Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS : (

Okay, thanks for all your reviews, and sorry about the wait.
Quick question: would anybody be intrested if I uploaded a NCIS and ASHES TO ASHES crossover? If so/not please let me know. Okay so here you go…

That afternoon the atmosphere in the bullpen was tense to say the least. After Tony's outburst in Abby's lab earlier that day nobody had been quite sure how to react or behave. No one blamed Tony for losing his rag. Although none of them where quite sure what was going on, from what they had grasped they'd all agreed that what they were saying must have sounded extremely insensitive. No one wanted to be nosey or intrude by asking what exactly was going on, yet Tony's speech had left them all slightly shell shocked and extremely confused.

For Special Agent Timothy McGee his co-worker and friends' outburst had been quite a shock. McGee had known Tony for nearing four years now, and never had he seen him act like he had today. Between them they'd worked some horrible and quite personal cases, from Tony getting the plague to Kate getting murdered, from Tony being arrested on murder to McGee shooting an undercover cop. Not once though, through all of that had Tony ever reacted how he had in Abby's lab not once. If McGee was honest, Tony's out of character behaviour scared him.

Liaison Officer Ziva David had been unusually quiet; her lack of murder threats had not gone unnoticed by anyone. While like McGee Ziva was worried about Tony's behaviour, it wasn't her main worry. Ziva had known Jenny for quite a few years now, and the pair had shared a lot. During their time as partners in Egypt they'd begun to consider each other as sisters, and in a way it hurt her to think that the older woman couldn't go to her about whatever it was that she'd been dealing with.

Down in the lab things where not the norm: no music blasted from the stack system, and the bubbly Goth was the complete opposite. Abby had known Tony since he'd first arrived at NCIS all those years ago. She no longer just thought of him as a co-worker, she now considered the man as a friend, a brother even. Yet today's events had shown him in a different light. While some may see his outburst as over the top, unnecessary or scary. Abby simply saw it as how much he cared, and by his reaction she knew he cared a lot.

For Tony his outburst had simply been his way of relieving all of his stress and annoyance about the situation he was dealing with. He hadn't intended to go off on one, or upset the people he considered as family. The problem was, he know how much longer he could keep his emotions under control. He was worried for Jenny, he really was but he also didn't know how much longer he could keep her secret. The people around her cared, and no matter what she said he knew they'd want to know, want to look after her. Then there was Gibbs. Tony had caught his eye every time he saw Jenny and himself together, and Tony knew that Gibbs assumed they were in a relationship how wrong he was though. The other problem with Gibbs was how he was constantly parading his relationship around, and Tony was seeing first-hand how it was slowly and silently killing Jenny.

The change in tension had not gone unnoticed by Gibbs. He knew his team, they were practically his family. He knew something was up, he just didn't know what, or how to deal with them.

Following the revolutions earlier, the team had taken it upon themselves to blame cornel Hollis Mann. Nobody had ever really like the woman, after all she was getting in the way of mummy and daddy getting together now they had an excuse. With an excuse now in their pockets they had all decided to give her a serious treat of the evils. No one more though than Abby.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Lt. Cornel Hollis Mann walked into Abby's lab where it was all too obvious the mood swing had also hit her too.
"Hey Abs, what you got for me." He said in his usual chirpy voice. Only to receive a foul glare.
"OUT!" she shouted followed by folding her arms. Gibbs and Mann exchanged a look of confusion.
"What?" replied Gibbs shocked.
"HER!" she shouted, "I want her OUT OF MY LAB…NOW!" Hollis was about to leave when Gibbs grabbed her arm.
"No Abs, she's with me. If she goes, so do I!" he replied, only to receive the answer he'd not been expecting.
"FINE!" she said snatching the caf-pow from his hand and pushing a shocked couple out and locking the door. On went the music, and up with the volume as she made her way into the office to make a call to Tony. Leaving Gibbs and Mann at the door. The day for Gibbs just seemed to be getting stranger by the minute.

After waiting outside the Goths lab for ten minutes with not a sign that they may once again be allowed entry the pair left. Hollis got off the elevator at the bull pen, while Gibbs stayed on. He was at a loss of what to do about his team. The odd mood swing he was used to, arguments weren't rare. But the thing about today was the atmosphere felt different. It wasn't anger towards each other, it was towards him and Holly, and between them it was confusion and sympathy. All this had well and truly confused the ex-marine, so he decided that he needed to turn the woman who always understood him, although recently he knew he hadn't exactly treat her well.

Director Jennifer Shepard was sat in her office, glasses perched on the end of her nose as she read through one of the many case files she was required to read and sign. She was completely oblivious to the events of the day, until her office door slammed open. By now she was well used to this entrance, and without even looking up from her current file she knew exactly who was stood in her office. "Special Agent Gibbs, How can I help you?" she questioned as she finished signing her name, and removed her glasses.
"It's more like what's up with my team. McGee's not asked a single stupid question, Ziva hasn't threatened to kill anyone with a paperclip, DiNozzo's not quoted a single movie quote and Abby, she just kicked me out of her lab, barely spoke to me and refused to look me in the eye!"
"Have you ever thought you might have upset them?"
"I haven't done anything Jen, I swear."
"And what exactly do you plan on me doing Agent Gibbs?"
"I dunno Jen, give me a hand. Be a friend!"
"Hold on a minute! Don't you even dare think about lecturing me on being a friend, you are the one who left everybody who cared about you with barely a good bye, so don't you dare!"
"I was reliving the death of my wife and daughter!"
"And I appreciate that, but what about when you returned eh? What about then. Since you've returned you've barely even spoken to Ducky, or me for that matter. I thought we were your friends, I was your friend. But maybe I was wrong, maybe these days I'm simply an ex-probie, an ex-partner, an ex-lover, maybe even an ex-friend these days. "
"Jen.."
"Special Agent Gibbs it is Director Shepard or Ma'am." With that he left her office, not forgetting to slam the door on his way out. Leaving Jenny stood there feeling even emptier than ever before.

Down in the bull pen Tony, Tim and Ziva where now talking after agreeing to not blame each other. Yet when they spotted Gibbs coming silence once again fell. "Abby rang boss, said there was no physical evidence on the dead petty officer clothing to indicate a struggle." Stated Tony not looking Gibbs in the eye.
"Great, so she'll speak to you but not me." He said sarcastically. The three agents exchanged a look.
"What do you mean she won't speak to your boss?" asked McGee.
"I mean McGee, she won't speak to me. Locked me outta her lab." This statement caused an amused look to cross the agent's faces.

Up in her office, Jenny was attempting to compose herself before going down to the bullpen to find out what progress had been made on the case before she spoke with the Sec-Nav in 45 minutes. Taking a deep breath she stepped into the outer office where she politely smiled at her assistant, before walking out onto the catwalk and slowly descending the stairs.
"What news do we have on the case? I'm speaking with the Sec-Nav soon and he will want an update." She received no answer as the team where all awaiting Gibbs' response. "Well…" she pushed.
"Ducky rang. Turns out the guy died of natural causes." Tony answered, deliberately leaving out the details.
"Natural causes?" questioned Jenny.
"Heart attack. He was only 37." Replied Hollis, bluntly. Everybody apart from Gibbs and Hollis saw the colour drain from Jenny's face.
"Did…is…did he have any family?"
"Mother's untraceable, father died, victim was an only child, not married, no kids. Bit like you Jen." Replied Gibbs. Tony's eyes narrowed, he could've hit his boss. Jenny's emotions where beginning to show.
"Watch your tongue Agent Gibbs. Seeming as the case is over, Lt. Cornel Mann; your boss wants you back at base, so your liaison with NCIS is no longer required. I have a meeting with the Sec-Nav soon; by the time I'm out I want you gone so I don't get my ear bitten off. "She demanded in an icy tone, then she walked off; all eyes were on her.

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