Collusion
Tony entered the kitchen Friday morning and breathed an audible sigh of relief. His boss and mentor, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was nowhere to be seen. Abby Scuito, forensics scientist extraordinaire, glanced up when he arrived and muttered a good morning. When there was no reply, she watched Tony warily as he poured himself a glass of juice and lazily leaned against the counter.
"Why aren't you eating," she demanded, reaching up to tighten one of her brunette pigtails.
"Not hungry," he tried to smile and act nonchalant, but Abby was savvy to his demeanour.
"Nope, something is hinky with you today and you had better tell me what." She leaned forward expectantly, taking notice that Tony's green eyes, which usually shimmered, seemed dull.
Tony debated his answer internally, then finally decided to just tell her the truth. He sat down in his seat and leaned across the table, speaking softly so that there was no possibility that he could be overheard.
"Tonight's the night we're going to hear your friend's band, right Baby Girl?"
"Of course it is, you know that..."
Tony held a finger up to her lips and directed, "Hush and listen to me." He placed his forearms on the table and leaned forward to speak confidentially.
Realizing that Tony was serious, Abby nodded and clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Here's the deal. I don't feel good. I was up coughing a lot last night and I think I have a fever. I have been feeling pretty exhausted and rough the past few days."
Abby looked scared and took her hand away to ask, "Did Gibbs hear you coughing?"
"No, thankfully I had sense enough to leave the vent fan running in our bathroom all night. That masked any noise from my room." He smiled conspiratorially at Abby. "The point is that you know if Boss thinks I'm sick, or about to get sick, he'll forbid me to go anywhere tonight. I want to go see the band, and I really was looking forward to having all of us get together after work."
Abby looked worried then, "Tony, I don't know about this. We can't take any risks with your health after your encounter with the plague. We almost lost you."
"I don't have the plague now, just some congestion." He smiled reassuringly.
"Plus, if Gibbs finds out we didn't tell him you were sick he'll consider that lying, and you know he will rip us out of the frame for that." Abby voiced her fear, drumming her fingers on the tabletop.
"Right, Baby Girl, that's true. So what we have to do is just not give anything away for the next few minutes and all will be ok. Gibbs is not even going to the office today, remember? He is meeting with Fornell at that conference in Baltimore. I'm in charge at NCIS, and we are going straight from work to supper, then to the club. It's doable only- and I do stress only- if Boss doesn't suspect a thing."
He smiled his megawatt smile and Abby put her spoon down in resignation. She and Tony had been living with their boss for quite some time, in what they named the House of Gibbs, and the two of them shared a strong sibling bond, despite the fact that they really weren't brother and sister.
The interrupting sound of their Boss hurrying down the stairs caused both to look up guiltily, then steel themselves for their subterfuge. Gibbs could sense deceit from them like a human bloodhound.
"Morning," he greeted, hurrying to the hard working coffee pot and pouring a cup of coffee. Taking a quick swallow, he looked up and regarded the two sitting quietly at the table.
"Why aren't you eating, Tony?" He noted the lack of dishes in front of his senior agent.
"Just finished, Boss," Tony lied smoothly, then slid from his seat. "I am heading to work as we speak."
Gibbs nodded, "I'll call for an update later."
"You got it," Tony grinned, making his way out of the kitchen, then towards the front door.
"Hey!" Gibbs, called out, "You know what time you had better be back in this house."
Tony responded with a "Got it, Boss," and they heard the door close.
Gibbs directed his gaze to the Goth.
"I know what time curfew is," Abby jumped up, not willing to be sitting where her boss could somehow discern, in that unbelievable ability he had, that something was hinky. "I just need to finish cleaning the kitchen and I'm off. Have a good time at your conference."
Gibbs nodded, kissed her on the cheek, grabbed his cup of coffee, and left.
