A/N: This chapter goes back about a week before the dinner, when Abby gets the invite.

Part 8

Previously:

"Look Abs, I have a doctor's appointment. I am not canceling that to go do service work, no matter how worthy the cause." Tim sounded angry.

"Doctor?" Abby froze taking in the dark circles under his eyes and remembering the exhaustion of the past weeks. "You're sick. Of course you're sick. Oh my ghod Timmy, is it serious?"

"Calm down Abby. It's just a check up."

"But Timmy!"

"Look Abs, I have to get back to work. I can't go with you to Habitat this weekend, so stop asking."

"Tim-" Abby watched as Tim shook her off and walked away. Tim never blows me off. I didn't know he knew how. This must be serious! Oh Timmy.

Abby spent the next two weeks compiling a list of possible symptoms that could help her figure out what was wrong with Timmy. As far as she could tell it had been gradually worsening for the past few months, she hadn't realized how long her friend had been acting off. The major symptom was fatigue, but that could be a million different things. Apathy was another. There was no way Timmy would just blow her off for so many activities; this illness had to be the explanation. She wavered between weight loss and loss of appetite. Before she realized he was sick, she'd attributed the weight loss to exercise but now it was clear. Her Timmy was sick. Maybe dying. This must be very serious if he hasn't told anyone. I know Timmy hates it when I worry, but he should really know I hate it more when I don't know what's going on…

She paced her lab while her machines processed the latest batch of evidence. There has to be an easier way to do this. I wonder if I can get a DNA swab without him noticing. A mouth swab or a couple of hairs would be a start. Grabbing Bert, she hugged the hippo to her chest and fell into her chair.

She spun in the chair, thinking. Maybe I can call Gibbs or Ducky. No, no if they knew anything they would be all over Tim. Maybe Tony can help me with the DNA idea. – But then he'd ask questions and harass Timmy. Tony can be so insensitive sometimes. Abby sighed heavily and looked over her list again. She added clumsiness then scratched it off immediately. Before she could get herself worked up again her mass spec announced results. She hustled over to give it a look just as Jimmy came in with a handful of evidence jars.

"Hey Jimmy! I didn't realize we had a murder."

"Just came in, we haven't even autopsied yet, but he was wrapped in this weird chord. Dr. Mallard sent me to you." The assistant smiled offering her the log to sign. "I'd stay and chat, but this one looks really neat."

Abby nodded absently already looking over the fibers. It wasn't anything she recognized off hand, and that said more than it didn't. Tempted to start immediately, she set the bags on the table and pulled the finished results from Major Mass Spec and called upstairs to share the results. If only every team had a Gibbs to show up when I have answers…

XXXxxx

Abby was just putting her "babies" to "bed" when she noticed an email from Timmy.

Subject: Dinner Friday

You are all invited to dinner at my place this Friday July 19, 7:30pm (unless we work a case). I have something I'd like to show you. It's really great!

See you there,

Tim.

She sent an immediate yes before her eyes fell on the List. Here she was worrying about McGee and he was…perky. You don't write "It's really great" with exclamation points if you're telling your friends you have cancer. And you don't throw dinner parties if you are sick anyways. That meant Tim was not sick, or not seriously sick. She'd just wasted the last two weeks worrying about nothing. He should have told me everything was fine. You don't just say you're going to the doctor and not say you're fine when you are. She completely ignored the memory that told her Timmy was just getting a checkup.

"And he said no to bowling again last Saturday." Abby spoke aloud to herself. "He ditched me, and let me believe it was because he was sick!" she fumed.

Shutting down her computer she considered how she was going to remind the agent that this kind of behavior was not okay. Caught up in her internal upset, she completely forgot about the dinner invitation.

XXXxxx

(Friday)

Abby frowned at her computers. She had nothing interesting to work on. For the last two days the most interesting thing to cross her lab table was an odd tire pattern that ended up belonging to a vintage car. She was stuck with tedious reviewing evidence on cold cases. It was both tiresome and insulting. She was extremely through in her collection of evidence, and kept meticulous records.

Her favorite Team hadn't brought her a CafPow since this morning, and while they weren't busy with a case, they usually dropped in to check on her anyways. Jonesing for a caffeine fix, she closed down her work station and locked her lab. She found Jimmy heading to lunch and bullied him into taking her out. The ME assistant chattered nervously about the inventory he'd been doing for Ducky.

"Do you know what this dinner with McGee is about? I feel so bad about changing plans last minute, but this dog thing is really important to my girlfriend."

"Wait, what?" Abby leaned forward.

"I have to drive up to the dog groomers, I might not make it back in town in time for the dinner. McGee said it was okay, but I could tell he was disappointed. Do you know what he's celebrating? It must be a big deal, he's never had the whole team over for dinner before." Jimmy smiled.

"No I don't know what he's celebrating, Jimmy." Abby ground out. She ignored the way Jimmy's smile faded, and pushed away her meal. "Timmy hasn't said a word to me about anything."

"Ah.. well, I don't think he's told anyone anything. He has been acting hinky for months now." Jimmy backpedaled.

"Do you think I didn't notice? What do you think I am, Jimmy?" she slapped the table. "I know he's been acting hinky. Why hasn't he come to see me then?"

"Uh….Well, see, um"

"Forget it Jimmy. We'll find out at dinner. Timmy better have a good answer for me." Nodding to herself Abby waved Jimmy down and finished her meal.

Back at the lab she pounded through another round of old evidence before new evidence came in from a hit and run on base. Her machines were buzzing happily and she headed to the garage to examine the vehicle for any other evidence. Her afternoon perked up and before the day was through she'd identified the car that had fled the scene. Music blaring she sterilized the lab and got ready to leave for the night. She was getting into her red Deuce Coupe when the phone rang.

"Perfect timing James!" she pulled her seat belt on.

"Hey Abbs! I just scored tickets to the Dominic Kelly concert tonight. You game?"

Abby froze, her fingers on the keys. McGee's dinner was important-

"Backstage passes too…" James tempted.

-but Timmy had put her through a lot of stress over the last few months. "I'm in." she could make it up to Timmy later, he would understand.

XXXxxx

The music was pounding, and the crowd was wild. Her phone buzzed again in her pocket, Tim again. She shoved it back, ignoring the call and gestured for James to pass her another glow stick. She couldn't believe she'd gotten to come to this. It was the perfect way to start a weekend.

Three hours later and she was at an after party. Her phone buzzed again and she pulled it out exasperated. Spotting the caller ID she perked up.

"Gibbs!" she answered cheerfully. She really didn't want to go into the lab tonight, but that was no reason to spoil the mood.

"Abby are you okay?" he cut her off bluntly.

"I'm fine. Is there some reason I shouldn't be fine? Because-" she babbled cheerfully, not concerned.

"I will talk to you later Abby." Gibbs cut her off and hung up.

She stared at the phone, mouth open. Something was wrong. She slowly put the phone away. Why would Gibbs be angry with her? So she skipped out on dinner. Timmy had been blowing her off for weeks, months. It was McGee who was in the wrong here.

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