DISCLAIMER! I do not own NCIS. CBS does, and I want to steal it away from them. But for now, enjoy!
His mind is spinning. Confusion races across his eyes trying to piece together why Abby and him ever broke up. It doesn't make sense to him. He thought his feelings for her would reside after 5 years, but 5 years only made his feelings for her stronger. He wants to tell her, he has to tell her. But how? And when?
"McSpaceCadet!" Tony yells across the desks while throwing a crumbled up piece of paper at his head. "Are you dreaming about algorithms again?
"Shut up Tony" McGee responded in an annoyed voice.
"So what were you thinking about, McGee? " Ziva chimed in.
"Why the wife would kill her husband if there was no motive" He lied trying to use the case for a defense.
"No one ever thinks that hard about a case, McLiar. And they especially don't space off about it"- Tony remarked.
"Whatever it is, it can wait"-Gibbs interrupted flying around the corner. "McGee, take Ziva and go interview the wife's sister again, try and get new info out of her".
Finally, McGee thought to himself. I can talk to Ziva about Abby.
"But we already..." McGee started to say until Gibbs shot him a just do it and shut up look. "Right on it Boss."
"Wait, why does Ziva get to go with McGoo? I know how to handle the ladies during interviews better than he does considering I, well you know, actually go on dates" Tony said that followed instantly with a head slap from Gibbs. "Right, boss. Sorry about that boss".
Ziva chuckled, "and when was the last date the famous DiNozzo went on?"
"That is classified information Ms. David."
Ziva was babbling on the way back from interviewing the wife's sister. McGee just sat nodding his head and occasionally grunted a "yes" or "uh huh" to humor Ziva but his mind was elsewhere. He was nervous. Very nervous. He had never told anyone his feelings for Abby because he was afraid of the responses he would get. Tony would laugh and make some irrelevant movie reference and Gibbs would give him the death stare and if anything were to happen to Abby...well let's just remember Gibbs used to be a sniper. How do I even bring up the subject? McGee thought to himself. What will Ziva think? And when will she shut up so I can talk?
"I was thinking about quitting NCIS and head back to Mossad."
"Uh huh"
Ziva abruptly stopped to the side of the road thrashing McGee around in his seat.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" She yells.
"Nothing. Whats with you nearly killing me?" He screams back.
"I just said I was going to quit NCIS and all you said was uh huh! You haven't said a word or have been listening to me this whole time! " Ziva took a deep breath to calm herself. "Is something the matter McGee?"
McGee took a deep breath. Here it goes, he thought.
"I'm in love with Abby"
Ziva gave him a half hearted shocked look. "That is what's bothering you?"
"Yes. And what's with that look?" McGee questioned and slowly looked forward. "You already knew that didn't you?"
"Well, being part of Mossad we are trained to read people."
"I should have known. What am I going to do?"
Ziva's eyes widened and the squinted, "What do you mean what are you going to do? You are going to tell her right?"
He paused and gulped.
"The answer you are looking for is yes" Ziva said.
"Yes. Yes I will tell her" McGee said with a hint of confidence. "What's the worst that can happen right?"
Ziva remarks "Well, she could say no. Or laugh at you and never let you live it down. Or she may just kill you and.."
"Alright, thanks" McGee interrupted.
Ziva smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, "you'll be fine" she reassured.
When Ziva and McGee get back to headquarters, McGee runs straight down to Abby's lab. He practices what he is going to say in the elevator on the way and ends up stopping it to give himself more time. Once he thinks he got it right he opens the elevators doors and proceeds to the lab.
He stands in the doorway just admiring her. She has her back turned to him focusing on the computers. Her music is blaring and McGee can see her dance a little bit. She is wearing one of his favorite outfits, a plaid mini skirt, tall buckled boots, and a skull t-shirt. God she is beautiful, he thinks.
"McGee!" She yelled in an unpleasant tone. "What the hell are you doing!?"
"Uh, just came down to say hi?"
"Just to say hi?" still unpleasant. "Gibbs has me running fingerprints off of every single little item from the crime scene, Ducky has me running blood work from the body, and Tony, well, Tony is being Tony! And you just come down here to say hi? If you aren't going to help me, then I don't have time for you to say hi!"
McGee stood there in shock. "Well I can help you. What do you need me to do?"
"Nothing McGee!" she snapped. "I can get this done with no distractions. So if you don't mind" she pointed to the door.
"Ok. I guess I will see you later" he said shyly.
Abby just stared at him then quickly turned around to face the computers again and then proceeded to turn her music up louder. McGee turned around before he walked out, sighed, and left.
He sat back at his desk spacing out again but this time no one was around to distract him from his thoughts. He was confused, embarrassed, and heartbroken. Why did she snap at him like that? Even when Abby is overworked she always smiles at McGee and makes time for small talk. He was stupid. He should have never gone down there in the first place. But how was he supposed to know she was in a foul mood? How is he going to fix it, and when was it going to be a good time to tell her? Or will it ever be a good time? These questions kept circling his mind he didn't notice Ziva standing at the end of his desk.
"How did it go?" She asked.
"How do you think it went?" McGee snapped.
"What happened?"
"She got mad that I went down just to say hi. She seemed overworked but she's never snapped at me like that before. I mean Tony or you I can see, but me?"
Ziva glared at him then smiled and walked away.
"Ziva. I didn't mean it that way!" McGee yelled after her.
"Whatever you have for me is going to have to wait Ziva!" Abby roared.
"I don't have anything to give you"
Abby looked up from her telescope. "Then why are you down here?" she said hatefully.
Ziva walked over to the table and stood close to Abby. "What?" Abby barked.
"You know what." Ziva responded.
"For your information, I don't. So why don't you fill me in!"
Ziva stared at Abby, and very un-Ziva like, gave Abby a hug. Shocked at this, Abby hugged back and became a little more relaxed. Ziva pulled away and asked "what is going on? Tell me."
Abby started to pace. "You know when you really like someone and you kinda really want them to like you back but you don't want to be the first one to tell them that you like them because you want them to say it first so you can make sure?"
"Um..ok" Ziva said unsurely.
"Well, I like this guy. And I had feelings for him and then they went away, or at least I thought they went away, but they didn't, and now they're back, full force, and it's driving me insane!"
"So tell him"
"Tell him? Tell him!? I just can't tell him Z! I mean, what if he doesn't feel the same way! Then I would just make everything completely awkward for both of us and I would look like and feel like an idiot!"
"That would never happen Abs" Ziva reassured. "Why would it be awkward?"
"Well maybe because.... I have to............. see him........ everyday" Abby confessed.
"McGee." It wasn't a question.
Abby sat down in her chair and let out a long sigh. "Yea. How do you do it Z?"
"How do I do what?"
"Hide your emotions?"
"I do not hide my emotions, Abby. I learn to not let things get to me."
"Really?" Abby questioned. "You're telling me you work every day with the person you love and not tell them or let it kill you?"
Ziva's eyes widened and jaw dropped. "What are you talking about Abby?"
"Well, you and Tony."
Ziva let out a small, but nervous, laugh. "I am not in love with Tony!"
"Could have fooled me." Abby said with a smirk on her face.
"Well, one thing for sure Abby," quickly changing the subject back to Abby, "McGee feels the same about you and you can't keep letting it build inside. You never know what can happen and you may never get a chance to tell him."
Abby looks down and was ashamed for treating McGee horribly before when all he wanted to do was say hi. Abby stood up from her seat and wrapped her arms tightly around Ziva. "Thank you, Z."
"Staying late, McGee?" Questioned Gibbs as he gathered his bag getting ready to leave.
"Just finishing up some paperwork."
It was late. The team have been working longer hours solving the case but McGee wasn't tired. He still had a lot on his mind and going home was the last thing he wanted to do. He needed to be distracted.
"McProbsters, want to get a drink with Ziva and I?" Tony asked playfully.
"Not tonight" he replied.
"Well, nothing says Friday night like paperwork. If that's your idea of fun McBuzzkill then..." Ziva lightly punches Tony in the arm to shut him up. "He's had a rough day" she says with a pause. "Come on Tony, we will meet Abby and Ducky at the bar. Goodnight McGee".
Abby's going, he thought. Now I definitely won't go. How could I face her? She was so angry at me for no apparent reason. Maybe I just caught her at the wrong time. She did have a lot of work to get done with little time to do so. What am I doing? I should just go and have fun and just be the way I always am with her. And besides, I will be with the group. Ugh! Come on Tim! Just tell her "I love you Abby."
"You do?" Abby asked as she came up behind McGee's desk unbeknownst to him.
McGee abruptly turned around to see Abby standing next to his desk with her eyes wide with fear and hope and every mixed emotion imaginable. He stands up slowly.
"Abby, I didn't know you were standing there. I thought you were at the bar."
"I came back to pick up my phone. I saw your desk light on and came over." She paused. Then in a low innocent voice she asked, "you love me, Tim?"
McGee stood up and walked over to her, looked her in the eyes and whispered, "I have never stopped loving you." He placed his warm hands around her cheeks and felt the moist tears run over them. He slowly pulled her into him and kissed her. After a few seconds, Abby pulled away and sobbed. "Abby, I'm so sorry" McGee apologized.
"No, don't apologize!" She cried. "I have been so unfair to you! I have been distant and crabby and you didn't, and don't, ever deserve that! I have been so foolish! All this time I felt so trapped inside my heart, I had no idea how to let it out. And here you are! Here you are in front of me saying the words I have wanted to hear, have needed to hear, for so long. I wasn't sure you felt the same way as I do. I have always loved you too and still love you to this day!"
McGee's heart fluttered at the sound of those words and he could feel himself blush. Abby continued to cry and McGee quickly threw her into his arms to comfort and love her. They both fell to the floor as McGee held her close to his chest. She could feel his heart pound which comforted her and made her tears cease. She smiled, looked up at him, kissed him, and then punched him in the stomach.
"Ow! What was that for?" Cried McGee.
"That's for not telling me sooner!" she joked.
McGee pinched her arm and she let out a scream. "What was that for?!"
"That is for not telling me sooner", he grinned.
Abby just let out a small laugh and a smile before embracing into a passionate kiss.
"Shall we head to the bar?" McGee asked.
"I have other ideas" Abby said mischievously.
McGee smiled. They both got up off the floor and headed to the elevator holding hands. They stepped in and McGee says, "It's best we don't tell Tony or Gibbs this. Deal?"
"For now" she smiled before kissing the love of her life.