"Tim? Hey, McGee, rise and shine already. It's not that bad, heck for all we know you shot a guy on our most wanted... list," Abby called out, walking in through his place and all the way to the bedroom door. Inside was as neat as the rest of the home except the... blood?
It was pooling on the carpet as it neatly dripped down the long cut on the man's arm, and Abby barely concealed a small gasp, causing him to look up.
It took her less than five giant leaps to be at his side and grasp his hand, kneeling by the small puddle. Tim kept his eyes focused on her, ignoring the searing pain in his arm. He tried to smile as he reached up and rubbed his eye with his free hand.
"Abby," Tim whispered, his breath slow and steady as the Goth felt his pulse. She gave Tim's body a quick sweep with her eyes and Tim squeezed her hand.
"I only got to my left arm, guess I'm not that brave yet," he said, and Abby forced a chuckle as she stood keeping her eyes firmly on him.
"Bandaids in the bathroom, Abs, I didn't hide them," Tim said and Abby nodded, still unable to comprehend the site before her. Tim, her Timmy, was... cutting.
Abby raced to the bathroom determined not to leave Tim for more than a second and as soon as she had her supplies she returned to find he hadn't budged. However, his eyes had fallen back to his cuts.
"You're pretty good with them bandages, Ducky teach first aid classes or something?" McGee asked as Abby dabbed at the long red gash with a cotton swab.
She poured more alcohol on one and he hissed.
"Tim, you can't be like Tony and just make a joke about it, we gotta get you to a doctor or at least to Ducky, and we gotta tell Gibbs," Abby said finally, gritting her teeth. She was frustrated and angry with him now and Tim's smile dropped.
"Abby, you can't do that, I screwed up and this will only make more trouble," Tim said hardening his tone and Abby glanced back up to him.
"Timothy McGee, were talking life and death," she argued and Tim stood up and glared at her.
"You just don't get it, I have to do this," Tim said. His eyes widened as he realized what he said and he lost his balance, causing him to fall back on his bed.
"Tim?" Abby called as Tim fell on the bed and laid there, his eyes on the ceiling. She stood up and crawled on the bed and Tim turned his head away.
"Tim, talk to me, you've done this before I can tell, you're a horrible liar," Abby said and as Tim looked at her she saw a few tears fall.
"Children... they don't need to worry about... a parent could... Abby I couldn't... I needed to feel punished for her, and then after it was just nicks really," Tim stuttered out, rolling off the bed.
When he stood he unfastened his pants and Abby saw twenty or thirty small scars surrounding a large one. Her eyes bulged and slowly climbed up past his legs till she was staring in shock into his eyes.
"Abby, you can't tell anyone about these... punishments, I never go very deep and they've all healed up a lot," Tim quickly said, defending himself as the scars were concealed again.
"Listen, when I screwed up I'd sit here, drop my pants and slowly cut my leg. Then I'd yell a bit then wash it and it'd be over," Tim said as he ran to sit by her and this time Abby stood.
"You're actually asking me to keep quiet about this, I can't believe you're even enjoying this," she yelled. Tim got up and put his hand on her mouth.
"You don't enjoy punishment, Abby, I hate doing this but I have no choice, I'm not like you guys, I can't deal with the guilt," Tim whispered and Abby pushed him away.
"I knew you were different, McGee, not many put a tat on their ass to impress a girl, but this cutting has to stop, I'm telling Gibbs," Abby said and ran to the front door. Tim raced after her, stretching to catch her arm and hold her back before closing the door again.
"Abby, please" Tim begged, squeezing her arm. Abby reached out and slapped his cheek, then turned and opened the door again, running out to her car. Tim stood in the doorway and stroked his cheek.