Fathers' Day

Title: Fathers' Day
Rating: K for now but eventual FR18 in later chapters
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Category: Romance/friendship
Summary: Fathers' Day is a difficult time for both Abby and Gibbs but will it prove a tipping point in their relationship? First time Gabby.
Spoilers: AU from the end of Season 6
A/N: This started life as a one shot written for the Gabby Shipper Forum... another one that's got out of control and will probably end up being god-knows-how-many chapters! Partially written before we found out Abby was adopted, so I've kept it set before that episode in order not to confuse me even further! Big hugs to With the Grain, Gibbsredhoodie and Bamacrush as always for their valuable insights and support, and for letting me ramble my way through several aspects of this with them.

Chapter 1 – Memories

Hearing people around her calling out "Happy Fathers' Day" caused a pang Abby hadn't been expecting, and it only added to her misery. Not that she begrudged anyone else their happiness or time spent together as a family on this special day... she just hadn't appreciated how much it would hurt to hear the familiar greeting.

Sitting in the shade by the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt, her bag and usual black parasol resting on the bench beside her, Abby people watched as families and couples strolled through the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial park, enjoying this warm Sunday in June.

All of a sudden, the skin on the back of her neck prickled and Abby had the distinct feeling she was being watched.

But apart from two young guys sitting on the grass nearby, who kept glancing her way and nudging each other, obviously arguing over which of them was going to try and chat her up first, Abby couldn't see anyone else obviously keeping an eye on her.

Turning her attention back to the photograph clutched in her hand, she smiled fondly at the image of herself and an equally tall, dark haired man. They were both laughing at the camera, arms wrapped round each other.

Glancing over at the statue, Abby remembered the sunny afternoon when she'd handed a passing tourist her camera and asked them to take a shot of her with her dad standing in front of Eleanor Roosevelt's statue... a woman they both admired.

Her hands shook and the image blurred in front of her eyes as her emotions overwhelmed her again.

Chest tight, she wrapped her arms round her waist, hugging herself and felt a tear slide down her cheek as she looked at the face of her father, Ben... her late father.

It had been two years since she'd last sat in this spot... a June day when she'd taken her dad round their usual annual circuit of his favourite DC spots, neither of them realizing it would be the very last time they would do that.

Barely six months later, her dad was dead.

For Abby, it was one of the hardest things to bear that they'd fallen out in those final weeks and that their last video call had degenerated into a signed argument, and she'd never had a chance to make it up with him.

This time last year, the grief of his loss was still so raw that Abby hadn't been able to face coming back here to continue their annual tradition. But this year, she'd plucked up courage to at least try and revisit some of her dad's favourite haunts, but had so far only managed to walk round the place her father had liked the most, the FDR Memorial park.

Watching from a discreet distance, Gibbs could read Abby's body language as clearly as if he'd been sat right next to her. Her shoulders were hunched over as she wrapped her arms round herself and if he had a better view of her face, he was sure he'd be able to see that Abby was struggling to hold back tears in those expressive green eyes.

It had taken him a while to track her down in the park this morning and he'd paced through each of the other outdoor 'rooms' of the FDR memorial before he'd seen her familiar dark head and pigtails. He hadn't been sitting here long, propped against a tree in the shade, but had kept his distance deliberately, not sure if she'd even want company today.

He was content to keep watch over her from afar, without her being aware of it... just to keep her safe.

But seeing the kids who'd been eyeing Abby start to move closer, Gibbs stood and moved rapidly in her direction.

He'd be damned if he'd sit there and watch Abby be forced to fend them off on what was already a difficult enough day for her... even though he knew she'd eat them alive on a normal day.

Abby may never be 'his' in the way he wanted her to be, but he could at least try to protect her.

Some sixth sense must have alerted the young guys to the trouble they were about to get into, or perhaps they felt the weight of a blue eyed stare boring a hole in the backs of their skulls, but either way, they veered off before they got level with Abby when they saw Gibbs approaching.

The first clue that Abby was no longer alone came when she became aware of a tall figure suddenly appearing beside the bench. Started, she looked up, but relaxed when she realized who it was.

Smiling a welcome, she moved her bag and looked him over as Gibbs slipped onto the seat next to her.

"Hey, Gibbs. What are you doing here?" Abby asked, voice huskier than normal from her tears. "Don't tell me... you were just passing?"

He kissed her cheek softly in greeting, concerned at the strain visible on her pale face and the tears still shimmering in her green eyes. Gibbs sat quietly beside her as Abby rummaged in her bag for a tissue, letting her dry her eyes and gather her composure in her own time.

Even in her misery, she couldn't help notice what Gibbs was wearing. Blue jeans were topped by a white USMC T-shirt which was left loose outside his pants and showed off his muscular forearms. The contrast of the bright white of the T-shirt brought out his blue eyes and he looked good enough to eat... but then when didn't he?

Gibbs shrugged at her question, heart aching at her pain. "Just came to see if you're okay."

"Yeah, I saw you come galloping over here on your white charger to chase those kids away." Abby couldn't help teasing him gently, a faint smile curving her lips.

Gibbs had the grace to look sheepish as he acknowledged, "Maybe." Of course she'd have been aware of the boys.

"I can handle kids like that, y'know," Abby sounded wryly amused, looking in the direction they'd vanished.

She'd seen the boys and been well aware of what they were doing... and she'd been quite prepared to send them on their way, but nicely. Gibbs' technique would probably have involved some form of physical violence or, at the very least, a well aimed death glare or growl.

... which begged the question how long he'd been there, but it did explain the feeling of being watched.

Obviously her Gibbs radar was still functioning normally.

"Yeah, I know you can, Abby." Gibbs reached up to gently tuck a silky strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Just didn't see why ya had to this time."

"That's really sweet, Gibbs, but there was no need... really." She looked at him, curiously before changing the subject. "How d'ya know I'd be here?"

As much as she loved seeing him on any day, Abby wasn't sure this was a good idea... today of all days.

She found it hard enough at the best of times not giving herself away and making it too obvious how much she wanted this man... how much she loved him, even if she could never have him.

Today, when she was feeling particularly raw emotionally, hiding her feelings for Gibbs on top of everything else wouldn't be made any easier... especially when he was right here beside her, and in full alpha male protective mode.

"Remembered you used to come here with Ben on Fathers' Day," he told her, simply, his voice and gaze warm and affectionate. "Thought you might be here today. Wanted to see how you were."

Her throat suddenly closed up and she was unable to speak. She dipped her head, not wanting him to see her cry again. He'd been there so much for her over the past 18 months, helping her through her grief but his kindness still had the power to take her voice.

As he saw her battling to hold back tears, Gibbs murmured, "Hey, c'mere." He scooted closer, tugging her into his side and rested his cheek against her hair.

Abby leaned her head into his neck, relaxing against his strength and absorbing his warmth. She hated crying and succumbed to it only rarely, although it seemed to be all she felt like doing this weekend.

After a few minutes, Gibbs pressed a quick kiss into her hair as he squeezed her shoulder. When she'd recovered enough, she was able to sit up and smiled shakily at him.

Gibbs returned her smile, cupping her cheek gently, "Thought you might want some company but if you'd rather be alone, I can go?"

Over the past 18 months, Abby had shared so much with him as she'd grieved for her father, and Gibbs didn't underestimate how hard it had been for her to be that vulnerable with him and to share so much of her father. However close they might be as friends, Abby was fiercely independent and it had taken a lot for her to rely on him so completely during such a difficult time.

But he was glad she had.

He wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Abby was torn between a desire to try to work through her grief alone on this difficult day and wanting his company, needing to lean on him.

Eventually, Abby raised her hand to cover his where it rested on her face and leaned into his touch, whispering, "No, Gibbs... stay."

TBC...