Sep 19
A true Friend is the best Possession. – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack
Abby charged into the squad room in a state of panic, running into Timmy in her haste.
"Abby?" Timmy called even as she ran further into the room. "What's wrong?"
"Has anyone seen Bert?" she almost screamed.
The team froze in shock. Gibbs was the first to recover. "No. Need a hand?"
Ziva shook her head rapidly in response while Tony just looked puzzled. "You're about to have a panic attack over Bert being missing? When I disappear, do I get the same treatment?"
"No," Abby growled at the same time as Gibbs. "You aren't Bert. He's always there for me! What am I going to do without him?"
Gibbs drew her into a hug before she could break down and start wailing. "We'll find him," he promised. "Where have you looked?"
She pulled back from him slightly, taking deep breaths. "He's not in my lab. I think someone's stolen him."
Gibbs pulled her close as tears sprang to her eyes. She heard him barking out orders. "Ziva, evidence garage. McGee, double check the lab. Tony, start in Autopsy and work your way up the building."
"What about the squad room?" she murmured into his shirt. She was glad he didn't seem to mind her crying into it.
"We can search together," he offered, holding out his hand. She gratefully latched onto it and they began to search the nearby desks.
"Will you kill whoever stole him?" she inquired.
"Depends whether you misplaced him or someone moved him," he told her. "Let's focus on finding him for now."
"And what if we don't find him?" She was starting to panic again.
She almost missed his reply, muttered under his breath. "Lord help us."