"Those days ended when you started sexin up that cheerleader."
McGee could only stare at Abby in shock., trying to put words to the confusion he felt. It had been Abby's decision to end their relationship months ago, and now she was jealous? But, there was no time to discuss it now.
Michelle, the Ice Queen, wasn't nearly as understanding as he had hoped she would be about his inability to attend the Halloween party. It seems that dating an NCIS agent and an Elf Lord was only exciting as long as it didn't interfere with any of her plans. All of his self-improvement did nothing where the ladies were concerned. He wasn't like Gibbs or Tony, who had women falling over them right and left. Dating was awkward at best, and usually ended with some variation of the 'We're better as friends' speech that he could recite word for word by now.
With Abby, it had been different. The first time he stepped into her lab, he'd been transfixed by her beauty, her wit, her ability to juggle multiple technologies and carry on a conversation about bullet identification without skipping a beat. She didn't see him as anything different or odd, quite the contrary in fact. They had so many of the same hobbies, interests, geeky fascinations, he didn't even know a girl like her could exist. She'd been his lifeline when he started as a field agent with NCIS, and the only reason he'd stayed.
When he'd finally gotten up the nerve to kiss her the first time, he'd braced for the inevitable rejection. In true Abby fashion, she'd thrown her arms around his neck, kissing him with the same passion she did everything else. He couldn't believe that someone as wonderful, as amazing as Abby, would want to be with him. But she did, for a while, and it was the happiest time he could remember.
Then one day, it just ended, and he still didn't know why. But, he was going to find out. Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly into the lab, where Abby was typing away in silence.
"Abby?" He put a hand on her shoulder, and when she turned to face him, he smiled.
"What is it, McGee?" Once again, words escaped him for a moment. When he recovered his ability to speak he answered her quietly. "I never 'sexed up' the cheerleader. This was going to be our first date."
"Oh." A slight blush colored her cheeks and she looked down for a second before meeting his eyes again. 'I was just kidding."
McGee smiled a little. "No you weren't. I think you were jealous." She punched him in the arm, a bit harder than she intended. "No I wasn't."
"Yes, you were...and that proves it."
Abby narrowed her eyes at McGee, then sighed. "Fine, I was jealous. Happy now?"
"No." He sat down on the stool beside her. "I'm confused. You broke up with me, remember?"
"I did.." The fact that Abby didn't say anything else surprised McGee, and he took her hand out of habit.
"Abby, what's wrong?"
She looked at him, and sighed. "You've changed a lot since Gibbs left. You're a lot more confident in your abilities, which I always told you were great." She smiled fondly at him before continuing. "But, sometimes I miss the old McGee."
"What? I'm still the same, Abby." As if to accentuate his point, he squeezed her hand.
She shook her head. "No, you're not. The old McGee wouldn't be dating a cheerleader or shopping at the Armani store."
"What does that have to do with anything?" The pieces of the puzzle finally came together, and he blinked. "W-wait, is that why you broke up with me?" Abby nodded. "I thought I wasn't what you wanted anymore, so I let you go."
"Abby.." his voice was quiet. "I've never found anybody I want more than you. I thought you didn't want me."
The only response McGee got was a crushing hug from Abby.
"Abby...need to breathe." he wheezed.
"Oh, right." She pulled away with another trademark grin and kissed him. As he kissed her back, he made a mental note to send Michelle some flowers.
