The Subtleties of Love
A/N: Hey all! Here's a little story I've cooked up during the NCIS Labor Day Marathon (which my roommate was oh so excited about). I originally planned it as a one shot but it kind of took on a life of its own. So it'll be multiple chapters (probably 5 or 6) and take place over the course of a single night. If I tell you anymore I'll be giving away the whole thing, so without any further ado…

Chapter 1: McGee Gets It Wrong

McGee was excited to have the day to himself. Abby had taken Cody shopping with her and Ziva (a feat that he still marveled at) so he was free to spend the day writing. It was the perfect plan except for one minor detail. He could think of absolutely nothing to get his creative juices flowing. He'd been staring at the same blank page for the last hour with no luck.

Sighing dramatically McGee walked away from his desk and collapsed onto the couch. He scrubbed his hands over his face and stared at the ceiling. He had no idea how long he'd been laying there before he heard the familiar sound of Abby's key in the door.

"A little help here?" she called from the hallway.

McGee pulled himself off the couch and unlocked the door allowing Abby and her multiple bags to enter before he relocked it. "Uh Abs? You forget something?"

Abby smiled. Setting the bags on the floor she turned around and wrapped her arms around Tim's neck bringing their lips together in a tender kiss. "Happy now?"

"Well yeah, but that wasn't what I was referring to," McGee said. "Where's Cody?"

"Huh," Abby mused perching her hands on her hips and looking around. "You know I thought my load seemed lighter," she joked. "Ziva offered to take him for the night and I wasn't about to argue. I think she's trying to train Tony or something."

"Train him for what?" Tim asked.

Abby shook her head. "For someone so smart, Tim, you really can be dumb sometimes." She picked up a small pink bag from the floor and held it out for McGee. "I bought this for you."

McGee took the bag cautiously. Somehow he doubted anything that came out of a pink bag was going to end well for him. "What is it?"

"Just take a look," Abby purred.

McGee peeked inside the bag, pushing aside the tissue paper to find lace and silk waiting for him. A smile spread across his face. "This is for me?"

She took the bag from his hands. "Well it's technically for me, but I bought it with you in mind. I bought it for tonight."

Tim's eyebrows knit together at this. "Tonight? What's tonight?"

Immediately Abby's shoulders slouched. "That's why I got Ziva to take Cody for the night, so we could have the night alone to celebrate our anniversary."

"Anniversary of what exactly?" McGee ventured. Their first date had been in March that much he knew for certain. It was now early May, so that possibility was out.

"Tim!" Abby cried. "It's been exactly a year since we got back together after our…hiatus."

"Hiatus?"

"You have a better name for it?" she challenged.

"Not really," he conceded.

"I can't believe you didn't remember. You're usually the one that reminds me of this stuff."

McGee shrugged his shoulders. "I just never thought to celebrate that occasion is all."

Abby's head quirked to the side as she studied Tim closely. "And why not?"

"Nothing it's just…well it's not like we got back together because we missed each other…not that I didn't miss you…but," he took a deep breath and tried that train of thought again. "We got back together because we needed to."

Abby's eyes seemed to darken a full shade and McGee knew then that he was in trouble. "We needed to?" she asked, her voice dripping with venom.

He knew he should just apologize while he was still in one piece but for some reason he just couldn't stop talking. "Well you were pregnant and I wasn't going to let you do it alone. I was raised better than that."

If possible Abby's jaw clenched even tighter. "So what you're saying is that we only got back together because you managed to knock me up and you wanted to do the 'noble' thing? Is that it, McGee?"

'Danger Will Robinson, danger!' his mind screamed. "That's not what I meant."

"If that's the case Tim why didn't we get married, huh? Good old shotgun wedding!" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for his answer.

Before he could stop himself McGee felt the words pouring out of his mouth. "I wasn't going to marry you just because some drunken accident."

Immediately it was like the air was sucked out of the room. Abby's muscles tensed as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She threw the bag back at him watching as it hit his chest and fell to the floor. "I'm glad you consider our son to be an accident," she growled before storming into their bedroom and slamming the door.

McGee sunk to the couch, his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' he chastised. He thought of the ring, nestled away in its hiding place in his desk at work. He'd bought right before Cody was born knowing that when the time was right he'd ask her. Now he wondered if he'd ever get that chance.

A/N: Well that's a bit of an angsty start isn't it? I promise it won't be like this the whole way through!