Shock hung over the bullpen. It mixed almost lazily with the resounding silence that seemed to trap all four occupants. Exchanging looks of incredulity and worry, Tony and Tim were beginning to feel distinctly hot around the collar. Clearing his throat nervously, and knowing there was nothing he could do to make the situation better, Tony grasped at the second best thing to do. And that was to make himself scarce. Glancing meaningfully at a still stunned looking McGee; he reached over and tugged the files out of the probationary agent's hand. Doubling them with his own and placing them quietly on his livid boss' desk, he gestured towards the lift.

"We'll go and check in with Abby then…if there's nothing else, Boss?" he hedged quietly, as if unsure whether or not this suggestion would fly. Seeing the throbbing line of the man's jaw twitch at his words, he took that as a silent assent and nodded. Grabbing an unknowing McGee discreetly by the forearm, he pushed and prodded him until they were hurtling into the awaiting lift. As the doors slid close, a roused Tim looked over at Tony with horror splashed across his face. Swallowing deeply, he gestured feebly at the doors in front of them.

"We can't leave her with him alone….Tony, he'll kill her! He's about to spit stones back there."

Leaning against the metal wall with a sigh, the elder of the two threw his hands up in the air. "You think I don't know that McGee? What do you think we should do, go in there and knock him out for her?" Seeing the wounded look cross his probie's face, he softened. His own worry tended to make him irritable at times. "There's nothing we can do," he muttered, more kindly, "I've never seen anyone talk to Gibbs the way she does. Or disobey him the way she does." He shook his head with a profound sorrow that was so unlike him that Tim's eyes widened. "It'll get her killed out there probie, that mouth and attitude of hers. Better a pissed off Gibbs to deal with than an early meet with the guy in the clouds, right?"

Tim sighed as he slowly realised the sheer truthfulness of Tony's unusually solemn words.

"Do you think he'll…" he blushed slightly, "uhh….you know?"

Straightening up as the elevator doors slid open on Abby's level, the elder agent shrugged slightly, his face creased with concern. "I don't know probie," he admitted, "I really don't know." Ushering the still paled McGee out, and making their way into Abby's lab, he rubbed a hand across his tired eyes. "If he does, she should count herself lucky. There's no other agent-in-charge on the planet that wouldn't can her ass after today. If the Director finds out, she's done. Not even Gibbs can save her. If he doesn't kill her himself that is."

Looking up at the sounds of the doors swooshing open, Abby smiled toothily as two of her favourite men walked in. "Hey guys," she beamed, "What brings you to my humble abode? I don't have anything for you." Throwing himself down on a nearby stool, Tony allowed himself to be squeezed into the welcoming hug that was the norm, and kept a careful eye on McGee's breathing as his turn came, before shrugging. "We're hiding out," he admitted, throwing a hand up to the ceiling. "It's kicking off up there again."

Worry instantly dogged Abby's face.

"Not again," she squeaked miserably, hugging Bert closer to her, sending flatulence echoing into the lab. "What's she done now?" She suddenly shook her head, sending her pigtails flying. "You guys left her alone up there? What's the matter with you?" Throwing the long suffering hippo down, she made to start out of the lab with haste, before Tony caught her gently around the waist and drew her to him. "Don't Abbs," he instructed quietly, "She's in the wrong. Big time. Worse than I've ever seen." He hugged the scientist to him and sighed. "She's going to get herself a bullet in the head in the field if she carries on." He felt guilt coat him as he continued. "Just let Gibbs deal with it, ok?"

Abby looked at him with raw surprise.

"But you're the one who's always trying to stick up for her with Gibbs?"

Tony nodded at the truthfulness of her words, before sighing and holding her closer. "I know," he agreed, "But I think that might have been a mistake. I've never seen anyone have such a problem with following orders. I don't want her to get hurt, Abbs. And she will, it's just a matter of time if this carries on. I can't make excuses for her anymore, I can't even make excuses for myself anymore and that's because of Gibbs." He held a gentle finger to the scientist's lips as she opened her mouth to protest. "Trust me on this, ok? Besides, you trust Gibbs, don't you?"

The nod was instantaneous.

"Good," Tony murmured, "It's settled then. Let's just stay here for a bit and…see what happens."

Pulling away from the senior agent with a small sigh, but an agreeable expression, Abby chewed her lip. "I trust you too you know, not just Gibbs." With that, she was gone in search of food in her outer office for the three, oblivious to the smile that spread across Tony's face at her words. Tim wasn't however, and rolled his eyes heavily, much to Tony's amusement. "Don't worry probie," he chuckled, "It's not like that. She's like… a sister."

McGee snorted as he loosened the tie around his throat and settled in for an indeterminable wait.

"I had a friend say that before. You know where he is now? Living with my high school crush, that's where. She was just like a sister to him too."

Tony raised a brow.

"Your friend lives with a blow up doll?"

Abby emerged just in time to catch the test tube that went sailing into the air, it's target being Tony's head. Turning a disapproving glare in a sheepish Tim's direction, her rant about the treatment of her equipment sent ripples of laugher throughout Tony as McGee quailed under the lab rat's displeasure. Returning to the office to get the chips she'd forgotten, she failed to see the second tube that went hurtling into the air, this time caught by a still sniggering DiNozzo.

Upstairs however, no one was sniggering.

No one was smiling.

No one was breathing with more of an effort than was strictly necessary.

Deep brown eyes were boring into bright blue counterparts. A singular and beleaguered desk was all that parted the two furious agents. A desperately fraught and frosty silence hung between the pair, and neither participant seemed in any way eager to break it. Each agent's chest heaved with their respective ire and neither seemed at all willing to be the first to break the icy staring contest. That was until the phone shrilled on Gibbs' desk, and both sets of eyes instinctively swivelled to it. Suddenly reaching out and slamming the receiver down, the team-lead effectively shattered the silent stare-off. Looking at his thoroughly unrepentant and enraged agent, he felt anger billow through him once more.

"I will ask you one more time," he growled, "Just what in the hell do you have to say for yourself?"

There was another moment's silence, before a black curtain of hair was swung over a shoulder in haughty indifference.

"In general? Loads. I guess you could say I'm an outdoors person. I like rom-coms, though I prefer-"

Gibbs held up a hand that practically vibrated with an unrivalled rage.

"Enough," he snapped with such coldness that she fell silent, "That is quite enough, Agent Todd."

….

A/N: Ok, so I've re-watched a few of the earlier seasons and realised that I've never written about Kate! I love her character, and all the sassiness that went with it. But at times I thought the way she acted in terms of following Gibbs' orders and the way she spoke to Tony in particular was out of line. Still loved her character though, so this is in no way a bashing fic. Just popped into my head and demanded to be written.

_Inks.

…...