Tara: The same as you do for your boss, everything he asks

Tony: Our boss doesn't really ask for things, we're supposed to figure it out before he gets really angry, he gets very angry

Tara: What happens if you don't figure it out?

Tony: We get a smack to the back of the head…that hasn't happened a lot recently…

--

Tony sat his desk, looking very contemplative and rubbing the back of his head slowly and deliberately.

"Dandruff?" McGee offered with a slight smirk, but soon realized that Tony was very deep in thought. "What's up?"

Tony glanced at him but took a minute or two before responding. "The boss slapped me…twice…"

Tim stared in silence for a moment. "Did you black out or something?"

"No, Mcblivious…when was the last time he head slapped any of us?"

"Uh, today according to you."

"Before that," Tony countered his tone very serious.

Tim shrugged. "A while I guess."

"Almost 42 days Probie."

"Should I call Guinness?"

Tony didn't appreciate his tone. "Don't you ever wonder McGee?"

"I'm starting to…"

"I'm serious. I mean this was the longest drought since he left for Mexico…do you think there's something to it?"

Tim sighed. "Maybe we're getting better at our jobs?"

"Or maybe, just maybe, the boss is getting…I can barely say it…n-n-nicer?" He annunciated the last word with more force than was necessary.

"You just said he slapped you twice. How does that qualify as nicer?"

"Well he probably over compensated cuz it had been so long…I don't know and I don't care. All I know is Gibbs being nice is never a good sign."

"I think you're reading too much into this Tony, maybe it was just a trial period. He wanted to see how we'd do without the physical reinforcement?"

"Maybe….I just don't know if I can take a change in the boss."

Tim smiled at him before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe it's not a change Tony, maybe its just the way he was before any of us knew him…"

"Now who's reading too much into this?"

McGee moved towards his desk. "I wouldn't worry…now if he stops drinking coffee or glaring, then we can investigate. Until then, I'm gonna enjoy the nice-ness."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Tim started to type away at his computer and spoke quietly to himself. "I sure hope so…"