This is my first fanfic ever, I hope you guys like it. I had fun writing it! Please leave me comments- let me know if I'm any good at this, and also what I should do differently next time.

Thanks so much, this site is great.

Also- I just wanted to say that my goal in this story was to really try to show how the different characters relate to each other and care about each other- and how they show that care. The actual plot/case isn't very detailed, it just lays the backdrop to show the interactions.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters nor I am I using them to generate profit.

Abby had spent the evening with Mcgee, watching movies and playing computer games. She normally tried to spend her minimal free time with Matthew, but he said he was going out for the night with some of his friends, so she figured some quality Mcgee time was long overdue.

Sitting next to Mcgee on the couch in his apartment, ending credits of the Transformers movie rolling, Abby realized how much she missed spending time with him, how much they had in common. She looked over at him, staring with a devilish smile.

Uncomfortable with the probing stare, Mcgee looked over to her, "What Abby?" He asked.

"I just remembered how much I love you Mcgee," She said, in a triumphant sort of way.

Knowing that Abby only meant "love" in a friendly way, Mcgee smiled back and said jokingly, "I love you too Abby, but not enough to risk getting my ass kicked by that boyfriend of yours." Mcgee knew Matthew was a big guy and could probably eat him for lunch. "It's almost 11:30, you better get home before he gets suspicious!"

"Of course, we wouldn't want him getting suspicious Timmy, because if he kicked your ass I just might have to kill him… and that wouldn't be good for the relationship," Abby said jokingly with a smile. Outwardly she appeared sure of herself, but inside she was trying to ignore the nagging feeling of irony in what had just been said. Matthew seemed like a great guy when Abby had first met him. Always calling when he said he would, bringing her flowers, even coming to her apartment to feed her cat when she had to work late. However, this façade didn't last long. About a month into the relationship, the real Matthew started to shine through. He had a temper, he drank often, and that temper was worse when he drank. Abby couldn't seem to do anything right by him. She always came home too late from work, spent too much time with other people, or didn't pay enough attention to him.

The first time he hit her she was surprised. But he was apologetic afterwards and promised it would never happen again. But it did. Many times. The abuse wasn't bad, Abby thought. Only a bruise here and there, never anything that sent her to the hospital. She could always cover up the evidence and no one at work ever found out. She didn't want them to know. She felt guilty, like maybe this was all her fault. She figured she really was at work too much. Even though she loved work, she tried to make more time for him. Matthew seemed satisfied with the extra attention and effort, but would still find things to set him off. Abby knew this was going in the wrong direction. She had seen enough cases like this at work to know they didn't always end well. She needed to stop seeing him before he really hurt her.

"Abby, are you okay?" Mcgee asked, concerned by seeing her mood suddenly shift from playful to pensive.

Abby was lost in thought and didn't realize she had let her worry show on her face. "Oh. Oh yeah, I'm fine Mcgee," She said, shaking her head as if to get the bad thoughts out.

"You- you don't really look fine Abby," Mcgee said, unsure if he should probe further. He could tell something was wrong, but knew Abby didn't always like to admit what was bothering her.

Staring down at the ground, Abby tried to decide if she should share her thoughts with Mcgee. She really needed someone to talk to about this, but if she told Mcgee that Matthew was hitting her, she was sure he would be mad and the rest of the team would find out. She wanted to keep this situation as quiet as possible. She was going to take care of it herself.

"Did I do something…" Mcgee asked, unsure of himself as always.

"No! No, of course not Tim… it's just…"

Mcgee stared at her, mouth slightly open. His concern and puzzlement showed on his face. Abby knew she had to tell him something or he would probably enlist the help of Ziva and Tony to find out. And they would find out. They were trained investigators of course.

"It's just, you brought up Matthew, and… And I think I'm going to break up with him," Abby said, still looking at the floor. She felt bad not telling Mcgee the whole truth, but she wasn't lying either. She was going to break up with him.

"Really?" Mcgee asked, trying to sound more surprised and less happy than he really was. He hadn't liked Matthew from the start. The few times they had met, Matthew always seemed overly possessive of Abby.

"Yeah," Abby said, finally looking up at Mcgee. "I just don't think we're right for each other. I mean, I thought we were at first, but now, well, I don't know…"

Mcgee stared at her, racking his brain for something reassuring to say.

"I think I'm going to do it tonight. I mean, if he's over at my apartment. I just need to do it, and get it over with." Abby never liked breaking up with people. She didn't like being the bad guy.

Still feeling a bit lost for words, Mcgee put his hand on Abby's shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. "You'll be fine," He said.

"Thanks Mcgee," Abby replied, giving him a half-smile and standing up to leave.

Walking her to the door Mcgee said quietly, "Call me if you need anything."

Abby put on her coat and gave Mcgee a big hug. "Thanks Tim. I'll be fine," She said, faking a bit more confidence. "See you at work tomorrow?"

"Of course. See ya Abby," Mcgee replied and closed the door to his apartment while Abby walked down the hall.

Entering his bathroom to brush his teeth before going to bed, Mcgee listened to Abby start her car and drive away. He couldn't help but feel that Abby wasn't telling him something… like there was something more that was bothering her. Unable to answer that question himself, he pushed the thought out of his head. He would check up on Abby tomorrow at work- to make sure the break up went smoothly and to see if anything else was bothering her.