A/N: I realize this is rather short but this is the prologue to the story you are about to start reading, faithfully dubbed "4 Months." Anyway, it's set in the future of season 7 so eventually it will be considered "AU." :) Here, you'll see a little bit of Tiva, maybe some McAbby.
This is what could have happened and is set after Faith, episode 7x10. I don't own NCIS, but I think I can say I own the plot. :)
Merry late Christmas and happy Boxing Day, my friends!
FOUR MONTHS AGO TODAY.
Ziva sat quietly on the familiar counters of the men's room, between the sinks. Her eyes were fixed on her partner as he moved slowly back and forth, as deep in though as she was. This newest case had been no harder than any other; it was Vance's wrath that put them all on edge. McGee and Abby had worked tirelessly to bring joy to young Fisher, but they had also broken protocol. "Tony," she finally whispered, stepping off the counter to stop him. "Tony, Vance cannot do anything to McGee or Abby, or any of us. We are a team."
Tony swivelled to meet her chocolate brown eyes with his abnormally bright green ones. "I know, Zeee-vah. Last time that bastard broke us apart, nothing was the same."
"No," she agreed after a silence. "I doubt it will ever be."
The silver door swung open to reveal the still quite angry face of the Director, who looked at the scene in front of him with wide eyes. After a few seconds, he declared, "Oh hell no! David, DiNozzo, with me!"
They shared a confused look and walked carefully behind him, still puzzled over the newfound anger. As they approached the squad room, the Director called out, "Special Agent Gibbs! McGee, get Ms. Sciuto, and Mr. Mallard with his assistant. I expect you in my office in five minutes. GO."
Gibbs looked up front his desk and sighed, wondering what his agents had done now. Without a look back he stood up and ran to catch up, passing his agents to address his superior directly. "What's the problem, Leon?"
Ducky, Abby, McGee and Jimmy arrived, stepping out of the elevator in unison. They all looked puzzled as they climbed the stairs in time to hear Vance's booming reply.
"I'll tell you what's wrong. Your agents cannot control themselves! Setting up a meet between a boy and his mother who was on a Destroyer over MTAC? And now I catch your two prized agents together in the men's bathroom, one of which is definitely not a man! I expect you to control them, and yourself, Gibbs! From now on, all agents on Leroy Jethro Gibbs's team MUST sign in and out when leaving the squad room on any non-work related business. Caf-POW and coffee machines will be removed so that you focus on your jobs. And DiNozzo!"
Tony looked up, shocked and alarmed. "Yes, Director?"
"You are to be paired with Special Agent McGee. David, you will no longer be out in the field with just DiNozzo."
Those were the words that changed everything.
3 months, 29 days ago… yesterday.
4 months, 0 days and 12 hours ago… today.