McGee took a deep breath as he stepped off the elevator. He could hear Abby's music blaring loudly through the shut lab door. He tried to recognize what she was listening to but couldn't put his finger on it. It sounded familiar but no name came to mind. He straightened his tie before opening the door. A wave of music hit him and he had to steady himself to regain his balance.

"McGee! Sorry, is the music a little loud?" she screamed. McGee put up two fingers indicating a little bit and Abby turned down the volume. "Sorry, new cd. I had to blast it. Anyways, what do you have for me? Ohh, a light blue sweater. You shouldn't have, it's my favorite color." she said in a dry voice.

"It's the clothes that Miss Press was wearing when she was attacked. They need to be processed. And I know that I should get you something black or red Abby, I think I know you better then that." McGee said and handed the bag to Abby.

"I know McGee, I was just joking." She said and lightly touched his face. "Why don't you grab a pair of gloves and join me. I could always use extra help. Make sure you use those new latex gloves. They are specialized to have better protection then the others we have had. They are more impenetrable to sharp objects. You wonder why they just dont make condoms out of them." McGee paused in putting the gloves on to soak in Abbys comment. She said it so casually as if she didnt mind what she said. He slid the other glove over his hand, giving them a once over to see what was so special about them, and took the dark camisole out of the bag. He went over it with a fine toothed comb, checking every nook and cranny. He checked for any fibers and checked for any blood after lightly spraying the garment with luminal. He didn't manage to find a trace of anything and was feeling disappointed until Abby let out a little squeal.

"What did you find?" he said and leaned in closer. They looked up at each other and their eyes locked. McGee was the first to break away.

"I found a trace of blood. I'll run it through to see if it matches Paulson's or Press'. I'll also run it through mass spec to see if I can pick up anything special." she said and grabbed two vials.

"Abby, before you do that, there is something I've been meaning to ask you." McGee said. Abby stopped and leaned against the computer table. McGee shuffled his feet a little and looked around the room. This was an unfamiliar situation that he hated. The awkward moment between where your courage is slim to none to when you are finally able to say those magic words. He opened his mouth to speak when the door to the lab opened. In walked Gibbs, carrying a file and a CafPow.

"Abby, McGee, what do you got for me?" Gibbs asked and set Abby's CafPow down on the computer table next to her. Abby turned around and entered some information into her computer.

"I'm checking to see if the blood I found on Miss Press' shirt to see if it belongs to her or Paulson." She said and clicked a few a keys on her computer. While waiting for the results, she ran over and entered the other sample into the mass spec. Soon after rushing back to the first sample, the computer started beeping with results. "Looks like it's a match to neither. The mass spec shows that there are traces of saline, mostly found in saline spray for your nose. It looks like the blood may have come from a bloody nose. One of the killers got hit probably before slamming Lauren's head into the ground. Spatter on her shirt seems typical of someone pushing her, causing the head to move and blood to come flying out."

"Well that's something to go on. Run the DNA through the database to see if we get any hits. We're still waiting on facials so hopefully this will be a more definite hit." Gibbs said. Abby's computer started to beep again.

"Looks like the blood on her shirt matches some blood found on the floor in the men's room and on a paper towel found in the trash of the ladies room." Abby said.

"Run it through every database you have. Have we had anything on the BOLO?" Gibbs asked.

"Nothing yet boss but I think everyone is on the lookout. The director suggested a while ago that maybe we could get the picture up on local news. Ziva is on the mall surveillance footage looking for anything out of place but it looks like the guy that's in the bank tape is the same guy. We just need to find out what his real name is and who the other guys are." McGee said. He tossed Abby a quick look as if to say he'll talk to her later and was interrupted by Gibbs' cell phone ringing. After a quick talk, Gibbs seemed ready to go again.

"We got a hit. Someone in mall remembered that one of the men made a purchase before going to the food court. We got an address and a driver's license. Looks like its real so were going. Uhh, McGee, why don't you stay here and help Abby and keep up with anything on the BOLO and I'll take Tony and Ziva with me." he said and ran off the elevator. After he was out of earshot, Abby was the first to talk.

"So-- McGee, what did you want did you want to ask me?" she said. She lightly drug one of her feet around in a circle on the floor. She was once again perched against the computer desk, her gaze staring McGee down.

"You know, why don't we talk about it later. I need to check on the BOLO. I'll check in with you later." He said. He picked up a file on the DNA results and left the lab. Abby couldn't help but feel disappointed with what happened. Gibbs always seemed to come in during the wrong moments, and today was no different. In the elevator, McGee was cursing himself for chickening out and Gibbs for not having better timing. He knew sooner or later he would have to do something before it was too late.

At one of the suspect's house, Gibbs, Ziva, and Tony came up empty handed.

"House is clean boss, there isn't one here. He must've left when he got wind of the credit card receipt." Tony said.

"Tony, the name of the girl was Lauren Press, correct?" Ziva asked while leaning over a stack of papers.

"Yeah, Lauren Press, why? You going to ask if I'm going to call her Lauren again?" He asked, shining a flashlight behind a bookcase.

"Because her name is written here. Looks like it's recent, it has the name of the hospital written down where she is. St. Germaine?" Ziva said.

"Call the hospital and tell them I'm on my way. We need to take her into protective custody." Tony said. He grabbed the keys and Ziva followed him out the door.

"Tony, how are we going to get back to the office?" Ziva screamed to him as he was running to the car.

"I'll grab you on my way back; just tell Gibbs what's going on." Tony yelled and jumped in the front seat of the car. He threw the siren up on top and drove away. In the rearview mirror she could see Ziva talking to Gibbs. Her arms were waving wildly as Gibbs just stood there waving at him. Ziva was angry, he could tell. He didn't know if she was angry because he left her and Gibbs there or he was giving another woman more attention. He thought she should be used to it by now, as he paid attention to a lot of other women whenever he was around her. He tried to get a handle on his flirting while around her, but sometimes he couldn't help but act like himself. He weaved in and out of traffic, trying to get his mind off of Ziva. He grabbed his cell phone and asked McGee to track any cell phone activity of the suspected suspect. After that, he called the hospital so Lauren, Miss Press, it's Miss Press' he corrected himself, wouldn't be startled by his sudden appearance telling her grab her things and run. He slammed on his breaks outside the nearest entrance that was close to her hospital room. Two security guards, who were standing outside smoking, yelled at him that he couldn't park there. He flashed his badge and they backed off. Oh the magic of a simple piece of metal.

Outside of Miss Press' room, he met up with her doctor.

"Agent DiNozzo, I don't recommend this at all. She could have severe head trauma." he said and tried to block the entrance to her room.

"Dr. Waters, may I call you Steven?" he asked.

"No."

"Well Steven, we have several doctors on staff at our office. I will bring her back here tomorrow for a full checkup and make sure she under no stress. I assure you that nothing will happen under my watch." he said, placing his hand on the doctor's shoulder and gently turned him away. Tony knocked on the door.

"Miss Press, its Agent DiNozzo. I need you to open the door." He heard shuffling and the door slowly opened.

"I know, Agent DiNozzo. One of your fellow officers called and told me that you needed to take me into protective custody. Her name was really pretty, something like Diva." she said and let Tony follow her into the room.

"That would be Agent Ziva David. I need you to get dressed so we can leave." he said and turned his back to her.

"There's a problem. See, my friends were able to bring over flowers and a quilt I forgot at their house. I'm in the middle of moving and most of my stuff is in storage, including my clothes. I just got enough out for the week and that outfit was my last. I was going tonight to pick it up. I got a call after Agent David and the storage unit boss said my locker had been ransacked. Agent David called later and said there was a team over there. All my stuff has been taken. I don't have clothes." She said and tightened the strings of her hospital gown. Tony turned around and put his hand on his head.

"You know what, I'm sure that there are some clothes at the office that someone would be happy to let you borrow. You might have to dress in all black but I think maybe Abby has some clothes in her locker." Tony said.

"Well then let's go." She said. She grabbed her purse, her quilt, and grabbed two flowers from her vase.

"What are the flowers for?" Tony asked.

"Well, I thought I would give them to whoever gives me clothes, as a sign of thanks. A gesture of appreciation." she said. Outside, they were met by a police escort provided by the two officers that were stationed at her door. The drive back to NCIS was quiet, except for a few comments made here and there about the weather or landmarks. Lauren held tightly to her hospital gown, not wanting anything to come loose and cause an embarrassing moment. Upon arrival to the office, they gathered looks from just about everyone in the office. Ziva and McGee were waiting at their desks and gave long stares when Tony approached them.

"Uhh Ziva, McGee, this is Miss Press." he said.

"Please, call me Lauren." She said. Tony gave a quick glance over to Ziva as if to say I told you so.'

"Okay Lauren. Let's go see if either Abby or I have any clothes in our lockers. Tony, why don't you go run and get some movies so Lauren can take it easy." Ziva said and led Lauren to the locker room.

"Well Tony, she is pretty. I think you're making Ziva jealous." McGee said and started to sort through assorted files on his desk.

"Probie, I don't need a girl to make Ziva jealous. She does that all on her own. Plus, it's not like I'm going to date her. I gotta run. I need to ransack the storage room of discarded evidence. I'm pretty sure there's some chick flicks laying around in there somewhere. That should keep her occupied and safe. I'm pretty sure I can just have Abby or Ziva sit with her. They should enjoy chick flicks." Tony said. McGee looked up at him

"Are you nuts? Do you seriously think Ziva would enjoy a sappy romance? She can barely sit through a comedy movie. Last time we watched an Adam Sandler movie she fell asleep within ten minutes." McGee said. Tony stopped in his tracks.
"Probie, when did you and Ziva watch a movie?" he said. McGee stopped and smiled.

"Why, are you jealous Tony?" he said and smirked a little. Tony gave him an evil look. "Relax, she had Abby and I over for dinner one night and we brought over a movie. We thought maybe she would like it since we didn't think she would enjoy any other movie."

"Oh, so it was you and Abby." Tony said, trying to turn the tables on the situation.

"Yes, it was me and Abby. She wanted to cook a certain meal but it was just too big for only two people so she invited both Abby and myself over. She likes to make dinner for us. I could've sworn she's invited you to dinner before." McGee said.

"Yeah, and I said no because I thought I would be eating some weird Israeli food that was burnt to a crisp." he said.

"Actually, her Israeli food is awesome and so is her Italian. She makes me best penne I have ever had." McGee said.

"Whatever McGee. I'll just keep saying no since I'm sure she'll try and poison me during dinner. Anyways, I need to go get that movie. Just have the girls meet me in the lounge." he said.