Standard disclaimer applies; Not beta'd

No romantic pairings.

AU, mostly because I added some things to Tim's past [cuz I could :)], can't tell you without giving some things away (spoilers-LOL).

Parts 1-5, pretty much 5 conversations regarding Abby's issues, with different people.

"McGee!" Abby yelled, snatching the keyboard from him, "I can do that," she snapped.

"So can I," Tim stated, trying to remain calm, "And I'm available to do it now, unlike you who has other evidence you need to focus on at the moment."

"It'll only be a few minutes, then I will get to it."

"Abby, just let me do it."

"No."

"Abby."

"I said no. Now sit there like a good boy and don't touch anything," Abby ordered as she turned her attention to the other evidence.

Tim just stared at her for a few minutes before shaking his head, part of him unable to believe she was treating him like a child, or worse a dog. Since there was nothing for him to do down here, or rather, nothing Abby would let him do, there was no reason for him to stay. After all, NCIS didn't pay him to sit and watch Abby work.

Knowing Gibbs would want answers sooner rather than late, Tim racked his brain to come up with another possible way to get those answers, especially since Gibbs wouldn't want or even listen to any excuses.

2

"Anything, McGee?" Gibbs asked when the older man caught sight of him.

"Negative, Boss."

"Then why aren't you downstairs still working on it?"

Still? Tim had to hold back from snorting. "Abby's computer isn't available to me at this time," he stated, knowing it wasn't worth explaining the truth about Abby's mood. "But," he rushed to explain, before Gibbs could ask more questions or say anything else, "I think I might know another way to track the information down."

Gibbs nodded, "Then get to it."

"Yes, boss," Tim said as he opened up his email and got to work.

Half an hour later, after brainstorming with a former professor and discovering that Abby hadn't started searching yet, Tim approached Gibbs with a few forms that needed his signature in order for McGee to have access to the necessary equipment and files.

"And this will get me answers?" Gibbs asked, as he read the papers, even though he didn't understand most of them.

"It should," Tim responded, continuing when Gibbs glared at him. "I'm not going to promise you anything. If the answers are there, this should get them for me. If there is something else you need me to do instead, just tell me. We can hold this off until we learn what Abby can uncover."

Gibbs eyed his suspiciously, "And why couldn't you do this how you normally would? In Abby's lab, on her computer?"

"It's unavailable."

"Why?" Gibbs asked, continuing to stare at him.

"You'll have to ask Abby that," Tim responded, determined not to turn away from that glare.

After a few moments with neither of them looking away or speaking, Gibbs nodded, signed the papers and returned them to McGee, who immediately grabbed them and turned to leave.

"McGee!" Gibbs called, causing Tim to turn around. "Let me know as soon as you get something. If it doesn't look promising, don't waste time on it."

Tim nodded before exiting the bullpen.

"What was that about?" Tony asked.

"Have to ask Abby," Gibbs replied dryly.

3

"What did you do?"

Tim blinked at Tony standing in front of his desk, arms on his hips, glaring at him.

"What?"

"What did you do to Abby?" he asked again. "I've never seen her so mad. You might want to watch your back, she might follow through on her threat to kill and leave no forensic evidence behind."

"I…nothing," Tim vowed, answering his question.

Tony snorted, "That's not what she says. You'd best own up to it and apologize."

"But I didn't do anything," he protested.

"Doesn't matter," Tony commented, "There'll be no peace until you admit you were wrong."

Tim glared at the older agent, "I don't know what I did."

"Then you best figure it out, for all our sakes," Tony threatened.

Tim sighed before standing up and heading back downstairs to the lab.

4

"Hey, boss," Tony said, slipping into the elevator before the doors closed.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs returned. "You got something?"

"Ah, on the case, no," he admitted, before hitting a switch to stop the elevator.

Gibbs looked between his Senior Agent and the switch. "What's going on?" he asked, sipping his coffee.

"Probie and Abby," Tony began.

Gibbs shook his head, "If they've started dating again, I don't want to hear about it."

Tony shook his head, "I don't think you have to worry about that."

Gibbs gave him and inquiring look.

"Abby's upset at McGee."

"Not my business," Gibbs replied, reaching for the elevator switch.

"No," Tony stated firmly, blocking the switch from the older man's hand. "I mean really upset. Kill and leave no forensic evidence behind kind of upset."

Gibbs snorted, "She threatens that all the time," he reminded his agent, dismissing his words.

"Yeah, well, this time she didn't threaten it."

"Then what?"

"The target in the ballistic lab with his picture on it; How she spoke about him, saying that she didn't, couldn't work with him; didn't trust him; wanted to ban him from her lab; erase his existence from her life, get him out of NCIS."

Gibbs' eyes narrowed, "So help me, DiNozzo, if this is one of your pranks…"

"It's not, I swear," Tony vowed. "Something is going on, but she wouldn't tell me anything else. I asked McGee, but he seemed clueless to the fact that she was mad, let alone the reason why. He said he hadn't done anything.

"Boss, I really don't want to break in a new Probie," Tony added, his eyes pleading with Gibbs to fix this.

5

"Abby?" he questioned after knocking on the door.

"Oh, it's you," she stated coldly, quickly turning away form him and back to the computer.

He remained silent, watching her work, "Find anything yet?"

"No."

Tim frowned at the monosyllabic and abrupt response. That was really unlike Abby.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

His frowned deepened, "I don't believe you."

She turned and glared at him. "I'm not the liar here," she replied harshly. "And I'm not mad. I'm pissed."

"At me?" he asked incredulously.

She swirled and glared at him again before once more turning back to her computer.

"Oh, for," Tim began then cut himself off. Yelling at Abby wouldn't get them anywhere. "I don't know why you're mad, er, pissed at me," he corrected when she looked at him. "Can you please just tell me so we can figure this out?"

Silence was the only response he received.

"Would you at least let me work with you on that so we can solve this case?" he asked, addressing her back.

"Sorry," she said, momentarily causing the tension in Tim's shoulders to ease. At least until her next words penetrated, "I only work with people I trust, you do not qualify, Mister I have so many degrees."

"I…what?" a dumbfounded Tim asked, only to be ignored by the scientist. "Abby?"

"Abby…C'mon, tell me what's going on?"

"If you're so smart, you should be able to figure out the truth yourself," she snapped.

"I…I…" Tim stuttered looking at Abby, who once more pretended he wasn't there. With a sigh he returned to the bullpen. Hopefully Abby will calm down and they can discuss this misunderstanding in a few hours.

6-2-18

Let me know what you think, if you have any suspicions or ideas. Next part should be up soon. I believe it is in 13 parts (including a brief epilogue). I plan on posting it as 4 chapters, at this moment.