Summary: Timothy McGee has fallen in love three times. One was a shadow, one was an echo, and one was a dream. This is the story of his shadow.
A/N: This story chronicles what took place between McGee and Ginny many years ago. Those of you who haven't read my story 'Spontaneous Combustion' don't leave me now! This first chapter may not make much sense but I promise McGee will be in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS but a hug from McGee would suffice.
A brilliant redhead and a brunette with caramel highlights peered intently at a computer screen. They were at one of the many chestnut desks in a large, hexagonal room. The walls had a sterile blue glow gently pulsating through them and shiny steel trimmings added to the impersonality of the room.
"I can't believe it." The second woman spoke, leaning around the redhead. "Rebecca can't possibly still be mad at us. It is not our fault that she got transferred. Seriously, "Dear Camilla and The Nameless One"?" The two stared disbelieving at the screen.
"I don't think she could bring herself to actually use my name. Addressing me as Ginny would promote attachment." The redhead commented.
"Let's reply." Camilla put the keyboard in her lap and began to type. "Dear Becky…"
"We're setting ourselves up for doom. She hates it when you call her Becky." Ignoring Ginny, Camilla continued to type.
"While we appreciate your email…" The two looked up to see Rebecca walking past at just that moment. The partners warily watched the slender, tan woman with glossy, black hair walk by while Camilla furiously hit the backspace button. Pausing only to impart a vicious glare, Rebecca quickly went on her way. Before Ginny and Camilla could continue their email, a sandy blonde woman with jade eyes beckoned for them from atop the stairs. Seeing the motion for them to follow, the partners crossed to the far end of the room and climbed the stairs. The woman was already walking ahead of them by the time they reached the top. They made their way through the maze of hallways by memory, finally reaching their destination. The golden plaque outside the office read Missions Director Cassandra Ashton. Seating themselves opposite the director, the partners waited to be filled in on their latest assignment. The office was painted a robin's egg blue with a white desk, chairs, and bookshelf plus a large plasma screen on the left wall. Cassandra tossed two thick files across the desk, one for each agent. Immediately, they began flipping through them.
"This one is a bit closer to home." Cassandra began.
"A bit? Last I checked Russia was a lot farther away than DC. I'd say this one is home." Camilla remarked. Upon seeing Cassandra's scathing look, she hung her head, feeling rather like a scolded student.
"We have intel that a Russian extraction team is targeting a company here in DC. It is your job to retrieve the targeted technology before they do. The technology is a file containing a deadly computer virus that could potentially wipe out the entire military network. It would breach all the way through to the Pentagon before they could begin to effectively combat it. The virus is called 'Tarantula'. There are two possibilities for where it is hidden: it will be stored on one of two laptops. Both computers belong to two chief engineers: one to Dr. Ferris and one to Dr. Priam. You two will be employed by the company, Margaux Tech, as assistants. Camilla will be assigned to Ferris, and Ginny to Priam. We have arranged for two of the current assistants to contract a disease that will prevent them from working for quite a while. With your freshly-printed credentials, you are sure to be hired. The doctors normally have three assistants and since we didn't want to make them suspicious one of them has remained healthy. Two people having overlapping illnesses is normal-three is either an epidemic or poison. We don't want either, so one had to stay. Ginny, you will be charming him-make sure he doesn't get suspicious, keep him away from the operation, and find out which computer contains Tarantula. "
"I never get to have any fun." Camilla muttered mutinously. Ginny flipped to a page of the file with a picture clipped in. A slightly chubby young man with blonde hair and green-blue eyes smiled out at her.
"Is this him? Timothy McGee?" she asked.
"Yes, he is your, for lack of a better word, crush." As Ginny glanced over his resume, doubt began to cloud her features.
"I'm not sure we can fool him. From his resume, it seems like he knows his stuff." Ginny noted fretfully. She desperately wanted to go on a successful mission after the blowout they'd had in Russia.
"That's why you both will be taking intensive computer courses for the next month. You're going to learn everything you need to know. The pair of you will be roommates together—the flat is already rented and the keys are in the back of the file, as well as your IDs—read up. You will have three months to complete the mission. Now go see Elliot to get some respectable working clothes. After that, you may see whatever designer you wish for off-the-job wear." Cassandra dismissed them and the two trotted off to meet Elliot.
"It's no wonder we've been ordered not to see Nora this time. I don't think you can really trust a girl with blue and pink streaks in her hair to design geeky work clothes." Ginny lamented the command to stay away from one of her favorite designers.
"We'll just have to see her for the other clothes." Camilla asserted.
"We're off to see the Closet, the wonderful Closet of clothes!" The two burst into their usual duet about the designers' lair as they made their way towards it.
When the partners reached the Closet, it was filled with the usual bustle. Designers flitted back and forth, trailing fabrics all across the bright and colorful room. Mannequins were strewn about the capacious chamber with designs half-pinned on. They had begun to pick their way through the partially-covered floor when Nora spotted them. The petite brunette came bounding over, her pixie cut enhancing her elfish features.
"What can I do for my two favorite customers?" She smiled cheerily. Ginny and Camilla exchanged looks of discomfort.
"Well…" Ginny began. "We have to go to Elliot."
"It was an order." Camilla added quickly, seeing Nora's crestfallen expression.
"But it's only for the work clothes. We're undercover as geeks."
"Do you really want to design that kind of outfit anyway?"
"Cassandra said we could come to you for anything not-work." Her happiness restored, Nora beamed at them and skipped off to another corner of the Closet.
"You know where to find me!" She called over her shoulder. Sighing with relief, Ginny and Camilla made their way to Elliot. Light brown pigtails trailed over her hunched shoulders as she leaned over her desk. Ginny tapped her on the shoulder and Elliot turned to look at them with large blue eyes.
"What can I do for you?" She asked. The partners ordered their work clothes and Elliot got to work, taking measurements, drawing sketches, and asking if they had any preferences. An hour and a half later, the two made their way to Nora where she gleefully began designing outfits.
The partners slowly meandered to their desks, sinking into their chairs. Wordlessly, they began to read through the thick folders Cassandra had handed them. Suddenly, Ginny leapt to her feet.
"What is it?" Camilla began to ask but Ginny was already halfway up the stairs. Bursting into Cassandra's office, she brandished a page of the file. She placed a plastic card on the desk and folded her arms, her expression demanding an explanation.
"Is there something you want?" Cassandra inquired as the silence persisted.
"Why does my fake ID have my real name on it?" Ginny questioned.
"You already have the perfect cover for this op—live the life you never had. You joined the agency, and were thus erased from all databases, at 18. Why would we create an alias when there's already an impeccable one ripe for the picking?" Cassandra elucidated.
"So, I'm going to be an alternate-universe version of myself?" Ginny asked quizzically.
"Yes." Cassandra nodded. "Is there anything else?" Ginny shook her and, picking up her ID, left the office.
Camilla watched her as Ginny returned to her seat.
"What was that about?" Camilla asked, confused.
"What's your identity?" Ginny queried. Opening the file, Camilla flipped through before holding up a plastic card.
"Lily McComb. Why?" Ginny tossed her ID to Camilla in response.
"I'm pretending to be myself."
Please review and tell me what you think, I'm very interested to hear what people say! Do you like Camilla? Also, can anyone guess who the echo and who the dream is?