Chapter One: New Beginnings
McGee reached for his bag and finally felt a sense of achievement after what had been a very long day at the office.
That night Ziva and Tony chose take away at home while it was Abbeys night to go bowling with the nuns. McGee would probably have to make do by himself at the bar.
- - - - - - - -
As McGee walked in, he could see that all the usuals where there except for the back of a head he could not recognise.
It was a woman; she had mid-length blond curly hair and quite pale skin.
As he moved around and took his seat at the bar, he looked at her beautiful face.
At this point she turned round looking anxiously for someone…
"Oh well, never really had a great chance with her." McGee muttered to himself
Tim ordered a beer and sat contently at the bar for a few minutes whilst contemplating his options.
After his beer, he was feeling a little more relaxed and decided to go over and introduce himself to the woman on the other side of the bar (probably something he would not have done if the alcohol had not kicked in!) As he walked up to her she turned round and smiled at him. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He stepped a little closer and she took the hint,
"Hi, I'm Annabel." Holding out a hand.
McGee, barely able to speak managed to mumble a, "Hi, Tim."
They shook hands and he gingerly sat down next to her. After this he suddenly blurted, "Can I get you a drink?"
"No thanks, I'm supposed to be meeting my friend Antony." She said with a very thick English accent, much to his surprise. At this, McGee nearly swallowed his tonsils! It couldn't possible be DiNozzo, could it?
A conversation began and Tim really felt like he was getting to know her and he didn't mind it either – a beautiful intelligent woman that was actually talking to him, someone who wasn't plagued by Tony's ideas and for once a woman Tony probably didn't know.
They were talking quietly but before he knew it, a cell phone was ringing; they both flew to answer it. It was hers.
As Annabel talked into her phone, McGee wondered who was it? Antony? Who ever this Antony person might be, he hoped very much that it was not DiNozzo! She flipped her phone shut and pointedly said,
"He's not bloody coming, you know he can be so annoying…" Her voice trailed off, "You know I was supposed to be staying with him tonight and now what am I supposed to do?" She looked into Tim's eyes.
"You could always come back to my place–" But before he could finish his sentence, Annabel had grabbed her bags and slipped her arm through Tim's as they walked out the door.
- - - - - - - -
By the time they got back to his apartment it was decided that Annabel should stay the night.
Once they got inside, Tim started to roll out his sleeping bag and place it on the floor.
"You obviously don't think we're responsible adults if you're getting out the sleeping bag!" She was standing in the door way to his bedroom with one hand on her hip and a cheeky grin across face.
"Well no," Tim stuttered, "I just thought you could sleep in my bed, and I'd sleep on the floor so we can both get a good night's sleep."
"Well I suppose if you put it like that…" She smiled wearily and obviously did not need much encouragement and graciously got into McGee's bed, thanked him once more, turned out the light and went straight to sleep.
McGee did not know what to think so he resolved on calling Abbey. He knew she didn't always like it when he got a new girlfriend but she would just have to live with it – he no had idea what to do now and desperately needed her advice.