McElfLord

I've just been to your idea of heaven. OK, I didn't actually go in – I just saw it in the distance 'The Games Lounge'- it's an exhibition about the history of video games where you can play some of the original games. Where is this paradise, I hear you ask? The National Media Museum in Bradford – yeah, travelling north at the moment. I would have sacrificed myself for you and gone into the Games Lounge but got distracted by the collection of rare movies. Still, I picked up these fact sheets for you. Because they were free.

Keep on building up the comp time and perhaps the Boss will let you off the leash long enough to come here but you'd have to let the kids play the games as well.

Good to hear that Kate is doing OK. That fish-care badge came in handy!

Make sure Gibbs lets you leave work sometimes – Kate needs regular feeding and attention.

Tony

"McGee!" snapped Gibbs, "what's all that stuff?" He had just come down from MTAC and was surprised to see Tim's desk covered with paper.

"Boss!" jumped McGee. Although he had once boasted about the superior sight lines achieved from his desk they never seemed to be good enough to prevent Gibbs sneaking up on him. "They're from Tony. He's been to this really cool place … all about video games. You'd … um, well, you'd really hate it so I'll stop talking about it."

"Good idea," observed Gibbs, "you let the others know that Tony's been in touch?"

"Didn't think I'd need to," confessed Tim, "they seem to find out pretty quick on their own."

Gibbs nodded and even as Tim finished talking they heard the ding of the elevator and saw Abby tumble out, followed more sedately by Ducky and Jimmy.

"Is he all right?" asked Abby. Her tarot readings had proved inconclusive but she was trying to gain comfort from the lack of bad omens.

"Seems all right from what he wrote to me," said McGee, "in fact he's been to this really cool video game place …"

"Gimme," ordered Abby, ruthlessly cutting Tim off. McGee frowned and handed her a postcard. She scanned it quickly and then said discontentedly,

"He doesn't say anything. But perhaps that's a good thing? Or do you think it's because he's developed amnesia. He had a traumatic head injury, who knows what it might have caused?"

"Is the card blank?" asked Ducky.

"Oh, no," said Abby, "it just doesn't say anything about his head."

"And what does it say?" said Ducky.

Abby smiled, "he's been to a really cool place."

"Told you," said Tim.

"No, not about video games. Although to be fair, I would like that. No," she breathed a happy sigh, "he's been to Whitby."

The others looked at each other blankly. Characteristically, Ducky was the first to break their silence,

"And for what reason is that significant?"

"Part of 'Dracula' was based in Whitby," said Abby, "They do all sorts of Goth things there. I've always wanted to go. And look, my card has a picture of the graveyard," she ran a happy finger over the picture.

"How … er, charming," said Ducky diplomatically, "Timothy, is there a missive for me perchance?"

"Yes, Ducky, here it is." Tim handed Ducky his postcard.

"Ah, it seems that Anthony took the opportunity to visit the Royal Army Medical Corps Museum before he travelled north. I'm sure he will have found it most stimulating."

"I guess this is for you as well," said Tim as he saw a guide book among the contents of the latest package.

"A Guide to the Museum. How delightful. I'm sure it will bring many happy memories of my time with the RAMC. Not, of course, that I consider that my experiences belong in a museum quite yet."

"Of course not, Doctor," said Jimmy tactfully, "um … is there anything for me, Agent McGee?"

Tim handed him a bundle of photographs some of which Tony had written on. Jimmy giggled.

"What is it, Jimmy?" asked Abby, momentarily distracted from her contemplation of the graveyard.

"Tony says that there was this hall of mirrors at the Bradford museum."

"Guess he does like looking at himself," said Gibbs.

"No, no, Agent Gibbs," said Jimmy, "not that kind of mirror. Well, I mean, they are mirrors that you look at yourself with but these are those funny mirrors."

"Good Lord," said Ducky, "I haven't been to a hall of mirrors for years. I remember that I loved them as a child, suddenly looking ten foot tall or three foot wide. How I laughed! Mother hated them but I still believe they have an innocent charm."

Jimmy nodded happily, "and it looks as if Tony likes them too. Look, there's one of him looking wide, and another with him looking tall and thin. And here's a wibbly-wobbly one."

The others gathered round to look at the photos.

"Looks as if Cousin Crispian is still hanging around," said Abby disapprovingly as she spotted that Tony had a companion in some of the pictures.

"Ahem," said Director Vance as he drew near.

"Director," said Jimmy going into automatic near panic mode, "we were just looking at these pictures that Tony … er … Agent DiNozzo has sent. He's been to a museum. I don't think he's really put that much weight on," he giggled nervously.

The Director held out a hand for the pictures.

"I'm sure he's working hard as well, Director," said McGee hopefully.

The Director looked at the photographs and nodded with satisfaction. He seemed to share Ducky's assessment of the joys of magic mirrors.

"Do you mind if I take this one?" he asked.

Jimmy looked surprised but nodded. The Director seemed to realise it was an odd request,

"I think the children would like to see Agent DiNozzo looking so … distorted. They still remember when he played at being a shark with them." He turned to go.

Abby was still looking at some of the pictures,

"I can't see any bruises," she announced finally.

Vance turned back, "Has Agent DiNozzo been injured?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Gibbs, "I forgot. You missed the mail call last week. Seems he took some sort of tumble while he was at his aunt's place."

"With Cousin Crispian," said Abby meaningfully.

The Director raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"I just feel it's a bit hinky that Tony had his "accident" when he was with his cousin," she said, "I don't trust him. I wonder if I can find out his star sign. See what his horoscope says. See if he was born under a sneaky star sign"

The Director decided to ignore this and turned to Gibbs, "was Agent DiNozzo badly hurt?"

"His aunt said it was just a mild concussion. Wasn't clear what had happened."

"Boss," said Tim, "there's a card for you. Perhaps Tony's told you what happened?"

Gibbs put his glasses on to read his card.

Hey, Boss.

Caroline said she'd told you about the accident. That'll teach me and Cris to decide to play Pooh sticks! You know me, too competitive. Leaned over too far and whoops! I'm fine. No need to worry. Was right as rain by evening and I made it to another boxing match.

Picture is of one of the boats on the Norfolk Broads. It's a wherry – apparently there's something special about it. A gaff rig? Anyway, perhaps it'll give you an idea for your next project.

DiNozzo

"You heard what he said," said Gibbs when he finished reading the card aloud, "He's fine. Go back to work."

The Director raised another eyebrow at being told to go back to work but he nodded and departed, carrying the picture of a gargantuan Tony surrounded by many other distorted reflections.

"Hmm," huffed Abby as she went back to her lair, "there must be a way of finding out Crispian's date of birth."

Jimmy trotted alongside Ducky who was telling him about the time, in his RAMC uniform, he had visited a hall of mirrors and met an officer from the Women's Royal Air Force, "It was the beginning of a most interesting …" the words faded away as the elevator doors closed.

Gibbs' eyes narrowed as he watched the Director walking up to his office.

"Something up, Boss?" asked McGee.

Gibbs shrugged. "Going for coffee," he announced.