The word had spread like a brush fire on the West coast in summertime.
A computer technician walking by the lab on the way to his own area had barely heard Gibbs's comment to Abby. Upon starting his system, he'd sent a quick email to the agents surrounding the 'bullpen', indicating that it had high importance so that they'd see it as soon as they logged in. Agents who had arrived early read the email and many scrambled to rearrange their morning itineraries, none wishing to be nearby when the MCRT gathered and the inevitable 'Gibbs explosion' occurred.
Before Gibbs even reached his desk, Abby had texted McGee and Tony warning them. Both agents had immediately deviated from their normal routes without a second thought, intent on stopping to pick up coffee for the boss. Meanwhile Ziva grumbled while she made her own stop at a coffee shop as it was her turn to grab morning coffee for the team – she'd contemplated not doing it as it was out of the way of the normal route she took to the office but she knew that neither McGee or Tony had ever used that excuse when it was their week so she balanced the drink tray on her passenger seat before pulling out of the parking lot a lot more carefully than she usually drove.
Tony and Tim arrived at the office together – parking near the other in the lot and getting out of their cars carefully carrying the cup of coffee they'd purchased. Looking at each other, Tony grinned and McGee shook his head. It was obvious that neither one had wanted to face and uncaffeinated Gibbs. The two stepped off the elevator together and looked around the empty bullpen before setting their cups on Gibbs's desk. Neither was oblivious to the quiet sighs of relief that had come from the agents closest to their area.
Ziva got off the elevator in time to see the two men place the cups on the desk. Perplexed, she hurried to the work space to question them. McGee noticed her approach and nudged Tony. The other man simply opened his phone and showed her the text they had received from Abby. Her eyes grew wide and she hurried to place the cup she had purchased on the desk as well.
Minutes later Gibbs strolled in to the office area carrying a large cup. He glanced over at this desk and nearly failed to hide a smile. He hoped they'd remembered to bring Abby a caf-pow as well. He knew he had the reputation but his ire didn't compare to the younger scientist when cranky and overtired.