NCIS. Abby/Kate. 075. Shade.
Title: The Bodyguard
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abigail Sciuto, Caitlin Todd, Jethro Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo
Prompt: 075 Shade
Word Count: 2,066
Rating: R
Summary: Kate stands watch after Abby is threatened.
Author's Notes: Story #100! I finished! I finished! I finished! *runs around in a circle* 100 stories in 100 days! I NEVER would have attempted to do that on purpose. But GO ME! *dances*
Little Damn Table
Abby was trying to type, unable to get her shaking fingers to hit the right keys. She rested her hands on her lap and closed her eyes, trying to force herself into a state of calmness. She exhaled slowly, bringing both hands up and drawing lines in the air in front of her face. "Abby!"
She jerked and muttered, "There goes my calm..." She opened her eyes and turned her chair to face Kate. "You bellowed?"
"Do you want to guess why I'm so angry?" Kate asked, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Abby.
"I moved the bureau in the bedroom without consulting you?"
"You did?" Kate said, suddenly distracted. She shook her head and said, "No. I didn't even notice that. I meant anything that might have happened in court today."
Abby turned back to her computer. "Oh. That."
"Abby," Kate said, walking around her desk and putting both hands on Abby's shoulders. "The man threatened you. He threatened to hurt you because you testified against him. And I have to hear about it second-hand? I mean, if Tony and McGee hadn't been talking about it in the squad room and I just happened to overhear..."
Abby sighed. "It's not like I was purposely keeping it from you... I just didn't want you to worry."
"Too bad," Kate said. "This is me. Worried." She touched Abby's cheek, turning her head to face her. "I'm going to watch you tonight."
"No!" Abby said, firm but polite. "I already told Gibbs..."
"I know, I know, he said you didn't want protection."
"If I have someone watching over me tonight, I'll want them tomorrow. And I'll never be able to sleep alone."
Kate smiled. "You don't have to sleep alone."
Abby grinned and said, "Stop. You know what I mean."
"I do. And I understand that, Abby, believe me. But I won't be able to rest if I know you're alone. Besides... what else do I have to do?" She smiled and brushed Abby's hair. "Just for tonight. I'll sleep on the couch..."
"Kind of takes the fun out of you being my bodyguard."
Kate laughed.
"All right. Fine. If it will make you feel better, you can keep an eye on me tonight."
"How very kind of you," Kate said. She leaned down and kissed Abby's cheek before leaving the lab.
Abby turned back to her computer and began typing, fingers obediently tremor-free as she struck the keys.
---
Kate walked into the living room, smiling at the blanket and pillow tucked at one end of the couch. "Thank you, but I don't plan to do much sleeping."
"It's just in case," Abby said. "I didn't want you standing at attention outside my bedroom door all night. Although the mirrored sunglasses and the suit would've been hot."
"Am I going to have to frisk you?" Kate asked, arching an eyebrow.
Abby leaned against the wall, lifting both hands and crossing them at the wrists.
Kate laughed. "That's not the position."
"Depends on what you have in mind..."
Kate rolled her eyes and headed into the living room. Abby followed her, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "So, what do you want to do?"
"First, you should probably call Gibbs."
Abby frowned. "Why..." She rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone off the coffee table. She dialed Gibbs' cell phone and waited for him to pick up. "Hello, Gibbs. I'm fine. Stop being a mother hen and go home. Do you want me to call you every fifteen minutes to let you know I'm okay?" She sighed. "Well, I won't. Good-bye, Gibbs." She hung up and went to the window, watching until his car pulled away from the curb. "That man..."
"You love him," Kate said.
"Love means having to say I hate you sometimes," Abby said, closing the blinds and walking over to the couch. "So... what do you want to do first?"
Kate arched an eyebrow.
---
"Just use the tip of your finger... there... lightly... that's good. Just... brush it. Good. You're so good at this, Abby."
"I learned from the best."
"Flirt," Kate smiled. "Just a little more. Don't press too hard..."
"Is that good?"
"Perfect, Abby," Kate said. "I'll make an artist of you yet."
Abby rubbed her lead-smudged finger on a napkin. She'd just finished a portrait of Kate and was being instructed on how to properly shade. "I always used to just draw hash marks," Abby said.
"Works just as well," Kate said. They were sitting on the couch, Abby leaning against Kate. Kate had both arms around Abby's waist, occasionally nuzzling her neck. Abby tilted her head to the side and yawned, reaching up to cup the back of Kate's head. She pressed her lips to Kate's cheek and whispered, "I've missed this. Missed you."
Kate closed her eyes and brushed her lips over Abby's temple. She shushed her and breathed, "I'm here now. Right here with you, Abby." A tear slipped free and she brushed it away before Abby could see it.
Abby closed her eyes and sighed, pressing tighter to Kate. Kate brushed her hair and asked, "Sleepy?"
"Exhausted."
"Go to bed. I'll stay out here and keep an eye on things."
"I want you to come with me."
"I know," Kate whispered. She unraveled herself from Abby and sat up with her. "I'll tell you what. You go to bed and, if I get bored out here, I'll come in there with you."
"So I'm an alternative to boredom?"
Kate leaned in and kissed Abby's lips. "Bed."
"Fine," Abby sighed, putting the pad down and rising off the couch. She stretched and rubbed the small of her back. "I'll see you soon."
"Sleep well."
Abby murmured a reply and stumbled out of the living room. Kate stood and went to the window, peering through the crack of the curtains for signs of anyone lurking outside.
---
Abby undressed and stood under the shower spray for a good minute. She got into her underwear, walking topless to the bedroom and slipping under the covers. She lay there for a few minutes before Kate's shadow darkened the door, there and gone, quickly becoming a weight next to her in the bed. "I thought you were standing watch," Abby whispered.
"I can take a few minutes."
Abby rolled onto her back and whispered, "Undo your blouse."
"Mm-mm," Kate said, running the back of her hand over Abby's shoulder. "I have to stay dressed and ready to go. Just in case." She leaned in and licking Abby's earlobe, breathing against her ear. Abby closed her eyes, tilting her head back as Kate moved closer to her.
"This is what I want you to do. Put both hands on your stomach. Just above the waistband of your boxer shorts. Move one hand up... touch your breast, just lightly, brush your fingers over your nipple." She nipped at Abby's ear.
"Mm," Abby moaned, arching her back. She curled her fingers against her stomach and shifted on the bed.
"Bend both knees," Kate said. "Give yourself room. Good girl." She kissed Abby's cheek and said, "Slip your hand under the waistband of your boxers. Don't touch yourself... not yet... Abby."
"Want you," Abby murmured.
"I know, baby."
"Want you here."
"Shh," Kate whispered, kissing Abby's lips. "Do you remember the first time I masturbated for you?" Abby moaned. "I know you do. God, I thought you were going to have an orgasm before I did. Just you and me... in my living room. I was so... embarrassed. I didn't think it would be sexy. I thought you were making fun of me. But watching you... oh, Abby, watching you watch me..."
Abby moaned again and said, "Can I touch myself?"
"Yeah," Kate breathed, looking down. "Oh, Abby. I love watching you."
Abby bit her lip and moved her hand down, lifting her hips to meet her fingers. "Mm. Oh... Kate, I want you."
Kate kissed Abby's neck and whispered, moving her lips against skin still wet from the shower. Abby thrust against her hand and pressed her shoulders into the mattress. Abby whimpered as she came, her bottom lip trembling. She withdrew her hand, brushing her fingertips on the mattress.
Kate kissed her lips and moved to the edge of the bed. "Where are you going?" Abby asked.
"Back on watch."
"But... I... y-your turn..."
Kate smiled. "I'm good. Get some rest, Abby."
Abby closed her eyes and pulled the blankets back up to her chest. "I'll just have to find a way to get you back," Abby whispered.
---
Kate didn't doze. She slipped her shoes off and folded her feet underneath herself. She loved Abby's apartment; the eccentricity of it, the way the carpet felt under her toes, the way she always found something new on the walls to occupy her interest. Tonight, it was a movie poster from 'Singing in the Rain,' a movie she and Abby had watched together in a late-night marathon.
She'd fallen asleep halfway through and woke to find her head on Abby's lap, Abby's fingers stroking her hair as she sang along with the characters. It was one of Kate's most treasured memories and one she relied on often.
She hummed 'Singing in the Rain' as she dozed on the couch, acutely aware of every small hiss and creak on the floorboards. The apartment upstairs had a wind chime on their fire escape and Kate kept time with it. Gust of wind, three clinks of the chimes. Outside in the hallway, someone coming home late from work. Trudging up the stairs, a cough on the way up to the next floor.
A dog barking on the street, the answering bark of its enemy.
The rush of water in the walls.
Kate realized she'd been lulled into complacency and opened her eyes, scanning the room for any errant shadows. She slipped off the couch and made her way carefully down the front hall. Front door was still locked. She turned and shuffle-stepped to the bedroom where Abby was sleeping.
She was under the covers, blankets pulled up to her chin, bare back turned to the door. The window cast a blue square across the mattress, ending just before Abby's bent knees. Kate watched as a shadow separated from the rest of the room, slipping to the side of the bed. Her heart froze, her eyes widening in horror. "Abby!" she shouted.
Abby shot up from bed, eyes wide and searching. The intruder snarled and launched himself at the bed, realizing stealth was no longer an option. Abby rolled to one side, falling off the bed in a pile. The man landed on the bed with a 'whoof' of air from his lungs. Abby scrambled onto her knees and grabbed the edge of the blanket and flung herself on top of the intruder.
"Stay down!" she growled, burying her elbow in his back. He cried out in pain and she looked over her shoulder. "Kate?" she asked.
Kate was nowhere to be seen.
---
Half the apartment building was lining the hallways as Gibbs led the team upstairs. Abby's apartment door stood open, every light burning, Metro cops taking statements from the neighbors. Gibbs flashed his badge and stepped into the apartment, finding Abby sitting on her couch wearing an over-sized shirt. "What happened?"
"Guy came out of nowhere. I think he came off the fire escape," Abby said.
"You should've let me stay," Gibbs said.
"I was fine."
He didn't look convinced and turned to the team. "Tony, Ziva, see what you can find on the roof. McGee, check out the cars up and down the street. See if you can find his car."
They separated and Gibbs turned back to Abby. He knelt in front of her, touching her face. "Now we have something. We connect this guy back to Bettany, there's no way he's getting away. Your forensics, now this... he's going away for a long time."
Abby smiled and said, "Yeah, well... all in a day's work for a heroine."
He smiled and cupped the back of her head. "You shouldn't have been alone."
Abby looked up and saw Kate standing by the kitchen door. Kate caught her eye and waved her fingers before disappearing. Abby smiled and said, "No. I wasn't alone, Gibbs." He frowned and she said, "I'm never alone."