Subtext

The second Gibbs saw Tony sliding out of the NCIS elevator, he narrowed his gaze and checked his watch. His displeasure was obvious, and when Tony saw him glaring, he gave him a guilty smile and hurried to his desk. Gibbs decided not to say anything right then, and McGee and Ziva looked at their leader with shock. They couldn't believe he was letting Tony slide.

The workday was a busy one for all of them. The day before they'd been summoned to the crime scene of a sailor murdered near the White House, and the team was already nearly finished with interviews and confirming alibis. It looked like the case would be completed by the next morning. Gibbs was pleased with the progress, so it annoyed him to have his senior agent treat his work hours with indifference.

Abby was in the living room when Jethro got home from the agency, having made a grocery stop. She had been in charge of supper, and he sniffed the air appreciatively. Abby had made a pot of gumbo, a dish she loved to fix. He kissed her hello and they unloaded groceries together and discussed the day.

"Where's Tony?" he asked, when they finally sat down for supper. "Supper's going to be cold if he doesn't hurry."

"Remember he said he wouldn't be home 'til about nine tonight. He and his fraternity friend were meeting for dinner someplace near Lafayette Park." Abby blew at the soup on her spoon to cool it.

"No, actually, I had forgotten about that. He did tell me. This is one of his buddies from Ohio State who's just in town a couple of days." Gibbs smiled and finished the rest of his gumbo. "That was delicious, Abby, and I think this was your best batch so far. Let's have it again tomorrow. You know how much Tony loves it." Abby nodded happily and the two cleaned up the kitchen in companionable silence.

Jethro knew that Abby and Tony had relegated him to a parental status, and over the years as they had crept more deeply into his life he'd fallen naturally into the role. At the same time, the two of them, despite the fact that they were grown, tended to act like teen agers when the three were together. They alternated between squabbling and joining forces, and there was no question that they perceived themselves as siblings. The three of them, Jethro, Tony, and Abby, had forged a tight bond out of respect, and need, and finally, of love. They worked together at NCIS, and most nights, all three were together at the house of Gibbs. Abby and Tony still kept the rent paid on their own apartments, but stayed in them no more than a night or two each week. The rest of the time, they were happily residing with their boss.

"Ok, I'm going to watch television," Abby announced when the last dish was washed. "There is a special on atom splitting tonight, then a show on the ethics of cloning."

"Right, you enjoy your shows and I'm heading for the basement." Gibbs helped himself to a fresh cup of coffee, and turned to go. "Abbs, when Tony comes home, tell him I want to see him at once."

Abby scowled, "He's not going to listen to me. He'll say I'm just making up commands so that I can boss him around."

"Yes, he will, but if he doesn't, tell him I said he's under house arrest." Abby brightened at that, and Gibbs grinned at her response and headed to the basement for some boat building.

Tony came through the front door a few minutes before nine and raced straight into the living room. He grabbed the remote and quickly changed channels. Abby, who had been enjoying a scientific presentation, went ballistic. "I was in the middle of watching a show, Mr. Rude! Put that right back on the Chemistry Channel where you found it!"

"Nope," Tony responded in a singsong voice designed to annoy her, "it's Thursday night and the Crime network has Magnum P.I. on from nine until twelve. That's what we're watching this lovely evening."

"You can forget that. I planned on watching the Chemistry channel tonight, and I was here first, so I choose! Anyway, get downstairs 'cause Gibbs wants you right now."

Tony turned to go but held the remote up for her to see. "I'm taking this, because we're watching my lineup selection when I get back."

Abby was yelling angrily at him as he jogged down the steps and into the basement. Gibbs looked up from sanding the boat. "Why is Abby screaming like that?"

"She wants to watch something stupid on the Chemistry channel but Magnum P. I. is on and I told her we're watching that instead."

Gibbs didn't respond and Tony asked, "What did you want to see me about, Boss? Abby said you wanted me. Wait, did she make that up to get rid of me?"

"Hand me your keys, Tony," Gibbs directed, settling himself against the worktable.

"Keys- " Tony fumbled and pulled them out of his pocket, then walked over and handed them to his boss before sitting down. "What's up? Why do you need my keys?"

Gibbs thumbed through the keyring, located one of the keys and pulled it off from the others before returning the rest of the ring to Tony.

"Boss, that's my car key you just pulled off."

"I realize that," Gibbs replied, shoving it in his shirt pocket. "Since you won't be driving that car for a while, I'll take charge of the key."

Confused, Tony started sputtering immediately. "Boss, what are you taking my car for? How come I won't be driving it for a while? I didn't do anything! I haven't gotten a ticket or run over Timmy or driven crazily. What did I do?"