Abby's blaring music greeted them as they stepped into the lab. Doris shot McGee a confused look and he shrugged, "She does her best work this way", he explained.
They found Abby at the microscope peering intently at something.
"Hey, McGee", she smiled without looking up "Ducky said he'd send you over to look at this".
Looking up she noticed Doris, "Oh hey, you must be the new probie"
"Yes, Doris", she said extending her hand.
"Abby", Abby replied taking her small hand in both hers. Then she flung them down with a relish, opening her arms wide and announced: "Welcome to the fantastic world of forensics".
"Ah thank you", said Doris uncertainly.
"Now," Abby voice returned to a more business like tone, "I suppose you want to know what was up the back passage of the victim, apart from the obvious"
"McGee winced, "Abby…"
"What", she gave him an innocent gaze which he chastised with a movement of his eyebrows. She grinned at him.
"Its good ol' microfiche, you know, from like the old library days." And she put the image onto the larger screen for them to see.
"So what's on it", asked McGee squinting to read the letters.
"Names", Abby replied. "No idea whose, but names."
"Can I get a print out?" ask McGee.
Abby picked up the piece of paper on the table with a flourish. "For you sir", she bowed, handing it to him. Doris smiled, she like Abby already.
McGee's phone went off and he handed the list to Doris before answering. He hung up after a few seconds. "We gotta go Abs", he said, "The director wants to give the probationary officers a talk."
"Oh, can I just show you one more thing", Abby pleaded.
McGee opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times deciding what to do.
"You stay", said Doris finally, "I can find my way and I'll give this to Agent Dinozzo on the way".
"You sure?" he queried.
"Sure", she assured him with a brilliant smile, "I came first in my school orienteering, I think I can handle a trip to the elevator."
She turned and left but McGee was still looking after her, her smile still burnt into his retina like a Cheshire cat grin.
"Earth to McGee", Abby was saying.
He blinked at her and found she had a smug grin on her face.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Ohhhh", said Abby mischievously, "Chuckie's in love."
He frowned at her unconvincingly, "Abby", he growled. He was annoyed at her but he wasn't quite sure what for.
Abby was still smiling at him, now he was very annoyed. "I think it's so cute", she crooned at him.
"Stop it," he grumped, "Do you have anything for me or not".
"Ribbed or smooth?"
"Abby!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist," she grinned.
"Try", he suggested with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"Seriously McGee", Abby ploughed on undeterred, "I think she likes you too".
"Really?" he hadn't meant to show her how high his hopes were and he immediately regretted his impetuous response when she laughed and punched him playfully on the shoulder.
"Word is you stayed over at her house", she wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"What!" he was almost yelled at her, "how did you hear about that?"
"Abby gave him a sweet smile, "unlike Gibbs, Tony knows how to address email to 'all'"
"Oh God", he breathed realising the magnitude of the problem.