All that I'm Living For

A/N: This is my first fan fic… hope it's okay. ;-)

I'm not sure yet how exactly this fic will turn out, so I just put the rating to T for now…

Oh, and I don't own anything referring to NCIS.

Kate Todd stepped out of the elevator and swiftly went into Abby's lab, a smile on her face.

"Hey Abbs", she called out happily.

Abby looked up from her computer.

"Hey! What are you grinning at?", she asked, slightly raising her eyebrows but smiling warmly at her friend.

"It's weekend, Abbs! The case is solved, the work is actually done, so if we're lucky we might actually get two whole days off! I mean, it's not like I don't like my job or anything, but the prospect of relaxing and actually sleeping a decent number of hours again, is just great."

Suddenly excited by Kate's words, Abby turned to her computer, clicked here and there a few times, and then shut it down.

"Yeah, I'm all finished here too, now. Weekend, here I come… What, you don't remember me? I'll make you!"

Kate laughed and slung her arm around Abby's shoulder. For a few years now, Kate had practically constantly been loaded with work. She had had a boyfriend from time to time but it had been a while now since she's had a real friend. And although they didn't know each other for too long yet, Kate felt a close connection to Abby, and she was quite sure that Abby felt the same way.

"So, what are your plans?", she asked, looking up at the Goth who had likewise slung her arm around Kate. It feels good being so near to her, Kate thought and felt a sudden warmth spread throughout her body, it feels so good to have her as a friend.

"Don't know…", Abby said frowning, "You only just made me realize my luck, so… But hey, you know what we could do? We could got out. I'll show you some cool places of the Goth scene, like we had planned to!"

Abby looked expectantly at Kate, who tried to avoid her glance. She wanted nothing more than to hang out with Abby and considered it for a moment, but it really had been a tough week and, though she had never been out with Abby before, she guessed that a night out with her would be quite exhausting.

"Well…You know, I really want to get to know your scene some day, but…I'm kinda worn out. I'd rather lay back tonight, you know? Please don't take this the wrong way, Abbs…"

Abby's face had fallen slightly at first and Kate feared to have hurt her new friend, but to her relief it lit up again almost instantly.

"Then, how about if we just grab a DVD, order in some food and just relax?… Or we'll just meet another time, it's really all right Kate, sorry, you already said you were worn out. I didn't mean to push you, God, I never know when to stop. I –"

"Whoa!", Kate said thrusting her hands into the air and so effectively silencing Abby, "I'd really love to 'grab a DVD, order in some food and just relax'… My place or your place?"

The two friends grinned at each other and left the lab linking arms with each other.

"So… You saw Tony naked!?", Abby said again, unbelievingly, and then burst out laughing.

"Stop laughing!", Kate called and hit Abby with one of her black cushions, but couldn't sop herself from joining in.

After the two had calmed down again, Abby looked her friend directly in the eyes.

"So…were you attracted?", she asked in a curious tone.

"What?!", Kate choked, starting to cough. Abby was always so straightforwardt, a characteristic that she actually loved about her.

When her eyes had stopped watering she looked back up at Abby. They were both lying on Abby's couch, but the Goth had sat up a bit, so she had a better view of Kate.

"How come you never told me before, anyway?", she asked suspiciously looking her up and down. Kate started to rub her forearm, slightly confused at the fact that goose bumps had just erupted all over her body under Abby's intense stare.

"I don't know… I never really had a chance to tell you before now. And no, I'm not attracted to him, neither was I when I saw him naked."

"So you're telling me that you saw him completely naked and you didn't feel anything at all? Are you being entirely truthful, Special Agent Todd?"

Abby lent towards Kate, locking eyes with her. Kate felt the tiny hair on her neck standing up and shivered slightly.

"Yes, I am saying nothing but the truth, Abigail Sciuto."

Abby tensed at the sound of her full first name and was about to tell Kate off for using it, but instead lent back against the sofa when she noticed Kate closing her eyes and sighing.

I might as well tell her, Kate thought.

"To be honest, I was kinda surprised myself", Kate began hesitantly, her eyes still closed, " I wasn't really sure of my feeling towards Tony. Naturally, we've spent a lot of time together these last few months and I've definitely been feeling a strong bond of friendship developing between Tony and me… I just wasn't sure whether that bond was really of a mere platonic nature…

But when I saw him, I really didn't feel any… longing, or anything" – Kate shot a quick glance at Abby – "It was not like his body was unattractive though, not at all… I don't know…"

Kate stopped and, to her embarrassment, felt her cheeks turning red.

Abby smiled at her, reassuringly, and Kate felt immensely grateful that the Goth had apparently sensed that further teasing was the least she needed right now.

"Well, then he's probably just not your type. Better that way, anyway, as you're not allowed to date your colleagues – at least no other agents.

Me and Ducky, we don't count though; we can date anyone we like", Abby added, grinning wickedly, "Come on, let's watch that movie now".

Abby put in the DVD and then sat back down on the coach, closer to Kate than before. She had grabbed a black blanket, nicely matching the crimson sofa, before sitting down and now used it to cover herself and Kate. The cuddled together comfortably and Abby laid her head on Kate's shoulder.

After the movie had ended, they stayed on the sofa for a long time, talking.

We've never talked much about anything but work before today, Kate realized. She was happy that they got along so well and that she now had the chance to get to know the forensics scientist better.

When they had entered Abby's apartment earlier that evening, Kate had been overwhelmed. There was no escaping the fact that Abby was truly a Goth – almost everything seemed to be black or red – but Kate had immediately felt comfortable.

Their conversation had gradually become more quite, until Kate finally asked sleepily: "What time is it, Abbs?"

"Err… Past 3 a.m.", she answered glancing up at her A Nightmare Before Christmas wall clock.

Yawning, Kate slowly sat up from her half-lying position.

"What, really? Well, I guess I should get going then…"

Kate was about to stand up, when she felt a hand grab her right wrist.

"Or you could just stay here", Abby said still holding on to Kate, "If you like, feel free to stay… that is if you don't mind sharing my, err… bed with me."

Kate didn't notice Abby's hesitation before using the word 'bed' as she was busy taking in what her friend had just proposed. She looked at Abby and immediately knew from the look in her eyes, that she really wanted her to stay. And she didn't feel like leaving, anyway.

"Come on Kate, it's the weekend!", Abby exclaimed, before Kate could answer, of course not knowing that the other woman had already made up her mind to stay.

Kate suppressed a grin and put on stubborn face.

"But I don't have any pajamas nor a toothbrush."

"I can give you anything and all you need", Abby said enthusiastically, unintentionally making Kate blush for the second time that night. God, what is wrong with me…, she thought bemused, I hope Abbs didn't notice. The Goth apparently hadn't. She stood up and dragged Kate on behind herself towards her bathroom, still holding on to her wrist.

"I'm quite sure I have a spare toothbrush. Come on, let's go check."

Some minutes later they were in Abby's bedroom. Kate was wearing a long black T-shirt with an imprint of some heavy metal band. Abby had refused to turn on the light, but still Kate noticed that Abby's "box-sofa-bed" looked a bit strange. Suddenly, her eyes widened.

"Abby, is that a coffin?!?"

"Erm, kind of, but it's real comfy. And you know, if one day the inevitable takes place you guys won't have to worry 'bout getting me a suitable coffin… You're not leaving, are you?", she quickly added when she didn't receive an answer.

Kate chuckled.

"You're crazy, Abbs! Did you think I wouldn't notice if you kept the lights off?"

Abby grinned guiltily.

"Well…it worked with McGee…"

"What?!", Kate exclaimed feeling a twinge of jealousy and at the same time knowing how foolish that was, "You slept with McGee in this coffin?"

"No!", Abby said thrusting her hands into the air to underline her words, "I mean, yes, we did share it, and we both did sleep, but not with each other."

Kate gave her a suspicious look, but couldn't help smiling a little – of relief?

"You want me to believe that you slept here with McGee and that nothing happened between the two of you? Come on Abbs, tell me the truth!"

Kate crossed her arms and looked expectantly at the other woman. She believed her; if Abby had slept with McGee she would surely have reacted differently: probably with a mischievous grin on her face. But this was Kate's chance to get back at Abby for questioning her about Tony.

Abby nodded her head violently, making her piggy tails swing around madly.

"That is the truth, I swear. Really! Look, I don't sleep with everyone I share this bed – coffin – with. So don't worry… I've got no plans of seducing you", Abby added with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. Kate felt her stomach squirm at those words, but chose to ignore it and instead tried to overplay her confusion.

"Oh, that's good. I wouldn't want you going through all the difficulties of becoming gay just for me", Kate said joking.

"I wouldn't have to!", Abby said matter-of-factly, turning to her coffin and pulling back the sheets. When Kate didn't react, Abby shot a quick glance at her friend who was clearly confused.

"I'm bi", she explained airily and got into her bed.

Kate just stood there, as if paralyzed, not knowing what to think.

"So, are you coming or what?" Abby looked pointedly at the empty place beside her.

"I had you so close to sharing my coffin with me… I didn't lose you now, did I?"

Kate blinked a few times, then quickly shook her head and lay down next to Abby.

"'Course not", she mumbled, immensely grateful for the darkness as she felt herself blush again.

"Good", Abby replied snuggling up to her friend. Kate couldn't suppress a content sigh. It felt so good to be near her.

A/N: Though I've spent some years of my childhood in the USA, English is not my mother tongue, so if I happen to have made any major mistakes, like using an idiom incorrectly or so, don't hesitate to tell me!

I'd also appreciate constructive criticism referring to the content and of course I'm grateful for any review!

Thank you for reading!