Trauma Queen: A NCIS Fanfiction

Chapter Twelve

I sat in my car, dreading going into work. I honestly didn't have the balls to face Tim after what I said Friday night. Rule 12. Why couldn't I have just let him kiss me? Because I knew that's what he was going to do.

I hit my head into the steering wheel and groaned, annoyed at myself. Tim had texted me Saturday to apologize and ask if I wanted to talk about it with him. I frankly didn't want to talk to him, which was exactly why I was hiding in my car.

Before long, it was 08:50 and I was going to be late if I didn't get my shit together. I sighed, gathered my coffee, phone, and jacket, and headed inside.

"Hey." A voice said quietly as I waited for the elevator. I didn't even have to turn around to know it was Tim.

"Oh, hey. I'm sorry I never answered your text I just... didn't know what to say." I let my voice trail off at the end. I really truly didn't know what to say. I liked him, but I also got freaked out by what Abby said.

"It's fine." I could tell he was at least a little upset. We walked into the elevator, just the two of us, and pressed our floor. "Im confused Naomi," Tim said, flicking a switch to shut the elevator off.

I stared at him, taken aback. "Why?" I knew the answer to the question but I still had to ask it.

"Why did you just say Rule 12 on Friday night?" Tim ran a nervous hand through his hair.

"Tim, Abby told me about Rule 12 and I got all freaked out because I'm new and I don't want to lose my job." I put a hand on the railing of the elevator to steady myself. I seriously thought I was going to faint.

He stood in the opposite corner, facing me. He gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." I looked down at the ground, nervous. "I wish this was easier than it is."

He sighed. "Yeah. Me, too."

Somewhere in the middle of our conversation, Tim flicked the elevator back on and we moved on up to our office. The loud ping jolted me from my thoughts and I had to put on a brave face for work. I really didn't want to be there.

We both sauntered into the office, neither of us looking happy. I was waiting for Tony to make a comment, but he didn't. He just stared at the two of us in silence, not bothering to ask or say anything. Ziva also stared, but less obviously. She looked over her computer at us and I could tell she would want to know what was going on. But there was no way I could talk to her about it. Abby knowing was way over the number of people who I wanted to know about this.

I sighed as I put my stuff down at my desk and immediately walked out of the bullpen. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew anywhere was better than in the same room as Tim. Yes, we were acting like teenagers, but sometimes these feelings make you act like that.

Without knowing it, I ended up in Abby's lab. She was blasting heavy metal music, a genre I regularly listened to, and I smiled when I walked through the doors. She was busy jamming to the music and typing on her computer that I didn't think she even noticed me until I walked in front of her computer. She smiled and lowered the music before enveloping me into a bone crushing hug.

"Hi Abbs." There was no way I was able to cover the sadness in my voice.

"What's wrong Nai?" She cocked her head to the side.

I smiled at the nickname. "Boys suck." I took a seat on a stool and she pulled a second over to sit across from me.

"You could say that again. Is this about McGee?" I nodded solemnly. She sighed, "Nai, you can't let it affect your work! You've gotta march back up there and talk to him."

I laughed. "I can't. We tried talking and it didn't do anything. It's going to be a day or two before I can look him in the eyes Abbs. He was going to kiss me when we got back to our building on Friday night. I pushed him away, said 'Rule 12' and ran into my apartment."

She shook her head at me, her pigtails swishing around. "Well you couldn't have handled that any worse." We both laughed and I instantly knew I had come to the right person.

"What do I do Abby?" I put my face in my hands.

"The only thing you can do is move on Nai. I mean, if you love working at NCIS, risking your job for a boy isn't worth it."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." I looked to the floor.

"I can try to set you up with someone if you want? It might help?" I nodded. "Oh goodie! No one ever lets me set them up! I'll get back to you with details; I promise it'll be someone good!"

I smiled and stood to leave. "Thanks Abby. I appreciate you." I gave her a warm hug. "You're a really great friend."

She hugged me back tightly. "Of course. I'm glad I can help! Or well, at least try to help!"

"Bye Abbs."

"Bye!" She immediately turned her music back up and I smiled as I got in the elevator to go back to work.

Before I got to my floor, the elevator jerked to a stop and everything went dark. My heart sped up and I started to panic. I immediately started pressing buttons, with nothing lighting up.

Did the elevator break? I banged on the doors and heard nothing. Oh my god it's broken.

I took out my cell phone and saw I had one singular bar. I immediately typed a message to Abby that said I was stuck in the elevator. I shut my phone and slid down against the wall, tucking my knees to my chest. I was slightly claustrophobic and I had no idea how long I would be stuck in the elevator.

A few minutes later, Abby messaged me back saying that there was a crew already working on it and I should be free soon. I hit my head against the wall, annoyed. Of course when my head was swimming I would be stuck in an elevator with nothing to do but think.

I was very confused about Tim. I'd only known him for a short amount of time, but I felt like I'd known him my whole life. We got along so well and shared so many things in common. He was so sweet and so kind, not to mention incredibly intelligent and handsome. To me, he was the full package.

I let my mind wander to things I didn't want to bother thinking about. Like the fact the anniversary of my family's death was coming up. Or the fact my brother's former fiancée's wedding was in two months. Or the fact my ex-boyfriend Liam was supposed to be getting out of prison within the next six months.

My parents and brother were killed in a car crash when I was a sophomore at MIT. They were hit by an eighteen wheeler because the driver fell asleep. They were driving to pick me up from school when they were hit. I remembered getting the call during my Organic Chemistry final and not answering because I was taking the exam. But I do remember my RA being outside my dorm room when I returned, a worried look on his face. He sat me down in my room and told me what had happened. The rest of that day was a blur, but I remember going through the motions for weeks at a time, unable to deal with the pain. My brother was engaged to a beautiful woman, Cassidy Greene, and she was devastated as well. And now, she was marrying some other guy.

And then there was Liam. I shuttered at the thought of him being back in the public world. He was my boyfriend my senior year at MIT. He was an Industrial Engineering major and he was the scum of the Earth. He had cheated on me more times than I could count. And not just cheated, he raped five girls and beat at least two of them. And yet, he wasn't sentenced as long as I thought he would be.

When the elevators started working again, I was brought to my floor. Without realizing it, I had started crying. My shirt was damp with tears and my eyes were probably bloodshot. As soon as the doors opened, I felt the eyes of my coworkers on me. I slowly stood up, not making eye contact with anyone, and walked calmly over to my desk. I sat down without a word and started my monitor up, wanting desperately to get to work.