Gibbs returned after lunch the next day and was pleasantly surprised to find the house in order. Nothing was broken or amiss, and the house was practically spotless. Tony was in the backyard, shooting hoops, and he managed to greet his boss warmly and respond innocently to all queries about the week. Relieved, Jethro patted him on the back. Abby joined them by supper, having ridden home with a friend. Luckily, she was excited over the cruise, so chattered non-stop until bedtime. Tony was grateful, as it took the focus off of him.

Jethro, meanwhile, was incredibly pleased to see that Tony had acted maturely in his absence. According to the young man, he had come home straight from NCIS every afternoon except Friday, when he and Amber had gone out for the evening. He had made it a point to assure Jethro that even then he had been back in residence by eleven.

Falling onto the bed later that night Tony congratulated himself. He had pulled off the week of fun with Jethro none the wiser.

When Jethro reviewed the past work week when he got to NCIS the next day he was yet more impressed. Tony had done a wonderful job, and he told him he was proud, which delighted the young man.

It wasn't until Tuesday that a crack in the home alone story developed. Gibbs and Tony were in autopsy when Ducky suddenly stopped mid sentence and addressed the younger man. "You look much better now than you did this time last week, rested."

Gibbs immediately turned to regard his protégé, and Tony hastily covered, "I had a hard time getting to sleep one night, Boss." With that he turned pleading eyes to the good doctor, who, feeling sorry for him, didn't elaborate and changed the conversation to focus on the body on his autopsy table.

However, the truth always comes out.

The three of them made it home early that same afternoon. Tony was in charge of cooking supper that night, and Gibbs went to work in the yard. Abby had run to the mall, and upon her return, noticed that their next door neighbor had come to speak to Gibbs. The conversation appeared to go back and forth, with Gibbs asking questions and the neighbor answering them. She joined the two at once, guessing that something was hinky, and as soon as she ascertained the subject of the conversation, she excused herself and ran in the house to warn Tony.

He had the meal finished and ready to be served later, so had gone to the living room and cut on the television. That's where Abby found him, and she quickly blurted out that the neighbor and Gibbs were in deep conversation, with him as the one and only topic. Tony jumped up from the sofa and raced to the window, then paled when he saw how intently his boss was nodding at the neighbor's words.

He threw himself back onto the sofa.

Abby advised, "I don't know what exactly you did, but you had better be thinking of a way to get out of it- something that will stand up to a Gibbs interrogation. Otherwise, you are doomed."

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking!" came the panicked response.

Abby regarded him carefully. "Tony, just how many nights did you have people over?"

He looked at her miserably. "All but one, Baby Girl-"

Both sat silently a couple of minutes, trying to form a battle plan capable of withstanding an assault by Gibbs.

Finally Abby spoke thoughtfully, "Whatever you do, don't outright lie. You know he'll tear you out of the frame for that. Just try to evade the questions any way you can."

Tony nodded in agreement, trying to conjure up a defense.

Abby continued, suddenly adopting a cheerful tone. "He might not even be talking about you out there anyway. It might be something else entirely. I mean it might be about someone else entirely."

Tony gave her a grateful smile in response.

Before they could talk further they heard Gibbs make his way back into the house. Abby jumped off of the sofa and called out, "Time to eat, Gibbs!"

Other than normal mealtime conversation, nothing was brought up during supper. Tony tried to relax, but couldn't help worrying. Gibbs, for his part, didn't appear to be upset. He hadn't missed noticing Abby's quick exit from outside, and knew she had come in to tip off Tony that the neighbor was acting as informant.

Once the meal was finished Gibbs turned to Abby and ordered, "Clean up in here, Abbs."

That brought forth a protest as Abby whined loudly, "It's not my turn, and it's not fair, either. It's Tony's turn to clean up the kitchen!"

There was no verbal response, but Gibb leveled a glare at her. She sighed, stood up reluctantly, and began grabbing dishes. Tony started to inch out of his chair to escape, but Gibbs saw him and commanded quietly, "Living room, Anthony- right now-"

Tony didn't bother to pretend that he didn't understand. Soundlessly he left the kitchen and headed back to the living room, taking his previously occupied seat on the sofa. Carrying a cup of coffee, Gibbs joined him, sitting down in the armchair across from Tony before he spoke.

"I want to talk to you."

Tony nodded, and waited for his boss to continue.

"Tell me about this past week." Gibbs studied him over the rim of his coffee cup as he sipped.

"I already told you about it, Boss, it was fine."

"So nothing out of the ordinary happened?" Jethro prompted.

Tony knew he should just go ahead and confess, but he still hoped Jethro didn't really know anything of substance.

"No, no, I went to work and came home and that was about it." Tony added a smile to the words, hoping to disarm his boss.

"That's really interesting. So nothing happened Monday night, or Tuesday night, or any night at all?" Jethro leaned forward and looked at Tony expectantly.

Tony shook his head rather than speak.

Jethro's voice changed to the one Tony and Abby privately likened to the distinct warning of a rattlesnake about to attack. "Let me ask this once again, Tony, and I had better get the truth for my answer this time. Otherwise, you are going to be incomprehensibly miserable by the time this conversation concludes."