A/N: I don't usually do shoutouts, but I guess I'll make an exception for this chapter, at least.
GAbby fans: I know that no one really agrees with us and you're probably just reading this because it's one of very few GAbby fics. Thanks for putting up with my crappy writing.
Kibbs fans: If all you're going to do is complain that this should be Kibbs, then don't read it! I know I haven't had any reviews like that, but just for future reference....
Puzzled People: I know it's a little bit confusing. I can't figure out what's really confusing you- is it the plot? Or is it my typos and contradictory stuff? I had people correct as much as they could, so all remaining mistakes are mine... Yeah.
ccabello: Thanks for reading all of my fics!
Gibbs walked at least three paces behind Kate and Tony, who were completely unaware of everything and everyone but themselves and another of their 'discussions'. Gibbs stopped at Abby's lab and looked in. McGee was whispering in her ear and, by the looks of things, she was laughing. McGee turned back to the computer and she stood just behind him, looking over his shoulder with a flirty smile. Gibbs sighed and hurried to catch up with his fellow agents.
"Good morning," Ducky greeted them in his English drawl.
Gibbs surveyed the scene before him. Blood was splattered on the floor and walls, and Special Agent Carol was lying limp and lifeless in a pool of blood.
"Do you have a time of death yet Ducky?" asked Gibbs.
"Oh no- not yet Jethro," he answered, quickly kneeling next to the body to check it. He opened her eyes cautiously; they were only just beginning to get cloudy. "In any case, she's dead," he informed them.
"Do you know- this reminds me of some authors I once met," began Ducky distractedly.
"Did they die in a supposedly secure government building?" asked Tony curiously.
"No. They worked in one though and-"
"Ducky, you're going to give Tony nightmares," cut in Gibbs warningly.
"Right you are," he replied with a smile. "You know Jethro, you should've brought Abby along..." mused Ducky as an afterthought.
"Abby belongs in her lab," answered Gibbs tersely.
"But boss, her lab's just over there. We could go and get her," pointed out Tony, clearly missing Gibbs' drop-it tone. Gibbs gave him a piercing glare. "Just over there..." he tried again.
"Tony, now would be a good time to back off," Kate told him with a slightly smug smile. She knelt by the body and began taking pictures while Gibbs looked for any traces of the killing weapon.
"Well, whoever it was sure knew what they were doing," declared Tony, who was looking for anything he could bag as evidence and send to Abby. So far all he had was Agent Carol's affects.
"Maybe they knew you'd be working the case and would miss anything subtle that they left," joked Kate.
"Funny..." muttered Tony sarcastically.
Gibbs shook his head and got up. "Well, the weapon definitely isn't here," he decided finally, moving on to get a blood sample for Abby, though he wasn't sure that it would be very useful in this case.
"Do you think it was an inside job boss?" asked Tony hesitantly.
"Tony, that was not one of your more brilliant questions. In case you haven't noticed we're in a tight security government building!" Kate reminded him with a frustrated sigh.
"You're not my boss; make another comment like that, and you'll wish you had been her," retorted Tony, pointing to the body.
Gibbs and Ducky exchanged exasperated glances. Gibbs sighed- they did not pay him enough for this job. Not when it involved babysitting two grown adults that acted like they were two year olds.
"DiNozzo, stop threatening Kate," ordered Gibbs, not letting his slight amusement show.
"But boss-" protested Tony indignantly. Gibbs silenced him with a look.
Tony had finished bagging Agent Carol's few belongings that she carried with her, and Kate had taken pictures from just about every angle remotely possible. Gibbs scrutinized the evidence disdainfully and sighed.
"Abby's not going to be able to do much with this," he commented, somewhat angrily. He had known Special Agent Carol, but, from the looks of things, not even Abby would be able to find something useful. He stalked off, leaving Tony, Kate and Ducky in a white tile hallway, now stained with the blood of his former co-Agent.
"Which of you two is willing to take these to Abby?" asked Ducky after Gibbs left.
"I'll do it!" offered Kate immediately. She grabbed the bags and set off down the hall, with Tony at her heels.
Kate turned and he ran into her abruptly. "Why are you following me?" she questioned him when he grabbed her instinctively.
"I am going upstairs. You just happened to be in my way," he answered.
She rolled her eyes and turned back to the door of Abby's lab after he released her.
"Abby?!?" she called as the door slid shut behind her and heavy rock music blasted her ears. Tony waved to her at the window and she smiled despite herself.
Abby appeared at the doorway between her lab and her desk. "Oh, hi Kate," she greeted her dolefully.
"Abby, what's wrong?" Kate asked, genuinely concerned.
"Nothing!" Abby answered quickly.
"Abby, your make-up's all smudged and it looks like you pulled out your pigtails not too long ago. Something's wrong," Kate informed her kindly as she set the evidence down y Abby's computer. "Come on- tell me," she prodded.
Abby sat dejectedly at her desk chair. Kate assumed Abby was about to tell her everything so she sat down across from her. "I'm confused," began Abby slowly.
"About what?" asked Kate curiously.
Abby looked at her feet and debated. She didn't want to embarrass Gibbs and, in any case, it wouldn't feel right until she had talked to him first. "Well, McGee' been acting really... hinky lately. Like, he's been all possessive, but he's also been avoiding me. At first I was all bothered and I thought it was my fault, but now I'm suspicious. It's like he's hiding something from me," she confided. "If there's someone else or something's bothering him, why can't he just tell me?" she wondered out loud.
Abby seemed close to tears and, for once, Kate had no idea what to do. She put an arm around her shoulders awkwardly. Abby put her head miserably in her hands. "Is there anything I can do?" Kate used as an attempt to comfort her.
"No... Well, maybe," replied Abby. Kate waited patiently for her to answer and wondered what she had gotten herself into this time.
"I think Gibbs is either mad at me or avoiding me. Will you find out what I did?" requested Abby, sounding a little less depressed.
"I'll see what I can do," promised Kate with a smile. "Oh, and you might want to get cracking on the case..." she informed her. Abby got up quickly. "I left the evidence by your computer!" called Kate over her shoulder as she walked out of the lab.
Abby spotted the six tiny bags of evidence and paused. "That's it?!?" she cried incredulously. She sighed. "They expect way too much of me..."
