March 21
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. – Jane Austin, Northanger Abbey
McGee watched Abby dance around her lab. She was not aware of his presence, and he did not plan to cue her into it. He was happy to watch from the shadows, watch her when she believed she was alone, watch her amuse herself. She was enjoying every beat of her song, while simultaneously watching Major Mass Spec do his job.
They were good friends, worked incredibly well together and rarely got into disagreements. They bounced ideas off each other, each taking an idea a step further. They had fun, shared laughter and gossiped. They tried to team up together to take on Tony, even though Abby sometimes decided to defend him. They chatted with Ducky, and occasionally Palmer, about things that most agents did not even know about, let alone understand.
And yet he wanted more. He still loved her, even after she had broken everything off between them. He still cared for her and protected her as best he could. She was an amazing woman; so full of life and happiness, determined to delight everyone, her sharp mind always working. Men seemed to fall at her feet, even though she occasionally had bad judgment. Michael Mawher came to mind and he suppressed a shudder.
She was still wonderful. She had let him down gently and had played it so that they remained friends. He was glad; he did not know what he would do without her. Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, he was glad to be her friend.