Groaning, Tony searched the floor for McGee. He couldn't have gone far. This floor wasn't that big. It had just been a joke. McGee was being so sensitive lately. He wondered what was up.
"Maybe he went downstairs," he grumbled as he thought of the lab. "Maybe he went to see Abbey," he sneered at the thought and casually took the elevator down two floors to the lab. Instead of finding a steaming McGee being calmed by a laughing Abbey. He found a whispering Gibbs. He and McGee were having a quiet conversation in the corner and Abbey was no where to be found. At first he didn't go right in. Eavesdropping, he listened to what Gibbs was saying.
"Calm down Timothy," he said with a smirk. "Don't take anything he says seriously. You know he's just an idiot." A faint smile crossed McGee's lips, but faded when he spoke.
"It's not just that boss," he paused. Gibbs took in a deep breath and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to get over it McGee. That was years ago. Move on. OK? She has." Without another word, he headed out of the lab. Tony jumped back behind the door as Gibbs and Abbey crossed paths.
"Is he OK now?" she asked. Gibbs sighed.
"He's gonna be fine," he said as he grabbed his coffee off the counter and left the lab. As he passed he door, he slammed it against the wall and sent Tony flat against the wall.
"Mind your own business DiNozzo," he muttered without stopping. Tony pushed the door away and groaned. He rubbed his nose and followed Abbey into the lab.
"McGee!" he called. The other agent snarled and turned away from his co-worker. "Listen man," Tony started. "I'm sorry about earlier. You know me and my mouth." McGee swung around and came his way. As he passed Tony, he slammed him against the door and kept on walking. He remained silent and disappeared into the elevator. Tony closed his eyes and sighed. He slowly approached Abbey. She shot him a glare and he ducked.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she took a drink of her Slurpee.
"Aren't you gonna hit me?" he asked.
"No," she replied cautiously. "Should I?" Tony sighed.
"Its my fault that McGee is angry," he told her. She nodded.
"Oh, that," she shrugged. "He'll be fine. He's just tolerated your jokes so long he finally snapped." She looked to him and smirked. "I like that side of him." Tony sighed and turned around. As he headed out of the room, Abbey stopped him. "I got a hit on that gun you guys found," she said. Tony swung around and raced back to her side.
"And?"
"It was littered with gun shot residue and small splatters of blood," she told him.
"Blood? Who's blood? Did you get an owner?"
"Hold on, I'm getting there." Tony groaned.
"It was registered to a civilian. Thomas Fred Morrissey. He bought it in Montana about a year ago. He reported it missing when he was suffering from identity theft," she explained. Tony's eyes widened.
"So, the gun is linked to the wallet," he pursed his lips. "Damn! She was right!" Abbey smiled.
"I don't know about you, but I kinda like her. She's got a little spunk to her." Tony wrinkled his nose.
"Yah, spunk, that's it," he grumbled. He soon turned his attention back to the case. "And the blood?" he asked eagerly.
"What blood?" a female voice asked as the door swung open. Tony turned to find Candice with a Slurpee of her own. He shot her a puzzled look and shifted his gaze back to Abbey.
"Hey Candi," Abbey greeted her. "Nice going," she said as she lifted her Slurpee to the new agent. Tony rolled his eyes and banged his head against the wall.
"Watch it DiNozzo, you might lose a few more brain cells," Candice smirked. Tony shot her an annoyed glare. Abbey chuckled.
"I didn't know he had any left."
"Nice one," Candice laughed as she and the lab technician high-fived. Tony cleared his throat.
"Please, the blood splatter?" Abbey looked back to the screen
"Oh, right." She brought up a profile of a petty officer.
"It belongs to our victim," she told them.
"Impossible," Tony muttered. "She had no bullet wounds."
"Well, it's pretty fresh, so you'd better go talk to Ducky," she told him.
"Well, it could be transfer," Candice said aloud.
"I'm gonna notify Gibbs, you two go talk to Ducky," Abbey said as she turned back to her computer.
"I'll talk to Ducky, you go talk to McGee," Tony demanded as he looked to Candice.
"Me?" she said. "Why me?" He stared at her young, glimmering face.
"Because, he won't talk to me," he said firmly. She stared back at him with those shining blue-grey eyes. They searched his face with worry and disgust.
"And who says he'll talk to me?" she asked. He shrugged and brushed his hair out of his face.
"Because you have no beef with him," he pointed out.
"Oh yah. And how do you know that?" she asked. He laughed. "You've been here, what? Half a day?" Without another word, he swung around and left the room. Behind him, he could hear her grunting and storming toward the elevator.
As Tony entered the autopsy room, Ducky looked up at him and smiled. The man had been doing this for quite some time. Everyone admired him. He was very good at his work and was a wonderful addition to the team.
"And how can I help you Mr DiNozzo?" he asked as he pulled off his rubber gloves and stepped away from the tray with the dead petty officer.
"We found blood splatter on the gun we recovered from the dumpster. It matched our victim," he told the Medical Examiner. A puzzled look crossed Ducky's face.
"Odd, she has no bullet wounds," he pointed out. Tony nodded.
"Precisely, that's why I'm here. Any way the blood could have transferred?" he asked. Ducky nodded.
"Well, of course," he replied. "I'll look into it." Tony nodded and left the room. He headed for the office to check on Candi's progress.
When he stepped off the elevator, he stopped and watched the two agents. They were the only ones there, Kate was incognito. Deciding to see what would happen, he remained silent and watched the two. Candice was leaning forward on McGee's desk with her hands flat on a stack of files. She was whispering, so he couldn't hear her. McGee looked awestruck, like he was staring a celebrity in the face.
"Listen to me Timothy," she demanded. "Have you or have you not got a lead on that wallet? We have splatter in the gun that matches our petty officer. Abbey's gonna try and pull a print right now. It was registered to Thomas Morrissey. Our wallet guy. Now get a hold of him or his family soon or we'll lose this case. Got it?" Tony stared at her. She was so much like Gibbs, it was no surprise she made it so far in life. But what was her connection to McGee? She always seemed awkward or upset around him. He had to know. When she swung around to head for the elevator, Tony ducked behind a desk. McGee jumped up and threw his hand in the air.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. She turned around and narrowed her brow.
"Sorry?" she snarled. "Sorry? Don't even go there McGee or I'll have my dad fire your ass." Without another word, she stormed into the elevator and disappeared. Tony stared at the closed doors of the elevator. Sorry? About what? What had happened before he got up here? Sneaking from behind the desk, he acted as if he had just climbed off the elevator.
"I just saw Candi, she looked pissed? What, did you lose us the case?" he lied. McGee shook his head.
"Get lost Tony," he snapped. "I have work to do."