She looked uncomfortable, even in her usual domain surrounded by her machines and personal belongings. That was Gibbs' first thought as he and his team assembled in Abby's lab at her request.
"You find something, Abby?" He doubted she had – not because of a lack of faith in her abilities but because he knew she hadn't spent a lot of time going through the evidence they'd lifted from the scene. He'd watched her go up to the conference room, and he counted the minutes until she'd come out.
"In a manner of speaking." Her smile was a shadow of its usual self, her gaze skittering away from his almost guiltily, definitely nervously. "Lance Corporal Bishop's wife is dead. She's... was a former agent with the National Security Agency."
"You knew her." It was said with a certainty Abby confirmed was justified when she bit her lip in response. "Those people talking to Vance...?"
"NSA. Damn." Tony shook his head and looked at his two teammates. "Should've guessed."
"They did appear to be very solemn," Ziva agreed with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"More like they looked like they thought they were better than us," Tony muttered darkly.
"Abby." Gibbs' voice, coupled with the tone he used, brought their attention back to woman in question. "How do you know a former NSA agent?"
Abby refused to look at him, suddenly finding her hands to be the most interesting thing in the room. "We used to work together. Before I came to NCIS."
"You did forensics work for the NSA?" McGee couldn't keep himself from sounding impressed – or surprised. "Why?"
"It wasn't forensics I did for them, McGee. I was an agent, like Andrea Bishop. We were assigned to the same unit after graduating from our chosen colleges and the NSA's version of an academy." Abby clasped her hands together and forced herself to look up at them. "To cut a long story short, I was recruited into the NSA when I was eleven, part of one of their education programmes. They call them think-tanks now. They put me through college, paid my way for me so I could study what I was interested in and, in exchange, I worked for them for five years after I graduated, putting into practise everything they taught me."
A short, almost stunned silence greeted her announcement for several moments until Abby cleared her throat and continued.
"The reason they're here now is because Andrea's death, and that of her husband, aren't isolated events. She's the fifth person from the unit to be killed, which, along with her family, makes a total of nine homicides in total. I... I've been temporary reinstated as an NSA agent so I can work this case. Director Vance wants me to act as a liaison between the NSA and NCSI so we can merge our investigations and find out who's behind it."
The questions came after another small silence, the NCIS Agents quickly finding their voices.
"What kind of work did you do?"
"What kind of training did you have?"
"You didn't go to High School? Did you have a Prom?"
"How many agents make up a unit?" This from Ziva, earning her a grateful look for her attempt at getting the conversation onto more serious ground.
Taking her lead reluctantly, Tony nodded while McGee seemed to struggle to get his head around the idea that his former lover had more of a past than he'd realised. "Is there a particular case you think it's related to?"
"Are you in danger, Abby? In the at-risk group?" If Ziva's question hadn't succeeded, Gibbs would have made the seriousness of the situation sink in as they all turned to Abby and waited expectantly for her to answer.
"I'm one of seven remaining agents who worked in the same unit as the victims, yes. I supposed that means I'm as much of a target as any of them." She clasped her hands even tighter to keep from fidgeting and met Gibbs' gaze evenly. "I never wanted this to come up. I never wanted to be an agent in the first place, to do what they've asked me to. I'm really not cut out for that kind of thing. I like being in my lab, with my machines. Far, far, far away from the action."
It was meant to be a statement but sounded more like an apology.
"That why you've never said anything about it before?" Gibbs didn't wait for her reluctant nod. "So they've reinstated you, which means you'll be out in the field on this one."
"Unfortunately," Abby agreed quietly.
"At least it's a joint investigation," McGee pointed out helpfully.
"Yeah, Abs. We've got your back." Tony gave her a reassuring grin.
"As will the NSA agents you chose to have on your team." Catherine entered the lab with Director Vance at her side, the latter having shown her the way. At Abby's questioning look, the senior NSA agent smiled slightly. "You're the lead agent on this from our side of the investigation, Abby. I know you prefer to work on your own but I have to insist you pick a small team of agents to work with you on this one."
"Agent Lowry, meet Agents Gibbs, DiNozzo, David and McGee," Director Vance introduced them in the small pause that followed. "Agent Lowry is our NSA contact for the duration of this investigation and will be acting as Agent Sciuto's superior. She will be based here at the Navy Yard until it's done."
Catherine nodded in greeting and held out the items she'd brought down to the lab with her for Abby. "Your badge and service weapon. You'll probably need them both."
With a grimace she made no effort to hide, Abby gingerly took the gun and the leather wallet. She held both as though they were ticking time bombs, setting them down on the bench behind her as soon as she could. "Suppose I'll have to adopt the NSA dress code as well," she muttered with a twist of her mouth. "Great."
"At least we can't ask you to get rid of the tattoos." Catherine pointed out almost cheerfully. "I see you stuck to your word and got quite a few when you contract was up."
"I didn't think the NSA would want me back if I did. Can't say I really blend in with a crown now, can you?" Self-consciously, Abby lifted a hand to rub at the cobweb tattoo on her neck. "You'll have to pick a team for me, Catherine. Most of the agents I knew have retired or died."
Catherine's face sobered at the reminder Abby had known and worked alongside the five dead agents. "I'll pick four agents initially. If you don't get along with them, let me know and I'll arrange for replacements."
"Your old case files are being brought across," Director Vance addressed Abby but his gaze strayed to Gibbs once or twice to check how his senior agent was handling the situation. "Both teams will have the full use of the conference room for this. There wouldn't be enough room in the squad room and I'm told some of the data you'll be sifting through is too sensitive to be discussed in public."
The latter part of his speech was delivered in a tone that suggested he was mildly insulted that the NSA didn't trust all of his people with the confidential information stored in their files and neither Abby nor Gibbs could disagree with him.
"I'll have your team here within the hour," Catherine added. "That should give you time to adjust your mindset and get prepared for the debriefing."
"Prepared meaning to get changed into something more appropriate for a representative of the National Security Agency, you mean?" Abby rolled her eyes at the thinly veiled order, glancing down at the short checked skirt and crisp white blouse she wore complete with skull and bones motive sewn onto the pocket. "Make it an hour and a half and I'll be ready."
"Is that agreeable to you, Agent Gibbs?" Vance looked at his agent with an arched eyebrow. "You and your team can go through the NSA files on the other murders in the meantime. They've already been brought over."
Gibbs gave a small nod of agreement, his gaze never straying far from Abby for long. "We've still got some avenues of our own to look at before we meet with the others." At a look from him, his agents silently left the lab, knowing that was his way of telling them to get back to work. When they were gone, he turned his attention to the senior NSA agent left in the room. "What security measures are in place to keep Abby and the others you've identified as targets safe?"
Catherine blinked, surprise showing momentarily on her face before it vanished behind a calm mask. "Precautions are being taken, I assure you, Agent Gibbs. Those who no longer work with us are being located and given the option of being moved to a safe house, as will their families and those we've identified as being at risk."
"But you're not offering that security to Abby. You're putting her out there, making her visible. Using her as bait?" Gibbs continued even as Catherine blanched, his blue eyes growing colder as he spoke. "Were you planning to share that part of the plan with us or waiting until they made a move on her first?"
The NCIS Director watched, intrigued by the interplay. His jaw clenched as if he hadn't considered the possible motives Gibbs was highlighting; Abby may have been granted temporary reinstatement with the NSA but she was still his forensic specialist and her welfare was very much his business, and his concern.
Abby held herself still, waiting for Catherine's response, unsure what to make of Gibbs' reaction. She knew he was protective of her, almost overprotective at times, but the depth of anger and indignation she could hear in his voice was a new experience for her.
"We would never intentionally endanger one of our own," Catherine said eventually. "I personally would never put Abby in a role like this unless I thought she couldn't handle it, Agent Gibbs. You may only know her as a forensic technician but I assure you, she is more than capable of doing what may be asked of her for this assignment, including defending herself."
"Forensic Specialist," Gibbs corrected mildly, his voice as cold as the look in his eyes.
"I might be a little out of practise with the self-defence side of things but Catherine's right, Gibbs. You won't need to worry about me screwing up in the field or being a hindrance to the investigation." Abby's smile was a little unsteady.
"Not what I'm worried about, Abby." Gibbs reassured her quietly, blue eyes meeting green in a fleeting look that left her feeling as though she'd missed something. "We'll head down to the target range after the debriefing. Make sure you're ready."
"I'd appreciate that, thanks." Abby gave him another small smile before squaring her shoulders. "I should go and change, then I want to speak to my family."
"As soon as you're ready, report to MTAC," the Director told her kindly. "I've told the technicians there to be on standby for the link to NSA."
"Thank you, Director."
"Your team will be here and waiting in ninety minutes," Catherine told her stiffly, her shoulders tense. "If you'll excuse me, Director. Abby, Agent Gibbs."
The moment her former mentor and temporary superior had left the room, Abby let her shoulders slump, her gaze dropping to the badge and gun Catherine had left behind with a heavy sigh.
"Ms. Sciuto," Director Vance's voice had her looking up again. "Don't let the NSA pressurise you into doing anything that would jeopardise your own safety." An eyebrow lifted when she merely looked at him. "I can make it an order if that would help?"
"No, Sir. Thank you." She managed another small smile, one that lasted just long enough for him to leave her lab. When he was gone, she turned her attention to Gibbs, her expression lost, her eyes searching. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can go back."
"You're not going back." In two long strides, he'd crossed the room towards her, accepting her almost desperate hug, willingly offering whatever comfort he could. "It's temporary, and like DiNozzo said, we've got your back."
"It's not my back I'm worried about," Abby muttered, her voice muffled against him. "It's my sanity I think I might lose."
"Nah." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before taking a step back. The grin on his face didn't quite reach his eyes but she appreciated the attempt anyway. "To lose your sanity, you'd have to have it first, Abby."
He ducked away from her playful punch and left her with a smile on her face. One that didn't last long but that had been genuine for the few fleeting moments it had existed.