DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS

Missing Tony

Ch 1

"Sunny skies, sandy beaches. Oh yeah, I can see my future now," Tony foretold.

"Really DiNozzo?" the quick question heard from his boss brought him upright from his relaxed position at his desk.

As Tony's feet swung to the floor they overturned a cup of pens which he struggled to keep from falling to the floor.

"Yeah Boss. My vacation starts Monday. Remember?" Tony's voice held a touch of apprehension that his time off was once again going to be postponed. This vacation had been rescheduled already due to their caseload.

"I remember," Gibbs nodded as Tony breathed a sigh of relief. "Your vacation will be our vacation," he smirked sitting down at his desk.

"OW that hurt Gibbs," Tony pouted with a wounded look on his face.

Tim and Ziva hid their smiles watching the exchange from their desks.

"We will miss you Tony," Ziva looked at him with sad eyes.

"Sure Tony. What's not to miss?" Tim said sarcastically. "Your wise cracks, the tales of your conquests, your name calling; oh yeah we may not survive a week with you gone."

Tony narrowed his eyes menacingly at Tim, "Oh my Probie, you will miss me. Wait and see. You'll look to this desk and be sorry I'm not here."

"Don't think so DiNozzo, but you just go on telling yourself that," Tim remarked typing at his computer.

"Hmmm, we'll see," Tony smirked.

"You'll all be sorry if I don't see some work getting done," Gibbs barked without looking up.

"Right Boss," the three answered and got back to their work.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Monday morning….

Tim arrived at NCIS wearing a big smile on his face. He was a bit surprised to see Ziva already at her desk as she turned to smile at him.

"Good morning, Ziva," Tim greeted.

"Yes it is a good morning McGee," she replied watching him walk to his desk.

Tim dropped his back pack behind his desk and plopped into his chair- "BLAPT".

"McGee!" Ziva said appalled.

"N-No it's n-not wh-what you think," Tim stammered standing up flustered. Spying the whoopee cushion on his seat he picked up the now deflated bag to show her. "Tony left behind a little reminder of himself."

"That was nice," Ziva looked doubtful.

"Hardly," Tim mumbled tossing the offensive piece of rubber into the trash can. He sat down more carefully, wary of any other possible pranks and prepared his desk to work.

Once the computer was turned on he began to hit the keys on the keyboard to open the program he needed to finish up his report. Nothing happened. He hit the keys harder realizing that they weren't depressing. Taking a closer examination Tim came to the obvious conclusion that the keys had been super glued and thus rendered useless."

"ARG!"

"Now what is the problem?" Ziva asked stopping her own typing to ascertain why Tim was in such a huff.

"He super glued my keyboard!" Tim exasperated.

"He? Who is he?" Ziva looked around the office.

"Tony. That's who 'he' is," Tim disconnected the keyboard wrapping the cord around it. "I have to find a new keyboard before Gibbs finds out."

"Finds out what McGee?" his boss asked entering the bullpen steaming cup of coffee in his hand, his eyebrows raised with curiosity. He took a sip eying his agent waiting for a reply.

"Ah, my keyboard is broken. I need to get a new one," Tim said standing up.

"Well get to it then," Gibbs shooed him off with his hand.

"Yes, Boss," Tim walked off with the keyboard tucked under his arm.

Gibbs smirked watching his young agent race off knowing he was covering for his absent partner. He hoped that no more pranks were set up so that some work would get completed.

Tim returned a new keyboard in hand. As he hooked it up, Gibbs watched. When Tim looked like he was finished Gibbs asked him pointedly, "You ready to get back to work?"

"Yes, Boss," Tim responded hoping that he wasn't going to find any more surprises.

Thankfully his report was finalized. He printed it out to turn it in. He placed it on Gibbs' desk and turned to return to his own desk.

Gibbs picked up the report and pulled it close then put it at arm's length. He shook his head and pulled it closer again taking a whiff of the paper. He looked at Tim, "Hey!"

Tim looked up wondering if he forgot something in his report. He went back to stand in front of Gibbs' desk. "What is it Boss?"

"Do you think your report stinks?" Gibbs asked.

Confused Tim could only ask, "Why do you ask?"

"You printed it out on scented paper." Taking another whiff Gibbs clarified, "Lavender scented paper."

Tim's face blushed red. "No sir. There's nothing wrong with my report. I'll check the printer for regular paper."

"Do that," Gibbs snapped though he wasn't upset with McGee.

Ziva tried to contain the laughter the bubbled beneath her cool exterior. Those pranks had been classic Tony. She wondered if things would go more smoothly for Tim the rest of the week.