A/N Hey, this is just a little something I got inspired to write - it's quite random but doesn't go too far from the originals, All characters are not mine, no profit is being made, the situations and stories however are made up by me and all mistakes are mine because of no beta reader :D Enjoy!
A short Trip Away Chapter 1
Recently the team had been in a mess. Hours were long; there had been a series of high case murders to be solved and a couple of terrorist cells to be taken down. Victories felt small when they just cleared to reveal that there was always more to be done. Gibbs couldn't remember the last time he slept before the morning arrived. Tony was constantly falling asleep at his desk, and Ziva even managed to fall off her chair from sleep deprivation last week. The coffee shop knew exactly when to have the orders ready for the team. If someone was down after 6am to get coffee they would even ask what took so long.
As a result tensions were high and fights were frequent.
One such fight was happening right now. Sitting in the Bullpen Gibbs watched over his coffee. McGee was freaking out at Tony "Seriously Tony I have worked here for years, Don't call me PROBIE, Or ELFLORD or ANYTHING ELSE like that!"
"Sure thing McGeek!"
Gibbs sighed and tried to hide a grin. Tonys sense of humour had been getting stronger recently the practical jokes more frequent. Gibbs could understand why, the long shifts had taken a toll on Dinozzo and pranks were his way to relax and ignore the pressure. This was not good for all those around him! As Mcgee sat in a huff and had just turned on his pc when he froze in horror. Once again, his colleague had put superglue on his keyboard, and McGee who was typing with his usual 8 fingers was stuck. His thumbs were hanging loosely above the keyboard - unsure of what to do.
Meanwhile, Abby and Ziva were fighting also. Ziva had asked Abby if she could watch her in the lab in order to learn forensics. This was something Abby didn't take too well. "You just want to spy Ziv-ah it's what you do! You're a spy – you don't even have a degree in forensics, you just want to steal my secrets."
Gibbs sighed at how ridiculous things were. He knew what was coming and he put his forehead on the desk just in time.
"GIBBS!" everyone in the room shouted at once...
"Gibbs look what Tony did, he's such a child, he's so...
"...Doesn't even have a degree, what if she's trying to frame someone too..."
"Not my fault he types with so many fingers, he should have learned by..."
"...Gibbs tell Abby I'm ok and more than capable of learning forensics!"
Then Ducky joined in "Jethero if you're not too busy, I need to order in some..."
Gibbs banged his head off the desk and looked up with murder in his eyes. Everyone froze and Mcgee put his keyboard attached hands under the desk.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Gibbs bellowed. "Ducky, you will go to the director and ask her for anything you need ordered in. Tony you will give the pranks a break, and in the meantime you WILL get a cup of coffee for everyone after you free Mcgee."
"Thanks boss" Mcgee spoke feeling proud.
"Mcgee you will stop whinging, this has happened often enough, you should have a system in place by now! And as for you two..." Gibbs gestured to Abby and Ziva who were looking like sheep caught in headlights, "...Abby stop being so selfish, I know your lab is your sanctuary, but if you ever needed a holiday you would like a substitute you can train up and who will do things your way. Ziva, for the next week you are no longer a field agent... you're her trainee and if I hear one complaint you're in trouble."
At this everyone started to whinge and Gibbs gave them all his best Gibbs glare. Tony ran to get the glue removal gel that Gibbs was holding out to him, Mcgee looked near tears. Abby stormed off to her lab and Ziva quickly ran after her. After a short while Mcgee was freed and away to the toilets whilst Tony was gone to get coffees for everyone. All that was left was Gibbs staring at his folders in anger and Ducky standing over him.
"You know Jethero, it had to be said, and they view you as a fatherly mentor."
"I know Duck, but I didn't ask for this, they have all been so stressed out recently and I just don't know how to build morale again, even a break, they have all fought so much that time off work wouldn't help much... the grudges will still be there when they come back!"
"Well then Jethero, you'll need to be more original. What do you think a father would do in this situation?"
"Duck... I'm not their father!"
"Well, you might as well be, Tonys father is never there, Timothy never mentions his, Abbys is dead, and well Ziva... They never had a real dad and that's the role you have taken on for them..."
Gibbs sometimes hated Duckys degree in psychology, he was always giving his opinions and more often than not – he was totally correct .Gibbs sighed just as Tony returned with his coffee. Ducky smiled and left to go find the director as Tony got to work silently. He was most likely embarrassed for the fact that Gibbs had shouted at them all. When Mcgee returned with a cleaner keyboard and set to work Gibbs got thinking. What would a real father do in this situation? He assumed some sort of team building exercise.
This thought was short-lived though when he was shocked back into working on the case. This case was forensics heavy and Gibbs worried for Ziva's health. She may be well trained in fighting terrorists, surviving bombs or stalking gang members... but Abby in full working mode... Gibbs flinched at the thought. He grabbed a coffee and a Caf-pow before heading down to the lab.