Set after episode 7.16, Mother's Day.

McGee put the popcorn in the microwave, swung the door closed, and stepped back, hands in the air.

BEEP.

The light came on, the turntable began to rotate, and the display counted down from four minutes. Enthusiastic clapping filled the air as he turned, bowing with a flourish.

"Now that's a grand finale," said Abby proudly. She held the remote up carefully, eyeing it with awe.

"You like it?" he asked modestly.

"McGee," she said. "It's a thing of beauty. It's like...performance art." She pressed her finger to the remote and the sounds of Venetian Snares floated out of the surround-sound speakers. Another selection, and the lights flicked off. "Whoops."

"Here, let me...." Shuffling, then a thud and a muffled grunt.

"I've got it.... " The volume of the stereo increased. "Almost...."

"Let me...."

A human yelp and an echoing canine bark. The lights came back on.

Abby sat with her right hand to her heart. Jethro came over and nuzzled her left hand, which began stroking him automatically. "Don't touch me in the dark, you almost gave me a coronary. And I almost dropped your new favorite thing."

"Don't be ridiculous," scoffed McGee. He hit a button and the microwave stopped. "Popcorn's ready." He sighed. "Too bad I have to walk all the way over there to get it, huh?"

"I'm not being ridiculous," said Abby. "It is so your favorite thing."

"You don't drop things when you get scared," he retorted. "You hold them tighter. I've had the bruising to prove it."

"True," she conceded, taking the bowl of popcorn he offered her. Her gaze returned to the remote. "Such a little thing, and it can change your life," she mused.

They munched popcorn for a few moments in companionable silence. McGee's toe tapped in time with the music.

"You and I should double-date."

McGee coughed on a piece of kernel that had slid down his throat unexpectedly. "You and me?" he choked out, reaching for his glass of water.

"No, me and Jethro," she said sarcastically. "Of course you and me."

"Do...do you have somebody in...."

"What's her name?"

He looked up, eyes watering, and caught her quirked eyebrow and the subtle nod to the remote.

"Her name?" he repeated.

"If Major Mass Spec and I are going to double with you two, it's gonna be weird if we don't know what to call her."

He took another swig of water and wiped his eyes. "How do you know it's a female remote?"

"Don't play coy, Tim, not when she's already been so good to you. She's sleek, she's stylish, she makes your life less complicated...."

"Less complicated, right. Because clearly that's the kind of woman I gravitate towards."

"And she makes you smile," Abby continued. "She deserves a name."

McGee fought to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up, and failed. "I'll think about it."

A dreamy look crossed Abby's face. "Don't you wish she were a real woman? I wish Major Mass Spec were a real man."

His amusement was replaced by confusion. "Really?"

"I bet he'd have strong features. Chiseled cheekbones. Everything about him would scream '100% reliable.'"

"I'm reliable and I don't have chiseled cheekbones," he offered, but she didn't seem to hear.

"I bet our kids would be unstoppable geniuses, too."

He chewed a handful of popcorn thoughtfully and swallowed carefully. "We'd probably better not double."

She looked hurt. "Why not? It'd be a blast."

"Well, what if Major Mass Spec and Bella hit it off too well and ran off together? Where would that leave us? Stuck on a double date without our doubles. Just...us...what?" he trailed off as she looked at him in stark amazement.

"Bella? Seriously? The electronic love of your life, and you had to go to the Twilight well?"

"It's not only a Twilight name."

"Of all the available vampire lore...."

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Please let's not have the Twilight argument again."

"Her name is Drusilla."

"Wait a second...."

"You can call her Dru for short."

"She's my electronic love interest, I think I should have a say in this."

Abby tilted her head to one side and grinned.

"Now what?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," she said. "I just love us."

McGee thought of everything that had led to this point in the conversation. He laughed and raised his water glass to her. "So do I."