"Gibbs! Are you okay?"
Abby catapulted herself into his arms as soon as he walked into her lab.
"Yeah, Abby."
"Are you sure Gibbs? You looks so ... normal."
"Define normal, Abby."
She gesticulated wildly.
"Well ... it's the Director, and you were partners, and you two maybe ... and .. and I liked her. Even if she did send me Chip and make me wear a stupid suit to court. But anyway. Gibbs ... we gotta nail this bastard. We can't just ..."
She registered the impassive look and broke off.
"What's the matter with you, Gibbs? It's the Director!"
"Yeah, Abby. It is. So I suggest you get all over the evidence coming down from her office as soon as it gets here."
He turned away.
"But Gibbs ..." she whined.
He looked at her from the doorway.
"It's the Director. How can you treat this as if it were just some Jane Doe?"
"Memorial service is in a few days Abby. We don't have time to stop and grieve."
"But Gibbs ..."
"What, Abs?" he snapped with ill-concealed irritation.
"You're ..."
"I'm what, Abs?" he said as he walked back up to her and looked her in the eye.
Tears welled up in Abby Sciuto's eyes.
"I ... I liked her, Gibbs."
Gibbs let out a gentle breath.
"I know you did," he said as he pulled her towards him. "I know you did."
He kissed the top of her head and turned away.
"Er ... Boss?"
McGee stood in the doorway.
Gibbs turned to face him.
"Evacuation is complete."
Gibbs nodded.
"Lets go. Let the bomb squad do their thing."
"Who called it in, Boss?" McGee asked as he followed him out.
"Haven't a clue ..."
A few hours later …
Gibbs and Cynthia hovered over the latter's computer, conversing softly.
Tony, Ziva, and McGee passed them on the way into the Director's office,
As the other two set about bagging and tagging, Tony peeked at them again from the doorway before leaning against the door frame.
"Anybody else think there's something wrong with this picture?" he asked.
"What do you mean, Tony?" McGee asked.
"Gibbs. Too calm. Shouldn't he be a little bit ... agitated? I mean, he was climbing the walls when K- "
He caught sight of Ziva's upturned face and shifted tracks.
"They were partners for God's sake."
"Maybe your theory's wrong, Tony," said McGee.
"And which theory would that be ... probie?"
"Erm .. the one that has the Director and Gibbs as more than just partners back in the day," he replied; doing a pretty good impersonation of Tony.
DiNozzo walked up to McGee and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ever hear of UST, probie?"
"Yes, Tony. Yes I have. Unresolved sexual tension."
"You ever see the Director and Gibbs up close and personal?"
McGee looked confused for a second.
"A seasoned investigator," Tony began, walking round him, "reads body language, McGee. Believe me when I say ... Gibbs and the Director have experience. Of the carnal kind. You ever see the way they invade each other's personal space and tolerate it?"
He inclined his head – remembering something.
"Well ... for the most part. You ever hear them finish each other's sentences? You ever seen the Director look down with a smile after Gibbs has said something to her. Have you ever ..."
He took a step towards the door and peeked out again to make sure that Gibbs was still occupied.
"... seen them share a coffee? Lemme tell ya ... it takes a lot to enjoy Gibbs' taste in coffee."
He shuddered.
"Well, they were partners, Tony. And ... "
Tony rolled his hands dramatically– indicating that he should continue.
"Go for it probie. Connect the dots. Stakeouts ... coffee ... Jenny and Gibbs stuck in some apartment for days on end, with nothing to amuse themselves but each other. Jenny in some tight little number."
"Tony ... you are drooling," said Ziva.
"Hey ... she's a beautiful woman now. Can you imagine her seven years ago? Gibbs would've had to be made of stone not to ..."
"Tony!" Ziva snapped.
"So you see, probie," Tony forced himself to stop seeing the Director's curves, "the boss and the ... other boss ... had something goin' on. And consequently this ..." he hitched his thumb at the outer room, "is wrong."
McGee considered for a moment.
"He's focused on finding who did this, Tony."
"Think he's still in love with her?" DiNozzo asked.
And wished he hadn't, once he saw the way McGee stiffened.
"Oh hey boss ..." he said, cringeing.
"You done in here?" Gibbs asked acerbically.
"Almost," lied Ziva.
"McGee – when you've got what you need, take it down to Abby and help her. Tony, I want you on the trail of those orchids. I want to know where they came from, who potted them, who breathed on them. Ziva ... you're with me."
"Where're you going Boss?" asked Tony.
"To have a chat with the Director's boyfriend."