It's cold in here...what happened to the heater? Better go get that fixed. Sigh. What day is it today? Friday? Good. No work tomorrow...

Abby smiled to herself, despite the fact she felt freezing cold. Tonight, she and Ziva were going out to a club for a girl's night out. Maybe she could meet someone new-well no time to think about that, really. Dating wasn't something she did much anymore. Abby checeked the time. It was almost seven that evening. She shivered again. Why was it so cold? Well. No time to think about that. She needed to go home and get ready. Machines were slowly shut down, not given their usual comments of the day's work. Abby felt tired, which was unusual for her.

"Abby, I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight," Ziva said. "I'm sorry, but something came up."

"It's fine. I am tired anyway." Abby gave her a small smile and left the lab. Ziva turned off the light.

"Are you sure? We could plan something else another day if you want."

"I'll let you know, then." Abby stepped into the elevator. That was when she felt it again. The slightest tremor, as if the temperature had dropped twenty degrees. Ziva appeared nomal. What was wrong with her?

"Did you hear what happened between Tony and Tim?" Abby shook her head.

"Tim thought he finally met the girl of his dreams online, but it was just Tony messing around with him."

"That's mean!" Abby cried out. "Is Timmy okay?"

"I don't know, he seemed heartshattered when he found out."

"Its heartbroken, Ziva." They got out and went to the car lot. Almost everyone had left except for Ducky and Gibbs. Those two always worked hard. But the work, in the end, could be rewarding, in a sense. Families managed to get closure on those who took away the ones they loved. Evil got put behind bars. Simple. No emotion was necessary, especially in her field. Except when someone got hurt. Or killed. Abby winced, remembering Kate. That was an unnecessary death.

"Abby, you have been very quiet," Ziva observed. "What are you thinking about?"

"Kate," she replied honestly. "I'm going home now...I'll see you on Monday." Ziva watched her friend get into the red car in the very last parking space, wondering what it was about Kate that caused her to come up in unexpected parts of conversation.

This line break is brought to you by the greatest actress on prime time television, Pauley Perrett :)

At home Abby felt safe. But as she sank into bed later that night it was impossible to fall asleep. Her muscles ached for some odd reason. So, she did the one thing she knew would help. Within ten minutes Abby found herself at Gibbs's doorstep, ringing the doorbell. Heavy footsteps approached the door. The door swung open, and Gibbs stood in front of her.

"Hi, Gibbs," Abby whispered. "I couldn't sleep." Gibbs took in her white nightgown, matching cap, and nuetral expression in complete silence. Finally, he nodded and let her inside.

"Thought you were going out," Gibbs said to make conversation.

"Ziva said she wasn't able to tonight. Which is fine with me. I think I need the weekend to relax, anyway." She shivered. Oh no. Not here. The coldness was taking over her bones once more. Abby clamped her mouth shut, hoping Gibbs hadn't noticed. He gave her a long, searching look before heading to his basement.

"I can't believe Tony played such an awful trick on Tim!" Abby exclaimed, following him downstairs.

"I can." Gibbs poured himself some borbourn, practically a tradition whenever he was working on something down here. Abby rolled her eyes and pulled out a chair.

"So, what are you working on in here?" She gazed at the wood starting to take on its shape. Was it her imagination, or did it look like-

"Rule 12, Abs?" Gibbs gave her a half smile. After only two months, he figured it out already? Abby stared at him in amazement.

"Don't kill him," Abby begged. "He's a good guy, you know that, Gibbs!"

"I know. But if he hurts you-"

"He won't! I don't think he could if he tried." Abby felt relieved that the worst part was over. So relieved, that exhaustion started to creep in. She remembered the soreness, but did her best to hide it. Gibbs didn't need to worry about this. It was probably from working so much during the week. Overworked, yes that was it. She was overworked and just needed the weekend to recover.

"Just be careful, alright?" Abby left his house in a stunned silence. So, why was Gibbs building that crib, if he knew she wasn't pregnant?

This line break has severe shyness. Don't get too close! I said don-oh crap nevermind.

Abby tossed and turned in her bed most of the night. And when she did get to sleep, even in her nightmares she was ceaselessly restless, highly conscious of everything, from how cold she was to her aching muscles. It felt like the night would never end.

"Just be careful, alright?" Of course. Gibbs was probably thinking of what happened with Mikel. But he was from a past long ago. Abby doubted that she'd make that mistake ever again. But maybe that isn't what he meant at all.

Oh, Gibbs, what did you mean, then? Abby sank into a miserable sleep filled with dreams that made no sense.

We shall return to the story after this short line break rudely interrupts the plot...

Ziva sat there on her bed, wondering if something was wrong with Abby. On the whole, things hadn't appeared any different, but there were tiny things that just seemed...out of place. Like how she had seemed so cold despite the fact it was a warm day. Or, just as she got into her car, Ziva could see the minisicule signs of muscle soreness starting to kick in. Perhaps Ziva would wait a few days to see if this would ammount to anything. And if it didn't, it didn't. If it did...well, at least she could ask Abby to see if she was aware of anything.

"I should not worry so much," Ziva murmured, staring down at the floor. "It's probably nothing..." But even so, it still took a long time for her to fall asleep that night.

INVASION OF THE PSYCOTIC LINE BREAK!

Tim stared at his phone. Didn't Abby promise she'd call him sometime soon? Well, didn't she? A promise was a promise. Even if it was three in the morning. Finally, he couldn't wait any longer. One ring, then two. Abby picked up on the third right. She must be having a hard time sleeping for her to answer so quickly.

"Hi, Tim. Sorry, I forgot."

"Its okay, Abs...are you doing anything tomorrow? I was wondering if-"

"Tim, I can't. I'd like some time to relax, alright?"

"Is everything okay?" Abby rarely relaxed unless she was sick or something. And she definitely didn't seem sick today. Just cold for no apparent reason. Unless you called that sick, and most people didn't to the best of his knowledge.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just having a hard time sleeping even after spending a little quality time with Gibbs an hour ago." Tim frowned. That was also unusual. Abby normally didn't have trouble sleeping depsite her caffiene problem. So, she was cold all day and had trouble sleeping. He remembered accidentally brushing his hand against her face and flinching from the hotness there. Hadn't they been slightly flushed, as if the room was overheated?

"I'll be right over, Abs." He hung up before she could say anything else. Something was going on here, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

It didn't take long to get to her house, and Tim found Abby shivering under the covers when he got there. Not right. This doesn't feel right. His gut flared at the sight of her. No. His Abby was suffering. But from what?

"Abs? You okay?" Abby shuddered and rolled over in her coffin. Tim cautiously felt her forehead. It was a little warmer than it had been this afternoon. Was she sleeping?

"Nobody...don't tell them...not...Tony..." Abby was talking in her sleep again Something she mever did unless she was having a nightmare. Tim knew better than trying to wake her up, though.

"Promise..." The last word was just a whisper, then Abby fell silent once again. How had she managed to fall asleep in the ten minutes it took him to get here? He couldn't even wake himself up in that amount of time. But Abby smiled just then, and suddenly, all other thoughts melted away. Who was he kidding? He shouldn't worry so much. Abby can take care of herself.

AN: Soo what do you think? Who's Abby dating, huh? What's going on with her? And why is Gibbs building a crib if Abby isn't pregnant? Or is she...?