Disclaimer still applies; Not Beta'd

This story is not Tim/Abby; McAbby, however, the two do have a history together. Because of their past, they are closer/know more about one another than normal coworkers, that shows in this story & in this chapter.

"Tim, there's no need to do that," Tony stated, as he watched Tim lightly run his gloved hand over his keyboard, phone, desk drawers, any surface that superglue could be applied to.

"Yeah, because you never put superglue on anything of mine when you're bored."

"You heard Gibbs order me to dismantle anything I might've done to your desk."

"Yeah, yesterday."

"Exactly. Do you really think I would go against his orders?"

"It wouldn't be against his orders," Tim retorted. "It's a new day, no doubt you would think it, I, would be fair game today."

"Tim, I didn't do anything."

"And I should just take you're word on that?" Tim retorted.

"Well, yeah, would I lie to you?" Tony asked, continuing when Tim just snorted. "I mean about anything important."

"So superglueing me to my desk and booby trapping it is important?"

"What? No…I mean yes in the sense I wouldn't lie about it."

"Uh-huh. But if it's all the same with you, I'll continue my testing."

"Fine," Tony agreed, watching Tim for another 5 minutes. "Where'd you get the glove anyway?"

"Abby."

Tony snickered, "You guys playing doctor?"

"DiNozzo, knock it off unless you want to be a critical patient," Gibbs commented as he returned to the bullpen, watching the younger agent check his desk.

"Yes, boss," Tony agreed, turning back to his desk.

An hour later at the ringing of Gibbs' phone, Tony stopped what he was working on and stared at him. After hanging up the phone, without saying anything other than his name as a greeting, the older man looked at his agents.

"Tim, Tony, it's gonna be a late night tonight," Gibbs informed them.

"What? Why?" Tony whined. It was the only good thing about cold cases, the fact that they got out of the office at a reasonable time.

"There's a meeting at 1930 in the evidence garage tonight. Make sure you are both there. Tim, if Tony's doesn't need any more help,"

"I'm good, boss, I can handle this," Tony quickly chimed in to reassure him.

"Get back downstairs and see Abby," Gibbs continued ignoring the interruption.

Tony snickered, as he wondered how much of Abby Probie was going to see and if the futon will be in their future once again.

"Problem, DiNozzo?"

"No, boss, just wondering why the evidence garage."

"Need a large room for a large meeting," he replied. "Tim, go; Tony, cold cases."

"Yeah," Tony faked enthusiasm. You know it's gonna be a long day if a large building wide meeting is his highpoint.

Tony paused as he stood by the lab doors. He really wanted to know what was going on, enough that he snuck out of the bullpen, took the stairs down, so he wouldn't alert someone when the elevator doors pinged open, and hid out of sight of the lab door. Why Gibbs was so worried. Why Tim had been spending the last few days in Abby's lab. Why Abby was running test on things but not for a case. And more importantly, why everyone was being so secretive about it and not telling him or letting him help.

He told Tim he was going to investigate, and while he hadn't learned anything or discovered any clues upstairs, he figured he would try his luck down here. So what if in this case investigating meant eavesdropping?

"Hey, you're awake."

"Yeah, thanks for the use of the futon, again," Tim replied.

"No problem, I actually joined you for a bit again." Tony smirked, so he was right. If Gibbs only knew what those two were up to, he probably wouldn't send McLover to help Abby anymore.

"I know. I recognized your cold feet," Tony heard Tim tease his friend. Tony grinned, he hadn't heard his friend joke around with the lab rat in a long time. Then he grinned even more as he imagined Abby's response to Tim's teasing.

"You feeling better now?" Definitely not what he would've expected her to say. I mean, sure, Tim didn't look well today, but neither did he look sick. Maybe he missed something?

"Much. I really needed that after last night." Outside the door, Tony grinned in anticipation. Were the secrets of last night about to be revealed?

"I know. Last night was exhausting. I can imagine how you must feel. I'm tired, but I know I slept, I don't think you did, after you came."

Tony's mouth dropped to the ground at the revelation that the two were together last night. Whoa, this was more serious than he thought. Probie and Abby together again? He suspected something was up this summer when Gibbs was in Mexico, but he thought it was just two friends being supportive of one another. He was so caught up in his thoughts, he missed part of their conversation, refocusing his attention, he once more listened to the conversation going on in the lab.

"…baby."

At this his eyes went wide. No wonder Abby was running tests and Gibbs was acting so strange and worried. Abby was having a baby. Abby and McGee were having a baby. Tony grinned at the thought. He was going to be an uncle. The eavesdropper had to stop himself of clapping his hands and shouting in glee. That kid was definitely going to need his help when it came to sports. Tony was ready to curse himself for once again missing part of their conversations, when he heard Abby speak again.

"Are you sure everything's okay? I mean, I know something else is going on with you. It's not just last night, but yesterday morning, I mean, even Tony mentioned that you seemed drained." she said nervously, though he was a little upset she brought him into it.

"I'm fine."

"It's just…you had me worried last night," Tony knew this was true, he could hear it in her voice. "I mean, when I called to tell you, first you say-"

"Abs," Tim interrupted, "I know. I'm sorry."

"And then you were so panicked about-"

"I know," he interrupted again. Tony heard footsteps in the lab, no doubt it was McGee going to comfort his girl.

"And when you got there, you were so worried, I mean, you wouldn't even sleep. I had made room, got a pillow for you and everything, but y-"

"Abby, I know. And I'm sorry if I scared you or hurt you with my reaction," Tim said softly, almost too soft for Tony to hear, "It's just...well, it was…um, let's just say it's something from my past, and leave it at that for now, okay?"

"Okay," Abby reluctantly agreed, though Tony is surprised she let it go so easily, that really wasn't like her. Then again, it wasn't like Tim to interrupt anyone, especially Abby and he did that three times in as many minutes.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"I know," he replied, before Tony heard the distinctive sound of kissing occurring in the lab, taking that as his cue, he pressed the button for the elevator and waited. When the doors finally opened with a ding, he turned and walked towards the lab, calling out to his friend.

"Abby, you have to help me."

"Tony? Why what's wrong?" Abby asked as she stepped out of Tim's arms.

"I'm in cold case hell," he replied, turning to Tim when he snickered in response. "Hey, you can laugh, but you're not the one up there alone with no one to talk to. No distractions, just file after file after file. You don't know what it's like."

Tim arched and eyebrow, "I don't know what it's like," he repeated. "Do I have to remind you that usually, I'm left behind to run searches, track cell phones, check finances and such while the rest of you leave to follow up on the clues I find?"

"Well, yeah, but you like doing that stuff."

"I also like being in the field. Hence why I became a field agent," he stressed.

"And you go out in the field, but sometimes you're needed elsewhere. Play to your strengths," Tony pointed out. "But you haven't been on cold cases with me this week since Monday."

"I'm playing to my strengths," Tim retorted, causing Abby to chuckle.

Tony looked between the two, muttering "Playing something."

"Huh?" The two asked in unison. Tony shook his head. Seriously, how did he miss he fact that these two were together again. Yesterday, deciding Chinese food with just a look. Honestly, they were so in sync with each other it couldn't be more obvious. He rolled his eyes at himself, and he thought he was one of the top investigators at NCIS.

"Nothing, just frustrated at all the cold cases," he explained away his mumbling. "And I better get back before Gibbs notices me gone."

Tim and Abby nodded, the former saying "Let me see what I need to finish here and then I'll be up."

So, Tony thinks Abby is pregnant, wonder what he'll do with that information...

MOAS=Mother of All Secrets...what Tony thinks he stumbled onto

5-31-18