NOT OWNING ANYTHING. PS CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NCIS PREMIERE!

Prentiss was impressed by the little goth as she was working her way around her lab. It seemed to her that she did a job where the FBI forensics needed three man to work it. Not Abby Sciuto though. She had walked with the small woman through security, and hadn't missed the downward faces or the surprise as it registered that Abby was willingly walking around with a Fib, as they called her.

She hadn't been up to the bull-pen, following Abby to her lab. There she was greeted by an elderly man who told her to call him 'Ducky'. She had been charmed by the Scot and his immense vault of knowledge that could rival Spencer. She had looked to the small office that was attached at the back of the lab and saw someone working feverously behind a computer.

"Hi," Emily greeted the man.

McGee looked up and saw a beautiful woman in a business suit.

"Hi," he answered back. "No offense, but who are you?"

"Oh," she shook herself. "I'm SSA Emily Prentiss, I work with Reid."

"Reid?" McGee asked her.

"Tony's cousin, Tim," Abby yelled from above the microscope.

"Tony has a cousin that he speaks to?" McGee was shocked.

"Sure, Spencer's like his kid brother," Abby was amused by McGee's face.

"But, he never spoke of him," McGee stammered, still not able to comprehend that Tony had aspects of his life that he didn't share, as he shared too much with the team as it is.

"He doesn't share everything with you, Timmy," Abby shook her head. Tim was getting a bit condescending every now and then. It would do him well to remember that Tony had years of experience over him and that he was a master in veiling the most important parts of his life. Except to the bossman, Ducky and herself of course. They could always tell that something was brewing behind his easy smiles and bantering.

"Isn't it a bit too quiet here? I expected Road to Hell, or the Darkness Queens to play on maximum volume?" A beautiful woman in a very skin-tight red dress was standing in the door opening.

"Cassie!" Abby exclaimed, while running to her and giving her a massive hug.

"Hey Abs," she chuckled. "So what do we have?"

"Not anthrax, Cas, it's plague."

"Thank god, anthrax scares the hell out of me," Cassie confessed.

"Where is Jethro, Cassiopeia?" Ducky asked her.

"He stayed behind to question the scientist who was working on the strain, I escorted Hanna Lowell back to HQ, before she went berserk. I drove to MPD and got her in a nicely padded cell. I really don't care whatever she's trying to pull on me. Tony is in Bethesda fighting for his god damn life and I'm not about to go easy on the bitch."

"What do you mean, easy?" Prentiss asked Cassie.

"The bitch is the mother of a rape case we had four years ago. She demands we open the case again, believing we covered up for some midshipmen. She's dying, rather rapidly as she herself said. I really don't care if it is from lung cancer, blood problems or whatever, the bitch ain't walking free because of some health issues."

"You go, Cas!" Abs cheers the woman on her rant.

"So, now we have to wait until your boss gets the antidote from the scientist who created this particular form of pneumonic plague?" Prentiss asks everyone around her. "What if he doesn't get it?"

The rest of the people in the lab chuckled softly. Abby patted her arm. "Emily, you obviously never met Gibbs. He'll get it."

As if he was waiting on the cue, Gibbs stormed into the lab. Emily had to force herself to stand strong, as she was tempted to take a step back to escape the furious storm that was obviously Jethro Gibbs.

"Abby, tell me you can see if there is indeed a suicide string in the DNA of this thing?" he barked.

Abby turned to her computers and typed away as the plasma on the wall showed how she was looking for the DNA sequencing. She paled and typed again, refusing to believe what she saw.

"It, it was there Gibbs," she stammered. "I swear that I can clearly see that it's supposed to be there. But it looks like she took an unfinished one. One where the suicide string hasn't been inserted yet. That means-"

"That Tony will still have a hell of a fight," Gibbs finished grimly. "Let's go to the hospital."

Before they could even move one step, a tall man who oozed authority stepped into the lab. "Not so fast, Gibbs."

"Director," Gibbs nodded. "I really don't have time. We have finished our investigation, we know who is behind this. Now, I really want to be there for my SFA who is fighting for his life as we speak."

"Did you or did you not questioned a renowned scientist with a gun pointed at his forehead and a security guard in a head lock?" Morrow asked his best Team Lead.

"I did," Gibbs nodded carelessly.

Prentiss' mouth fell open. She now understood what everyone had been saying. He would get answers for Tony. The profiler in her had immediately spotted the helpless fury that cloaked the military man, it was almost like a father's care for his son. It was also clear that Gibbs was a nightmare for his boss, not caring about protocols or toeing the line. He clearly would do anything if it meant that Tony DiNozzo would survive this ordeal, even if it meant that it would cost him his job.

She saw how the rest of the people were rallying around Gibbs, in a silent show of loyalty and support. Well, if the man was risking everything he worked for to save his SFA's life, she could get how that would create unwavering loyalty under his people.

Morrow seemed to realize this as well. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You can never do things the easy way, can you agent Gibbs?" He asked, clearly not needing an answer to that question.

"Abby just confirmed it, sir. There was no suicide string in the plague that Tony inhaled," Gibbs reported to the man, not even bothering to defend himself.

Prentiss looked on as Morrow's jaw tightened. A quick glance confirmed that his fists had clenched as well, a big show of agitation for such a stoic man, she commented to herself.

"Go, Gibbs," he ordered. "You're on suspension until further notice."

Gibbs grinned and gave the man a nod, handing over his gun and badge without hesitation. Walking out of the lab, he was stopped by Morrow.

"Try ordering that boy not to die. He never disobeyed you yet."

Abby grinned and followed after Gibbs, a cue that made the rest of the team get in motion as well.

Prentiss quickened her step until she was walking beside Ducky. "I don't get it, why is he so happy he's suspended?"

Ducky looked at her with a warm smile. "My dear, isn't it obvious? He's suspended until further notice, making it possible for the man to be by Tony's side. I can assure that as soon as Tony is recovering, Gibbs will be giving the further notice."

Prentiss chuckled at that. It seemed that there was an undercurrent of signals and hints that made up the language spoken at NCIS. It was clear that the director had to take some action against Gibbs, considering the complaint that had been filed against him. But it was just as clear that Morrow had no inclination to create any trouble for the other man, instead turning it around so Gibbs was free to do as he pleased. She shook her head, she now understood the mixture of annoyance and awe that was shown as other agents spoke of NCIS. They were not an agency to be underestimated.