Special Agent Gibbs entered a dimly lit lab. Slow, melodic music played softly in the background.
"Abby?" Gibbs called out softly, concern starting to take hold.
When there was no answer, the former marine stepped further into the room, his eyes scanning for his seemingly missing forensic scientist. He found the goth woman in front of her computer, her arms crossed on the desk, her head comfortably resting on top of them. Gibbs knew by the methodic sounds of her breathing that she was asleep. Something was definitely wrong.
Putting a hand on her back, Gibbs quietly called out, "Abby."
Abby woke with a start, sitting bolt upright, her mouth engaging at high speed. "I'm not sleeping," she explained quickly. "I've been doing inventory. I'm almost done. Almost. I'll get back to it. . ."
"Abby, you okay?" Gibbs cut her off.
Abby dropped her chin to her chest before eyeing her boss through her lashes. "Not really. I don't know what's wrong with me, Gibbs! I feel like a train wreck!"
The team leader put a calloused hand to the young woman's forehead. "You don't have a fever."
"I know, I already checked. I felt fine this morning, and now . . . My head is pounding, I have no energy, I can't think straight."
"You need a Caf-Pow?"
"I have one," she motioned to the mostly empty plastic cup next to her keyboard. "It's my eighth one today!"
"Eight? But I haven't brought you any today, Abs."
The young woman looked at him, her eyes droopy with exhaustion. "Tony's been bringing them to me."
"Mmm," Gibbs grunted, his suspicions about his lab tech's "illness" growing by the second. "Maybe you should go home," Gibbs suggested with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's not like we have a case to work on."
"No!" Abby protested. "I've never been sent home, Gibbs! Never! Not even that time I got food poisoning at the school cafeteria!" She paused, thinking. "Maybe I just need to move around a little." She planted the soles of both her platform boots on the floor and stood. Her eyes opened wide with surprise when the rolling chair stuck tight to her bottom, pulling uncomfortably at the baggy black pants she was wearing.
"What the . . .!" She cried out in surprise, sitting back down.
Just a hint of anger rose in the team leader before melting into amusement. Gibbs smothered a smile, taking out his phone to dial a very familiar number.
"Hey, Boss," Tony answered on the second ring.
"Get the team and get down to the lab," Gibbs instructed, monotone.
"On our way, Boss."
"And bring the nail polish remover from my desk drawer, DiNozzo."
Tony could hardly get out a "Sure thing," around the teeth-showing grin that had broken out on his face.
The three agents bound into the forensics lab like little children. "April Fools!" They yelled in unison as they piled through the thick steel door.
An odd mixture of amusement and frustration flitted through the Goth's eyes. "Ha ha. Can you get me un-stuck now? Please?"
"Is someone cranky?" Ziva asked.
"I'm not cranky! I'm just . . ."
"Here you are, my princess of darkness," Tony interrupted, producing a Caf-Pow from behind his back. "This should have you feeling better in no time."
"It won't help."
"Oh, trust us, this one will." When Abby eyed the senior field agent suspiciously, he continued. "Those others, well, let's say they were lacking the "Caf" in Caf-Pow."
The scientist's normally green eyes turned dark. "You've been bringing me caffeine free Caf-Pows?"
All three agents broke out in grins. Tony bounced up on his toes a few times. "Yup. All day long," DiNozzo explained.
Abby pointed up at the small huddled group from her forced seated position. "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! I thought I was sick!"
Her not quite angry tone, coupled with this new revelation, brought Team Gibbs to fits of laughter.
"It's not funny!" Abby tried to sound stern despite the smile that was threatening at the corners of her mouth.
When it was obvious that no real harm had been done, Gibbs decided it was time to step in. "Get her out of that chair, DiNozzo, before those eight Caf-Pows catch up with her."
"Oh, right. On it, Boss." Tony answered.
With the situation well in hand, Gibbs spun on a heel and left the lab. McGee waited till he heard the sound of the elevator doors closing before he spoke.
"You know what would be the perfect end to an April Fool's Day?"
"What, McGee?" Abby took the bait.
"Pulling one over on Gibbs."
"Oh, no," Abby emphatically protested. "No, no, no. No one plays pranks on the bossman. Trust me."
Ziva looked at Tony, the wheels in her brain clearly spinning. Tony looked at Ziva, an eyebrow raised in anticipation. Then they both looked at McGee, who couldn't keep a smile off his face.
"What did you have in mind, McSneaky?" Tony asked.
Sorry for the long wait between chapters. I am hoping to post the final chapter (or possibly two) tomorrow. Hope you are enjoying it! Thank you for all the reviews, etc. They really help keep me motivated.