A/N: As you may have guessed, things were crazy busy. I couldn't justify writing around 400 words for each EDT when my dissertation needed my attention and I couldn't seem to muster the same level of enthusiasm. So for that, I apologise. It's going to be a busy month for me but I'm back and I'm writing so yaaaaay! :) Thank you for your patience, you guys are great :D
Megan xx
March 19
"You must laugh and be cheerful 10 times a day or your stomach, that father of affliction, will disturb you in the night." - Frederich Nietzsche.
Abby Scuito couldn't sleep.
Her stomach ached, a dull pain that refused to shift. She squeezed Bert closer in an attempt to make herself feel better.
Clad in her nightgown, she'd stretched herself along the length of the couch, fidgeting to find the best way to lie without any pain. Nothing worked.
Dialling a number she knew by heart, Abby waited patiently for the man to answer, knowing he slept with his phone close by.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony, I'm sorry it's so late, or early depending on the way you look at it, but I need to talk to you."
"It's half two in the morning, Abs. Are you okay?"
He sounded groggy and his words slurred, thick with sleep. Feeling slightly guilty, she reminded herself to buy him lunch tomorrow.
"My stomach hurts."
She heard him shift, probably to sit up so he didn't fall back to sleep. "Do you need me to drive you to the hospital? Have you called Gibbs? Abby, are you okay?"
"The nuns have this saying that if you don't laugh a certain amount during the day, your body tells you so at night. It's an old wives tale, although why nuns believe them considering they're supposed to stay faithful to God I don't know. I'll ask them next time I see them. Tony, how many times did I laugh today?"
"Are you joking?"
"Tony!" She whined. "This is serious. I can't get comfortable and I can't sleep and if I don't get enough sleep then tomorrow I'll have to-"
"Drink more Caf-Pows than usual?" He provided, slipping back under the covers and closing his eyes. She could hear the content in his voice as he did. "Do you want me to come over and sit with you? We can make fun of McGee until you've laughed enough to feel better?"
Abby smiled. The twinge across her stomach wasn't as bad as it had been before. Tony really did work magic. And before she hung up on his soft snores, she told him so.