A/N I am slowly going through the reviews, but am trying to get updates out before the pain gets worse. Which it has started to do today, hopefully, will ease off.

XXXXX

"Hi, boss man, Tony." She chirped happily. "What do you need me to do?"

"Abs, I need to make something clear. You cannot tell anyone about what we are about to talk about. If anyone finds out, who I haven't told you will be reprimanded."

"I wouldn't tell anyone." She sulked.

"We need the voice recordings from the terrorist case between the times of–?" He glanced over at his SFA.

"Two and three."

"What do you need me to listen for?" Abby eyed Tony suspiciously.

"DiNozzo asking for backup."

She placed her hand on her hips and glared at the younger man. "What did you do?"

"Abby!" Gibbs warned.

"No, he's out trying to cause problems for Timmy and Ziva. He's become so standoffish and never wanting to be around us."

"Stop now. Are you okay Tony?"

"I don't understand. Abby, I don't know what they've told you, but all the times you went out I was never asked. I didn't refuse to go. I thought we were friends, you've known me longer than both of them. Here you are not even giving me the change say anything. They lied to you." He turned to Gibbs. "I think it's best if we get someone else to help us. She's obviously biased, and I don't trust her to keep quiet."

"How dare you?" She screeched and moved to hit him on the shoulder.

Gibbs took hold of her wrist to stop it from landing. "I agree I'll call someone in. Remember Abby you cannot tell or even imply anything to them. If they find out, we know where it has come from. I'll make sure Vance knows, and I'll never forgive or trust you again." He stopped for a moment and then leaned closer to her. "If you raise your hand to ever hit anyone here in NCIS you'll be in more trouble than you can take. It's not a habit I want you to get into and think it's okay. Before you start again DiNozzo is not the villain here; he's the victim. I never want to see you treat one as an enemy again. I don't know where these things are coming from Abby, but I don't like it."

"Fine." She pouted; Abby would just wait because nothing would come of this. Gibbs would have to apologise and eventually she would accept that after a certain amount of begging. He would never forgive Tony.

"I know the perfect person; she's an exceptional tech. I told you about the Balboa case."

"Yes you did, give her a call."

"I bet it's because you slept with her," Abby muttered and flushed with embarrassment as she realised she spoke aloud.

"Really Abby." Gibbs shook his head in disgust.

XXXXX

Samantha walked in and smiled. "Hello Agent Gibbs, Agent DiNozzo, what do you need me to do?" She glanced briefly over at Abby who was sat down and seemingly sulking. She ignored her and waited for someone to explain. It was unusual for Gibbs to request someone else if Sciuto was available.

"Thanks for coming Sam. I told the boss man about the exceptional work you did on the poisoning case for Balboa."

"Thanks, Tony, but you were the one that had us looking in the right direction."

"Go team." DiNozzo held up his hand so Sam could high-five it.

"What do you need me to do?"

"DiNozzo took some voice prints during our last case. We need to listen to them from all devices connected his, the one Ziva and McGee had and the one from the vehicle that picked up anyone coming to the car and all from a particular time 1400 hrs."

"Sure I can do that."

They all watched as Sam collected all the recording together. The first one they played was Tony's, and he could be heard asking for backup, a noise of a fight and then nothing. As much as he loved Abby, Gibbs watched as she paled and then glance at Tony with concern. It was too late for that, and it wasn't something you could ever forget.

Next, it was McGee and Ziva's device, the one that they handled, as they listened there was nothing.

"I don't understand?" Abby whined.

"I'm going to rewind it." She took it back until they heard Tony's voice and then forwarded until he was heard again.

"Two hours of silence," Gibbs growled. "Let's check that last recording, and we can find out what happened in that car."

"It could've been a technical problem or an accident," Abby mentioned hopefully.

"Sam, let's listen," Tony whispered, he didn't want to, but he had to know.

"Of course." She placed a hand on his arm briefly before she played the last one.

Tim and McGee's voices came over clearly. They talked about how annoying Tony was, how Gibbs must pity him to keep such an agent as an SFA and that once the right moment arrived, he would promote McGee.

"Not likely," Gibbs muttered as he shook his head in disgust.

Then they got bored of hearing Tony talk, so they turned off the radio for the peace and quiet they felt they deserved.

"I…." Tony didn't know what to say. Abby moved to him and tried to give a hug. It was the last thing he wanted and moved away.

"Sam, go to when Tony gets to the car at 4ish," Gibbs ordered.

Once found they all listened to how Tony had annoyed them and they turned off the radio as a joke.

"Tony…" The Goth had no idea what actually to say.

"Sam, get your report done and copies of these recordings." He was livid that any agent would act like this, especially his.

"Yes, straight away. I've also noted down the times of specific things like turning off the radio. I can put them all on a separate device. So, all the uh issues can be heard without having to go through the three complete recordings. They will all be with my report."

"Thanks, Sam, great job as always." Tony hugged and felt her arms tighten around him in support.

"Not a problem, is there anything else I can do?"

"Not at the moment, just that report." Gibbs smiled at her and ignored the look of jealousy on Abby's face. "We'll tell Vance what's going on."

"Is that necessary, it was only a joke after all. Tony plays them all the time." She didn't want Timmy or Ziva to get into trouble. As Abby glanced at Gibbs ready to play on being the favourite, she had to step back at the furious look he sent her way.

"She is kidding right?" Sam asked. "Playing jokes in the office and playing them while out searching for a terrorist are two different things."

"No, unfortunately, she isn't. It seems a friendship is more important than someone's life, even if that person was supposedly a friend as well." Gibbs really couldn't believe she was arguing.

"Abby, don't you get it. I could've died; I had no backup. I don't care if it hurts your feelings. It is nice to know how far down your list my safety is."

"But…" Abby stuttered.

"Just stop Abs." Gibbs rubbed the bridge of his nose. "If they get off with this, what's to stop them doing it again? What if someone dies next time? If your friendship with Ziva or whatever relationship you have with McGee is more important, then I don't know you. I don't want to know someone like that. Let's go DiNozzo."

Tony kissed Sam on the cheek as he walked past and Gibbs smiled.

"Are you sleeping with him?" Abby accused once they were alone.

"Tony's just a friend; he helped my girlfriend and me one night. There were a couple of guys who kept telling us that we were only lesbian's because we hadn't met the 'right' man. Their friends joined in they cheered, shouted abuse and the got a little physical. Tony and I were friendly at work, and he stepped in as soon as he saw what was happening. His badge and gun helped." Sam laughed sadly at the memory. It wasn't the first time that happened, and it wouldn't be the last.

"So how long have you and your–."

"Ms Sciuto I told you about our history, purely to stop you making more excuses for your friends. The rest of my personal life is not up for discussion. I only do that with friends." Sam turned and started her report.

XXXXX

Tony and Gibbs both winced at the buzzing noise.

"Amanda, how are you doing?" Tony smiled at her.

"Tony, darling there you are, I'm much better thanks to you."

"Amanda Darieux, I'd like you to meet Agent Gibbs."

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am; you're here to give your statement, correct?"

"Of course I am."

Gibbs knew he couldn't do it and that is when he saw Sam Jackson, an agent he didn't know that well. In this case that was what was needed.

"Agent Jackson, can I talk to you privately?"

"Of course Agent Gibbs." They both headed off to one of the offices.

"Can you take a statement for me?"

"Why, you have a team." Sam looked confused at the request.

"I can't go into details, but it would help me."

"Sure, I can do that and at some point would like to find out why."

"You will Agent Jackson, you will."

XXXXX

Vance looked up as Gibbs and DiNozzo walked in neither looked very happy.

"There's a problem Leon, a big one."

"And that would be what exactly?" He leaned back in his seat and gave both men his full attention.

"McGee and David turned off the radio while they were supposed to be DiNozzo's backup while he got voice prints."

"They did what?" Leon couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Here's Tony's report from the case. I just have to complete mine with what happened today; I thought you would want to know first. Sam Hemsworth is doing hers; she has all the recordings. It has him asking for backup, there's a two-hour gap on the one McGee, and David dealt with. The other one in the car had them talking crap about DiNozzo and deciding to turn off the radio for some quiet time. Agent Jackson is interviewing the woman he went to help and why he called for backup."

"Damn it how could they do something like that? There's backup for a reason; we're lucky at agent isn't dead." Leon didn't see the look Gibbs and DiNozzo throw each other. As soon as all the reports are back in, I'll look at it. I assume there's a problem with Ms Sciuto since she isn't doing the forensic work?"

"She accused Tony of lying and then after hearing the recordings said 'it was only a joke' and wanted them to be let off." Gibbs loved Abby, but this was something he couldn't forgive.

"I'll talk to her and remind her that we don't let things like this go. Would she say the same thing if he'd been hurt? They were searching for a terrorist, what if they found him and any detonation devices? How many others might have died if they had a chance to activate one?"

"I don't think it's going to be a good idea to have DiNozzo around when they're called in about this." Gibbs knew there would be a chance that Ziva would become violent.

"I agree, take a few days off and no talking to them inside or outside of the agency," Vance ordered he knew that as soon as Ziva heard, it wouldn't be long before Eli called. "I am not sure it will be safe for him to be alone."

"He can stay with me." Gibbs immediately answered.

"After your report is done, take time off to. You'll have no team anyway."

Gibbs nodded grudgingly he hated to take time off work, but he wanted to make sure Tony stayed safe and to help him in being immortal.

XXXXX

"Where are you Amanda?" Methos smiled as he looked around.

TBC