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Chapter 21

The next morning the girls woke a little late to the smell of bacon and eggs and coffee. Ziva turned back over. Gibbs and Jen obviously up. So were the boys, Abby could hear them chatting.

"Morning." she said as she trudged over to the fire with her sleeping bag wrapped around her like a cocoon.

"And how do you feel on this brand new day Abs?" Gibbs asked in his happy voice.

"Not so hot. Actually I'm cold, my hair feels like straw, I'm stiff and sore, my clothes are all gross and I've officially decided that I'm over camping." She said with a grumpy faced pout. Gibbs grinned.

"Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bedroll this morning." He said with a smirk. Abby didn't answer but stuck her bottom lip out even further if that was possible. "What's made you so grumpy?"

"Oh I don't know Gibbs...it could be that every day since we left someone's been whacking my ass and yelling at me. Not to mention there's NO caf-pow left, I'm sugar and caffeine deprived and I don't wanna be anywhere near here." She said. Then all of a sudden her mood changed and she saw Gibbs wince when he took a mouthful of his coffee. "I know!...How about I go back just for a few hours. I could get you some decent coffee, a new pair of boots...sound tempting? And then I could just have a shower and pick up some clean clothes maybe some caf-pow and a bag of sprinkle donuts, listen to a little music... I'd feel human again and happy." Gibbs smiled. She was good.

"You're not driving my car back to the city Abby." Gibbs said. "We're all gonna stay and have fun together. I tell you what though; we do need some more supplies, so I'll let Tim take you into the general store to pick up what you need." Tim's head sprung up. Gibbs was smiling. This was payback for daring her to sully his boots. Great, he thought. Going shopping with Abby to a place where they didn't have much to buy, while she was in a bad mood and wanting to be somewhere else.

"Hmmmpfft." Abby grumbled and folded her arms. "You are just a big old meany not letter Gibbs!"

"Uhhuh." He said. "Keep it up and you can add today onto the list of days you got a spanking."

"Come Onnnn Gibbs." Abby said as she switched to a whine. "The music in your car sucks ass."

"Hey!" he said. He'd been in a good mood this morning but she'd really pushed it now. "As if the language wasn't bad enough she was attacking his music. Jen frowned. It had been good to see Gibbs relax and smile, she wasn't gonna let Abby ruin that.

"Enough." She said in her best Mom voice. "Gibbs said NO Abby. Now go to your tent and stay there until you can be civil." Abby narrowed her eyes at Jen and then backed down. She'd just have to try and talk McGee into taking her at least to a mall. She turned on her heel and walked back into her tent dragging her sleeping bag behind her.

Xoxoxoxoxoxox

The others were all dumbfounded at the way she'd spoken to Gibbs. Gibbs wasn't, but he was gonna back off a little today. He really just wanted to have a fun day with Jen. Besides, the others didn't know yet but Abby still had a little punishment coming. "Tim...a word?" he said. Tim got up and followed Gibbs into his tent.

"You know that was way too easy right?" he asked. Tim grinned.

"Yeah I figured." Tim said. "She's gonna try and make me take her back isn't she?"

"Oh yeah." Gibbs said. "What are you gonna do about that Tim?" Tim sighed.

"Not really sure." He said. Gibbs nodded.

"Look son, I'm not gonna tell you what to do...you're a man. But I'll tell you this, How you manage these things will determine the amount of respect she has for you." Tim nodded. He knew what the man was saying was true but...he wasn't Gibbs. "Abs is a good girl... a good girl who is very smart and likes her own way. A dangerous combination for her and the rest of us if we let her."

"I know." Tim said but he didn't look totally convinced.

"And Tim?" Gibbs said.

"Yeah boss." He answered.

"So help me if you let her talk you into giving her her own way... I will wear your ass out." He said. Tim blushed.

"Got it boss." He said with a sigh.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Tim took a deep breath and walked purposely over to Abby's tent and stuck his head in.

"Can you get dressed please Abs." he said "We'll leave after breakfast."

"Okily dokily Timmy." She said brightly. "I'd do anything for you Timmy."

"Thanks Abs." he said with a smile. He re we go, he thought.

Xoxoxoxo

Tim had just finished his breakfast and still no sign of Abby.

"Abs?" he yelled. "You ready?"

"Almost Tim...can't find my boots." She yelled back. Tim glanced around and saw them just outside her tent.

"There just outside the tent." He said. Abby stepped outside and picked up her clodhopper platform boots and hobbled over to the fire with her socks in her hand so she could sit on the log to put them on.

Abby smiled her best smile at Tim before she slipped on her second sock.

"It's not gonna work you know Abby." He said. "We're going to the general store and then coming back here with the supplies." Abby didn't say anything but her mood was anything but sunny. She stood up and stomped into first one boot and then the other. Crunch Crunch. She tried to stop her second foot from slipping in but the first crunch hadn't registered in time.

"Tony!" she yelled. He was doubled over in hysterics. "You are sooo dead."

"Why you blaming me!" he said. "I didn't do it. I wish I had ...but I didn't." Gibbs lifted up her chin with a chuckle.

"Not so funny Abs?" he said.

"It...was...you?" she said incredulously.

"Yep. Guilty as charged. It was just a joke Abs. Haven't lost your sense of humour have you?" Gibbs said.

"NO." Abby said begrudgingly. "But Gibbs... never mind...Come on McGee."

"You gonna wear those anyway Abs?" Gibbs asked. At her silent nod he continued. "You could always wear the govt issue ones."

"I'd rather croak." She said as she stomped off towards the car.

Jen shook her head at Jethro. "You really enjoyed that didn't you." She said.

"Sure did." He said with a smile.

TBC