The Choices We Make

Chapter 1: The Murder

Disclaimer: Only my stuff is mine. Basically, I own nothing except the plot and any unrecognizable characters that I added.

A/N: So, I've pretty much just gotten into NCIS. I've watched it for four years, but sporadically and I was never really invested. A few months ago it hit me that I really love this show. I've watched every episode since then.

This is my first attempt at an NCIS story. It does have a plot, but it's probably going to end up being a mostly relationship centered story.

Pairings: Abby/McGee

Ziva/Tony

General Team Friendship with Abby and Gibbs as an almost father/daughter relationship.

So…please review, but be kind. No flames, please.

"Abs." Gibbs spoke from right behind Abby, causing the scientist to jump and spin around.

"Gibbs! Hi! When did you--? Never mind. What's up?" Abby bounced slightly on her heels and smiled brightly at the older man.

The corner of Gibbs' mouth twitched upwards slightly and he waited an amused moment before jumping into why he was here. "Got a new case." He reached around Abby and set a fresh Caff-Pow next to her keyboard.

"Right." Abby turned back to her computer and hit a few keys, bringing up several photographs.

"McGee." Gibbs shook his head slightly, not even needing to ask how Abby had gotten the photos.

"McGee." Abby agreed.

"Got anything for me?" Gibbs moved away from Abby to get closer to the large plasma set up in her lab.

"I just got the information, Gibbs!" Abby protested slightly, tapping a few more keys.

Gibbs smiled slightly, nodded once, and headed for the door.

"But that doesn't mean I don't have anything!" Abs called after him; her hands clasped in front of her and a proud smile on her face. Gibbs stopped and turned back to face Abby, a proud smile of his own playing across his features.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down." He made his way back to her computer area and waited as she rapidly typed commands into the unit.

"Gibbs!" Her tone was scandalized and she nudged his shoulder lightly. "Have I ever?"

"Nope." Gibbs nudged her back. "So, what exactly did McGee tell you?"

"Not much. Basically, I've got the reader's digest version. Team came back from Iraq two weeks ago. Sergeant Grant Meanders, Captain Rachel Tierney, Major Theodore Watson, and the deceased, Captain Michael Walsh." Abby took a deep breath. "Ducky said he was killed by a gunshot wound to the head, but that there were multiple stab and burn wounds."

"That it?" Gibbs asked when she lapsed into silence.

"Well, no. That's just what McGee told me. I found two partial prints on Captain Walsh's belt buckle."

"Any matches?"

"Yep." Abby paused for effect. When Gibbs looked less than amused, she hurried on. "To Captain Tierney and Major Watson."

"His team members?" Gibbs smiled slightly. "Good work, Abs." He pressed a light kiss to her cheek.

"Now, see…why does she get a nice little kiss and I get a slap on the back of my head?" DiNozzo's playful tone called as he strode into the lab.

"Because she's the favorite." Ziva shot back without even looking at him.

"Get over it." McGee said, not unkindly.

"Haha." Tony rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Hey, boss."

"DiNozzo, McGee, Ziva." Gibbs greeted.

"Hey, guys!" Abby waved and smiled brilliantly.

"Abby!" Tony smiled just as brilliantly. You couldn't help but love her. 'In a totally sisterly way.' Tony amended in his head.

"Abs." McGee grinned.

"Hello, Abby." Ziva greeted, also with a smile.

"Now that we all know each other." Gibbs eyed them all semi-disapprovingly.

"Right." Abby said, immediately falling back into business mode. Scrunching up her face slightly, she typed in some more commands. "The partial prints aren't all I found." Spinning quickly on her platforms, she moved to her evidence table. "Preliminary blood analysis shows that Walsh had traces of gamma hydroxybutyric acid in his system."

Ziva and McGee looked quickly at each other with identical blank looks. Gibbs and Tony, however, spoke at the same time.

"GHB." Abby looked back and forth between each man. McGee cracked a small smile and Ziva rolled her eyes.

"Why does it not surprise me that you would know that?" Ziva eyed Tony.

Tony, in turn, made a face at her.

Gibbs shook his head in what was clearly a 'Children, please.' manner and looked back at Abby.

"Exactly. GHB; the date-rape drug." Abby smiled.

"Overdose?" Ziva asked.

"No. There was only enough in his system to make him woozy and less than coherent." Abby answered.

"So…whoever drugged him just wanted--," McGee started.

"To slow him down." Abs finished.

"Nice work, Abs." Gibbs squeezed her shoulder and jerked his head at his team. Abby grabbed her Caff-Pow and took a long sip as she watched them leave her lab.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

"That's a woman?" Tony grimaced as he looked at Captain Rachel Tierney through the two-way glass. The officer was sitting rigidly on her chair, hands folded stiffly on the table.

"Tony." Ziva admonished.

"What?" Tony shuddered. "Come on Dav-eed." He said, stressing her last name. "You can't even look at him. Her!" he quickly corrected himself, then, looking unsure, added, "It?"

"I can too." Ziva glanced at the officer, before looking away quickly. "See?"

"Ah, ah, ah." Tony waggled his finger at her and took a few slow steps in her direction. "Look at her, Ziva. Look at her. Big, frizzy hair…pale, shapeless face…mustache…"

Ziva shuddered so violently, she stumbled a few steps and bumped into the glass. The Captain jumped in alarm, beady eyes darting from side to side.

Tony laughed and brought his face close to Ziva's. "Well, we can't all be as blessed as you, Officer David."

Ziva smiled coyly and raised her hands slowly as though to caress his face. At the last moment she twisted her wrists and dug the heels of her hands into Tony's neck, hitting his pressure points.

Wincing, Tony jerked back and Ziva laughed.

"If you two are done…" Gibbs' voice barked from behind them. "We have two suspects to interrogate."

"Yes, Gibbs." Ziva looked at the ground and hurried past Gibbs.

"Right, boss." Tony smiled confidently and started to swagger out of the room.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs growled.

"On it, boss." Tony jogged out of the room. When he hit the hallway, he moved to the room he knew Major Watson would be in. He really did not want to have to interrogate 'It.' He turned just in time to see Ziva throwing open the door to Watson's room. She turned, stuck her tongue out, and haughtily flipped her hair over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.

Tony narrowed his eyes and glared at the closed door for a moment, willing it to open. When that didn't work he sighed and, making a disgusted face, turned to Tierney's room. "She is so going to pay for this." He grumbled before pushing open the door and stepping into the room.

TBC

A/N: Please R&R!!!