Disclaimer: I do not own 'Chuck' or 'NCIS', the characters or episodes; NBC, CBS, Warner Bros, Paramount and various production companies do. Nor do I own 'Ghost'; John Ringo does though. No latinum has changed hands and no profit has been generated... so y'all know the drill.

A/N: It's all AU and non canon of course. The 'Chuck' parts are based on the 'New Reality' AU. I invented a history for John Casey as there isn't much canon history. Like Adam Baldwin, I have Casey born and raised in the Chicago area. The story background notion is that as both Gibbs and Casey are Marines and snipers and that they knew each other early in their careers and lives...

One:

John Casey glanced about and saw that he was temporarily alone. He eased over a step, planted a brawny shoulder against the nearest porch post and slumped. It had taken his Uncle Gary's death several weeks earlier to bring him here. The past couple days of explanations, some recriminations, and the visit to the church cemetery had been long and emotionally draining.

As he took a sip of Jack Daniels from a tumbler, the scent of fresh mowed grass and the sounds of live stock in a nearby barn sent his mind back into his distant past. Once upon a time he'd been Alex Coburn.

He'd spent his high school summers on his Uncle Gary's farm here in Taylorville. His three cousins had been more like best friends. They'd cruised the two lane central Illinois highways in beat up Chevy trucks with the windows down and the music loud. Their territory had ranged from Taylorville to Springfield, from Lincoln to Decatur.

They'd all been fans of home grown groups like Styx, REO Speedwagon and Head East. The cousins had introduced him to southern rock groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Oak Arkansas. Z Z Top, Ted Nugent and Bob Segar and The Silver Bullet Band had rounded out their cruising music.

He recalled a serious summer romance his junior year when he'd dated the daughter of the Christian Church pastor in Mt. Auburn. Ellen had been fond of really tight jeans and tee shirts with no bra, at least when her parents weren't around. After a couple of potent Bacardi Dark 151 and Cokes, she'd been fond of skinny dipping. Their romance had ended when Ellen discovered he wanted to be a Marine after graduation.

He remembered when his oldest cousin, Harry, had dated a cheerleader from Mt. Pulaski High School. Some local boys had decided to defend her honour and there had been a brawl on the courthouse square beneath the water tower. The Coburn boys had earned their nickname of The Four Musketeers that day. All for one and one for all.

He recalled returning to Mt. Pulaski to tour the historic red brick courthouse. He'd seen the desk Abraham Lincoln had used during his circuit lawyer days with the notch cut out to make room for his long legs. He recalled runs over to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play baseball in the old Busch Stadium and the friendly rivalry with his cousins when the Cards played his Chicago Cubs.

His cell phone chirped. Casey straightened to a parade rest stance as he fished the phone out and grunted into it.

" I think I recognize that grunt. " The voice on the other end sounded both familiar and amused. " Is this 'Commander Michael Rainer'? "

" Leroy Jethro Gibbs! "

" Yeah. Imagine my surprise at seeing an old Marine buddy. A friend who is supposed to be dead by the way... "

" Thanks for not blowing my cover, Gunny, " Casey said. " A gay SEAL who suicided out huh? "

" He'd homemade the d ring that failed. As there was no murder we were able to give the rescue mission a go, " Gibbs returned. " You've been a very difficult man to track down. "

" Sorry about that. As Rainer, I'd also gotten involved with a JAG investigation so that cover was shot. " Casey watched the amber liquor as he swirled the Jack Daniels in the tumbler, then took a sip. " I'm usually Major John Casey and I work for the NSA. "

" At least you aren't a CIA puke. Major John Casey? I think that I've heard of you. You're in Colonel Diane Beckman's group aren't you? "

" That's an affirmative. " Casey eased around and lowered himself to sit on the porch railing. There was a minor wooden protest but it held up. Good porch railing. " I heard about Shannon and Molly, Gunny, and my condolences. Did you get him? "

Gibbs voice was a quiet snarl. " Yes I did! "

" Ooh rah! " Casey growled. " Since I have you on the phone, I'd like to ask if you've heard anything of Mike Harmon? "

" The SEAL sniper who went by the team nickname of Ghost? Not in years. Why do you ask? "

" No real good reason, " Casey replied. " I heard rumors of an incident involving someone like our friend Harmon who stopped a group of terrorists from nuking Paris. I think we did some sniper training with his team... "

" I remember that training, " Gibbs said. " Harmon was impressive. Wouldn't the NSA put you in a better position to hear of intel like a potential nuking of Paris, in France right? "

" Yeah, Paris France. " Casey snorted. "It wouldn't have been much of a loss. "

" Still not a fan of the French huh? "

" Nope, " Casey said. " No reason to either. Don't like their arrogance, their cuisine or their bloody terror version of a revolution... "

Gibbs chuckled mirthlessly. " At least we did it right here. So how in the hell did you become Major John Casey of the NSA anyway? "

" The things I can tell you I'd rather not over an open cell phone, " Casey shifted his position on the railing and endured more wood protesting. " The NSA aren't the only ones who like to troll cell phone conversations. We need to get together soon, have a drink, swap some lies... "

" Agreed. Tell you what, the next time you're in DC, drop by the house and I can show you the boat I'm building. "

" You're building a boat at your home? " Casey sounded intrigued.

" Yeah. " Gibbs paused for a beat. " In my basement. "

Casey laughed. " Without power tools right? Sounds like L J Gibbs. "

" When you hit town gimme a call and I'll give you the directions. "

" Okay, " Casey agreed. " And I'll bring a nice single malt. Or would you prefer one of the three jays? "

" If you are buying, what ever, " Gibbs said. " Hell, a case of brew works, some Sam Adams or Yuengling... "

" Alright, " Casey said. " Your team did a damned good, professional job, Gibbs. "

" Thanks, " Gibbs said. " Agent Todd has been with us less than a year. She used to be Secret Service and is a work in progress. Agent DiNozzo does a good job and has good instincts. He just needs the occasional whack on the back of the head to keep him focused. "

Casey began to take another sip of Jack Daniels only to find that his tumbler was empty. " Your ME... Dr. Mallard? Does he always talk to the body? "

" Ducky? Yeah, they don't seem to mind his stories either. So where are you at the moment if you can tell me? "

" I'm in Taylorville IL. " Casey said. " I used to spend summers here with some cousins. My uncle passed away a while back and this is the first time I've had to visit. I can trust 'em. "

" I think I remember those cousins. Good men. Good Marines. "

" Yeah they are, " Casey said quietly. " I see one of them is waving the Jack Daniels at me so I need to get going. We're having a belated old fashioned Irish wake. Thanks for the call L J... "

tbc