Gibbs had decidedly finished up some paperwork before heading down to talk to Abby and see if she knew anything about what was going on with Tony. When the elevator opened to her floor, he was met with an eery silence; something completely unexpected of the forensic goth, and almost always reserved for seriously heinous times.
Quietly and cautiously he entered the lab void of the usual blaring heavy metal something-or-other. Abby was at work on her computer and bobbing her head to music that was playing for only her to hear through her ear-buds connected to her mp3 player.
Gibbs approached her and set a hand on her arm in an attempt not to startle her, but she jumped a bit anyway and spun around to see him, immediately putting a finger to her mouth, signaling for him to remain quiet. He nodded in acknowledgment and raised an inquiring brow until she pulled out her ear-buds.
"What's goin' on, Abs?" he asked in a low voice.
"Sshh," she insisted and began to sign to him instead. "Tony is sleeping." She pointed to her office and Gibbs maneuvered his head so that he could see around her desk to the agent sleeping on the futon. Tony was curled up on his side facing the wall, perfectly still in what seemed to be a deep sleep.
Gibbs turned back to Abby's concerned face and signed, "What's going on with him?"
"He won't say. But something is definitely up. He hasn't been himself for days. I'm really worried."
"We all are,"he replied.
"Will you try to talk with him?"she asked. "He trusts you, Gibbs. If he won't tell me what's going on, you're the only person who might be able to get it out of him."
"I'll try, Abby. I've already asked, but-"
"He insists he's fine,"she interrupted. "But that's a lie. There's something up with him; I know it."
"Okay, Abs," he whispered and put his hand on her neck as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Let me know when he's up."
Gibbs turned to leave the lab, glancing one more time at the motionless agent in Abby's office. He boarded the elevator and hit the button, standing back as the doors closed, and he pondered the possible reasons why Tony might be acting the way he was.
Tired and passive...he'd been that way often when he was undercover. But even then, he'd at least attempted to be himself. Then again, maybe this was the hint. Maybe DiNozzo was trying to tell him something. He'd never wanted to lie to him about the Frog op. And by being himself, he'd essentially been strengthening that lie the entire time.
Before he was even completely conscious of it, Gibbs found himself climbing the stairs up toward Vance's office. In a calm state, he entered the reception area and stood patiently as the receptionist called in to Vance. She seemed a bit surprised that Gibbs was standing there as he should be, but did her best not to look too shocked.
"You can go in, Agent Gibbs," she said quietly.
He gave her a short nod and headed into the office, silently closing the door behind him.
"What can I do for you, Gibbs?" Vance asked from the couch where he sat eating his lunch.
Gibbs approached him and sat down on the armchair beside the couch. "You can tell me somethin' I wanna know, Leon. No BS."
Vance set his fork down and straightened up a bit, narrowing his eyes in curiosity. "What would that be, Jethro?"
"I want you to tell me if you've got DiNozzo workin' a case for you..."
Tbc...