Washington DC, 16th September 1994.

"Agent Gibbs, got a proposition for you," Director Morrow said looking at the screen in MTAC, "I have a problem with the Moscow Office. I know you speak Russian but…."

"But what, Director? What is the problem," Gibbs asked from the L.A. office.

"Not sure exactly, could be Arms or drugs, let's say Russia…Estonia….Sweden and Europe. Put it this way Gibbs….the Cold War is still warm." Director Morrow replied, "but then again, Estonia, although newly independent from the USSR, still has ties. I mean the majority of Estonians speak Russian, from the years of Soviet control, however, there are pockets of true Estonian speaking nationals round the coast and the Islands."

"I don't understand Director where is this leading? And what does the Moscow office got to do with me, I would have thought with guns or drugs, this more a CIA problem."

"Would have been Gibbs but one of our Agents was found floating in the Baltic, off the Island of Saaremaa. They took the body to Kuressaare."

"Not with you Director, what did he die of?" Gibbs asked.

"He was pretty well cut up, looks like he got tangled in the propellers of one of the ferries." Morrow answered.

"So….. we talking a Resistance Movement of some kind?"

"Not sure Jethro, just get here, he also had a high level of cocaine in his bloodstream."

"There is a catch isn't there Director?" Gibbs replied.

"Yes, but I will explain when you get here." As the Director indicated that the conversation was finished.

"Damn." Gibbs whispered to himself.

-oOo-

18th September 1994

"Good to see you Jethro, pleasant flight?" Director Morrow asked Gibbs as they sat in the Directors office drinking coffee.

"As pleasant as you could get, but you said there was a catch." Gibbs replied, "And was thinking, if you said cocaine then that could be Russian Mafia cartels… but you said a catch?"

"I want you to join forces with a young junior field agent….I know Gibbs you like being on your own, but hear me out. Jennifer Shepard had contacts in Moscow, as do you. But right now she is in Paris. By the time you get to Moscow, so will Jen."

22th September 1994

A very nervous Junior Agent met Jethro at the airport.

"I have a car outside, did you have a good flight?" Jenny enquired, "I believe you are booked into the same hotel as me, round the corner from the office."

"You believe correct." Gibbs smiled, "But it's late, fancy dinner tonight I know a nice restaurant close by, but then I hear you know Moscow quite well too?" he questioned.

"I have only passed through on vacations, but I taught myself Russian." Jen answered, "So yes dinner would be nice." as she continued to drive to the hotel.

-oOo-

Dinner was uneventful, Gibbs was impressed with Jens knowledge of the Russian language and in fact everything Russian.

"What made you join NCIS?" Gibbs asked.

"I wanted my father to be proud of me. You?" as she sipped the schnapps.

"I was a Marine, got injured, needed a job." He replied.

"Family?" Jen continued.

"I'm an orphan, and divorced….no children" Jethro replied smiling, as he finished his drink.

They returned to the hotel and said their goodnights, they would meet for breakfast…just coffee Gibbs said, and departed.

As Gibbs sat in his room he began to smile Jen wasn't too bad, she had tried to be friendly, he wondered how much of the case she knew, he would let her do the talking, he would ask the questions, as he placed the file on the floor.

-oOo

The Moscow office had allocated them a desk, well it was their dead Agents desk.

"So, what we got Jen?" Gibbs asked, "And yes you can call me Jethro here, in working hours I don't mind." as he smiled, at her nervousness.

"Joseph Straiton…..been an Agent 8yrs…..was a Chicago cop….sorry Chicago Police Department," seeing the look in Gibbs eye, "Divorced…..why are most people I know in the Agency either divorced or single?" she now questioned.

"Dunno, probably commitment…..married to their work….not wanting to hurt a family. Now what else do you know about Joseph?"

"He had family in Moscow and Estonia, Russian Jews, his own family had emigrated to America before the war. He thought a few years in Moscow and then return to Washington." Jen continued.

"Morrow said drugs, well cocaine. We need to find out his friends, girls…..boys." looking at Jen, "Yes well he might have been in which case he was divorced." Seeing her face, "And clubs, strip, massage the like….I know Morrow said drugs but I think more the arms deals."

"Why do you think that?" Jenny asked, "And what was he doing in Estonia? Oh I said he had family didn't I?" Jen added looking at Gibbs smiling. She still had a lot to learn.

"Let's put it like this…..Estonia claimed Independence on 20th August 1991 but the Soviets only withdrew on the 31st August of this year, 3 years after, Independence was declared. Now I would say definitely arms, either in or out of Estonia."

"And Joseph helped….or knew something because of his family and his connections in Moscow."

"Good girl, I'll make an agent of you yet."

"But Gibbs, drugs?" she questioned, "His body was full of coke."

"Recreational…Sex?" he enquired, looking for reaction.

"Pardon?" Jen stammered.

"Sex." Gibbs replied.

"Agent Gibbs that is not…I mean I am not…..oh you mean sex and recreational drugs." Jen spluttered now turning pink.

"Yes….what did you think I meant?" Jethro laughed, "Now I think we should go to Tallinn. There are ferries from there, and I would say easiest way to smuggle arms out, is via Tallinn."

"So when do we go?" Jenny now asked.

"Sooner the better." Gibbs replied rising, "But first I want to see Joseph's apartment."