Hey There! Thank you for stopping to read this story. This is my first NCIS fan fiction and I am so excited. While this is a Gibbs/OC story there will be Tiva moments, just bare with me.

I would like to thank my beta reader crazykelly101 and my friend Sam for reviewing this story.

NCIS MCRT

Leroy Jethro Gibbs knew to be very cautious whenever he saw Tobias Fornell walk into the NCIS bullpen. FBI in NCIS territory usually meant trouble, big trouble. What Agent Gibbs did not expect was for trouble to be following right behind Fornell in the form of a young woman of about thirty. He watched as both Fornell and his guest approached and stopped in front of his desk.

"Agent Gibbs," Tobias said, acknowledging the professional atmosphere that they were in.

"Agent Fornell," Gibbs flatly replied, "what brings you here?" Gibbs really wanted to ask was did you get yourself and new wife and tease Fornell over the presence of woman, who, having yet to be introduced stood quietly to the side, listening (and observing). But, not knowing how the lady would react he settled for the next best thing, "Here to accuse Tony of murder again?"

Tobias chuckled, remembering that unfortunate incident. "Actually, I'm here to see Director Vance, we both are," he corrected, motioning to the woman, who stepped forward to be introduced. "Agent Jethro Gibbs, Officer Alexandra Carson, formally of Alaska and recently a resident of D.C." Gibbs stood up to meet the outstretched hand of Officer Carson.

"A pleasure to finally meet you sir," she began. "Agent Fornell has told me a great deal about you." At the glare Gibbs gave Fornell she hastened to add, "all good things of course." Jethro's gaze came to rest on Ms. Carson. Experience told her that he was trying to figure her out. So she stood there and did the same.

Gibbs would be lying if he said she wasn't attractive. Not very tall, 5'6", but strong. The way she carried herself said that she had been in law enforcement for a while, definitely not a probie. She called him sir (which he normally would have corrected), indicating a respectful upbringing with possible military history. Her light brown, gold streaked, hair was pulled neatly back in a braid, and her choices in clothing and makeup brought out her dark ocean blue eyes. Neat, respectful, law enforcement, but the only piece of information missing was what she was doing at NCIS going into a meeting with the director.

Alexandra liked what she saw. When Tobias had suggested applying to the NCIS MCRT team she had been hesitant, that is until Fornell assured her that Agent Gibbs was the best team leader that she could possibly be under. Everything she saw lined up with the homework she had done. Ex-marine (his posture, firm handshake, and appraising glare), respectful (his greetings to Fornell and herself), confident, and his easy manner with Tobias reveled a deeper care for people in general. The sole picture on his desk was of a red headed woman with a young girl of about 8. The picture was well handled so wife and daughter, but he didn't wear a ring, so Alex assumed that there had been a tragic end. It didn't take her long to realize that she had stared longer than needed.

"Dang girl, think of something to say," she thought, hurriedly looking around. "So, how long have you been with NCIS, Agent Gibbs?" Alex asked. "If you don't mind me asking that is."

Gibbs gave a small smirk has he responded noncommittally, "a long time."

As Alexandra continued to ask questions about NCIS history, Tobias watched his two friends with amused expressions. Their staring exchange didn't go for very long, but Alex had lasted longer under the infamous Gibbs stare than any probie he had seen. Yes, she would make a good addition to team Gibbs; even if Gibbs didn't know it just yet.

NCISMCRT

Two Days Later

It wasn't too many days later when Agent Gibbs was called into the director's office. He had no idea what for, its not as if there had been much going on to get him into trouble. Then again, Vance was more of a stickler than Jenny had been. Shaking off the sadness of remembering his old friend, he walked into Vance's office, without knocking, making Cynthia smile in the process.

"Agent Gibbs," Director Vance said in opening, "how is the team functioning?"

Jethro found this to be an odd question to begin with. "We are functioning just fine," he replied tersely. "Tony and McGee are familiar with each other which makes a less than ideal circumstance more comfortable." He was referring to the recent departure of Agent Ziva David, who had left two months before to return to Israel.

"Have you given any thought to adding another team member?" Director Vance asked hesitantly.

"I don't believe we need one."

"Well you might not," returned Vance, "but I do, and we both know that is all that really matters."

Gibbs stared at the director for a moment. "You already hired someone, haven't you?"

"Ever attentive Agent Gibbs, yes I have." Leon pulled out a file from his desk and handed it to the older man. Jethro opened the folder to be confronted with a picture of Ms. Carson. He looked up to Director Vance waiting for an explanation, with an expression that belayed his frustration at his situation.

"Officer Alexandra Carson, a former trooper and Village Public Safety Officer from Emmonak, Alaska. She is looking to gain some team experience and Fornell recommended her to me. I checked out her references and her case record. She is highly praised by her superiors in Alaska…"

"I feel a but coming on," Gibbs interrupted.

"There is a small but," upon receiving a glare Leon amended his statement, "ok, a big but. She has never worked with more than one person before, her knowledge of technology is limited, and there is some trauma in her background, even though she passed her psych evaluation…"

"What kind of trauma?" Gibbs interrupted again.
Leon hesitated before answering, "that is not for me to tell you. All you need to know is that she was very up front about her experiences and shortcomings, but her closure record and recommendations speak for themselves. We will have her on your team on a three-month probationary period to see how it works. If she isn't cut out for it, fine, if she is great, but that's your call when the time comes, agreed?"

Gibbs sat there a moment, deep in thought. He was in a war between his gut and his mind.

Mind: "It makes sense to bring someone in…"

Gut: "but so new to a team atmosphere? It could spell disaster."

Mind: "However, I don't have to keep her around if she sucks at the job…"

Gut: "but with a ninety percent closure rate? That's not going to be the case."

He looked up from the file and at Vance. "All right, we'll give it a go." Almost as if on cue there was a knock at the door. Jethro looked up to see Officer Carson walk in.

"Director Vance, Agent Gibbs, good morning," She greeted the both of them.

"Here we go," was the one thought that went through Agent Gibbs' mind.