"You of all people should know, I thrive in the face of adversity.." – Abby to McGee

Dedicated to Ladyaracne )

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"Abby?" He rubbed his eyes and opened his apartment door to find her drenched from head to toe. He reached for her hand and ushered her inside. "What happened?" He could tell she was a little intoxicated, but he didn't want her getting defensive.

"T-t-today is the anniversary…" she slurred through the rest and he wasn't able to make it out. But that wasn't important…what mattered now was getting her dry.

He still had her hand and moved her through his apartment and into his bathroom. He handed her some towels and ran out to grab her a shirt and some pants. "Don't worry about the floor…it's just water." He tried to reassure her as she looked a bit guilty for getting the floor all wet.

"I tried to wave a cab…but no luck…"

"Why didn't you call one of us? Gibbs would've sent a chopper to pick you up, you know that."

She took in a deep breath as she struggled to remove her wet tee shirt. It was tight on her as it was, and watched as Tim reached out to help her, then changed his mind. "S'okay Tim…I won't bite…"

He blushed for a second. "I know…" he shrugged off the awkwardness and saw her once more as a friend in trouble, which helped. He helped slip it off and turned around as she removed her bra. Even a friend in trouble didn't warrant seeing that. "Here you go." He handed it to her with his eyes closed and she couldn't help but smile.

"I dropped my phone in the toilet…I got a little sick…"

McGee turned around when the coast was clear; at least for the moment. "Who were you with?"

"No one, just needed to let loose…you know…go a little crazy…" she hid a smile. "And well, as much as I love Gibbs and he loves me…no daughter ever wants to tell her dad she's been bad."

"Good point." He quickly turned around once more as she struggled to pull down her wet jeans.

"All better." Abby replied as she tossed the damp towels over his head.

He pulled them off and made a face at her. "Very funny."

She shook her head as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her make up was running all over the place and he eyes looked as red as a bouquet of roses. "This is everything but funny McGee…"

He stepped closer to her and brushed away a few strands of hair from her face. "What's this about Abby? What anniversary?"

She looked at him slowly and he watched as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. He reached across to wipe them and lifted her chin up. "Come on Abby, you came to me…let me help."

She reached out for his hand and directed him towards his bed, where they both sat down slowly. "My parents…they were killed…and…" she stopped and moved herself close to Tim for comfort.

"You don't have to say anymore Abs…It's okay." He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry what seemed like endless tears. It wasn't long before the two passed out beside each other, that was until Tim's phone began to ring off the hook. He slid out of bed slowly and grabbed it.

"Yeah boss?"

"Why are you whispering?"

McGee scratched his head. "Uh, I uh…my neighbors have been complaining a lot, so I'm trying to be considerate."

"McGee, I was born at night, but not last night…" he cleared his throat. "Is she okay?"

Tim sighed. "How'd you…? Never mind…yes, she's okay. She's sleeping in my bed…I don't mean sleeping, like sleeping…I mean…she was upset and she needed to talk, so we sat down on my bed, but nothing happened boss I swear…"

"McGee…McGee…" He tried to interrupt him and his voice got louder. "I've been trying to call her all night…I'm sure she told you that tonight is…"

"The anniversary of her parents death. Yeah, I know. Don't worry, I got it under control."

"Is that so?"

"Not control like you may think boss…like I'm gonna take care of her…you know, console...but not inappropriately of course…just well…be there for her you know?"

"Yes, I do McGee…see you on Monday…have her call me when she wakes up, clear?"

"Crystal boss…yeah, good night." He rubbed his brow as if he was sweating, even though he wasn't. "Very smooth McGee…" He said to himself as he peered back into his bedroom to see her sleeping peacefully. It was then he grabbed himself a blanket and curled up on the couch. He knew he'd need to be 100 percent when she woke up the following morning.

--

When she left later that afternoon she replayed their last conversation over and over in her head.

"It's times like this that you thrive Abby…I can see it in your eyes…"

"That means a lot McGee…"

"Not as much as you mean to me…now hang tough…and you can show up at my door drunk and drenched from head to toe any time…"

She didn't hide her smile. "How about next time, I'm sober, dry and happy?"

"I wouldn't be opposed to that either."