Disclaimer - I do not own NCIS.

Seasons Greetings to one and all!

"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs! Tim and I want to go to the exhibition, there's this really cool new mass spectrometer that speeds up the processing time, like a zillion times faster than my old one. Would it be okay if we both skipped the 'DNA as Evidence' seminar?"

"No"

"What?"

"You heard me, I said no!"

"Aw come on Gibbs, pleeeeaaasse! It's a new mass spec. It's awesome!"

Gibbs raised a warning eyebrow. Abby, however, was still in full protest mode.

"That is so not fair, I could pretty much deliver that seminar standing on my head, it's not like its going to teach me anything. Technically, it's a waste of time for me and McGee! Come on Gibbs, we won't actually buy anything, if that's what you are worried about. Please Gibbs? Please?"

He continued to frown at her sternly, letting his silence reaffirm his decision. She titled her head and pouted.

"Won't work Abbs, we are all going to the Seminar. Do you remember what I said before we left the Navy Yard about acting like a kid at Christmas?"

She huffed and folded her arms defiantly. He took her shoulders firmly and spun her around in the direction of the Seminar room and whispered in her ear.

"Drop the attitude or else the most you'll see of London will be the view from your hotel window."

She spun round and threw him a scowl and he simply stared in response. Not knowing when to quit, she snapped back at him.

"Sitting bored in a seminar or sitting bored in a hotel room, there's not like, that much of a difference!"

He leaned in close. So close, that his nose was almost touching hers, and he growled, his Marine he voice kicking in almost instinctively in the face of defiance.

"Final warning Abbs, else you won't exactly be sitting in the hotel room."

She paled, realising that she'd reached her limit on testing his patience. She could only gulp before almost running to join McGee, Ziva and Tony who were waiting at the door of the seminar room.

The large room was packed and they managed to find some seats together at the back. The presenter droned through a short presentation and then asked for questions. Abby and Tim slouched in their chairs totally disinterested. Ziva and Tony stared straight ahead with disinterest. Eventually a hand shot up from the middle of the room.

"What about jurisdictional issues where DNA evidence shows up a suspect which should technically be the responsibility of another Agency? Who has the rights to the DNA evidence?"

The presenter smiled and gave a little chuckle,

"Sir, that is a question which arises frequently. For the benefit of the audience, would you mind identifying yourself and your organisation please?"

The man stood up and Gibbs stretched his neck to gain a clearer view.

"Special Agent Tobias Fornell, FBI."

Tony and Tim blurted out a loud laugh. Abby and Ziva giggled. Gibbs closed his eyes as those sitting close to them turned to see glare their disapproval at their outburst.

"Hey, boss, did you know Fornell was gonna be here?" Tony asked as he continued to snigger.

"No I did not DiNozzo!" Gibbs whispered gruffly, "The two of you pipe down!" he added as he frowned at Tim.

Fornell sat back down in his seat. The presenter answered his question and then directed his gaze to the back of the room towards Gibbs.

"I...uh...got the sense of a comment or something, coming from the back of the room. Would anyone up there like to share their thoughts?"

Feeling a number of eyes on him, with an expectation to respond Gibbs stood up with a heavy sigh.

"Special Agent Gibbs, US Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Agent Fornell and I have a history of jurisdictional issues. They are not for debate here!" he snapped.

The presenter smiled weakly and nodded. In their seats, Fornell and Sacks groaned as Gibbs sat back down.

"Boss, did you know Gibbs and his crew were going to be here?" Sacks sneered.

"The hell I didn't! I mean, what is it with Jethro? He really takes that whole Marine thing way too far. He's practically stalking me!"

Sacks sniggered, "Think we should get a restraining order for the rest of our trip boss?"

Fornell furrowed his eyebrows in gave a deep sigh of despair at the younger agent, "Shut up Sacks" he replied sarcastically.

As the Seminar ended, Gibbs and the team waited at the door to get a chance to speak to Fornell. Tony huffed loudly and folded his arms.

"If Sacks is tagging along with Fornell , I'm outta here!" he growled,

Gibbs turned around quickly and head slapped him.

"If he is here, you'll stay the hell where you are DiNozzo. I know you hate his guts, but you've every right to be here. Are we clear?"

Tony winced as he rubbed his head, "Crystal clear boss".

"Well, well, well, Jethro. I knew you missed our little conversations, but I think chasing me across the Atlantic is a bit much don't you think?"

Tobias Fornell grinned as Gibbs rolled his eyes. The two men took a few steps to the side, out of immediate earshot of the rest of the team.

"You get sent to this thing as a punishment too?" Gibbs snickered.

Fornell frowned and nodded, "I'm supposed to be bonding professionally with Agent Sacks, and, I quote, networking in the international arena of criminal investigation, whatever the hell that might mean."

Gibbs couldn't help but chuckle and Fornell's frown broke into a grin.

"Well, Tobias, why don't you and I leave the kids in the crèche for a while and we'll go 'network' in that 'international arena' of yours huh?"

Fornell nodded his agreement with a wry smile and the two men returned to the team.

Meanwhile, as the two bosses were in deep discussion, Sacks had joined the rest of the team. Tony narrowed his eyes at him and thrust his hands into his pockets.

"Agent DiNozzo."

"Agent Slacks." Tony replied with a growl.

"It's Sacks, DiNozzo! I'm surprised they let you in this country, with your track record."

Tony grit his teeth with anger and was about to advance on Sacks when Abby placed a hand on his arm.

"Don't rise to the bait Tony, he's just teasing you!"

Tim stepped forward in between them, "Yeah Tony, don't listen to the FBI. You know there isn't any point!"

As Ziva looked menacingly at him, Sacks rolled his eyes and sighed, "Okay, okay, enough already, I'm beginning to feel surrounded here!"

The tense atmosphere relaxed slightly and there were a few awkward moments of silence before he continued,

"You guys doing anything after we're done here? Fornell's about adventurous as a worm and I sure as hell don't want to spend another night in a hotel bar or in my room!"

Ziva's menacing look softened and she smiled at the FBI agent, "Gibbs and Fornell are like clowns, they share the same opinion and mind thoughts."

"Much as I think you're correct, I think you probably meant clones, not clowns" Tim corrected her sweetly.

Ziva waved her hands before turning her attention back to Sacks, "We are intending to sneak out and see the city when we have finished here, you are welcome to join us!"

Tony threw Ziva a look, but quickly stopped when Abby thumped him in the chest.

"Ow! What was that for!"

She scowled at him, "You know what for Anthony DiNozzo! Now you and Sacks are going to play nice, or else I'm ratting on you to Gibbs!"

He huffed and then smiled sarcastically at Sacks, "Okay, we'll call you, Slacks, and let you know what we end up doing."

"It's Sacks!" he replied indignantly.

Gibbs and Fornell returned to their side and with a nod of their heads herded them into the main reception area of the arena.

Abby whispered in Tony's ear, "You do have plans for us for tonight don't you Tony?"

He beamed a wide smile and winked at her and replied in a similar quiet tone,

"Trust me Abbs, by the time tonight is over, you are never, ever, gonna forget London!"

She smiled and grabbed his arm and headed for lunch.

"Just let's get this afternoon over with first," he sighed.

To be continued...