Abby watched as Gibbs backed into the elevator and smiled at her as the doors closed between them. She had several personal items in her lab that she wanted to bring home while she was on a forced vacation; Bert, her incense burner, a cool new nerf gun she had bought before the trip to Stillwater and the crash, but had yet to try out, and various other little toys she didn't want her replacement playing with.

Her heart stopped for a brief moment when she rounded the corner into the lab. The new assistant stood at her desk, dressed according to the employee handbook, and was poking at Bert who sat innocently on the shelf. "What. Are. You. Doing?"

"What is this? A forensic lab or a preschool?"

Abby's eyebrows raised higher. "Excuse me?"

"Where is the lab tech that works here? I've got a few questions about the location of extra…"

"This is my lab." Abby reached around him and pulled Bert off the shelf, giving him a careful squeeze. "Who are you?"

"Conner McFayle, I'm working the Gibbs crash case. You can't be the lab tech… I'm looking for Abigail Sciuto."

"I'm Abby. Abby Sciuto. No one calls me Abigail except for Ducky."

Conner laughed. "Right, you expect me to believe that you work here? You know, you've got to go to school for this type of job."

Abby wasn't even sure how to respond to that, so instead she started to grab the items she had come for.

Conner was slightly shocked that she seemed to know her way around. "You're really Abigail Sciuto?"

"No, I just find random forensic labs to hangout in. Of course, I'm Abby Sciuto." Abby spat.

Conner flushed. "Oh, where are the-"

Abby cut him off. "Test tubes are in the far cabinet on the bottom self. We've got extra beakers, but they are kept in the large cabinet in my office. Major Mass. Spec can get a little irritated if you turn him on and ask him to work immediately, so you need to give him a few minutes to warm up. Trust me. Also, a few kind words go a long way with him. He needs a little attention now and again."

"You're… you're serious?"

"Yeah, I am. Any more questions?"

"Uh, no…" Conner watched as she packed up the things she wanted to bring home and muttered 'freak' when he thought she was out of earshot.

Abby hesitated and was about to turn around to say something when the elevator dinged and Tony stepped out.

"Hey Abby, I was just coming to see if you needed some help, but I see… you look angry?" Tony looked leaned to the side and saw Conner standing in the lab. "He say something?"

"He… it was no big deal. I'm fine." Abby stepped towards the elevator.

"Oh… I uh… you go on up. I'm just going to the bathroom. I'll be up in a minute." Tony made no move for the bathroom, but Abby wasn't in the mood to argue.

Once the doors had closed, Tony strode purposely into the lab. "Who are you?"

"Conner McFayle, sir."

"Let's get something straight, McFayle. There is something you need to know about Miss Sciuto."

"Oh, I know all about Miss Sciuto, Colonel Mann has told me everything I need to know. I hardly think she's qualified to be a lab assistant, let alone run the lab herself."

"Hey!" Tony grabbed Conner by the collar of the lab coat he was sporting and shoved him against the wall. "No, you've got it wrong. She's more qualified than you will ever be, so don't you ever talk about her like that again. Second, she's my best friend, and this is her lab. You will treat this place with the utmost respect, or I will be on you so fast, you won't have time to call for help. These machines are her babies, and you will treat them as such, you understand?"

Conner was thankful that he had gone to the bathroom before checking out the lab, or else he was sure he would've had a long ride home in wet pants. "Yes, sir."

"Making threats are we Agent DiNozzo?"

Tony cringed at the sound of her voice. "No ma'am, just reminding your lab tech of whose lab this is."

"I'm sure he's well aware." Hollis folded her arms across her chest.

Tony flashed a fake grin. "I'm sure he is." Tony turned to leave, but gave Conner one last good look before leaving the lab. This wasn't going to be easy. He had figured that NCIS would continue to work with the FBI on the case – he could handle Fornell – and he would spend his time focusing on the case, but now with Abby kicked out of her lab, by Hollis Mann, no less, he would also have to keep an eye on Abby as well.

He leaned back in the elevator. He just wanted everything to go back to normal – he and Abby giggling over dumb stuff, he and Ziva and their relationship, he even missed the head slaps that he was sure was a sign of affection from Gibbs rather than a wake-up call.

He was worried though… about Abby now. Gibbs seemed to be doing fine, he was a little slow still, probably sore, but Abby… Tony had learned a lot about Gibbs from time spent with Ducky while they waited for him to wake from the coma. He knew that most of his marriages had fallen apart when Gibbs had become obsessed over one case or another. He knew it wasn't on purpose, but the boss was driven when it came to his work, and now, with this case so personal… Tony didn't want to see Abby left behind as Gibbs dove in head first. Then you add Hollis Mann in and… yeah.

He wasn't sure how he was going to juggle his best friend, his boss, his 'sorta new boss' and the case all at the same time. At least Ziva was in the same boat, and wouldn't mind the lack of attention to their relationship. He liked that she was low maintenance. It wasn't that he didn't like ravishing her with attention, but Ziva wasn't like the other women he had dated. Ziva… Ziva did her own thing. She liked some time alone, and Tony had come to appreciate that. She didn't get jealous if he was spending time with Abby, and she certainly didn't care if he was busy with work, as she was often bust with work right beside him.

"It's going to be a long case." Tony sighed.

----

Hollis watched Tony storm out of the lab and then turned back to Conner. "Don't let him push you around."

"I won't ma'am"

Hollis hated being called ma'am, but Conner looked frightened. She hadn't heard all of what DiNozzo had said, so he must've made a lasting impression. "You call me when you have results, no one else. I'm in charge here. Is that clear?"

Conner gave a slight nod as he straightened out his lab coat where Tony had grabbed him. This is going to be a long case, he thought.

------

TBC….