AN: Yeah yeah yeah. I know I kept promising I'd update this one, then updating a different one. You gotta understand something: I wrote this before I turned GABBY. Yup, I was once a MABBY shipper. So this chapter was originally Tony out teaching McGee how to buy stuff for a ball, seeing as this would be McGee's first. Well, now I don't know WHAT I'm doing. It's 0200, and this is being typed as it comes to mind. I'll try to keep it in context with the story, but I can't exactly remember what I wrote. And I'm supposed to be in bed. Heheehee. I'd better stop snickering; there's only a wall and an open doorway between me and my sleeping mommy. Eep! Hmm, does anyone know if I've put a disclaimer in this story yet? I promise I'll put one for John Mayer in "Daughters" when I update it. I have one... somewhere in my notebook...
AN2:Jenni, Abby, this chapter is dedicated to you. I'm on my way to becoming a GABBY author too. ;)
Oy! The stores Sbarro's, Hot Topic and Penney's belong to their respective owners. Fillard's, well I took Dillard's and switched the first letter with it's consecutive consonant. I have no idea where the name Chadra's came from. Story...
Tony pulled the plastic covered tux out of his closet. He'd picked it up from the dry cleaners 10 minutes ago. He shucked the plastic off and separated the tux, laying each piece out on the bed. "Jacket, pants, shirt, tie, cumberbund... Okay, where's the cumberbund?" Tony gently exhaled as he pulled out his cell and dialed the cleaners.
"Hi, Mr. Jong, it's Anthony DiNozzo... Yeah, I know I saw you a few minutes ago, but- Yes, I remember meeting your daughter, sir. She's a very nice young lady. I- No sir, I cannot take her out on Friday. I have a work thing I can't get out of... Yes, I tried... I- Mr. Jong! Sorry. I need to know if you have my cumberbund at your store. I brought it in with my tuxedo, but it's not on the hanger... What?! The machine ATE my cumberbund? How could it EAT it? It's- Okay, Mr. Jong. Thank you. You have a nice day too."
Tony flipped the cell shut and returned it to his belt. He'd just have to buy another cumberbund.
Kate rolled her eyes, a smile creeping on her face despite her mood as she let Abby drag her through the mall. The pair of them were attracting some odd looks. An All American woman in stretch flair jeans and a green v-neck sweater being led by the hand by a woman dressed wholly in black with baggy pants, combat boots, fingerless elbowlength gloves, and pigtails was a strange site. And Abby reveled in it all.
Kate glanced at the people to their immediate right and muttered, "Abbs, are you catching the looks we're getting?"
Kate's friend grinned at her. "Yep. They don't quite know what to think of us. It's great, isn't it?"
Kate opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again, opting instead for a smile. It wouldn't hurt for these people to give her funny looks. It wasn't like she was ever going to see them again. So she stopped dragging her feet and caught up with Abby.
"Nice of you to finally join me." Abby laughed.
"I just figured I'd better get with the boss before she put me in something accompanied by a thong and chains." Kate teased.
"Like I'd do that! I'm not really into butt floss, but I do have a few chains at home if you're interested."
Kate's own smile grew wider. "Okay, boss. Where are we going? Penney's, Chadra's, Hot Topic..."
"Hot Topic's the only one I've heard of. Why don't you lead the way?"
"Alright. Last time I bought a dress, I got it from... This way."
The women skipped arm in arm back the way they'd come.
The Thong Songrang outon the cell phone in the confines of Tony's car. "DiNozzo... Hey, Boss. What's up?"
"I'm on my way to the mall. I need a new tux. I got pissed and burned the last one. What are you doing?"
"Going to the mall to get a new cumberbund. The cleaner ate it."
"Your dry cleaner ate your cumberbund?" Gibbs asked incredulously.
The younger man laughed. "The machine ate it. Again. I seriously have to switch dry cleaners."
"Well, as long as we're both headed in the same direction, you wanna meet in the food court? Guys day out?"
Tony cocked an eyebrow. "Sure, Boss. How's in front of Sbarro's?"
"Perfect." See you in 10.
Tony frowned to himself as he hung up. "Gibbs is trying to 'bond'? That's weird as Hell."
Gibbs was sitting by himself in front of Sbarro's, sipping coffee when Tony arrived. Gibbs pushed an identical cup across the table toward him.
"Yours." he grunted.
"Thanks." Tony pulled out a chair, flipped it around and straddled it backwards. "So, Boss. What do you want?"
Gibbs feigned a hurt expression. "Do I have to 'want something' just because I bought you coffee?"
"Nope." Tony took a sip of his Latte. "You have to want something because you're going shopping with me. What gives?"
Gibbs only glared at the younger man for a moment. His resolve left his presence with his exhale. "I want to know about Abby."
A knowing grin bloomed on Tony's face. "You want me to tell you about Abbs? Okay. What do you wanna know?"
"I- What's she...doing skipping with Kate?"
"Skipping what?"
"Skipping, you know. Hop hop..."
Tony looked dubiously at Gibbs' cup. "Boss, what'd they put in your coffee?"
"Look." Gibbs pointed behind Tony's head to the entrance of Fillard's.
Tony turned his head, and his eyes almost popped out of his head. Gibbs wasn't on LSD. The girls really were literally skipping through the mall, arm in arm.
"Now that's sexy."
"C'mon out, Kate. You've gotta be done by now." Abby pleaded.
Kate gently exhaled as she surveyed herself in the mirror one last time. "Alright, Abbs. I'm coming out, but don't laugh."
"Don't say 'coming out' and I won't laugh." Abby giggled.
"Who's coming out?"
Abby jumped at the breath on her neck. She quickly spun around to hit Tony, only to have her balled fist caught by Gibbs. Tony'd voiced the question, but Gibbs had been the one standing behind her.
Her hand relaxed and Gibbs dropped it down to her side before releasing it. They were still looking at each other when Kate came out from behind the curtain.
"Abbs, I really don't know about this dress. It's a bit-"
Kate's eyes widened as she realized 2 additional coworkers were in her audience. She inwardly grinned at the looks on her friends' faces. Gibbs and Abby looked like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. But Tony was looking at her so intensely, she blushed from the heat of his gaze. Her crimson dress had one strap and a thigh high split up the left leg.
"Hi. What's going on?" Kate asked, more in reference as to why Gibbs and Abby were standing so close than to why the guys were there.
The pair took the hint and separated. Tony didn't; he only cleared his throat.
"Uh, we were sitting in the food court and saw you come in here. Thought we'd come say hey."
"Hey." Gibbs added.
"Oh. What were you doing in the food court?" Abby asked.
"We both needed stuff for the ball and decided to meet there and go together. I see you're dress shopping." Kate shifted her stance as Gibbs pointedly looked at her gown.
"Uh, yeah. I don't know if I like this one. I came out to get Abby's opinion."
"I don't know about Abbs, but I think you- I mean it, looks hot." Tony struggled to recover.
Kate gave him a confused smile. "Um, thanks. I'm gonna.. go change now. We need to go to the next store..."
The guys nodded. "We'll just, go get our stuff. See you later."
With aimless waves and goodbyes, the guys left the department store, the encounter leavingthem allwith one thought:
'What the hell?..'
Okies! See, I promised you I'd update, and I did! :D Granted, it may not have been as funny as it could be, but I was up until 5 this morning r and r-ing fics and stuff. Jenni and Charmedangel-4 updated, so I HAD to read those. :D I know it's not hilarious, but I actually liked how it turned out. This ending gave me ideas for the next chapter. The one after that is already mostly written. Livi, I didn't mean it.LOL. And did you mean it? I feel VERY flattered. I've been waiting for your fics, and you've been waiting for mine... Small world. Hehe. Lysm? Hope I didn't disappoint. Everyone, tell me what you thought if you EVER want to see this fanfic again! Muwahahaha!REVIEW!