Abby's Lab. A few days later. McGee is pacing the floor while Abby works.
"I don't know how much longer I can take this Abby."
"They can't still be at it. Surely there's a limit to the number of pranks they know and what about working on the case?"
"Somehow they're managing to do both and Gibbs hasn't realized. Or at least he hasn't said anything. You know Tony's really just a big kid at heart and the number of things Ziva can do with mere stationery is mind blowing."
"Hmm. Isn't there anything you can do?"
"Ducky suggested there are underlying issues between them and this is a manifestation of that so short of hiding all the office supplies...I don't see what I can do."
"I could kill them and leave no forensic traces" Abby suggests with a gleam in her eyes.
Tim looks hopeful for a moment. "No. I think that is a bit too extreme." Their musings are interrupted by the ringing of Tim's phone. "McGee."
"Get up to the squad room now probie! Oh and bring Abby. We've a situation here and we might need her." DiNozzo hangs up.
"Tony wants us upstairs now."
"I wonder why."
NCIS Squad Room.
McGee and Abby rush into the bullpen to find Tony and Ziva staring at each other.
"What's going on?"
"Use your eyes probie!"
"Huh?"
"Oh my God! You guys are in so much trouble."
"Thanks for your support Abby."
"How did this happen?" queries Tim who has followed Abby's gaze and realized what the problem is.
"As much as it pains me to say it probie one, you were right."
"Can I have that in writing?" Tony glares at him.
"Ziva and I should have buried the hatchet. We were wrestling and you can see what happened. Abby is there some way you can fix this?"
"Some chemicals might work and then if I used my scanner.." Abby muses. "Don't know if I can do it before the Boss gets back though."
"Do what before I get back Abs?" As usual Gibbs has appeared behind them before anyone noticed.
"Ah...nothing Boss."
"Abs!"
"Ask them. Come on McGee we have to...ah...upgrade...that is...reinstall.." Abby grabs McGee's hand and pulls him out of the bullpen.
"DiNozzo, David what is going on here?"
"Well she.." "Tony.." "On the stakeout.." "Then Ziva.." "And I.."
Gibbs sticks two fingers in his mouth and lets out a sharp whistle. "Heh."
They step aside so he can see the mess of spilled coffee that is slowly spreading across the files on his desk.
"Abby thinks she can fix it" Tony starts tentatively.
"And that makes it O.K. DiNozzo?"
"Yes." Gibbs glares.
"No." Tony tries and fails to look contrite.
"Look. I understand you two have been blowing off steam with these pranks and I've been prepared to let it go as it's not been interfering with your work. I've endured flicked items ending up in my coffee, things going mysteriously missing, furniture, computers and phones that have been interfered with and the lack of stationery but this really is the straw that broke the camel's back. You will bury the hatchet now. That is an order."
"Yes Boss."
"Yes Boss."
"Right I'm on my way up to see the Director. Clean this up and then get back to work." Gibbs gives them each a head slap then walks up the stairs. They begin to tidy up his desk.
"Tony?"
"Yes?"
"What does any of this have to do with camels or straws?"
Tony rolls his eyes. She might be a trained assassin and becoming quite a skilled investigator but some things Ziva would just never get.