Mind Games 2 : Level Up

10-The Ball

|NCIS Office|

"What the hell is this?" Allison just arrived and was surprised with a lunch box on her desk. Tony seems like avoiding to touch his box. "I don't know. I got one as well."

"From Abby." McGee shows up, after throwing up in the bathroom. His face is pale and unpleasant. "You're okay McGee?"
"Don't touch that Al. I'm telling you." She looks at Tony, "Hey don't look at me. McGoo here thought it would be a good idea to give it a taste. I told him it smells bad."
"Really? That bad?" She open the box and quickly smell the uneasy scents. "Oh god."
"I told you."
"Come on Tony. It's food, it looks....decent, it can't be that bad."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."

She get a spoon and get a bite of it. When it enter her mouth, she has a hard times to let it pass her tongue. She looks like wanna puke but keep chewing. Tony on the other hand, looking at her with such amusement. "Haha, come on. You can do it."
"I can't..." She's about to throw it out when Abby suddenly shows up and Allison doesn't have a choice but swallow it.

"Al! You like it?" Her face is full of hope and Allison doesn't have heart to turn her down, "Yeah! It's brilliant. What is this?"
"My signature bug salad."
"Bug?" To hear that words makes Allison's stomach turn upside down. "....uh I mean, that's genius! I need to go to the bathroom." She runs out, leaving Abby looks at both Tony and McGee. "I'm gonna make more of it for the Ball." Then their faces turned even more pale, "She didn't just...." McGee feels sick in his stomach.
"Yeah. She'll bring bug salad to the ball."

|Adams House Hotel|

Gibbs is watching the surrounding, there are people from the Navy, the SecNav himself, and a lot of agents. The Ball itself was planned to be annual as a charity event per director's order. He's never a fan of these kind of events and doesn't feel like to stick around if it's not for an order.

"Agent Gibbs." There's someone behind him and when he turns his back, there's the director. Looks stunning with the royal blue dress. "Director."
"Where's your team?"
"They're on their way." She's so aware of how Gibbs are looking at her. "Something's wrong agent Gibbs?"
"Nothing. Nice dress." He tries to look away but she get a hint that he's stunned by her appearance. "Okay. Uh, I need an agent to accompany me when I greet the guests. Can you help me with that?"
"Yes."
"Great. Shall we?" She asks for his hand and he's gladly taking it.

Meanwhile Allison arrives earlier than the others. She doesn't like her dress at all, it's too tight and she has to walk silly with that. "Need help?"
"Oh hey. Tony. Nope. I just hate this dress."
"Really? You look great."
"Speak for yourself. You clean up nice." He chuckles, "Come on. I'll help you walk with that." He offers his arm and she takes it. "Fine. I owe you. I really can't walk. I'm feeling like a penguin."
"Haha. Yes you did." He looks at her, at how the old Allison is back. Especially after their talk last week. There were days of awkwardness before one day she finally walked into the office with her  usual cynical eyes and a cup of hot milk on her hand.

"Where's the other anyway?" Allison looks around and find McGee on the  left side of the hall with Abby, trying to prevent her from handing her bug salad to the catering. "Abby, Abby, that's not a good idea, come one."
"They're tasty and got a lot of health benefits Timmy."
"Bad, bad idea."

As they're struggling to fight over the salad, Tony and Allison approach them. "McGee! Just let her do what she wants to do!" He says, sarcastically. "Not funny Tony." Allison then grab the box from Abby and insists on helping her. "Let me help you with that. I'll tell them to serve it."
"You're kidding.." McGee couldn't help what he heard, but Allison winks at him. "Nope. I'll hand it to the catering.

She approaches one of the man who work there and hand him the box. And then she whispers to him, " My friend right there thinks that I'm handing you this box so you can serve it. Do me a favor, don't. Just smile and nods."
"Okay." He smiles and nods. Allison looks at Abby and gives her an 'ok' sign with her hand before get back to the pack.