Chapter II

The next day dawned and Abby was feeling a little bit better. After all she wasn't a wallower was she? She'd made a decision and she'd have to stick by it.

Sarah and Abby had breakfast together while Tim was in the shower. "Abs I'm sor…" She started to apologise again but Abby put a hand up to stop her. "Let's never speak of this again! Just for god sake behave and remember the plan."

"What plan Abs?" Tim asked cheerfully.

"Oh nothing important, just a study plan I worked out with Sarah." she lied again. As she hurried out of the room her mind was whirling. Shit! I'm even getting good at lying. What the hell's wrong with me. She finished dressing and doing her make up in record time and told Tim she'd be waiting in the car.

Tim thought this was a bit strange but hugged Sarah good bye and followed Abby to the car. "Are you sure you're feeling Ok? You're really not acting like yourself." he said as he climbed into the car.

"Will you just lay off McGee! I said I was fine! Abby retorted defensively. Tim just stared at her in disbelief. "I'm sorry Tim, I really am fine. Ok?" She kissed him lightly and turned the music on as a distraction. It seemed to work because in no time they were pulling into NCIS headquarters and things began to feel like normal again. Sort of. Although Abby was starting to think that things would never be normal again.

She was sitting reflecting on just this when the elevator dinged and Ziva came into her lab. "Are you ok?.... Abby?" she prompted. "Abby please tell me! I'm starting to be really worried about you."

Abby just stared at her and then the dam burst!. "I've done something terrible! And I've lied to Tim and I told Sarah it was ok to lie to Tim" and with that she started to sob! She poured the whole tale out to Ziva who just sat with her mouth open. "Ok Ziva" she said as she sucked in and blew out a big breath "This is the part where you tell me that everything is gonna be ok, that I was just protecting Sarah….."

Ziva stopped her mid sentence. "But Abby, I can't. You did a very wrong thing. You must tell McGee now! Please Abby you cannot keep this from him."

"I can't tell him. I promised Sarah. I can't break a promise. Please Ziva you can't tell him. You won't will you ? I just needed someone to talk to." Abby pleaded, much the same as Sarah had pleaded with her. Although Abby also had mascara running all down her face which made her look even more vulnerable.

"Of course I won't tell on you but you should tell yourself Abby." With that she gave her an awkward hug and returned to the bullpen very worried and not really knowing what she should do. However she knew that Abby was right. A promise is a promise. It didn't make it any easier though to look Tim in the face. She just hoped that Sarah would be able to stay out of trouble.

The next few days went over thankfully without a hitch and before long Sarah had gone back to school and Tim seemed none the wiser. They had gotten away with it. Thank god! Abby didn't feel any sense of victory in all this though. She still felt guilty about deceiving Tim.

On the other hand Sarah was feeling quite invincible! As the weeks went on everything seemed to be forgotten. She really didn't intend to ditch school again but it just kind of happened. None of her friends were going. She couldn't be expected to go and sit by herself could she? Anyway who would notice if it was just one day? Sarah didn't want to make trouble between Tim and Abby but she knew that could never really happen. Her brother adored Abby. That she was sure of.

A few hours later found her back at home with her friends. She didn't see any harm. Abby and Tim wouldn't be home for ages. Her friends would be long gone by then.

Unfortunately, Sarah didn't have as much control over her friends as she thought. When they started getting beers out of the fridge and lighting up cigarettes she nearly had a fit. But it was too late. Before she knew what was happening more kids had arrived bringing more beer with them. Music was blaring and Abby's cd's were strewn all over the floor. Food and drinks were being mushed into the carpet and people were playing on Tim's computer. Sarah didn't know what to do.

Around the same time Tim was receiving a very fateful call at NCIS. At his startled "That can't be right!" Tony, Gibbs and especially Ziva popped their heads up from their desks. They couldn't help but overhear Tim's side of the conversation.

"Thirty three students all absent today ?....... Yes I understand that, but why such a long suspension….. She's hasn't ever been suspended before……. When was that? I would remember something as important as ….."

Then it all started to click into place. Abby being so quiet and distant. Sarah studying extra hard all of a sudden…. "Could you just tell me who's signature was on the slip?.... Thank you I'll deal with it from here…….I really am terribly sorry..... Yes we'll all be there for the appointment tomorrow. Thanks again. "

Tim uncharacteristically slammed the phone down and stalked to the elevator. As soon as the doors closed Ziva picked up the phone and hit the speed dial to Abby's lab.

"Abby HE KNOWS." she whispered desperately into the phone and then hung up. As she looked up Tony and Gibbs were both glaring at her with their arms crossed. "I did NOTHING" she blurted out.

TBC

Sorry to leave it there but I had to cut it off somewhere. Thanks for reading.