I shouldn't start a new NCIS New Orleans story but I had to get this down me try to improve upon cross-agency relationships and work, since I think the episode "Foreign Affairs" wasn't that great. Set after episode "Foreign Affairs".

No Percy here; I'm just not a fan of her and she wasn't in "Foreign Affairs."

As best as I can research via the internet, the UK Royal Navy has a small Special Investigative Branch (SIB) within its Royal Navy Police (RNP). This SIB is the smallest of the three SIBs in the UK Armed Forces—Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. The RNP SIB, as best as I can gather, isn't a purely civilian organisation like the USN's NCIS.

See https . this link (join the space) for more information.

Some bar in the French Quarter

New Orleans

2300 local

"That's like your fifth hurricane you ordered," the bartender remarked, passing over the cocktail.

"Ya," was the only reply from the female clad in a jumper and wearing a jumper skirt and pantyhose.

"I think you're over heating in that clothing," he added. "It's hardly chilly in New Orleans ya know."

"Ya," the female replied, taking a large gulp of the drink and looking away.

"You should sip it slowly. Hurricanes that move fast if they are those that destroy nature," the bartender added.

The lady just swallowed another lot of the drink and struck it down hard, along with some change. "Hey, that's another quarter more," he protested but the woman had disappeared into the crowd. "Boss," he called to his supervisor, "I need to chase down a customer who didn't pay right." With the acknowledgement, the bartender hoped over the table and headed in the direction the lady headed towards. Carefully probing the various patrons, the women was no where to be found until he spied the exit. Opening the door, he barely took a few steps beyond he uttered a yell.

Near the NCIS New Orleans Headquarters

0730 the next day

"1:25:4," Special Agent Meredith Brody groaned at the timer on her watch. "Shit, that is some lousy timing. Man, I really need to get into shape," the mid-level NCIS Agent thought.

"Hey Agent Brody, that was some dash you made," Brody turned to see Laurel Pride in night gown and pyjamas, standing outside the office.

"Laurel, you still here? And awake at this time in the morning?"

"I...I like to get up early," she stepped outside. "It's still a few days of mid-term break left so I figured I'd rather stay in Crescent City a while longer and enjoy dad's cooking."

"I hope you didn't wake him up."

"Oh no, I took a room a few doors away and dad is really asleep."

"Okay," Brody squeezed the end of her sweat-filled top on the ground before joining Laurel in the kitchen. Then younger girl fixed up a cup of cocoa while Brody poured a glass of juice. "You sure you're ok this morning?" The Special Agent asked.

"Yeah...why?"

"Your face says something different," Brody took a sip of the fresh fruit juice.

"My face?"

"I'm an interrogator by training, Laurel. I can sense when someone is hiding something."

"Remind me never to play card games with you," the college student gave a half laugh. "Can I trust you Agent Brody?"

"Of course and it's Meredith; this isn't a NCIS or federal affair."

"Well, thanks Meredith," Laurel drummed her fingers across the kitchen table. "It's about dad. You know my parents divorced. Mom says she's ok but she hardly returns my calls. Dad says the same, and you know he bought a bar and keeps playing the piano there during his spare time. I mean, I just don't know if my parents are acting if everything is normal. I'm going to graduate soon, hopefully get a teaching job but I still want a stable family."

"Well, I don't know if it makes you feel better but I haven't had a perfect stable family either since my sister was supposedly killed by that driver. I really never felt the same after that and my parents, especially my mother, weren't and still aren't much of a great help. I'm not on excellent my bother especially since her work is all compartmentalised. It's never easy for any child. What would you like me to do?"

"I..I don't know. Speak to him and her? Well, dad definitely."

The ringing of the office phone interrupted Brody's reply. "Special Agent Brody...right, our team well be there." Turning to Laurel she remarked, "A case. Look, I'll try to talk to Pride but no promises ok? Better wash up and catch some more sleep."

Twenty minutes later, Pride and Brody arrived at an alleyway in the French quarter with LaSalle's vehicle thundering to a stop. "What brings us here at this early our? I was just getting my French toast on the pan."

"I haven't had breakfast either LaSalle," Brody replied and tossed him something. "Here, this will help you."

"I'll make ya all pancakes with shrimp later," Pride added. "But you should know, no unwanted items at a crime scene, especially nut bars that create crumbs. What we have here Loretta?"

"One female with eyes dug out. So far no other body parts missing. Lieutenant Lucy Lucie Melhan, her ID was thrown several inches away. The bartender there chased her for incorrect payment and found her like this."

"Chris," Pride pointed him to bartender. "Brody, area search for evidence." A few minutes later, LaSalle reported the same account to Pride. "Bartender said the lady was acting a bit strange, give mumbles or simple replies to his conversation and gulped down a hurricane cocktail."

"May be so," Lorretta added. "I don't see any defensive wounds or markings to suggest an attack. Skin colour looks too natural to suggest poisoning. The autopsy awaits."

"Pride," Brody called. "This isn't who the ID says it is. The automatic armed forces database says it's not a Lieutenant Melhan."

"Then who do we have here? Is it a naval personnel..." Pride's phone beeped "..at all?"

Minutes later, Pride walked back down the stairs with a really puzzled look. "That was Director Vance. Apparently yes we don't have a US Navy officer or sailor at all in our hands."

"Ok, so who is it? If it's not Navy-related, it is not our jurisdiction King. I'd like some breakfast now."

"It's your sister Navy," a new voice added, and a Master-at-Arms Third Class showed a female in business attire into the office. "Lieutenant Stacey Primrose, Special Investigation Branch, Her Majesty's Royal Navy Police. You have my sailor in your hands."

To Be Continued.