I promise, goal for the upcoming three day weekend is to finish "Here and Now," which I think I can do in two chapters. And to add more chapters to this. I swear!

My usual - not much plot, lots of character interaction, maybe a teeny touch of angst, and a happy ending. In my head, this takes place in the same universe as "Not You." I may even reference it at some point. You don't have to read that for this to make sense...but I mean really, guys, it's two parts. It won't take you long. And you'll probably like it. ;-)

Lyrics here and those that will appear at the very end from "To Make You Feel My Love," Adele's version, which I've been listening to pretty much on repeat while writing this (thanks, Bones). Also on my writing playlist: "Never Gonna Leave This Bed," Maroon 5.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet

But I will never do you wrong

I've known it from the moment that we met

No doubt in my mind where you belong

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

They'd buried Mike Franks today. And she'd visited Cade in the hospital this morning. Abby was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to go home and not think.

Or rather, to go to McGee's and not think.

Ever since Cobb, she'd felt better when he was around. He sensed it, or maybe he felt better around her too, because he kept finding reasons to work down in her lab. Sometimes they talked – not about anything important, just regular stuff – sometimes they worked together, sometimes they were quiet. They were easier together than they'd been in a long time, and though she couldn't quite put her finger on why, it soothed her.

Fingers flexing on the wheel of his car, McGee hesitated, but only for a second. "Sure." They were leaving Ducky's townhouse, where they'd gathered after the funeral. "You need anything from your place?"

"No." Abby watched the people and buildings go by outside the window. Even the thought of stopping at her apartment and getting pajamas made her tired. It wasn't like she ever slept really well, but the past few nights had been especially bad, with dreams waking her up every hour or so. "As long as I can borrow a shirt or something to sleep in."

"Sure."

It felt good, to be going home with him. Abby leaned her head back against the headrest and let herself be lulled by the motion of the car.

#

When they got to his apartment, McGee took the dog out for a walk. "Take anything you need," he told her, nodding towards the bureau in his room, and then left her alone.

The light was fading as she wandered around the space. They'd stayed at Ducky's for a long time, telling Leyla and Emira stories about Franks, and hearing few new ones from them. Remembering, the way you were supposed to at funerals.

Mostly McGee's apartment was the same. A few more books on the shelves; a new computer monitor. A new bedspread, navy and white striped. Same monkey shower curtain, which made her smile.

Abby dug through his drawers and pulled out a pair of plaid boxers and an old Johns Hopkins t shirt. She changed and carefully hung up her dress, and finally, gratefully, crawled into McGee's bed.

The pillows smelled like him. Abby scooted to one side to make sure he had enough room.

She was already dozing when he came in. When she heard him pause in the doorway, she wondered if he'd have a problem with her choice of sleeping arrangements. But he didn't say anything; just grabbed some clothes from the dresser and went into the bathroom.

A few minutes later he slid into bed beside her. "Night Abs," he said softly.

It should have been weird, she supposed. But it wasn't. She reached out and found his hand in the dark.

"Night, McGee."

#

She half-woke curled against him, her head on his chest, her legs tangled with his, his arm around her waist. Warm and comfortable and rested, after the first full night's sleep she'd had in nearly forever.

It was the most natural thing in the world to angle her head just a little, just enough to place a light kiss on the underside of his jaw.

Early morning skin, sweet and soft with the barest prickle of stubble against her lips. One more kiss was pretty much a given…

Abby wondered vaguely if she were still asleep and dreaming, and decided that she was the minute she felt McGee's mouth on hers, hungry and possessive. He was holding her tight, and she also decided that this was one of her better dreams, possibly the best in recent memory.

As she shifted her position slightly, she accidentally elbowed him in the ribs. She could tell the second he went from mostly asleep to all the way awake – the kiss ended and his hands were off her so fast it was as if she'd suddenly turned radioactive.

They blinked at each other, both a little dazed. "Um. Hi," said McGee.

"Hi." Abby was still wound around him and half on top of him, and the ridiculousness of the situation did not escape her. She started to smile.

McGee wasn't smiling. Instead, he looked guilty and semi-embarrassed. "Sorry. I…was dreaming." He started to push away, but she wouldn't let him.

"Me too." His neck was just there, and she just happened to know that it was one of his weak spots, so she brushed her lips against his skin. "Wanna tell me what yours was about?"

He tried again to extricate himself from their tangle, and again she wouldn't let go. Though it didn't feel like he was trying very hard. "Abby," he groaned, sounding annoyed. "I only have so much self-control."

Good, so she was getting to him. "Funny, I don't remember asking you to have any." A few more kisses, trailing up his neck, and she landed one right at the corner of his mouth. Because it had been a very, verygood not-dream, and it just felt right. "C'mon, tell me what you were dreaming."

Gradually, she felt him relax beneath her, and knew that she was winning. Under the covers, he curled his fingers around the back of her knee where her leg lay across his. "I was dreaming about that spot," he said, his voice quiet and still a little uncertain.

"Mmmm." She wondered if he still did that – there, that thing, where he wouldn't meet her eyes for a minute, and then would slowly steal a glance at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. There was something about that expression that just melted her. "And then?"

He ran his hand along her leg, with a bit more of that smile. "There was some of that."

His touch sent happy shivers up her spine. "Your subconscious has a thing for my legs."

McGee gave a snort of laughter. "Any straight male with a pulse has a thing for your legs," he informed her, tracing random patterns on the appendage in question.

She kissed his ear. "Not the point. We were discussing you."

"True." He removed his hand from her leg with some reluctance – both his and hers – and then slid both hands up under her shirt, across her back. "My subconscious has a thing for your back, too," he admitted.

And there was the other thing that got her about him, every time. There was nothing calculated about him, no attempt to be smooth. Just that openness and honesty that pulled her in and made her want to stay in his arms as long as he'd let her. "It's the tattoo," she guessed. "The tattoo always got you."

"Yeah," he said slowly, smiling. "That and this curve, here." He traced the line of her hip, moved up along her spine. "And then this part, right here…" His hands stopped, resting on her sides, just under her breasts. "And then," he said with a sigh, his breath warm on her temple, "I woke up."

Abby propped herself up on her elbows so that she was looking down at him, her hair falling around them and closing them into small, private world. "I like your dreams," she told him softly. "Tell me what happens next."

McGee touched his lips to hers and then hesitated, just barely.

She smiled. "Kiss me, Timothy."

And he did.