Abby's Apartment.
McGee is staring at her bed with a horrified look on his face. "Abby, I...I...I can't."
"You can't?" She walks over and wraps her arms around him from behind.
He shrugs her off and turns to face her. "Sorry."
"You're sorry?" She gives him a gentle shove towards the bed. "Getting sick of me already." She grins a wickedly suggestive grin.
"NO! Of course not. I just don't think I'm ready for..." He gestures with his head towards the bed.
"So let me get this straight. You got a tattoo to increase your chances of sleeping with me. You didn't just sleep in my box sofa bed and now you can't do this?"
"Yeah and FYI I was thinking of getting the tat anyway. It wasn't only about you."
"Is this about Gibbs?"
"What? Gibbs? Why on earth would this be about the Boss?"
"I dunno. Thought rule 12 might be causing you to have cold feet."
"How would he know about this?" Tim begins to pace. "Tony wouldn't have told him would he? Or...did you?"
"No but Gibbs always knows you know."
"I hope not and that is not the problem."
"Then what is? Don't you want me?"
"Yes. I'm just not comfortable with an audience."
"Oh." She nods. "But I'm not kicking him out of my bed just so I can sleep with you."
"You won't?"
"He's my best friend. He'll always play a part in my life and whatever part you play you'll just have to get used to it."
"But Abby he's a stuffed toy!"
"He's Bert. You, you, you hippoist!"
"Hippoist?"
"Someone against stuffed hippos." She glares at him and is met with a look of utter confusion. Abby holds the glare for a moment before she smiles and starts to laugh. "If only you could see your face. I was joking Timmy. Now come here."
He smiles back at her and just as he leans in for a kiss that is intended to be a prelude to so much more his phone rings.
"McGee." He listens a moment then replies. "On it Boss." He hangs up and starts to gather his things together as he explains. "Got a case. Meeting them at the scene. Sorry."
"Told you Gibbs always knows."
Tim's mouth drops open.
"Teasing, Timmy. Teasing. Come back after?'
"Sure." He rushes from the room.
Abby gets into bed. "Well Bert at least I know you'll never leave me."