Author: caf-pow

Title: Halloween Party


Oct 20th

Jenny frowned at the invitation in front of her, black card with an embossed outline of a witch on a broomstick on the front, as she flipped it open a pumpkin popped out at her, leering with its wide grin and pointed eyes. She sighed as she read the words written in a delicate hand in silver ink.

'You are invited to a special NCIS All Hallows eve party on October 31st 2008 at the residence of Dr Donald Mallard. 9.30pm sharp, fancy dress theme.'

She looked down at the additional message,

'P.S please please please come director, I'll tell you who you have to come as, and it's going to be so much fun. Love Abby.'

She dreaded to think who she would be made to dress as, and she wondered how Abby had bribed Ducky into letting them use his house.

She picked up her phone and dialled the extension for Abby's lab,

'Abby Scuito NCIS forensics lab,' came the chirpy reply,

'Hi Abs it's…'

'Jenny! Did you get the invitation? Please say you'll come, if you don't it'll ruin everything! You have to come, if you say no I'll come fetch you myself and put you I your costume myself and drive you there myse…'

'Abby calm down,' Jenny chuckled, 'I'm coming, don't panic.'

'Yay! Whoooooooh!''

Jenny held the phone away from her ear as the goth screamed down the phone, 'How many cafpow's have you had today Abby?'

'Not that many whyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?' Of course you haven't,

'Who do you want me to come as?'

She groaned at the response, well it was kinda obvious when you thought about it and she could guess who Gibbs and his team were coming as.

Downstairs McGee was trying to write up his report, Tony was muttering strange untonyish phrases and throwing paper balls at both himself and Ziva,

'Self expression heals the wounded heart' he chanted smoothly before taking aim and planting a paper ball squarely between McGee's eyes.

'Tony would you knock it off!'

'No probie, don't hesitate take a deep breath and take the plunge, who writes this stuff?'

'Hey that sounds like my new calendar!' McGee replied indignantly,

'This stuff'll rot your brain probie, I'm doing you a favour, oww, hey boss,' he looked behind him sheepishly as Gibbs strode past him.

'Don't let the director see what you're doing to that calendar,'

'Why's that boss?'

'She bought it,' came the soft reply from directly behind him, he jumped about a foot in the air before slowly turning his head around.

'Hi Jenny, director, ma'am,' he smoothed out the sheet he had just crumpled and placed it carefully back onto the pad before passing it back to McGee.

'Did you all get one of these?' Jenny asked holding her invitation up, Tony nodded and held his up, as did McGee and Ziva. Gibbs glared at it before rummaging around his desk,

'mmmm' he growled,

'you'd better find out who you're coming as,' she smirked knowing who he would be. He frowned at her,

'you can tell me, you already know,'

'no I don't,' her eye twitched as she spoke and Gibbs raised an eyebrow.

'maybe I have an idea who she wants you to dress up as,' Jenny replied as she slipped back upstairs wondering where on earth she was going to get a suitable costume.

Tony frowned at the invitation, he knew who he was supposed to come as, why him, why couldn't she have given his character to McGee, he'd look much better as it. Opposite Ziva was wondering what on earth her character was, the name had confused her greatly, maybe she would have to enlist Tony's help to find out what she should look like, or she could google it, that was right wasn't it, google, google, who came up with that name?

Gibbs headed downstairs into Abby's lab and was nearly flattened by the black and white blur that hurtled headlong into him,

'hey Abby,'

'Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbssssssssssss!'

'Maybe I'd better put this cafpow in the bin, you seem to have had enough already,'

Abby's mouth dropped in amazement,

'No Gibbs, bin a cafpow, that's sacrilege!'

Gibbs chuckled, he lifted up his invitation and Abby grinned,

'You wanna know who you're coming as?'

'That would be nice,'

'You'll never guess,'

Gibbs remained silent,

'Its a genius theme,'

Gibbs stared at her,

'Guess Gibbs,'

'Sometime today Abby,'

'Okay, you're going as ...........'

Oct 31st

Jenny stood in front of her mirror scrutinising her costume and how tight it was, she had never envisaged it would be this tight and restricting before she put it on. She sighed and reapplied her lipstick before taking one last look at the way her butt was exaggerated by the cut of the dress and groaned, it'll all be over in a few hours, you can do this for Abby.

Gibbs frowned at his costume and pulled at it hoping it would look a little more flattering, why he had let Abby talk him into letting her use hair dye on his hair he did not know but he did know he would look ridiculous for the next few weeks until it washed out. He hoped it would wash out.

Ziva looked at herself in the mirror; she had done a good job if she did say so herself, her smooth ponytail and pale make-up and prim dress were perfect. She laughed wondering who Abby would have given her sibling to dress as, and who Abby was coming as, and who would be it.

McGee tugged on his shorts disdainfully, he'd kill Abby when he got his hands on her.

Tony frowned, he looked ridiculous.

Abby grinned at herself in the mirror, no one would guess it was her or that she would have come as this character, she giggled as she imagined what Ducky was putting on upstairs. She had arrived early to decorate and prepare the spooky treats, music and games.

Palmer smiled at his appearance and practised his moans in the mirror, he thought he looked great, he was very excited about this party.

At 9.10 the guests started arriving, they all gave Abby strange looks as she let them in and guided them into the living room for drinks. She squealed when Palmer arrived,

'Wow you look fantastic Jimmy; you can let everyone in now,'

Palmer smiled, he was in his element and could really play his character, he moaned in agreement and Abby giggled happily before scuttling off to find Ducky.

There was a knock at the door and Palmer straightened his jacket before opening it eerily and moaning, he stopped and stared at the walking mass of hair on the doorstep before hiding a grin and speaking,

'Abby says you're to go in the back door.'

He wondered who was in that costume.

A few agents and their partners appeared and congratulated Palmer on his costume; they had come as the usual vampires and witches. Before long there were giant pumpkins, witches, vampires, zombies, werewolves, skeletons, mummies, bats and all sorts of other things including a very sleek black cat. Palmer smiled at Michelle as she twirled her tail around at him and pouted.

Jimmy jumped as Gibbs appeared at the door,

'Hello Special Agent Gibbs,' he groaned for effect and smiled, 'um Abby says you are to go to the back door sir.'

He repeated the process for Ziva and McGee, strangely he didn't see Tony or the director. Abby appeared behind him,

'You can come in now Jimmy, everyone's here,' she chirped. Palmer couldn't hide the confusion on his face, 'now that looks like Lurch,' Abby grinned.

She skipped into the main room and changed the track on the CD player, she turned the volume right up and dragged the team in one by one, first she dragged in Lurch who everyone had seen already. Palmer bowed and groaned before turning towards the hall, next she dragged in McGee dressed as Pugsley, he looked very uncomfortable and glared at her for embarrassing him so publicly.

Abby just grinned and grabbed Ziva's arm and dragged her into view, her surly expression was the finishing touch to her Wednesday costume. Abby then grabbed Gibbs and pushed him into the room, he attempted to smile jovially as Gomez and Ducky slipped in beside him with a mad expression on his face and a brown overcoat, he took Gibbs hand and he jumped back from the small electric shock. Ducky grinned,

'courtesy of Abigail,' he opened his hand to expose a small shock device from a joke shop.

Abby stopped as she reached the doorway and growled,

'Cousin itt!' She screeched, a mass of hair tried to hide itself in the crowd, she pulled a dog whistle from around her neck and blew it loudly.

'DiNozzo get over here!' Gibbs growled, the whistle was giving him a headache.

'Got it boss,' the hair slid cross the floor and then stopped behind McGee, 'so freakin' embarrassing,' he muttered.

A giggle rang through the air over the music, Gibbs turned around and spotted a black blur disappear up the stairs, 'Hey Morticia, get that butt down here, if we gotta suffer this humiliation so do you!' He growled up the stairs earning himself some very strange looks from his peers.

A pair of green eyes peered around the corner, they were narrowed in irritation, she raised her nose towards the ceiling and stepped out. She took tiny steps and her hips swayed as she began making her way down the stairs, she snorted with laughter as she spotted Tony again and tried to hide it by turning away.

'Oh ha ha, lets all laugh at the walking talking wig,' Tony growled, Jenny positively howled as she saw his eyes through the hair,

Gibbs stared at her, 'it's not that funny,' Jenny beckoned him towards her with her hands,

'No but I'll tell you what is,' Gibbs frowned and listened as she whispered into his ear, his face turned stony, 'you breathe a word to anyone.' Jenny snorted into his ear and he shook his head and laughed at her.

Palmer looked at McGee, he shrugged his shoulders and looked at Tony who remained silent and still, and then at Ziva who shook her head, they all looked at Ducky who smiled and shook his head sighing, 'what's so funny Doctor?' Jimmy asked, Ducky smiled, 'I don't know Mr Palmer.' Ziva frowned and vowed to get to the bottom of it.

Jenny stopped laughing and fought to keep a straight face as she turned to look at Gibbs, he smiled and raised his arm, 'why thank you,' she teased and took his arm allowing him to lead her down the stairs. As they came properly into view everyone could see the full effect of their costumes, Gibbs hair coloured black and parted neatly down the middle, the pencil moustache and black striped suit, and Jenny wearing a waist length black wig, black eye make up, her skin very pale and wearing a long sleeved black dress that clung to her from her shoulders down to her knees.

Abby grabbed their hands and dragged them into the main reception room, she motioned for Palmer to change the music and pushed Jenny into Gibbs arms, grinning widely.

'You ever get the feeling you've been set up?' Jenny whispered into Gibbs ear,

'yup,' he turned around as he realised what they were being made to dance to.

Abby giggled and he shook his head, 'of all the songs she could have picked,'

'be thankful its not brain matter,' Jenny muttered quietly,

Gibbs laughed to himself, 'now that would have been interesting.'

'Do you think she's trying to tell us something?'

'What one way or another I'm gonna get ya together?'

Jenny frowned at him sarcastically, 'yes Jethro, she's got us dressed up as a married couple for Halloween and dancing around Ducky's living room, something tells me this is just the beginning.'

Gibbs nodded, if he knew Abby, and he did, she would never let it drop, she was like a dog with bone when she wanted something. He wouldn't admit it but later he would thank Abby for getting them this close, he loved dancing with her, always had. They danced together for over half an hour before they separated, though neither would admit they had both secretly enjoyed that half an hour immensely; moving together with the music, his hand around her waist and her arm around his neck.

Gibbs grabbed Abby and dragged her over to where Jenny was standing sipping punch. 'Abby, what did you use on my hair?' Abby's eyes widened, 'I er I um, wash in dye?' Gibbs frowned at her, 'will it be gone by morning?' Abby smiled sweetly, 'well um, er,' 'No, you'll have black hair for at least a week,' Jenny interrupted as Abby fluttered her eyelashes in an attempt to look even more innocent.

Gibbs immediately recognised the beginning of the next song and saw Abby grinning by the boom box, how had she found out about that song? He looked behind him and saw Jenny tapping her foot to the beat, he jerked his head towards Ziva and Tony dancing, 'come on then,' Jenny grinned and placed her punch glass down. She grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the dance floor, 'I wanna dance,' had been one of their favourite songs to dance to when they had been together.

They lost themselves in the beat and in themselves; McGee and Abby watched as Jenny turned her back on Gibbs and swung her ass around in front of his crotch. They glanced at each other when Gibbs placed his hands around her waist and pressed her closer to him, the song changed and they changed their dancing accordingly.

'Abby did you pick this list of songs specifically?' 'Of course Tim,' she grinned up at him as they watched Jenny and Gibbs 'boogieing' to the oldie classics. After about an hour the disco type music gave way to the more romantic power ballads, almost without thinking it seemed Jenny turned and slipped into Gibbs grip and slowed down to 'Is this Love'.

Tony and Ziva appeared beside Abby and McGee, 'looks like you lot will be owing me money tonight,' Abby grinned, the others nodded, 'it'll be worth it though,' Tony smiled behind the mass of hair. The song ended and Elvis Presley began his serenade, the four watched entranced as Jenny and Gibbs changed their dancing position, getting closer together if it was possible.

Jenny's head was tucked underneath Gibbs chin as they danced, locked together as one in their embrace. As the next song started, they seemed to freeze slightly, the words reached their ears and Jenny tried to hide the pain in her face.

They passed me by, all of those great romances
You were, I felt, robbing me of my rightful chances
My picture clear, everything seemed so easy
And so I dealt you the blow
One of us had to go
Now it's different, I want you to know

One of us is crying
One of us is lying
In her lonely bed
Staring at the ceiling
Wishing she was somewhere else instead
One of us is lonely
One of us is only
Waiting for a call
Sorry for herself, feeling stupid feeling small
Wishing she had never left at all

Jenny pushed Gibbs away from her and walked away quickly; the others stared as she headed towards the French doors and disappeared into the garden. Gibbs walked in the opposite direction, he glared at his team and stormed into the hall. 'I told you this would happen,' McGee muttered. The others glared at him and Tony whacked him around the back of the head.

Jenny sat on the steps in the garden, the words of the song reverberating around her head,

I saw myself as a concealed attraction
I felt you kept me away from the heat and the action
Just like a child, stubborn and misconceiving
That's how I started the show
One of us had to go
Now I've changed and I want you to know

It was so true, it was like someone had looked inside her and written this song for her. Abba always enchanted her, the way the lyrics were put together, she hugged her knees to her chest and rocked to the music.


One of us is crying
One of us is lying
In her lonely bed
Staring at the ceiling
Wishing she was somewhere else instead

Gibbs stormed back into the main room and listened to the music, he flicked through the huge collection and put a different song on before storming towards the French doors.


One of us is lonely
One of us is only
Waiting for a call
Sorry for herself, feeling stupid feeling small
Wishing she had never left at all
Never left at all

Staring at the ceiling
Wishing she was somewhere else instead
One of us is lonely
One of us is only
Waiting for a call

Jenny felt something vibrate in her pocket, she plucked her phone out and saw the number was withheld, she clicked 'answer' and held it to her ear, 'Shepard,' she stated trying to hide the way her voice was shaking. All she heard was breathing, 'hello?' she listened again, 'Jethro?'

'Uh hu,'

'sometime today would be good.'

He smiled watching her run her fingers through the black wig, 'turn around,' she put her phone back in her pocket and looked behind her. He was standing nervously holding a single black rose; he held it gingerly towards her. 'I'm not very good with words,' he muttered looking at the patio.

She smiled and stood up, she reached out and took the rose, 'thank you, even though you did just take it from on of Abby's displays.' She could see the fear in his eyes; this wasn't the time for being cute with him. He seemed to be having an internal battle with himself before he suddenly lunged at her. The presence of his lips against hers took her by surprise at first and she pulled away quickly.

She looked into his eyes and smiled, he looked relieved as she leaned in to kiss him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he slipped his hands around her waist and stroked her butt gently with his thumbs. They broke apart to look into each others eyes, they were shining in the light, alive with passion and desire. 'I wonder how much Tony had on us doing this,' Jenny whispered, stifling a groan as Gibbs trailed kisses down her jaw and neck. They both looked around and spotted the four pairs of eyes watching their every move, 'Tony really does look ridiculous,' Gibbs chuckled, 'I wonder if he's noticed everyone can see his Miami Vice boxers at the back.'