Summary: These stories are just merely hypothetical situations. They are just some silly little things, I guess, that I thought it might would be kind of fun to explore.
Categories: Gibbs/Abby Characters: Donald Mallard, Faith Coleman, Gerald Jackson, Hollis Mann, Jeanne Benoit, Jenny Shephard, Jimmy Palmer, Kate Todd, La Grenouille, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Michelle Lee, Mike Franks, Original character, Other, Paula Cassidy, Ron Sacks, T.C. Fornell, Timothy McGee, Tom Morrow, Vivian Blackadder, Ziva David
Genre: Alternate Universe
Pairing: None
Warnings: Violence
Challenges: Series: None
Chapters: 2
Completed: Yes
Word count: 5443
Read: 3435
Published: 07/11/2009
Updated: 07/15/2009
Story Notes:
Most of these stories are like, "If this didn't happen, and instead this happened...then what?"
1. Death In The Family by niceguy87
2. Gwen by niceguy87
Death In The Family by niceguy87
Author's Notes:
These stories are just merely hypothetical situations. They are just some silly little things, I guess, that I thought it might would be kind of fun to explore.
"Death In The Family"
------What if this happened in place of Judgement Day, Pts. 1 & 2?------
Gibbs, Tony, Ducky, Jenny, McGee, Ziva, Jimmy Palmer, Abby's step-father, mother, and brother all stood in line awaiting their respective turns to pay last respects to their fallen friend, family member, and team member, Abby Scuito.
There was not a single dry eye in the whole bunch.
They knew that Abby would not have wanted them to cry and grieve as they were, but the loss was just too painful and too sudden for them to feel anything else but sorrow.
Tony and Ziva both placed one black rose, a piece, atop the polished, Cherry-colored lid of the casket.
Neither one of them could say anything. Tony swallowed, hard, several times as he replayed the events of that tragic night, over and over, in his head. Ziva, the hardened Mossad assassin, had been reduced to tears over the loss of her friend.
"Goodbye Abs." Tony whispered, in a hoarse voice.
Then he and Ziva moved on to allow the next in line a turn to say goodbye.
Next in line were Ducky and Jimmy.
Jimmy laid a black rose on the cherry-colored casket, and then raised his hand to wipe a few tears from his eyes that were trapped behind his glasses.
Ducky laid a hand on the casket, and as tears streamed down his aged and weathered cheeks, he spoke.
"Farewell, sweet Abigail...May you find in Heaven a far better home than this one." Ducky said quietly, over the casket, as he tried to force somewhat of a smile--just for Abby.
The two men walked on, as Ducky, knowingly, patted Jimmy on the back gently as they went.
McGee was next in line to say goodbye.
McGee was beside himself, and could hardly speak a single word. He placed the single black rose on the casket, and just barely managed to utter a few words of respect.
"I'll miss you Abby." McGee whispered quietly, and quickly.
Jenny followed close behind McGee, laying down her rose, giving a nod towards the casket, and whispering something inaudible before leaving after McGee to comfort the special agent.
Abby's step-father, mother (Gloria), and her brother took their turns together. They took a few minutes to say their goodbyes, and sorrowfully went on to rejoin the others for the last remaining portion of the ceremony.
Finally, it was Gibbs' turn to say goodbye.
At first he wasn't sure what to say or even if he should say anything at all to begin with.
A slight breeze blew through the tent-covered area over and around the casket and the grave below it.
A voice from the past echoed in Gibbs' ears.
"Was it really a mistake, Gibbs?" He heard Abby's voice, echo, in his ears.
Tears ran down the ex-marine's face as he laid two black roses atop the cherry-colored casket.
"No Abs, it wasn't." Gibbs whispered, as he laid a hand on the casket and held it there for a moment.
Gibbs walked back, slowly, to take his place along side his co-workers, friends, and Abby's family and friends.
Gibbs stopped in front of Abby's mother, Gloria, and conveyed his condolences and a message of just how much Abby meant to him and to NCIS through ASL (American Sign Language).
Then he took his place next to Ducky.
Gibbs gave a nod in the direction of the group of marines that was standing nearby--it was a signal for them to begin.
Even though she wasn't in the armed services, and even though it was a bit out of the ordinary--Gibbs had called in a few favors, having been a Gunnery-Sargent in the USMC, and was able to get a Marine firing squad to perform a '21 Gun Salute' in Abby's honor.
Together they all watched, in silence, as the firing squad sounded their '21 Gun Salute'.
"...Prepare to fire!" Came the Marine Sergeant's shout. "Ready! Aim! Fire!"
Everyone watched and listened as the firing squad fired out their salute, after which a bugler played "Taps" as requested, also, by Gibbs.
They all agreed, afterwards, that the bugler did an amazing job performing "Taps".
---------------------------------------
Later, That Night...
Gibbs Residence...
In The Basement...
Gibbs sat, down in his cold, dimly-lit basement unable to do any work on the still incomplete boat that sat in the middle of the room.
On a stool at his workbench Gibbs poured himself a glass from the bottle of Jack that he usually kept nearby for just such an occasion.
His eyes were red from the tears and restlessness of the last few days.
As he sipped from his glass the events of that tragic evening continued to play out in his mind.
.........DREAM-LIKE SEQUENCE.........
Jenny, Tony, and Ziva had just gotten back from L.A., having concluded some business over on the West Coast, and they along with Gibbs, Ducky, Jimmy, McGee, and Abby had decided to go out for supper that evening as a group--which was something that they very rarely, if ever, did.
The restaurant they had chosen was Alfonso's.
They had finished their meal(s), and were all just sitting around talking to each other and laughing together.
Their table, was a rather large one, and it was located near the big, glass windows.
The streets outside were lit with just enough light so that the people inside the restaurant, and also other places of the kind on that same street, could see the people coming and going on the streets outside.
Abby had chosen to sit on the opposite side of the table right across from Gibbs.
Gibbs remembered thinking about how beautiful she looked that evening--of course he often had found himself indulging in such thoughts ever since he and Abby had inadvertently had that 'One Night Fling' or so it had been called.
She had smiled at him in a way that had warmed his insides, and made him feel almost inebriated--in a way.
At that particular moment all other conversation(s) had been tuned out--temporarily.
Tony had just made a joke, that much he could remember, and everyone was laughing at his joke, except Gibbs of course--and that was when Abby excused herself to go to the restroom.
She had been passing right behind Ducky's chair, which was just one chair away to the right of his own chair when it happened.
That's when they saw him--standing outside the window on the street looking in at them.
Gibbs had watched Abby, with a stupid grin, which he had tried to conceal, as she moved around behind the other's chairs--when he heard her gasp suddenly.
Her gaze was locked on something outside the big, glass windows.
Gibbs had turned to see what she was seeing, and there he was, Mikel Mawher, standing right outside the big, glass windows staring right in at her (Abby).
He had tensed in his seat, sitting up straight, as soon as his eyes fell upon Mikel Mawher.
This action had served to catch everyone else's attention as well.
Then Mawher pulled the gun out of his jacket and aimed it at Abby.
"Abby, look out!" Gibbs shouted, as he sprang from his seat leaping in her direction.
The bullet exited Mawher's gun, and had shattered the big, glass window(s).
Gibbs threw his arms around Abby and drug her down to the ground, as everyone else dove (or had dove) for cover.
Glass shards rained down all around them.
Then they had heard another shot--Mawher had, next, turned the gun on himself, and had pulled the trigger.
As people raced about the restaraunt--both staff and patrons/customers, there was already a crowd of spectators gathering around Mawher's body out on the street.
Tony, Ziva, Jenny, Ducky, Jimmy, and McGee all scrambled around, as well, checking on each other.
Gibbs pushed himself up onto his hands and knees and shook himself off. Being sure that he shook off any stray shards of glass that might have fallen onto him.
"Abs, you alright?" Gibbs asked, as he righted himself on his knees.
No answer...strange.
"Ab-" Gibbs started to say, as he turned to where she'd fallen when he'd grabbed her.
His eyes fell upon her body, and then the blood stain that followed the bullet hole/wound in her chest.
"Abs!" Gibbs shouted, as he quickly moved to her side.
He ripped open her overcoat.
"Duck!" Gibbs barked, urgently.
Ducky hastily made his way over to where Gibbs sat, straddling Abby's upper torso.
The rest of the team scrambled over into that direction as well.
Ducky reached her side, having taken cover some distance away (somehow), and began to assess the damage.
After Gibbs had moved aside Ducky went to work, immediately.
He ripped open her shirt the rest of the way and began to try and cover the wound.
"Somebody call a medic!" Gibbs yelled over the noise in/of the ensuing chaos of the restaraunt.
Tony jumped up and ran to find a phone that he could use to call for medical assisstance. Normally, he would just use his cell phone, but he'd accidentally left his cell phone back at his desk at NCIS HQ.
"G-Gibbs." Abby sputtered, suddenly.
"Shh, don't speak...Ducky's taking care of you, and help is on the way." Gibbs said, softly.
Abby reached out a hand towards Gibbs, and Gibbs excepted her hand--he held it gently in one hand as his other hand gently stroked her forehead and cheek.
"I-I f-feel so cold." Abby muttered, with a shiver.
"Shhh, you're gonna be just fine...I promise." Gibbs said, softly, as he stroked her cheek.
Abby tried to force a smile/grin.
"L-Liar." Abby gasped. She tried to laugh, but found it difficult as it was slowly getting harder for her to breathe.
Gibbs smiled weakly at the young woman.
"G-Gibbs...there's s-something you n-need to know." Abby started to say.
"I-I-I..." She tried to get the words to come out, but to no avail.
Ducky recognized the symptoms that were rapidly rising to the surface all too well.
"Abigail, stay with us." Ducky said, as he did his best to try and stop the bleeding.
Abby began to sputter uncontrollably, and her eyes lulled backwards into her skull.
"We're losing her!" Ducky said, urgently.
Within a few seconds more she was gone.
Tony came running back over to where the rest of the group was at.
"Help is on it's way." He explained, quickly. "They should be here in less than 10 minutes-" Tony continued, but was cut-off by Ducky before he could finish.
"Its too late." Ducky said, as he pulled his fingers away from the underside of Abby's neck--where he'd been checking her pulse only a few seconds before.
Everyone was silent at this/that point.
Ducky lowered his head, and gave it a slight shake.
"She's gone." Ducky said, somberly.
"No, no she's not gone...not yet." Gibbs said, quickly, fear audible in his voice.
Gibbs called her name several times, and pleaded, both with her and with God, to wake up...to be okay.
Finally, Ducky reached out and grabbed Gibbs' arm.
Gibbs turned and looked at the aging medical examiner that he'd come to call friend in the many years that they had known each other.
"Let her go, Jethro...she's gone." Ducky said, softly and knowingly.
And then, reluctantly, Gibbs let Ducky pull him away.
That was a truly terrible, and tragic night/evening for him and the rest of the team.
.........END OF DREAM-LIKE SEQUENCE.........
"Forgive me, Abby," Gibbs whispered, to no one in particular. "I just wasn't fast enough." he added, as he wiped a few tears from his eyes.
Gibbs reached into the center drawer of his work bench and pulled out a photograph of himself and Abby from back when they had first met at NCIS.
As he stared at the photograph, a voice from the past echoed in his ears.
"Nobody's going to hurt you Abby." Gibbs heard himself say.
"You're just saying that to make me feel better." Abby had replied.
"Is it working?" Gibbs had asked.
"Yeah. Could you say it again?" She'd replied.
"No one's gonna hurt you Abs." he'd said.
That last part echoed through his mind, heart, and soul over and over and over until his grip on his glass threatened to shatter it.
He closed his eyes so that he would not see the photograph in his hand.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
Suddenly...
A angry growl escaped his throat as he turned and hurled his glass across the room, furiously.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
The Next Day...
Squad Room...
The squad room was unusually quiet when Gibbs stepped off of the elevator, and headed towards the bullpen where his team was usually waiting for him.
"Any calls?" Gibbs asked, quietly, as he walked past Tony's desk--coffee cup in hand.
"No, boss." Tony replied.
Gibbs set his coffee cup down on his desk, and was just taking his seat.
"But, the director asked to see you ASAP." Tony added, quietly.
Gibbs blew out a sigh of frustration as he got up from his seat and headed towards the directors' office.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
Outside The Director's Office...
Jenny's secretary, Cynthia, straightened up as Gibbs walked in.
"Agent Gibbs, the director is expecting-" She started to say, but Gibbs, as usual, ignored her and just barged right on into Director Shepherd's office closing the door behind him as he did.
"Jethro." Jenny said, as she stood up behind her desk.
"You wanted to see me, Director?" Gibbs said.
"U-uh yes, I did." Jenny replied, with a slight smile.
"Now, before I begin, I just want to say that I understand what I am about to ask of you may...be difficult for you." Jenny started. "But I need you to understand that this is not something we can just put off." she continued.
Gibbs sighed.
"The point, Jen?" Gibbs said, ready for her to cut to the chase already.
"Fine. Very well then." Jenny replied.
Jenny reached into the middle, right drawer of her desk and pulled out a stack of about 3 or 4 manila file folders.
"These are eligible candidates for the position of Forensic Specialist." Jenny said, as she handed Gibbs the file folders.
As soon as the folders were in his hand Jenny saw Gibbs get that cold look in his eyes.
"You mean Abby's replacement." Gibbs said, coldly.
"Well, yes...and no." Jenny said, trying to find the best way to continue this conversation without it becoming a huge thing--which she knew all too well that that would be hard to avoid/do.
Gibbs glanced over the names printed on the manila file folders, as well as a quick scan of each one, that Jenny had given to him.
"Well?" Jenny asked.
Gibbs tossed the stack of folders down onto Jenny's desk.
"They all seem qualified." He said, quietly.
"That's all I get...'They all seemed qualified'...that's it?" Jenny said, suddenly feeling her blood pressure beginning to rise.
"Yeah." Gibbs said, without blinking.
"Not good enough!" Jenny said, her voice rising a few octaves.
"What do you want from me, Jen?" Gibbs asked.
"I want an answer...pick one-now!" Jenny demanded.
Gibbs took a step forward, and leaned a little bit closer.
Jenny could see the look in his eyes. She knew what was coming, and it was this very thing that she had been trying to avoid from the very beginning.
Gibbs gave Jenny the stare--The Gibbs stare.
"Special Agent Gibbs, do not give me 'The Stare'...I am not a junior agent!" She said, raising her voice another few octaves.
"You have 30 seconds to decide...Pick One!" Jenny demanded.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at Jenny.
"Alright Director, you want an answer...Abby." Gibbs said, sharply.
"Abby?" Jenny said, confused.
"Yeah, Abby." Gibbs said.
Jenny blew out a sigh of frustration at Gibbs.
"Not acceptable, Agent Gibbs." Jenny said, angrily.
"Not acceptable, hunh...tell ya what 'Director'--if you wanna replace Abby then do it Yourself!" Gibbs snapped, angrily, as he slammed his hand down on top of the stack of file folders.
"Is that your final answer, Agent Gibbs?" Jenny asked.
"Damn right." Gibbs replied.
"If that's your final answer, then whoever I choose--that's who you're stuck with--whether you like it or not!" Jenny said, angrily, her voice rising another octave or two. "Am I clear!?" She demanded.
"Crystal." Gibbs said, coldly, as he turned and barged out of the director's office.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
Squad Room...
Bull Pen...
Gibbs entered the bull pen walking very quickly--he didn't even bother to pick up his coffee cup--just walked straight on through headed for the elevator.
"Going somewhere...Boss?" McGee asked, slowly, as Gibbs passed by his desk.
"Yeah. To get some air." Gibbs snapped as he walked by.
A moment later the team--Tony, Ziva, and McGee watched as Gibbs stepped onto the elevator.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
ELEVATOR...
Gibbs hit the down switch on the elevator and propped himself up against the back wall of the elevator--with his arms folded across his chest.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
Abby's Lab...
Gibbs stepped off of the elevator and entered Abby's lab.
A part of him hoped and prayed deep down that he would walk in and see her standing at her computer/work station, but the room was only silent and empty.
The room was devoid of any of the things that had once defined its spaces and its keeper.
Gibbs stood in the doorway looking around, debating whether he should go in or not--he eventually decided to go in.
He paced the floor out in the main area, first, surveying the room in its entirety taking in every last detail and saving it all to memory so that he would always have that little piece of Abby to keep with him.
He eventually found himself sitting at Abby's desk.
The stuff had not been cleaned out yet. So he figured while he was down there he would go ahead and start packing up her things.
Better it be done out of/with care and respect than by some complete stranger who did not even know Abby (Or that they did not even know).
He was pulling stuff out of her desk drawers--more specifically the top, middle drawer--when he came across an envelope marked 'To Gibbs'.
"Strange." Gibbs thought to himself.
If these were any other circumstances he would not have invaded her privacy...but he felt as though Abby would have wanted him to see it--whatever 'it' was/is.
Gibbs carefully opened up the envelope which, thankfully, had not been completely sealed up all of the way, and then he removed the pink, neatly folded sheet of stationary from the envelope.
He opened up the neatly, folded up sheet of stationary and began to read.
"Dear Jethro (I just love how that rolls off the tongue...Jethro), (Anyway) I am writing this letter because I don't know how else to tell you this. I know we said we would never speak of 'That Night' ever again, and I know that the only reason you ended it the way you did is/was just your way of trying to protect me; but I've been keeping a secret from you for the last two months now...and I just feel like you have a right to know."
Up to this point Gibbs was almost certain--no he was one hundred percent certain--that Abby had, indeed, written this letter.
Gibbs continued to read on.
"But before I go any further, I just want to make sure that you understand that you don't have to (or need to) feel obligated, in anyway, to do 'anything' just because of me. I am not asking, nor will I ever ask, for you to have any part of this great thing--this miracle--that has happened.
I know in your mind that that night was a mistake, and I know that you sometimes worry that you may have hurt me in some way; but I want you to know that what we did--what we shared was magical--and to me it always will be."
Gibbs paused, briefly, to wipe a few stray tears from his eyes before continuing on with the letter.
He found that as he read the letter he could hear Abby's voice in his head.
"Jethro, two months ago, I found out that I was pregnant. You are the father. Again, I don't expect you to do anything For me, nor do I expect anything From you. I just wanted you to know how much I love you, and how honored I am to be having your baby.
I really hope that this doesn't change things between you and I, and I hope that no matter what we can still be friends.
Always--Love, Abby."
Gibbs finished reading the letter and then closed his eyes as tears streaked down his cheek(s).
"Abs." Gibbs whispered.
"I-I love you too, Abs." Gibbs whispered, after a moment of silence.
------------The End------------
End Notes:
Most of these stories are like, "If this didn't happen, and instead this happened...then what?"
Author's Notes:
Director Shepherd has hired Abby's replacement, and it seems that Gibbs is the only one who hasn't made friendly with the 'newbie' yet...
"Gwen"
NCIS HQ...
Downstairs In The Lab...
Downstairs in the lab the new forensic specialist, Gwen Waters, was hard at work.
She knew that her boss could call for the results at any time, and she also knew that he got ill whenever they weren't ready on time.
"Knock, knock," Tony said, tapping on the lab door lightly. "Anyone home?"
Tony's unexpected arrival startled Gwen, and made her jump in her seat.
The test tube she'd been holding slipped from her hand and fell to the ground spilling its contents across the floor.
"Shit." Gwen swore, under her breath, as she scrambled to clean up the mess as quickly as possible.
Tony strolled over, grabbing the roll of paper towels off of the supply shelf as he passed by it.
"Here let me help you with that." Tony offered, stooping down.
Gwen snatched the paper towels from Tony's hands and set to work wiping up the rest of the mess.
"Okay then." Tony said, as he stood up.
"Agent DiNozzo, how many times must I ask you not to do that?" Gwen said, clearly upset.
"Sorry, I-I didn't mean to-"
Gwen stood up and dumped the remnants of her lastest blunder into the nearby waste basket.
"I know, I know--just don't do it anymore, please?" Gwen said, as she headed for the supply shelf, hastily.
"Now I have to--have to start all over again." she explained, as she collected the necessary materials from the shelf and carried them back to her work space.
Gwen was a very attractive young woman in her late twenties to early thirties. She was slender in figure, with short, light brown hair that stopped above her shoulders. Her eyes were a dazzling hazel color that were mostly hidden by the glasses that she wore.
In other words, by DiNozzo's standards she was just about right.
"Agent Gibbs could call at any time, and if I don't have results for him when he asks...I could lose my job." she fumed, hurriedly tryig to regain lost time.
"Well actually I don't think he can." Tony said, with a half grin, as he scratched a place on the back of his head.
"Have you ever actually met the man, Agent DiNozzo?" Gwen asked, not looking up from her work.
"It's Tony, and yes I have." Tony answered, moving closer to her.
"I mean when he stares at you it's like he's staring directly into your soul--its--its-"
"Eerie, weird, unsettling, mystifying maybe...you know you can stop me at any time." Tony said, breaking in.
"Scary." Gwen replied, finishing her sentence.
A confused expression played across Tony's face at Gwen's remark.
"So, you're saying Gibbs scares you?"
"Well-" she tried to say.
"Gwen are you-" McGee said, as he entered the lab.
"Ooh," Gwen gasped, startled once again by another visitor.
Luckily, though, this time she had a much better grip on the test tube so this time she did not drop it.
"Sorry, didn't mean to--you know--startle you." McGee apologized.
"I know, I know." Gwen said, trying to regain her composure once again.
"Gwen here, says she's scared of Gibbs." Tony informed McGee, who now stood at his side.
"Gibbs, scary?" McGee repeated.
"Well, I'll admit he can be intimidating at times, but scary, no, not really." McGee said.
"I mean yeah, he's hard on us, and maybe even a little abusive, sometimes, but he's-" Tony began to add, comically.
"What, DiNozzo?" Gibbs voice echoed through the lab.
Everyone turned to the computer work station to see Gibbs' face on the mini-display screen just to the right of the computer.
"B-Boss." Tony stammered.
"What were you saying about me, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Wow", Tony thought, the stare was even effective from a distance.
"I-I was just gonna say that your the best Boss." Tony said, trying to cover his ass.
Ever since they lost Abby Gibbs had sworn he'd never set foot back in the lab again (well unless of course he just really really really had to).
Because of this decision he had demanded that they find him another way to communicate with Gwen (not that he really wanted to) other than sending Tony, McGee, or Ziva down to the lab for him. The solution was to have McGee set up one of those new-fangled communication devices, like the ones in the lab and in Autopsy, at his desk in the squad room.
"H-Hi boss." McGee greeted Gibbs, slowly, with a slight wave of his hand.
"You two I'll deal with later." Gibbs said, coldly.
"Waters, results?"
Gwen walked over to the computer workstation, which sat just 3 or 4 feet away (maybe slightly more), and adjusted the screen a little.
She punched a few keys, nervously, on the computer's console and brought up the fingerprint analysis data.
"I ran the fingerprints that were recovered from the scene...throu-through AFIS, and of the three different sets of prints--only one came back with anything." Gwen explained.
"And?"
"An-And um, the prints belong to Seaman Donald Rabb." she continued.
Behind her Tony was grinning from ear to ear.
"Something funny, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"No boss, just that McGee now owes me 20 bucks." Tony replied.
McGee grimaced.
"Yeah, I was kinda hoping that you'd forgotten about that." McGee said.
Gibbs cleared his throat, loudly.
"Anyway!" he snapped.
"Right, right--s-sorry." Gwen stammered, turning back to the computer screen.
"I-I haven't finished running the chemical analysis on the substance that Dr. Mallard found in the victims hair."
"She uh, kind of had an accident, ahem (Tony coughs/clears his throat), Boss." Tony informed Gibbs.
Gwen turned and shot Tony a dirty, 'thanks-a-lot', kind of look.
"What about the slugs pulled from the body...anything?" Gibbs asked, irritability evident in his voice.
"Um, n-not yet, sir." Gwen stammered, as she turned back around to the computer.
"So you've got nothing?" Gibbs asked, his anger rising.
"N-no sir, not exactly." she replied. "I haven't gotten around to them yet, but I will--I-I promise."
"You bet your ass you will--and you will set a speed record doing it too!" Gibbs barked. "We've only got 3 hours left until we have to hand this case over to the FBI."
Y-yes s-sir."
"And you damn sure don't want that to happen." Gibbs barked, angrily.
"Hey boss, maybe I could, you know, help her." McGee offered. "It might make things go-"
"No, you get back up here and finish that trace on Seaman McGregor's cell phone." Gibbs barked.
Tony tried his best to stifle a giggle, but for all his efforts, he was unsuccessful.
"And you go help Ziva--the search warrant for McGregor's apartment just came in."
After Gibbs finished giving out orders there was a moment of silence--eerie silence.
"Well what're you standin' around for--Move!" Gibbs shouted.
The small screen went dark as Gibbs shut his end down.
Gwen slumped forward, almost immediately, setting her elbows against the desk/worktable with her face buried in her hands.
Tony and McGee were turning to leave the room when they realized that she was crying.
They both stopped and exchanged looks.
Tony let out a sigh as he strolled back over to her side, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Gwen?" Tony said, quietly.
"H-he hates me." Gwen sobbed.
"No, he doesn't--Gibbs doesn't-" Tony struggled to find the right words for that/this particular situation.
"Look, Gibbs has just been through a lot, recently, and this is just his way of dealing with it." Tony said, quietly.
Gwen raised her head up, and wiped some tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her lab coat.
"You mean, Ms. Scuito--the one who was here before me?" Gwen asked, through a sniffle.
"Yeah, that's-that's part of it." Tony replied, patting her on the back gently.
"Look, just don't let him get to you, alright." he added. "Just do the best you can, and uh, (Tony chuckles slightly) McGee and I will take the flack from the boss man, alright."
Tony put on a small grin as a way of trying to cheer her up a bit.
"We've got to get going, before we really get in trouble." Tony said, nodding towards McGee who wa still standing by the door. "But will talk more later, I promise."
Gwen nodded.
Tony grinned, and patter her on the back again just before he and McGee finally left.
After they'd gone, Gwen got back to work--determined to finish up and have those results ready for Gibbs as fast and as soon as she could.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
Squad Room...
Late That Evening...
The team had closed the case, and McGee, Tony, and Ziva had already left.
That left Gibbs all alone in the darkened squad room.
Suddenly teh sound of someone coughing caught his attention.
"Who's there?" Gibbs asked.
Gwen stepped out from around the shadowy corner, slowly.
"I-it's me sir." Gwen said, quietly.
"Oh." Gibbs said, with an air of un-interest in his voice, as he stood and reached to turn of his desk lamp.
"I was just fixin' to leave." Gibbs said.
"No--Wait!" Gwen said, suddenly.
She startled, not only Gibbs, but herself as well.
Gibbs stood, motionless, his fingers just inches from the light switch.
Gwen sucked in a deep breath, collecting her thoughts and composing herself before continuing.
"Look I know you don't like me, and I know WHY you don't like me," she began. "Agent Di-er--Tony, told me how Abby died...and I am so sorry for your loss--I know you two were really close."
Gibbs, realizing that this wasn't going to end anytime soon, slowly sat back down in his seat.
Gwen took another step or two closer to his desk--fighting back the tears that were burning behind her eyes.
"I've worked really hard to get where I am...and I-I enjoy my work," she continued. "And when I got this job it was like a dream come true for me."
Gibbs sat back in his chair, in a more relaxed position.
"I've been here for almost two weeks now, and I have taken everything that you've thrown at me," she continued, her voice, now, beginning to crack. "I keep hoping, and praying that the next day will be better...but you know what--it never does."
She stopped for a moment to wipe tears from her eyes, and to try to regain some composure (if that was even possible) before continuing.
"I know that you're grieving, and I really and truly respect that...but I'm not Abby, and I never will be." Gwen said, almost in a sob.
"I'm not trying to replace her, or make you forget about her...but if you could just give me a chance I just know I could prove myself to you--I know I'm not as good as Abby was, but I know I'm good." Gwen finished.
There was a moment of silence.
Gibbs leaned forward in his desk, and folded his hands in front of him.
He suddenly felt a cool wind/breeze blow gently past him.
"I know." he whispered, with a slight grin, to no one in particular.
"Music Begins To Play In The BackGround"
"
Every now and then I see you walk by
and I shake my head cause you're not really there,
I lie awake at night cause I still hear your voice
I'm haunted by the memories of what we shared;
ghosts of the past invade my space
so much for saving face,
and I'm gettin' tired of (playin') this game.
"
After a moment Gibbs looked up at her.
"You're right...you're not Abby." Gibbs said, quietly.
Gwen sucked in a deep breath, trying to stop herself from crying.
"But, you are a lot like her." Gibbs added, a slight smile/grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Gibbs sat back in his chair again, arms folded against his chest.
"I was hard on Abby her first week here too." Gibbs said, quietly.
Gwen noticed, even in the dim light, a glazed look in Gibbs' eyes.
"She did the same thing that you're doing now." he added.
"Only she...yelled...at me." Gibbs said, a grin spreading across his face at the memory.
There was a another moment of silence that lasted, forever, it seemed.
Then Gibbs leaned forward, and nodded.
"I'll see you bright and early monday morning, clear?"
---------------------------------------
NCIS Parking Lot...
In Ziva's Car...
Out in the parking lot Tony, McGee, and Ziva all sat in Ziva's car.
Ziva had hidden a listening device in the squad room so that the three of them could listen in on their boss and the 'newbie'.
Mostly, she did it, reluctantly of course, so that Tony and McGee could settle a bet.
"Damn." McGee said, quietly, handing Tony another twenty dollar bill.
"Ziva, remind me to never bet against Tony ever again." he added.
"Sorry McGiggle, but when you've got it...you've got it." Tony said, with a victorious grin/smile.
Ziva couldn't help but laugh at Tony and McGee and how childish they acted sometimes.
"I can't believe I actually let the two of you talk me into doing this." she said.
---------------------------------------
NCIS HQ...
Squad Room...
Gibbs looked up, a slight grin still on his lips (sort of).
Gwen was speechless--utterly speechless.
She nodded, and then turned to leave--headed for the elevator.
Gibbs watched in silence as Gwen got onto the elevator and then the doors closed behind her.
Images and memories of the times and things that he and Abby had shared throughout the time that they'd known each other.
A single, lone tear rolled down from his eye and on down his cheek.
"Cause with you gone girl I'm a helpless mess
and with you gone I just feel so undressed,
unshielded from the unyielding pain I feel;
sometimes I tell myself that its not real
cause its so hard to carry on--with you gone."
------------The End------------
End Notes:
This story is an addition to "Death In The Family".
Also, if you guys have any story ideas for any "Hypothetical Situations" within the NCIS universe that maybe you would like to see posted here...give me a shout, and we'll see what we can come up with. Enjoy and God Bless!!!!!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.