McAllister: You ever work with Jenny Sheppard?

"Come on down Abs…"

She stepped onto the basement stair case with a huff. "How do you always know?"

"Those boots aren't exactly stealth."

She glanced down at her feet. "But they're cute."

He watched her clunk down the steps and greeted her with a smile. "Everything alright?"

"Of course. Why would you think something's wrong?"

"Last time you came here…"

She put her hand up. "Don't remind me. I'll be happy if I never hear your name and Mexico mentioned together ever again."

He only stared in response.

"Okay, okay fine. Something is wrong. But not with me…and before you get super worried and crank up the glare, I'm just here to turn the tables."

"Turn the tables?"

"Yeah ya know…it's a figure of speech."

"I know what it means Abs."

"Then why'd you ask?" She shrugged. "I'm here because I'm worried about you…and ya know, you're usually the one worried about me, so…"

"I'm fine."

She stifled a laugh. "Yeah, like you would let me get away with just saying that."

"You're not me."

"Is than an argument?"

"It's whatever you want. Now I'm fine…you can go."

"Are you seriously getting mad at me for caring? Cuz if you are, you're gonna be mad at me a lot."

His expression softened. "I'm not mad."

"Could've fooled me."

He placed his hand at the small of her back and motioned towards the steps.

"I'm not done turning the tables." She stepped away from him. "You would stay up all night and listen to me ramble, or cry…or ramble and cry…or cry first. Then ramble. Let me know do that for you…" She caught his glare. "Okay, maybe you're not capable of the rambling, but every one can cry…we all have tear ducts…it's science. And not even you can compete with science."

"Abby, I'm fine."

She crossed her arms. "How come you get to lock yourself down here with bourbon and play wood shop when everyone else gets hugs?"

"Why the sudden interest in my coping skills?"

"Cuz I don't sleep, and I get do get hugs."

"So you're concerned about my sleeping habits?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she was getting agitated. "Sorry for being normal."

Gibbs watched her move towards the stairs and stepped in front of her. "This works for me."

She embraced him without warning and held him for a moment. "This works too."

He watched her move up the stairs and retreated back to his work bench to pour himself a drink. She was half way up the steps when she changed her direction and joined him.

"I guess this does too."