AN: This is an AU where Kate isn't dead and Ziva joined the team.

The bullpen is never dull with them around. Special Agent Gibbs shakes his head slightly as he watches the banter between his agents. A small smile threatens to creep up his lips as he quickly masks it behind his favorite cup of Starbucks coffee.

"Aw, come on Probie…. You can't possibly side with them"

"Well, she kinda has a point there Tony. Besides, I don't want spar with Kate anytime soon and Ziva could kill me with a paperclip in 18 different ways."

"See, DiNozzo? Even McGee is smarter in choosing than you do" said Kate

"I resent that! My choosing isn't that bad" Tony pouted.

"Like how you choose your dates, yes?" Ziva snickered while Kate suppresses her giggles.

"What's wrong with my dates? They're normally pretty and hot"

"Which doesn't last for more than 2 weeks" McGee couldn't resist teasing his Senior Field Agent.

"Hey-" He's cut short with a sharp smack on the back of the head. "OW!"

"Doesn't anyone have ANYTHING to do in here?" Gibbs barked

McGee, Kate and Ziva scattered back to their seats efficiently as if they've seen a ghost. They don't really want to take a share of the Gibbs-smack. While Tony is still standing there rubbing the back of his head and wondering why he's the only one who got smacked while the three of them escape his wrath.

But before he can even open his mouth,

"Because you're the senior here DiNozzo, and you're the one who started it at the first place. Now start working or your job wouldn't even last for 2 weeks."

Normally Tony would flinch at such comments, but noticing the small smirk his boss had at the corner of his lips, he realizes that his boss is enjoying as much as they are now.

The last case they had left a bad taste in their mouths. Petty Officer Jason's daughter was just 12 years old. Emily was kidnapped on her way home from school. They were too late to save her. The kidnappers have planned to kill Emily even before the ransom got in. Even though justice for little Emily had been preserved, but the sight of her cold dead little body in the abandoned warehouse and both Emily's parents crying out and mourning for the loss of their beautiful little princess still haunts the Major Case Respond Team.

Gibbs had been growling like a bear with sore head for the whole week, scaring all other NCIS agents and staffs.

McGee looked like a kicked puppy, he can't even manage to spill out a complete sentence without stuttering when talking to Gibbs. It's not like he's scared of him. Okay, he was a bit frightened of the boss, but mostly it was the shock from seeing Emily's body from the crime scene. He spent most of his time during the week in Abby's lab.

Ziva and Kate spend most of their time in the gym letting off some of their furies by sparring with each other or the punching bag till they are sore and tired enough to stop.

Abby has been crying. Looking at Emily's pictures wasn't pleasant. She was not only killed, she was tortured before it happened. She was beautiful, but in the end she was covered in cuts and bruises when they found her. McGee had been hanging out around her lab, bringing her Caff-Pows and making sure that she eats.

Ducky has been quiet. Jimmy Palmer fears for him. After the autopsy, Ducky hasn't told a single story. Though he kept telling Emily stories of the days he spent on France when he was younger, treating Emily with respect and not pity instead. He went straight home to Mrs Mallard after the work is done.

Tony took it the hardest. No one notice that he wasn't himself as they are all busy coping with what happened. Tony was pale but years of practice makes it easy for him to cover up his real emotions. He felt like something shattered within his soul. But DiNozzos don't cry. He did not speak a word after the case. Only respond when asked. He did not make any movie reference or joke or whatsoever. And it seems like he stare out to nothing sometimes. Like he zoned out. Thinking about something. Something which was buried deep inside his heart. Sarah….

Gibbs have been working on his boat and drinking bourbon in his basement the whole weekend until he gotten a phone call from Abby to "PLEASE" pick them up from a bar downtown.

Flashback

"Gibbs!" he barked to his phone, he's not in a mood to answer at the first place.

"Hey Bossman. Did I interrupt something? Not that I'm implying about anything, maybe you are just working on your boat like you usually do. I mean, most of the time at home you spend it on the boat right? Still, I'm not implying anything about your social life. I just think that you should go out more often you know, since you're hot and I'm sure a lot of-"

"ABS!"

"Sorry."

Gibbs sighs "What do you need Abs? I'm damn sure you didn't phone me just to say that I'm old and boring."

"HEY! YOU'RE NOT OLD AND CERTAINLY NOT BORING!!"

Gibbs pulls the phone away from the phone and chuckles lightly.

"What do you need Abs?"

"Erm…. Actually, you see. Tony, Kate, Ziva and McGee are really really affected by the last case, not that I'm not affected after seeing Emily's face among the crime scene photos. So I got them out to unwind a little here. By the way, the punch here is damn good and- "

"Abs! Focus"

"Oh, right… well…"

"Well what Abs? I'm not in a mood for games. If it's not important then I'm hanging up."

"WAIT!"

"Well?"

"Theiralldrunk,ZivaandIcantgetallthreeofthemhomebyourselves" Abby babbles out

"WHAT?!"

"PLEASE Gibbs… You have to get here. We can't manage all of them on our own"

"Where are you?"

"New bar named Matyr's. You might need to- "Abby looks at her phone which only has dial tone on it.

With Gibbs's driving, it only took him 15 minutes to arrive there. He knows where's Matyr's. He overheard about it from Abby just a few days ago. He enters the dimly lighted bar with wary eyes. Capturing anything suspicious while searching the place for his agents.

"GIBBBBBSSSS~!!!!"

He saw a gothic girl bouncing around with hands up in the air waving towards him. Abby dash at the speed of light and gave him a tackling hug.

"YOU CAME!!"

He crossed his arms across his chest. He raised an eyebrow and jerked his chin towards the table full of his agents which are definitely NOT drunk. Abby smiled sheepishly and gave an innocent look.

"How do you suppose us to get you here if we don't do this? Come on, I'm sure the boat is still there when u go home later."

Gibbs shook his head slightly as he was dragged towards the table.

"Hey Boss!" Tony greets him cheerfully. Too cheerful to his liking. He can see it through him easily. The grin he's wearing is forced and his eyes lost its usual spark .McGee still looks a bit shaken. Kate has red puffy eyes no matter how she tries to conceal them. And even Ziva look depressed. It was not normal for the Mossad assassin to show her true emotion. But spending most of her time with the rest, she often let a bit of her guard down. The level of trust from her towards them is obvious.

"DiNozzo, Kate, McGee, Ziva and…. Ducky? Now I know who to blame."

"Hello Jethro. High praise. I only learn from the best" Ducky salutes Gibbs with his drink.

Gibbs snorted.

He can't possibly be angry with them. They know he needs company too. Grieving together is was better than grieving alone. Sure they are just co-workers but a special bond is tying them up together. They're a family. Might not be blood or perfect. But they're definitely a family. He grab a beer and sat down, listening to the banters between his agents, Abby's fast talk and Ducky's attempt in making them listen to his story about a guy he knew in his school days. In the morning he felt terrible (might be the bourbon yesterday), but at least now it's getting better.

AN: This is my first time ever in writing a fanfic. Anyone is welcome to give me some suggestions.