So, here is another short story. I'm still working on my other stories, yes, but this is what I'm working on. I'm going with the muses as I feel inspired because seasonal depression seems to keep getting at me. It's hard to be motivated, so I've been working away on this for a bit a little to get a few chapters ahead. I do plan to continue "Echoes" and "Flower Girl" and "Cable Concussed" soon, but for now, here is a little bit of mischief with Tim and Abby pushing Gibbs' patience to the end. Enjoy!
...
How it went from a poke to a paddling was a little bit confusing to the two culprits, but it really was not that unfathomable.
...
Abby and Tim were giving him a headache. Normally rivalry was between Tony and Ziva or Tony and Tim - the common denominator was Tony, who was generally effectively squelched with a stinging head slap. But this time the rivalry was between Abby and Tim. Sure, they would squabble and squawk sometimes when they were working together, but normally the second they made a find or were distracted by a question they would go back to getting along perfectly. That had not happened this time.
It had started with misattribution of praise. Tim had been working on cracking a code for two days as Gibbs' patience plummeted. He had finally run for refuge to Abby's lab.
"Mind if I work here, Abby? Gibbs is going to have my head if I don't get this figured out soon," he had grumbled.
"Sure!" Abby said, sliding an untouched Caf-Pow! over to him. "Use this. It helps the brain juices work better."
Tim rolled his eyes but accepted the drink gratefully. Abby bobbed over and peeked over his shoulder. "Hey, did you try doing it this way?" she asked, typing out a sequence.
"No, not quite like that," Tim mumbled, immersed in it. His eyes lit up. "That looks like it might work." He input what Abby had suggested and grinned as he finally was able to access the data he was after. "Thanks, Abby!"
"What is it?" Gibbs asked, appearing in the lab.
"Great news, Gibbs! He got the data!" Abby trilled, excited for her friend.
"What was it?" Gibbs asked bluntly.
Tim eagerly interpreted it to his boss and added, "Abby helped me figure out that last little bit. I guess I just needed a fresh set of eyes to give input."
"Good job, Abs," Gibbs said, kissing her temple as he headed upstairs to rally Tony and Ziva into rustling up a search warrant.
"Thanks, Gibbs, but it was really all Ti...m's work," Abby faltered at the end, realizing Gibbs had disappeared already. She turned to Tim with an apologetic quirk in her mouth. "He must have been really busy. But don't worry - I know it was all you, Tim."
"Two days of work," Tim sighed regretfully, gathering his things. "Well, it doesn't matter. I did my work. I'd better get back up there to be able to do whatever else needs to be done."
"Okay, Tim. Don't forgot your Caf-Pow!," Abby chirped, heading off to check on a beeping machine announcing results for another case.
...
As much as Tim might have thought that he was not bothered by Gibbs' overlooking his contributions, he was. He was not one to let jealousy control him and he did not, but it still affected him a little. So the next time he was asked to work with Abby, there was a little bit more competition than normal. It worked well because when Tim was at the top of his game, it always encouraged Abby to be as well. The issue was that when they both got at the top, it could be hard for both of them to share the controls. So the poking started. It was not abnormal - poking happened all the time.
Poke.
Poke back.
Poking back to the poke back.
And poking back to the poking back to the poke back...
It spiraled until Gibbs came down and stopped it with his silent stare. Both flushed a tiny bit and reluctantly went back to work.
Gibbs - despite sometimes being pegged as omniscient - was not, so he had no idea that the moment he left the lab the poking continued.
He did catch on though that it was happening the next day when he made it to the lab and found Abby and Tim in a poking match like two cowboys in a duel.
"Cut it out," Gibbs said sternly, interrupting their fun. "Work. Both of you. Get along."
Tim and Abby looked at him. "We weren't doing anything!" they protested in innocent unison.
Gibbs gave them a look that both had the good sense to look away from in what at least looked like obedience.
But it was not.
...
Please review! Guess what is going to happen next. :D
