TIM

Tim couldn't quite figure out how his planned evening of feeling sorry for himself interspersed with period bouts of moping had ended up with him on his couch licking donut sugar off his fingers and with Abby curled asleep next to him, her head on his lap. Times like these, he was glad he'd spent some of the cash from his books on some really good, comfortable furniture.

(Another of her suggestions. Well... not a suggestion so much. More a case of her dragging him to the store and forcing him to try dozens of suites until he found one he liked.)

He'd moaned and grumbled and complained on and off for at least an hour and a half after she arrived. It was easier to act like the Grinch than have to admit how awful he was feeling and how grateful he was to have her company.

Along with the donuts she'd brought a movie - some cheesy horror flick he'd eventually let her put on. She hadn't said so, but he suspected she'd picked it for its lack of a love story and the excess of violence coupled with some really bad jokes and some unintentionally hilarious moments. It shouldn't have made him feel better, but there was something cathartic about it. An hour or so into it he'd laughed at a particularly awful pun, hadn't been able to stop himself, and out of the corner of her eye he'd seen Abby's triumphant grin.

He stroked her hair, smoothing back a strand which had worked itself loose from a pigtail. It was funny, she was usually full of energy and bounce, but when she came to his apartment she always ended up falling asleep. On his bad days he wondered if he was just that boring. On his good days, he was touched that she relaxed in his home.

Today had started out a bad day - a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, in fact. He'd woken up at 3am from a nightmare of Amanda- of Juliet, bleeding out in his arms again. He hadn't been able to get back to sleep, his overactive imagination supplying him with images of all the other times he'd been unable to help, to keep someone he cared about safe. Erin - he hadn't thought about her in years. Kate. Sarah. The times Abby's life had been in danger - worse, the time when it was his fault. He often wished his brain had an off switch, but on a day like today he'd've been willing to do anything to just shut it off, shut it down.

The bad day had unexpectedly turned into a good evening, though. Thanks to Abby. She had come through for him - again. Made him laugh. Helped him look beyond the guilt and pain. Just... been there. For all the misunderstandings and petty jealousies over the years, when he really needed a friend... there she was. Every time.

The comfortable warmth and weight of her on his lap was reassuring. He pulled a blanket down from the back of the couch to tuck around her. She stirred slightly and smiled in her sleep before settling down again.

"Thanks Abs." He knew she was asleep, but he couldn't stop himself. "You're my best friend, you know that?" He whispered the words, not wanting to disturb her. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

He really would have to tell her that sometime when she was actually awake, he thought, smiling at his own foolishness.

Well, if I'm gonna be sentimental. He pressed the tips of his fingers to his lips, then placed the kiss on her cheek with a featherlight touch. She turned slightly, snuggling deeper into his lap.

He found her hand, interlaced their fingers, and allowed his head to drop back. Really good couch. Thanks, Abs.

For the first time that week, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

~FIN~

A/N: this story is finished, but I really enjoyed tipping my toe into a little McAbby. So, you can probably expect a sequel... eventually!