Set after episode 6.23, Legend (Part 2).


The morning after they got back from Los Angeles, McGee decided it might be a good idea to come in to work early. Just in case Tony was serious about the tiki hut thing. It turned out that Tony was, incredibly, understating the facts. McGee's jaw dropped as the elevator doors slid open to reveal his desk, festooned with dolphin balloons, pirate paraphernalia, and what did indeed appear to be at least half of a tiki hut. He wasn't sure whether he was walking into his workspace or an old Gidget movie.

He couldn't help but be amused, especially when he saw the big "We Missed You, Timmy!" sign in front of his keyboard, the i's dotted with hearts. Part of him wondered what it would be like to work in this setup for a day, and then he imagined Gibbs' face and decided he'd better clean it up. But first....

He opened his backpack and pulled out a camera. As he was focusing on the balloons, familiar arms snaked around his midsection.

"It's been documented already," Abby said.

"Quite the welcome home," McGee said, stretching the camera up and snapping a self-portrait that showed Abby's face peeking over his shoulder.

"Well, you know." She released him. "I missed Gibbs."

"So I see," replied McGee, looking over at Gibbs' pristine desk.

"He hates surprises."

"And major distractions in the workplace."

"I don't know, he handles Tony pretty well...."

McGee nodded towards his desk. "You do know I have to take this down before he gets in, right?"

She frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay. I'll help." She started to pull down the bamboo façade on the front and side of his desk as he collected the balloons.

"You want these in your lab?" he asked, and she shrugged listlessly. "Abby. I loved it. But you know Gibbs...."

"I know," she said. "I just thought this would be a nice transitional space for you. Ease you back into the Washington life."

"I think I can handle it," he laughed, a laugh that stopped abruptly as his expression turned thoughtful. "Wait a second...."

Abby was very interested in making sure there were no pieces of tape left on the corner of McGee's desk.

"Abby, I like it here."

"I know."

"I don't want to transfer to Los Angeles."

"No?" she asked quickly, turning to examine his face for signs of polite lying. "Even though the weather's better? And they have cooler toys than we do?"

"Much cooler toys," he concurred covetously. Her smile was a little hesitant. "But we have cooler people."

"We do," she agreed in a firm tone.

"Definitely." He grinned. "Plus, the workspaces in L.A. don't allow nearly enough room for decorations."

"Good." She smiled broadly. "Now, tell me all about the toys."

He practically drooled as he told her about the computers in the L.A. office, his recitation culminating with the giant touchscreen. "It was like iPod Touch meets Minority Report. I have never wanted anything more in my whole life."

"Don't say that in front of Tony, okay?" Abby requested.

"Say what?" Tony asked.

McGee looked caught out, but Abby just smiled. "That he missed me more."

"Given the options, who wouldn't?" Tony shrugged. "Especially since you're buying your way into his heart with tiki huts and gift bags."

Abby gasped. "I almost forgot!" She grabbed the gift bag and thrust it at McGee. "Open it!"

He reached inside and pulled out a stuffed toy flamingo. It was wearing sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt. "Uh...thanks."

"You do know they went to L.A., right, Abs?" Tony asked. "Not so many flamingoes. Traffic jams and pollution, yes. Flamingoes, no."

"And you still would have preferred that to Arizona," said Ziva, who had just emerged from the elevator.

"Absolutely"—Tony switched his word choice as he saw Gibbs at her side—"the boss' call, as usual. Hey, boss."

"DiNozzo." Gibbs stopped in front of McGee's desk.

"Don't yell at him, Gibbs, he didn't do it," defended Abby.

"Would've been kinda hard with him being on the other side of the country. But he's here now." He stared pointedly at McGee.

"Just taking it down, boss."

"I missed you, too, Gibbs," Abby reassured him, and there was a glint in his eye as he nodded his acknowledgment. She gathered the balloons and traipsed off on the way to her lab.

It was only after she left that McGee remembered he had been going to berate her for letting Jethro sleep in his bed while she was house-sitting. Under the covers. You'd think anybody who would do that would at least change the sheets before the owner of the bed got home late and found that most of his linens smelt like dog.

He caught a glimpse of the sign she'd drawn for him again and imagined her response: "I couldn't help it that Jethro missed you." He knew if he asked why she felt the need to sleep over at his place instead of just dropping in for dog-sitting duties, her answer would be related to how lonely Jethro had been. It would be better just to let it go.

Besides, he didn't really mind his pillowcase smelling like Abby.