Sneaky, Sneaky, Sneaky
Abby made her way silently into the bullpen and positioned herself in back of Gibbs, where he couldn't possibly notice or detect her presence. Catching Tony's glance of recognition, she motioned for him to follow her, then retreated swiftly to her lab. Intrigued with the subterfuge, Tony stood up so abruptly that he upset his chair, thereby interrupting his boss's study of a file on his own desk.
"Whoops," Tony grinned, "my bad- I just suddenly need to visit the restroom."
Gibbs shook his head in annoyance and Tony set off in the direction of the bathrooms, but veered off to the elevators and to the Forensics lab.
"Hey," he called out a greeting to Abby, who had returned to her forensics sanctuary and was in her inner office, seated expectantly at her desk. "What's up, my little goth sister?" Tony tousled her pigtails, then seated himself on the corner of her desk.
Abby smiled in return, steepled her fingers, and leaned back in her chair. "I really, really need your help, Anthony Dinozzo."
Tony was instantly sober. "Of course- yes- what do you want me to do?" When Abby didn't immediately respond he became concerned. "Are you ok? What's wrong?"
"More than okay," she reassured him and patted his leg. "I need some covert help, and you, Anthony Dinozzo, are the master of subterfuge, a true expert in the field of deception." Tony immediately preened and Abby laughed at his antics and enlightened him. "There is this party Saturday night down at Arlington cemetery, informal, of course. A bunch of us are going, and the plan is that it is to pretty much be an all nighter. Unfortunately, while I was discussing the final details over the phone last night Gibbs overheard my end of the conversation, and as soon as I got off he informed me I couldn't go in that I-don't-want-to-hear-any-backtalk- from- you -tone-he-has."
"He said you couldn't go because..." Tony prompted, scooting further back on the desk.
"There was a series of vandalisms there last month, and that news made it to his ears and his arsenal. So of course he went on and on about all the potential dangers there, and how I had no business at Arlington, and how we needed to pick another place to party. You know how unreasonable he is when he gets in that protective state of his. "
"I agree with Gibbs," Tony announced, beginning to slide off the desk. "Not only that, if you remember, there was a murder there last week and they still don't have the perp. He's right, and you have no business there, nor do your friends. You need to stay far, far away from Arlington Cemetery."
"Tony, no-wait and let me tell you the rest. There's a whole group of us, so I'm not going to be there alone, and we've had this in the works for a couple of months. Saturday night has a full moon, and Arlington Cemetery is the bomb when it comes to good night time settings, especially full moon settings. Talk about setting the ambience! William is even going to be there. Remember him? You met him at my place and liked him. You said he looked like he held down a regular job." Tony nodded in recollection. "I can't just suddenly bow out. I'm the one who had the original idea and got the others to agree to party at Arlington! I'm the unofficial hostess, and you and I both know Gibbs is just being all tough love and overreacting like he gets sometimes."
Tony smiled sympathetically. "Abbs, I don't know what to tell you. Gibbs has already said no, and defying him isn't ever a good idea. It's suicidal. You know that. I know that. Forget Arlington and figure out some other cemetery somewhere else. That's the simple solution, and there's still time before the weekend to find another place."
"Listen just a sec, Tony. I can tell him that you and I are going to a movie marathon or a nightclub or something Saturday night, and that we're going to spend the night at your place because it's convenient. He won't be worried 'cause he will think we're safe at your apartment. There's no way he'll find out, and I'll just get back to his place Sunday morning. Actually, remember we're supposed to have Sunday lunch together, the three of us and Ducky, so we can just show up together. How's that sound for a foolproof plan?"
Tony was a little shocked at the extent of Abby's cunning, and in truth, was impressed with the overall scheme. Still, Gibbs was a human lie detector, and if he found out they'd lied and Abby had gone somewhere he'd specifically forbidden, he'd be beyond furious. Tony reminded himself that he really didn't want to be on the receiving end of any Jethro wrath. Gibbs had been pretty pleased with him lately, and it would be stupid to mess that up.
"Sorry, Baby Girl- I can't accommodate you. It's my butt if he finds out, and you don't need to get into any trouble with him either." With that, he slid off the desk and turned to leave.
"Fine," Abby responded, a self satisfied smirk creeping into her voice, "don't do me any favours. However, let me remind you that not two months ago I covered for you by telling Gibbs you had gotten home at two thirty so that he didn't bust you for staying out all night. We both know how he feels about staying out all night, now don't we, Tony? I certainly didn't tattle on you, though it would have been so easy to do. Just refresh my memory- who were you with that night, all that long, long night? Was it Jessica?"
Tony's jaw clenched and he wheeled around. "That is really lowdown, and I would have thought you would have more love for me than that, Abby."
Abby leaned towards him and asked sweetly, "How'd it work for you that time last year when Gibbs did bust your butt for staying out all night?"
"You know exactly how he reacted because you were there," Tony hissed, then realizing he was defeated, added, "You know that this is blackmail, and that blackmail's a crime, right?"
"I do- which is why Gibbs doesn't know to this day that you actually sneaked home at six thirty in the morning that special night."
"Abby-"
"So let's get my future stay- out- all- night story straight right now, so that we can have the scene set for an entertaining Saturday."
Tony had to admire her methods. Truthfully, he would have done the same if the situation were reversed. He stared at her with a mixture of pride and annoyance. The two of them had a tight bond, actually, more of a sibling bond, which had intensified over the years. Compounding the relationship was the fact that most of the time both lived with one Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Special Agent, their boss, and the man both considered a father. Sighing in resignation, Tony sat back down and they began to make plans.