You Could Be The Rest of My Life
You Could Be The Rest Of My Life
After changing out of his work clothes, Gibbs rejoined everyone in the kitchen. They all pitched in to make a start on dinner and it wasn't long before the subject of sleeping arrangements came up.
Jackson was already in the guestroom and Tony volunteered to take the couch, which only left...
"You and Luke can sleep in my room and I'll take the camp bed in the basement," stated Gibbs firmly.
"But that means I'll be sleeping with a girl," Luke piped up from where he was playing with Jethro in the hallway.
Jackson grinned as he heard Tony's sotto voce comment next to him, "Oh, Luke, my boy, you've so much to look forward to."
"I mean Abby isn't really a girl, she's Abby but..." Luke continued, oblivious to Abby's indignant look and the grins from the men, which they attempted to hide when she turned to glare at them.
"I'm not turning you out of your bed, Gibbs," declared Abby, hands on her hips. "I can take the camp bed and Luke can..."
"Or Luke can take the couch and I can sleep on the floor," interrupted Tony.
Gibbs shook his head and told them in a tone that usually brooked no argument, "No, you won't, Tony, and neither will you, Abby."
"Can't you share too, Gibbs?" came the simple question from Abby's nephew, causing silence to descend.
"That's a good idea, Luke. There's plenty of room in that bed," Jackson pointed out before anyone else could respond. Tony coughed and turned away in an attempt to hide his laughter at the innocent look on Jackson's face.
The older man went on, "All three of you can manage, surely? You and Abby are both adults, you can share..."
"Makes sense, Gibbs," put in Tony, cheerfully. "Your back won't thank you if you try and sleep on that camp bed."
Gibbs and Abby turned identical glares on Tony.
"There, that won't be so bad as just sleeping with a girl, will it Luke, not if there's another man present?" Jackson threw in before either could comment, smiling down at the young boy.
Luke shook his head, grinning, "Nope, that'd be really cool. Won't it Abby?"
Abby broke off from glaring and stared down at her nephew before she replied, faintly, "Yeah, Luke, that's really... umm... cool."
"There, that's settled then," pronounced Jackson, turning away to the fridge to hide his own grin, ignoring the glare his son was shooting his way.
Gibbs ran his hand over his face, ignoring Tony's smirk before he turned away, escaping to the safety of his basement.
The thought of spending a night in the same bed as Abby was more than distracting.
He'd wanted her for years.
Gibbs couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when their friendship had morphed into something much more.
It had somehow crept up on him gradually until he couldn't imagine his life without her. They'd danced around one another for years, neither acting on the chemistry between them.
Oh crap... this was gonna be a very long night.
"Umm, we'll just get unpacked then," Abby announced to no one in particular as she watched Gibbs leave the room. Heading upstairs with Luke in tow all she could think of was...
You gotta be kidding me. Just shoot me now...
Ending up in Gibbs' bed featured in many of her fantasies about him, along with basement... shower... couch... kitchen table... back seat of the Challenger... but she'd have preferred it to not be when she was sharing that bed with her eight year old nephew.
Tony lingered in the kitchen, not bothering to suppress his grin now that he had Jackson alone, but still kept his voice down in case Gibbs' uncanny hearing stretched from the basement... or he'd bugged his kitchen.
"That was smoothly done, if I may say so, Jack."
"Ya think so, Tony?" Jackson chuckled, glancing towards the basement door before continuing quietly, "Well, who am I to let a golden opportunity like that pass me by?"
They shared a conspiratorial grin before Jackson sobered and said thoughtfully, "Besides, after the summer, I thought we'd both decided the best thing for those two would be a little nudge in the right direction."
After spending four months in DC virtually confined to Gibbs' house with a protection detail outside, Jackson had had plenty of time to observe his son and the team. It had become blatantly obvious to him that Leroy had feelings for his forensic scientist, and that they were reciprocated.
It seemed to be evident to everyone but the two of them.
Over the summer, Jackson had grown tired of expecting either of them to act on their feelings. He worried that his son wouldn't get his head out of his ass before Abby gave up waiting for him.
"Yeah, I know, Jack. I just don't think you realize how hard it is to play Gibbs... and Abby, come to that."
Tony knew how Abby felt about Gibbs and had a shrewd idea the Marine returned her feelings, but still felt uncomfortable trying to outmanoeuvre either of them. They were both very private people and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt his friends.
"Maybe. But if we leave it to Leroy to do something, we could be waiting till hell freezes over." Jackson bent to a cupboard to retrieve Jethro's dinner and the German Shepherd was immediately at his side, looking up at him expectantly.
"Well, I hope it doesn't backfire... that's all I'm saying," Tony folded his arms and leaned against the counter.
Jackson glanced at him, curiously, "Not like you to be hesitant, Tony."
"I care about them both, Jack. They're my friends, as well as Gibbs being my boss, and I don't wanna screw anything up for them. I think that's partly what's been holding them both back all these years. They don't wanna risk damaging their friendship." Tony shrugged, looking away. "I dunno... I just don't wanna see them hurt."
"And you think I do? I want the opposite, you know that. Wanna see 'em happy... together."
As the evening progressed, the storm moved in.
The snow was falling thickly and observing from inside a warm house was the best way to watch a storm, especially for anyone from the south where snow was a rarity.
Luke had only seen snow a handful of times in his life so he spent a fascinated couple of hours watching the blizzard through the window. Tony sat with him from time to time and the sound of laughter rolled through the living room regularly as they chatted.
Jethro alternated between following Gibbs around like a shadow and lying in front of the fire. The dog was restless as he'd had less exercise than usual.
Tony watched Jethro walk over to sit on the floor next to Gibbs who was reading on the couch. "He knows who's boss... Boss."
Just then Abby came in to collect something and Jethro immediately shot across the room and followed her as she went back into the kitchen.
Gibbs laughed as he watched the dog leave, "Oh yeah, he knows who's boss alright."
Tony volunteered to bring in more logs for the fire and they banked up the fire so it was snug and cosy in the living room and after dinner, Tony and Gibbs washed up while Luke watched TV.
While he was pouring yet more coffee, Jackson suggested poker.
Tony laughed, "Last time we played with the team, it was strip poker and Abby had the shirt off McGee's back in about half an hour. I still have nightmares over that visual."
"I remember, Tony," chuckled Abby. "It was amazing how many clothes you and Gibbs seemed to be wearing that evening when you both showed up. Never did get either of you out of enough clothes to show very much skin, sadly, although I did manage to get Gibbs' socks off."
"Remember, we've played poker with you before, Abbs, and knew what to expect," Gibbs told her, his boyish grin breaking out.
"Exactly, and we know you're really a card shark in pigtails," Tony said, tugging on one of her braids and she turned and punched him on the arm.
"Well, even though I say it myself, I'm no slouch when it comes to poker, Abby," said Jackson with a smile. "D'ya fancy a challenge?"
Abby pointed at him, smiling, "You're on, Jack."
"I'm probably going to regret this, or my wallet is, but I'll pitch in for a hand or two, until the two of you slaughter me," said Tony, settling on the couch next to Jackson.
"You go ahead, I gotta finish something." Gibbs threw over his shoulder as he disappeared towards the basement.
Abby exchanged a glance with Tony and Jackson.
"Is he mad?"
Abby had a hunch what Gibbs was up to but didn't want to say anything.
"No, Tony, I don't think so. It's just probably a bit much going from a Christmas with Jack to suddenly a house invasion. He maybe just needs some quiet time in his man-cave." Abby stood up and went to pour more coffee. "Deal me in, boys. I won't be long."
Jackson watched her go with a fond smile.
He'd noticed before how adept Abby was at caring for his son without pressure.
Leroy rarely relished anyone fussing over him, so for Abby to have worked out how to do that without seeming to, showed just how well she knew his son.
When Abby descended the basement stairs, she saw Gibbs bent over a DVD cabinet in the corner... what she'd come to think of as their present to Tony because she had suggested it and Gibbs had built it.
Tearing her eyes away from his butt with practised ease as Gibbs stood up to greet her, Abby walked over and smiled as she handed him a mug. "I thought this might be what you were working on."
"Yup, nearly finished it," Gibbs turned from finishing cutting the wooden dowels for the shelves, "but with Tony here, it needs to be ready for tomorrow. Was gonna get it to his apartment next week while he was away."
Abby nodded, leaning against the workbench, "Yeah, I thought the schedule might have moved up a bit."
"Yeah, d'ya think you can keep him out of the basement while I finish off? Gotta stain these," Gibbs held up one of the dowels, "then let 'em dry off. Should only take a couple of hours."
"I'll try my best, Sir... Ma'am." Abby saluted, badly, seeing the corners of his mouth twitch in a smile. "But you already attracted his attention by disappearing down here. He's worried that you're mad... hell, I'm worried that you're mad."
"Mad?"
Abby waved her arms as she explained, "Well, upset coz we're a houseful... I'm wondering whether you're regretting inviting us. Are you sure this is okay, Gibbs? I feel like we've taken over your quiet Christmas."
Gibbs had to admit he'd been in two minds at first about inviting everyone.
He wasn't sure how he was going to react to the sound of a young child in the house, but the prospect of spending Christmas with Abby and her nephew was a more welcome thought than he'd anticipated it would be.
Although how the hell he was going to lie in the same bed as her and go to sleep, he hadn't yet worked out. He wasn't sure if Luke's presence would make things easier or more difficult.
"It's fine, Abbs. It's good to have ya here."
"I think you've made Luke's Christmas too... and Tony's." Abby watched him work for a few minutes before venturing, "And if I didn't know better, I'd say we were set up about where everyone's sleeping."
He shot her a rueful glance. "Ya think?"
"Jack leapt in very quickly when Luke piped up, and he and Tony looked far too smug for my liking afterwards." She saw him tilt his head in acknowledgement and offered, "I can still take the camp bed down here, Gibbs, if it would be easier?"
"Nope," refused Gibbs, shaking his head. He hesitated before asking, glancing at her to gauge her reaction. "Do ya mind sharing?"
Abby shook her head, "It's fine by me, Gibbs. As Jack said, we're both adults." She threw him a mischievous glance, trying to lighten things up, "I can keep my hands to myself... just."
Gibbs smirked, "As we've got a chaperone, promise I'll behave too."
"Darn it."
Gibbs looked up to see Abby's impish grin and couldn't help but grin back.
He watched her wandering around the basement as he worked, dipping each dowel in stain and setting it aside to dry. Seeing her preoccupation, he waited her out, sensing she had something else on her mind.
"I'm so glad Tony's here too."
"Me too."
"I think we both know that if Tony wasn't here, he'd be spending Christmas in his apartment eating nothing but take-out and watching movies on his own."
"Oh yeah."
She paused, running her hands over the smooth wood of the cabinet and he was distracted by wondering how those slender fingers would feel trailing over his skin.
"I know he was looking forward to seeing his dad, but I got the idea he was also apprehensive about it too, y'know. Sometimes I could strangle Anthony DiNozzo Senior."
He glanced at her, surprised, "Thought you liked the guy."
Gibbs remembered his gut clenching at DiNozzo Sr's lascivious comment on his last visit about Abby not showing him 'everything' on a tour of NCIS. He'd spent most of Tony's father's visit suppressing the urge to put his fist through the guy's face, for various reasons... not least his treatment of his son throughout his life.
"Oh, p-l-ease, Gibbs," Abby rolled her eyes. "I was hardly gonna show how much I dislike that kind of superficial charm right in front of Tony, was I? I didn't wanna hurt his feelings. Besides I've been dealing with guys like that since I developed curves."
Gibbs snorted, "I'll bet."
"But it's a shame they didn't get to spend some time together this year. I know Tony wants to see if he can at least repair some of his relationship with his dad... although I've always thought most of the effort should come more from his dad than Tony."
"Mmm," murmured Gibbs in agreement, "Tony said his dad arranged a round of parties for his visit."
"Oh... well, that's just great. I know Tony didn't want that. Why does that man do it? Can't he ever act like a normal father?" Abby sounded exasperated. "Why can't he just listen to Tony for once, huh? How can any man treat their son like that? You'd think he'd be proud to have a son like Tony, wouldn't ya?"
Gibbs agreed with her but kept quiet, letting her get it out of her system.
Abby sighed, shaking her head before turning to Gibbs. "Anyway, I refuse to let that man spoil our Christmas. Right, wish me luck. I'm off to whoop Jackson and Tony at poker."
"Don't think you'll need luck, Abbs."
She brushed a soft kiss against his cheek and Gibbs watched her go, enjoying the sway of her hips as she headed upstairs.
TBC...