"What's in the box, Abby?" Anthony DiNozzo asked the forensic scientist as he strode into her lab. The scientist was holding a medium size box with large holes punched into the top.
"McGee's Christmas present." Abby answered.
Tony opened the lid to the box. "Meow!" a little orange tabby kitten popped up. Tony jumped in surprise. "You're giving him Mr. Snuggles?" He asked.
Abby nodded. "I can't keep him at my place. And since the poor thing's owner was murdered he has no place to live."
Tony sighed. Abby had begged Gibbs to let her keep the kitten when they found it in a marine gunny's apartment. The gunny was found dead in the bathtub. "How are you going to get McGee to keep Mr. Snuggles?"
Abby smiled. "That's why I called you down here. You're going to help me come up with a way."
Tony groaned inwardly. Then, as it always did, his jokester side came up with a brilliant idea. "I think Mr. Snuggles needs a new name…." He explained his idea to Abby.
"That's brilliant! Thanks, Tony!" Abby gave him a huge hug. "Come on, Mr. Snuggles, let's go meet Daddy!" She bounced out of the lab with the box in hand.
Timothy McGee was sitting calmly at his computer when Abby came bouncing into the bullpen. Tony was off being… Tony. Ziva was out with Gibbs working the case.
"Merry Christmas, McGee!" Abby shouted, shoving a box in front of his nose.
"Isn't it a little early?" McGee asked. They still had a week until Christmas.
"I couldn't wait! I knew you'd like him."
Him? McGee questioned silently. He opened the lid to the box. "Meow!" He was greeted by the little orange tabby. "Abby, you know I can't keep Mr. Snuggles!"
Abby pouted. "But McGee, McKitty doesn't have anywhere else to live. He's a homeless kitty!"
McGee found it ironic that Abby was using her puppy dog eyes to get him to keep a kitten. "Abby, my apartment complex doesn't allow animals. You know that. We've been over this." He remembered the last time she had tried to get him to keep an animal – a dog in that case.
"No, your apartment complex doesn't allow big animals. Little McKitty here isn't big." Abby argued. She had obviously done her research this time, he gave her that.
"I'm gone too often! I can't take care of him." McGee countered.
Abby thought for a second. "McKitty needs a home, McGee. How can you resist the cuteness of the kitten?" She held up the tabby, waving his paw at McGee's nose.
"Abby…" McGee started.
"Please, McGee? For me?" Abby begged.
McGee sighed. "Just until you can find a permanent home." He finally relented. Abby squealed in delight. She knew he'd come to the rescue. He always did!
Tony had been right, she decided. There was no way McGee could resist the adorable McKitty! Not for long, anyways.