Disclaimers: It's annoying to have to do this every chapter. Usual disclaimers apply.
A/N: Also, Happy Father's Day! :D
Chapter Seven
"Boss, I think we should check out this Bill Wolff guy. Says here he lives in an apartment near that Chinese place we always go to." Tony suggests with his mouth full of a breakfast burrito.
"We second and third that!" Abby raises her right hand and raises McGee's hand with her left. Gibbs looks over to Kate who offers a small nod of agreement.
"Okay. Tony, McGee, bring him in and interrogate him." They obey their orders and quickly grab their gear. Abby walks over and sits on the edge of Kate's desk.
"So, Kate. Been sleeping better? You mentioned before that you hadn't been sleeping well."
"Yeah, I've been sleeping much better." Lie.
Abby raises her eyebrows. "Really? 'Cause you still look like hell." Kate glares at her friend, but only for a second.
"Thanks a lot, Abby. Nice to know I can always count on you to make me feel better." She snaps kiddingly. They continue small talk for a few more minutes until Abby finally waves goodbye and skips over to the elevator.
"Hello!" Tony shouts while pounding his fists on the door.
"Tony, I don't think he's home."
"NCIS, open your door or we'll break it down!"
"Tony…"
He cups his hands against his face. "HELLOOOOO!"
A door opens down the hall and a middle aged man walks out angrily.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm look for Bill Wolff." He points to the door. "He lives here."
The man shakes his head. "No he doesn't. He moved a couple a' weeks ago."
"Did he leave a forwarding address?" McGee asks calmly.
"Yeah." The man mumbles and signals them to come into his apartment. McGee and Tony stand cautiously at the door while waiting for the man to give them the address. Dirty clothes and paper plates are scattered around the floor. One plate is stuck to the wall, God only knows how. Tony sticks his tongue out in disgust and quickly fixes his face when he sees the old man walk back out. He scratches the top of his balding head as he hands them the small strip that's covered in food stains.
"Thank you." Tony fakes a smile and they leave. Once the man closes the door, Tony turns to McGee. "Did you see that plate stuck to the wall?!" A gag escapes Tony's throat as they walk back to the elevator. "I think I need a shower just from being in there." He shudders while McGee rolls his eyes.
Kate quietly opens the door to Abby's lab and is immediately engulfed in the loud screamo music that's being played. She watches her friend dance around with a Caf-Pow while waiting for her beloved machines to give her results.
"Abby!" She shouts unsuccessfully. She tries again; nothing. Her eyes scan the lab for the source of the music.
Abby turns around as her music suddenly disappears but no one is there. She walks over to her stereo to find the plug had been pulled from the wall. She reaches to plug it back in when she hears someone behind her.
"Hey." Kate smiles as Abby jumps back.
"That was very Gibbs-like." The Goth compliments. "What d'yah need?"
"I need that computer decrypted." Abby puts down her Caf-Pow.
"Kate, you know I'm still working on it. You also know it's not going to be done any time soon." She feels guilty once she realizes this is not the answer her best friend wants. "I'm sorry. Believe me, when I find anything, you'll be the first to know." She rests a hand on her shoulder as a means of comfort, but she can see that it's not doing much. "You sure there's nothing wrong?"
Kate chews her bottom lip nervously as she remembers Rule #4: The best way to keep a secret is to keep it to yourself. Second best? Tell one other person, but only if you must. There is no third best. She had already told one other person. Gibbs knowing was bad enough.
"I…" she starts knowing that she has to be careful. Hurting Abby is not her goal. "I can't tell you right now, but I promise you that it's nothing you have to worry about."
"I try to believe that and then I see you." She responds, referring back at the "you look like hell" comment from earlier.
"Abby." Kate chides. "It'll all be sorted out soon, I promise." She hugs her friend and then leaves.
Upstairs, Gibbs is alone in the bullpen being watched by the Director.
"What do you want, Jen?" He asks without looking up from his paperwork.
"Just observing, Jethro." She smirks, knowing that Gibbs doesn't like her staring over his shoulder.
"Don't." He commands.
A few minutes later, Kate steps out of the elevator and heads over to her desk with Jenny's eyes following her the whole way. Kate feels she's being watched and glares at the Director briefly who backs up and disappears into her office. Gibbs chuckles.
"Something funny, Gibbs?" She asks, slightly annoyed.
He shakes his head and reaches over to take a sip of his coffee.
McGee and Tony step out of the elevator, gear in hand. The senior field agent sprints to Kate's desk and slams a piece of paper down, without even stopping.
Kate looks down at the dirty strip of paper that has been thrown on her desk.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs barks.
"Tony, what the hell are you doing? What is this?" She asks, both startled and annoyed by his actions.
"It's Bill Wolff's new address. Got it from the landlord. Nice guy." He adds sarcastically. Kate reaches into her bag and places a pair of gloves on. "You're putting gloves on?" Tony laughs.
"Have you seen this piece of paper. God only knows what's on it, where it's been. It's disgusting…like you." She carefully unfolds the piece of paper and recognizes the address immediately.
Tony and McGee collect their belongings. "We're heading out, Boss." Gibbs nods and they leave. Kate and Gibbs work silently until Gibbs goes upstairs to talk the Director.
Kate seizes her window of opportunity and frantically gets hear gear together. Her hand shakes as she writes something on a sticky note and places it on his computer screen.
She jogs back to her desk to grab her bag and her gun and runs to the stairs, the elevator's too slow.
As she runs to her car, she curses herself for parking so far away, with Lilly in tow.
