Abby: Different how? Different good? Different bad?
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"So, are you different around your Dad?" Tim questioned; momentarily second guessing himself. He wasn't exactly sure how sensitive Ziva would be on the subject.
She shrugged. "I am myself. I have no reason to act different."
He sensed the tone in her voice and nodded. "Right. Now you see, with me, I always get a little nervous. Which is really kind of odd considering I have nothing to be nervous about. But you know… you always want to impress your Dad, not so much your Mom, because there's that sense that she'll love you even if you become a cashier at a fast food joint…" He stopped his rambling and took in her expression.
"You have been spending too much time with Abby…"
He managed a smile. "Really though? You don't act the least bit different? Think you have to prove something? Make him proud? Make up for something?"
She slammed down her pen in response and it seemed to scare Tim momentarily. "And just what would I have to make up for?"
Tim fumbled his speech. "I um, nothing…I was just giving examples of uh, some reasons why you might, uh, act differently."
"I told you before, I am myself."
McGee took in a few breaths and decided to change the subject; relatively speaking. "Why do you think the boss is different? I mean I would've thought no one on earth could rattle him."
"He does not seem rattled to me."
"Okay, but he does seem different." He replied, noting that she was the one who had said it.
"Yes. It has been some time since they have seen each other. I'd imagine some difference would be normal."
"How long had it been since you'd seen your Dad?"
She set her pen down a second time. "I thought were talking about Gibbs yes?"
Tim agreed. "Right, sorry. Gibbs."
She took in a breath. "I do not sense their relationship ended well; and we both know all too well, that Gibbs does not take grudges lightly."
"You can say that again."
"Did you not hear me the first time?"
Tim sighed. "Nevermind." He continued to type at his computer for a few minutes in silence before starting up the conversation again. "So what do you think his Dad did?"
She lifted the pen towards him. "McGee, Tony has had a negative influence on you, I don't recall you being so inquisitive before I left for Israel."
"Maybe it's not so much me being different, as it is you being different?" He let his mouth hang open after the statement, not quite sure he'd actually said what he was thinking.
"Are you implying that I have changed?"
He shook his head; hoping to get himself out of this mess. "No, of course not."
"What were you implying then?"
He sighed. "Ziva, look, I was just trying to start conversation. I didn't realize how sensitive the topic was. Let's just drop it okay?"
"So now you are saying I am sensitive?"
Tim cringed and remained quiet for a moment before the store door bells jingled and Gibbs entered. He then looked up to the proverbial heavenlies and sighed. "Saved by the bell."