Distance Nightmare 36/37
Chapter 36 - Need
It was late the next day when Gibbs returned home and from the darkened downstairs, it looked like Abby had already gone to bed. He'd left the house early this morning when the team had caught a case and had only spoken to her briefly this evening to say he wouldn't be home yet.
When his cell had gone off first thing, they'd been cuddled together, already awake after Abby's sleep had been disturbed by yet another nightmare, talking quietly about her dinner with Ziva. Neither were surprised at the resurgence of Abby's nightmares, given how tough the previous day had been. When he'd fallen asleep last night, he'd been half expecting it. So when she'd jerked awake, he'd pulled her close, soothing her as she clutched at him, heart rate slowly calming.
So when the call had come through for a case, he'd left her side reluctantly but knew he had to go.
And now it was the end of a very long, tough day.
Although it had been a fairly open and shut investigation and the killer was now in custody, it was a brutal, heartbreaking case so Gibbs was very glad to be home. His usual routine for coping on such a day would be to disappear to his basement, drinking to forget.
Shedding his coat, he headed that way but hesitated as he reached the stairs. For the first time in a long while, the thought of his basement wasn't as comforting as it should be… not when compared with wanting to go upstairs and wrap himself around Abby, just to hold her.
Abby knew more than anyone, more than any woman he'd been involved with just how tough his job was, because she went through the rough times right along with him. She understood just how much cases like this affected him and how much he needed to find a way to somehow release his anger and stress.
She was amazingly perceptive when it came to his moods and probably knew him better than anyone. She knew when he needed company… and when he needed solitude and silence. It was one of the things he loved about her. She'd always been the one bright light able to penetrate the darkness that seemed to surround him.
In the past, she'd managed to find a way of helping him even before their relationship changed. After spending hours in the basement, arms sore and aching, he'd come upstairs in search of food to soak up all the bourbon coursing through him, only to find that Abby had dropped off food at some point during the evening. Or she'd descend the basement stairs to deliver coffee or a sandwich.
At first he'd practically snarled at her that he didn't want company and she'd snapped right back at him, telling him she wasn't offering company, just delivering food and caffeine.
And that's what she did regularly… without demands or expectations, and she was never intimidated by his temper or when he shut her out.
Sometimes he'd hear her footsteps above his head but she wouldn't come down to the basement. Later, he'd find either a sandwich in the fridge, or a meal ready to be heated up, with a fresh pot of coffee brewing.
As their friendship had grown stronger, she'd sometimes stay, sitting on his couch while he worked in the basement, joining him for a meal later. When a nightmarish case affected Abby as much as it did him, she would sometimes venture downstairs to join him in his sanctuary. She'd sit quietly reading on the stairs, just keeping him company, or help him sand the boat, both enjoying the companionable silence. Or they'd end up sitting side by side leaning against his boat, drinking into the early hours.
Now they were together, Gibbs knew her perception and understanding of him was only likely to increase. And the thought of having her there to help ease his pain and anger comforted and calmed him more than he could say.
So for once he turned his back on his basement and made his way upstairs. He found the bedroom empty but a warm glow emanated from the bathroom. Pushing open the door, he felt something ease minutely inside him as he absorbed the sight before him.
Lit candles were scattered about the room and Abby's dark head could be seen above a bathful of foam bubbles. His eyes followed the bubbles sliding over her creamy shoulders down to the enticing swell of her breasts at the waterline. Mesmerized, he watched the path of water droplets running down her skin, itching to follow each one with his tongue. Her raven hair was piled on top of her head, damp tendrils clinging to her cheeks and neck. Her eyes were closed, her features relaxed and peaceful.
As she registered the door opening, Abby turned her head, her emerald eyes opening and greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, that's good timing, I've only just got in so the water's still hot. C'mere," she reached out her hand. Something in his face must have alerted her that something was wrong because she stilled and asked, gently, "A bad one?"
"Yeah, pretty bad." He pushed off from the doorframe and approached the bath, squatting at the side, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
"Then go downstairs…" Abby urged, quietly, cupping his face with her hand. "You need your basement."
"Need you more." He turned to nuzzle her palm.
She stroked his face, searching his blue eyes, seeing the pain and stress in every line, the tension radiating off him. "Then get in here and let me help." Today it was him that needed comfort… a reversal of yesterday. She relished being able to help him, given all the love and support he'd given her this past week.
Abby watched as Gibbs undressed, enjoying the strong lines of his body as he shed his clothes, seeing the tension in the rigid way he held himself. His face looked drawn and tired.
He stepped into the bath, settling in between Abby's legs. Resting his arms on his bent knees, he leaned his head forward and let out a sigh as he soaked up the warmth of the hot water, trying to will his muscles to relax.
She soaped up a wash cloth and ran it gently over the broad expanse of his back and strong shoulders, enjoying the feel of his still supple skin covering toned muscles. Rinsing off the suds, she replaced the cloth with her hands, stroking her way along his back.
Pressing a quick kiss to his spine, she began massaging his shoulders, gradually kneading each muscle. Loving the warmth of his skin under her hands, she alternated between rubbing each muscle band firmly and gentle sweeping strokes designed to soothe. She paused at every blemish and scar, pressing a soft kiss to each one. One of the bullet exit wounds she knew… Ari… but other marks, from both bullet and knife, she hadn't yet asked him about.
His head came up as she worked her way across his neck and shoulders, and up and down the long muscles in his back. He moaned and arched into her touch as she patiently loosened each knot, following each caress with a feather light brush of her lips. The heat from the water and the soothing feel of her slender hands combined to gradually melt away some of the tension.
After a while, he began to talk, quietly. "Petty Officer came home early, found his wife in bed with another man. Shot her and the lover… left a six year old girl… who's now lost both parents."
Her hands stilled, realizing immediately what had made this case such a bastard. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder and rested her cheek against his back, attempting to offer comfort with her presence, wishing she could take all his pain away.
"Is there any other family she can go to?" she asked after a while.
Gibbs sighed, "Yeah, an aunt… says she'll take her."
She resumed her soft stroking of his skin. "That's something I guess and better that than child services, but yeah… it's not the same I know."
"Don't know how he could throw away his daughter like that." His voice was thick with emotion. A family devastated by one selfish act and even though the Petty Officer regretted it now that his rage had dissipated, it was too late.
Abby didn't reply, just kept up the soothing strokes, knowing that whatever she said wouldn't make any difference to how he felt. She was just pleased he'd chosen to come to her instead of retreating to his basement.
He lost himself in the feeling of her hands and lips on his skin. As her touch gentled, he felt her fingers almost ghost lightly across his back.
When she'd finished, Abby urged him to settle back against her, folding her arms around him. She let her gaze drift along the line of his hard body, strong arms, the water glistening on his chest hair and his long lean legs tangling with her paler ones. As she cradled him, she could feel Gibbs gradually relax in her arms. His eyes closed and the strain on his face slowly eased.
He eventually broke the comfortable silence. "Hope your day was better."
He shifted slightly so he could rest his head against her shoulder, trying not to lean too much of his weight onto her. He held Abby's hands where they were loosely clasped across his chest and enjoyed the feel of her softness and warmth against his back.
"Just an ordinary day…" As the low husky voice he loved so much rolled into his ears describing how she'd spent her day, he felt some his anger ease and the tension in his stomach begin to uncoil.
She nuzzled the side of his face, content to hold him for however long he needed.
"Did ya go back to sleep this morning?" he asked, softly.
"Nope, didn't bother," Abby answered, pressing a kiss to his temple. She didn't reveal that she hadn't even tried to sleep, lest another nightmare surface. "But I slept again this afternoon. Gotta get out of the habit of this afternoon nap thing though, don't think the boss-man will let me get away with it at work."
He smiled briefly, leaning his head against hers, "How d'ya feel… after yesterday?"
"Lighter somehow," she murmured, "more settled… I think all of it helped, even the psych eval… now I can think back on it more objectively but Ziva and you helped most of all. But tonight's about you."
When he shook his head and looked about to speak, she hushed him, tightening her arms round him, whispering, "Yes, it is."
He turned his head to press a soft kiss on her lips and settled back against her again, and they lay quietly together for some time, the water starting to cool. Eventually, he lifted her hands and placed a gentle kiss on each palm, murmuring, "Thank you." He'd no idea how he'd come to deserve such care and love but he'd never take it for granted.
"Whatever you want… whatever you need, I'm here." She slid her hands across his chest, threading her fingers through the sparse grey hair and stroking the skin over his stomach, feeling the muscles ripple under her touch.
Running a hand down her leg, he turned his head to nuzzle her, his voice a low rough whisper which made her shiver, "Want you."
She caught her breath at the sudden intensity in his piercing blue eyes, before murmuring, "Then take me."
He twisted slightly to capture her mouth in a slow, languid kiss. She cupped his face and returned his kiss, letting him deepen it till he was exploring her mouth teasingly. He slid his arms round her and she felt them slip slightly in the bath, the water sloshing suddenly against the sides.
Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers, breathing heavily, "Can't reach you back there… get round here."
She giggled a warning, "We're gonna flood the bathroom, y'know." With a bit of wriggling and moving carefully, she slid over him until she was lying full length against him.
Stretching out, she enjoyed the feel of his skin and let her hands wander, feeling his arousal swell and harden beneath her. She reached up to kiss him hungrily, trailing a hand between them to slowly caress him. He buried his hands in her hair, holding her head steady as he plundered her mouth.
Her thumb rolled over his swollen tip, causing his cock to jerk in her hand. His hands wandered over her back, cupping her ass and pulling her against him. Sliding his fingers between her legs, he teased and stroked her until she was rocking her hips in time to his caresses, moaning into his neck.
Positioning herself over him, Abby sank down, slowly taking him inside. He watched captivated as she arched her head and neck back, biting her lip as her eyes fluttered closed at the feel of him.
They both moaned at the sensation when he was fully seated inside her. Gripping his shoulders, she rocked against him achingly slowly. His mouth and hands caressed and kissed her wherever he could reach. He helped her balance as she moved, taking him deeper in slow, steady strokes that gradually drove them crazy… both too far gone to notice some of the water lapping close to the edge of the bath.
He felt her stiffen against him and she cried out, burying her face against his neck, as the sensations overwhelmed her. Feeling her internal muscles ripple around him, he pulled her tightly against him, letting her orgasm push him over the edge and he came with a deep growl into her neck.
She slid her arms round his neck, resting her forehead against his as they came down from their high, exchanging lazy kisses. Caressing her back as aftershocks skittered through her, he slipped gently from her body.
Belatedly realizing the water was too cool now to linger, they helped each other dry off and made their way to bed. As soon as they were under the covers, he spooned behind her. Pulling her back against his chest, he wrapped arms and legs possessively around her body, face buried in her hair. She squeezed his hands where they lay over her stomach, loving the feel of him all around her.
He still felt emotionally raw but clung to her as if she was his lifeline… which in a way she was.
TBC