Luis Bunuel wrote, "In the name of Hippocrates, doctors have invented the most exquisite form of torture ever known to man: survival."
The ding of the elevator happened so frequently, the NCIS agents didn't even notice it anymore. Tony glanced up more out of habit than anything, and was surprised by the group that had just entered the bullpen. Two men and a woman, all dressed in government-issue suits. Tony looked over at McGee ready to say something when the one of the men spoke.
"Which one of you is Agent Gibbs?"
A beat of silence, and then Gibbs answered. "That would be me. Who are you?"
"I'm Agent Hotchner with the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit. This is Agent Morgan and Agent Greenaway." The two agents nodded, but didn't say anything.
"Why are you here?"
"I invited them, Jethro." All heads turned to see the Director standing on the balcony above them. "They're going to assist you in catching the SERE Slayer".
Gibbs's jaw tensed. "We don't need assistance. We're going to catch him."
"How do you propose to do that? Three petty officers dead in the last six months, no forensics, no witnesses, nothing. If you don't let us help you Agent Gibbs, more will die." As Hotchner spoke, he crossed the floor, stopping in front of Gibbs' desk.
The silence stretched for what seemed like an eternity before Gibbs cleared his throat. "All right, but you work for me." McGee and Tony breathed a sigh of relief and Hotchner nodded. "Deal. We're going to need access to all the files you have and a place to work."
Gibbs picked up a thin sheaf of papers in a file folder, and handed it to Hotchner. "That's it. Dinozzo?"
"Yes, boss?"
"Find these agents a place to set up."
"Right away, boss." Thankful for something to do, Tony motioned to Morgan and Greenaway to follow him, which they did. "Right this way."
"We're also going to need a comm link back to Quantico." Hotchner added.
"McGee?"
"I'll go let Abby know." McGee stood up and headed for the elevator. Once he was gone, Hotch smiled faintly.
"They're well trained."
"We've worked together a long time."
--
"Abby, where are you?" For once, McGee didn't see Abby anywhere. She was usually front and center, holding court over her mechanical subjects.
"Right behind you." McGee whirled to face her, startled.
"Don't do that."
Abby smirked. "You slept in a coffin, McGee. Compared to that, this was nothing."
"But, I didn't know it was a--, never mind. Gibbs needs you to establish a comm link with the FBI at Quantico."
Brushing past him, McGee caught a whiff of gunpowder. "What does Fornell need from us?" Before she finished the sentence, she was already typing away at the computer.
"It's not for Fornell. It's the Behavior Analysis Unit."
Abby paused, fingers poised over the keys. "The profilers? What are they doing here?"
"They're going to help us catch the SERE Slayer. It's all the Director's idea. Gibbs isn't very happy, but Agent Hotch--" Abby cut him off, as she resumed typing. She didn't turn around though her typing became more rapid.
"Hotchner? Was his name Hotchner? Who else was with him? A woman? A guy with a messenger bag? A guy Gibbs' age or one who looks kind of like Sacks?"
"Yes, yes, no, no, yes." Abby was brilliant, but this was bordering on psychic. "How do you know this? We didn't even know they were coming until five minutes ago." Abby ignored him, so he approached the console and put a hand on her shoulder. "Abby, what's going on??"
A window on the screen opened, and a blonde woman with funky glasses and a big grin appeared on the window Abby just opened.
"Oracle of Quantico - speak if you--Hey, Abbs, what's up?"
Mission completed, Abby looked at McGee. "Because, McGee, Garcia's the one Hotch needs to talk to."
"Nice to meet you, McGee. I've heard a lot about you from Abby."
"I wish I could say the same." He really shouldn't be surprised. Abby knew way more people in government labs than anyone McGee had ever met. But, he did make a mental note to find out exactly what Abby had told Garcia about him.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me the BAU were on the way out!"
"You wouldn't believe it, girl, but I'm often the last to know when the team gets sent out. They don't need me until they get there. I guess your Director's a good friend of Gideon's, because this went through fast. Normally, we have more unsubs than we can shake a stick at, but this one took priority."
"Unsub?" McGee was confused again.
"Unknown subject." Abby and Garcia answered in unison, something which left them both amused and McGee wondering if they realized how alike they really were.
--