Introductions
Abby was leaning against the kitchen table, mop in hand, when Tony approached the kitchen. "Hey," she fussed, throwing out her hand to work as a stop sign. "Don't you dare walk across the part that's still wet!"
Tony grinned and spun himself to the counter by the sink, then grabbed an apple from the top of the fruit bowl. "Well, that's the risk you have to endure when you put off your responsibilities. If you'd simply done what you were supposed to do yesterday, you wouldn't be standing here Friday afternoon mopping the kitchen, now would you? You could be free, and in the clear with the Boss." With that, he rubbed the apple against his shirt sleeve, took a huge bite, and smirked.
Abby rolled her eyes at the observation. "Uh huh, well I would have been through yesterday if you hadn't gotten me in trouble. There was absolutely no reason to tell Gibbs that I'd driven through the Stansilaus neighbourhood to get to the mall, because you know in your heart it's the closest…"
"Maybe so, but he's told you he'd better not catch you doing that, cutting through there, since the crime rate in that neighborhood is about the worst in D.C. Besides that, I agree with him on that score. There are other ways to go to the mall."
Abby couldn't help but give him a little smile. Tony had gotten her in trouble, that was true, but to be fair, Tony had confronted her first, angrily, about the route. When she refused to promise him she would avoid the area, he shared his concern with his boss. Gibbs, of course, hit the roof.
"I got it, Tony, believe me, I got it. I had all evening yesterday in my room to think about why it wasn't wise to drive through that area. That puts me back at my original statement, though, Tattletale. I could have been knocking out my roster of chores yesterday instead of doing penance in my room."
"Those are the breaks, so you need to learn how to act in a mature manner and….."
The ringing of the doorbell interrupted and they looked at each other in surprise. The doorbell's ding wasn't a usual sound effect in the house of Gibbs.
"It's definitely someone we don't know, else they would know the door's open," Abby contributed, grabbing the mop and turning to the pantry to put up the cleaning supplies.
Tony started towards the foyer but turned around to instruct, "Better get back to your unfinished chores, Baby Girl, else you won't get to go out tonight either." With that, he laughed maniacally.
Abby retorted, "Tend to your own business, Tattletale."
That brought forth a laugh, and Tony was still smiling when he threw open the front door. Standing on the stoop was an attractive redhead, tall and elegant looking, with an annoyed look on her face. It took Tony a couple of seconds to respond.
"Hey, may I help you?" Tony still clutched his apple, and his eyebrows rose quizzically.
The woman looked at him dismissively and answered in a tone of voice that reminded him of a teacher who didn't plan to face any argument, "Jethro Gibbs- I am supposed to meet him here this afternoon."
"Boss?" Tony questioned, a bit confused.
"I have no idea about a boss." She looked annoyed, and moved her pocketbook from one shoulder to the other.
"No, no," Tony stammered, stepping back from the door and motioning her to come inside the house. "I mean, this is where he lives, my boss, I mean, and he's Jethro Gibbs."
"Now that we've established that, I would appreciate a place to sit and wait until he returns."
Abby had come out of the kitchen, puzzled at the exchange she'd heard. "Hey, does Gibbs know you're coming, Ma'am?"
"Do you think I'd be here if he didn't?" was the sardonic reply.
Tony and Abby exchanged glances. That was an unbelievably rude answer to a simple question.
"Here," he said, pointing to the living room. "That's the living room. Why don't you wait in there?"
"What time did Gibbs tell you to meet him?" Abby ventured, as they followed her.
"Obviously, about this time…" the woman's voice trailed and she took her seat with an almost regal air.
Abby narrowed her eyes. That was twice the woman had insulted them.
Glancing up, the stranger shook her head as though she couldn't believe she had to explain herself. "Jethro and I have a supper date, and I suppose I am a few minutes early."
Tony exchanged a shocked glance with Abby and said, "Well, please excuse us, then…" before grabbing Abby's arm and pulling her to the kitchen.
"Who is that witch?" Abby hissed, once safely away and out of her earshot.
"I have never seen her. I wonder where Boss found her. She's attractive, but she definitely has a rude air of entitlement. She's beastly!" Tony threw up his hands and pointed down towards the floor with a grimace.
Abby moved to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of tea. "Hey, let's go see what we can find out. Gibbs hasn't mentioned this one to us and probably wouldn't have if we hadn't seen her today. You know how secretive he is, or will be, so it's up to us to get the delicious details of their partnership." She giggled.
Tony winked, "Investigaton discovery, little Goth partner-"
The two returned to the living room with a tray of oatmeal cookies and glasses of iced tea. Tony immediately secured the chair opposite the sofa so that he could make visual contact with their visitor, while Abby sat down beside her on the sofa.
The woman was noticeably uncomfortable with Abby's close proximity, but Abby didn't budge. Leaning over, she passed her a glass of iced tea and asked brightly, "How about some iced tea, and some cookies? I don't believe we made proper introductions. I'm Abby, and this is Tony. We live here." She pointed in Tony's direction and sat back, waiting expectantly for an answer.
The woman took a moment to look them both up and down. "Linda Parham," she spoke carefully, then placed her untouched glass back onto the tray. "I don't care for iced tea. It baffles me why anyone with any amount of discrimination or good taste would drink it in the first place."
Abby sucked in her breath and Tony quickly interrupted, "Well, Abby grew up in New Orleans, and I'm sure you know that iced tea is very popular in the South."
Linda frowned and raised her hand dismissively, "Why would anyone care about what they drink in the South?"
A flash of anger crossed Abby's face. Before Abby could make a blistering comeback and ruin their chance of gathering intel, Tony intervened and changed the subject. "Where did you and the Boss meet?"
The visitor regarded him coldly. "Just who are you again? You said Tony, right? What concern is it of yours where I met Jethro?"
This time it was Abby who jumped in when she saw the anger flick across Tony's face. "We both live here, too, and we are just interested. Excuse me a minute, though- I need something in the kitchen. Tony, come help me, uh, you know to finish the mopping." Abby raised her eyebrows, and Tony got up and followed her back to the kitchen.
This time both of them spoke in angry undertones, furious about the woman's haughty demeanor and the bad manners targeted at them.
"Insulting Southerners…" Abby muttered, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the woman's deliberate words.
"Hey, Baby Girl, let's look at the big picture here. The Boss is obviously serious enough about her to invite her here. That means something important. Nevertheless, she is definitely not someone we want him to pursue…"
Abby interrupted, "No, no, absolutely not! That woman is not going to get her claws into our Gibbs. Attractive she may be, but she's a maneater. We have to do something to fix this ourselves. Think, Tony, I do believe it's time for a little team effort. You know how Gibbs is always fussing at us when we get into arguments, telling us we should work together instead of battling each other?"
Tony nodded eagerly, "Actually, I think he meant like arguing over who chooses the tv program or cleans up the kitchen. But regarding that she devil, absolutely- There is no way we need that wicked stepmother in our environment. She's toxic."
The two put their heads together and whispered back and forth a couple of minutes. Tony spoke softly. "Do you remember Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks? Leo spent the entire movie outwitting and outmaneuvering Tom. They both gave stellar performances, by the way." Abby nodded eagerly and the plan began to take shape. When they were satisfied with their clandestine solution, they both wandered back towards the living room.
"Boss should be home soon," Tony flashed a brilliant smile and exited, heading straight up the stairs towards the bedroom.
"Do make yourself at home," Abby encouraged, patting one of the sofa pillows. "I have to go get ready myself for an evening out." With that, she, too, jogged upstairs.
The two met without speaking on the landing. Tony winked at Abby, then they both parted to go into their own bedrooms.
