NCIS Squad Room – 2:00am.
In walks Abby dressed in overalls, tool belt and hard hat and carrying a ladder. Behind her walks McGee staggering under the weight of three large boxes which he adds to the pile in the centre of the room.
"Phew. I think that's the lot" McGee goes to sit at his desk.
"What do you think you're doing?" Abby starts to put up the ladder.
"Sitting down" he replies hopefully.
"Timmy! You said you'd help."
"I have."
"That was just stage one. Now we move onto stage two."
"I don't know Abby are you sure about this? There's bound to be rules, regulations, guidelines we should be following. Did you speak to anyone about this? Gibbs"
"Gibbs?"
"O.K. maybe not Gibbs but what about the Director? Did you ask permission?"
"Permission, shhmmmermission. I'll do it and they'll love it. Now let's get to work."
"Yes ma'am" he mutters under his breath.
NCIS Squad Room - A few hours later.
As the NCIS staff arrive for work they all smile as they discover the squad room had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Tinsel is wound around the balcony and stair railings, snowflakes dangle from the ceiling; miniature santas, snowmen and elves cover every available space and there is even some strategically place mistletoe above the entrance to the elevator. In one corner is a Christmas tree with a pile of presents below. As Gibbs' team compliments Abby on the effort and teases McGee about being her Christmas elf Gibbs enters the room.
"What the hell! This is a federal workplace not the front window at Macy's! Who did this?" he asks glaring. Abby sticks up her hand.
"Yes, Abby?"
"Cheer up Scrooge. Everyone's been working so hard lately I thought with Christmas a week away it might cheer everyone up." They stare at each other neither about to back down. McGee bites his lip nervously anticipating the telling off he is sure they are about to get. Gibbs' phone rings.
"Gibbs." He listens. "On our way." He hangs up.
"Gear up. A dead marine has been found on the Yellow Brick road at Quantico. McGee call Ducky. Tony gas the truck."
"Yellow Brick road?" "The obstacle course Ziva" explains Tony. "Let's roll."
The agents gather up their gear and head to the elevator. Gibbs kisses Abby on the cheek in passing.
"It can stay. Good job Abs."
Rule 18 - It is better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. Silver War.