Oct 29
Beyond happiness or unhappiness, though it is both things, love is intensity; it does not give us eternity but life, that second in which the doors of time and space open just a crack: here is there and now is always.
Octavio Paz (1914 - )

Timothy McGee darted forward and reached for the door. Abby wasn't carrying anything, but he considered it polite to hold a door for a lady.

They had just finished listening to Ducky's detailed theory on how Seaman Mears had managed to set fire to his apartment while attempting to open a can of beans, which involved several dozen tangents and the need for a more detailed toxicological screen. Having no real other work to do and assigned by Gibbs to assist Abby anyway, he was going to be spending his afternoon with Major Mass Spec.

The elevator had broken down after Gibbs had abused the emergency stop once too often, so everyone had been forced to use the stairs. He had followed Abby up, careful not to look up her skirt, which was shorter than usual today – he didn't want Gibbs coming after him with a baseball bat after all.

Upon reaching the correct level, he slipped in front of her to give her a hand. She beamed at him as he tugged the door open, surprised at just how heavy it was. Was this a fire door or one to protect people against nuclear attacks?

Putting all his strength into it, he managed to lever the door open to a point where she could easily pass through.

"Thank you, Timmy," she smiled. "There's a reason everyone normally uses the elevator."