The four Gibblets huddled together in Abby's lab, quietly scheming. Contention had risen over what prank would be appropriate to pull on their esteemed boss. Gibbs' undeniable favorite, Abby, had protested every idea Tony, Ziva, and McGee came up with. It got to a point where her protests were simply ignored.
"We're headed into uncharted territory, people," Tony said melodramatically, "It can't be anything out of the ordinary. We're going for gusto here."
"I disagree," Ziva spoke up. "Gibbs would more likely appreciate a good, old fashioned, sort of prank."
"I have to agree with Ziva on this one, Tony," McGee sided with the Mossad officer.
"You guys, this is a bad idea," Abby was all but pleading.
Tony scrunched his face, clearly getting annoyed at his teammates for their lack of vision. "You guys are impossible," Tony announced, spinning around without warning and making his way out of the lab.
"Where are you going?" Ziva asked, confused.
"We're never going to agree on this. This isn't fun anymore. You guys do what you want. I'm going back to work."
The three remaining team members exchanged confused looks, then shrugged. They were well acquainted with the senior field agent's propensity to throw tantrums when he couldn't have his way.
"I'm out, too," Abby said, putting her hands up in surrender. "Mad Gibbs is never pretty."
"Alright," Ziva looked McGee in the eyes. "That leaves you and me."
"And . . .Ducky and Palmer," McGee answered slowly as once again a mischievous smile spread across his face.
Ziva's grin matched her teammates, as her eyes danced with anticipation. "I think I like this new side to you, McGee. It's very . . . Devious."
Gibbs strode briskly into the bullpen, frowning when only one member of his team was at their desk.
"Where's Ziva and McGee?" He asked his senior field agent, the usual gruffness in place.
His train of thought was completely derailed when he saw Tony packing his things into a box. "DiNozzo, what're you doing?"
Tony looked worried, even scared. He drug a hand through his dark hair and exhaled a deep sigh. "Director Shepard didn't tell you? I've been reassigned.," he sounded depressed. "LA Office, effective immediately."
DiNozzo hadn't even finished his explanation before he saw the thunderclouds erupt in his boss' eyes. "The hell you have," Gibbs spat, then turned quickly toward the stairs.
The gray haired team leader burst into the director's office with enough force to knock the door against the wall. Jenny was seated at her desk, a look of deep concentration on her face.
"What the hell are you doin', Jen?"
Shepard's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Did DiNozzo screw something up somewhere that I didn't hear about?" Gibbs was almost shouting now. "He's my senior field agent, Jen! You have no right to transfer him without talking to me first!"
Jenny's jaw drop dropped in astonishment, her tone immediately defensive to match his. "What are you talking about, Jethro? Do you honestly think that I would take him away from you without so much as a "kiss my ass?"
Gibbs' eyes squinted, realization dawning on him rapidly. His tone dropped several hundred decibels when he said, "So you didn't transfer DiNozzo?"
Jenny stared him straight in his cold, blue eyes. "Of course not."
The ex-marine felt rage start to burn. Without even a good-bye, Gibbs stormed from the director's office. Pulling open the heavy door, he was surprised when Tony all but fell on top of him from a stooped over position. It became obvious to the team leader that his senior field agent had been listening to every word exchanged between himself and Director Shepard.
"DiNozzo, what the hell . . ."
"April Fool's, Boss!"
Tony's enthusiasm quickly disappeared when he saw the fury raging in his boss' eyes. Unconsciously, as he always did, he started fiddling with is hands, and stumbling over every word. "See, Boss, it was, um, uh . . ."
"My office." Gibbs growled. "NOW!"
Now I know why Abby said this was a bad idea, Tony thought as he dutifully marched toward the elevator.
As expected, Gibbs hit the emergency stop button as soon as the elevator car had started its ascent. He then swiftly spun, delivering a harder then usual smack to the back of the young agent's head.
"Ow, geez Boss," Tony begun as he smoothed his hair, "Okay, so maybe it was a bad idea. But you have to admit, I pulled it off perfectly! I mean serious, I should get an Oscar for that little bit of acting . . . Ow," he added as another blow landed to his skull.
Gibbs stepped to within inches of his agent's face. "Still think it's funny, DiNozzo?"
Tony squirmed despite his best efforts. "No, boss. Sorry, boss."
"Do it again, and you won't have to pretend that you're being transferred. Clear?"
"Crystal, Boss."
"Good," Gibbs said as he once again put the elevator in motion. "Now get back to work."
"Where are you going?"
"Autopsy."
"Ah, Jethro," the Scottish ME greeted his old friend.
"Hey, Duck."
"I'm glad you're here."
Gibbs strolled over to the steel table where Dr. Mallard and his assistant, Jimmy Palmer, were performing their latest autopsy. "Oh?" Gibbs answered as he peered into the chest cavity of a very unfortunate young service man.
"Yes. It seems Mr. Palmer and I have something of a mystery on our hands."
"I'm sure that's a first," Gibbs said sarcastically, flashing his old friend a crooked smile.
"If you have a moment I would like you to take a look."
Gibbs shrugged. "Sure. Not a whole lot happening today."
Ducky motioned with a finger for the team leader to follow him to the coolers. The diminutive doctor yanked the latch of cooler number six and slid the slab out. A human form still in a black body bag lay on the tray. Always one to take the initiative, Gibbs wasted no time in running the zipper around the head of the body and peeling back the thick plastic.
"April Fools!" McGee sat bolt upright from inside the body bad.
Gibbs jumped, his eyes as wide as saucers, then, unfortunately, his many years of Marine Corps Training took over. Without thinking, he lashed out, grabbing the young man around the neck with a powerful hand. In one quick motion, the hurled the unsuspecting agent to the floor. It wasn't till McGee had unceremoniously crumpled in a heap on the floor that Gibbs became aware of his actions.
"Damn it, McGee!" Gibbs raged. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the only female on his team come out of her hiding spot behind a bank of shelves.
"I suppose you were in on this, too?" He asked, his eyes set in a hard glared directed at Ziva.
"We . . . All were." Ziva confessed, making a motion to encompass all of autopsy.
His wrath finally settled on Dr. Mallard and Jimmy, though he said nothing.
"Just a good natured joke, Jethro," Ducky tried to soothe his irate friend.
"Your "good natured joke" almost got McGee killed!"
"Yes, well, I guess it could have been worse," Ducky said.
"Oh, yeah?" McGee grunted as he slowly got back to his feet. "How's that?"
"You could have been in one of the upper coolers."
Ziva snorted, which turned into a full laugh. Dr. Mallard and Jimmy readily joined in. McGee cracked a smile, but didn't entirely see the humor of it. Gibbs just scowled, waiting. As soon as the laughter had died, he turned to his to agents.
"Don't you two have something you need to be working on?" He shook his head as Ziva and McGee hurried out of the room.
"Jethro, I . . ." Ducky began, but was cut off.
"I know, Duck." Gibbs shot over his shoulder as he followed his agents to the elevator.
The bullpen was unusually quiet as all three agents worked at their desks. Having all been thoroughly lectured about how their boss was a federal agent, not a kindergarten teacher, they were in no mood for discussions. As soon as the tongue-lashing was over, Gibbs had left, giving explicit instructions that no one was to go anywhere till he returned.
Almost three hours later, their fearless leader appeared once again, a fresh cup of coffee in hand. He stood leaning against a cubicle wall when he announced, "Wrap it up and go home."
All three agents quickly grabbed their backpacks and all but ran for the elevator, Gibbs followed closely behind.
"Be back here at 0700 tomorrow," the team leader instructed as his team entered the elevator.
"Got it, Boss," Tony called out just as the doors closed.
The elevator started to descend, then came to an abrupt stop. The lights immediately switched off, leaving them in the dimness of the emergency lighting only.
"What the . . .?" Tony exclaimed, his eyes scanning the elevator buttons to find what was wrong.
"Oh, hey!" Tony, Ziva, and McGee heard their boss call through the elevator door. "April Fools! Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Ziva turned toward Tony. "He wouldn't leave us here all night, would he?"
McGee was bouncing his head off the metallic wall. "After what we just put him through? We might as well settle in for a long night."
Gibbs entered Abby's lab with a triumphant smile on his face, and a fresh Caf-Pow in his hand. Setting the drink in front of the young scientist, he kissed her on the cheek.
She smiled. "What was that for?"
"For being a good girl. And for the favor you're gonna do for me."
"What favor?"
"Let my team out of the elevator in a few hours," he said, planting a "fireman's key" in the Goth's hand.
Abby couldn't help the amused chuckle that sprang from her lips. "Of course, my Silver Haired Fox. How long do you want me to leave 'em in there?"
Gibbs thought a moment. "After McGee goes crazy, but before Ziva kills Tony."
Abby laughed. "You got it, Bossman."
"Thanks, Abs. See you tomorrow."
Tah- dah! It took awhile, but it's done. Hope I didn't let anyone down with the ending. Feel free to review- I'm sort of a review addict. Thank you for all the reviews so far.