Applied Science

Summary: Tim has a question for Abby. Warning: spanking of adult. Don't like? Don't read!

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just play with them.

A/N: This is part of my 'Lessons' series and builds on a larger plot arc. It should make sense on its own, but it's best enjoyed in the context of the 'Tim's spreadsheet' storyline (Data Points, Observations, In Vino Veritas? and Double Check).

Warning: this story contains the spanking of an adult and references to mild BDSM. If you have a problem with that, click on that 'back' button now. You've been warned.

Abby glanced at her ringing phone and wondered why Tim was calling her so late on a Friday. It probably wasn't about work – those calls normally came from Tony. And the team had been promised that they'd really have this weekend off, having been called in on the previous three.

'Hey, Timmy. What's up?'

'Can I ask you something?'

Her brow furrowed in confusion. Tim sounded... earnest, in that way he had when he was trying to puzzle out a complicated problem.

'Sure, Tim. Ask away.'

'What does a switch feel like?'

What the...?

'Uh... it.. uh... hurts, Tim...'

'I know that. But... uh... is it a stingy pain or an achy pain? And is it really a ten? I mean, on the scale of...'

'Yeah, Tim. I got that. It's... uh... stingy. And really intense. And... uh... why do you want to know, anyway? What have you done that...'

'Nothing! I was just... thinking... and...'

'Well, try thinking of something a little more cheerful, there, McGee. Jeez!'

There was a quiet chuckle from the other end of the phone.

'Ok. Thanks, Abby.'

Abby signed off and went back to her book.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again.

'Yeah, Tim... what now?' she answered, a smile flitting around the corners of her mouth. Tim was so cute when he was obsessing about something ridiculous.

'Abby? If you have to cut it, you know... yourself... should you pick one that's really thin, or one that's a bit thicker? Because I was thinking, the thin ones would be more aerodynamic and that would make them hurt a lot, but a thicker one would be sorta like a cane, and I know that those...'

'Tim!' she interrupted. 'Why don't you just come over? This could take a while, over the phone.'

He quickly agreed, and she once again put the phone down on her coffee table. Untucking her legs from under her, she padded barefoot out onto her balcony. That low overhanging branch had been driving her mad, anyway, she thought.