Chapter 3 – Prelude to a Date

Jimmy looked up in surprise as he saw Abby walk in to the break room. Michelle had barely just left – that was a little too close, the tall young man thought to himself.

"Hey Jimmy," Abby said, with a little too much enthusiasm in her voice. "What's up?"

Jimmy choked back a nervous laugh. Definitely inappropriate considering what he'd been doing just 15 minutes before Abby's arrival.

"Oh, nothing Abby. Nothing at all. Why do you… um…why do you ask?" He swallowed nervously, praying that his scrubs top wasn't inside out. You just didn't get much past Abby Sciuto. She would zero in on any little hint of mischief like a hawk on a hapless field mouse.

"Oh, no reason. Just being friendly," she smiled. There was a short pause as she seemed to gather some courage.

"Say Jimmy, what are you doing next Friday night?" No time like the present, she thought. What was the worst he could do, say no to her cockamamie plan?

Jimmy blinked. He drew in a nervous breath, letting it out as calmly as he could possibly manage.

"Oh, nothing much really. Probably was just going to study… I think… yeah. Just homework." He didn't dare let her know he had a date. That would result in questions that he didn't want to answer. Abby wasn't just like a hawk with a mouse – she was like a dog with a bone.

"Oh, good!" Abby fairly bounced with happiness. "I've got just the plan for you then!" Jimmy raised a cautious eyebrow, the arch matching the rounded curve of his glasses perfectly.

"I've got this friend, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to… you know, go out on a date with her? She's a sweetheart but she's really shy and quiet, I think you'd get along great with her. I'll even pay for the evening for you. What have you got to lose, Jimster?"

Jimmy tried to remember to breathe as his mind raced with the scenerios.

He could say no and Abby would just persist, thinking she was doing her "lonely" friend a favour. That would result in him having to either give in and betray Michelle – well, it's not like he was going to sleep with this friend of Abby's – what could dinner and a movie hurt? Or, it could result in him having to fess up to already having a girlfriend, which would in turn result in Abby questioning him until he cried Uncle and fessed up to his relationship with their Very Special Agent Lee.

"Sure, why not?" he finally said weakly.

Yes, he was young. Too young to die. But he'd lived a reasonably full life in his 29 years on this earth. He knew, without question, that Michelle would kill him if she found out. So, he would just have to find a way to tell her gently, because to not tell her would be worse. He did, after all, like to actually sleep at night, on occasion.

Michelle Lee greeted Jimmy cordially and formally as they met, Michelle entering the break room as Jimmy was leaving. She'd lost an earring, though God knew she wasn't going to tell him that with Abby in the room. The two nodded politely, acknowledging eachother as they crossed paths.

When Abby judged Jimmy to be well out of earshot, she turned to Michelle, determined to execute part two of her master plan.

"Hey Lee, you didn't happen to have any plans on Friday night, did you?"

Michelle paused. No, she thought, just wild, reckless shagging with my incredibly hot, incredibly skilled boyfriend.

"No, not really," she said. Michelle sighed. To tell Abby she had plans would only mean questions that she knew their lab technician would not let rest until she had answers to. "Why do you ask?"

Abby giggled to herself, bouncing on the balls of her feet slightly. "How would you like to go out for dinner and a movie with an incredibly sweet friend of mine? He's quiet, and reserved, but very nice. He's very much a gentleman. And don't worry, just in case it doesn't work out, I'm paying for the whole shebang."

Oh, Michelle thought to herself, how can I possibly explain to Abby that quiet, reserved gentlemen are not my type? Abby would never believe that in a million years.

"Sure, what the hell," Michelle shrugged and sighed. "Why not?" She'd just have to find a way to break it to Jimmy later on. She couldn't keep this from him, they needed honesty and trust in their relationship. Without trust, they had nothing.