A/N: First off, I'd like to thank all those that have been giving us feedback! Both of us really appreciate hearing from you guys!
Second of all, Tiva-ness will be in the next chapter...so stick with us!
Most of all, keep the reviews coming! And hope you enjoy this next chapter!
As Abby swung her pigtails in time to the Brain Matter song blaring in the background, Gibbs encountered what he truly believed was a racket.
"What do you got, Abs?" Gibbs forcefully shouted over the music.
"Gibbs!" She swung her head around. "I wasn't expecting you!" Pressing a final button, she completed what she had convinced herself to be a worthy cause; even so, Abby couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Luckily for her, her emotions went unnoticed by Gibbs.
Taking a few moments to recover, she began to chatter excitedly. "Have you ever heard of Brain Matter? Because you really should listen to them sometime! I have a bunch of CDs I could lend you and—"Her incessant babbling, however, was soon interrupted.
"Abs," Gibbs said pointedly.
"Right...you're not interested in that."
"So?" he asked expectantly.
"Um...I'm out of Caf-Pows?"
Gibbs crossed his arms. "I don't care, Abby."
"But Gibbs! You should!"
His face unreadable, Gibbs stared at her.
Abby's shoulders slumped. "Did...did Timmy talk to you?" She asked hesitantly.
Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "Should he have talked to me?"
"Well...maybe...I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Actually maybe I do. But you don't know. Or you can't know. Or...or...where's McGee?"
"McGee—"
At the mention of McGee's name, Abby's face lit up. I've got it. "McGee" she began. "He just wanted to tell you about my computer."
"Your computer?" Gibbs sounded sceptical.
"Mm-hmm, because you see..." Abby began to sound embarrassed. "I accidentally pressed a button or two, and it crashed on me. So, well," she paused, then spoke in a rush. "Timmy just went up there to tell you that." Good job, Abs, she congratulated herself, her mental voice sounding a lot like Gibbs'.
"McGee came upstairs to tell me that your computer crashed?" Gibbs shook his head. And he couldn't even tell me that?
Abby nodded her head vigorously trying to convince Gibbs.
"And only he can fix this, you're telling me?"
Trying to look as believable as she could, she nodded her head once more. Gibbs searched her eyes for any sign of dishonesty. Not finding any, he realized that he only had one more option. Tony and Ziva. Frustration bubbled up as he left abruptly once more.
"Gibbs?" Abby called for him. Hearing no answer in reply, Abby sighed as she turned back to her computer. She couldn't understand why Gibbs was behaving so strangely. Whatever it was, she didn't like it. But she smiled happily to herself as she went to call McGee about her supposed computer crash. Operation Tiva was now in effect!
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Sighing at one more interruption, McGee looked at his caller ID. Abby. Picking up his phone, he answered. Or rather, he tried to answer.
"Timmy!!!" Abby's enthusiastic reply cut off McGee's answer. Not waiting for a second, Abby continued. "I need you to help me in the lab."
"Help you?" McGee answered in disbelief. "You need me?"
"Yes, McGee. I need you."
Still, McGee was sceptical. "For what?"
"For what? Don't you trust me, McGee?"
"Well, of course I do, but—"
"No buts, McGee. I need you in the lab...NOW!"
Abby's tone didn't escape McGee's notice and minutes later, he arrived in her lab. Seeing nothing out of order, McGee looked half-convinced.
"What's going on, Abby? And why do you have that look on your face again?"
Attempting to look innocent, Abby finally responded. "What look? And of course something is going on! My computer crashed!"
"Abby!"
"What?"
"You got me to come down here for a computer crash?" McGee couldn't believe it. "Seriously?"
Abby groaned to herself. He doesn't get it. She punched him in the arm lightly. "McGee! This is the way you can get out of having to go on stakeout with Tony!"
McGee's eyes lit up at Abby's last few words. No pranks from Tony! "Abby...you are a genius!" And with that he wrapped his arms around Abby for a quick hug.
Abby looked very self-satisfied. "I know." Especially, she told herself, when it comes to match-making!
As he pulled back though, he remembered the looks on Abby's face from earlier on...the look that he knew meant that he was in for something. Something that he definitely did not want to be involved in.
