Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS, Gibbs, Abby, Tony, Fornell, or any of my other favorite toys.
A/N: This is set During the Fourth season, taking place less than a week after Driven. This is Gabby, with a hint of Tiva with lots of McGee lovage. Also, Dog Tags happened early season four…yeah, that is the only other change…I just love Puppy Jethro too.
Sighing Abby clicked on her stereo and pulled out the giant dry erase board Tony had bought her for their game nights. She'd lost a full day being laid up in bed sick. Gibbs had kissed her forehead as he left this morning, leaving Abby with no way to get to work.
"Curse him, or better yet, make him pay," Abby muttered to herself.
Whipping out her marker, Abby began scribbling frantically. When she finally sat back, she was grinning maniacally. Although that could have been due in part to the cold medicine Gibbs had bribed her into taking before he left. Giggling Abby whipped out her phone and started texting.
She knew drunk texting was a bad, bad thing, but Tony had never said anything about drugged texting.
To: Tony
I'll get you and you're little McGee too.
Across town, Tony flipped his phone open and shivered. Surreptitiously glancing to his right, he eyed McGee. Glancing back at his phone, Tony could almost hear evil cackling.
"Uh, Boss," Tony stage whispered.
Gibbs tipped his head up to look at his agent, "What?"
"You should have taken Abby's phone from her."
Gibbs stifled his chuckle, Tony was right. Gibbs himself had gotten several texts from the sick woman already.
"Suffer through it," Gibbs shrugged off the younger man.
"But Boss, she's being creepy."
Gibbs only quirked a brow.
"Good point, Boss," DiNozzo assented before peering over his shoulders and making sure his gun was easily accessible.
Ziva snickered to herself and opened up a chat box with McGee.
David, Ziva: Do you know what Tony is going on about?
McGee, Timothy: No. Although it might have to do with Abby and being sick.
David, Ziva: Why would that matter?
McGee, Timothy: Abby doesn't do well when she takes medicine. It's kind of like drinking for Abby—lowers her inhibitions that much more.
At her desk Ziva nodded in understanding. When Abby drank, she didn't lose it, but she was much freer. It wasn't as if she went insane, Abby just got a little giddy.
It was just past noon when DiNozzo managed to sneak up to the director's office without Gibbs seeing.
"Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, reporting for duty, Ma'am!"
Jenny sighed. Neuroticism was a plague in this building. "How is your mission going?"
Tony grinned, "The subject has been checking his phone every ten minutes, and even had McGurgle make sure it was in working order."
"Good, now I want you to encourage Gibbs to check on Abby today. Maybe let slip that you don't really like her temporary replacement, that should get Abby riled up," Jen leaned back in her chair. "Oh, and Cynthia has a package that Abby needs to have today, DiNozzo."
Tony saluted playfully and nearly tripped as he skipped out of the office to retrieve said package from Cynthia.
"Bossman," Tony cried as he jogged down the steps.
"What, DiNozzo," Gibbs bit out.
"Ah—nothing Boss. Just wondering if we could send the wannabe-Ninja-assassin out for lunch."
Gibbs leaned back in his chair, days without Abby were trying, "Whatever, but I want all your reports done by three."
After taking lunch orders a slightly miffed Ziva left on her 'mission'. McGee set to defragging his hard drive because Tony had downloaded a game on it and it was on the fritz. Gibbs was missing in action, though one could assume he'd gone for coffee and a visit to Ducky. Tony however slunk down in his chair and hid his phone under his desk as he typed.
To: Abby
Abby-fe-fi-fo-Abby! Hey, hope you get better soon. Ur replacement is really slow and dimmer than Palmer on a bad day. Love, Tony!
Abby's phone danced off the kitchen table as she started making yet another list. Retrieving it was no easy task. She was literally buried beneath her ideas. Flipping it open she read the message that happened to be nearly 45 minutes old. A horrible flood of panic swept through her and Abby quickly dialed Gibbs' number.
"Gibbs, you have to get rid of her/him/it, I can't deal with it! I'll kill them, Gibbs, no one touches my babies and gets away with it! I feel a little dizzy, but you have to stop him!"
Gibbs jerked the phone away from his ear, Abby was in hysterics.
"Abby, calm down," he spoke softly. "Just sit tight and I'll be right over."
Hanging up his phone, he surveyed his team.
"DiNozzo, you're in charge, if we get a case call me, I have to go check on Abs," DiNozzo smirked for two reasons, one he was in charge, and two he was an evil mastermind.
"Hey, Boss," Tony called. "Cynthia gave me this for Abby. You wouldn't mind delivering it would you?"
Gibbs snatched the thick manila envelope from the man-child and rushed out to his car.
As soon as the boss was out of the building, Tony stood up and dragged his chair to the center of the bullpen, "Campfire!"
McGee and Ziva wore confused expressions but followed Tony's orders. Once they were huddled together Tony spoke in a hushed voice.
"We need to figure out what we're getting Gibbs for Christmas."
"Tony," Ziva sat back in exasperation. "That is what is so important."
Tony growled and his hands clenched, "Come on, we get him booze every year, we have to do think of something good!"
Tim giggled, "Like the year you got him honey dust?"
Ziva glanced between the two boys, wondering what the joke was. Tony on the other hand frowned before a light bulb moment hit him and he chuckled.
"Yeah, Probie, not a bad idea."
It was Ziva's turn to frown, "Are you feeling alright, Tony?"
"Yeah," McGee agreed. "You have been acting a little weird this week."
"Oh, yeah." Tony shrugged. "Well it turns out the only reason Gibbs was flirting with the Evil-Bitch-Monster of Death i.e. Mann, was because I spiked his coffee."
With that out in the air, Tim and Ziva did the one thing that Gibbs hadn't done to punish him.
Whap!
"Ow," Tony yelped and moved his hands to protect the back of his head. "Gibbs you two are not!"
"Abby," Gibbs called bursting through her front door.
"Gibbs," she all but shrieked. "Turn around! You can't see what I'm doing!"
Playing along, Jethro spun so his back was to her. He'd already caught an eyeful of shiny, wrapped presents and her lists of lists lain out on the table. There was a rush of rustling and a couple of half curses.
"Okay," Abby proclaimed.
Gibbs turned and stalked towards her, he bit his lip to prevent the smile from forming on his face.
"Hey Abs, you feeling better," he asked softly.
She nodded and skipped over to the microwave to pull out a penguin mug filled with steaming hot cocoa. Abby took a pull of it and moaned before shivering lightly.
"Want some, Gibbs," Abby asked belatedly.
Gibbs shook his head and sat down at one of the kitchen chairs. Abby sat down across from him and continued to sip her drink with occasional bites from a piece of toast that lay half forgotten on the table.
"Are you ready to tell me what the panic attack was about," Gibbs asked patiently.
Abby pouted, "Tony mentioned my replacement."
Gibbs glanced down attempting to hide the laughter that was threatening him, "Temporary. And he hasn't stepped foot in NCIS let alone your lab, Abs," Gibbs assured her.
"Oh," Abby deflated.
Gibbs slid the envelope across the table, "Cynthia sent this along."
Abby's face lit up, "Ooh, thank you Gibbs!"
She launched herself out of her chair and at Gibbs who barely caught her in a hug.
"Something I should know, Abby," Gibbs asked curiously.
Abby shook her head chidingly, "It's a surprise!"
Gibbs raised his hands in defense and nodded, "Okay, I'm at your mercy."
The look of delight that reddened her cheeks and put the spark back in her eyes, "Oh really, well then I intend to take full advantage of you!"
Gibbs immediately regretted his words, not because the idea of it didn't send a rush of lust through his veins, but because Abby was very inventive, and his control wasn't all that great around the Goth.
Back at his desk, Tony starting surfing the net, once at the website he wanted, a small bout of evil laughter burst from his lips. He cleared his throat and stuck his tongue out, scraping it with his teeth. Pulling a mostly lint free lozenge from his pocket, Tony popped it in his mouth and winced at the coating of fuzz.
"And 'Add to Cart'," Tony grinned triumphantly.
His frown slid after a second of planning, jerking from his desk, Tony made his way back upstairs to the director for another of the many meetings about his new mission.
Crossing her arms, Jenny Shepard nodded along to Tony's mile a minute chatter. "I think I can arrange that," she cut him off.
"Excellent," he snickered.
Jenny's eyes widened and a brow arched delicately upward, "I would curb the evil, DiNozzo."
"Yeah," Tony sounded a little perturbed. "It's getting a little black coat villain, isn't it?"
"I was going to say psychotic, but that works too," Jenny informed him.
Tony gulped, "I think I'm going to go lay down in autopsy."
Jenny nodded and spoke with a hint of patronization, "Yes, maybe you should."
"Yeah," Tony repeated before walking dazedly out of the office and to the elevator.
Abby sneezed, which sounded more like a squeak from a mouse. Gibbs scowled and pointed mutely to the coach. Abby stuck her tongue out but plopped down on the couch and cuddled up to the blanket.
She looked, to Gibbs, like a small, petulant child. It brought a genuine smile to his eyes. Dropping the envelope onto her lap, Gibbs pressed his lips to the top of her head, his fingers curling around one braided length of hair. He gave it a little affectionate tug before straightening and walking to the door.
"Rest up, Abs, and I'll think about letting you go to work tomorrow," Gibbs called as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Abby squealed excitedly at the prospect of work before tearing into the file and ideas Cynthia had sent over for her.
Please, please please, review. I work very hard every day to post, and I would appreciate some love in the spirit of Christmas back…please, reviewing only takes a few seconds to tell me your thoughts or a little plot idea.