The next day Mcgee and Jimmy were back to arguing about some superhero movie. This time, Torres watched, laughing at how much they were geeking out until his focus was pulled away by the sound of the elevator. The doors opened and Ellie stepped out, looking a lot better than yesterday, but for different reasons, feeling so much worse. At the sight of Nick her stomach flipped and she contemplated making a run for it and spending the day in bed. But she muscled through and walked over with a fake smile plastered on her face. On the one hand she was glad to be working, on the other hand it was about to be a frenzie of worried faces, not to mention, the last person on Earth she wanted to see. Nick Torres.

Mcgee and Jimmy looked up, immediately dropping their conversation.

"Hey Bishop! You feeling better?" Mcgee asked

"Ya, must have been some sort of weird 24 hour virus." Ellie replied, avoiding eye contact with Nick.

Just then Gibbs walked in "Good to see you Bishop, grab your bag I need you and Torres at Quantico."

"Oh uh, actually Gibbs I was wondering if Mcgee could take this one." Ellie said blushing and looking away

"Fine with me boss" Mcgee chimed in.

Ellie quickly looked up at Nick, he was confused but quickly chose to ignore it.

"Ok then, Bishop you're with me, let's go." Gibbs replied

The sun shined brightly, blinding Torres so that he had to pull down the shielder in the car. He fidgeted with a small zipper on his bag, not noticing Mcgee's stealing quick glances at his coworker.

"Torres..you good?" Mcgee asked

"You think Ellie was acting weird?" Nick asked, immediately launching into a hysterical speech

Mcgee chuckled slightly and turned his attention back to the road. Torres' face was dead serious now and Mcgee realized it wasn't time for a joke.

"No, I mean maybe a little bit but why would she be acting weird it's not like anything happened between you-" Mcgee stopped in his tracks as Nick began fidgeting intensely with his backpack avoiding looking in Mcgee's direction.

"No.." Mcgee said, turning to face his friend with a shocked look on his face.

Torres proceeded to ignore Mcgee, and pretended to be fascinated with his car window.

"Why would you ever think that's a good idea. She works with you, she works with all of us, FOR GOD'S SAKE NICK, RULE 12!" Mgee said, his voice increasing with panic and annoyance.

The two began bickering loudly until they were interrupted by a small ringing sound.

"It's Bishop. Torres quiet!" Mcgee said, reaching his hand out only to be slapped by Torres on the arm.

"What are you crazy?! She's gonna know somethings up" Torres spat out. "She's like a miny Gibbs, she knows everything.. Like a little blonde devil."

"Torres, you're being insane." Mcgee spat back reaching again for the phone

The two began slapping each other's hands away from the phone until Mcgee bumped it and the ringing stopped only to be replaced with Ellie's voice.

"Hey Ellie…" the two agents said in unison.

"What's up, you guys sound weird.. What's going on?" Ellie asked, quizzical.

"Pshh.. what? nothings going on." Nick spoke, shooting a deadpan look at Mcgee

"Uh ok.." Bishop answered, not totally convinced. "We got a suspect, we need you both down here now."

"Will do, Bishop." Mcgee answered, scrambling to hit the end call button.

He let out a sigh of relief only to be met with Nick's famous "I told you so" look.

Back at headquarters Ellie was already waiting in the bullpen, remote in hand, tapping her foot anxiously on the floor.

"Took you long enough, I was starting to think you were having some sort of a crisis." Ellie added playfully

Mcgee and Torres shared a quick side glance and walked smoothly over to Ellie, stationing themselves in front of the board.

"Garret Kirk, 25. History of smuggling and selling drugs to kids in the local highschool. There's no obvious connection but our suspect has an associate who volunteers at a park cleanup group with our victims younger sister. He was last seen picking up a bulk load from his associate two weeks ago. Then he went dark." Ellie said, flipping through pictures on the board.

"We got any leads?" Mcgee asked

"Just one, another girl at the park cleanup group who claims she may have seen something suspicious near the end of her volunteer session." Ellie replied "Gibbs is gonna go check it out, asked for you to come with." Ellie gestured at Mcgee.

Mcgee grabbed his stuff and made his way to the elevator, leaving Ellie and Nick alone in the bullpen.