Characters: Tony DiNozzo, Jr.; Ellie Bishop; Abby Scuito; Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Timothy McGee, Dr. Mallard & Leon Vance.
My apologies - for some reason when this was posted - the characters were not kept in the story attributes screen
Warning: NOT McAbby (It's been brought to my attention that I should let that be known upfront)
Spoiler Alert - Season 12 - This past Tuesday's Episode
As Tony and Ellie stand alongside Abby in front of the computer monitor between Tony and Tim's desk, their conversation is a quiet one, beginning with Tony.
"Burton Moore was born in 1977 in a small town in Wyoming."
Ellie adds her information. "He recieved a BS in Geology from the University of Wisconsin.
Tony adds more: "Then spent almost a decade in the Peace Corps before moving to D.C."
Speaking for the first time, Abby aks: "Record?"
Ellie's response is a quiet one: "He was arrested once."
Obviously unhappy, Abby's reply is short and just as quiet. "Oh."
At this point, Ellie's tone perks up while clarifying what she knows. "But for protesting a zoo that was accused of abusing their animals."
Abby's relief is unmistakable with the uplifted tone in her voice. "Oh!"
Encouraged, Ellie keeps going "We also have his yearly salary, favorite bands and his political positions on everything from the Middle East to Middle Earth."
Without missing a beat, Tony adds what he knows Abby wants to hear. "Which he's a big fan of, by the way."
Sure enough, Abby is quick to let it be known what she thinks of that. "I can hang with Middle Earth, oh Code McBlue, Code McBlue, Code McBlue."
Quick to catch Abby's code word for 'McGee is coming', Tony calculatingly waits until Tim is in earshot before expertly diverting the conversation "It's a purple grommet."
Tim sees Tony, Ellie and Abby all suspiciously turning away from him as if they're hiding something from him as he walks in from the back elevator past Tony's desk. "What's going on?"
Ellie keeps her back to Tim s she glibly offers the answer she hopes he'll buy. "Noth..ing."
Tim calmly takes the remote from Tony's hand while the Senior Field Agent steadfastly keeps his back to the younger man and clicks on the computer screen between his and Tony's desks, bring up the display of the background check that had been posted there. "That's the park ranger that was here a few weeks ago."
Abby, Tony and Ellie offer forced faux chuckles, further cementing in Tim's mind, what's obviously going on, although why they're hiding it makes no sense to him yet. Looking straight at Abby, he puts the question out there. "These two doing background for you?"
Abby keeps her eyes averted from Tim's face as she nonchalantly replies: "It totally looks like that, huh?"
Leaving alone for now, the fact that Abby's treating him publically like he's stupid – again - Tim glances at the team probie as she mimics Tony in keeping her back to him, spies the folder in her hand, reaches over and eases the file from her hands. Without missing a beat, he opens it up and begins to read off what he sees there. "Places of residence, political contributions, shoe size – it's a myth, by the way…"
Unexpectedly, Ellie interrupts him to counter that. "No, it's not." Amazingly, she is still keeping her back to him as if she's caught on to the idea of making sure she doesn't look him in the eye right now.
Tim is definitely not impressed.
With, his hands together, Tony uses both index fingers to point to himself as he adds. "Size 12"
At which point, Tim looks directly at Abby and tries to reason with her, the fact that all these shenanigans for the sake of not letting him know what the others are keyed into, are by no means necessary. "Abby, you don't have to hide this from me. I'm not jealous. I have a girlfriend, remember?"
With confidence that's too quickly sprouted not be a cover for something else, Abby has a quick comeback. "Oh, I wasn't worried about you being jealous."
Without missing a beat, Tony adds his own two cents into the mix, obviously more than happy to lob a heavy-handed complaint Tim's way. "It's the over-protective big brother routine that's getting old."
Tim's response is a bit slower than his usual automatic defensive response, as if he's actually thinking on the statement before replying to it. But it still comes across as pure defense. "I'm not over-protective."
Now yet convinced, Abby is quick to test him. "Okay. So I can date him?"
Tim's response this time is purely reactionary from someone who cares deeply. "Absolutely not. You don't know a thing about him – aside from this totally comprehensive background check. But that's something you two can get in a lot of trouble for."
Gibbs walks in from beyond Tim's desk as he breaks into the discussion in his usual style. "Trouble for what?"
Tony's response to Tim's indirect accusation is lightening quick and surprisingly calm. "Data in that file is straight from the internet, Boss."
Without missing a beat, Ellie backs him up, turning her torso around so that she can look at the boss as she speaks. "Yeah, we didn't use a single law enforcement database."
At this point, Gibbs is done gearing up and is straightening back up as he speaks, coming around his desk again in the process. "McGee. It's the overprotective big brother routine that's getting' old."
It's not hard to see the amused expression on Abby's face as Gibbs walks away, leaving Tim standing there now thoroughly humiliated. What's worse is how pleased with herself Abby looks; as if she's just scored a huge prize by eavesdropping on an ass chewing and all of it leaves Tim feeling like his life has just taken a giant step back into his probie years on the team when the others disrespecting him was a daily fact of life.
Even still, as he grabs his gear bag and heads to the elevator, he tries one last time to get through to her. "You know, he's just really not right fo…"
With a hand thrown up between them, Abby rudely shuts him down. "Go!"
Not willing to keep the others waiting, he bolts for the elevator to catch up. He's done with this crap, anyway. If she doesn't want to listen, there's nothing he can do about it. Frankly, he's done trying and he's seriously done being talked to like this.
*********NCIS************
As Abby and Tim silently work side by side at the computers in her lab early the next day, Abby smugly throws out there. "So, go ahead, ask me."
Vaguely hearing the ding of the elevator in the hallway, Tim bites at the hook Abby has just set. "Ask you what?"
Abby grins at him as she mocks him. "You know what."
Tim gives up the attempt to keep his distance on the subject since it's obvious she's determined to her him say it, despite her shenanigans yesterday in the squad room. "Okay. Have you spoken to your park ranger friend?"
"None of your business." Abby smugly replies as she catches Gibbs moving in behind her and exchanges an amused smile with him that unbeknownst to them, Tim does not miss.
Tim's not amused as he fires back at her. "You just told me to ask!"
Abby very cheekily smirks: "I changed my mind."
At this point. Tim's just glad the boss quickly changes the subject because this one's become way too much of Abby acting like a spoiled teenager for his liking. He's not sure how much more of her crap he can put up with. For once he's happy there's an active case since it means being busy away from her.
********NCIS*******
With the end of a case, eventually comes the end of the day and that moment in time when some, if not all that that transpired during the working of the case comes back to haunt or bite or settle, either with ease or distaste. For Tim, it's been a while since he's had any reason to regret, wish differently or even wonder about any of that. Things, for a while, have been really good and beginning to run more smoothly – especially between himself and Tony.
This time, however, it feels like they've all stepped back in time a couple of years and once again Tony and Gibbs have joined forces to show him in front of all the others, that Tim doesn't measure up for some reason or another. This time, his efforts to protect Abby from her own impulsive dating has been publically trounced on.
It's depressing really, how little has changed in the area of the others' views of him; how Abby still treats him while the others stand back and smile at her for it. Mentally shaking his head now, Tim stares off into the space between his desk and the space between the two across from him. You would think that given the crappy way Abby's treated him about his own prior attempts at dating; including the times that has included her, that the others would be happy he continues to care deeply enough about her to keep her warned off from her own urges to jump first and ask questions later. Hadn't Mawher taught them anything?
Tim's not even trying to act like her older brother. She's older than he is and everyone knows it for one thing. For another, they have too much history; both memorable and painful, for that to be the case. No, he's just the deeply concerned friend who's getting publically slapped for daring to care deeply enough not to take it lightly or let it go easily.
It's NOT like he's pretending that he's perfect or knows everything. He's merely asking her to slow down and be cautious. Okay, so she's smart enough to get background information on the potential date – although why she didn't just surf the net herself to find the information on the guy is still a mystery. And obviously Gibbs is in the loop on this one, so she's wised up about communicating with him on things that have gotten her in trouble before when she'd handled things alone and silently. Then again, Gibbs' isn't the one blamed when things go south, either.
You know what…why am I even trying any more? I show concern, I'm being too protective, something happens to her when I stay out of her way, I'm responsible. I lose either way – while Abby continues to sit back and laugh like she's been doing all day. Hell, even Gibbs thinks it's funny. Some things never change!
Besides, Abby could of just told me to stop in her usual 'stop or I'll boil you alive and not leave any evidence' overkill way but instead, she chose to bring the situation up here and get the rest of the team in on it – until it ended up in what amounted to a public intervention through humiliation.
That was why she got DiNozzo and Bishop to do the background for her – so she could bring them in on her little game of 'let's humiliate Tim into no longer acting like the big brother I don't need.' Something every one of them willingly took part it. Even Gibbs!
Yeah, let's not go there. The man's gone back to calling me McGee and thought Abby's crap down in her lab earlier was actually funny on top of the crap she pulled up here. Enough said.
Beyond irritated, Tim gets to his feet and grabs his gear bag, ready to head out for the night. Gibbs called it over 15 minutes ago, so there's no point in him even still being here. He's brought to a standstill when he finds that DiNozzo and Bishop standing behind their own desks, staring at him.
"What?" He gripes irritatedly, his eyes boring holes through Tony's head.
"Oh, Nuthin' McSpacey. Just wonderin' what the heck's wrong with you." Tony smarts back.
"I'm fine!"
"Yeah, and I'm Mr. America. Try that again, McFibber."
"Leave it alone, DiNozzo." Tim warns as he steps out from behind his desk, heading for the back stairs.
"McGee…" Tony pushes. "Look, you haven't said two words since we set you straight about the whole 'big brother' thing the other day. So, that's gotta be what's buggin' you. Right?"
"Your ears work, DiNozzo? "Cause I could have sworn I just told you to leave it alone!"
"My ears work just fine. Doesn't mean I'm gonna listen. You know me better than that. Especially when my keen senses pick up on you being bugged about something."
"Like you care." Tim mutters.
"Wouldn't be tryin' to talk about this with you if I didn't, would I?" Tony's question is loud enough that Tim turns around and retraces his steps to get the conversation lowered back to quieter tones.
"Not goin' there with you, Tony." Tim warns even as his anger climbs.
"Just admit it, Probie. Admit it and I'll leave you alone.'
"McGee. Are you angry about that?" Bishop asks innocently.
Tim's glare moves over to her now. She played just as much a role in that crap yesterday as the rest of them. Being the newbie, that was one thing she should have kept her nose out of. Tim hasn't done anything to her to warrant her having anything to do with doing him that way. He's definitely not appreciative of her being in on that.
"Because if you are, I'm really sorry."
"Don't be, Bishop. He's a big boy, he can take it." Tony responds firmly.
"You stopped me, just now, DiNozzo. You forget that?" Tim snipes as he turns back around and heads back out.
"McGee!" Gibbs barks out unexpectedly.
With an audible sigh of complete frustration, Tim turns back around yet again, this time to hear what the boss wants. This time, however, he says nothing while he waits.
Obviously realizing that Tim isn't coming to him this time, the Team Leader walks over to his team, already in close proximity to Tony's desk. With a crook of his finger, he beckons Tim to return to the fold.
Once the young man has done that, the Team Leader frowns at him as he asks the question. "Somethin' on your mind?"
"No." Tim denies. This is not up for public discussion or even a private one either.
"McGee…" Gibbs warns. He knows better. The aggravation is practically rolling off his agent in waves.
"Boss! I'm fine! Please, just let it go!"
"McGee, you just proved my point. You never raise your voice at the boss. It's just not you."
"Wouldn't be doing it now if you'd quit pushin' after I told you to leave it alone, DiNozzo!" Tim barks at him. "But, you never listen."
"Yeah, I do."
"Yeah, to Abby, maybe." Tim mutters.
"What did you just say?" Tony demands.
Completely fed up, Tim lets it rip. "Fine. You want me to say it, I'll say it. The little public intervention yesterday– NOT appreciated! There, you happy? I'm going now. See you tomorrow." He turns to go, this time not making it two steps before he's stopped cold by the boss getting in his way.
"McGee."
"Boss, I get it! I'm not her big brother. But, I never claimed to be! The whole point of your public intervention was that Abby can take care of herself. I get that. She always thinks things through when it comes to guys she wants to date, Mawher never happened and I never get blamed when her impulsive decisions come back on her. I get it, okay? I'm not supposed to care about her. Only Tony fits that role – when he wants it, that is. Fine. Maybe you could blame him the next time a psycho comes after her because she didn't listen! Punish him, instead of me for a change!" Stepping around the boss, Tim's gone this time, faster than his usual stride, aided by the fact that he's just left the others in the squad room, frozen in shock.
