A/N: Ok, so the writing bug bit bad on my day off, helped by the fact that my neighbour decided to start a leaf blower up just after 7.30am. At least writing is quiet and doesn't wake my partner- who works night shift, btw.

Who knows, I might even get this story finished today! Thanks for the reviews and patience. F.

Chapter 9

The knock on his door startled McGee. He'd been sitting in front of his typewriter, contemplating his future for what seemed like hours. He looked around and realised that it had gotten dark while he'd been thinking; it had been hours, and he was no closer to a solution.

The knock on his door sounded again, more insistent this time. "I'm coming" he called out as he made his way across the darkened apartment, turning on the lights as he went. He unlocked his door and swung it open to find Abby on his doorstep. Surprised, he leant on the door for a moment

"Tim? Can I come in?" she asked

Mechanically he stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. A hundred thoughts crowded his brain.

"What are you doing here?" he blurted out, and then mentally kicked himself as she recoiled slightly.

"I wanted to see you" she replied, as serious as he'd ever heard her. She walked past him and seated herself on his couch, patting the spot beside her "Come and sit down, Tim; we need to talk"

Feeling as though he'd stumbled into some weird dream, he made himself sit down beside her. The memory of their last conversation was painfully fresh in his mind as he asked

"What's on your mind, Abby?"

"I need to know something first, Tim. Have you given Vance an answer yet?" she let out a relieved sigh as he shook his head. Maybe she wasn't too late.

"No, not yet. I haven't made a decision yet"

"Don't do it, Tim. You can't leave"

He tensed; he'd been expecting something like this

"Abby-"

"No, hear me out Tim. I've been doing pretty much nothing but think since Monday, and I need you to just listen ok?"

He blinked a little at her forceful tone, but nodded

"Ok, Abs"

"So I've been pretty messed up since we talked on Monday night" he nodded again- he'd noticed the absence of makeup and pigtails "and Tony has been down to see me a couple of times. Anyway, he asked me something that made me think even more than I already was, even though I didn't know that was possible" he stopped her as she started to babble

"What'd he ask you?"

"He asked me if I would miss him or Ziva as much as I would you"

"And what'd you tell him?"

"I told him that I would, Tim. But then that got me thinking, would I really miss them as much? I mean, I love Tony and Ziva, don't get me wrong, but losing one of them off the team... it's just not the same"

He waited patiently for her to collect her thoughts

"So then that made me wonder why I'd miss you so much, Tim. At first I put it down to you being my best friend, but then I realised it was something else"

She felt him shift slightly beside her, his eyes suddenly intent on her face. She took a deep breath. This wasn't easy, even though she knew that he loved her. No wonder he'd had such problems telling her how he felt when he thought she didn't love him. Suddenly her stomach was tied in knots as butterflies ran rampant

"I realised that I love you too, Timmy. I always have, I just never knew that I did"

"Don't toy with me, Abby" there was a world of pain in his shaky voice

She got up and knelt on the floor in front of him, forcing him to look at her

"I'm not toying with you, Tim, I'm serious. I love you, Timothy McGee. I can't promise you that I want the house and the family, not yet anyway, because I don't know that myself, but I do know that I want to be with you"

She saw the look of joy and wonder spread across his face as he finally believed her and felt herself grin in response. He looked so happy. He reached out, trembling, to stroke his hand down her cheek. She closed her eyes at his touch.

"Abs" he murmured gently

Suddenly she felt herself being swept into his arms, and he was kissing her fiercely, as if he could make up for 6 years of lost time in one kiss. The passion she felt for this unusual man rose up inside her, and she decided that talking could wait.

Abby lay snuggled against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. He held her close, hoping that he wouldn't wake up and find that this had all been an unusually vivid dream. They lay in companionable silence for a few minutes while breathing and heart rates returned to normal.

He was the first to break the silence

"Well, this changes things a little"

She raised her head and smiled at him "Does this mean you aren't going to transfer?"

His brow creased in a worried frown

"I may have to transfer now"

At her questioning look, he elaborated

"Rule 12, remember? Never date a co-worker"

At that she grinned

"Let me worry about Gibbs, Tim. I'm sure I can talk him around"

He raised a sceptical eyebrow

"Being the boss's favourite can be useful sometimes, Tim" she laughed

At that, he had to agree. Abs was definitely Gibbs' favourite, and if anyone could talk him around to acceptance of two of his team dating, it would be her.

"As much as I don't want to move right now, Abs, I need to get up"

She shifted enough to let him get out of the bed, watching as he pulled on his discarded boxers and headed down the hallway. Curious, she picked up his shirt and put it on, following him into the lounge room. He had seated himself at the computer and was busy typing an email. She draped herself over his shoulders, hugging him from behind.

"Come back to bed, Timmy"

"I will, in just a sec..." he finished typing and hit 'send' "There, done. I had to make an appointment with the Director. I need to rescind that transfer request"

He stood and wrapped an arm around her waist

"You mentioned going back to bed? Lead the way" he teased

As he drifted off to sleep, his last thought was that tomorrow's round of explanations could make for an interesting day