Weekend Plans (Friday)
Tony slipped into his chair forty five minutes after he was due at work. Gibbs raised his eyebrows and glared at the young man, and Tony met his gaze and smiled weakly. He was savvy enough about his boss to know he wouldn't let the late entrance go without a reprimand, but hoped that he'd save it until they were at home.
Gibbs swallowed a large gulp of coffee, then made his way down to Abby's lab to make sure she had arrived.
She threw her arms around him when she saw him and asked in a bubbly tone, "Did you miss us last night, Boss?"
"Certainly not- the house just resonated silence, instead of steady streams of prattle and battling, for a change," he denied.
Abby contradicted, "Nope, I can see it in your face. You missed us."
Gibbs laughed, and then regarded her. "I think it will be ok for you to go out tonight, Abbs."
He was rewarded with a kiss before he turned and then made his way to autopsy to visit Ducky, who was hanging up his coat when Gibbs entered.
"Hey, Duck- I came to see if you wanted to join us for dinner tonight. I'm sure Abby and Tony will head out right after supper, so it would give us a chance to visit."
"Lovely, Jethro- I will be there with bells on."
The day was busy but low key, and the team went separate ways for lunch.
Tony made it back from his meal late, and his Boss was not pleased. Gibbs looked pointedly at his watch, then at his senior field agent, and narrowed his eyes. Tony flinched, then kept himself unobtrusive and low key for the duration of the workday.
A case involving the body of a dead Marine found near the Pentagon took up most of the afternoon.
Six o'clock found them all at the house, and Gibbs was finishing supper preparations when Ducky arrived. The two men had a friendship that spanned over a decade, and were well acquainted with each other's habits and idiosyncrasies.
Jethro poured himself a cup of coffee and pointed to the kettle. "I've got water ready for your tea, Duck."
Dr. Mallard nodded a reached up to squeeze his shoulder. "I am on it."
Gibbs called for Tony and Abby, and both came from their rooms upstairs.
They made their way to their seats just as Ducky came out of the pantry, an annoyed expression on his face. He directed his attention to Tony and Abby as he took his own seat. "How many times have I told you about all of that junk and sugar you are putting into your bodies?"
The two looked down, and Gibbs pretended to be interested in his silverware's placement.
No one risked answering, knowing no reply would satisfy the good doctor. When there was no response, Ducky continued. "Those shelves in the pantry are full of cookies, snacks, and sugar products of every kind. I know that I have told every one of you about the consequences of that type of product on your bodies."
Still no one answered, having learned that it was best to simply stay quiet when Ducky became annoyed and began to rant.
"Who is responsible for this travesty?"
Without thinking, both Abby and Tony cut their eyes in Jethro's direction.
Ducky swung around to look at Gibbs. "Jethro, I cannot believe that you are deliberately going against what I have explicitly told you."
"Duck," he attempted to defend himself after first scowling at the informers, "I just get what's on the list."
Ducky was incensed. "That is absurd!" He paused, then looked carefully at all of them, one guilty person at time. "I trust that when I next enter this domicile I will find a far different variety of food products available."
"Sounds like a plan," Tony responded, eager to finish with the present subject.
"Right, Duck Man, we're ready to transform," Abby announced brightly.
Gibbs just nodded, then said quietly, "Well, let's get this meal taken care of."
After another awkward minute while Ducky decided to excuse them, the conversation resumed, but this time focused on the evening's plans. Tony had a date and was planning on seeing a movie, while Abby was meeting up with friends. Ducky relayed a story about a long ago event, and finally the four were finished eating.
Abby and Tony got up to start cleaning, but Gibbs motioned to Tony to sit back down. Tony grimaced, pretty sure that Gibbs was going to ream him. Ducky gave him a sympathetic glance. He wasn't certain what the lad had done this time, but he did appear to have been expecting a reprimand.
Ducky helped himself to another cup of tea, then began talking with Abby as she filled the dishwasher racks with their dirty dishes.
"Boss?" Tony asked quietly, squirming a bit in his chair.
Gibbs leaned across the table and asked, "What do you think I'm going to say, Anthony?"
Tony tried for humour, "Uhm, you're going to say that from now on I don't have to take a turn in the kitchen?"
Gibbs didn't respond.
At the sink, Ducky laughed at something Abby said.
Tony was silent for a few seconds, then Gibbs reached over and tapped him under the chin. Tony sighed in resignation, "Ok, I know, Boss. You are upset because I was late to work and late back from lunch, right?"
"Right- but why do you think I am so irritated?"
"Probably, you're irritated because you told me last night that being late better not happen today." Tony replied, honestly.
Abby had come over to remove the last of the dishes from the table in front of them. Pleased that Tony was in trouble, she seized a golden opportunity and interjected, "Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs, I remember that. You told him that very clearly, and still, look what he did!"
Tony glared at her in return, and she smirked. Her contribution didn't please Gibbs, however. "I don't recall asking for your help, Young Lady."
Abby didn't answer, but did head back to the sink, satisfied that the damage was done. Out of Jethro's vision she stuck her tongue out at Tony.
That was the final straw with Tony. "Boss, I know you're about to throw some kind of punishment at me for the tardies, but you know what? I am really not the only one in this room who needs to go down. I'm not the only one who didn't listen to you last night by any stretch of the imagination. Would you like me to share with you where Baby Girl spent her own evening, despite your explicit orders not to leave her place?"
That brought about an outraged gasp from Abby, who put both hands on her hips and answered angrily, "No, no, no you don't put my name into this, Tony. You are not going to get me in trouble!"
"Want to bet?" demanded Tony, reaching into his pocket to pull out his cell phone. Flipping it open, he scrolled until he found what he wanted. Triumphantly, he leaned over the table so that Gibbs could see. "See, Boss? That's Abby last night with her friends outside of the exact same night club where I went with my date. I remember distinctly that you told her right here in this kitchen to absolutely not go anywhere last night."
Gibbs grabbed the phone and brought it closer to see the image, then looked from it to Abby. She had the good sense to stay silent then.
Ducky looked at Abby and said wisely, "Sometimes, my dear, it is better to just be quiet about what you know."
Jethro recovered from the shock of proof of such blatant disobedience and raised his voice. "Get over here, right now!"
Abby obeyed, trying to think of a way to talk herself into his good graces. Taking the seat right beside Tony, she kicked him angrily under the table the second she sat down. He kicked back, eliciting an angry, "Move your chairs away from each other and keep your body parts to yourselves!" from Jethro.
They did.
Gibbs took several seconds to calm down and absorb all of the new facts, then shook his head. He finally turned to Tony. "What time is the movie you're watching tonight?"
Tony was surprised by the question. "It starts at nine, Boss."
"Ok," was the response, "then I expect you back inside this house by 11:30. Getting home early tonight will balance out the fact that you stayed out way too late last night. Am I clear?"
Tony reluctantly answered, "I guess, but Boss, I have to take Marissa back to her place first-"
"There is no guessing about it, Anthony. Either you go and get back by 11:30, or you don't go at all. Which is it?"
"I'll take the 11:30 option, then," was the quick response.
"Good, now I am finished with you."
Tony slid out of his chair gratefully, pleased that the evening still held a semblance of promise. Leaning back down, he reminded, "Boss, I still get the basketball back tomorrow, right? My buddies are coming over to shoot hoops."
Gibbs nodded, and Tony made eye contact with Abby. He saw the very second she realized that producing the cell phone picture was in retaliation for getting him in trouble with the basketball. He raised his eyebrows knowingly and jogged up the stairs to get ready.
Abby's mood had disintegrated further, and she scowled in Jethro's direction. He turned to regard her. "Where's your phone?"
Abby patted the pocket of her dress.
"Pull it out," he ordered. "I am giving you ten minutes on that phone before I take it. I suggest that you call the people with whom you had plans tonight and tomorrow and let them know you won't be going anywhere at all this weekend."
He consulted his watch, and with a display of attitude, Abby sighed loudly and opened the phone, muttering under her breath.
Gibbs tapped her under the chin and added, "Keep that up, and all of this is going to be extended through next weekend. Is that clear, Young Lady?"
Abby sat still several seconds, then shook her head and attempted a weak smile. Losing the weekend was bad news, but continuing it through the next one would be unbearable. She answered quietly, "It's clear."
Gibbs stood up and joined Ducky by the sink, then motioned to the basement. "Come, Dr. Mallard, let's go downstairs.
The two headed down into the cavernous depths and Ducky pulled over a chair as Jethro started explaining his latest piece of construction.
A few minutes later Abby made her way gently down the steps. She approached Jethro and handed him her phone, then turned to Ducky. "If you get bored down here, come join me in watching tv."
Jethro pocketed the phone, and the men watched her leave. Ducky looked at his friend. "You do have your hands full with Anthony and Abigail, Jethro."
Both men laughed, and the conversation resumed.
A half hour later Tony appeared at the top of the steps, dressed for his date, and knelt down to peer under the railing. "I'm gone, Boss."
Gibbs stopped working to regard him, and instructed, "Have a good time, but if you see that your physical body isn't going to be in this house by 11:30, go ahead and tell your date and your friends you won't be seeing them again for quite a while. You will be losing the phone and the car, and will be benched for a couple of weeks the second you do walk in this house late."
Tony accepted the option with a grimace. "Yes, sir, I got it. I'll be home on time." Then he bid the two good bye and departed.
Gibbs sighed dramatically and looked towards the upstairs, "It has been an exhausting week."
Ducky opened his mouth to speak but Gibbs suddenly interrupted with a grin. "I know, Dr. Mallard, this reminds you..."
Ducky laughed, "Ah, Jethro, you do know me so well! It reminds me of one of my mother's cousins, this father who lived in a fishing village in Wales with two headstrong children..."
