As soon as we return to the NCIS office Ziva rises behind her desk.

"The driver confessed Gibbs, Tony is booking him in downstairs now," she reports.

"Good. Now you're on protective detail for a while," he says, nodding at me.

"Very well," she replies as Gibbs walks towards the back elevator. Then she turns to me. "Karen, how would you like to blow off a stream?" she asks.

"Excuse me? Come again?" I query.

"Oh, did I say that wrong? I meant to reduce stress."

"Oh, blow off some steam," I say, understanding. "Sure, what have you got in mind?"

"My favourite stress reliever, come with me," she says, walking to the elevator.

"Whaddaya got Abs?" Gibbs says as he comes into the lab.

"You're five minutes late Gibbs, don't tell me your gut is slipping," Abby says, mock-sternly. "Of course, I didn't mean physically, that's still perfect, but-"

"Abs, I had to drop Karen off with Ziva first, now what do you have," he cuts in impatiently.

"Oh, ok. Tell him what we got Tim," she says, gesturing a hand over to me.

"Boss, the email came from an account belonging to SeaTech Systems. They're a contractor to the Navy and have put in a tender to the AEGIS system upgrade, doing computer-" I stop as I see the 'get to the point' glare on Gibbs' face. "Uh, the email doesn't have a staff member listed, it's a general account. But we were able to find the address of the computer that sent it, if I can get access to their network I should be able to track it down."

"Right, tomorrow we'll go do a security audit on them, see what we can find," Gibbs announces.

"Uh, Boss, you do realise we have to have a reason to do that-"

"No, really McGee?" he shoots back, sarcastically. "I'll get on to Senator Hobson for authorization," he says. Looking at his watch he continues, "Got anything else for me?"

"Well," I start.

"Spit it out McGee," Gibbs orders.

"Last night Karen told me that her parents were killed in a hit and run which she witnessed. Her testimony led to the conviction and imprisonment of a drug runner, Paul-"

"Johnston," Gibbs interrupts. "Got something I don't know McGee?"

"When he was convicted he made death threats against Karen. He was released two weeks ago, whereabouts unknown at this time," I report.

"All right, put a BOLO out on him."

"On it Boss," I say and turn to the computer.

"You got anything else Abs?"

"Nothing from me Gibbs."

"Okay, go home, both of you. Be here at 0730 tomorrow McGee," he orders as he strides out of the lab. Abby turns to me.

"So Tim, any plans for the rest of the day?"

"Not really, I kinda thought we'd be here all day," I admit, putting the finishing touches on the BOLO.

"Great, that means we can go bowling!" she exclaims happily.

"Bowling, uh, I don't know if Karen will-"

"Yes she will, just this morning she challenged me to a 3 game match."

"Okay, let's go find her."

THOCK! The knife thuds into the wood, quivering.

"Good!" Ziva praises me, "You are an organic."

"A what?" I ask.

"A natural," Tony answers from the doorway.

"Yes, a natural," Ziva agrees. I walk to the crate the target is attached to and pull the knife from it. I walk back to the throwing line, turn to face the target and throw the knife again, this time I hit the target dead centre.

"Whoa!" Tony observes, now standing beside Ziva. "Nice work!"

"Beginners luck," I say as I retrieve the knife again.

"Not at all," Ziva objects, "you're a natural like I said."

I fold the knife and hand it to her but she smiles and shakes her head.

"Keep it, everyone who can throw that well should have their own knife."

"Yeah, and you can now keep rule nine too," Tony adds as I put the knife in my pocket.

"Rule nine?" I ask quizzically.

"Never go anywhere without a knife," Tim says, standing in the doorway with Abby beside him.

"Whose rule is that?" I ask.

"Gibbs'" everyone else says in unison. I can't help smiling.

"Speaking of Gibbs, he's given us the rest of the day off," Tim announces as he and Abby walk over to us.

"So I thought we could go bowling," adds Abby. "There's an alley not too far away, it's where I bowl with the nuns."

"You bowl with nuns?" I ask in disbelief.

"Sure, what's the problem?"

"What do they think of your skull ball?"

"They're the ones who bought it for me," she states.

I notice Tim and Ziva looking very confused.

"You'll see at the alley," I promise. "That reminds me, I need to get my ball from home."

"Okay, we'll swing past there, let's see," Tim looks at his watch, "it's Eleven o'clock now, how about we meet there at Twelve for lunch, then we'll bowl. Tony, Ziva, you guys want to come too?"

"Sure thing McGee," Tony answers quickly, Ziva simply nods her assent.

"Great!" Abby exclaims.

"Ready to go?" Tim asks me.

"Sure, see you there guys," I say as we leave.

Author's note:

Sorry it's been so long folks, I have not really been in the mood so to speak and even forcing myself to write didn't work. I am thinking this will conclude in for to five more chapters or so with the last few having months in between them timeline-wise.