Author's Note: This is based on a weird dream I had forever ago (and a something that was said in 4x01 "Shalom"), and I've been wondering how it would turn out if I wrote it as a fic, so here it is. Don't make fun of me too much for it. It's set sometime after the beginning of season 4.
Chapter 1
Abby sighed and closed her eyes. Okay, deep breath, she told herself. What's the worst he could say anyway?
"Hey, um, Tim?" she began again. "Do you remember that one time, a couple months ago when we were just gonna watch a movie at my place, but then we...didn't cause we found a better way to–uh–occupy the time?" she chattered. "Well...I suck at this...dammit." she told her bathroom mirror, frustrated. Abby turned on the faucet and splashed her face, causing the remnants of yesterday's makeup to run down her cheeks in watered-down black streaks.
"Note to self," she muttered, drying her eyes on a towel and giving her disheveled reflection a scrutinizing gaze, "get this over with, quickly."
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When Abby arrived at the NCIS office early that morning, it was empty; not an uncommon occurrence, considering that her boss, Gibbs, had probably already been in and already gone out to get today's first cup of coffee.
She hung up her coat, put her lunch box in the fridge, and sat down at her desk with her usual morning box of donuts and jumbo sized Caff-Pow!. Like it's just another day.
As she finished her breakfast the phone rang, and caller ID showed her coworker, Tony DiNozzo's desk number.
Abby hit the speaker phone button. "Hi Tony, what can I do for you this morning?" she asked, and even though she tried to sound cheerful, it came out sounding dull and miserable.
"Hey Abbs," Tony replied, apparently not noticing that she wasn't her normal exuberant self, "Gibbs wants the tox results soon and he's gonna kick my ass if I don't have them for him pronto."
Abby smiled. "Come on Tony, it can't be that bad."
She could hear a derisive snort from the other end of the line. "Of course it could be, and is. I mean, Gibbs went to get his coffee and the machine was broken, so he's pretty much–"
"Who's 'Pretty much' what, DiNozzo?" Gibbs's growl came muffled through the receiver.
"I'll send someone down to get the results, Abbs." Tony said quickly.
Abby grinned, feeling somewhat better. "Okay. Wait–don't hang up! Is McGee in yet?"
"Yeah, think so. You need him for something in particular?"
"Nothing. I was just curious–but could you send him down anyway? 'Kay, bye." she hung up, and sat back glumly.
Being confused and upset always brought one thing to her mind; the death of her best friend, and confidante.
Kate, if you were here you'd be the first one I'd talk to, she thought, heaving a sigh. I could use my best friend just about now.
Abby took several gulps of Caff-Pow!, then got up and paced back and forth in an anxious manner for a few minutes before she heard the lab door.
"Hey Abby."
She spun around to see Tim smiling sheepishly.
"Oh, hey McGee...what's up?"
He looked confused. "Uhh, I don't know Abbs, You're the one who wanted to see me, right? That's what Tony said."
"Right." Abby gulped; her stomach felt queasy. "Well, Tim, uhh..." the forensic scientist grimaced. "I don't feel so great." she clapped a hand over her mouth and rushed out. Abby reached the bathroom in time, and vomited into the sink.
Damn, Caff-Pow! tastes like watered down cough syrup on the way back up. She gripped the sides of the basin, hands shaking. "Crap."
"Abby?" a hand rested on her shoulder.
She closed her eyes and cleared her throat. "Hey Ziva." She turned to face the former Mossad officer.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her eyebrows knitted in concern.
Abby grabbed a paper towel, wiped her mouth, and forced a smile. "Yeah. Guess I caught some sort of flu bug." she laughed nervously.
Ziva didn't look convinced, but patted Abby's shoulder awkwardly. "Okay. Feel better, Abby." she made for the door.
"Ziva?"
The other woman paused. "Yes?"
Abby twirled one of her black pigtails. "I don't have the flu, but I do need to tell someone what's going on."
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