The doors to Abby's lab swished open and Tim trudged through them, feeling like he'd just left. Exhausted, he started to call out but changed his mind. Instead he plodded over to the unbearably perky girl tapping away at her computer and slumped down in the chair next to her.
Hey, Abbs, he said with a yawn. Gibbs sent me down to compare notes with you and see what more we could dig up on Paolo Muñez.Wow, McGee, you look awful, Abby noted as she drained the last of a jumbo sized Caf-Pow.
I'm dead on my feet. He rubbed his eyes, trying to stay awake. I know we have to get this done, but I need to get some sleep.
Abby pursed her lips and looked him over. Tell you what, give me what you have on Muñez. I'll see what I can come up with. You know where the futon is.You mean it? Surprise and hope colored his voice. Listen, Abbs, about earlier. I'm sorry I was so angry with you, I just He paused and then tried again to explain, the words coming haltingly at first. I can't let someone else I care about die. I don't know who is after Gibbs, but I'm going to protect him from every threat I can think of.
Abby nodded grudgingly. Sometimes it feels to me that the only way anyone remembers Kate is by chasing Ari. She was more than just some killer's victim, McGee, she was my friend. And I miss her. I suppose I've been hoping that after we catch him we can remember Kate the way she should be remembered.I remember Kate, Abby. He tried not to snap as he said it, taking a breath before continuing. It just hurts too much to talk about it, because there was nothing I could do to help. I wasn't even there when she died. Hell, I couldn't even finish doing the job I was supposed to! I wound up taking cover behind the car with a busted transmitter. He shoved himself angrily out of the chair and walked over to the cabinet that housed Abby's futon. He stopped and simply stared at the handles.
she began, but he turned and cut her off.
Look, Abbs, I'm fine. Really. Don't worry about me. Let's just get this done, all right? There was a roughness to his voice that he didn't bother to hide. He walked over to her computer and inclined his head for permission to access the file on Paolo.
Abby acquiesced with a gesture as she turned away from his anger and grief. While he tapped away at the keyboard, he was aware of her behind him, her back to him, pointedly ignoring him.
Here we go, he said after a moment. Abby turned to stand beside him and he tried one more time to put things right between them.
I miss Kate, too, Abbs. But she's still with us, too. At her look, he shrugged and said quietly. Don't you see? I'm doing what she would want me to do.
Abby put her arm around him. Okay, McGee, tell me what ya got on Muñez, she said with a smile at him.
He turned back to the screen, all business now, even though he was exhausted. Not much. Just some basic background. He gestured to the meager data now up on the plasma.
Abby walked slowly around her desk to stand in front of the plasma screen. As she stared at the face that looked so eerily like Ari, she cocked her head slightly to the side.
That's it, eh? No family, no nothing? Well, Paolo, we're just going to have to get better acquainted, aren't we. She started back to her keyboard, flexing her fingers as she did so. Argentinean, hm? she muttered. And with suspected ties to Escopeda? I'd say the place to start is in Puerto Iguazú. She looked up at her suspect one more time before she glanced over at Tim. You get some rest and I'll see what I can find, okay?Thanks Abbs, he told her gratefully as he pulled the futon out of the cabinet and collapsed onto it.