The elevator lifted the NCIS team up to their squad room on the second floor. Loki shifted his backpack and bit the inside of his lip to restrain his smile as he stared at the back of Bishop's head as she stood in front of him, McGhee, and Tony. Gibbs stood next to her.

After Loki and Bishop had photographed, bagged, and tagged the evidence found on the roof, they had moved over to the edge of the roof and Bishop had glanced down uncertainly.

"So, I suppose the only way down is the way we came up?"

Loki had nodded, keeping his expression solemn. "Unless you want to jump and break your legs, darling."

Bishop had scowled, avoiding his gaze. "Although that option sounds a much better alternative than you, I suppose we better hurry." And with that, she started to loop her arms around his neck.

"You'll warm up to me, Bishop," Loki had promised, scooping her up off the ground. Bishop had gasped as she suddenly found herself held in his arms, something she apparently hadn't expected.

"What are you doing?" she had exclaimed, casting her gaze away from Loki purposefully. Loki had just smiled, noting her blush.

"Carrying you, darling."

"I thought we were going down the way we came up."

"The shock of the landing would injure you. This is safer."

Loki held Bishop securely as she gripped him tightly, her backpack looped over her arm. Carefully, Loki had leapt off of the roof and landed lightly on the ground, glancing up with a slight grin on his face.

The grin had faded as he came face to face with Gibbs.

All the blood had drained from Bishop's face and Loki felt himself at a loss for words. Gibbs had just looked at them, one eyebrow raised questioningly.

"This isn't how it looks," Bishop had rushed. "Loki, put me down!"

Loki had, keeping his eyes on Gibbs. "We had to examine the roof, and the only way to get her up and down was to hold her. It's all work-related."

"Did I ask?" Gibbs had queried.

"No, Boss."

"Then let's get the evidence into the van and get back to the Yard."

The elevator door slid open as they reached their floor, shaking Loki out of his reminiscing. A slight pain struck him, and he placed his hand to his head as it passed quickly.

McGhee, Gibbs, and Bishop left the elevator ahead of Tony and Loki. Loki spun to face DiNozzo, for he had a question.

"What did Abby tell you?" he hissed.

It took DiNozzo a second to realize what Loki was asking about, and then he grinned, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, just that Bishop hates you and you don't like that, and that you secretly like her."

"I do not!"

Tony lifted an eyebrow. "Keep telling yourself that, Loki."

The two agents stepped off the elevator just as Abby came careening around the corner, her lab coat and black pigtails flying out behind her as she made a beeline for Gibbs.

"Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs!" she said all in a rush. She grabbed his arm and yanked him along after her to the elevator.

Gibbs hurried along with Abby. "Bishop, Loki, with me!" he called. "Tony, McGhee, find out what ETCD stands for."

"On it, Boss!" Tony said, sliding into his desk as Bishop and Loki hurried after Abby.

Once in the lab, Abby let go of Gibbs and hurried to her computer. Placing her hands on either side of the keyboard, she turned around to face the three agents.

"So, I was going through the stuff you guys brought back from Leopard's trailer," she started, gesturing to the metal table covered with the objects.

"And I suppose you found something," Loki interrupted.

Abby looked at him. "Would I have called Gibbs all the way down here if I didn't have something?"

Loki considered that for a moment. "Good point. Carry on, Abby."

"Thank you. Now, take a look at Exhibit A." Abby walked over to the table and lifted the containers of dust from the incinerations caused by the scepter. "One sample's from the tree, the other from the trailer. After comparing them and studying what makes them up, I was able to locate the strains of particles that must have come from the scepter." Stepping over to the computer, she tapped a few keys and a magnified image of the particles was projected onto the plasma screen.

Gibbs, Loki, and Bishop walked over to the screen and studied the makeup of the particles. "I haven't been able to identify them yet," Abby said. "But after a preliminary examination, I noticed that it seems very similar to the virus in Loki's head."

Loki resisted the urge to look at Gibbs. His theory that Thanos had used the scepter on him had been basically confirmed.

"How can you verify that, Abby?" Gibbs asked, turning to face her.

"I'd have to examine the energy in Loki's brain again," Abby told him. "But that's not all I've found. Welcome to Exhibit B." Abby pointed to the papers on the table.

"Gibbs, these are from a file on a woman known only by the code name Agent Sniper. It's rather redacted, but there's still some salvageable data there for you to read through, Gibbs. And the best part is the fingerprints found on the paper itself."

"Any hits?" Bishop queried.

Abby shook her head. "I'm running them through AFIS now. But there was also the note Loki found, seemingly written to Leopard. It mentions the sniper and a person called the 'space walker son.'"

"Another mystery person," Bishop grumbled.

Abby grinned. "I'm saving the best for last. Last of the paper exhibit, we have the page that Loki says belongs to an Asgardian book. After reading through it, I've determined that it lists ingredients for some kind of serum, with drawings to identify a couple of them. But there isn't enough for me to be able to figure out what the serum is meant for."

"What are the ingredients?" Gibbs asked, peering at the page.

"I only recognized one," Abby said, looking frustrated. "But that almost makes sense if it's Asgardian."

"What was it?" Loki asked.

"I only know it because I spent time with a mystic group once," Abby explained. "They used it there. It was flavoring for their tea."

"What place?" Gibbs asked.

"It's in Kathmandu, Nepal," Abby told him. "It's called Kamar-Taj. They do a bunch of mystic stuff. I spent spring break with them my senior year of college." She handed the page to Loki. "Do you recognize the rest of these ingredients?"

Loki examined the page. "I do. But they're not from Asgard. These ingredients can all be found on Midgard. It's just the Asgardian names for them."

Abby shoved a pad of paper over to him. "Write down the earth equivalents."

Loki complied and then handed her the list.

"What else do you got, Abs?" Gibbs queried.

Abby picked up the NASA patch. "I think I know who the owner of this patch was." Turning to her computer, she pulled up a picture of a man. "I ran the DNA from the blood and flesh you found and discovered it belongs to a Lucas Sharpe, an astronaut who used to test experimental technology for NASA."

"Address," Gibbs demanded, starting to head for the door.

"Gibbs!" Abby called. "You haven't let me explain the problem yet."

Gibbs walked back to her. "Problem?"

"Yeah. Lucas Sharpe is dead. He died seven years ago, on a test flight of a new rocket."

"How?" Loki asked.

"Classified," Abby admitted. "Along with any other information about him. I've tried to get access, but they've turned me down so far."

"Keep trying," Gibbs instructed. "Is that all, Abs?"

"For now, yes," Abby replied. "I'm still working on that piece of technology McGhee found. It's broken, but with some more time, I think I can access whatever files might be stored there. And I'm still analyzing the silver metal found by the DNA evidence of our astronaut. But I think there might be a connection between Sharpe and the space walker guy in that note."

"Good work, Abby," Gibbs said, kissing her on the cheek. "There's a bunch of new evidence down in the garage for you to go through."

The three agents exited the lab and headed back to their floor. Gibbs told them he was going to see the director and for them to go help Tony and McGhee.

As soon as Loki and Bishop entered the squad room, Tony looked up. "Where's Gibbs?"

"He went to see the director," Bishop said, taking a seat at her desk. "Why?"

"Loki, go get him," Tony instructed. "I've found something." When Loki didn't move, he said louder, "Today, Laufeyson!"

"I don't have to listen to you," Loki pointed out. "You aren't Gibbs."

Tony stood up and crossed his arms. "But I'm the senior field agent, which means I can tell you what to do in Gibbs' absence."

"Gibbs isn't absent," Loki said. "He just went upstairs."

"He's got a point, Tony," McGhee told the senior field agent.

DiNozzo scowled at him before looking back to Loki. "Just get him, probie."

Loki rolled his eyes and took the stairs up to the director's office, walking into the outer officer where an aide firmly told him he couldn't go in. Loki huffed and glanced out the window, and instantly his body stiffened.

There was someone out there.

A figure clad all in back had just climbed past the window, gaze intent on the room adjoining the outer office.

Vance's office.

And the sniper rifle on the figure's back was definitely not a friendly sign.

Loki lunged forward, ignoring the aide's exclamations as he slammed the door to the director's office open and charged forward. "Get down!" he shouted. With one hand, he shoved Vance onto the floor and practically flew towards Gibbs.

Vance's window shattered and the figure, Agent Sniper, hung suspended there, her knees pressed against the sill, as she aimed her rifle at the director. Her face was covered by the mask she had worn last time, the only thing showing being the glint of her dark eyes. Her finger squeezed the trigger just as Loki leapt in front of Gibbs.

Everything went black. 

/***/

So, what did you think? Agent Sniper - who finally has a name instead of just the mystery woman - has made another appearance! And Abby has given the team some information, as well as the fact that she was at Kamar-Taj. What do you think of that?

All right, so last week I asked you what you thought about Gibbs. This week, I want to hear your thoughts on Tony DiNozzo. What do you think about him, his camaraderie with Loki, his humor? 

So, I know I mentioned giving you guys a teaser for my Marvel AU last week. Are you guys ready? Here you go:

In a galaxy where Infinity War happened about forty years before it was supposed to, Thanos rules the remaining population with his Infinity Gauntlet. And to celebrate the Balance he has brought to the universe, as well as his defeat over the rebel uprising that followed that Balance, an annual Contest is hosted where two contenders, a male and a female, are chosen from each of the districts. They must participate in a fight to the death for the honor of the everlasting Balance, where only one can triumph above the others.

Winning means prestige and serving the Balance.

Losing means certain death.

Welcome to the Contest of Champions.

So...what do you think? I hope you liked the little teaser; I'm planning on releasing it on the first weekend of May. Unless you guys want it sooner? (Comment here to convince me to post it sooner :) If anyone noticed the references from another fandom woven in there, also comment here and tell me what the fandom is.

So there you go. I really want to release Contest of Champions (the title of the AU), but I'm trying to practice restraint.

Happy Easter to you guys, have a good day, and I'll see at the next chapter!

Skylar Wittenborn