Author's Note: Thanks for all the feedback! As they say on Ni-Hao Kai-Lan, you make my heart super happy!
Chapter 3 For Recording and Poisoning
Gibbs walked into Abby's lab holding a Caf-Pow! in one hand and a large coffee in the other.
"I hope you've got something for me, Abs." said Gibbs, setting down the sugar-shock in a cup.
Abby spun on her the heel of her shiny, black platform boot. Smiling sweetly, she held up two objects; a thick medical dictionary and a small vial of orange-red liquid.
"Do I ever let you down, Gibbs? I found several poisons that don't show up on tox screens after the subject dies. But only one will turn a body red," said Abby quickly. Gibbs waited patiently, sipping his coffee.
"Di-veridose Red or DVR. Not DVR that you use to record your favorite shows but you probably don't know what that is anyways. The nuns use DVR to..."
Gibbs cleared his throat.
"S-s-sorry," said Abby, smiling apologetically before getting back to her explanation. "It's a pretty hinky substance. It has the ability to shut down all major organs within 6 hours of ingesting." explained Abby. "Whoever gave the DVR to Lt. Kembleza was with him less than four hours before he died. It was most likely mixed into something he ate or drank. And they weren't expecting him to commit suicide before it kicked in."
"Thanks, Abs," said Gibbs, kissing her temple.
As Gibbs was leaving, McGee stepped off the elevator.
"Hey, boss. I didn't find anything worthwhile in the lieutenant's phone and email records," said McGee to Gibbs.
"I doubted you would. Find out where someone could get Di-veridose Red and get me a list of buyers," responded Gibbs as the doors of the elevators closed.
"McGee!" said Abby excitedly. "Did you bring me a Caf-Pow! too?"
"Gibbs just brought you a Caf-Pow! a few minutes ago, Abby." replied McGee, sitting down on her chair.
Abby stopped what she was doing to turn and look at McGee incredulously.
"You can never have too many Caf-Pows!, Timmy," said Abby, happily slurping from her lone cup.
"Whatever you say, Abs," said McGee, watching Abby enjoy the sickly-sweet drink before getting to the real reason for his visit. "Did you know that Ziva was with Tony last night? They watched movies together from the time we left til we came back."
Abby gasped loudly.
"WHAT? Give me the details! Are they together? Oh my gosh, how could Ziva keep that from me? Or maybe they just made it official and she hasn't had a chance to tell me," she rambled. "That's it! She's going to tell me today! Oh my gosh, McGeeeee! What if they get.."
"Abby!" interrupted McGee, shaking her gently. "We don't know anything. It could be nothing. Tony didn't seem too worried about telling me. It's probably nothing."
Abby punched McGee's arm before taking another gulp of her Caf-Pow!.
"Don't say that, McGee! They might be in love! Someone on this team deserves some romance," said Abby, grinning from ear to ear.
McGee was skeptical. "Ziva in love with Tony? Um, I can't exactly go along with that. Besides, the team has plenty of romance. We had a romance, remember?," he reasoned.
"Had, McGee," replied Abby. "Someone needs a romance now."
McGee took a step towards Abby, invading her personal space.
"I'm romantic, Abs." said McGee quietly.
"That you are, Timmy," replied Abby, blushing as they both reminisced about the past.
As McGee opened his mouth to speak, the intercom buzzed: "McGee! We've got something! Get up here!"
Tony's voice brought the two back to the present.
"Be right up!" yelled McGee, wishing he had more time to stroll down memory lane.
"Out, Timmy! I've got work to do." said Abby as she moved to her radio, turning the volume up.
McGee left Abby to her work as he walked towards the elevator. I hope we can talk later he thought to himself.
Why is he looking at me so strangely? thought Ziva as she tried to ignore Tony's stare and concentrate on the case at hand.
"The DVR purchase was made with the wife's credit card, boss. The date was January 20, 2011. 6:23pm." said McGee with a mixture of disgust and relief. "We've got her."
Tony snapped out of his trance and gave a low whistle. "I knew the wife did it."
"It was not her," began Ziva slowly.
Three pairs of eyes bore into her, all asking the same question.
"I interviewed her twice. She has a solid alibi. She was in Montana from January 18 until January 23 for her grandfather's funeral." finished Ziva, clearly exasperated.
She looked back at Tony, rolling her eyes when she realized he was staring at her once again.
"It sounds like the wife has been set up," concluded McGee.
All three agents turned to Gibbs who promptly stood up, went up the stairs, and marched into Director Vance's office.
"Campfire!" whispered Tony to his fellow agents.
The three agents gathered in a triangle, ready for their impromptu meeting.
"What's up with Gibbs and Vance?" asked McGee, looking from Tony to Ziva.
Tony just shrugged while Ziva contemplated.
"Maybe it has to do with the conversation they need to finish." she supplied.
Both of her fellow agents eyes widened.
"That's never good," whispered Tony.
As the door to the director's office opened again, revealing their leader, the trio hurried to their desks.
As they got back to work, McGee and Tony had the same thought in their minds: When will we finish our conversation?