NCIS Squad Room. A Few Nights Later.
Tim, Ziva, Abby, Jimmy and Ned are settling themselves into various desks and chairs around the bullpen opening several takeaway cartons, boxes and drinks as they do so. They pass round plates and serviettes. Abby puts her feet on Gibbs' desk. When everyone appears to be organized Tony clears his throat so they all turn to focus on him.
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to our campfire. Let me begin. Once upon a Halloween it was a dark and stormy night..."
"It was actually quite pleasant. Full moon too."
"But it sounds better this way McWriter."
"Oooo-kay."
"How about once upon a Halloween in an old, spooky mansion?"
There's a polite cough that somehow conveys doubt on the part of the person coughing.
"Yes, autopsy gremlin what is it?"
"Dr Mallard's place is not spooky. It doesn't have enough rooms to be a mansion although I guess it comes close. However you are right that it is old. I believe construction started in..."
"You've been spending way too much time with Ducky. Once upon a Halloween in an old house a forensic scientist held a party."
Clearly enjoying his role as chief storyteller Tony quickly fills in the details of the early evening including Ziva's arrest of a thief before even arriving at the party for Ned because of course the others are already aware of this. Then he describes how during several games of poker he met one of Abby's friends who turned out to be an old Alpha Chi Delta bro from Ohio State. Tony had been quite surprised to discover what one of Cosmo's part time jobs is. Before Ned has a chance to inquire DiNozzo moves on to the next part of the evening.
"I'm not sure who it was that tripped first..."
"I think it was Cosmo" Abby muses.
"Ah, yes the stripper."
"Tony, how many times do I have to say it. Cosmo is a performance artist. Performance artist. Not a stripper."
"Someone tripped. It was so crowded this started a chain reaction of people crashing into each other. The last two being Tim crashing into Ziva."
McGee nervously glances across the bullpen at David.
"What happened then?" Caught up in the tale Jimmy asks the question without weighing the possible consequences of Ziva being annoyed by his query.
"She turned around and slammed him to the floor thus causing the injury to Tim's nose."
'Oh."
"No. I reacted to a possible attack as I've been trained to do." Ziva glares at Tony then looks over at Tim before conceding. "I may have been a little hasty in my actions. I think I was still on high alert after the earlier arrest."
"I accept your apology. I know it was an accident."
"Thank you Tim." She frowns. "But wait I did not apol..."
DiNozzo jumps in before their conversation can escalate to a full blown argument.
"Now to the most mysterious event of the evening" Tony continues in an overly dramatic tone as he and then the rest of those present glance around the squad room to make sure they're alone.
"Yeah. Exactly how did agent Gibbs end up dressed in that costume?" Ned leans forward in his chair eagerly anticipating the answer.
"Well ya know Ducky had already cleared out the furniture. That's why he said we could use his place for the party. He's storing some while deciding what to keep and what to sell. I think he wants to ship some pieces back to his Mom's relatives in England and..."
"Abby!" Her friends exclaim in a friendly but impatient way that lets her know it's time to get on with the story.
"Go on Tony."
"Thanks. The furniture is gone but the dogs are still there."
"Dogs?"
Tony shudders. "Mrs Mallard's corgis. There are five or six."
"Kate told me Contessa was your favorite." Tim comments with a grin.
Tony can't help himself and shudders again whilst glaring at McGee. "They haven't been collected yet by their new owner. They're being kept in kennels in a fenced area out the back of the house."
"And?"
'The party had got a bit noisy..." Tony starts.
"Exciting..."Tim quickly adds with a look at Abby.
"So at first no-one noticed.." Abby begins only to be interrupted by Ziva.
"That the dogs had escaped."
"Oh." Ned frowns trying to work out how escaped dogs had led to Gibbs outfit change and not sure he wants to ask.
Tony noticing the frown decides to help Dorny out. "When we discovered the dogs running around the backyard we tried to recapture them." DiNozzo looks around the room again before laughing. "Gibbs had almost caught one when he tripped over another. The dog got away and Gibbs went kinda splat into the fountain."
Everyone laughs.
"A wet Gibbs is not a happy Gibbs. I'd already changed into my sweats to help Abby clean up so I couldn't offer those to the Boss. I had to borrow an outfit from the stripper."
"Performance artist Tony. Performance artist."
"Whatever."
"A cowboy outfit with purple sequins was the only outfit Cosmo had with him?"
Tony gives a truly wicked grin then winks at Dorny. "Maybe. That's the end of the story. Do ya want me to sing you a lullaby?"
Looking slightly petrified at the idea Dorny shakes his head. "Night everyone." He leaves.
The others gather their gear to head for home knowing that was definitely a story and a Halloween they'd never forget.
The End.