CJ stood leaning against Jimmy's desk as he finished cleaning up from his latest body. She watched his assistant and was positive that her earlier assessment that he was useless and not a 'keeper' was only reinforced as he was unable to clean up the instruments and mess around the room without asking Jimmy every two seconds what to do next. The generally laid back and easy going ME was snapping by the time he instructed CJ to sit up on the closest table.
CJ instead stood in front of the table and held out her bandaged hand for him to examine.
"C'mon CJ up on the table, it's easier for me to work and then you can rest your elbow on your knee and you won't have to hold up your arm like that" pointing to how she was awkwardly holding it against her body.
"It's ok Jimmy, I'll be fine holding it like this" CJ really didn't want to sit any more than absolutely necessary and Jimmy was not taking the hint. Without warning Jimmy once again lifted her under her arms up onto the table and deposited her none too gently on her complaining bottom. He was not a stupid man and was well aware of what she was doing and wasn't going to allow it. "Now, let's see that hand." He began to carefully peel away the bandaging and burn pads he had wrapped around each finger yesterday. The burns weren't very large but were quite severe. He cleaned them as tenderly as possible but burns were a painful injury and they were easily infected so he needed to make sure they were healing well.
CJ was wincing and gritting her teeth the entire time Jimmy worked on her fingers. It really hurt. Her dad needn't have tanned her hide she thought, the painful burn care would have been more than enough to remind her of the absolutely stupid thing she'd done. Jimmy concluded his doctoring by wiping away the few tears that has trickled out of CJ's eyes. "It will get easier each day as they heal and they aren't so open" he explained lovingly.
"Thanks Jimmy" she answered hopping down off the table.
"I'll follow you up, I need to tell DiNozzo, ah, your dad something" Jimmy offered as he followed her out of autopsy and into the elevator. CJ had left autopsy for the first time in her life that day without a 'I remember a time' story. It was a sad moment, she hoped it was that Jimmy was preoccupied with work or something and not that he wasn't interested in sharing stories with her anymore. The bull pen seemed to be full of people, it may have been the fact that they were all standing around the plasma, or just the fact that not only was the team there so were Gibbs and the director.
CJ held back to spend a moment or two assessing what was happening and whether it was 'safe' to enter the fray and Jimmy almost ran into her not expecting her to stop midstride. He too took a moment to determine exactly what was going on, the crowd was smiling and comfortable. CJ finally processed what was on the plasma, it was the video that Mr. Cooperland the principal had taken of her 'display'. The gathered crowd was now laughing and she heard someone say "She has a lot of nerve, I guess that's what you get when you let two special agents produce children." Everyone but Tony laughed. Henry's head snapped forward from the serious smack Tony applied to the back of it. "Shutting up now Boss" Henry said rubbing the back of his head while he slunk away to his desk.
Someone clicked the controller as soon as they spotted CJ and Jimmy off to the side and a few throats cleared. The director made his excuses and left going to the stairs in the opposite direction of where CJ was standing. Jimmy stepping around CJ and pulling Tony to the side to speak with him privately for few minutes. Realizing that no one was paying her close attention and not wanting to answer any questions about the video or any other incidents she may have been involved in CJ backed away keeping her eyes on them as she retreated. At the elevator she finally turned and entered as the doors dinged open. She hit the button for Abby's lab and waited.
The doors slid open and an uneasiness fell over her. Maybe Abby would be mad that she'd been caught and got them into so much trouble. Maybe she wouldn't want to see her. Maybe she would yell at CJ for not being more careful.
Abby stood in her lab waiting, she'd heard the elevator doors open but no one came in. Who would linger in the hallway and not come right in? She kept looking over her shoulder every few seconds so that she wasn't startled when whoever it was finally entered. And then out of the corner of her eye she saw CJ peek around the corner and then duck back into the hallway. Abby ran as best she could in her knee high platforms and grabbed CJ in a crushing embrace. CJ didn't get an opportunity to say a word before Abby's rant began.
"Oh CJ are you ok?... you're ok right?... Gibbs said you were going to be ok.. I am so sorry, you forgive me.. please say you forgive me… I was so wrong… I shouldn't have given you those firecrackers.. I shouldn't have agreed to the duel.. I should have helped you stay safe.. it was all my fault… it was horrible of me… I feel so bad.. are you ok? CJ say something…" Abby instructed almost angrily as she pulled CJ away from her body so that she could see her face.
"ABBY!" CJ half shouted. "I can't say anything with you rambling on like a maniac" giving her partner in crime a knowing smile. Abby hugged her tightly again. She was ok , she was CJ. "Abs, I'm fine… a little worse for wear but on the mend… or at least that's what Jimmy tells me… he wouldn't lie would he?" again CJ finished with a smile. Abby breathed normally for the first time all day. She had now encountered everyone who would have something to say to her about the mess she'd caused and they all had forgiven her, well not Ziva, but Abby was sure with a little time she would come around too.
"You're not mad at me?" CJ ventured when Abby finally let go of her.
"Me… mad at you.. that is just crazy talk.. why would I be mad at you?" Abby's confused look staring back at CJ.
"Because I got caught, which meant you got caught and you wouldn't have if I hadn't. And I thought you might get in trouble and blame me" shrugging as she explained.
"I got in trouble because of what I did, not because of what you did, Got IT!" she emphasized the last syllables.
"Got IT!" CJ assured her.
CJ joined Abby at her computer in the main lab area and the two exchanged stories about the specifics of the previous day. Gibbs and Tony arrived in search of CJ and interrupted the rolling giggles that were completely out of control as CJ tried to impersonate both Gibbs and Tony at the same time. Although neither man was angry Gibbs instructed "Let's go CJ you are having far too much fun for a day of suspension from school."
Hugging Abby one last time, CJ whispered in her ear "I love you Abs" and then scooted to keep up with Gibbs who had already made his way to the elevator.