7

Parallel Lines

A/N: Sorry it took so long to post the next chapter. Don't blame the beta—it was me! A family vacation and back to school interfered with time on task—writing! Hope you enjoy it—leave a comment or two. Another chapter will be posted soon—honestly! Thank you for sailorjp for her help.

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Chapter 14

Scene: NCIS

"I need to get one of those folding futons," Kate muttered as she headed back to her desk, "or maybe a yoga mat. Sleeping on the…."

She stopped when she spotted a figure in the little corridor formed by the staircase. Tucked away in the small space her usual sparring partner was furtively peering across the expanse of desks.

"Tony! What are…"

"Shh!" he hissed without turning around.

"What?"

"Look." He thrust his chin forward for emphasis.

Curious, she obeyed. The moment her gaze landed on the sight of the lanky FBI agent massaging the shoulders of the pretty blonde specialist her confusion cleared. It was obvious someone was experiencing a tinge of jealousy.

"Oh."

"Oh? What do you mean oh?" he demanded. "Don't you see what that Aussie import is doing?"

"Giving his teammate a well-deserved massage," she pointed out enjoying her partner's exasperation. "You could take a page out of his book."

He shot her an irritated glance. "I'm going to Abby's lab," he shot back over his shoulder.

o…o…o…o…o

Scene: Abby's Lab

"Hey, Abs," Tony called out, "mind if I catch a few zzzzz down here?"

"And why do you want to be down here when the person-who-shall-remain-nameless-but we-know-who-she-is is upstairs?" The forensic scientist eyed her good-looking co-worker. The normally ebullient personality had a slightly sour expression on his face.

"Because I like you and you're the only one with a folding futon?" He wasn't about to admit that the sight of the FBI contingent upstairs had upset him.

Someone was not happy, thought Abby. "Here," she said holding up the stuffed animal she had held in the crook of her elbow. "Take Burt. You can use him for a pillow." She squeezed her inanimate companion for emphasis.

A perfunctory smile appeared on the dark-haired agent's face at the resulting sound, just as Abby had intended.

"Thanks."

"Futon in my office under my desk. And Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"Sweet dreams."

o…o…o…o…o

Scene: Morgue

5:30 a.m.

Refreshed from his nap in the morgue, Leroy Jethro Gibbs stretched. He had sent Ducky and the Palmer boy home after the autopsy. Ducky wasn't as young as he once was and needed his sleep. He would return when he was rested—or needed.

He glanced at his watch…five thirty. Time to wake his team if he wanted them ready to go by six. Tony had headed for Abby's lab while Kate and McGee had crashed at their desks. He wondered where the two FBI agents had curled up to sleep. He hoped they'd gotten some rest. Today looked like another long one.

He was pleasantly surprised how well they had fit into the team. Kate and McGee seemed to get along well with the FBI agents and as for Tony…well, he had eyes. He could see his senior field agent with his carefully cultivated juvenile playboy image was seriously interested in the pretty blonde surveillance specialist. The corner of Gibbs's lips lifted in a slight smile. The joke was on Tony—he didn't even know it.

He headed for Abby's lab and found her pecking away at the keyboard.

"I thought I told you to go home," frowned the grey-haired team leader. Not that he was surprised his favorite forensic scientist was already at work. She was tenacious when her interest was piqued or a case was pending.

"Couldn't sleep. Something has got to be done about Tony's snoring. I think he might have sleep apnea. He really needs to get it checked. You know, I think it's gotten…"

"Abby?"

"…worse since the…"

"Abby!"

"Yes?"

"Find anything?"

"Right." She spun around and hit a few keys. A picture of a bullet flashed on the screen above. "I was able to identify the bullet from Jordan Beckett's body. It's the same type of ammo used in military issued side arms."

"Do you think a similar type of weapon might have caused the bullet hole in Lance Corporal Phillips?"

"Based on the information Ducky sent and what was left of Lance Corporal Phillips's body, it's a possibility. Gibbs!" Abby turned large stricken eyes on the team leader.

"Yeah?"

"I can't believe I didn't…oh, I don't know…" The forensic scientist began pacing in consternation her hands in the air obviously agitated.

"Abby?"

"This is a first," she muttered. "I can't…."

"Abby!" he shouted for the second time.

Immediately she stopped.

"What!"

"I didn't check the vehicle!" she wailed. "If he was shot in the vehicle, the bullet could possibly have lodged in the upholstery of the car…that is, if he was shot there." She looked sadly at him. "I screwed up, Gibbs. I should've checked sooner. Are you mad at me?" Her face scrunched up in concern.

"Easy enough to fix. Where's the car?"

"In the shop."

"Well, you can fix your oversight while we're gone."

"Aye, aye, sir!" she saluted.

"We're not in the Navy, Abby."

"Toodle-loo just didn't seem appropriate."

That slight smile appeared again. "Where's Tony?"

Abby jerked her thumb towards her office. "In there."

"And Abby?"

"Yeah?"

"I never get mad at you…irritated but not mad."

A pleased smile graced her face as she left her lab.

Gibbs walked to the small glassed off area. "DiNozzo!" he barked.

Tony abruptly sat up. "Yes, Boss!" he answered automatically still half asleep.

"Rise and shine. Meet you back in the office."

"Yes, Boss!" Tony shook his head to get the last of the sleepiness out of his brain. "Abby?"

"She's gone."

"Gone? Gone…."

"To evidence."

"Oh. Say Boss? You happen to know where…"

"Top left drawer in the back," Gibbs spit out as he headed for the elevator.

"How does he do it?" the senior field agent wondered out loud.

o…o…o…o…o

As Gibbs got off the elevator, his eyes searched the room for the FBI agents. Rounding the corner, he halted in his tracks. So that's why DiNozzo spent the rest of the night in Abby's lab, he smiled sardonically as he resumed his wake up task.

He rapped on Kate's desk. "Rise and shine," he said in a loud voice.

"Already?" moaned a feminine voice as she sat up and blinked her eyes. She just had to get a folding mattress like Abby, she thought as she stretched.

"Oooo," Bobby muttered softly. Sleeping in a chair was not conducive to his long frame. He began to stretch when he realized a blonde head was resting against his arm. Gently, he shook her.

Was that her alarm clock already? Sue groaned. Her eyes slowly opened to meet Bobby's smiling ones. "Oh!" she said abruptly sitting up when she realized where she had fallen asleep. "Did I…? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…I..." She ran a nervous hand over her hair.

"Wha…what?" uttered a startled McGee. As he lifted he head off his desk, his hand automatically reached up to his chin. No drool. Thank goodness for little favors, he thought gratefully.

"It's five thirty-eight," declared Gibbs. "It's late."

"Is it time?" Sue asked.

Bobby nodded. "Gibbs just sounded the wake up call."

Her eyes darted in the direction of the NCIS team leader. "I better wash my face," she said standing up.

"Need a toothbrush?" Kate checked from across the aisle.

He reached into his pocket "Have one," he replied holding it up. "Sue?"

"In my purse."

"C'mon," said Kate grabbing her bag from her drawer. "Let's freshen up."

Sue walked a couple of steps before glancing back at her fellow agent. "Bobby?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks for the massage and…and everything."

"Any time."

She took one last look at him and then hurried to join Kate as she headed towards the ladies' room.

Nice way to wake up, Bobby smiled in satisfaction as he followed McGee to the men's room.

o…o…o…o…o

Scene: FBI Bullpen

"Sorry I'm late," apologized Lucy as she came in with Levi.

"Traffic?" Tara inquired sympathetically.

"No. In fact, I was waiting for Sue," she began to explain.

"Waiting for Sue?" Jack looked up a quizzical expression on his face. "You're here, Levi's here. I don't see Sue."

"Where's Bobby for that matter?" interrupted Myles before Lucy could say a word. "Logging in more hours with the NCIS crew? Maybe they're thinking of transferring."

"If I could get a word in edgewise," began the Rotor, "Sue left me a note. It seems Jordan Beckett's body was found last night."

"What?" exclaimed D. "Why weren't we notified?"

"Well, technically the murder investigation is the domain of NCIS," Jack reluctantly pointed out. "They don't have to notify us although it seems they did contact Sue and I assume Bobby since he's not here either."

Lucy shrugged. "I don't know. Her note didn't give much information. She was going to NCIS headquarters for a while, come back and get Levi but I'm guessing she must have been tied up at NCIS. And," she continued, "I found a man's tuxedo on the sofa so I'm making another guess here that she and that cute Tony DiNozzo must've gotten the call while they were at that gala thingie and sometime during the night came to the apartment to change. Evening clothes are not the most appropriate attire to check out a crime scene unless you're Nick and Nora Charles."

"The Thin Man," said Tara eagerly. "I love them. Myrna Loy had the most fabulous clothes."

"I agree," nodded Lucy. "Do you remember that striped…."

"Ladies, I hate to interrupt this foray into fashion but that doesn't explain where Sue and Bobby are," interrupted Myles.

"And what about this new information about Jordan Beckett?" added Tara.

"Call Bobby and see what's up," Jack suggested.

"Good idea," concurred D. "Do it." He stopped as he headed back to his desk. "Find out what they want us to do at this end to coordinate our efforts."

"On it."

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