NCIS: Torchwood- When Worlds Collide
Chapter One: Ripple in Time
-Vonvoltair
World 234- Torchwood Universe
Agent Caitlin Todd had not felt this nervous in a long time. She found her self standing in the airport, scanning the in coming international fight boards while rolling a piece of paper back and forth between her fingers. Her eyes finally settled on an incoming flight that was about 5 minuets out, and began making her way to the gate.
She stood silently as the plane was being taxied up to the gate. She unfolded the lettered in her hands and read it again, just has she had been doing the past several days since she had received it. It had been delivered certified, and at work, which made it no easer with her co works trying to see what had suddenly confounded her.
In the envelop was a letter from her father. They hadn't talked in years, but this… was much more than she expected.
"Kate,
I was never good at writing letters so I will get to the point. When I was a young man, shortly before I proposed to your mother my friends and I found ourselves in England on a holiday. There I met a unique and staggeringly beautiful woman. We had a wild summer romance for the two weeks I was over seas. After I left, it was nearly 25 years before I heard from her again. Our tryst it seems left her with child. My child… your sister.
She didn't ask for anything other than if anything were to happen to her that I keep in touch with our daughter. A few weeks ago she contacted me. Her mother is gone, dispersed with out a trace, and her mothers family has shut her out as they apparently never approved of her method of conception. While I would take her in, im an old man in failing health and she deserves much more than I can give her….."
The letter went on for a while longer, with empty apologies, and questions about what she would do with this information. She did the only thing she could. She wrote her sister back, and invited her to D.C. She was blood, and she wanted to get to know the sibling she never knew she had.
She received a letter yesterday, with a flight number and a picture. Now here she was, waiting. She placed the now severely wrinkled letter in her pocket and with drew a picture. A picture of a young woman, with sandy blond hair, and bluish looking eyes. This girl looked much to young to be her older sister, but the look in her eyes… was the same look Kate saw every day in the mirror…. The look only a Todd had.
"Do you see her yet?" came a gentle voice from behind her.
"No, Ducky I don't" Kate said observing the offloading passengers who were coming though customs.
Dr. Donald Mallard, or Ducky as he preferred to be called, was one of her co -workers and the only person she had shared the contents of the letter with. After reading it the first time, she was angry and confused, and so unsure what to do. She happened to run into Ducky in the elevator, and everything came poring out. How her father whom she had hardly heard about let alone spoken to in years just dumped this on her…. He listened patently as she went on and on.. Until "what do you plan to do?" he asked.
"I don't know…" she said.
"Well may I suggest…."
Now here they were… waiting… then as the last passengers moved though customs, a sleepy bundle of blond hair and black leather stepped into view. Kate suddenly couldn't help but smile.
.
A Few Hours Earlier:
She hated flying… she hated planes… not that she didn't trust the technology, she loved technology… it sang to her and told her its secrets. She was a wiz with computers and just about anything else. There was no device that could keep her from getting at what she wanted and she loved it. No… it was the people… human error that made her uneasy… or it could be the 4 year old who had been kicking her seat since they left London. God… if only her abilities would let her project rather than detect… that little brat would never wish to fly again after the dreams she would give him….
She sighed… it had been several months since her mothers disappearance. Only a letter and a picture. No good byes … nothing. Inside the letter her mother has written many things she already knew.
"Dear Luna,
By now you will have noticed im not coming home. This has nothing to do with you, but with things beyond all of our control. My family…. The Von'Voltairs will soon be aware that im missing, and you should not trust their advice, my darling thye do not have the best intensions at heart for you.
You know better than anyone how my mother, your grandmother disapproved of the man who is your father. They were disappointed that I chose a fling with a foreigner over the arranged marriage with that … man…. And were further angered when I left with you to live in London … Know to them that breeding and heritage is everything, and they may very well still try to salvage that with you now that I am gone.
I contacted your father several months ago after …. Well that is not important. Know that he is married, and that you have a half sister who works in Washington D.C. Your father is not well, but I would rather have you away from this place and with him then…. Then ending up like me. Please contact him….."
She had, and shortly there after her mothers family began to hound her… move back with us… come home to our families ancestral home blah blah blah…. She was so relieved when she received a letter from the states shortly there after, tho it wasn't from her father. It was from her half sister, Caitlin. She introduced her self briefly and expressed her surprise at their relations however, she wanted to meet her… she invited her to come to the states… and she didn't waste any time.
As the plane landed she allowed the other passengers to leave before her. She took a deep breath not knowing what to expect. She slipped her black jacket on and stumbled out of her seat with a yawn… she was tired, but she was here and that was all that mattered.
She past though customs rather quickly much to her delight. As she walked into the main terminal she scanned the crowd.. In the back a young woman with dark hair standing with an older man rose her hand and waved. She was the same girl that was in a picture included in the last letter she received, but the man beside her… she had no clue.
As she walked towards them she felt her heart racing… she didn't know what to say. She finally stopped and faced them, she opened her mouth but no words came out then suddenly…
Kate looked at the girl approaching them. Just by her looks alone it was impossible to tell she was older than Kate.. It was amazing. As she stopped before them Kate felt her heart begging to beat harder and harder. She could see that the girl didn't seem to know what to say, then from behind some one nudged her gently. She looked at Ducky for a moment before smiling and throwing her arms around her new found family.
"Welcome to America sis…."
.
.
She had only a few bags with her, mostly clothing, a few pictures and some jewelry. Not much in all, which suited Kate just fine as it fit neatly into the trunk of her car as Ducky handed her the last piece.
"Im sorry my dear, I didn't introduce my self properly earlier." He said as he brushed his hands on his slacks.
"Im Dr. Mallard, and I work with your sister Caitlin, but you can call me Ducky" he said in a cheerful tone.
"Hello… Ducky" she said with a smile as Kate closed her trunk.
"I bet you had a long flight, perhaps some dinner is in order… there is this little Italian place not to far from here…." he began.
Half an hour later the three of them sat in the dimly lit restaurant, it was getting late and it was only Wednesday evening so there wasn't much of a crowd. They had all been silent on the way to the restaurant but now Ducky was trying to get them to talk.
"So you are from England… fascinating country… "
"Not really, I mean ive spent my whole life there… this place is much more exciting to me." she responded.
Kate felt a bit out of place, but decided to ask what as nagging on her mind "I don't want to sound rude, and I know this is a lot to take in, believe me… but why now?"
Luna paused for a moment. "My mother left me a letter one evening…. And then I never saw her again… she just never came home after that evening.. The letter told me…. That she felt I should get to know my fathers side of the family."
Kate looked at the girl. There was pain in her eyes, and a deep sadness… and something else…
"What of your mothers side of the family?" Ducky asked. "From what I understand the Von'Voltairs are a bit of an upper crust aristocratic bunch. Didn't they care that your mother went missing?"
"No. They are … well a bit odd. They sort of disowned my mother after they found out she was pregnant with me. Im surprised they didn't make her give up her name when they kicked her out. I guess mom was just to much of a rebel for them. Didn't want to conform to their ideals and such. Frankly, her side of the family scares me… I couldn't get away from them fast enough… "
"What do you mean give up her name?" asked Kate?
Before she could open her mouth, Ducky turned to Kate and began to explain. "In some old traditions the name meant everything, It was your value, your honor and your reputation. Im assuming from your name dear," he said turning back to Luna " That the Von ' was a declaration of your families status in society and that though the ages they have kept that tradition alive?
She looked surprised for a moment and smiled "Yes, your correct. I would most gladly give it up just to have had a normal life….."
Much to Kates relief the rest of the night went well. She learned that her half sister loved computers… well any technology in general. Some sort of techogeekgenious. That she had attending some small colleges along those lines while living in London.
They bid Ducky farewell as they climbed in to Kates car, and she drove them to her apartment. It was a fair sized place, plenty of room for one person let alone two.
"I fixed up this room for you… " Kate said as she walked to a small room and opened the door. "I wasn't sure how you would like it decorated so I went with something bland and figured you could spice it up later."
As she turned to face the young woman behind her she was greeted with a smile, and tears.
"I was so afraid, when all this happened that if I came here you… you would just turn away and want nothing to do with me…" she said
"Luna…" Kate said moving closer to her.. "I doubt either one of us ever expected anything like this, but.. You're my sister now, and we are family" and she embraced her sister, and she hugged her back.
.
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Thursday 5:30am 2 weeks later...
Kate opened her eyes as her alarm went off. She stretched out in bed and yawned, and that's when it hit her… the smell of bacon. For the past 2 weeks since her arrival Kates half sister Luna had awoken before her and made her breakfast. Maybe it was because of the time difference, or maybe because she was still feeling out of place.. But it was certainly a pleasant surprise.
As she walked into the kitchen she caught her sister humming while tossing some eggs about in a pan over the stove. She turned and smiled brightly at Kate as she sat down. "So what is on the menu this morning?" she asked.
"Today is omelets with bacon and spinach" she said as she pored the eggs onto two plates and made her way to the table.
Kate moved some news paper that was hap-hazardly tossed on the table as she took her plate and dug in. It was nice to have some one else do the cooking for a change. She watched her sister as she ate, and noticed she was staring intently at the paper before her.
"Find something interesting?" she said as she strained to see what she was looking at… then… "The want adds? Why are you looking at them…?" she asked.
"Well I figured, since we don't know how long ill be here I may as well look for a job so you don't feel like im freeloading off of you." she said in a quite tone.
"I would never think that Luna." she said with a smile.
Friday Noon…
"And just yesterday morning she was rummaging though the papers looking for a job.." Kate said in-between bites of her sandwich as she sat across from the table from Ducky.
"My word, the girl has been here less than 2 weeks.." he said
"I know, I think she feels a bit out of place." Kate said with a sigh. "I look at her, and she's trying so hard to get to know me and fit in."
"I think she's scared… " he said.
"Scared… of what?" Kate asked.
"From what I understand, she's lost everything back home. You are the only family she has left and the two of you are practically strangers. She doesn't want you to push her aside either." He commented.
"I would never do that…" Kate said. "I really do like her so far, and she makes a killer breakfast"
Ducky laughed. "Well what is she doing now?" he asked.
"Im not sure…" Kate said with a laugh and a snort.
"Well how about you invite her to dinner tonight after work, at that little place around the corner. We could met at about 7 or so?" he commented.
"You know what Ducky, that sounds like a great idea. Let me go grab my phone…" Kate trailed off.
Unbeknown to either of them 2 people had caught the tail end of their conversation and were now trying to put together the pieces of what they had half heard.
"Kate… has a mystery date…. And Duckys going to met him…" Tony said to the young woman standing beside him. "That must be who she's been calling all week and why she's been so nervous "
"But… Kate would have said something… well maybe not to you Tony but she wouldn't be holding out on me…" said Abby as Tony made a face at her…
"I know we can find out tonight at seven…." He stared before a voice behind them startled them both…
"Find out what at seven DiNozzo?"
"Nothing boss… " said Tony as Abby laughed at him jumping out of his skin.
Gibbs gave them both a look that said 'I know your up to no good' as he turned and walked away…
"This isn't going to end well…. " said Abby.
.
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Friday 7:05
Caitlin and Ducky sat at the bar and ordered their drinks. Kate tucked her phone in her pocket and slung her coat over the chair next to her. "She said she will be here soon."
Luna was lost... and she just couldn't admit it to Kate... or was she... she was so new to this city yet everything looked the same and not all at the same time. She swore she got off of the bus at the right stop. On the corner should could see a coffee stand open with some folks around it. She strolled up and figured she would ask them.
Agent Gibbs was doing what he normally did every Friday before he headed home. He stopped at the coffee stand for his usually cup, and was waiting patiently when he noticed a blond woman looking confused and a bit lost.
He looked at her for a moment before opening his mouth to speak. "Lost?" he asked.
"Aye" she said "I was going to be meeting some friends for a drink after they got off work, but I seem to have turned my self around..." she said handing him a piece of paper with the restaurants name written hastily on it.
"Its not far, just around the corner and down the street aways..." he said handing her back the paper.
"Thank you." she said with a smile and a nod. As she brushed past him he noticed the smirk on the coffee vendors face.
"What Frank?" he asked in his usual Gibbs tone as he took the coffee from the man.
"Oh nothing... " Said the man from behind the counter. "Just a pretty foreign thing like that... walking the streets alone.. at night..." he said trailing off...
Gibbs turned around, but the girl was no were to be seen.
It was 10 minuets later when Kate finally saw her sister walk in though the doors of the bar. She waved her over to were she and Ducky had been sitting and ordered her up a drink and gave her a hug.
From the back of the bar Abby flipped open her cell phone and called Tony.
"DiNozzo..." came the voice from the other end of the phone..
"Tony! Were are you... some one just showed up..." she said trying to hide the smile in her voice..
"Something's come up." he said... and what came up was paper work... a small stack he had forgotten about and was sure to get chewed out about if he didn't finish it up... "So, is he good looking?" he asked..
Abby paused for a moment... not quite sure how to answer him when DiNozzo spoke again... "Is he better looking than me?"
Abby couldn't help but laugh. "Well I guess when you put it that way, she is pretty hot looking." she waited... and there was a dumfounded silence from the other end of the phone. "Did ... did you say she?"
"Yes Tony, apparently Kate is meeting up with a girl... as tall... blonde..." she said drawing her description out.. she could hear Tony stammering on the other end of the line.. "Im going to find out who she is..." Abby said, and then she hung up on him.
Click... and that was that... Abby had just hung up on him... and he was stuck here... and Kate... with a girl... a tall... blonde... and Abby thought she was hot...
Kate was laughing at a story Ducky was telling them when she noticed he stopped in mid sentence.
"Ducky is something wrong?" she asked
"It appears that something else has captured your sisters attention" he said as she swung around to face Luna.
"What's wrong Luna?" Ducky asked.
"Well for the past five minuets there has been this strange girl staring at us from behind that booth there." she said with a nod of her head
Knowing she had been made Abby did the only thing she could think to do. She sprung from behind the both and with lightning speed threw her self at Kate in a giant bear hug causing Luna to step back next to Ducky.
As she released Kate she tried to smile as innocently as possible "Kate... Ducky... what a surprise running into you both here... in this bar... after work..." she said stammering ... "So who's your friend?"
"Im Luna." The girl said with a smile. She was pretty Abby marveled, and a snappy dresser. She had on black pants of some sort, and biker boots. Her shirt was adorned with the British flag and the chain around her neck was brushed black steel.
"Im Abby... and I love your outfit." she said as she touched the girls necklace.
"Abigail here works with us, " Ducky said offering Abby a seat which she quickly took.
Luna smiled at the girl as she motioned to the bar tender for more drinks. "Wow Kate, you work with some very interesting people" she said.
"So from your accent I take it your from England?" Abby asked.
"Yes, I am." Luna said taking a drink.
"Abby..." Kate said. "I thought you mentioned having plans tonight?"
"I did but then Tony totally left me hanging here alone..." she said before she caught her self...
"Tony?" Kate said in her Tony put you up to this tone of voice...
"Oopse... busted..." Abby said. "Well its like this... Tony and I were just walking... and we happened to over hear you talking to Ducky about a date... and well you have mentioned to me if you had a date... but not to Tony... but you didn't tell me so something must have been up..." She stammered out.
"Abby," Kate said grabbing her shoulders "Im not mad at you... Its DiNozzo im going to kill..."
This statement caused a round of laughter from both Luna and Ducky. "Your job must be an interesting one Kate.." said Luna as she tried not to spill her beer.
"You have no idea..." she muttered
"So..." Abby said turning back to Luna. "Luna, how do you know Kate?" she asked.
Luna, and Kate looked at each other for a moment... "What?" Abby asked..."Is it some sort of secret?"
"Caitlin, they are bound to find out sooner or later..." Ducky said with a smile.
Kate smiled back. He was right... best to get this over with sooner than later... "Abby, Luna is my sister..."
The four of them sat in the bar late into the night, Kate telling Abby about how she found out she had a sister, and Luna recounting her mothers disappearance, and request that she move away and get to know her biological fathers side of the family.
"This is so totally awesome!" Abby said throwing her arms around Luna. "DiNozzo is going to be so mad he missed this."
"About that Abby... Im not sure I want Tony to know just yet about my sister..." Kate said..
"Right... " retorted Abby with a smile, and she turned to Luna " Because Tony would just lose his mind because Kates younger sister is so... totally hot, and out of his league..." she giggled. She also noticed at this comment that Luna made a face and Kate was trying not to smile.
"What... was it the out of his league comment?" Abby said.
"No I think it was the fact you referred to Luna as Caitlin's younger sister" came Ducky
Abby looked between the two young women a bit baffled. Kate leaned in closer and said softly...
"Luna's the older one..." to which Luna's face flushed red...
"No flipping way!" Abby shouted... "I mean you totally don't look... how is that... are you both joshing me?" she asked still looking back and forth between the two.
In order to break away from the suddenly amusing yet awkward conversation Ducky thudded his glass down on the table. "So my dear, you have only been here a short time and Kate tells me you have already started looking for a job."
Luna smiled as she reached for what was left of her beer. "Yes, it was kind of my sister to take me in, and I don't want her to feel like I don't appreciate the gesture. I want to be able to help out and not make her feel like im taking advantage of her..." she said.
"No way," said Abby swinging her arms wide. "You seem so cool, and Kate... Kate is the most awesome friend you could ever... ever have..." her comments made Kate blush...
"Find anything yet?" Ducky said smiling at Abby's slightly drunken outburst.
"No. Even tho my mother made arrangements years ago to make sure citizenship wouldn't be a problem for me if I ever came to America, a lot of places that are hiring still look at me funny. Not to mention being a super computer techno geek doesn't seem to fit well with the phrase 'Do you want fries with that' " to which the table around her was filled with laughter...
"No.. no I suppose not..." replied Ducky as he tried to not spill the contents of his glass.
"Oh.. Oh,OH..." exclaimed Abby as she now pressed her self between Kate and Luna. "Why doesn't Luna come work for me... us... you know..." she said as she tossed back her drink.
"What an excellent idea..." Commented Ducky before Kate cut him off.
"Abby... I mean we already have McGee... and we wouldn't want him to be jealous that you found your self a new super geek." she said as she watched her sister make a face at her from behind Abby.
"Kate.. Kate..." Abby said putting both of her hands on Kates shoulders "Screw McGee... your sister... is my sister.. and that makes her family... "
The night ended shortly after that, with each of them going home to sleep off their drinks until the morning light. The weekend was restively quite for Kate and Luna. They stayed in and Kate got out some old family pictures and the two girls commiserated about their very different lives away from each other.
Kate recounted her strained relationship with her father, a small portion about working with the secret service, and how she met and then joined NCIS. She also gave some brief yet humorous accounts of her co workers.
Luna in turn talked about living alone with her mother, after her mothers family had disowned them, working though school at a local electronics pub (yes beer and computers always a wonderful mix) and then how her mother had vanished suddenly into the night.
"So Kate, " Luna began... "Your friend Abby, do you think she was serious?"
"Who knows, but..." thought Kate for a moment... "The directors been on her for months now about getting some help in her lab, tho god help us all if you do..." she said with a smile.
"Why is that?" she asked
All Kate could do was smile, as she raised an eyebrow at her sister... "I think you alone could make DiNozzos head explode..."
.
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Monday 6:45 Am...
Abby sat at McGees desk and waited in her own nervous fashion. She had a plan, a plan that would hopefully get the director off her back, and earn her many many cafe-pows from Kate, and maybe... just maybe a half way decent assistant if she was as good of a computer jockey as she made her self out to be... and it would urk McGee...
She had already seen the Director head up to her office early... now it was just a waiting game. The doors at the far end of the room opened and out trudged a sleepy looking McGee. In one hand a large cup of coffee, in the other a folder with papers. She smiled.
"Tim... is that what I think..." she said jumping out of his seat...
McGee set down his coffee but pulled the folder tight against his chest. "Yes, Abby it is. But you never answered my question when you called Sunday. Who is this woman, and why did you need this sort of check done on her on such short notice?"
Abby made a face at him before swiping the folder from his grasp and leafing thought it. She giggled softly to her self before adding the papers McGee had provided to a folder of her own. " I have a plan McGee..." said sprinting off "Ill tell you about it later..."
"But Abby..." he called after her as she took the stairs two at a time... From the far end of the room the elevator doors opened again... 7:05... more workers started pouring into the squad room.
It was almost 7:30 and Abby was sitting outside of the Directors office. The Directors assistant had noted that since she arrived she had sorted and re sorted the papers in the folder she was now clutching as she finally got up and stared to passed back and forth in front of her desk. The desk phone buzzed, and then she motioned for Abby to go in.
"Just stick to the plan... stick to the plan..." Abby muttered as she opened the doors.
Director Jennifer Sheppard had started her day like always, and was very much surprised when Cynthia buzzed in and let her know that Abby Sciuto wanted to see her. Her morning was empty for the moment as far as appointments went and was left wondering what was on the lab techs mind.
After she buzzed her assistant she set back in her chair as the doors to her office creaked open.
"What can I do for you this morning Ms Sciuto?" she asked
"Director..." She said taking long strides before reaching, then flipping open the folder on the directors desk... " I have a proposition for you..."
Almost an hour and a half later Abby was still talking and the Director was still reading. Abby had done her work... back ground checks... schooling... amongst other things in the file she had been presented. She looked up from the file as she listened to Abby continue on...
"At least this way I don't end up with some one who thinks they know better... or interrupts my system... I mean.. she's like a lump of clay... and I can mold her with my own hands... for my way of doing things... you know..." she said making a motion with her hands.
The Director smiled. "I understand that Abby, but..."
"But... But... you have been on me for months to get help in my lab, and now ive finally found some one..."
"Some one who has little to no experience in our field. Her technical skills are overwhelmingly impressive, but this just isn't the way things are done." Sheppard commented as she flipped though the pages in the folder again.
Abby didn't know what to say... 'Stick to the plan.' she though to her self.
"Would you at least meet her?" she asked in a very meek tone.
The Director couldn't help but smile. She knew Abby all too well, and she wasn't about to let up on this. "I could make an exception... just to met her mind you." she said as she shook the folder in Abbys Direction. "Even if I do Approve of this girl, her file would have to go though the review board first.. and you know they wont accept this." she said.
Abbys smile widened. "There is one thing... some of her family history is vague or missing completely." The Director commented.
She watched as Abby took a step back. "Thats sort of the catch..." Abby stammered out.
"Catch?" the Director questioned... "Yeah.. you see her father... its a bit complicated..." Abby started.
The Director raised her eyebrow at her. "She's Kate's half sister..."
.
.
Gibbs had been in MTAC almost since the moment he arrived in the office leaving Tony, Kate and Tim alone in there respective areas. Since they had gotten in Tony and Kate noticed McGee continually looking up at the stairs almost with a nervous twitch about him. It had been over 2 hours now since Abby had taken the papers off him and marched up to the directors office, and he was starting to get worried.
From besides him Tony dropped a book on his desk causing him to jump out of his skin. Kate giggled, while McGee just looked annoyed. "What's up McProbbie?" Tony quipped.
"Its ... its Abby." he said with a worried look.
"What's wrong with Abby?" Kate asked walking over to his desk.
"Well... she called me this weekend said she needed a favor. Some background reports done on some woman." he started... Kate began to look worried. "So I do it, no questions asked. Bring them in for her early this morning, and before I can get an explanation out of her she's off to the directors office... something's up."
"Who did she have you check out?" Tony asked as Kate's desk phone began to ring.
"Some English woman named Luna Von'Voltair..." McGee said.
"Luna... what kind of name is that... " Tony said...
Kate answered her phone while Tony and Tim continued to talk. "Miss Todd..." came the directors voice from the other end. "Yes mam' " Kate responded softly.
"I would like to see you in my office now please." she said before hanging up.
"Oh Abby... you didn't..." she muttered quietly...
She quickly walked by Tony and Tim, but not before Tony called out... "Were are you going?"
She just smiled and shrugged as she climbed the stairs.
Both men stood there for a moment before saying... "Something's definitely up."
.
Kate sat quietly in the directors office looking thought the file that Abby and put together on her sister, McGee had done a good job on such short notice. The only things missing was any sort of report on the disappearance of her mother, and information on her father... Kate's father...
"How long have you known about her?" asked the Director.
"She's only been in DC for about two weeks now, and before that maybe a month or so since my father... wrote to tell me about her."
"This is all my fault director..." Abby butted in. "I met her the other night and we got to talking about her looking for a job, and what she was good at. I was just trying to help..." she said.
The Director looked up with a smile on her face which surprised both women. "I can understand that." she said. "Ill be frank with both of you. NCIS isn't fond of employing family members together even if they would be working in separate departments, however I am willing to pass this file onto the review board this after noon when I met with them." she said.
"Dont get your hopes up, while she technically is a citizen because of Caitlin's father, and all her paper work is in order her lack of forensic specialty out side of computer use will most likely work against her."
Gibbs was now at his desk. DiNozzo and McGee had been sent off to collect some files that they had been trying to clear out now that they had some down time. He lifted his head as he heard familiar voices walking down the stairs near his seat. He watched as Abby and Kate descended together talking softly amongst them selves. They walked past his desk neither making eye contact with him... This bothered him.
The rest of the week went buy quietly. DiNozzo and McGee sniffed around to no avail to find out what Abby and Kate were hiding, and Gibbs just watched. Slowly but surely the team shuffled though the looses ends and old paperwork which had been piling up clearing the way for new cases.
.
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Thursday afternoon rolled around and Abby sat in her lab with Kate. They sat quietly eating a late lunch. Abby had finally got caught up on stack of paper work left to her by McGee and was in much need of a break.
"So Tony still asking you who Luna is?" Kate asked.
"Ever chance he gets." Abby said with a smile.
"And?" Kate asked.
Abby looked at her with evil eyes...
"You know what... I don't wana know..." she said setting down her drink when another voice came from behind them
"Know what?" Came the voice of Director Sheppard.
"Director." Both girls said at once. "we were just talking about Luna..." said Abby.
"Good." she said, "Because I want to talk to you about her too." her tone had a hint of something Kate could only make out to be worry.
"The board got back to me today..." she began...
"That fast..." interrupted Abby "They cant just look at her file and push it a side like that... doesn't it count that im requesting her... after rejecting every one else..." she began to stammer
"Abby... Abby." the director said raising her hands... "They didn't reject her."
"They didn't?" both of them said again at once...
"No, infact this is the fastest Ive seen them approve anyone with her lack of experience to work here..." she said her voice trailing off...
Kate could see this deeply bothered the Director, in fact it bothered her a bit too... why would they rush this though... something seemed a bit off... but Abby on the other hand was bouncing with joy...
The Director composed her self at went on... "this is only temporary Abby, she still has to go though her probationary period before she will be giving a full set of credentials and access to this Agency." She handed Kate a Visitors ID for her sister as well as some paper work.
"Have her fill these out, and I expect to see her at 8am tomorrow morning in my office." she said as she smiled back at the girls. She turned around quickly and made her way out of Abby's lab, nearly running into McGee in the process.
"Oh my god Kate... this is so awesome!" Abby exclaimed...
"What's awesome?" asked McGee as he set a folder down on the lab table...
Both girls stopped and looked at him for a moment, then Kate got a wicked smile on her face...
"McGee..." Kate said moving towards him with Abby... "How would you like to get a one up on Tony..." she said taking his left arm as Abby took his right...
The thought to him self for a moment... and said "Um... OK..." then became worried when both girls giggled maniacally...
"Remember the girl I had you do the background check on for me..." Abby said looking at him with wide eyes...
"Yes... Luna Von' Voltair... why?" he asked suddenly feeling really uneasy...
"Your going to love this..." Abby said.
In the next few minuets any one walking near Abby's lab, or even in the stairwells near it upon hearing a rather loud exclamation of "SHES YOUR WHAT!" echo though the halls.
.
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Friday 7:45 Am.
Luna felt uncomfortable. She had on slacks, and a white dress shirt with a black blazer. Kate had picked out her outfit the night before to make a good impression on the Director when they met. The black chain she normally let lay over her shirt was tucked nicely away, though she had slipped on her boots when Kate wasn't looking. The director was speaking to Kate at the moment, and they had left Luna in the cafeteria. It was still early, and few agents were there.
She fiddled with her visitors badge on her jacket with one hand while digging in her pockets for change... a move that did not go un noticed by the man who had just entered the room. She dropped the change into the machine and clicked the button. The Machine whorled and buzzed... but nothing happened. She clicked the button again... this was not going to be a good day... again nothing... then she felt it... Danger...
She moved ever so slightly to the left as from behind her a hand came zooming past her head smacking the machine. There was a pop... and her drink dropped into the bin below. She picked it up slowly before turning around to face the man behind her...
There was a brief pause as their eyes met... "Lost?" he asked with half a smile...
"No. Not this time. " she responded back as she looked at him. The man before her was tall, and had silver hair and deep penetrating eyes and he was studding her...
It was her, the same girl that he had briefly encountered a week before seemingly lost on the streets of DC not far from the building they were currently standing in. His eyes fell upon her visitors badge but before he could say another word some on behind him spoke.
"Good morning Agent Gibbs..." came the voice of Cynthia, the Directors assistant. He took a step back from the woman and turned and nodded.
"Miss Von'Voltair?" Cynthia asked looking past him to her... "She's ready to see you now." she said extending her arm towards the elevator. As they made their way into the elevator Agent Gibbs bolted in right before the door closed and gave Cynthia a look, to which she rolled her eyes. Luna suppressed the urge to giggle.
.
.
Kate was sitting at her desk looking at her watch, Cynthia should be brining her sister up any minuet now . As the elevator doors opened McGee made eye contact with Kate letting her know it was Cynthia, and she tilted her head down trying to hide her smile.
Luna walked out of the elevator slowly behind Cynthia, followed by the man she had briefly met, for the second time in the lunch room. McGee made a face but before Kate could turn around DiNozzos head popped up...
He stared for a second which told Kate he had caught sight of Luna as he moved towards Kate's desk.
"Who's the blonde getting off the elevator with Gibbs?" he said finally.
"Gibbs?" Kate said as she stood up and turned around followed by McGee as they watched as Gibbs moved towards them, and Cynthia took Luna to the stairs...
"Well, that..." Said Gibbs coming up behind them " Apparently is Luna Von'Voltair... and she's here to see the Director..." He said in his normal fashion.
Tony continued to look as Kate made a face. "Hey DiNozzo... got a little drool there..." she made a gesture on the side of her mouth... Tony made a face at her while Gibbs smiled.
"Wait.. isn't Luna the name of the girl that Abby had you do a background check on probbie?" Tony said as he swung around...
This caught Gibbs attention...
McGee stammered..."I... I dont recall..." he said as he moved back to his desk...
On the other side of the room the elevator doors once again opened and Abby stepped out. She didn't want to miss this for the world.
"Hello Miss Von'Voltair..." The Director said extending her hand. "Im Director Sheppard. Please have a seat." The next few minuets was talk of rules and procedures that she was to ahear to strictly during her probationary period.
"And finally, you will have access to most of NCIS, however you are never to be alone in the evidence room, and never in MTAC with out my self or one of the senior agents, which should never be an issue." She said with a stern look.
"Yes mam'" Luna replied.
"Oh..." Director Sheppard said as she looked though the papers Luna had handed her... "Your name... you changed it on here..." she said looking up... "Why is that?"
"If its going to be a problem I don't mind, however ... the prefix Von' its an aristocratic thing from my mothers side of the family. Since they wanted nothing to do with us... it just sort of brings up some bad memories and I was hopping to get it changed." she said her face turning a bit red.
Director Sheppard shifted her file and looked her over. The subject of her family seemed very touchy with her.
"We will see.. What about your... age... This cant possibly be correct.."
"Im afraid it is... im ... the older sister..." she said quietly... "My mother looked the same way... very youthful for her age..."
"Well then," She said once again extending her hand, although a bit warily. "Welcome to NCIS." she said handing Luna her Temporary worker ID. After a moment they walked to the door together and left the Directors office.
.
.
Down on the floor Abby was standing behind Kate, who was looking at DiNozzo who was glaring at McGee.
"Come on Probbie out with it..." DiNozzo said.
"Why don't you ask her your self DiNozzo?" McGee retorted as they watched the Director appear on the walk way with Luna in tow.
"So what do you think they are talking about?" Luna asked.
The Director stopped and turned to her with a smile... "If I had to guess, It would be you..."
"So, if I just happened to ask her out for drink..." Tony started as Gibbs rolled his eyes and Kate giggled.
"Tony..." came Abby. "I don't think she's into younger men.." This caused Gibbs to raise an eyebrow at Abby.
"Younger... what.. who's... No way.. she cant be older than me... looking like that..."
"Yeah... I hear she's older than Kate." Commented McGee as Kate shot him a nasty look.
"Well what can I say... us Todd woman age well, some better than others obviously..." she muttered
This caused them all to turn to towards Kate, and Abby started to giggle.
"Wait... your not saying that... her... No..." DiNozzo said as McGee clamped his hand down on Tonys shoulder.
"Im afraid so Tony. The newsiest member of NCIS is none other than Caitlin Todds older sister..." McGee, as well as the girls were not prepared for what came next.
Both DiNozzo and Gibbs looked at Luna, then back at Kate, and said at the same time...
"She's your WHAT?" rather loudly causing several other agents to stop what they were doing.
"You know.." Director Sheppard said as she leaned over to Luna, "Your going to get that a lot these next few days."
Luna on the other hand just shook her head, and smiled.