Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters are the property of Belisarius Productions and CBS. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: The NCIS costume party is mandatory so Gibbs and Abby lay a very interesting wager. A Halloween FanFic.

Title: Master of Disguise

Chapter 1 Rated: K

Chapter 2 Rated: T

Chapter 3 Rated: M

Category: Romance/Humor

Pairing: Abby/Gibbs

A/N: I interrupt my other stories to bring you a little holiday fanfic. This is a continuing story, three chapters in all. They are all written and ready to post.

Chapter 1: The Bet

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs entered the NCIS lab looking for results from their latest crime scene. Black paper bats hung like garland from the ceiling and windows. Sinister music vibrated through his eardrums to the pit of his stomach, a shrill high-pitched female scream threatened to make his ears bleed. Striding into the adjoining room, he hit the off button on the stereo just as a menacing low laugh started to fill the room.

Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto abruptly turned from her workstation. "Gibbs," she admonished, "it was just getting to the good part."

"I hear enough of those kinds of noises in the bullpen," he stated, walking towards her.

A twinkle lit up Abby's eyes as she grinned. "Oh really? Tony up to his usual pranks again?""

"And yet he says he hates Halloween," Gibbs said, shaking his head.

"How can anyone hate Halloween?" she asked, confused because it was her second favorite time of the year.

"Tell me you've got something for me, Abbs," he sighed, looking at her computer screen. "I really need to get out of this building before I headslap DiNozzo so hard his head lands outside MTAC."

Abby placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic frown. "That bad, huh?"

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders and Abby turned to her computer to explain the results of the tests she'd been running. DNA comparisons, blood analysis, trace evidence. When she finished, Gibbs seemed much happier as he gave her a peck on the cheek and made to leave.

"Wait, Gibbs!" she called after him and he turned back in the doorway. "Are you going to the costume party?"

"Yup," he answered then turned and disappeared towards the elevator.

Abby figured there wasn't a chance in hell that he would go, but after registering his response, she ran after him, catching him just before he stepped into the lift. "What? You're kidding, right?" she inquired, grabbing his elbow so he turned to face her.

"Who knows, it could be fun."

"Wait a minute," she said, looking him over from head to toe. "Who are you and what've you done with my Gibbs?"

"Not going, Abbs," he confessed. "Just practicing my sincerity for when I tell Vance."

"The only way you're going to get out of it is if you catch a case."

"The last thing I'm hoping for is another case," he told her. "But I am looking for a little intervention of some kind."

"It's a fund raiser this year for a worthy cause. Don't you want to support our troops overseas?"

"You know I support the men and women who serve," he stated. "But I really hate these kinds of events."

"I know, but you can dress up as something fun and completely anonymous. I love dressing up for Halloween. I think I'll go as something really scary, like the Grimm Reaper."

Gibbs smiled at Abby's enthusiasm. She always had a way of making even the worst situations seem a little bit better. He wouldn't mind going at all if she dressed up as Marilyn Monroe again. "Guess I could put on a bald wig, have a big paunch, and act drunk all night," he suggested.

"Gibbs," she scolded, lightly swatting his arm. "You deserve better than that."

"I'd be everyone's Weird Uncle Jethro."

Abby rolled her eyes. "You should go as Batman or John Wayne, or I know!" she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "Be a Marine in desert camo with full-on gear, helmet, protective vest. You would be awesome!" Her mind wandered as she envisioned how rugged and totally amazing he would look.

Gibbs kind of liked her idea because it was a lot easier and more appealing then Weird Uncle Jethro. He'd been joking anyway when he'd suggested that. Actually, he wasn't planning on dressing up at all. He would go for the fund raiser part, not the costume part, but then he got an idea.

"How about we make this a little competition?" he suggested and Abby quickly looked at him with surprised interest. "We'll both dress up and go to the party and we'll see how long it takes to find one another."

Abby smiled broadly, completely intrigued by his suggestion. "I know I've asked this before, but who are you and what've you done with my Gibbs?"

"All right, forget it."

"No, no! That's a great idea." Once again she grabbed his arm to stop him from entering the elevator. "A little frightening 'cause you're the one actually suggesting it. You really think you can fool me into not finding you?"

"Sounds like a challenge, Abbs."

"Well, then, challenge accepted, Agent Gibbs," she responded. "And whoever finds the other one first, wins."

"What's the prize?" he asked in a low tone. "I'd like to know what I'm going to win."

"How about… hmmm… I know, whoever wins gets to have the loser as their assistant for an entire day."

Gibbs chuckled and grinned. "So you'll fetch my coffee for me, you'll go shopping with me and carry all the paint cans and lumber?"

Abby returned a sarcastic laugh. "No, you'll be scrubbing my kitchen floor, carrying my groceries, and you'll be my dance partner at my favorite all-night club."

Gibbs loved a challenge but there was no way he was going to lose with the prospect of all-night dancing on the table. "You have no idea who you're playing with here, Abbs," he stated, trying to intimidate her.

"You won't know who I am 'til I find you, Gibbs," she responded confidently. "You better plan for a very busy day." She held her hand out to shake on it. "Deal?"

"Deal," he replied and grasped her hand.

A/N: This was a short chapter, but the next one will be much longer.