a/n: This is the deeper elaboration of "THE VIEW"; I will delve deep in how Tony and Claire met, how they formed a relationship and married. There will also be a history between Claire and Kate, and a "Supernatural" tie-in. Sorry for the long wait people! Contains: Graphic f/m and language, etc.

Story Summary: Tony meets the girl that he's sure to spend the rest of his life with; this is their story.

Chapter Summary: Tony and Claire meet.

Invitation: Hello There

"Thanks for doing this," Special Agent Timothy 'Tim' McGee said, his voice strained. In his arms were three boxes of files, down from the evidence locker in the garage.

"It's not a problem, Tim." Special Agent Claire Novak said, caring two boxes herself. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't find a cart." she told him.

"I'm just glad that we didn't have to take the stairs," Tim said, leaning back against the elevator wall.

Claire smiled at him. "There's nothing wrong with a little work out."

Tim looked at her. "Do you want to get off on this floor?"

"Are you insane?" Claire demanded.

"I told you."

"Why do you need these two cases anyway?" Claire questioned as the elevator stopped and the doors slipped in, and another Agent stepped in, pressing a floor button for the doors to slid back closed. "I didn't think that the O'Brian and Ranjer cases were connected. They're almost a year apart,"

"Yeah, we didn't know that either." Tim told her as the other Agent got off. "With the timing on both murders, and the fact there was no connection between the two that we could find, but then we had another murder."

"Okay. So what's the connection?"

"A tattoo."

"A tattoo? I collected evidence on both of these cases, and I don't remember a tattoo." she told him.

"You collected evidence from the crime scene," Tim corrected her, "You didn't process the body."

"Right." Claire guessed, as the elevator finally got to the bullpen, "So, what? A cult, then?"

Tim gave a haphazard shrug as he stepped from the elevator, Claire fallowing after him. "Your guess his good as mine."

"So, where do you want these?" Claire asked.

"Just here," Tim told her, setting his boxes down between his desk and his neighbours. "I'm gonna have to sort through it all so I can find the evidence for Abby to go through."

Claire nodded and set her two boxes beside Tim's.

"Claire?" Claire turned to find Special Agent Caitlin 'Kate' Todd setting her bag by her desk. "I knew it was you!"

"Hey, Kate!" Claire grinned at the female Agent.

"Where's Tony?" Tim slipped in before they could get full-blown reminiscing.

"Behind me," Kate said. "He was too slow to catch the doors before they closed."

"Tony better watch out if Gibbs hears that." Tim noted.

Tim and Kate both paused, holding their breath. Usually when a comment like that was voiced, Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs would appear of nowhere saying, "Hear what, McGee?". But as the seconds ticked by, and the Boss didn't round on them, they let it out, grinning at each other.

"What was that?" Claire questioned.

"Nothing," they answered.

Claire just looked between the two of them, a little worried.

Tim sat in his chair behind his desk and took the lid off the first box, taking out a stack of files from O'Brian's case. Kate came around and leaned a hip on the edge of her desk, her arms crossed lightly over her chest, the smile in place.

"You look good." Kate said.

"Thanks." Claire smiled as she leaned her butt back against the edge of Senior Special Agent Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo's desk, her hands flat on the edge. "It's a look that only garage dinginess can produce!" she said in a advertisement voice.

Kate laughed.

"I can say the same for you."

"It's the walls, and the skylight." Kate said seriously. "They mess with your head." she stage-whispered with a façade of paranoia.

Claire grinned at her, "I like orange,"

Kate's smiled stretched. "Got a boyfriend yet, Novak?" her eyes gleamed.

"Heh. I could say the same, Todd." Claire's eyes gleamed back.

Tim shook his head, trying to ignore the girl talk as he went through the files.

There was a beat of silence as they stared at each other, and then chuckled together.

"So, what have you been up to?" Kate said, sitting back. "I haven't seen you in forever."

"Well, that's because you never come down to evidence lock-up," Claire said. "I only ever see Tim."

Tim looked up at his name.

Claire looked at him. "And you're great company, but a fatal flaw is that you're not a girl."

"Thanks," Tim told her before he looked back down at the file, feeling a little embarrassed. But glad that he wasn't called a girl and that Tony wasn't there to hear it.

Kate looked a little guilty.

"That was so uncalled for!" came the echo of Tony's voice from the elevator as the muted ding sounded. "Todd-!" Tony stopped short as he rounded the corner, ready for some payback, when he saw what was sitting on the edge of his desk… She was tall, at least 5'8'', and slim. She had long, natural blood hair that went past her shoulders, the golden locks hanging loose around her face. Her brows were perfectly shaped, her eyes big and the colour of a marina, her nose was lightly buttoned and her chin rounded, her lips were puffed and pink, she had just the right amount make-up. Unlike Kate, she was wearing an orange pair of Converse All Star's, a pair of tight jeans, and a plain coloured polo shirt. It was plain-wear, nothing close to what Abby wore, but it seemed to suit her. Whoever she was. He had never seen her before, he would have remembered, but he knew that she was an Agent; she had a shield clipped onto the pocket of her jeans. "Well, hello there." a sultry smile started to spread across his across his lips.

Kate scoffed, "Jeez, Tony!"

Tim shook his head as Tony ignored her, but he saw that Claire was smiling back at Tony. Claire couldn't help it, she knew a handsome man when saw one. And he was it. At least 6'2'', he was muscular, but not overly so, like Arnold Swatzernager. She was very thankful for that, guys like that made her gag. He had brown hair, short, with just the right amount of gel that made it look natural, his eyes were a shaded blue with darker flecks, his nose wasn't too big and fit with his face with a tiny scar on the outer side of his nostril, his brows weren't bushy and his chin was clean, his jaw curved nicely, his lips perfectly kissable. The suit that he wore was tailored and expensive, a tie, and black shiny shoes to go with it.

"Ah-hem!" Tim cleared his throat.

"What, McGee?" Tony said, but didn't look at him and continued to look at Claire.

"This is Special Agent Claire Novak, she's the Supervisory Special Agent down in Field Forensics." Tim introduced.

"Claire, Senior very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo," Tony held out his hand and Claire stood from his desk, taking his hand. "It's nice to meet you."

Claire smiled at him, holding onto his hand a moment longer than was really necessary. "You guys have to come visit me sometime," she told Tim and Kate. Her eyes trailed down Tony once more before she went passed him and to the elevator. Tony wasn't shy about watching her leave, looking over his shoulder. She arrived just the doors dinged opened, and she stepped in just as Gibbs was coming out, coffee in hand.

"Afternoon, Agent Gibbs." she flashed the older man a smile as she spun on her heal to face him and pressed the garage button.

He looked at her for a moment. "Novak," he finally said, with a jerk of his head as the door slid closed. He turned and walked into the bullpen. Tim was at his desk with a pile of folders, Kate had the same. But Tony was standing their like an idiot. Gibbs smacked him on the back of the head, "Get your head out of your ass, DiNozzo. And get to work,"

"On it, Boss!" Tony gave him a sloppy salute, and grabbed a few folders from the box.

"I wanted answers yesterday!" he told them. They should of had answers yesterday, so far they had three cases, and they just found a connection this morning, and even that connection gave them no proper leads.

tbc!