SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS
Long Live BRUCAS: Well, he figured, special circumstances.
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
Belongs to Donald P. Bellisario.
JEALOUS
"That's great work, McGee," Gibbs commented and Tony and Kate turned to watch as the older man jostled the younger agent's head affectionately.
"Anytime, Boss," McGee said. Seeing this, Kate glanced at Tony whose eyes had clouded. Hope he's okay, she thought to herself. She knew how sensitive he could be and seeing Gibbs being so affectionate with another agent when he had been such a bastard with them, had to be hurting. Okay, yes, they were looking for two terrorists, but that didn't mean the guy had to act like a damn grizzly bear or bring up old insecurities that she had helped Tony lay to rest after the incident with Stan Burley. Tony's eyes clouded and he suppressed a sigh.
"He gets a pat on the head and I get a smack on the head," he commented. Not fair. Thought we got along okay, he mused. But maybe he wanted an agent that didn't have a screwy memory. Not that he could blame him for that, if it was the case. He wanted someone he knew would always have his six. Gibbs couldn't really count on that with him.
"I know. It's not really fair," she responded. "But hey, look at me," she requested and he turned to her. "You are not being replaced. Burley couldn't do it and McGee won't either." Hate that this has caused him to doubt himself, she mused.
"McGee doesn't have a screwy memory. He can do things better than I can."
"No. No, you know that's not true. He handpicked you." Seeing the doubt in his eyes, she pulled him close. She really hated it when he got like this…
NURSERY RHYME FUN
"Kate was right. The hard drive was completely reformatted," Abby declared.
"so we have nothing?" Gibbs wondered.
"Actually, no." Gibbs and Tony looked at her, waiting for the explanation. "When you write data onto a hard drive, it's triggered electronically and magnetically onto a hard drive plate," she continued.
"What would that mean as I-a semi illiterate computer person-would understand it?" Tony wondered.
"That even though the drive was reformatted, all the information is still here," Abby explained. "And please, don't pretend to be stupid. We both know you rock on computers," she added.
"Right. Your Rule Number 2," he acknowledged and she grinned.
"What?" Kate asked in confusion.
"No downplaying your abilities or intelligence," the two chorused and the other woman nodded. Good. She won't let Tony get down on himself, she thought to herself.
"Can you get the information back?" Gibbs queried.
"Oh yeah, totally. It's just a matter of Humpty-Dumptying it," Abby replied.
"Is that possible? Not that I doubt you Abs, but I thought they couldn't put Humpty-Dumpty back together again," Tony reminded.
"That's because the king only had horses and men," Kate smirked, which caused Tony to laugh as Abby smirked back and Gibbs rolled his eyes. Sometimes I think I'm babysitting children, he thought to himself and then listened as the forensic scientist showed them what she had found.
COVER TALK
"I really liked her," Tony said somewhat dejectedly. She was nice, he thought to himself. It was too bad that it had turned out that she was guilty. What? Kate thought. Had Tony been attracted to her!? She wasn't that great!
"A.T.F. agent involved in illegal weapons and murder. What's not to like?" she queried with a bite in her voice.
"I said I liked her, not that I was attracted to her. There's a difference," he responded. "And don't be so quick to judge, Babe. Sure she had flaws and she's going to prison, but my instincts told me she had some good qualities as well. You can be crooked as hell and still be a good person," he continued. "Like Rene." He started looking after me after he found out what Senior was doing to me. Without him, I'd be dead, he mused.
"I think there's a bit of a flaw in your logic there," she retorted. Rene again. Who is this guy? she wondered. "Let's not fight. It's late and I'm tired. Let's go home."
"Sounds good." She gave him a smile and they walked out to the parking garage.