Love is…

CH3

DISCLAIMER:: I OWN NOTHING!

Sorry, this simple abbyshot has taken a family twist. Hang on for a ride!

As always, please read and review!

Abby anxiously paced in the entryway, she was twisting her fingers, knowing that Gibbs would soon be asking her questions. She knew she wanted some time to think, but she also knew that she needed something more basic. She needed comfort.

" So how did it go?" Gibbs asked. He was torn seeing his youngest so physically upset. He had not seen her this upset in ages. He wanted to reach out for her and hold her, but he knew that she needed to work herself through whatever fight she was fighting.

"Well, I went and met Kyle." Abby said as she turned, twisting her hands, trying to calm her nerves.

"And?" Gibbs prodded.

"And, he is nice, but no, I did not tell him who I was…. I mean I wanted to but there are some things I need to work through first." Abby spoke softly as she walked into the living room, the constant movement a physical manifestation of the turmoil inside.

Gibbs knew that she needed space so headed over and sat on the couch. He was letting her know that he was in no hurry and was ready whenever she was ready.

"I mean, he already has a lot on his mind, he just got a new job and now is preparing to donate a kidney tomorrow morning. So I…." Abby stood there looking at Gibbs sitting there, patiently waiting for her to continue.

Gibbs knew that sometimes when Abby would become stuck in a mindset he needed to jar her back to the present. "What do you need to work through, Abs?" He asked her tenderly.

Abby, picking up the cue from Gibbs to continue, walked around the coffee table and sat on the other end of the couch. She took a deep breath and prepared to bare her insecurities to the one person who she felt could she could trust. "Well,…you know how that Kyle and I are exact genetic matches, so that means that we have the identical set of biological parents. And then I tried to rationalize that the two parents that I knew and loved would never have given a child up for adoption." Abby stopped and bit on the inside her lower lip, slightly pulling it in.

Gibbs was giving her his full attention. He was looking at her eye to eye, hoping, no willing some of his strength to pass to her. He could tell she was trying to tell him something and from the way she was rambling around a little, he had a feeling it was not good. His gut was telling him to keep on listening.

Abby took in another deep breath as she prepared herself to say aloud what she had known inside all day lone. It had been eating at her, degrading the once high levels of self-confidence to nothing. "But, they would have adopted, Gibbs. I am adopted."

This was not what he expected to hear come from her lips. Gibbs just rested his chin on his palm, intently staring at her. He could see the pain in her eyes, and it hurt him deeply. "No, this isn't true." Gibbs thought to himself.

As if Abby could see the doubt in his eyes, she quickly slid over and pulled out her locket. "I have my mother's hair here, I tested it for DNA Gibbs, and we are not a match….." Abby's voice started to waver.

Gibbs, in a state of disbelief, rubbed his hand up over his face as he digested the revelation Abby had just dropped in his lap. God, to be so smart, can be so dangerous. Only Abby would think of running a DNA check, only the scientist in her would settle for nothing less than the truth. He watched her eyes fill with tears as she was finally admitting this aloud, finally hearing with her own ears what she knew was the truth.

"Gibbs….I….I do not know who I am anymore…..I do not know who my parents are…I am like….Little orphan Abby." Abby was fighting to keep the tears at bay. She did not want to break down in front of Gibbs, she did not want to lose control of her emotions.

Gibbs, still in shock from the news, slid back into the corner of the couch and let what came natural, paternal instincts, take over. He knew she was seeking confirmation of who she was, she needed reassurance that she was not alone. Speaking in a calming voice, Gibbs, took over. "You are still who you have always been and your parents are still your parents? Those things will never change."

As if it was a natural action, Abby leaned into the man she considered a father to her. Gibbs had not been in this situation in about 16 years, but the paternal instincts from Kelly quickly reappeared. The instinct to pull your child into your chest, to protect from the cruelties of the world and to physically let them know that you are their strength in times of weakness never leave. Gibbs quickly pulled her to his chest and waited. Abby knew she could now break. "But,…why…did they not tell me…..I….." Abby just let the tears silently fall as words failed to convey her pain, but it was as if Gibbs could tell just how much she hurt.

Gibbs kissed her head, and tightly wrapped his arms around her, encircling her completely in his arms, his strength. "Family is not just DNA….." Gibbs thought just how true that statement was as he muttered it. He had 3 adult children, and not a one was a biological child. "It is people who love you and will be there for you. Abby, you are not alone…You have a family." Gibbs said and then paused. After the death of Kelly and Shannon he thought his chances of ever having another family was zero, but as he held his youngest daughter, reassuring her, loving her, he knew that he was wrong. "We will help you through this." Gibbs once again kissed her on the head as he just held her as he felt the tears that were flowing from her eyes now leave a wet area on his shirt, but he didn't care. He would do it all again. Gibbs just sat there, one hand now stroking her hair as he listened for her breathing to slow down and become regular and deep. He knew that she was asleep. He gently lifted up and laid her head on the pillow, covered her with a blanket and went to kiss her on the cheek goodnight. As he brushed his lips across her cheek, she startled awake.

"Dad?" She asked groggily.

"SHHHH! Yeah, just tucking you in." Gibbs whispered in her ear.

"MMM..Good…don't want to be all alone." Abby murmured in her sleep.

Gibbs let a tear fall down his face as gently stroked her hair, a father would always feel the pain of their child. "You will never be…I will be here…" He answered as he pulled the recliner close to the couch and started to reminisce of how he ended on this wonderful path called fatherhood. As he watched her sleep he smiled as he remembered how McGee became so entangled in his life…

TBC

Please read and review.