girlygirl74: Thanks for that last review there from earlier today. Bet you're glad I stay on top of this stuff, right?
I really, truly do read all my reviews, and some of the advice I actually take. So, if there are any suggestions…do not hesitate to mention them.
Well, things are about to get more intense…just you wait. And now here is Chapter 8! Wow that rhymed.
"I read somewhere that lithium is no only an element, but also something used for people who are bipolar to level out their emotions," Palmer said knowledgably. Ducky ignored him. Palmer had been going on like this for almost an hour, having nothing else to do but annoy everyone else. It was late that Friday night, and things were starting to wind down. Ducky was preparing to leave. Gibbs had not visited yesterday, which wasn't a terrible concern, but it was out of character for him. He hadn't heard anything else about the situation with Abby, and it was beginning to trouble him. Ducky decided to go up to the bullpen and check things out. Maybe Ziva or Tony knew something. He got off the elevator and instantly regretted coming up there.
"When are you just going to wake up to the truth already?" Abby whispered angrily to McGee in the darkness.
"What truth?" he asked.
"The truth that you love me as much as I love you!" she practically screamed at him.
"Oh. That…I was wondering when you were going to admit it,"
"Excuse me?" Abby's voice sounded choked with unshed tears. Even in the darkness it was evident…
"I could tell you still loved me all along. I was just waiting for you to say it. I'm not so clueless after all, am I?" A moment of silence.
"I don't think I can handle it anymore," Abby whispered. "Please, could you…?"
"I'll do my best," McGee promised. There was another silence, a little longer this time. Ducky hovered at the edge of the bullpen, suddenly indecisive. McGee pulled Abby into a hug, holding her tightly against himself.
"Thanks," she said after a minute. Ducky peered into the shadows. What did this all mean? Suddenly, Abby stood up on her tiptoes, as she was currently barefoot, and looked up into McGee's face.
"What are you-mmph!" Abby fiercely kissed him full on the lips, cutting off McGee's question at once. Ducky took a few tentative steps forward, feeling less sure than ever. He definitely wasn't meant to be up here. But now it was too late to go back. After seven seconds of complete silence, Abby and McGee finally broke apart to see Ducky standing there. Abby's face turned a brilliant red, and she shuffled away from McGee in embarrassment.
"How long have you been there?" Abby asked.
"Long enough," Ducky replied. "I was getting worried about you these past few days, Abigail…so I decided to check on you. Looks like you're getting along just fine without me," Now both of them were blushing.
"I…um…" McGee looked very uncomfortable.
"No need to apologize," Ducky said softly. "I ought to leave anyway. Mr. Palmer is probably wondering where I am right now,"
"No!" Abby said, a little too loudly. "Don't go yet, Ducky. You just got here," She stepped toward him. But as she came out of the dark shadows and into the only light he already had his answer. She could hide it with a happy face or a hug all she wanted. She could bury it behind a gallon off caffeine. But it would not change the fact that something was terribly wrong. It wouldn't change what was currently going on in her head. Ducky recognized the look in her face. She had something in mind…something dangerous. Though he wanted to lave, it was that expression that made him stay.
"Abby, what's on your mind?"
"Nothing," she said really quickly. "Timmy, can you take me home? Remember, my hearse broke down earlier and its not coming back from the repair shop until Monday,"
"Of course I will," McGee said. "Let's go," Ducky watched them leave, and looked over to see Gibbs quietly watching the whole scene.
"Jethro," Ducky called. "Do you have any idea what has been going on lately? I've been kept in the dark all week, and its driving me crazy," Gibbs looked away.
"Its about the cold case isn't it? I recall Abby mentioning it earlier this week," An almost undetectable nod, but Ducky knew Gibbs well enough to tell what he was thinking.
"She's getting worse?" he guessed.
"A lot worse," Gibbs replied, downing the remainder of his coffee. "Like each new flashback is tearing her apart…" Ducky remembered all too well the haunted and terrified look in Abby's face as Ziva dragged her into autopsy. Then there was the way she tried to shirk from telling the truth, but having it inside too long made it come tumbling out of her mouth anyway.
"What can I do about it?" Ducky asked.
"What you always do, Duck," Gibbs said, walking into the elevator as it opened.
Tossing and turning, again and again. This was going to be a long night. Abby couldn't fall asleep, and it looked like she was never going to get her full five hours of sleep tonight. Every time she shut her eyes, she could see Avery's angry face glaring at her, accusing her of some unknown wrong.
"You want the pain, don't you?" he seemed to say. "I knew you'd miss it…now you regret it!"
"Please…" Abby begged the empty air. "Just stop!" She flopped onto her back again and stared at the ceiling. It was getting harder to stay in bed, where she belonged for now. But the need was so strong she didn't know if she could fight it much longer. Abby felt like she was struggling against something invisible threatening to take over for good this time. The monster was back for more…sucking the life and will out of her….it was either pain or death. Pain meant that she was still alive and vital, perfectly capable of anything. But death, that was the unknown. Blackness, nothingness, something she was not ready to face yet. Maybe not ever. Pain made her invisible, immortal even. It didn't matter the kind. As long as she was hurting, she was alive and happy. Wasn't she? That was the truth, right? Abby couldn't take it anymore. She went into her bathroom and found a razor. The second it made contact with her skin, she thought of McGee. A second later, the razor was on the floor and she was dialing his number.
"Abby? What are you still doing awake?" McGee asked sleepily. It must have been very late.
"I need you,"
