Condensation slowly slid down the sides of the glass, leaving a wet ring on the table top.
Kate wiped the ring up with her napkin.
"See. You're doing it again," Tony said.
"What!" Kate asked, looking at the three co-workers who shared the table with her.
"Why did you have to wipe up the water?" Tony asked.
"Because it will leave a ring on the table if it's left there."
"This is a bar, Kate. A dive. Where people hang out so they can leave stains on the tables because they don't belong to them. So they can make a mess on the floor and walk away and let someone else clean it up." Tony shook his head. "Never mind. You wouldn't get the concept."
"Oh, I understand the concept, DiNozzo," Kate replied heatedly. "You are a slob. You enjoy making a mess so someone else can clean it up. That is not me. I'm sorry; I just can't do that."
Abby and McGee had been eyeing their friends with amusement.
"Okay. Truce!" Abby said.
McGee stuffed another olive in his mouth. "I'm afraid I agree with Kate."
"Big surprise, Probie!" Tony said with a smirk.
Kate looked at Abby and rolled her eyes.
"So, what did you have planned for tonight before this case came up," Kate asked Abby.
"McGee was going to take me to out for pizza and then we were going to a movie. They're playing all of the "Friday the 13th" movies at this artsy type movie house downtown. "
Abby looked from McGee to Kate and Tony.
"McGee has never seen any of those movies! Can your believe it?"
"I believe," Tony said.
Kate looked at McGee and said, "Let me know what you think. I've never seen them either."
"Kate!" Abby yelled.
"I'm sorry, Abbs. That's just not the type of movie I like to watch."
"Yeah, she likes chick flicks. Lots of mush, unbelievable plot…," Tony ducked a wadded up napkin.
Conversation continued while they ate their dinner; covering such topics as movies, music and hairstyles.
Looking up towards the door, Tony raised his eyebrows.
"What?" McGee asked, turning to look. "Oh."
Naturally, Kate and Abby had to turn and look also.
Being seated was their boss and beautiful blond.
"I thought he liked redheads," McGee said to Tony.
"So did I," Tony replied; then he grinned. "I have to admit, even if I had a partiality for redheads, if that woman was willing to go out with me, I would overlook her hair color."
"Yeah. Really," McGee agreed without taking his eyes off the blond.
Abby hit him and said, " Well if you guys are finished eating – and drooling over Blondie – we should get back to work before Gibbs sees us and comes over to ask us why we aren't back at work yet."
Picking up their checks, the four made their way to the cash register. They nodded their heads at Gibbs as they passed his table. He pointedly looked at his watch.
A couple of hours later, Gibbs walked into Abby's lab with her favorite drink in hand.
"Need this?"
"Oh, you know it! Dinner was a long time ago and I just finished my last one. Thanks, Gibbs."
"You're welcome, Abby. And since you took time to go out to eat, I'm sure you have some test results ready for me now. Right, Abbs?"
"Now, Gibbs. You know what I always say."
As one voice, Gibbs chimed in with Abby: "These things take time. You can't rush science."