Maggie's P.O.V
To say I was nervous would have been an understatement, I mean of course I was nervous; who wouldn't be? I looked down at the file that was in my hand for what seemed like the hundredth time. Even though I knew I was right I had to keep re-assuring myself that I was. The bus stopped at my stop before I could re-assure myself again. I grabbed my bag off the floor and stuffed the file into it. After making sure that it was securely on my shoulder I start to walk toward the building. But when I reach the double doors and look up at the sign, I start thinking maybe this is all a mistake. I mean, I really don't have to do this. I could easily get back on the bus and head back to my apartment. Of course I'm curious and I have put this off for quite some time now. Plus, this is the one day I have off and my afternoon is completely free. Besides, who knows when that will happen again with my schedule?
So, I take a deep breath and open the doors and greeted by the infamous logo of N.C.I.S., polished marble floors and orange walls. After I get through the security check point, I am then greeted by another security guard who asked me who I was looking for. I give him the name and he tells me to hold on while he reaches for the phone. I look nervously around while waiting for the guy to get off the phone. I begin to twist my ring on my finger, a nervous habit I have been trying to break but have had no success. There is still time to walk away, right? Or maybe the agent isn't here today or maybe out at like a crime scene or something. Then the guard would ask if I would like to wait. I would say no and lie saying I'd come back. Then I could forget about this whole thing, but of course this is me we are talking about and I am certainly not one known for luck.
"Ma'am?" The security officer said drawing me out of my thoughts, I look up from my ring and give him a small smile.
"Agent Larson will take you up now," he states after handing me a visitor's pass.
I follow her up to a bank of elevators, thankful that she doesn't try to make small talk. When the elevators open I'm greeted by orange walls and a huge sky light in the middle of the room. Agent Larson leads me to the last set of cubicles and signals for the agent on the last desk to come here. She then mumbles goodbye, once the agent approaches, and heads toward the stairs. I smile again still trying to decide if I should just forget all of this. The agent who greets me is about 6'1 or 6'2, dark blonde hair, green eyes much like mine but lighter. He smiles as he greets me and introduces himself as Agent Timothy McGee.
"Margaret but everyone calls me Maggie or Mags," putting on my best smile and returning his warm handshake.
He smiles again, like he can somehow sense my nervousness. I clear my throat because suddenly it has become dry. "I am looking for Agent Anthony DiNozzo."
His smile instantly turns into a small pout which I personally think is kind of adorable. Just then another woman exists the elevator. She is about my height, dark brown hair, tanned skin and her hair pulled back in an amazing French braid.
"Hey, Ziva. Have you seen Tony?"
The woman frowns a little, thinking it over. "Autopsy? I do believe."
I panicked. Just a little I can't help it because when people say autopsy that usually meant that someone was dead. Me being me, I can't help what came out of my mouth next. "He's dead?!"
They both look at me strangely for a moment before Ziva quickly shakes her head. "No, he's down in autopsy talking to our M.E most likely." I let out breathe and both agents give me a small smile. The attractive woman introduces herself as Agent David and I detect an accent but really can't place it.
Just as I was beginning to think this was really a huge mistake, a tall man, file in hand, walked in. I could tell he was older than Agent McGee but not by much.
"Tony, you have a guest."
Under normal circumstances, I would say Tony is a really good-looking man, with his hair in perfect condition, his eyes blue- green leaning on the blue side today. Wearing a perfectly cut dark suit probably with a brand I never heard of and more expensive than my car and his shoes just as equally expensive, the guy obviously cares what he looks like.
Tony turns to me once Tim spoke and gestured toward me. He flashes me a smile, one that certainty could melt anyone. I think, "He probably won't be smiling at me that way for long, once I tell him why I need to see him."
"This is Special Agent DiNozzo."
"Very Special Agent." He says, still holding that smile. Okay, so the cockiness is a little bit of a turn off.
"I'm Maggie. Um, is there somewhere where we can talk…in private?"
I guess that got the attention of the other two agents because they both instantly look me over with a new interest.
After only pausing for a split-second, Agent DiNozzo "Yeah, follow me."
We go up the stairs that are behind Tim's desk and I could feel the eyes of Agent's David and McGee on us the whole way up. We go through a narrow hallway and into a room, which appears to be a conference room. He gestures for me to sit down and offers me a bottled water.
"I would offer you coffee but I really don't think this coffee is drinkable and besides you look nervous enough and caffeine will not help."
I groan inwardly, really is my nervousness that obvious? My mom always said when you're breaking bad news of any kind do it like taking off a Band-Aid, fast and easy so it won't hurt so much. I reached into my bag and pull out the file and handed it over. He's an investigator after all, so he should be able to figure it out. It feels like a year and some change before I hear him clear his throat and I look up from twisting my ring. To my surprise he is….smiling. Not like a huge smile but a small satisfied smile.
"Hmmm…so someone did want my sperm."
I nearly choked on my water. "Umm…yeah that is one way to look at it."
I look over at him again because he is certainly taking this way better than I expected. He looks up from the file and cocks his head to the side.
"What?"
"You're…You're just taking this way better than I thought you would."
"Yeah, well I'm freaking out in the inside don't worry. Just in retrospect it is kinda of cool. Like you are my daughter, my flesh and blood and you found me for some odd reason." Just then his face gets serious and he puts down the file.
"You're sick aren't you and you need an organ of some kind or money. You need money."
I don't know if he is being serious or not but I am guessing he is trying to break the tension in the room. I start to laugh a little and he laughs along with me.
"No. Nothing like that. My mom says when I want to find an answer to something I never give up. I just really wanted to know who my father was. Of course she didn't tell me until I was sixteen, she led me to believe that my real dad was dead. She finally told me when I found the records during a move." I shrug after telling the tale because honestly it doesn't bother me anymore. I was angry at my mom for probably a few weeks for lying but I guess she was doing it to protect me. He just nods and hands me back the file. I just shake my head and tell him that he can keep it.
"So no organs?" he says with a smile. I had to smile back because his is really contagious.
"No, all my organs are fine last time I checked."
"And money?"
He looks really sincere about it, like if I said yes he would pull out his check book and write down my desired amount. I just shake my head because even though I needed money but I wasn't here for that. I wasn't here for anything other than a simple meeting. He holds up a finger and goes over to the door, opening to reveal Agent David and McGee. Who both are pretending to look completely innocent. I could tell Tony wants to be mad but the corners of his mouth can't seem to stay down.
"Really guys?"
"Gibbs wants you." Ziva says.
Tony looks back at me and his eyes read 'and these are my co-workers'. I have to smile because he does not look at all surprised. He gestures for me to follow him and all four of us go back down to the cubicles and there was a silver – head man with a military hair-cut holding a coffee cup. I assume it was 'Gibbs' who doesn't look happy at all. Tony doesn't seem to mind, though. He just goes up to Gibbs and introduces me. I give a nervous wave and say, "Nice to meet you sir."
"I need to see you in your office." Tony states.
Gibbs just nods and they head toward the elevator and Tony glances back at me, telling me not to go anywhere yet. As soon as the elevator door closes, Tim and Ziva turn to me.
"For future reference, don't call him sir," Tim says.
I just nod and continue to stand awkwardly knowing they wanted to ask me something but probably not sure where to start.
"So, where is Gibbs' office?" I ask because I have no idea what else to say.
"The elevator." They both tell me at the same time.
'Well that is something'. I think, certainly a lot of privacy if he puts the emergency thing on, people really can't hear you. Just then the elevators doors open and I see Gibbs walk out with Tony right behind him.
"Don't you two have work to do?" Gibbs grumbles and then heads to his desk. They both mumble yes, boss and then turn to their computers like it is the most interesting thing ever.
"Want a tour?" Tony asks me and all I could do is nod. I mean I should be headed out to some more things but it seems this guy actually wants to hang out with me. Or feels sorry for me. I am going to go with the feeling sorry part.
He tells me to wait near the rear elevator, I go there and see him stop by Agent McGee's desk. He leans in to whisper something in his ear and then jogs backward to Ziva's desk and does the same thing. Suddenly, his attention is back on me and he smiles and motions for me to follow.
"We'll start from bottom to top," He declared.
Our first stop is autopsy and he warns me about what I might see. We walk and it is completely stainless steel and slightly chilled. It was completely clean, you wouldn't think that dead bodies were cut up, examined and stored here. An older gentlemen, not that much taller than me. With dark blonde hair and a solid red bow-tie. Tony introduces him as Dr. Mallard or 'Ducky' and me as just Maggie, I don't blame him for not adding the daughter part because that is still fresh news. We chat a little and his accent is amazing and I just have to tell him that. He smiles at the compliment and launches into a story about the origin of Scottish accents and then how some people confuses it with other similar accents. By the look on Tony's face it seems that he tells stories a lot.
Just then a younger guy, who is slouching just a little but seems to be about Tony's height, walks in. The agent address him as 'Autopsy Gremlin' but his name is Jimmy. Tony informs me that this stop is complete and on to the next. We go into the forensics lab and Tony warns me about Abby, which I instantly see why. She is bouncing up and down which makes her perfectly even pigtails move along to her music that is deadly loud.
I would have never guessed in a million years that this woman was a scientist. From the platform boots, a black mini-skirt with chains all over, her shirt with the name of a band that I don't recognize silver bat necklace. She certainly doesn't look like any scientist I know the only way I can tell is because of her white lab coat. Tony grabs for the remote that is sitting on the counter and turns the music off. She quickly turns around looking like she is to yell but she sees who it is and gives him a huge hug. Then she turns to me and gives me a bone – crushing hug and I swear if hugs could kill this would be the end of my life.
"Abby, she needs to breathe." Tony says, having a smirk on his face.
"Oh, right." She quickly mummers releasing me and giving me a smile. She gives me a tour of the lab. Even though it is your standard lab with the machines and computers and the ballistics lab. I am more impressed with the little things she's put in the lab to make it her own. From mini – dolls to strange artwork, that I couldn't even begin to guess what they were supposed to be, and of course her farting hippo. When were about to leave and she gives me another hug more bone – crushing than the last. Tony asks could I give them a minute and I am walking toward the elevator, not paying much attention to what is in front of me and run straight into another person.
An older, black man who just looks like he's important. He is wearing a stern look on his face.
"I'm so sorry, ummm… Mr…."
"Vance." He grumbles not looking happy.
"Well, Mr. Vance I'm sorry I wasn't looking."
"Who are you with?" He asks curiously.
I was about to answer him but then Tony comes out of the lab and asks me if I ready for the next stop, and spots Mr. Vance.
He immediately looks serious. "Director, how are you?"
I do an internal groan because only I would literally run into the director of NCIS.
"Fine, DiNozzo. She's with you?" Gesturing toward me.
"Yes, sir. Giving her a tour."
"Okay. Enjoy the rest of your tour Ms…?"
"Core. Margaret Core. Sir."
"Well, Ms. Core enjoy the rest of your tour. DiNozzo is one of our finest agents after all."
"Well, thank you Director." Tony says with a fake bow and we both step into the elevator.
"I can't believe I literally ran into the Director of NCIS." I mumble more to myself than him, once the door closes.
Tony just shrugs and look toward the front. "It could have been worse."
"How?" Seeing nothing else that could be worse.
He just shrugs again. "It could have been Gibbs with his coffee. Never mess with a Marine's coffee, if you want to live." He gives me a reassuring smile and we continue with the tour. We see everything from Integration to MTAC (of course asking for permission to enter.) We go back down stairs to find Ziva and Tim talking among themselves.
"Well, that concludes our ride Ms. Core. Please get out safely, make sure you have all your belongs and hope you enjoyed NCIS HQ ." Tony states in a professional amusement park voice ever.
"Thanks. But I actually have to go. The last bus of the night leaves in 10 minutes." I say checking my phone to make sure I got the time right.
"Where do you live?"
I rattle off my address and Tony just smiles again. "That is actually on my way home. I'll drive you."
I just look at him like he's grown two heads because between not completely freaking out, the tour and now offering me a ride. You would think that I was just an old friend instead of a daughter he just found out he had.
"But, don't you have to work?" I ask dumbfounded.
Just then Gibbs rounds the corner with a coffee cup in hand heading toward his desk. "Nope, you guys can go."
"Ummm…sure yeah. I mean if it is not too much trouble." Because why would I deny a free ride?
He quickly shakes his head and goes over to his desk to get his stuff. I make my rounds saying good-bye and they all say they were glad to meet me. To my surprise they ask to see me soon.
Thoughts? Feedback would be great.
I promise next chapter you will find out what exactly is going through Tony's mind about all of this.