McGee was whistling when he got off the elevator at Abby's lab, but the sound died on his lips when he walked in the room. Her music, normally at an ear drum shattering volume, was toned down to a dull roar. Computer screens still flashed pictures and formulas, and her machines hadn't been shut down for the night. Walking deeper into the lab, McGee tried to put eyes on his missing girlfriend.
"Abby?" he called, but no perky voice answered him from the ballistics lab or any other corner of her main lab.
Curious now, he dropped his stuff at the door and headed for her office. The doors swooshed open and Tim had to smile. There, sitting at her desk with her head laying on her arms, was one very soundly asleep Abigail Scuito. For a moment, McGee leaned against the doorway and watched her. She must've fallen asleep after giving the new information to Gibbs, not enough Caf-Pows today perhaps. Usually she was bouncy right up until most normal people were really wanting to sleep. Sometimes that included him, sometimes not. It really depended on what they were doing.
Stepping inside the door, Tim put his hand lightly on Abby's shoulder and shook it gently. She stirred and groaned, turning her head away. He chuckled.
"Abby," he said softly. "Abbs?"
Reluctantly, Abby rolled her head back to the other side and opened one eye to look at him. "Mmm...what do you want McGee? You interrupted a really nice dream."
"Was I in it?" he asked with a smile.
"No actually. But I got this really nice new high powered microscope for my lab..." she trailed off and looked around. "I'm still in my lab."
"You fell asleep," he informed her, stating the obvious.
Abby glared at the stuffed hippo sitting innocently on the other side of her desk. "Bert! Why didn't you wake me?" She yawned. "I didn't want to be sleepy yet."
"We didn't get off the phone until 2:30 am Abbs, and I bet you didn't go to bed right away either." She made a face, which he took as a yes. "It's no wonder you're tired. Here," he offered his hand, "let me walk you to your car."
Abby grinned at him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "My home or your home?"
"Since you're going to be sleeping, I think your home is a good idea."
She took his hand and stood up. "It was worth asking about."
Not taking the bait, Tim instead relieved Abby of her lab coat so she could put on her black overcoat. Lacing his fingers with hers, he walked with her to the elevator. She was trying not to look tired but he could see the yawns she was stifling and how her eyes weren't quite focused.
When they exited into the garage, Abby made a move towards her car, parked a few spaces away from him, but McGee didn't let go of her hand.
"It will be kind of hard to drive if you keep holding onto me like that," she teased.
He tugged her back towards him. "I'll drive you home Abbs." He smiled. "It gives me an excuse to pick you up for work tomorrow. I like seeing you first thing in the morning, before we get to work."
"You know, you could see me in the morning if you stayed over," she said seductively.
"Stop testing my self-control lady, we both agreed to wait." McGee frowned at his misbehaving girlfriend.
"Yeah, but you're just so fun to flirt with Tim," Abby smiled.
"Flirting with me is one thing Abby, tempting me is another. No fair getting the two mixed up."
Abby sighed. "Fine. But you do take the fun out of everything McGee." She smiled as she said it though, so Tim knew she wasn't really upset.
He opened the car door for her and shut it once she slid in. At one of the red lights on the way to her apartment, Abby surprised McGee by leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.
"What was that for?" he looked over at her.
Abby shrugged. "I just like having you for my boyfriend."
"Good," Tim smiled, feeling happy about being with her. He shot a glance at her. "Not that I'm complaining...but is that all I get?"
Abby laughed. "I'll kiss you properly when you're not driving."
They arrived at her building not too many minutes later and like a good gentleman, Tim walked Abby upstairs to her door. Before she put the key in the lock, Abby turned around and settled her arms around McGee's neck, drawing him down for a kiss. Tim pulled her closer and parted his lips slightly, deepening the kiss. When Abby finally pulled back, McGee was tempted not to let her go at all. But they both had to work tomorrow, it was probably better to just say goodnight here. Before he could say the words though, Abby put her finger over his lips.
"Don't say it yet Timmy. Come in and talk to me for a little while. I've barely even seen you today."
"Did you miss me Abby?" he wanted to know.
She unlocked the door and threw a glance back over her shoulder. "Maybe...just a little." Tim stood at the door, undecided. "I've got chocolate chip cookies," Abby wheedled. "We can warm them up, have a late dessert."
Tim had to smile. Abby and her sweets. "Maybe I can stay...because you have cookies and all."
"Is that the only reason?" she looked at him with arched eyebrows.
He caught up with her and put his arms around her. "'Course not. What guy in his right mind would give up a chance to spend a little more time with someone as amazing as you Abby?"
She kissed him again, just for being sweet. "McGee," she borrowing a line from a movie she barely remembered, "you say the nicest things."
NCIS
"Finally!" Tony burst out when they emerged from the building. "I thought we'd never get out of there!"
Ziva glared at him. "You are the one who can't stop talking long enough to finish your report."
Tony's eyes twinkled. "The wait's going to be worth it Ziva. Tonight is a night you will never forget." Her raised eyebrow asked the question and Tony decided to play innocent about the meaning, otherwise she would never come over and they wouldn't get as far as movie night. "Tonight we will be exploring one of the greatest musicals of all time - West Side Story."
Ziva crossed her arms. "A story about the west side of what?"
"Ziva," Tony rolled his eyes, "I can't explain it to you, you're just going to have to watch it for yourself." He tugged at her sleeve. "Now come on. I called in the pizza before we left, we can pick it up on the way to my place."
"What is this 'we' you keep saying Tony?" Ziva questioned. "I am driving my own car."
Tony shrugged. "Suit yourself. I mean, we could always turn this into a sleepover, it would be way more fun and -" He ducked to avoid getting hit with Ziva's backpack. "Alright already, I get the message. No sleepover. Just follow me back."
"I know where your apartment is," Ziva informed him.
"Yeah, I know, I'm just...being a gentleman. Yeah, that's it!" Tony grinned.
"Tony, you would not know a gentleman if he held the door for you. Now let us go."
"You know, it wouldn't kill you to use a contraction every now and then."
Ziva's forehead wrinkled. "Contraption? What is a contraption?"
"No," Tony explained, "contraction. You know, like: let's, I'm, what's, you're, can't...stuff like that."
She waved her hand as if it was unimportant. "I did not ask you to be my grahaming teacher."
Tony sighed. "It's 'grammar' teacher Ziva." Then he shook his head. It was hopeless. "Never mind, let's just go. The pizza will be ready any minute now."
"I will see you there," Ziva said as she headed towards her parking spot.
Forty-five minutes later they were kicked back on Tony's couch, eating slices of extra cheesy pizza, totally absorbed in the story of two rival gangs from the streets of Manhattan.
"See, see," Tony elbowed Ziva, "the best friend's name is Tony."
Ziva shrugged. "It is a popular name."
"Come on," Tony argued, "of all the movies we could've watched tonight, we just happen to watch one where a character is name Tony? What are the odds of that?"
"Tony, you picked the movie. And odds are McGee's specialty, not mine."
"But don't you think it would be nice to have a best friend named Tony?" he persisted.
"Tony!" Ziva raised her voice in frustration. "My best friend's name was not Tony, we do not have that name in Hebrew. Now will you be quiet? I am trying to watch."
Tony absorbed what she said. Ziva rarely talked about her past, so it was unexpected to learn something about when she lived in Israel.
"What was your best friend's name?" he asked more seriously.
Ziva's eyes darted to his. She hadn't meant to say anything, it just kind of came out. "Never mind." She turned her eyes back to the TV screen.
"It's a simple question Ziva."
"One to which you are not getting the answer Tony. Drip it."
"'Drop it'." He corrected, pretty sure this wasn't the right time. "Why can't you just tell me?"
"Because I do not want to! It's...nobody's business." Ziva frowned, wondering if this was going to lead to a fight that had her walking out the door in a few minutes. It wouldn't be the first time, but she didn't want to fight anymore.
The air was charged with tension as Ziva kept her eyes glued to the TV screen and Tony kept his eyes on Ziva, watching her facial expression and body language. Finally he turned his attention back to the movie, deciding that this particular topic could wait for another night. Still, it would be nice if she trusted him enough to talk about stuff from her past.
"Watch this next scene Ziva, it's really important."
Ziva glanced over at her partner, thankful that he'd let it go. She shoved her shoulder lightly. "You are hogging my cushion."
Tony glanced down and saw how close they were sitting. "Oh, sorry." But he made no move to slide away.
Ziva watched him for a moment, then settled back into the sofa cushions to enjoy the movie.
Three hours later Tony and Ziva could be found sprawled on the couch, both asleep. It was just after midnight. Slowly Ziva stirred and opened her eyes, wondering why she was in such an odd position. She looked around and recognized the decor in Tony's apartment. Sitting up suddenly, she glanced at the clock. The TV screen was still playing the DVD menu, although the sound appeared to be muted.
To her left, Tony sat slumped over against the arm of the couch, his mouth hanging open a little as he slept. Ziva shook her head. There was no way she was going to let Tony wake up and find that she'd fallen asleep on his couch. Normally she made it through movie nights just fine. But it had been a long day and the movie ran longer than she'd anticipated and she had to admit, Tony had a very comfortable couch.
Using all of her stealth skills, Ziva managed to extract herself from the soft cushions of the couch and tiptoe across the room. She put on her shoes, grabbed her coat and exited the room without causing Tony to so much as stir. He'd probably be surprised and confused when he awoke, but that was better than what he would think if they woke up in the same room. Ziva slid her hand into her pocket and came up with the extra key Tony had given her several months ago, after he'd managed to lock himself out of his apartment and showed up at hers, soaking wet, having braving a rainstorm to find somewhere to stay.
She locked the door and hurried to her car. It wasn't far between her place and Tony's, only about a ten minute drive. The whole way there Ziva berated herself for letting this happen. Her relationship with Tony was too volatile already to let anything else happen between them. This was not happening again. Next time she would find a reason to be busy on movie night and would try not to notice Tony's hurt expression that assumed she was avoiding him for some reason. He may be a class clown, and a barely grown up guy who thought he was still in college, but when someone needed him, Tony was who you wanted watching your back. People who got close to Ziva always got hurt in the end, and she didn't want that to happen to Tony.
The clock showed one o'clock by the time Ziva slipped between the cold sheets in her bedroom. She was not going to make it up for her 0500 run tomorrow morning. And it was all Tony's fault.