Disclaimer applies. Not Beta'd
This story takes place in November 2006 (season 4, before twisted sister)
Even though Gibbs had left the bullpen almost a half hour ago, the two agents only spoke out loud to one another if it was regarding one of the cases in front of them. That quickly changed when Tony noticed the 'party' outside the director's office.
"C'mon, Probie, even you have to admit that that's not normal."
"What?" McGee responded absently as he continued typing. He was used to Tony creating drama when it was slow. He was also used to ignoring the majority of what came out of the SFA's mouth.
"That meeting. I mean, what does the bossman, Kevin, Grant, Graves, Fishy and Geeky-"
"Geary," Tim automatically corrected.
"have in common? I mean, Geeky-"
"Geary."
"is geekier than you, McGeek. Kevin's an okay agent, still a bit green though. Grant is in Finance. Graves and Fishy are in legal. And everyone else I don't even recognize."
Tim smirked, "Wow, Tony. It's kind of sad you don't recognize the director."
Tony just rolled his eyes and threw a wad of paper at his partner, "Seriously, what could it be about?"
The younger agent looked at the people entering the director's office. While he was also a bit curious about it, he figured if they wanted or needed him to know, he would be informed. Still, he couldn't help sharing what little he learned from his brief glimpse at the odd crowd. "While I am not sure what they are discussing, nor why that is occurring in the director's office instead of a conference room,-"
"Yeah, yeah," Tony interrupted, "I have no doubts that there is a lot you don't know, despite your so called education, but why don't you tell me what you do know for a change?"
Tim sighed, once more ignoring his partner's words, "It appears to be something that they are doing alphabetically, though I don't know why they are starting with the letter G."
"G?"
Tim rolled his eyes, "All of their last names begin with G. Gibbs, Grant, Graves, Kevin Giroux, Michael 'Fishy' Gills, Geary, Goss, Grainger, G-"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Tony interrupted, throwing another wad of paper at his probie. "Well, that is quite the coincidence…and of course, rule 38, no such thing as a coincidence.
"Now that we know the who, we just have to figure out the why."
"We? Oh, no, Tony, you are on your own on that one. I have plenty here to keep me busy," Tim countered, gesturing to the stack of cold case files on his desk.
"Aren't you curious?"
"Curious? Yes. Suicidal enough to investigate the reason for a meeting taking place behind closed doors in the director's office? No."
"Guess it'll be up to the real investigator then."
"Yeah, tell me how that works out for you," Tim said, not about to be cornered into participating. "I'll be over here trying to think of nice things to say at your funeral."
"Hey! What do you mean trying? There's a lot of nice things you could say about me. For instance, how funny and charming I am; how handsome; that everything you learnt, whether it be regarding investigating or impressing the ladies, you learnt from me; how-"
Once more Tim tuned out the older agent as he went back to work.
"I'm so glad this manic Monday is over," Tony muttered as he pressed the button for the elevator, McGee next to him.
"Manic? It was actually pretty calm, weren't you the one saying you were bored?"
"Manic as in weird," Tony explained, as the elevator dinged and the two entered. Since it was still fairly early, they had it to themselves, at least at the moment.
"Yeah, the weirdest part is Boss sending us home early."
Tony snorted, "I still think the meeting of the G's is weird. I'm telling you, something's going on."
"If it involves us, they'll let us know."
"Why did you become an investigator?" Tony asked rhetorically. "How can you not help but be curious about things."
"Hey! I'm curious."
"About how computers work, maybe, but regarding things going on around you? You never ask any questions."
"Don't have to with you around," Tim retorted. "One, because if it involves you, you'll tell everyone everything, whether we want to know about it or not and two, you're curious enough for ten people. Asking someone every question possible and then some, even, no," he corrected himself, "especially if they don't want to talk about it or don't want you to know."
Tony grinned, pleased with that description of him. "Thank you."
"It wasn't a compl-oh, never mind." Tim concluded, shaking his head, as the two left the elevator and started to walk to the parking garage.
"To get back to the case,"
"Tony, there is no case,"
"There should be," Tony decided. "If I'm investigating it, there should be a case. You know what? I'm going to create a case file for this. Hmm, I wonder if I could find a legitimate reason to talk to one of the G's."
"You didn't even recognize some of them."
"Well, obviously I won't talk to those G's," Tony snapped. "Hmm, your job, Probie, is to come up with a reason for me to question, talk with one of them. Let's see, talking to the director is out."
Tim laughed, he would love to see Tony try to work the director, trying to get answers.
"Likewise with searching Gibbs' desk."
"Tony. Stop. I think you're focusing on this too much, especially if you want to break into Gibbs' desk."
"Tim, Tim, Tim, didn't you hear what I said, I said that was out. But I need something. What am I overlooking?" he asked himself, tapping his finger to his chin.
"Oh." Tony said as he came to a standstill.
"What?" Tim questioned as he looked at his partner in concern.
"Do you think the thing troubling Gibbs involved Abby?"
"Abby?" Tim squeaked nervously.
"Yeah, I mean, separate from the G thing. The boss spent an awful lot of time in the Director's office and downstairs in Abby's lab today. Way too much time since we had no case. I wonder if she's okay."
"How do you know he was there?"
Tony snorted, "Because I kept seeing him carrying Caf-Pows, and I don't think they were for him."
"I…Abby does love Caf-Pows," Tim admitted.
"So, either she was really thirsty, she or someone is sick, or she was upset and Gibbs was trying to cheer her up.
"I went down there earlier," Tony confessed, "Boss wasn't there then, but Abby was. She was very secretive and anxious for me to leave. When has Abby ever been like that? Usually she loves visitors. Really makes me wonder."
Tim couldn't refute his statements.
"Well, night, Probie," Tony called as he got into his car.
"Damn it," Tim muttered as he realized that he followed Tony to his car instead of heading towards his own. He really needed to stop listening to DiNozzo. Especially now. All he could think about was his idea that Abby was sick or upset about something.
Like Tony, he had gone down to the lab earlier that day. Unfortunately, his visit seemed to coincide with Abby's break. He waited outside the locked lab doors for a few minutes, before deciding that he needed to get back to the bullpen. He did, however, slide a note under the door asking Abby to contact him when she could. It was a bit surprising that he hadn't heard from her the entire day.
4-19-18
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