"Hey Abbs, you wanted to see me?" Gibbs walked into the lab later that evening. Abby didn't usually hang around once a case was wrapped up, as she generally had some concert to attend or bowling game to get to. Her coffin-shaped purse was on the computer desk, along with her coat.

Crime scene techs were still clearing up the last of the broken barbecue pieces to bring in for evidence logging purposes. Team Gibbs was in the bullpen writing up their reports of the case.

"Gibbs!" She ran to him and threw her arms around his body in a crushing hug. "I was gonna come up to the bullpen to see you guys—you didn't have to come down here!"

"Why?" Gibbs asked, concerned. "What's going on? You sounded frantic on the phone."

"You almost died today in that explosion!" She gasped. "It was on the news and I was so worried. If you guys…I mean, if any of you had…" She squeezed him.

Gibbs relaxed in her embrace, glad that this particular problem was already solved.

"Of course we're fine, Abbs." He planted a kiss in her hair.

"How's Tony's voice?" Abby asked, looking up at Gibbs, concern in her hazel eyes. "Did Ducky say he was going to be okay? He's coming home with me tonight. I'm gonna make him some of my awesome sore-throat-be-gone hot tea."

"He'll be okay, Abbs." Gibbs assured her. "He just had a reaction to the grass."

Abby nodded. It felt good to hug Gibbs, to know he was safe—even if he did smell like burning charcoal and baseball diamond dust. They mutually separated. "He'll be quoting movies at us in no time." Gibbs said.

"Good. He did a really good job talking to the neighbors, Gibbs." She said with a smile, remembering some of the funnier things Tony had said on the tapes. "He really knows how to get answers out of people."

"That's what he's best at. McGee and Ziva were probably less than enthused." Gibbs said, imagining Ziva and Tim rolling their eyes at the senior agent as he chatted up housewives.

Abby thought about it, then shrugged. "Maybe. They weren't on the tapes though, so they could have been laughing too."

"Ziva and Tim didn't talk to the residents?" Gibbs said, surprised.

"No, it was just Tony." Abby said, watching Gibbs' face get more pissed off the longer she spoke. "Were Ziva and Tim supposed to talk to them too?"

The muscle along Gibbs' jaw flexed and instead of answering her, he strode out of the lab.

Abby bit her lip as she watched him leave. "Oh boy. He is not happy with them."

Gibbs strode into the elevator and stood there, thinking as it rose back up to the bullpen. He had thought they would all speak to the residents—that's why he sent all three of them. Gibbs thought they'd split the homes, then two people would talk to half each while the third listened to the live feeds in the car to make sure none of the residents got tipped off. If the work was halved, maybe then Tony wouldn't have gotten sick. Well…as long as the case got done though, right? Tony's throat wasn't too bad. Ducky had said it would likely clear up in a day or so.

He walked into the bullpen to see Tony standing at his desk, the light off and computer powered down. He was popping another throat lozenge. Tim and Ziva were still typing up their reports at their computers.

"Boss," Tony rasped, "I put my report in your inbox."

Gibbs nodded.

"Emailed you a copy too." he said, coughing.

"Good. 'Night DiNozzo, let Abby take care of that throat."

Tony grinned. "Oh, she will." He winked and Gibbs rolled his eyes as Tony strode off to the elevator. He hesitated for a moment before going after his senior agent and slipping into the elevator with him. Tony blinked at him.

"I forget something?" Tony wheezed.

"No." Gibbs flipped the emergency switch, halting the car. "Who spoke to the residents today?"

"I did."

"Did McGee and Ziva?" Gibbs asked.

"No." Tony looked suspicious.

"They both stayed in the car and listened to your feed." Gibbs concluded.

Tony's gaze faltered.

"Tony?"

"Not the whole time." Tony said quietly.

"Explain."

"I got back to the car after talking to the Stepford Wives, and McGee and Ziva said they had…turned off the feed."

"Why?" Gibbs growled.

Tony didn't answer.

"Tony."

"I don't know."

"They didn't tell you why they weren't watching your six?" A wave of anger washed over Gibbs and he took a breath, mentally counting to three.

"They said they were sick of hearing my voice." Tony said. He looked down, his face pinking with shame. "They got tired of listening, so they turned it off."

Gibbs blinked, surprised at this. For a split second, he almost didn't believe what Tony was saying. Why the hell would Tim and Ziva not listen to the feed? What if something had gone wrong and Tony needed back up? What if one of the neighbors suspected and took a shot? The realization that Tony could very well be dead right now if he needed back up and no one was there to provide it hit him full force, and Gibbs sucked in a deep breath.

Tony watched his boss anxiously, chewing his lip. "Boss, it's fine. We got the guy, and—"

"Would you have turned off the feed if it was one of them talking to the residents?" Gibbs asked.

"No." Tony mumbled.

Gibbs flipped the emergency switch and the lights flickered to life again as the car started moving.

"Boss," Tony pleaded, "it's really fine. They're gonna think I went and tattled to you—."

Gibbs slammed his hand across the switch and the elevator's gears creaked loudly.

"If this thing plummets, it's your fault." Tony said with a small grin that quickly faded when Gibbs turned to him, getting in his space.

"You did not tattle on your teammates." Gibbs growled. "I asked you a question and you answered."

Tony nodded.

"Why didn't you say anything, DiNozzo? Did you really not think your six was worth watching?"

"I had my phone." Tony said defensively, straightening even under that Gibbs Glare. "If something went pear-shaped, I could have called them or you directly." Tony leaned to the side and coughed and Gibbs stepped back.

"But what if you couldn't?" Gibbs retorted. "What if you couldn't call because you were shot or kidnapped?"

Tony let out a sigh. "I didn't think to tell you. Everything was fine, the case ended, and that was it."

Gibbs stared at him for a moment. "If your partner ever does something that endangers your life again, you tell me." He growled.

"Okay." Tony nodded. Gibbs kept staring at him. "I got it!" Tony said. "I hear where you're coming from, boss."

"Good."

Gibbs slapped the switch again and the car reluctantly got moving. He needed to have a little talk with his other two agents.