NCIS ~ No Infringement intended!

Spoiler (sort of) "Life Before His Eyes" ~ McAbby~

Title: Matchmaker ~ Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Tim was sitting at his desk, he looked very tired when Abby approached him.

"Hi Timmy." She was so happy to see him, she bounced to him in her Abby sort of way.

"Hey Abbs … you seem so happy."

"You seem so tired!"

"I am, I had this weird dream last night … I dreamt that Kate was still alive and she was married to Tony!"

"Tony! Married! Tim … that's not weird … that's, I don't know what that is … a nightmare for DiNozzo maybe." She laughs like Abby does. Tim smiles like he does.

"They had a kid too and Ziva wasn't Ziva and Gibbs wasn't Gibbs … we weren't us … it was weird!"

"Ya know what this is Tim, it's because Gibbs was talking about Kate and how events in people's life have a trickle down effect. He put that thought in your head. He said that if Kate hadn't died she would probably be married by now and have 2.5 kids and then he said 'ya never know, she might of done something stupid and married DiNozzo!' … Remember?"

"Yeah … he was acting strange after he got winged in the coffee shop."

"He has been acting a little different."

Earlier that day in Abby's Lab

"Hey Abbs … whatta got for me?" Gibbs reaches around Abby and plants a CafPow on her desk.

"Got? Got! But but … I don't … we don't. Gibbs … I don't have anything for you."

"I know Abbs, I came down to talk."

"What? Why? About what? What did I do?"

"Nothing … I wanted to talk to you about Tim."

"Is he okay!" She goes into full blown panic mode.

Gibbs holds out his hands and has to grasp a hold of her arms to calm her down. "No no … he's fine. She calms. Did you know that he was offered a Senior Agents position in Okinawa Japan?"

"Yes … Tony and Ziva told me but I thought he turned it down?"

"He did."

"That's good … I mean … I would miss him, we would miss him, right Gibbs?"

"He is a very important part of our team … family, Abbs. I was thinking that we almost lost him … you almost lost him."

"Me … Gibbs?"

"Yeah, Abbs … you. Okay … gotta go … think about what I said." And with that, he left without saying another word or allowing Abby to lift her jaw off the floor to respond any further.

Abby sat and contemplated the loss of Tim and how she would feel not seeing his face every day … she couldn't bare it … she knew what Gibbs was trying to tell her, she just didn't know why. She ran up to see Tim.

Present Time

"So you think he's been acting strange too, Abbs?"

"Tim … why didn't you tell me about Japan?"

He shrugs. "Do you tell me about all of your job offers?"

"Timmeee … this was huge … heading up the cyber unit! That's the stuff that Geek Gods are made out of!"

"Abbs … it's not that huge and what about you … Harvard Medical School … talk about huge!"

Abby poo-poos it. "Tim, have you ever heard the saying, those who can, do. Those who can't, teach? Tim smiles and nods, Abby leans in and places a sweet but sensual kiss on Tim's lips. She whispers … I'm glad you're not leaving … I would miss your face." They stare into each other's eyes and remember.

"Abby, why didn't we … he blushes … keep seeing each other? Was it rule number 12 or something else?"

"It wasn't the right time."

"And now … now is the right time?"

"Yes, Tim … I think now is the right time."

It was Tim's turn to have his jaw hit the floor.

As always ... thanks for reading ~ Judy