"Yeha," one Corporal Anthony DiNozzo shouted as he stepped onto British soil, "It's good to be here, thank you all for your great welcome, and could I just say, that I have gum for your kids, and stockings for the girls. I also have a large…" he didn't finish as Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Jethro Gibbs, head slapped him.

"What's that for?" he questioned, as he looked at his Boss and then at the empty fields, all he saw was flat land, a few hedges and trees. The airfield did not have the welcoming committee he had hoped for.

"Being, disrespectful, we're here as Allies, not as enemies, and I will not have any member of my team or any member of my teams body interacting with the locals. Do I make myself clear?" as Gunny Gibbs now looked to see where Private First Class Timothy McGee was. He had had a bad flight, the air sickness and the general smell of bodies. Gibbs wondered how he was going to turn this boy into a man, a fighting machine,

"But hell Boss this is swell, I mean I din't have to go the Pacific. Where did you say we were again?" DiNozzo ventured.

"Watch it, or you will be frog-marched to Orkney." Gibbs replied.

"Meaning?" Tony continued.

"You're off Italian decent, they sent Italian POW's to Orkney, and remember the Arandora Star. So get your act together. I don't think the Brits like the Italians too much what with Mussolini and Garibaldi."

"Sounds like a biscuit." Private first class McGee now added.

"You got a problem McGee?" Gibbs shouted.

"No Boss…just England, it's strange." McGee answered back.

"Yeah, well so is Kansas." Gibbs shouted back, not seeing a man approach from across the airfield.

"Sunshine Golden Fruit Raisin Biscuits, they are called Garibaldis here." as they turned to see a Medical Officer, "May I introduce myself, Dr Donald Mallard, usually called Ducky, by the boys. Now if you would care to follow me, I have to get you medically interrogated. Need to find if you have brought any foreign bugs that might lay the British Army up."

-oOo-

Preliminary inspections over, the team sat in one of the Nissen Huts, (Quonset hut). Tony lay on the bottom bed of one of bunks.

"Want some gum?" he offered the other two.

"I wanted the bottom bunk, you know I hate heights," Tim replied.

"Well I'm a Corporal and you're only a Private….." DiNozzo started to say.

"First class….." as Tim made a dive at Tony.

"Oi, were not here to fight each other…..and DiNozzo give McGee the bottom bunk." Gunny roared.

"So this place?" as Tony looked about, raising himself onto one elbow, "What we expected to do? I mean what a dump. No girls, no dancing, no…."

"Holiday camp Corporal DiNozzo," Gibbs replied, "And what we gonna do? Invade France."

"Thought we were here to fight the Germans." McGee questioned.

"We are," getting a head slap, "But we got to get through France before we get to Germany." Gibbs replied.

"We got to go by sea then?" McGee again asked, "'Cos you know I hate boats."

"Then why join the Marines? McMermaid?" Tony asked sarcastically.

"I was told radios and signals, and the like. But I hate France." He added, "They eat snails."

"And you don't like snails?" Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs answered, "Might be all we got to eat in the field." Now smiling, they didn't hear the man approach.

"Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs…take that smile off your face." as Gibbs turned to face the voice. He stood to attention, "Sir."

DiNozzo and McGee also jumped to attention "Sir." They shouted.

Gibbs looked Colonel Vance in the face, how he hated this Negro in charge.

"Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs there is a meeting at 700hrs. I want you refreshed." General Vance said, "And get yourselves tidy." as he walked away.