Two Peas In A Pod

TITLE – Save-the-day Cake

Post – One Shot, One Kill

A/N: Abby and Tony just want Gibbs to know that his actions don't go unnoticed by them. Even if Gibbs wished his actions did go unnoticed.

Minor Spoilers – One Shot, One Kill

Tony feverishly rubbed his neck at the preposterous idea that Abby had suggested to him. Come on she had pleaded with him. But Tony was a strong willed and he emphatically said no. Abby had insisted and insisted that she was doing it for the benefit of Gibbs. Tony dared to think otherwise.

"Come on, Tony," Abby pleaded for what felt like the hundredth time. Her hand rubbed over the box that sat on her desk.

"No," Tony said enthusiastically. "He'll hate it," he told her.

"Oh come on," Abby pleaded with her eyes. It was almost impossible to resist. "Come on," she said to him.

"Abby," Tony whined but he was already giving in. "Alright, get the candles," Tony ordered. This was too ridiculous. He opened the box to reveal a large chocolate cake. Abby brought over the candles and they began sticking in the candles one by one. "Sure that's enough?" He asked as it seemed every inch of cake was covered with a candle.

"It has to be… There's no more room," Abby frowned.

"Oh oh… We're dead," Tony said. "You know that Gibbs'll probably kill me for this? He's going to hate it," he added with a hint of fear in his tone.

"Love it or hate it at least he knows his actions doesn't go unnoticed by those closest to him," Abby explained. "So carry the cake and let's get our butts up there Tony," she smirked.

Tony shrugged his shoulders before lifting the cake box up. This still sounded like an extremely bad idea but talking Abby out of anything had been a distinct impossibility. It was easier to just play along and hope the consequences weren't too severe. Gibbs was putting the filing away when Tony and Abby strolled into the bullpen. There was a grim look on their boss' face as he knew that the forensic scientist and his senior field agent had something going on in their minds.

"I thought I sent you home DiNozzo," Gibbs turned to face them.

"You did Boss," Tony responded as he chose to think carefully. "You know that you did a really great thing today," he said.

"Really, really great," Abby chimed in enthusiastically. "You were really brave Boss-man," she added.

"I'm just doing my job," Gibbs grumbled. He hated that they seemed to be making a mountain out of a mole hill.

"Oh come on Boss-man," Abby said. "We have a surprise for you," she said slowly.

"Yeah, it's about time that your actions get noticed," Tony added as he placed the box on the table. Gibbs eyed it cautiously. "So, Abby and I decided… Eventually… To show you that your actions do get noticed," Tony said a little uncomfortably.

"I don't do it to get noticed," Gibbs told them.

"All the more reason for this," Abby said to him. She opened the box. "Surprise!" Abby and Tony yelled together. "Happy save-the-day to you… Happy save-the-day to you," Abby began to sing and Tony reluctantly joined in a second later. "Happy save-the-day dear boss-man… Happy save-the-day to you," they concluded.

Gibbs tried desperately to get them to shut up. Unfortunately, they were on a roll.

"For he's a jolly good-fellow," the Gibbs stare cut them off.

Gibbs looked gobsmacked for a second as he looked at the candles and large cake full of candles. This was the last thing he had ever expected. Part of him admired it though. He felt his face warm up at the thought of his team members doing this. "Look," Gibbs watched DiNozzo use a lighter to light each candle.

"We know Boss," Tony said.

"Now… Blow out those candles and make a wish," Abby said. "You deserve it Boss-man," she told him.

"I'm not going to do that," Gibbs protested.

"Please," Abby whined. "I worked on this cake all afternoon," she said.

"Abs!" Gibbs cut her off. "I know you brought this from the bakery down the street," he said as he pointed to the label on the box.

"But I did spend the day going there, picking out the cake bringing it back," she explained and then turned on the begging puppy eyes to full.

Gibbs rolled his eyes. He could never resist Abby's pleads. "This is ridiculous," he muttered as he sat down at his desk.

"Don't forget to make a wish Boss," Tony said cheerfully. This earned him a Gibbs stare down. "Go ahead Boss," he added.

Gibbs closed his eyes and blew out all the candles on the cake. He opened them and gave a dramatic disappointed sigh. "Damn," he said softly.

"What's the matter Boss-man?" Abby asked him.

Gibbs looked down at the cake. "It's still here," he answered her.

Abby laughed as she stood back. Gibbs had a hard-as-rock exterior but occasionally that wall broke and showed that he was human after all. "Of course it's there… Did you think it was going to magically disappear?" She asked.

"Was hoping," Gibbs said as he took the plastic fork from Abby's hand.

"We're good at working some magic Boss," Tony responded quickly. "But even we can't make cakes disappear," he laughed. "The only way to make the cake disappear is to eat it," he shrugged his shoulders and headed to his desk.

"Where are you going?" Abby turned around with two forks in hand.

"Home, of course," Tony answered.

"Sit down mister," Abby ordered. "You're eating this cake."

"I didn't do anything to deserve any," Tony said as he looked at the cake and at the bag he was holding then back and forth a couple of times. "Thanks for the offer anyway," he said.

"You showed bravery today to Tony," Abby said as she tried not to laugh and signed something to Gibbs that Tony didn't quite see.

"Yeah, real bravery," Gibbs smirked.

"Yeah right," Tony muttered. He hadn't done anything brave today. They were all pulling his leg for some reason.

"It takes a brave man to dress like one of the village people in public DiNozzo," Gibbs said with all the seriousness he could muster. "Come and have some damn cake," Gibbs told him.

"Come on Tony," Abby held up the third fork. "Dig in," she told him.

Tony's eyes lit up in a way that made them look at each other with insightful looks. If it had taken anything more to get Tony to eat some cake, Abby would've had Gibbs hold him down while she force fed him a piece.

Fortunately it didn't come to that.

"You want to know something DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked once they'd finished all they could eat. "What goes around comes around," he gave the pearl of wisdom.

"Don't know what you mean Boss," Tony said as he grabbed his bag once again.

"Next time you do something right we're all having cake," Abby squealed with delight.

"It'll be a long time in between cake then," Tony halfheartedly laughed to brush what he said off as a joke. He wasn't sure if the others had brought it or not. That wasn't important to him.

"It'd be well worth the wait," Abby said as she followed Tony to the elevator.

"Why the hell does she have to make a big deal out of everything?" Gibbs asked himself while smiling.