It was dark and raining outside, and there'd been a number of loud thunderclaps that made her jump out of her skin a few times and she glanced out of the ground level windows of her lab, watching the endless parade of feet sloshing past.

Abby Sciuto returned her attention to the computer in front of her, typing away furiously on the keyboard. She needed to finish the DNA results and analysis of the bullet fragments as she knew any moment Gibbs would arrive, unseen and expecting answers. She stopped for a moment, draining the last of her Caf-pow, as she waited for her computer to talk to her.

She lifted her head, cocking it. "You're a few seconds early, not fair," she announced, as her boss appeared behind her.

"Ding."

"There." She grinned, hitting the key to print her results. "The DNA is a match but the bullet frag is inconclusive."

"Yeah but the DNA will make our case open and shut. Good job Abs, " Gibbs whispered in her ear, giving her a peck on the cheek as he handed her the jumbo cup of Caf-pow and turned to leave the lab.

"Hey Gibbs Gibbs Gibbs...what gives with Ducky? He left for a vacation without saying good bye? Is he alright, you'd tell me if there was something wrong, right. I mean, he's not sick or anything is he?"

"He's fine Abby, Ducky just needed some time away from his job, that's all. He did ask me to tell you he was sorry for going off without saying anything."

She looked at him, squinting one eye nearly closed. "You sure he's okay?"

"Look Abs, if you're so worried about him; give him a call. It's not like he's gone to the moon."

"Where did he go?"

"He went home to see some family in Scotland. Satisfied?"

Abby crinkled her nose. "Yeah...I suppose."

"Good." Gibbs said, leaning in and giving her another kiss, this time on the forehead. He sauntered out of the room and to the elevator, not saying another word. Sometimes he was amazed how brilliant, yet how waif-like Abby could be. Yet she held a special place in his heart, as kookie as she could be sometimes; he knew he loved her, almost like a daughter.

Kelly would have never grown up to be like her, but at times Abby was a comforting substitute.

He supposed that was why he showed her the affection he did. He never had feelings like that with Kate...Ziva though; he found himself feeling a bit fatherly with her, but more worry than he had with Abby. Ziva carried too many burdens, and he was the only one that knew most of them. She'd developed a bond with Ducky and would often seek his advice, but still there were things she held back from him as well. She was a tough nut to crack, and crack she finally did over her Ari and her father's final rejection of her. He could never understand that about Eli David, treating Ziva like an asset instead of like his daughter. That was something that ate away at her, in spite of her protests she had come to an understanding and resolved those issues.

There was a longing in Ziva to be loved, to have her father's love, like so many abandoned children felt. Gibbs was even mad at his own father for years until they'd finally talked things over...still it was an uneasy peace with Jackson Gibbs. They were both stubborn and guilty of mistakes, but their relationship was at least on the mend. With Ziva and Eli David, Gibbs wasn't so sure.

.

Ziva sat at her desk typing out a report when she realized there were eyes staring at her, feeling as though they were boring two holes in the back of her head.

"Tony, what are you doing?"

"Oh, umm, I was going to ask if Gibbs said anything to you about a message from Ducky?"

He asked, moving to sit on the corner of her desk.

"Enh! Off now, please."

Tony slipped off, standing at attention, watching Ziva rearrange the position of the potted plant she kept on her desk.

"So did Gibb say anything to you?"

"Only that Ducky sent an apology for not telling us good bye before he left," she answered, continuing again to type on the keyboard.

"Nothing else, nothing revealing?"

"Tony, as I said, you need to keep your nose out other people's business...you know there are two types of listeners. The ones who actually care, and the ones who are just nosey. I think you are the ladder.

"I think you mean latter."

"Whatever, the point is that you need to stop probing into everyone's personal affairs."

Tony grinned, imitating Sean Connery's voice. "Ah, my dea-ha, that's the crux of the matta isn't it...Ducky boy's 'affairs' and I'm not not talkin' business here." He switched back to his own voice.

Gibbs came into the squad room via the elevator at a fast walk, heading straight to his desk and gathering his glasses, notebook and his Sig from his desk drawer.

"Saddle up, got a dead Navy officer and possibly a friend just outside of Woodbridge." He stopped for a second, looking at his three agents, and finally tossing the keys to McGee, who grinned with satisfaction.

"Aw come on Boss, Mc Turtle here drives like an old man," Tony whined.

"Do not," McGee retorted.

"Do too."

"Not!"

"Do."

"Knock it off you two, what are you a pair of five year olds?" Gibbs hollered, snatching the keys from McGees hand and tossing them to Ziva, who dangled them like a prize.

"Aw Boss, now that's just not right, she drives too fast," Tony protested.

"What are you chicken, DiNozzo, " Gibbs walked past him, giving him a quick slap on the back of the head, and headed for the elevator.

Tony whispered to Ziva, keeping his voice low. "You know according to our new policy, that could be considered harassment."

"I heard that DiNozzo and if you three don't get your asses in this elevator, then I will be doing some real harassment and handing out some pink slips." Gibbs bellowed at them as he held the elevator door open.

The three of them scrambled, beating feet to get into the elevator before the doors closed.

"Sorry Boss," Tony quipped.

Gibbs reached up with two hands, slapping both Mc Gee and Di Nozzo on the back of their heads without batting an eye.

They both looked like they were going to complain when Gibbs cut them off.

"Not another word out of the two of you."

Tony gestured, zipping his lip with his fingers and he shot a look at Mc Gee who simply rolled his eyes.