I'll Keep You Safe

Outline/Plot: Gibbs is attacked, and while the team is out investigating, they leave Gibbs in Abby's capable hands. While in her care, Gibbs discovers he has feelings for his lab rat.

This story is plot-heavy and lengthy, but in the end, all GAbby! I in no way intend any prejudice in this story, it is simply the plot that entered my mind, and seemed plausible.

I of course don't own the characters, though if Gibbs and/or Abby were ever to show up at my door-step, I wouldn't turn them down! I am making no money from this, as it is the result of obsession, not duty.

Enjoy, and please review…this is my most serious story yet, and I'd appreciate the feedback…don't worry, there are more one-shots coming, too. I can't leave it alone!

1. A Murder

Lieutenant Thom Mackenzie, an analyst with a bright future. Gibbs sighed. The young man had been found dead outside a Georgetown bar, sodomized with an unknown blunt object and murdered. At 2 a.m. Gibbs and his team had to head to Georgetown to investigate. The bar in question turned out to be a gay bar.

They questioned people at the scene, mostly patrons of the bar who were now standing outside wanting to know what was going on. Gibbs sent Ziva to question anyone still left in the bar. Everyone on scene was asked for the their I.D. and a phone number where they could be reached.

No one knew the victim, or so they said. There seemed to be very little forensic evidence to take back to Abby, who was already at the lab waiting for them.

Ducky finished his exam and stood up.

"Well, Jethro, the body is all yours to search. I'm afraid it's very straightforward. The poor man died as a result of that most demeaning wound; he bled out. The rest of the beating could have left him unconscious, but it doesn't look severe enough to have done the job. He's not been dead long. Maybe an hour," Ducky announced then added, "Come on Mr. Palmer, let's get the gurney."

Later, after hours of all leads coming back empty, Gibbs was frustrated and knew his girl would have something for him. Even if she didn't, at least he'd get to see her. He of course stopped for a Caf-Pow! on the way.

"Gibbs! What are you doing here? I haven't even catalogued it all yet."

"We brought it in hours ago."

"Well, yes…that stuff is catalogued and declared useless for evidence. Most of it was just typical alley trash, probably been there for days. Lots of DNA on all of it, but mostly it's only useful if you'd like to start arresting people for littering." Abby snickered, grabbing the Caf-Pow! before Gibbs could change his mind, and taking a long swig.

"So what's not catalogued?"

"All the evidence from the body. There we have more to work with. I've got a boot print, but just the end, so it will be difficult to tell the size or the tread. Ducky and I can tell you that it was a large man who did this. The size of the fist-prints tells us that. Major Mass Spectrometer is right now working to identify an unknown substance found at the entrance of the fatal wound, but your gut tells me it's rust." Abby announced, the straw from the Caf-Pow! again at her lips.

"Rust? So Mackenzie was killed with a metal object?"

"I'd say so, but Ducky can tell you more, by the bruising around it."

"Is that all we have?"

"I took swabs of all the wounds, Gibbs. I'm hoping for DNA. I get the feeling gloves were worn, though. Like, lightweight Isotoners, not latex. You know, because it was cold."

Gibbs sighed. "Okay, Abs. Call me…"

"…as soon as I have something. I know, Gibbs, I always do." Abby gave her smile of admiration, and happily spun back to the table where she had evidence laid out.

Gibbs headed down to Ducky.

"Jethro. Have you been to see Abby yet, or do I even need to ask?" Ducky asked smugly when he saw his friend.

"I saw her," Gibbs said, giving Ducky his best patient look, not really knowing why everyone was always so interested in his visits to Abby. It was common knowledge she was his favorite, so no one should be surprised.

"I haven't much to add from what I've already told you, except I now know that the murder weapon was a tire iron. I can tell by the bruising. The murderer used the blunt end of it. There are circular bruises in the vicinity of the wound, probably left when he was trying to force it in before he succeeded, and there's a bruise across his right side that's a long line consistent with the shape of a tire iron." Ducky sighed, hating how horribly this man had died.

"Well, at least it's something, Duck. Thanks," Gibbs said, and returned to his desk to process all of this.

"How are we doing?" Gibbs asked Tony, Ziva, and McGee as he entered the squad room. He had sent them this morning to interview Mackenzie's unit.

"Well, actually, Boss, I think I have a little tickle in my throat…" Tony winced playfully. "Oh, about the case…" he grinned now, and put the image of Mackenzie from his service record up on the screen.

"He was known for being strict, but seemed to be well-liked. Everyone said there was no way he was in that neighborhood for the gay bar. He was vocal about the women in his life, and no one there thinks he was closeted." Tony finished, then gave the floor to Ziva.

"It is possible, however, that his attacker was interested in beating up gay men, saw him coming out of the bar, and made an assumption." Ziva surmised.

"Yeah, I'd thought of that. It's possible." Gibbs said in a way non-committal way.