Hi Guys. Here is the latest chapter, I'll also point out here, any research I am getting re police/court proceeding for the US is coming from the net... so apologies if I make any probie blunders, just roll your eyes and remember I'm an Aussie! I have a day off tomorrow so I will hopefully be able to write/edit more so I might be able to post another chapter on the weekend. Thanks very much for all the continued feedback it's lovely! ~ Ozzyols
Thursday July 14
Gibbs had a problem. It had been nearly two weeks since the man they thought was Charles Anderson had 'attacked' Abby and despite the best efforts to the contrary no evidence linking the lobbyist to Abby could be found that wasn't highly circumstantial.
Abby's steadfast refusal to actually name Anderson as her attacker did not help matters. While a victim's cooperation wasn't always required in cases like these, you needed firm physical evidence placing the suspect at the scene to be able to make a case that wouldn't get laughed out of the District Attorney's office.
Two issues hampered the team's efforts further. One, though technically an assault on a federal officer, Abby's attack wasn't something that would normally be investigated by NCIS and Two, it seemed that Anderson was just an out right slimy little weasel.
Ziva's contacts had revealed that the Anderson corporate jet had left with Charles and his wife Patricia on board destined for the Bahamas the day after the attack and Anderson's PA had confirmed that the CEO would be out of town for at least another week.
Tony, in a vain effort to put Anderson at the scene, had tracked his purported movements on the night in question to try and find a hole. That had failed to pan out with every lead Tony tracked down seeming to point to Anderson having been a Dinner in the Foggy Bottom area and then at a rather exclusive and notorious club catering to some… exotic tastes… until the wee small hours of the morning.
Efforts to try and get corroborating evidence other than statements from staff were proving to be elusive. As no crime had been reported with Abby steadfastly refusing to lay charges, no matter how hard her friends tried, there was no grounds to try and get warrants for the restaurant or club footage that might prove Anderson's story to be a lie.
The frustration chaffed them, Tony most of all.
But for one member of the group, Tony's frustration was something to be welcomed – sort of.
A small element of guilt whispered at Abby in the quietness of her mind. She wanted nothing more than to run to Gibbs or Tony and tell them that yes, it was Charles Anderson who had attacked her. How good would it be to unburden herself of this secret? But as one voice told her to do it, another stronger voice reminded her of how monumentally bad an idea that would be. The chances that Gibbs or worse Tony would do something stupendously dumb ranked high on Abby's-dumb-things-to-do-register!
But at least with Anderson out of the picture until at least the end of the week, Abby had been hoping to wheedle more of a reprieve from her Gibbs on the rules he'd set out.
She might has well have been trying to move Cleopatra's Needle with a toothpick. Gibbs remained firm on his resolution that Abby wasn't to be left unescorted when she left the office.
He had at least relented after the first couple of days and agreed to let Abby return home on the proviso that she, a) had her cell and GPS on at all times and b) promised that she wasn't going to go anywhere after hours by herself.
There had been some intense haggling over what was classified as anywhere and after hours that had ended rather abruptly when Gibbs had threatened to move her lock stock and coffin into his basement for an indefinite timeframe.
"I don't have anything else down there at the moment Abs"
And that was the end of that.
To Abby what it basically meant was spending more time with the people she loved – and that was never a bad thing, it was just… well… she didn't have a choice in it and it was really starting to get on her nerves.
From the Navy Yard Gibbs and Tony were the two who had to detour the least to get to her place, so a ritual began.
Gibbs would pick her up in the morning, very 'in the morning', like birds were still blinking 'in the morning'. They would stop for coffee and Caf-Pow before heading into the office; Abby would sit in the car and watch the scenery – trying not to blink, in case she missed it. Gibbs would head to the Squad Room; if Henry was working Abby would have her usual fight over her name and then head to her lab.
In the evening the routine simply reversed itself. Tony would come and collect her from the Lab; they would sometimes stop and grab a bite to eat before he would escort her through the lobby of her building right to her front door.
Abby really actually enjoyed her time with Gibbs and Tony, but that still didn't stop the feelings of inadequacy over being the captain… captainess? of her own destiny.
The long hours in her lab and her apartment gave he time to play over the events of that Saturday night. And the more she thought about it, the more she was certain that she would have been able to handle him if she hadn't been off her game, or had been carrying the stuff she'd been given the last time a lunatic was after her.
Reaching into her backpack Abby drew out the knuckle-dusters Director Shepherd had presented her with and slid them on her hand. Not only did they make an awesomely effective deterrent, but they looked pretty cool as jewellery too. Reaching in once more her hand gripped around the smooth handle of the other item she had added to her bag. How could a girl go wrong when she was packing a Taser!
Handling the gift from Ziva like James Bond handled his Walter PPK, Abby straightened her spine, flush with energy and purpose. Tomorrow was Friday. Tomorrow she was going out, and that was final. She was going to take control of her own life again. Pushing back her chair, she took a spy like stance.
If the guys wanted to come that was their choice, but she was definitely going out and no one was going to stop her!
A sizzling crack split the air. From a shelf near the refrigeration unit, a small grey form fell prone to the floor, two tiny metal barbs sticking out of his plush grey hide.
"Oh No! Bert!"
A clatter of plastic from a discharged Taser hit the floor as Abby raced over to pick up her unintended target.
oXoXoXo
Friday July 15
"You're not going out!"
"Yes I am."
"No you are not."
"Who's gonna stop me?"
Jimmy Palmer sighed. Watching McGee and Abby yell at each other for the past fifteen minutes was not unlike watching a bad 80's sitcom where the Dad was forbidding the teenager daughter from going out to a party. Of course it didn't help matters the fact that McGee was dressed in a fawn coloured suit with a light blue business shirt, and Abby's pseudo school outfit would make a St Trinian's schoolgirl blush.
"C'mon McGee! It's not like we are breaking any of Gibbs rules! Tony and I always stop for a meal"
"No"
"McGEE!"
"Forget it Abby. I like my head where it is thank you."
Abby let out a frustrated sigh. "Look all I want to do is get out of here for just one night."
"Until we are certain that this creep isn't going after you Abs – Gibbs rules apply."
"Gibbs is being unreasonable. Since you guys had that run in at the Buzzard Point, El Sleazo has dropped of the map. He's gone Timmy, in the wind; he's probably not even back in the country yet. But I'm still stuck here like I'm in witness protection or something. Even Jimmy agrees, don't you Jimmy?"
Abby looked past McGee's shoulder to the ME's assistant.
"I… um… I…" Palmer flustered under the scrutinizing glare of McGee. "I don't think it's up to me Abby." Blushing furiously as Abby fixed a glare of her own on him.
McGee scrunched his face and ran a hand over his tired eyes.
Gibbs, Tony and Ziva had gone off earlier in the morning to Norfolk to run down a lead on the latest case they were investigating. It was nearly six and they still hadn't returned.
Both Gibbs and Tony had left pretty explicit instructions as to what Tim was to do with regards to the well being of one Abigail Sciuto and Tim McGee fully intended to obey both of them. If he didn't he knew he wouldn't hear the end of it from Tony until he was dead and in his grave. The only upside being, that probably wouldn't be that long a time as Gibbs would kill him deader than dead in about three second flat – that was if Ziva didn't get to him first.
Unfortunately, Abby's concern for McGee's self preservation was hovering around zero.
McGee could understand the Forensic Techs frustration. His life had never been in danger to the point that he had a protection detail, but he had been sidelined and it chafed not being able to do what was normal in the circumstances. So he was willing to cut Abby a little, miniscule amount of slack… but that still wasn't going make him put his head in the lion's mouth so to speak.
Abby seemed to have other ideas.
"Well. It's my life and my decision – so I am going out." She held up a finger as Tim began to object. "Yes Timothy! I am going out. I am going to get a meal and I am even going to a club. Now, you have two choices, you can come with me, or you can stay here and explain to Gibbs where I went."
Of all the obstinate, pigheaded… "Or there is a third, I could tie you up!" McGee growled.
Abby's eyes sparkled with mischief! "Timothy McGee, promises promises!" Abby snatched her coffin shaped backpack and headed for the door of her office.
McGee's eyes grew wide. She was really going to do this. Tim winced at the decision he was making. If he let her go; he was a dead man. If he went with her; he was possibly a dead man. If he took Palmer with him; he would have an accomplice! He jumped in front of her trying to intercept her. "One promise Abby!"
"What McGee?"
"Palmer comes with us… and we call Tony.
"Deal. So… who's up for Skittle-Bombs?" Abby bounced as she dragged McGee out of the lab, leaving a stunned Palmer in their wake.
The young assistant ME shook his head. This so wasn't going to end well!
oXoXoXo
"Huh, I've got two missed calls. How'd I miss a call?"
Tony practically tossed his pack into its usual corner and placed an evidence box on his desk before slumping down in his seat. The drive back from Norfolk had been a killer!
He'd tried his best to catch some sleep in the back of the car after Ziva had called shotgun, but it was remarkably difficult when blaring horns interrupted your attempts. He wouldn't have minded so much if they had come in a rhythmic pattern, but there was just no continuity to their frequency or length. Much like his Boss's driving!
Ziva, the traitor, appeared to have slept most of the way back. But what was Tony to expect really.
They hadn't left Norfolk until nearly seven, which under normal conditions – barring traffic, would have had them back at the Navy yard around ten, ten thirty. Tony checked his watch. Nine twenty six.
"That's gotta be some sort of record."
"You say something DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he started packing away his desk.
"No Boss, um, I mean yeah Boss, I got a missed call from McGee on my cell."
"Well call him back."
"Will get right on it Boss, I'll just run these down to Abby's Lab."
"Is she still here?" Ziva asked stretching her arms above her head and yawning.
"Don't think so, spoke to Henry on the way in." Tony commented as he walked towards the elevator. "He said that McStand-in and the Autopsy Gremlin left with her sometime after six thirty. That's probably what the message will be."
"You want me to wait for you Tony?" Ziva asked.
"Unless you want to join me at Finnegan's for a night cap Zee-Vah!"
Ziva shook her head. "Thank you for the offer, but no."
The Senior Field Agent shrugged. "Well your loss. Night Boss, Night Ziva."
Gibbs grunted and gave a half backward wave to remains of his team as he walked away from his desk.
Well so much for that, Tony grinned as he continued over to the elevator.
Abby's lab was in darkened silence when he arrived a few moments later. Years of experience guided Tony in what needed to be done without really having to think about it. Separating 'perishable' samples from non and putting his John Hancock on the chain of evidence tabs, Tony stacked them neatly in Abby's refrigerated unit on the shelf specifically designed to house after hours collections, or items awaiting process. A similar protocol awaited the remaining items as Tony signed and stacked them in the cartons beside Abby's examination table.
Yawning, Tony slapped the up button on the elevator and was grateful when the door slid open straight away. Leaning his head against the wall, Tony ambled back to his desk. Ziva had taken him and his word and had left, her desk in darkness.
Packing away what few items were still on his own desk, Tony stood up and ran through his checklist. Keys – check, wallet – check, weapon – check, badge – check, check – check… Tony chuckled at his last thought. Ziva or McGee would have something to say if they caught Tony laughing at his own joke, but they weren't here. Assured that he had everything Tony turned his light off and headed out of the squad room towards the Lobby.
"Night Henry" Tony called as he passed the security checkpoint.
"Agent DiNozzo."
The call of his name arrested Tony's forward motion.
"I remembered where I saw the guy you were looking at the other week."
Tony's eyebrows raised in interest.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I remember seeing him out the front of the Headquarters about a month ago. He was standing talking to some other suits. I remember him cause he was taking a might more interest in the office than the rest of his group. He was looking directly in at me, I don't think he could see me, but he was looking in here."
Tony felt a touch of hope rise. If Anderson had been here… they would have him on tape.
"Do you remember exactly when it would have been?"
"Not off the top of my head, but if I look at my duty rosters I could probably work it out for you."
"Would you?"
"Sure. I'll look at it when I get home tonight and let you know on Monday?"
Tony gave the older guard a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Thanks Henry."
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Tony jogged over to his car. It wasn't much, but it was more than they had right now.
Exiting the Navy Yard, Tony glanced at his car clock, 22:05. Belatedly Tony remembered the missed calls on his cell. Reaching over to the phone in the cradle, Tony keyed his voice mail.
"You have two new messages, you have six saved messages" the metallic female voice commented. Could they have chosen a more annoying voice Tony thought absently "First message".
Hey Tony, it's Paul. Look man I meant to call you the other day, but we've been up to our asses in illegals, but we got a flag that the Gulfstream you asked me to watch for flew back into DC on Tuesday night. Confirmed Charles Anderson was a passenger, I've emailed you the manifest. Catch ya later. Tony frowned, well he had to come back to DC at some time, and at least he knew to be on the look out again.
The tone on his phone bleated indicating the second message. Tony, It's McGee. It's 18:52… there was an uneasy hesitation in his voice …we've just left the Yard, that is Jimmy and I are taking Abby out to dinner… So? He'd taken Abbs to dinner on a bunch of times on the way home, why did McGeek sound so squirrelly about it? …then, and I'm just telling you this so… Tim's voice cut off as an obviously frustrated Gothic Scientist grabbed the phone from the Elf lord. What he's trying to say Tony is we are going for dinner and then I am going to a club. Call us if you want to join okay? The line went dead, along with the pit of Tony's stomach.
What the hell was McGee playing at? With one hand on the wheel Tony snatched his phone out of its cradle with the other and Dialled McGee.
"C'mon" he hissed impatiently willing the younger Agent pick up.
Hi, you've reached the voice mail of…
Tony disconnected the call with a growl. Pushing his foot a little deeper on the accelerator Tony scrolled through his list of contacts until he found the next number he was after.
This is Jimmy Palmer, please leave a…
Goddammit! Tony was going to kick their asses up the beltway and back for this.
He had one number left to try before the inevitable happened – calling Gibbs. A call he fervently hoped he didn't have to make!
Hitting his speed dial one more time, Tony wait several teeth gritting moments before his ears were bombarded with an assortment of strange noises, that might just pass off in some circles as music.
"Hey! Tony!" Abby's voice was barely discernible over the racket.
Tony breathed deeply, his heart lowering from where it seemed to have lodged itself in his throat.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"What?"
"Where. Are. You?" he repeated.
"Hang on, I can't hear you." Abby replied.
"ABBY WHERE ARE YOU?" Tony bellowed into the phone.
The noise at the other end of the line was suddenly muted. "Geez Tony, no need to shout! I can hear you just fine!"
Tony clenched his teeth, willing the tension headache forming just behind his eyes to go away.
"Sorry Abs, I just want to know where you are?"
"Oh we're at a night club just near the Capitol One bank on L Street."
Tony checked his rear view mirror and abruptly changed lanes so he could head into DC proper. "Where's McGee and Palmer?"
"Um… Jimmy had to use the little ME's room – I think this place is freakin him out a bit, and McGee's fixing up our bill, we were about to leave."
"Where are you? The Ladies room?"
"Why would I be in the Ladies room Tony?" Abby sounded confused.
"Well the noise was pretty loud there a second ago…"
"Yeah, that was before I went outside."
Tony's heart jumped back up throat. "Abby is McGee with you?"
"No, I told you, he's in paying our tab. I'm just killing time talking to you… and getting some cash out. You know, if you're around you should come down, we could get together and go on to…"
Tony opened his mouth, trying to interrupt the verbal stream of thought issuing from his friends mouth, when his attempts were silenced by the next words.
"… Hey! Watch it! Geez, there's enough pavement for both of us, you don't have to… YOU!..." There was a pause, and then Tony heard a snigger and another, all too familiar voice. "… miss me Minx?".
The line went dead.
oXoXoXo