A/N: Wow; this is officially my most reviewed story ever. So thank you guys, I really appreciate your feedback!
This story is getting close to finished now- only a chapter or two left to go. Hope you enjoy. F.
Abby sighed as she got in the elevator to return to her lab. For once she wasn't eager to go back. Being in the lab made her easy to find; since their return from Las Vegas 3 days ago, almost every visitor to her lab had had something to say about their elopement. She and Tim had been having lunch together every day; being outside of the Yard had given them both a respite from the constant questions and teasing. She knew that she was lucky in a way; at least the lab was fairly secluded. Tim, on the other hand, had been bearing the brunt of the gossip. She felt guilty about that; she might not have been responsible for Tony's mass email, but she was definitely responsible for the cause of it. Not that Tim had said anything about it- he wouldn't- but the little annoyed furrow of his brow was starting to become permanent.
Entering her lab, the object on her desk made her stop in her tracks. Suddenly furious, she tried to force herself to take two deep breaths and calm down before she did anything. It didn't work. Whirling, she stormed out of the lab and back to the elevator.
Arriving at the squad room, she stomped her way towards Tony's desk. He grinned as he saw her, making her even angrier. His smile quickly died as he took in her expression, to be replaced by a look of near panic as she leant over his desk.
"You've gone too far Tony! I've put up with the McNames, I put up with you changing the sign on my door, but this? This time you crossed the line!"
She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Remember, I can kill you and leave no forensic evidence." With that, she turned and left as abruptly as she'd come.
...
Concerned, McGee watched her go. He knew Tony had changed the sign on her door to 'McForensics'- he'd come across Abby trying to fix it. But he didn't know he'd been calling her names. And now he wondered what else Tony had done to make her so angry.
He saw Tony stand up from behind his desk, smoothing his tie and saying "I'd better got talk to her." Before he had a chance to move, Ziva stopped him. "I would not go down there if I were you. That did not sound like an idle threat to me."
He looked across the bullpen to Gibbs' desk
"Boss?"
Gibbs gave a jerk of his head towards the elevators. "Go on, McGee."
"Thanks Boss."
Relieved, McGee quickly stood and hurried towards Abby's lab.
...
Abby was pacing in agitation as he entered, her pigtails swinging as she moved. She came to a stop in front of him, glaring at him.
"Did Gibbs send you?" she demanded.
"Sort of" he told her. "But mostly I was worried."
She stared at him for a moment, her eyes still hard with anger, before her expression softened and she came to him for a hug. He held her gladly for a minute before she let go and stepped back. She looked calmer now. Good.
"Abby, why didn't you tell me about the name calling?" he asked gently.
She bit her lip. "I didn't want to worry you, McGee" she admitted.
"Well, I'm worried now. What'd he do to upset you?"
"You'll think I'm really silly, Tim."
"Never, Abs" he reassured her, getting half a smile in return. He waited patiently, knowing she'd show him eventually.
Finally she sighed, walking into the second part of her lab. When she came back, she was holding what he recognised as Bert the hippo. His usual spiky collar had been replaced- with a small white wedding dress and a veil. The effect was comical; his first instinct was to laugh, but he restrained it, knowing she'd just get angry at him.
"It was just the last straw, McGee" she explained earnestly. She caught sight of the grin he tried to hide, her eyes flashing dangerously. Then she looked at the hippo again and let out an involuntary choke of laughter.
"He does look pretty funny" she admitted.
...
Tony watched McGee as he exited the elevator a few minutes later. Outwardly calm, he walked back to his desk and sat down, reopening the file he'd been studying before lunch. But Tony could see clearly the tight jaw muscles and caught the angry glint in the Probie's eyes as he glanced towards Tony's desk. Great, now he had both of them angry at him. It was obvious he wasn't going to volunteer any information about Abby's state of mind.
"Abby ok?" he asked.
"No thanks to you" McGee retorted, snapping the file folder closed. "You really upset her this time, DiNozzo."
"Look, McGee-"
"No, Tony. You've been teasing her all week. I don't care what you say to me, but you ease up on her. Hear me?"
Tony blinked in surprise. It was rare for the normally even-tempered junior agent to get angry, even when it was justified, but here he was, practically yelling. At him. It was obvious that Tony had touched a sore spot with his good natured taunting. He could only think of one reason why McGee would react like that.
"You really care about her, don't you?" he asked.
"I wouldn't have married her otherwise, Tony."
Tony was saved from replying by Gibbs re-entering the bullpen with his usual phrase.
"Got a dead sailor at Anacostia. Grab your gear."