Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or its characters. Entertainment only!


Recap:

"Tim, if we don't get out alive, I'm sorry for picking on you."

"Thanks Tony. And I'm sorry for thinking you're immature."

"Oh, if I wanted to kill you two, it would not be by a car." Ziva said.

Tony and Tim just looked at each other before following Ziva to their fate.


By the time they returned from collecting evidence it was 1200. McGee went out to make a lunch run. DiNozzo was searching for information on the victim and his family, and Ziva was looking at the ex-girlfriend for a lead. Gibbs' phone rang.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Hey, it's Abby. Can you come down to the lab?"

"I'll send Ziva, Abs. I really need some coffee."

"Alright, I'll be waiting." They hung up, and Gibbs told Ziva to go down and see Abby while he went for a quick coffee break.

Ziva walked into the lab and was greeted by loud music and Abby staring into space.

"Abby? Is everything alright?" she asked as she came over to her, pulling her into a hug.

"Oh! Sorry!" she said as she turned off the music. "Yeah, I'm okay I guess. I just wanted to let you know that I did some research on the knife, and, while there are no fingerprints on it, I found that they are sold in North Carolina by a custom-design store. So the killer must be living there. If you of DiNozzo can give me some search parameters, I can see if I can find someone."

"Okay, thanks Abby. Now, what is the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Abby. I am a trained ex-Mossad assassin. I can tell when you are lying. What is wrong?"

Abby sighed. "Well….it's McGee." She looked up at Ziva sheepishly.

"What did he do to you? If he hurt you, Abby…"

"Hurt me? No! Thanks for the concern though."

"That is what best friends are for." Ziva smiled. "Now, if he did not hurt you, then what happened?"

Abby looked away. "Well, that's just it. Nothing happened."

Ziva looked at Abby. "Do you want something to happen?"

"No…Yes…No…Maybe….Oh, I don't know Ziva! That's my problem!"

"Oh, well in that case I can relate. It's just like how I feel with To-….never mind." Ziva looked away, hoping Abby didn't hear. She didn't mean to say that. It was just on impulse, a reflex.

"Oh my gosh ZIVA!" Abby said, pouncing on Ziva and giving her a huge suffocating hug "I KNEW IT! I SO KNEW IT! YOU TWO ARE PERFECT! AHHHH!"

"I can't b-breathe, Abby."

"Oh sorry." Abby said as she released her iron grip on Ziva. "Okay, so we have a situation."

"And what is that?"

"….Tiva and McAbby!"

"…What?"

"Exactly, They're codenames. For you and Tony and me and McGee!"

"We do not need a codename Abby."

"Yeah, I guess so. We can do without one."

"No, I mean there is nothing to be done about it. We will just pretend this conversation never happened."

"NO! We can't! It's fate!"

What am I doing? I must be losing it. "….fine Abby. What do you suggest?"

"Well…we need to make sure they feel the same way. So…"

Oi vey. Here we go. "So... what?

"We need a plan. An infallible, perfect plan." Abby said, pacing around her lab.

"Well, we could always just-"

Abby snapped her fingers. "I've got it! We could each ask the other and secretly record it so they can't chicken out later and deny it!"

"Well, I do not know if-"

"C'mon, Ziva! We are both VERY dangerous women. They'll have no choice but to confess."

I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. Me and my big mouth. "Then what?"

"Then we'll….take it from there. Okay, meeting of Tiva and McAbby is now closed. Now shoo before Gibbs gets suspicious."

"Shoo?" Ziva said, slightly confused.

"LEAVE, Ziva."

"Oh."


It was 0645, and Tony had dug up a criminal record for Mindy. "Boss," putting it up on the plasma, "It says that she has a history of assault and drug possession."

McGee stood up next. "I found out that there have been some angry voicemails left by a Freddy Pusik concerning children. I dug into his record and he is divorced, and his wife gained custody of his two kids. Could be motive, since Darren has two children. Maybe he got jealous."

Ziva looked at Tony while he started speaking. I might be crazy, but just maybe, Abby's lan could...work? Do I even want that? Who knows. It has to be better than Ray and Michael. Right?

"Eh, I don't know. I'm still betting on the ex" said DiNozzo. But we need to talk to the wife too."

Ziva stood up. "It appears as if Herfek had a good family life –nothing that stands out. Although, the wife would have gained a lot of money from his life insurance policy."

"Good work, it's 0700, go home. Oh, and rest up, David and DiNozzo. You have a big job tomorrow." Gibbs smirked as he collected his things.

McGee looked quizzically at Gibbs, while Tony and Ziva just glanced at each other and they all left wondering what would happen tomorrow.