Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of the charcters from it. I do however own the crazy mind that puts these concoctions (what you're about to read) together. I'm not making any money from this. It's all purely for fun. No Copyright Infringement Intended. I'm just a heathily addicted, loyal fan of the show!. =D
Catch Me When I Fall
Chapter Three
by Special Agent Starr
In the darkness of the movie theater, he could hear her munching away on popcorn and slurping her soda threw the straw. He couldn't fathom how she was being so passive about this whole situation; she was acting as if nothing were wrong, when in fact it was. There was a man causing her not only physical harm but also performing a mental brainwash. Apparently she loved this man and she was convinced he loved her. Things just didn't add up, she'd had a rough past with boyfriends to say the least, but none of them every beat her. Yet she hadn't openly confessed to loving any of them, but this guy comes along and knocks her off her feet; both in a figurative manner and literally.
Everyone began laughing around him. He wasn't phased though, the movie was the last thing on his mind and he wasn't paying attention to it anyway. The phone conversation Abby had had with James seemed to be the only thing repeating the forefront of his mind at the moment.
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He was able to hear the ringing of James' phone through hers when a scruffy voice finally answered, "Hello?"
"Hey babe, it's me! I umm… just wanted to call and let you know that one of my colleagues invited me to go to the movies tonight after work and I won't be getting to your place till around midnight because the movie starts at 9:20…"
He'd picked the latest time showing offered, the interest of the film being irrelevant to him, as long as it kept her safe with him and away from that scumbag.
"Okay sweetheart. I was planning on going out with the boys tonight anyway, so you go have some fun and I'll see you when I get home."
Sure he sounded nice enough with that, but McGee knew that was most likely because he wasn't intoxicated yet. He'd also seen Abby's face fall when he'd informed her of his agenda, she knew what to expect. And that sickened him. Why was she putting up with this? He'd heard of being blinded by love but this was ridiculous. Not only that, she had worked on many a case involving scenarios such as this, she'd seen the results it led to if being allowed to continue. She should know better.
"Yeah, there's something I need to talk with you about too. Don't worry! It's nothing major though."
He figured that part was added for his benefit.
"Okay, well I'll see you tonight then. I think Kevin's actually pulling up now, needs me to help him move some furniture, so I better get going."
"Alright." She paused and stared intensely at Tim, as if she had a point to prove, "I love you."
"I love you too honey." And then James hung up.
Closing her phone as well, she immediately began typing on a nearby computer almost feverishly.
"What are you doing?" Tim had questioned her but received no answer.
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Come to find out, she had been erasing all possibilities for him to be able to trace the call. The fact that they were compatible on the same level of intelligence, in this instance proved to be a curse. He couldn't find out anything about this James character, except that he hated him all the more.
If he had to wager money, he'd bet that Abby actually thought she was going to James place tonight alone, scot-free.
She would only be half right in that hypothesis. She would be going to James' but wasn't going to be alone.
He knew she'd suspect if he attempted to place any bugs or lipstick cams on her, that's why he came up with the transportation arrangement. They both had driven in their separate vehicles from work to his apartment, but then he insisted on taking his car to the theater. That way they would have to drive back to his place, instead of her just taking off from there. If he tired to follow her like that, she would have recognized his car. So once they got back to his place, and she went to leave, he would follow her in a taxi, which he had called for not too long ago during a "bathroom visit" just to make sure it would arrive on time, at a safe distance.
Before he knew it he was squinting his eyes from the bright lights that had filled the room, signifying the movie was over. Abby was going about events that had taken place and McGee just gave generic responses and nods.
When they arrive at his building, he spied the yellow cab pull up at the address he had given, which was not his but only a few yards away.
'So far so good' He commented to himself.
She hadn't bothered to try to come inside, but she did walk with him up to the doorway.
"Thanks for the entertainment Timmy." She said in her usual happy Abby voice and gave him a hug.
"Anytime Abs." he squeezed her back.
She pulled away and took a few steps back, "Well I should probably get going. Have a good night McGee."
"You too Abs. Take care of yourself." He said to avoid suspicion.
"I will…" she called back to him. Once she got to her car she added, "Oh and McGee, I'm holding up my end of the deal. I expect you to do the same."
He only nodded as she got in and started to pull away. Once she was out of sight, he sprinted toward the taxi.
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Watching the cab drive away, he made his way stealthily up the lawn. The shades were drawn in the front window, but thankfully there was a slit as one hadn't been pulled far enough back, allowing him clear vision into the front of the house if he stood at an angle.
He saw Abby and her so called "boyfriend" and was able to hear their conversation from the start.
"Hey, didn't expect to see you home before me!" Abby greeted, noticing he seemed fairly sober.
"We ended up not going out tonight. Dummy ended up twisting his ankle when we went to move the couch." He chuckled.
"Aw."
She wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. Her mind was to busy thinking of a way to bring up the subject of her disapproving of his drinking. Seeing that he wasn't drunk right now certainly worked in her favor.
"Did you have a good time?" he interrupted her brainstorming.
She smiled, "Yeah, yeah I did. It was great. We should go see it sometime."
"You would want to go see a movie you've just seen over again." He laughed at her silliness.
He stood from the sofa and walked into the kitchen, returning in a matter of seconds with a bottle of beer in his hand.
"So what did you wanna talk to me about?" he popped open the top and took a sip, still standing.
'Maybe that's my sign' she encouraged herself.
"Well it's about that actually…" she pointed to the bottle.
He examined the container, "What about it?"
She hesitantly began, "Do you remember what happened last night?" He shook his head, and she continued, "… you came home after the bar and you attacked me."
James' face went blank.
"I'm not mad at you for it, you didn't know what was going on," she quickly amended, "but I was hoping that maybe you'd consider cutting back on alcohol so that we can make sure it doesn't happen again. You only get like that when you've been drinking a lot."
She observed his face turn to shock and she thought it was out of remorse for his actions, so when he stepped forward, she assumed he was going to apologize.
"So I can let you run around with you're friends and have fun, but I can't go out with mine and do the same." His tone darkened as well as his eyes. He kept walking, causing her to back up with him.
Feeling the familiar smooth wall behind her back she began to panic, "No! Baby that's not what I…"
As soon as McGee saw James' hand ascend into the air, he darted to the door, kicked it open, and aimed his sig.
"Freeze… Federal Agent!"
James, however, had not heard his demand with the rage coursing through his body. It was only the fact that Abby's eyes went wide that tipped him off that someone was coming up behind him.
Thinking quickly he balled his extended hand into a fist and twisted, taking a swing at his stalker.
He caught McGee right in the bottom lip. Tim could already taste the blood from the contact. His gun had been knocked away in the process and was sliding across the floor as he staggered backward.
Luckily, that little sucker punch was the only one the fiend got in.
Tim rebounded speedily and delivered a punch of his own, throwing all his weight and strength into it. Not putting the time and money spent with the personal trainer to waste.
The punk was stunned as he fell back and slid down the wall, from which Abby had moved from to no doubt take shelter from the brawl.
Though he was knocked almost senseless, James still managed to croak out one final threat, "I'll get you, you bitch," directed toward Abby.
McGee silenced him by releasing another blow, this one knocking him out cold. He was tempted to continue ravaging the poor excuse of a man, letting his own fury take control. But as he was about to perform another violent act, Abby stepped between him and the unconscious body.
"Stop Tim, that's enough!" her cheeks were streaked with tears.
"I should have shot the bastard when I had the chance!" he spat out acidly in regret.
"No Tim, don't kill him! You've done enough… now just go away. Go home!" she pleaded.
He could hear the hints of anger in her voice, but mostly he heard the fear.
Taking a deep breath through his short, panting ones, he got his own anger in check. Then he made his way to her, knowing that what he was about to do would not go over well with her at all.
He stood in front of her for a few seconds, making sure she hadn't been injured by the fight, before he disappeared behind her, delicately taking her hands with him.
"McGee what the hell are you doing?!" she shouted, feeling the cool metal of handcuffs click around her wrists.
"You're coming with me."
And he began to lead her through the house and to the front door, remembering to grab her keys before they exited.
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{Still interested in this? I hope so. As usual let me see your comments via review. I'll have the next chapter up ASAP. On a side note, I'm decideing to update my profile with things so you all know more about what I have in mind... no biggie, just if you're interested in knowing. LOL}