As Tony reached for her she started to come to a bit. He noticed a large gash on her forehead and examined it slowly. He only had to look at her and wait for an explanation.

"I can explain…" she winced slightly as Tony slid his hand across her forehead. While doing so, he managed to get a whiff of her breathe which told him all he needed to know. "Jack or Jim Bean?" It was a simple question and for some reason Abby had a hard time answering him.

"Neither; thank you very much."

Tony stood up and retrieved the small first aide kit Abby always had handy in her desk drawer. "Right, who I am kidding? Captains…the Probie told me once how it was your fave." She sighed at the mention of McGee and Tony regretted his words. "Sorry, shouldn't have brought him up." He reached above his head and gave himself a quick head slap. Abby then reached towards him and caressed the back of his head softly.

"You don't have to apologize Tony; just coming into work every day reminds me of him." Her words were slow and deliberate and Tony knew it was taking her more effort than usual to annunciate.

"What's with the booze?"

Abby shrugged innocently and Tony suddenly became Gibbs incarnate. "Abs…"

"Just had a sip is all, you know, to get my day started…I just tripped and fell. It's no big deal."

Tony applied a small bandage and watched her move away from him to avoid the pain. "Yeah I'm sure Gibbs will see it that way too."

"Oh Tony, you can't tell him…come on…pretty please."

"This is Gibbs we're talking about, he's gonna find out…but never mind that…what's going on with you? Drinking at work…even I'm not that crazy."

Abby reached for the bandage on her head. "Can we talk about this later?"

Tony examined her once more. "Not a chance."

She took in a long labored breath. "First promise me, you won't tell Gibbs?" He stared back at her with no response. "Please Tony? For me."

He started at her intently. "I promise Abs, now what's going on?"

She leaned against his shoulder and sighed. "I just like how drinking makes it all go away for a little while, you know? I don't have to think about McGee getting killed for me, I don't have to think about coming into work and him not being here, I don't have to think about how bad it hurts." She started to tear up a bit and Tony reached out a comforting hand.

"That stuffs only temporary Abs, trust me, I've been there. Tried it the first few nights we got back. All it did was make waking up even worse. Not only did I have a headache to die for, but it was even more sobering that McGee wasn't gonna be there to make me pay for it when I got here…" He squeezed her hand tight. "Drinking isn't going to bring him back. But I'm here and Gibbs is here…he'll take care of you."

"He can't even take care of himself Tony…cant you see how he's avoiding the whole thing."

"It's Gibbs, Abby; he deals with things in his own way."

"And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"How are you dealing with it?"

Tony thought for a few seconds. "I'm not. I just figure nothing is gonna bring him back so I try not to think about it too much."

"How long does that last for?"

"Longest I've gone is 17 and a half minutes."

She managed a smile and reached towards him for an embrace. "My record is 12 minutes."

He met the embrace and squeezed tight. "Promise me you won't do this any more."

"I won't."

"Good." They released from the embrace and Tony helped her up onto her feet. "Now do you think you're sober enough to help me with something?"

She nodded. "Anything."

"Okay then, let's try to beat our own thinking of the Probie personals bests, while we keep the Gibbs hound at bay…you with me?"

"I'm with you."

Tony glanced at his watch and reached for the folders he'd come down there with. "Okay, clock starts now…"


"Got the photo's boss…" Tony grabbed the wireless device and managed to make them all appear on the screen simultaneously. "Recognize any of 'em kid?"

"Names Pat..." He replied rather quickly and stood beside the now present Gibbs.

Tony was taken aback at his response, but obliged regrettably. "Sorry, Pat…recognize any of them?"

"Heard you the first time Tommy."

"It's Tony…"

Gibbs interrupted. "Anything ring a bell kid?"

Pat examined the pictures for a few moments. "Him…and him…"

Tony zoomed in on the two photos and reached for two distinct folders. "Emerson and Lane boss… took 'em down the same place we got Steeples the first time. One got out on parole two weeks ago…the other a week later. Looks like the prison reform program didn't work out too well for 'em."

"You think DiNozzo?"

"I was just…"

"How about you just…get a BOLO out on both of them now…and grab our gear, gas and load the truck. We're taking a road trip."

"I still have to…"

Gibbs stared back at him for a few moments.

"Never mind…packing and gassing, on it boss." He reached for his back pack with more force than usual and threw it over his shoulder. He looked back to watch Gibbs throw his arm around Pat and guide him towards his desk. And once again, the lone elevator ride was anything but silent.

"Just cuz he put his arm around him doesn't mean a thing. Except that he never throws his arm around anyone…not even me. I guess that's kinda weird, even for Gibbs. Then again the kid did save his life…oh wait not kid, Pat…whatever…man that kid is starting to get on my nerves…" He let his head fall against the elevator wall. "Gosh I miss you Probie…" He glanced at his watch. He had beaten his personal best. Twenty two minutes and fifteen seconds, a new record.


Ziva David found Tony throwing equipment rather violently into the truck and couldn't help but say something.

"You mad McGee isn't here to load the truck?"

Tony stopped mid throw. "Among other things…"

"Such as…" she probed and reached for a few things herself to help him.

"Oh nothing really, just being asked to do the work of two Agents, busting my tail to learn how to type to make up for McGee's absence and don't forget, watching Pat come in and suddenly give Gibbs a reason for living…nothing big."

"Let me get this straight, you're mad that Gibbs is coming around?"

"I wouldn't use the word mad…more like confused."

Ziva snapped her fingers. "Oh I get it, you're jealous."

"Jealousy and confusion? Yeah I can see how you can confuse the two."

"Admit it Tony, you're jealous that Pat could get Gibbs to move on from McGee, and not you."

Tony once again took to throwing the equipment into the truck, this time more violently. "Who asked you anyway?"


"Abs…" Gibbs strolled into the lab to inform Abby of their departure. But after looking through an empty lab and calling her cell phone four times, his gut started to churn. He reached for his phone to try again when an envelope caught his eye. The top of it read simply, "Gibbs." He opened it slowly and read its contents. It wasn't long after doing so that he slammed his fist down on the counter and exited the lab with a look of determination and defeat covering his face.