll live," he promised, "but you'll feel a little unwell for a while until the drug wears off completely. It's a small price to pay for your freedom, Mikel," he reminded him softly, handing him the cup.
Mikel looked down into the water, his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's the only way," Drew continued quietly, "to get you out of here. To get you back to Abby."
As if her name was the magic word, Mikel found the courage within him to lift the cup to his lips and drank its contents in one big gulp.
~*~
Author: Jo. R (driftingatdusk)
Rating: FR-15
Category: Drama, Case-file, Romance, Angst, Action, Friendship
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Spoilers: Bloodbath, Hiatus 1&2, Murder 2.0, Broken Bird, Faith, Rule 51, Cracked
Summary: Someone from the past has a score to settle with the team.
My thanks as always to Lisa, and my hopes for a very Gabby-filled New Year for each and every one of my fellow shippers :)
~*~
Part Sixteen
~*~
Just over an hour later, and the three women were not only settled at a table waiting for their food to be delivered but had started on the bottle of wine Carol had insisted they order to go along with it.
Not wanting to start talking about her concerns and ruin what was shaping up to be a lovely evening with friends, Abby changed the subject whenever Carol tried bringing it up, pleased her friend took the hint after three attempts at discussing it.
When their food arrived, they ordered another bottle of wine, all three of them feeling distinctly more relaxed and more than a little tipsy. Abby switched to water after her first glass from the second bottle, reminding them both that she had to be at work the following day.
As their evening drew to a close, Abby pulled out her phone to call for a cab.
"Why don't you call your fox?" Carol suggested with an arched eyebrow, her attempts at looking innocent falling flat. "It'd save you the cab fare..."
"Ooh, yeah, call him!" Hanna agreed, nodding her head enthusiastically. "I wanna see him!"
"It's late," Abby protested. "He's probably..."
"... in bed?" Carol finished for her with a smirk. "I know he's old, Abby, but surely he's not *that* old. Can't see why you'd be so into him if he was..."
Rolling her eyes at the giggles escaping her friends, Abby selected Gibbs from her list of contacts. "I was going to say he's probably had a couple of drinks but I'll call..."
It didn't take him long to answer. "Hey, Abby. You almost done?"
Feeling warm just at the sound of his voice, Abby turned away from her whispering friends. "Just about to call a cab so I thought I'd check you're still okay with me heading straight over to your place?"
She heard the rustle of material in the background, and the sound of something heavy being put down. "I'll come and pick you up," he said as his way of confirming that he was more than okay with the idea. "Where are you?"
"You don't have to do that, Gibbs," Abby insisted, though couldn't quite keep the smile from lighting up her face, much to her friends delight. "I can call a cab..."
"I'll come and get you," he murmured, his tone leaving no room for arguments. "You were going to the Gallery, right?"
"Right. We're at Clydes, so I could meet you outside?"
"See you soon, Abs."
Taking that as a yes, Abby hung up after he did, turning her attention back to her friends and doing her best not to blush at the looks they gave her. "Looks like you're going to get your wish. He's on his way."
Carol and Hanna exchanged a high-five before giving her almost identical grins. "It's so sweet that he's coming to get you."
"Totally sweet," Hanna agreed with a sigh. "And you didn't even need to ask," she pointed out. "That's romantic."
Abby struggled to keep her blush under control and shook her head. "It's not romantic," she protested, "it's because he knows better than anyone how dangerous it can be to be out this late at night. He'd probably be able to quote statistics at you, too."
"Oh, come on, Abby, you think it's romantic, too, or you wouldn't be trying to hide that sappy smile of yours," Carol teased unapologetically.
She good naturedly put up with their teasing for the next half hour but was relieved when she saw the familiar car pull into the street outside. Motioning to her friends that her lift was here, she wasn't surprised at all when they insisted on walking her out even though they planned to stay for a little longer and make a home for themselves at the bar.
Walking a little quicker than her friends, clutching the bag containing her bridesmaid dress to her, Abby approached Gibbs as he got out of the car to greet her and open the passenger's door for her, an apologetic expression arranging her features as she kissed him briefly. "I'm sorry about this; they're insisting I introduce you..."
Glancing over her shoulder at the obviously tipsy women, Gibbs couldn't help but grin a little at Abby's embarrassment. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he stood at her side as they approached, nodding in greeting. "Ladies."
"Ooh, I don't see any ladies around here, do you, Hanna?" Carol gave him a flirtatious smile.
"Nope, but I see a very hot silver fox. Okay, two of them, but if I close one of my eyes and squint a little, there's only one of you," Hanna rambled. "You are so right, Abby. He's hot. Really, really, really hot."
"Hanna!" Hiding her flaming face against Gibbs' shoulder, Abby missed the wink he gave her friends. "Just stop talking, please!"
"Aww, Abby!" Hanna pouted. "Anyone would think you're embarrassed by us..."
"And we haven't started with the embarrassing Abby stories yet," Carol chimed in. She shrugged when Abby lifted her head to glare at her. "Okay, okay, I'll stop for now. But look for me at the wedding, Very Special Agent Gibbs," she continued wickedly. "I've got lots and lots of stories I'm sure you would love to hear about our girl here."
"Oh, yeah, you'll be coming to the wedding, won't you?" Hanna brightened at the thought of being able to torment their friend even further. "As Abby's date? Lucky girl."
"Well, I haven't been asked..." Gibbs answered slowly, arching an eyebrow at the woman snuggled up against his side. "I'd love to be there, or were you planning on taking someone else?"
"As if there could be anyone else!" Carol answered for her, waving her hands dramatically. "You're pretty much all she's talked about for months!"
"Ha. Try years!" Hanna disagreed. "Every time we managed to get together, it was always 'Gibbs this' and 'Gibbs that' and 'you'll never guess what Gibbs did today' and..."
"And I think that's enough from both of you," Abby interrupted, shooting both of her friends a good-natured glare. "We've got to get going and I'm sure the bartender has a fresh bottle of sparkling wine with your names on it already on ice."
"Aww, look! We embarrassed her!" There was no remorse in her tone. In fact, Carol sounded positively gleeful. She moved forward and accepted the hug Abby leaned down to give her. "It's been fun, Abby. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"I'll speak to you then." Straightening, Abby hugged Hanna before taking a step back to stand with Gibbs once more. "Get inside, both of you. The last thing this wedding needs is for the bride and one of her bridesmaid's to get a cold before the big day."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Bossy, isn't she? Wonder if she's bossy..."
"Hanna!"
The two giggling women half-walked, half-stumbled back into the restaurant, while Gibbs ushered an embarrassed Abby around the car to the passenger's side, taking the dress bag from her to put it in the trunk. "I really am sorry about them," Abby murmured, holding onto the car door once he'd opened it for her. "They're a little... merry."
"I like them," he answered, a grin on his face. Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against hers lightly. "Like you more."
"I'm glad." Abby smiled as she got in the car and he shut the door behind her. She watched him walk around the car and get into the driver's side before leaning across to kiss him soundly. "Thanks for coming to get me."
"Anytime."
~*~
They gathered together in an unofficial campfire, one of them always keeping an eye out for their boss. Tony, Ziva and McGee sat on their chairs in the middle of their section of the squad room, talking in low murmurs so that no one could overhear their conversation.
"Do you think we should say something?" Ziva asked quietly. "To let them know that we know?"
"We *don't* know," McGee pointed out, "so how can we tell them that we do?"
Tony fought back a smile; it wasn't often he knew something his teammates didn't but loyalty to Abby, and respect for his boss, kept him from using what he knew to gloat. "What's the point in saying anything? They'll be embarrassed if we're wrong - or mad, in Gibbs' case - and if we're right... Why not just let them tell us in their own time?"
Both Ziva and McGee looked at him in surprise. "That is surprisingly mature of you, Tony," Ziva told him, a suspicious edge in her tone. "Why?"
"No reason." Tony shrugged but struggled to meet their gaze. "I just think they deserve some time to themselves if they are together. And if they're not... We'll all be better off if we don't say anything. Our heads will thank us," he added with a grimace, rubbing the back of his head in memory of the so called 'Gibbs-slaps' - slaps to the back of the head - he'd received from the man they were named after over the years.
"We could wait a while," McGee said slowly, considering Tony's warning. "And see if they tell us, or if they do something that confirms it either way."
"Confirm what, McGee?" Their boss's voice made them all jump and scramble back to their desks with their chairs in tow. Gibbs watched them, a flicker of amusement in his blue gaze before it disappeared. "Dead marine at Norfolk. Gear up."
Tony watched as his teammates got their things together and headed for the elevator. He started to follow only to have Gibbs fall in step with him.
"DiNozzo," Gibbs spoke quietly. "You didn't tell them?"
"Tell who what, boss?" Glancing at Gibbs quickly, Tony shrugged a shoulder. "I know nothing."
Gibbs stared at him for a few seconds before nodding, a quick grin quirking the corners of his mouth before disappearing behind a noncommittal expression. He let his agent precede him into the elevator, lifting his hand on impulse to slap the back of Tony's head.
Tony made a show of flinching, rubbing his head mostly for show, and ducked his head to hide a grin.
~*~
The day of his review meeting with his lawyer had finally dawned. Mikel couldn't help but smile as he was led to the small room where it would be held, butterflies of anticipation dancing in the pit of his stomach.
He almost stopped in surprise at the sight of not his lawyer but Drew sitting at the table waiting for him but managed to school his features quickly. The guard who had led him from his cell nodded at the second guard already in the room and turned, closing the door behind him.
"It's okay, Mikel," Drew said soothingly, standing up when the three of them were alone. "Ian here knows the score. He's going to help us get you out of here."
"Really?" Mikel looked from Drew to the guard, Ian, and back again. "How...?"
Drew opened the briefcase on the table. As Mikel watched, curious, he saw Drew pull the material on the inside of the top of the case away from the sides, ripping it at the seams. After a few seconds, he withdrew a small box and opened it, shaking its contents onto his hand.
Mikel took an instinctive step back as Drew emptied his hand into the plastic cup of water on the table beside the brief case. "What's that...?"
"A small dose of GHB," Drew answered matter-of-factly. "Don't worry, Mikel, you'll be okay," he added soothingly on seeing the alarm Mikel couldn't keep from showing on his face. "You'll be unconscious for a few hours, long enough for us to get you out of here and into the ambulance I've arranged to be on standby."
"An ambulance...?" Mikel repeated.
Drew shrugged a shoulder. "They won't be able to treat you here, so they'll call for paramedics. When they do, my contact will intercept the call and pick us up instead. Ian here will be the guard assigned to come with us. He'll let us go when we've managed to shake off the police escort."
"Really?" Mikel turned disbelieving eyes onto the guard, who couldn't quite meet his gaze. "You'd do that...?"
"For a small fee," Drew replied, the corners of his lips tugging upwards as his eyes lit with a malicious gleam. "Our friend here got himself into trouble with some loan sharks. I promised I'd help him out if he did this little favour for us."
Mikel took a step towards the table, eyeing the cup Drew picked up and held out to him warily. "And you're sure this won't do me any harm? It won't... I won't die?"
Drew rolled his eyes but managed a reassuring smile. "You'll live," he promised, "but you'll feel a little unwell for a while until the drug wears off completely. It's a small price to pay for your freedom, Mikel," he reminded him softly, handing him the cup.
Mikel looked down into the water, his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's the only way," Drew continued quietly, "to get you out of here. To get you back to Abby."
As if her name was the magic word, Mikel found the courage within him to lift the cup to his lips and drank its contents in one big gulp.
~*~