Whoopsie! Sorry about the delay – damn real life! Though, get this… I've had to work on the desktop computer upstairs because the plug in thing on my laptop was broken (the spot where the plug in goes in the actual laptop) anyway. I had taken it to the computer store and they said to find the receipt and bring it in and they'd fix it. I've been searching for that damn piece of paper for three weeks, and now, suddenly my laptop works again. Like make it just needed a bit of a vacation. I don't get it. /end random story.

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The car ride back to DC was quiet. Ziva rode back with Tony and Abby with Gibbs. She spent a majority of the ride sorting through what she wanted to say vs. what she should say to Hollis. The list of what she wanted to say was much longer than what should be said.

"You've been quiet." Gibbs observed as they rode the elevator up to the squad room.

"Just thinking."

"Anything I need to know?"

"Nah."

"Okay." The elevator dinged and they stepped out to find Director Vance standing by McGee's desk.

"McGee?" Gibbs and Abby walked over.

"He died mid-flight. Couldn't save him." McGee shrugged. "So they flew directly here."

Gibbs didn't notice as Abby moved behind him and headed towards the back elevator. "For Ducky?"

"Yeah, I mean, we know cause of death, but…"

"I know the rules, McGee." It didn't matter why he had died – he was part of the case, so an autopsy would be done regardless. The elevator dinged again causing Vance, Gibbs and McGee to watch as Tony and Ziva stepped out.

"Where's Abby?" Tony asked as he slung his backpack behind his desk. "She hasn't already run back to Stillwater again, has she?" Tony winced as Gibbs hand connected with the back of his head.

"She was right…" Gibbs looked around, "here."

The realization of where she was and what she might be doing caused them all to rush towards the back elevators, Tony hesitating for a moment to make sure his phone was in his pocket. It was.

---

Abby hadn't expected to find Hollis in her lab, she had only gone in search of Conner to give him the good news, but when she had stepped off the elevator she could hear Hollis yelling at Conner to do his job.

"Jesus, Hollis. Would you just shut up? He's done his job." Ok, well, he'd done her job, but Abby wasn't about to be picky at a time like this.

"What are you talking about? I've been waiting for these results all day!" Hollis snapped. Now that Gibbs had blown her off, and made a show of chasing after Abby up to Stillwater – the first time – Hollis wanted the case solved so she could get back to the beach in Hawaii.

Conner finally smiled. It was the first time Abby had seen him smile, and he didn't look so bad when he smiled. "The results finished six hours ago." He turned to Abby. "You get him?"

"We got him. He's dead. Heart attack. He got off easy if you ask-"

"Wait, what?" Hollis snapped. She'd been hovering around the lab all day waiting for anything that could point her in the right direction, and they had gone and solved it without her?

"While you were busy figuring out how to take my place in Gibbs bed, I figured it out. Feel free to go home now."

"You little bitch, you think everything is about you, don't you?"

"Well you kick me out of my lab, and you make a move on my-"

"Your what, Abby? There isn't a ring on your finger, is there? I hope you aren't holding your breath, because we all know it won't happen."

"Is that what it was for you? Were you searching for a ring? Grow up, Hollis. You obviously didn't know the man you were after if you thought that's where things were headed. But I must say, I've lasted a lot longer than you." She could help but add that last little jab.

"I feel sorry for him." Hollis started to walk away.

"You feel sorry for yourself, Holl-" Abby didn't have time to finish before Hollis spun around and slapped her across the face.

---

Tony was already filming with his camera phone when they rounded the corner into the lab in time to see Hollis' hand connect with Abby's cheek.

Tony, McGee, Vance and Gibbs stopped dead in their tracks, shocked at the sound Hollis' hand had made.

Ziva had seen it coming and was across the room before anyone, Abby included, had a chance to move. As Abby tried to slap Hollis back, her hand met air and the sound of Hollis thudding against the wall brought everyone to their senses.

"Ziva, it's alright. We don't need to stoop down to her level. She isn't worth it." Abby tried to pry Ziva away, but Ziva's hold was firm. Abby wanted nothing more than to watch Ziva beat her into the ground, but more than that she wanted things back to normal. If Hollis was seriously injured than it would be a while before she could be forgotten.

Eventually Ziva stepped back, only a few feet away, letting Abby step in front. "You come near me again, and I won't interrupt Ziva's fun."

"Jethro, come get your little whore off of me."

When Gibbs stepped forward, Abby held her hand up to stop him. This wasn't his fight, and although she appreciated that he wanted to defend her, it wasn't quite her style. She hadn't let him fight her fight before and she certainly wasn't about to start right now. "The only whore around here is you." Abby snapped and then leaned in and spoke a little quieter. "I heard about your sad and failing attempts. It's sad, really."

"You're a little bitch."

"That's enough!" Gibbs roared. He didn't care that Abby didn't want him involved. He wasn't going to stand there and let Hollis call her names. He moved up behind Abby, and grasped her shoulders tightly, pulling her back against his chest. He hoped she realized that he wasn't hiding behind her, but rather using her to keep himself from doing something he might regret.

"Go home Hollis. You aren't wanted or needed here." Abby sighed. The adrenaline from being slapped was starting to wane and she just wanted to go home.

"You're crazy. You all are." Hollis motioned towards the rest of the crowd. "I don't know how you've done it, but it's like you've got them all brainwashed and it makes me sick. What a bunch of fools."

Gibbs hold on Abby was tight, but it wasn't tight enough, as she easily slipped from his grasp and her fist collided with Hollis' nose. "It's one thing to insult me, but when you start talking about my friends, I don't play fair."

Hollis grasped at her nose, trying to stop the small trickle of blood. It wasn't broken –thankfully – she'd seen Abby deck Fred and it had been a lot harder, but it still hurt, and the coppery taste of blood in her mouth wanted to make her gag.

"I think you should be on your way." Vance stepped up. With as many issues as he'd had with Gibbs and his team, his mutual dislike of Hollis had him keeping his mouth shut until now. He didn't want any problems between agencies, and now that she was no longer needed, he hoped that things would get back to normal at NCIS. Suddenly, Gibbs' indifferent attitude and irritated glances at the tooth pick seemed much easier to handle. "Go home, you can come in and pick up your things tomorrow. Gibbs and his team won't be here," he glanced around the room at them, "they've got the day off."

Hollis nodded and walked around the opposite side of the table from the team. Just as she was walking through the door, Conner started to follow. He could be heard shouting after her halfway down the hall until the elevator closed. "Yeah, and I'm going to call my uncle, he's good friends with your CO. I'm going to tell him-"

Back in the lab Tony was the first to speak. "Guys, I totally just got that all on camera. Abby, your punch was awesome…" He looked around at everyone and trailed off at the looks they gave him. "Right. Totally inappropriate and I will delete it." He cast his gaze to the floor.

"I meant what I said. You guys have the day off tomorrow. I want you fresh when you come back on Monday. This case needs to be closed up and we need to move on. Is that clear?" Vance slipped easily back into Director mode.

The team nodded. They didn't need to be told twice to take a day off after the weeks they'd been having.

Abby turned slowly, looking at everything in her lab. Gibbs watched silently as she went to check on her machines, her desk drawers, the refrigerator shelves. The rest of the team stood waiting, shifting from foot to foot; unsure of if they should stay or go. Once Abby was certain that nothing had been broken, moved, or otherwise disturbed, she went back to her friends. "We should do something tomorrow. As friends. Just relax. You guys in?"

Tony, McGee and Ziva were quick to agree.

"Great!" Abby clapped excitedly.

"I haven't agreed yet." Gibbs raised an eyebrow playfully.

"You'll do whatever I do, so of course you've agreed." Abby socked him lightly in the arm. "Duh."

The group made their way slowly towards the elevator. Abby and Tony standing against the back wall, Gibbs in the center of the space and Ziva and McGee in the front corners. Just before stepping out at the level of the squad room, Abby leaned in close to Tony. "I totally want to see the video, m'kay? Don't delete."

Tony leaned in to whisper by her ear. "It's already sent to your email."

The two smiled and stepped off the elevator behind the rest of the team.

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TBC…

Only a few chapters left….