"Hey Abs," Gibbs said, coming into the lab around quitting time and bearing gifts of the Caf-Pow nature. "Get your computer glitch fixed?"
Abby nodded while sucking on the red straw. "We did Gibbs. Thanks for loaning me Timmy. He can make computers do anything."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "So can you Abby."
She conceded the point. "But another set of eyes and another pair of hands never hurt." Looking at Gibbs for a moment, she crossed her arms. "So Bossman, what brings you to Labby this evening? I know it's not a case."
Gibbs came closer and leaned against the evidence table facing her. "Can't fool you, huh Abs?"
She shook her head slowly. "You brought me Caf-Pow, so I'm being buttered up for something." Abby narrowed her eyes. "Spill."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small square of folded paper. Tapping it against his hand for a moment, Gibbs wondered if this was the best plan. Abby wasn't exactly the best at keeping secrets. Still, he knew she'd do anything for him, same as he would for her.
"Out with it Gibbs," Abby demanded impatiently.
Gibbs sighed. "I wrote this for Jenny," he said slowly and Abby's eyes widened. "But it doesn't look that great in my scrawl. I was hoping you could write it out nice for me, in that calligraphy stuff you use." He shrugged. "I want it to be special."
Completely serious now, Abby held her hand out for the paper. Unfolding it carefully, she skimmed over the words and her eyes flew back to Gibbs.
"Wow," she said softly, "who knew you could be so romantic my fearless leader?"
Gibbs shook his finger at her. "This never gets out," he said sternly. "My reputation would be shot and you would be living a Caf-Pow free existence. Do you understand?"
Abby tried to hide her smile. "Loud and clear Papa Bear," she replied at once.
"McGee doesn't see it either," Gibbs added.
Abby pouted for a second but a stare put her smile back in place. "Yes sir...Boss...Gibbs," she said sweetly.
Leaning in, Gibbs kissed her cheek. "I need it for tomorrow. Thanks Abs."
NCIS
Tony and Ziva finally turned off their desk lights and packed up their stuff to go home. They'd had surprisingly little interaction today and Tony hadn't teased or annoyed her in hours. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him. Tony watched her run a hand through her hair, finally released from the tight ponytail it had been in earlier.
He thought back to last night and remembered how her hair felt draped across his arm while they slouched comfortably on the couch, watching Back to the Future. He'd had to explain almost everything that happened, because she didn't understand. But it was a great movie and starting a series meant he had her promise to show up for movie night at least until they'd finished all three movies. It was something to look forward to.
Ziva was wondering if Tony's uncharacteristic silence meant that he was secretly plotting something big, and was careful to check all of her belongings for possible tampering, just in case. They'd enjoyed spending Movie Night together again, even if she'd determined that so far, he was completely incompetent with chopsticks. It would be a very long work in progress before he could actually pick up food with them.
As she was leaning over to pick up her backpack, several curls fell in front of her face. When she reached up to push them back, Tony suddenly appeared at her elbow, startling her. Ziva looked up and his eyes were level with hers. He brushed his finger softly down one of the curls.
"You have really soft hair," he whispered, then continued to the elevator as if nothing had happened.
Ziva watched after him, confusion overtaking her. What was that all about? And she'd been too surprised to even say anything about it. Maybe she was getting soft. Or maybe it was Tony. Either way, she needed to keep a closer eye on him, for now at least.
NCIS
Gibbs tapped on Jenny's open office door. "Ready to go home Jenny?"
She was scribbling something in a file, her purple glasses perched on her nose and making her look very studious. Jenny sighed and looked up, fatigue written all over her face.
"I wish I could," she said wistfully, "but," she spread her hands out and gestured to the top of her desk, "I got absolutely flooded with files and case reports and new agent applications today. I'll be at this a couple more hours at least."
Gibbs sat down on her couch. "I can stay for awhile and keep you company," he said.
Jenny smiled at something. "That's a lovely offer Jethro, but you'd be bored to death and I would be distracted."
He grinned, looking very pleased with himself. "Can't keep your eyes off me, huh Jen?"
She narrowed her gaze at him. "Don't make me show you how long I can ignore you," she warned. The last time had been in the former Czech Republic and it had lasted for three days before Gibbs had caved.
Gibbs held up his hands in surrender. "Okay Jen, we won't go there." He watched her roll her neck and moved to stand behind her chair, slowly working his fingers into the tight muscles in her neck and shoulders.
"Jethro," she tried to protest, but his fingers felt so good on her skin. Jenny's eyes fell closed of their own accord and the pen dropped out of her fingers while Gibbs worked his magic on her muscles.
Gibbs enjoyed the peace in the silence of Jenny's office. He kneaded each knot carefully but firmly until they loosened, loving how she responded to his touch. Jenny's drooped her head further forward and let her husband do what he excelled in. She nearly moaned in pleasure as tense muscles slowly relaxed and the tension began to drain out of her body.
As a last touch, Gibbs placed two soft kisses on her neck and Jenny leaned back, opening her eyes and looking up at him.
"Thank you Jethro," she whispered.
Gibbs dropped a kiss on her nose before spinning her chair around to kiss her properly. Jenny's hands came up to frame his face and for a moment they just drank each other in. When they pulled back to breathe, she grinned at him.
"Now I really wish I was coming home with you."
Gibbs' eyebrows rose. "I'll do your back," he offered, trying to bargain.
Jenny really wanted to say yes. But unfortunately, being Director meant she didn't get to keep regular hours and she couldn't always go home at the end of the day, no matter how much her husband plied her with tempting offers.
She pushed him away gently. "Go home Jethro. I love you, but I can't concentrate with you that close." Jenny waved her hand at him. "I really need a couple more hours to get some of this done. I don't want to have anything left to nag at me while we're away this weekend."
Gibbs sat on the edge of her desk. "Compromise," he suggested. "You bring all...this," he gestured to her paperwork, "home and do it in the study. I'll bring you tea and then get out of your hair so you can get things done. How's that?"
Jenny watched Gibbs' eyes. He was really adamant about this. "You don't want to go home without me, do you?" she asked, finally getting it.
He sighed and took her hand, brushing his thumb over the back. "I just like it better when I know you're safe Jen," Gibbs admitted.
Jenny nodded slowly and stood up, beginning to put things in piles so she would keep track of what was where. "Okay Jethro, but you have to carry the box of files."
Gibbs smiled, loving her for letting him worry. "I think I can handle that Jen."
True to his word, as soon as Jenny was settled in the study, Gibbs put the kettle on and made her tea, taking care to get it just right. He'd had a lot of practice in the last year as Jenny patiently taught him the proper way to do it. Gibbs didn't know before her, he didn't drink tea. Once the hot beverage was delivered to the study, Gibbs kissed his wife's forehead and headed for the workshop out back. What he had there wasn't a boat, but it would do to keep his hands busy until he could use them to hold his wife tonight while they slept.
NCIS
McGee sat at home at his desk, staring at the typewriter but nothing was coming to him. He was too busy thinking about Abby. She had gone bowling with the nuns last night so he didn't get to see her. And even though they were at work together only hours before, he misses her. Tim knows it's crazy, but he picked up the phone anyways.
"Hey Abbs," McGee said when she answered.
"McGee," Abby said in a reproving tone, "you're not supposed to call me until you finish your last five chapters." She flopped down on her couch with a grin. "Stuck on what to do with forensic scientist Amy and Agent McGregor?"
McGee sighed. "I just wanted to hear your voice Abby."
"You're stalling Timmy," Abby stated. "You just saw me at work two hours ago."
"Seeing you at work isn't the same as seeing you Abby," McGee argued.
"McGee, you're seen me every day for the last four years and now all of a sudden you start missing me? What gives?" She rolled on her back and watched the purple stars twinkle on her ceiling. "Not getting too attached, are you?"
McGee had no intention of telling his girlfriend how much he'd missed her in the last four years, but it was a lot. "You wouldn't want to come over and play with Jethro for awhile, would you Abbs? He's been talking about you all week."
"Tim!" Abby protested. "You don't have time to hang out with me! Those chapters are due to your editor by this weekend. Come on Mr. Gemcity," she begged, "I'm dying to see what's going on with Agent Tommy and Officer Lisa."
Tim chuckled and looked at the page in front of him. "They're having a big fight right now."
"Really?" Abby drew the word out, sounding interested. Then she pouted. "They're not going to break up, are they Tim? Please don't have them break up. I've waited two books for them to get together!"
A smile slowly spread over McGee's face and he began jotting notes on the pad of paper he kept on his desk. "Nah," he told her, "they're not gonna break up. Agent Tommy kisses Officer Lisa because he can't get a word in edgewise. Then they make up and lay on the couch watching a movie until Tommy's cell phone rings. It's LJ Tibbs and they have a new case."
Abby wiggled her eyebrows and flashed a smile at Bert. "With lots of good evidence for forensic specialist Amy?" she asked, getting into it.
McGee shook his head, trying to make his fingers keep up with his mind while he also continued talking to Abby. "Nope. That's the kicker, there's no evidence whatsoever."
"McGee," Abby frowned, "the last time there was no evidence I-," she stopped, realizing her slip, "I mean, Amy, was tied up in a warehouse and almost killed by a psycho phantom murderer. That was not fun." She thought back, remembering her time in L.A.
"For me either," Tim said, the reality of the memory taking over instead of the story that had come from it. "Even with Gibbs threatening the pilot and Ziva breathing down the co-pilot's neck, I knew we'd never make it in time." He closed his eyes. "I almost lost you forever Abbs. I don't know what I would've done without you."
Abby was silent for a minute. "You would've gotten over me eventually, I suppose." She didn't like the way it sounded.
"No way," McGee answered quickly. "There's no such thing as getting over you Abby. You're one in a million."
Abby stroked her finger lightly over the picture of her and Tim sitting on her coffee table. "If you keep saying nice stuff like that Timmy, I'm going to have to come over there and kiss you."
"Promise?" Tim's voice lit up.
"You're never going to get any writing done if I'm there Tim," Abby teased. "You're too easily distracted."
"Well you're one heck of a distraction," he commented. "Abby, please?" he asked.
"Nope," Abby shook her head. "Not talking me into it. But I'll make you a deal. If you get two chapters written before you go to bed, text me. Full chapters Timmy, on your honour or Bert and I will booby trap your desk. And," she continued, "then you can pick me up for work tomorrow and we'll already be together when we're done, so you can take me out for dinner too. How's that? Deal?"
Tim sighed. "Okay fine, deal." Abby was right, he knew. Time was short. But she was just so much more important than a book. "I love you Abby," he said after a pause.
"I love you always Timmy," she smiled. "Now get back to work," Abby ordered sternly.
McGee had to smile. "Yes Ma'am."
"G'night Tim."
"Until tomorrow Abbs."
Putting down the phone, McGee placed his fingers on the keys and began typing in earnest. He had a date tomorrow morning that he did not intent to miss.