Chapter 1
Treated Differently
It had been another slow day at NCIS. Full of paperwork and the like. Sometime throughout the day a rubber band war broke out in the squad room. It ended pretty quickly and left McGee with a few large bruises. Now it was early evening and Gibbs was going down to pick Abby up.
*Earlier that day*
"Hey Abs." Gibbs greeted as he entered the lab.
"Gibbs," Abby said running up and hugging him, "I need to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Well today has been really slow without an active case and all and I got bored with my model of the civil war so I decided to relax and just think for a while. My mind drifted a bit and ended I ended up thinking about Kate which somehow led to relationships. "Abby was interrupted
"What's the question Abby?" Gibbs asked in a tone containing a confusing mix of curiosity, concern, and annoyment.
"Well, why do you treat me so different to everyone else? You didn't even treat Kate like you do me. In fact you treated her a little differently to DiNozzo but let's not go there." Abby burst out rather quickly and it took Gibbs a few seconds to process what she had said.
"What you say we go out to dinner tonight and I'll tell you then?"
"Sounds good to me." With that Gibbs left. He had entirely forgotten the reason he had come down in the first place.
*Back to present*
"Ready to go, Abs?" Gibbs asked entering the lab.
"Yep just let me get my coat." Abby went over to her coat rack and grabbed it off the wall. Gibbs walked her out to the parking lot but instead of taking her to her car they headed towards his.
"Let's go in my car it's easier and if you need me to I'll pick you up for work tomorrow."
"Okay sure." Abby said as Gibbs opened the door for her.
They had already ordered and received their meals before Gibbs started talking on the topic.
"Abby this is a really long story with a really important ending so I need you to just listen for a while, is that okay with you?" Gibbs asked a bit jumpy but unsure as of why.
"Yep sure." Abby said as she started eating and Gibbs started the story taking bites of his meal in between talking.
"19 years ago when I was still in the corps I was serving in Kuwait and I was put into a coma by a bomb blasting. When I woke up I was informed that my wife Shannon had been murdered and that my daughter Kelly was in witness protection with a new name and new parents. I was told that I wasn't allowed to see her or talk to her. She had traumatic amnesia that she hadn't recovered from. Well 5 years ago I was told that the risk had gone but if I wanted Kelly back I needed to tell her the story and get her to believe me."
"Gibbs…" Abby whispered.
"I was told my daughters new name, address, family's name, where she went to school, where she worked, everything." Abby interrupted again,
"Okay I don't mean to be rude or interrupt but what has this got to do with me?"
"Abs, my daughter's name is Abigail, she lived in New Orleans with a family called the Sciutos, and she went to college there and studied forensic science. She now works at NCIS and is the smartest person I've ever met." Gibbs finished looking for a reaction from Abby.
Chapter 2
Reaction
Abby just stared for a moment till it sunk in. She passed out landing on the floor of the restraunt.
"Abby?" Gibbs ran over to her. She slowly woke up.
"Hey, I just had the weirdest dream. You were in it and you told me you were my father." Abby said giggling as she sat up and Gibbs helped her onto a chair.
"Abs, I did just tell you that I am your father. You really name is Kelly Jenifer Gibbs. You went into witness protection when you were 11. "
"Why don't I remember?"
"You had severe traumatic amnesia from your mother's death and the car accident."
"Whoa." Abby said in awe, "This is a lot to take in. I'm not sure what to say."
"It's okay; you don't have to say anything. Just relax and take it in while you finish your dinner." Gibbs said understandingly.
For the rest of dinner they sat in silence. Abby was thinking and remembering times when she should have figured something was up. Like the time she was told she knew sign language but had just forgotten the same time she was in hospital when she was eleven she was told she had fallen out of a tree. Her whole life was flashing back in confusing sequences. Gibbs sat there studying Abby's face. When it started to get paler than usual he decided it was time to go home.
"Come on, Abs let's go home." He paid the bill and led Abby out the door. "I'll come by and pick you up tomorrow." Gibbs said as they approached his car.
"Can I… I mean…Would I be able to stay at your place instead? There are a few things I want to ask you." Abby asked.
"Umm sure, do you need anything from your place?" Gibbs asked
"Nah I'll sleep in this I have spare clothes in the lab." She answered returning to her usual self slowly.
Gibbs looked her up and down. "You are not going to sleep in a mini skirt with chains on it and a tight top with even more chains on it. I'll lend you one of my shirts… Actually no… I have a better idea." Gibbs said with a bit of mystery coloring his voice near the end.
"What?" Abby asked uncertainly.
"You'll see." Gibbs said and they drove the rest of the way to his place in silence. Abby once again thinking and questioning her childhood.
Chapter 3
The Box
As Gibbs pulled up into his drive-way he looked over at Abby. She was already asleep. Today had been a slow day but the evening was a very pressuring one. He picked her up and took her inside, placing her gently on the couch. He didn't want to wake her till he had the surprise out. He went down to his basement and rumaged through some old dusty boxes. "Yes." He murmered as he found what he was looking for. He took the box upstairs to wake Abby and show her what he found. To he surprise she was already awake sitting on the couch waiting for him.
"I knew it." She said as he came into sight.
"Knew what?" He asked slightly confused.
"I had a theory that if I acted like I was asleep you would carry me in. I was right. You are so sweet!" Abby exclaimed.
"Abs…" he laughed, "Anyway, look what I found." He opened the box and inside were clothes, lots of clothes.
"You have your mother's figure," He said gesturing to the clothes, he knew some of them where not going to be to Abby's taste but he also knew some were. "Your mother wasn't a goth but she liked to mix and match every color she could find with black. Said it made her look slimmer. Personally I don't think she needed to look any slimmer but ,hey"
"Wow," Abby said pulling out a long black dress. It was so beautiful. It would come down to just past her knees and was. Words couldn't discribe how beautiful it was. (a/n: okay so I'm taking the easy way out cause I don't know how to discribe it. Sue me.) Abby held it up to herself. It would fit perfectly and was totally Abby.
"That looks great, Abs." Gibbs said with at bit of a fathery tone in his voice, "Your mother bought that dress for her mothers funeral."
"I think I remember…"Abby said. "I think I remember what she looks like to. Did she have red hair and green eyes?" Abby asked.
"She did, she had eyes just like yours." Gibbs replied in a tone Abby had never heard before. She realized that he was remembering her too, he really did love her.
"Dad…" Abby said taking a moment to giggle at the fact that she was calling Gibbs dad, she liked it. So did he. "Can you tell me a story from when I was young, when we were all together?"
"Of course." Gibbs replied and started telling her a few short, simple, but beautiful stories about their family while Abby continued to rumage through the box.
Gibbs looked up at the clock after finishing his third story. It was almost midnight. " Come on Abs, you need some sleep so do I let's go to bed and we can talk about it more tomorrow."
" Fine." Abby said childishly as she picked up a pair of her mums old pajamas. They were a deep purple and had Felix the Cat on them. Gibbs helped her up and showed her where the spare bedroom was and the bathroom. He gave her a towel and then went into his room to get ready for bed himself.
Chapter 4
Abby got up the next morning when her phone's alarm went off. She looked at her phone 5am. It was, as always, way to early to be getting up but she liked to get in early. She looked around slightly disorientate for just the slightest second then she remembered what had happened the day before. "Wow," She thought out loud, "It wasn't a dream, it was all real." She got up and grabbed the towel Gibbs got out for her the night before. ‘I don't have any clothes to wear,' she thought to herself, then she remembered the elegant vintage dress that belonged to her mum. She picked it up carefully and went and had a shower.
"Hey Ab… Wow, that dress really suits you." Gibbs said his voice was becoming more fartherlike with every sentence he said to Abby.
"Coffee," was all Abby said still half asleep Gibbs handed her the mug that he had just poured.
"Hey, I was wondering what was Mum like? What kind of personality did she have?"
"Abs, you are just like her." He said and it was obvious once again that his mind was driffting to her memory. "She had a love of life, she was so energetic and treated everyday as though it was special just for her." He said and Abby could hear the love in his voice. (a/n:Can you hear love in someone's voice? I think you can) "We're gonna be late."Gibbs said looking at his watch.
"Okay, I ‘ll go get my things together." Abby said then ran upstairs. While she was busy doing that Gibbs went down stairs and pulled out an old tin. This was his memory tin. It sounded corny but it meant so much to him. It contained pictures of Kelly/Abby and Shannon, a bottle of Shannon's favorite perfume, Kelly/Abby's favorite childhood doll, and so much more. He was going to give it to Abby later today. He put it in the car glove box before she got in the car.
Abby arrived at the car after collecting her things. She could pack so much into one bag it somethimes toook her half an hour to find it all and put it back. They drove to work chatting about their life before Kuwait.
They arrived and Tony was already at his desk. "Why are you here so early?"
"Boiler blew in my apartment, again." Tony answered. (a/n:Bonus points if anyone can tell me what ep his boiler blew.) "I was wondering if I could…" He was interuppted.
"No can do DiNozzo." Gibbs said knowing what he was going to say.
"Why not, I stayed there last time my boiler blew?" Tony asked a little confused as to why Gibbs wouldn't let him stay at his place.
"Because the spare rooms taken." Gibbs said as though it was obvious.
"By who?" DiNozzo asked shocked.
"Me." Abby chirped up, she had been standing there all along.
"Why are you… ahhh," Tony started.
"Don't even think that DiNozzo. I'm staying there cause I want to spend some time with my dad." And with that Abby headed towards the elevator and went down to her lab leaving Tony speachless.
"I thought her parents lived in New Orleans?" Tony asked Gibbs. Before he could answer, not that he would have, his cell started to ring.
"We have a case. Gas the truck Tony I'll call Kate I'll brief you on the way."
They arrived at the cemetery to a grave that had been dug up. It wasn't just any grave though. It belonged to Shannon Gibbs.
Empty
"What the hell?" Tony asked after Gibbs had briefed him, "Why are we investigating a grave robbery?"
"Because the grave is that of a former marine dependant and that former marine wants NCIS to investigate it. He insisted." Gibbs said. He knew they would find out eventually but her would rather they find out without him having to tell them.
They pulled up at the site, the local police had already taped it off and stood back. Tony sketch and shoot, Kate talk to the local police and asked about witnesses. McGee… Where's McGee?" Gibbs hadn't noticed him missing till now.
"Well… he's working with Abby." Tony said with caution not wanted his boss to lash out at him.
"Why the hell is he working with Abby and not with us?"
"He's working on a cold case. They needed someone with computer knowledge." Gibbs rolled his eyes.
"Okay, back to work." Tony scurried off while Gibbs started looking for evidence.
"Gibbs, is there something on this case you're not telling us about?" Tony queeried looking at the headstone.
"Why," Gibbs asked not even looking at him.
"Well because this is the grave of Shannon Gibbs, and right next to it is the grave of Kelly Gibbs. Are they your sisters or something?" Tony said not catching onto the ages on the stones.
"How about we go with something and you read the whole headstone." Gibbs said.
Tony read Shannons stone, ‘Shannon Gibbs 1956-1988 Beloved wife, mother, and friend' Tony stood in shock for a second. "She was your… your,"
"Yeah Tony she was my wife. My first wife, she died when I was in Kuwait. We need to get back to work so let's just leave it there."
After some time they had everything they needed. "So we have a body buried ontop of coffin in that belongs to your wife." Kate said. Putting eveything together. In the back of the van they had the coffin, and all the other evidence they collected including soil samples and the head stones of both Kelly and Shannon. Shannon's was evidence and Kelly's well there was no point it being there.
"Gibbs, I was wondering why did you take Kelly's headstone? I mean it's not evidence, is it?" Tony knew Gibbs wasn't telling him something and he still hadn't worked it out. He had a feeling that Gibbs wouldn't tell him anyway but there was no harm in asking right? Well, with Gibbs there was always a risk in asking but that was beside the point.
"No Tony it's not evidence. My reasons are personal and am sure as hell not going to tell you." Gibbs was stubborn, he had given Tony the ‘it's personal' excuse before, it worked then and he was hoping it would work now. It did. Tony thought it best to leave it for a while. Abby might know something, he'd ask her when they got back. The drove the rest of the ride in silence, apart from Tony and Kate bickering once or twice on how far they had to go.
"Tony, take the evidence down to Abby. Don't be too long though I need you up here still." Tony walked into the elevator. He couldn't wait to find out. He just hoped Abby had some answers.
"Hey Abs,"
"Tony? Why you down here?" Abby obviously hadn't heard about the case yet. He informed her on the grave and gave her the small evidence to test and told her about the coffin that was going down to Ducky to open.
"Abs, do you know anything about Gibbs' wife Shannon?"
"A bit, but I can't talk now I'll tell you when you come down in about 12 hours for the test results."
Abby then walked swiftly out of the lab, into the elevator, and down to the morgue. Gibbs was already there.
"He Duck-man." Abby said, "I need to tell you something before you open that coffin."
"Yes Abby what is it." He had no clue what she was going to say but wasn't expecting it when it came.
"When I was eleven, my father left for a war in Kuwait, my mother died and I got traumatic amnesia. I was put into witness protection." Abby paused, she didn't know how to put everything so she just blurted it out, "Gibbs is my real father." Ducky just looked at her for a moment, he didn't know how to respond to it.
"Really… I… I have no idea what to say, for the first time in my life."
"Hey Duck, I know that this is sudden but can we discuss it after the case." Gibbs asked not wanting anything to interrupt this case.
"Of course but I do have one question. What does that have to do with the coffin?" Ducky asked still puzzled.
"That's my mother, Gibbs' first wife's coffin."
"oh.." Ducky said and looked down.
"Duck can we just do this, please."Gibbs was desperate, Ducky wasn't sure why. Mind you neither was Gibbs.
Gibbs put one arm aroud Abby's shoulder and grabbed her hand with the other. It was more for him than for her. Abby was strong, but still he didn't know how she would handle this.
Ducky got the crobar and opened the lid. "Oh no. What the hell?" The coffin was empty. She turned into Gibbs and gave him a hug, knowing that this would affect him more than her.
"Duck what do we have on the other body?"
"All I know so far is that it's female and she's been dead for around 5 years. I have dirt samples that I assume come from her first burial site."
Abby tooked the tests after giving Gibbs one final hug and left for her lab. Gibbs went up to the squad room. What the hell was happening.
A/N: okay so it's longer and a bit more interesting. Sorry to those who wanted to read Tony's reaction. You're gonna have to wait for chapter 6, *laughs evily* and you all know chapter 6 will come up much faster if you all review. Thanks once again to those who have reviewed so far. It's such a confidence boost and it's what keeps me writing. If there are any spelling errors in this it's because I'm a horrible speller and MW won't spell check and I don't know why.
Author's Chapter Notes:
I was to lazy to put them up one at a time so here you are.
Chapter End Notes:
I've been lacking motivation so if you want to see more please give me feedback or just let me know what you think or how it can be improved. thanks AbbyLover also if there are any authors notes you dont get its because it is also being posted on fanfiction.net