Puzzle Solved (NCIS)
Title: Puzzle Solved
Pairing: Tim/Abby, if you squint
Rating: Completely G
Summary: Episode tag for Cracked.
Disclaimer: NCIS is not mine.
Science was puzzles and puzzles required focus. If you didn't focus on a puzzle, you'd end up putting the ice cream scoop of Africa where Brazil should be, and while that was kind of correct in a very broad geologic time scale way, it hadn't been specifically correct for billions of years. Because of the focus required, Abby didn't usually feel bad when politeness took second place (or third or fifteenth) to getting the puzzle solved. Usually. Right now, though, she kind of did. She'd gotten so caught up in Clea's world that she'd done dumb things in her own, which Gibbs had made clear when he yelled at her in front of everyone. She'd apologized to him and that was good, but she needed to offer another apology. She'd considered how best to do it and had decided the blunt way was probably best. She'd do it as soon as she could, too.
Her opportunity arrived bearing an ancient CPU, the kind of thing that was old during the Y2K scare. It probably had Windows 3.1 or even just DOS on it, and she hoped she remembered her DOS commands.
"Hey Abs. Got a challenge for you, and I know how you feel about those," Tim greeted her. His voice was still a little forced, not the usual friendly tones she was used to.
"That's not a challenge, it's a travesty," she pronounced. "Why don't people upgrade their technology once in awhile?"
"Couldn't tell you that, but if there's anything useful here, we need to find it," Tim shrugged, then started working on connections, hunting for ports and cables. He didn't get very far before she stopped him with a gentle hand, and he paused, glancing curiously at her.
"Tim, I. I just wanted to apologize. I got all caught up in the case and I know I ditched you and turned my phone off and made you worry and I didn't mean to make you worry. Forgive me?" she requested, smiling cutely.
Tim smiled. "Of course I forgive you, Abs. Always."
She'd been pretty sure that was going to be the answer, but it was nice to hear it all the same, and she smiled with relief before enveloping him in a hug, which was hard since he was sort of bent down to plug things in, but she was a creative hugger, especially with Tim. She followed the hug with a soft kiss that made his ears turn red.
"I'm glad you aren't mad at me," she admitted, then suddenly demanded anxiously, "You aren't, are you?"
He chuckled, "No, I'm not. Promise."
"Well, that's okay then," she concluded, then grinned a little mischievously. "Does that mean you'll help me remember my DOS commands so we can crack this very old and wrinkly electronic nut?"
"Let's get crackin'."