Disclaimer: Own nothing, not being paid

Rating: K+

Spoilers: Season 2, any episode that mentions MIT.

Pairing: None.

A/N: Huge thank you to Cha Oseye Tempest Thrain for betaing. Written for "what?" prompt for the Live Journal 100fic challenge (NCIS: General Series).

"Abby, stop doing that."

Abby looked up in surprise at the harsh tone. She pulled a face, and placed her hands on her hips. "What, McGee?"

"Making fun of MIT."

"Well I wouldn't if you," she pointed at him, "didn't mention it every single freaking moment. Now, stop bugging me, I need to finish this." She turned back to the computer to start typing. "What are you doing?" He'd insinuated himself between her and the computer screen, and from the look on his face, she didn't think he would be moving anytime soon.

"Abby, what do you think of when you think about Tony?"

"Conspiracy," she replied promptly.

McGee's eyebrows knitted together in puzzlement, before he shook his head. "Right. Wrong person to ask. The first thing I think of is his dating habits, of course. But if I think about NCIS, it's his undercover skills, the fact that he can think outside the box, and that he's an ex-cop."

Abby twirled her hands. "And? You sound like you're trying to write his resume, McGee." She couldn't quite keep the amusement out of her voice.

McGee continued, "When I think about Kate, it's the fact that she protected the president, she's a profiler and she can sketch. You know so much in so many areas, and you're just...you." He smiled. "Ducky's swallowed entire volumes of encyclopedias and Gibbs, well, Gibbs is Gibbs."

"Good for you, McGee! You can summarize all your team's strengths." Abby lifted her arms up in mock victory.

"Abby."

The serious look on McGee's face sobered her up. "What?"

"What have I got?" The words were soft, and he avoided looking her in the eyes.

"McGee." She reached forward and turned his face towards her. "Gibbs didn't hire you because you went to MIT. He wouldn't have cared if you went to Catawba College." She reached around him for her drink. "Why did you go to MIT?"

"Because they were the best."

Abby shook her head rapidly. "No, that's not what I meant. Why could you go to MIT?"

"Oh."

She smiled. "Exactly. You were one of the best, before you went to MIT. Gibbs isn't going to fire you. Well, not unless you really screw up, which I wouldn't advise doing, or you turn out to be a serial killer or something, and then you'll have way bigger problems than Gibbs firing you. You're not a serial killer are you?"

He smiled, and pressed his lips together. "No, I'm not a serial killer, Abby."

She gently pushed him away and started typing. "Good! Now, get out of my way, MIT boy, I've got work to do."