The Pursuit of Happiness

Summary: Everyone gets together for a Fourth of July BBQ in Gibbs's backyard. Minor mayhem ensues.

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm just playing with them.

A/N: This was inspired by a conversation with draggon-flye.

Ok, fine. I'll stay out here in the back yard and I won't go up onto the deck with you. I don't really mind. It's more comfortable lying down in this grass anyway.

Huh. It has obviously been cut recently, because there's still bits of it scattered around, and I'm probably going to be covered with it when I get up. Which is fine, I don't mind. Just don't complain to me when it starts falling off in your living room later.

OMIGAWDOMIGAWDOMIGAWD!!! It's a SQUIRR... No, I don't want to shut up! This is really important! It's a SQUIRREL! And it's... OK! FINE! I'll be quiet! Jeez. You try to tell them something, but do you get any appreciation? A thank you, maybe? Noooo....

Oh, hey, it's Abby! Hi Abby! Ok, not so much with the hugging, ok? Gotta breathe here. Hey, where are you going? Can I come?

Oh, right. I'm supposed to stay down here. Ok. That's cool. I'll just go check out those bushes at the end of the yard.

Hey! Thanks! It's great of you to leave some water out for me. I'll just get rid of that bird and have a drink. I'm not sure why you used a bowl that's so high, but that's ok. I'm pretty tall when I stand up like this, and I'll just tip my head a bit and... Now what?! Get down? You're kidding me, right? But how am I supposed to... OK! I'm down! Oh, now you want me to drink that water... well, maybe I don't want it. So there.

Sigh.

I'm bored.

Maybe somebody wants to play ball? I brought one with me, I think. Where is it? Where is it?! Where is it?!!! Oh, there it is. That's better. Ok, who wants to... you'll play with me? Really? Not that I mind or anything, but you've never... Oh, man... Where did you learn how to throw a ball? Do you think this is college football or something? Now I've got to climb through all those bushes because you just had to show off that you could get the ball all the way down the yard... if anybody turns the hose on me to get the mud off, I'm going to make sure I'm not the only one getting wet. Understand me?

Oooooooo. What's that? What is that? I smell... no... NO! YES!

It's a BARBECUE!

Yay!

I wonder what... oh, look! That looks like... YES!!!

I love those things.

Is it ready yet?

What about now?

Now?

HURRY UP!!!

Finally! Ok, let's see... The bossman is still over there getting more of them ready and... really??? There's some of those too? Wow! I...

Ok, focus... who has... YES! There's one.

Put it down... put it down... putitdownputitdownputitdown...

Oh, wait. I'm not supposed to...

But...

Ok, let's think about this.

Am I in a harness?

No.

Are there drugs or weapons around that I'm supposed to be finding?

Hmmm... don't think so. There's certainly nobody acting like I'm supposed to be working.

Is there anyone in uniform here?

No.

Ok... definitely off the job.

YES!!! He put it down!!! That's it... that's it... HE'S GETTING UP TO GET ONE OF THOSE BOTTLE THINGIES OUT OF THE COOLER! NOW'S MY CHANCE!

Ok, final check. Is there any good reason not to grab that hotdog?

No.

Can I eat the hotdog before my human takes it from me?

Probably.

Ok... let's go!