Spectro Magic

Summary: What happens when a new team member is assigned to Team Gibbs and becomes an integral part of the team? Does Abby accept her into her world? Does Gibbs trust her? And what is Spectro Magic? It is a Gibbs/OC story with my own little twist on it. I hope you enjoy.

This genre of fanfiction is completely new to me. I have always written Harry Potter fics in the past. Please be kind as I try something new.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the environments that are a part of the CBS series NCIS. This story is purely for entertainment purposes only…I am not making any profit on this in any way. I simply like to play with the characters I love to watch each week on TV.

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Chapter 1: The New Girl in Town

I was assigned to the NCIS team under the direction of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on December 2nd, at 9:00 a.m. My name is Elizabeth Ophelia Brandle. But people call me Lizzie. I started my career as a Forensic Scientist in a local police department in my hometown, Houston, Texas.

It didn't take long for me to become possessive of my lab and to work my way up to a supervisory position. I ran things like clockwork. I was clean, efficient, and I always double-checked my work. After five years of working for the Houston Police Department I had a reputation that was recognized throughout the city. I found myself being tossed from precinct to precinct to help out other forensic specialists with their evidence work.

Because I became picky about how things are organized and recorded, not to mention scanned, I saved my money for over a year to purchase my very own Mass Spec. I named him Spectro Magic; and now I have gotten in the habit of taking him wherever I go. It's just easier that way…and I know how he works.

After the tenth move to yet another precinct that needed help on their Forensics I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to move and try something different. Right about that time my mother passed away and left me with a house and a rather large inheritance. It allowed me to live comfortably and not worry about earning a large salary. But that was the final deciding factor that assured me it was time to get away.

I applied to the NCIS group in hopes of becoming a Forensic Specialist in the criminal investigative units. Because I was new to the bureau they put me through the months of training and other necessary pre-requisites I needed before I was given my first assignment. I was to be the Forensic Lab Assistant to a Ms. Abigail Scuito, in the NCIS unit lead by Special Agent Gibbs.

This group came with quite a reputation. I was told before I reported for duty to expect some resistance to my presence.

"They are a tight group that has been through a lot in the past years. Ms. Scuito is known for dismissing lab assistants quickly and prefers to work alone. Also, Special Agent Gibbs is demanding and results driven. If you are not able to keep up with his pace he will dismiss you faster than Ms. Scuito ever will." Director Vance gave me some advice before he introduced me to the team. "It is a quiet day for the team. They don't have any new cases and they have closed all of their recent ones. They should be able to show you the ropes and get you settled in."

"Yes, sir." I stood at attention ready for the worst. I am not a federal agent by any means. I only know about my craft and that was what I hoped to be instrumental in doing.

"One final thing: You were chosen for this position because of your psychological profile. You have tested closely to Ms. Scuito's unique style of doing things and you come highly recommended from your previous position in Houston. But never call Special Agent Gibbs, Sir." Director Vance pulled my file from the top of his desk and walked around to stand in front of me.

"What shall I call him, sir?"

"His team is in the habit of calling him Boss or Gibbs. He will instruct you on his MO." Vance turned around and pressed the intercom button on his phone.

"Yes, sir?" The line came alive with a female's voice.

"Have Special Agent Gibbs report to my office."

"Yes, sir." The line went silent as I waited for the next step in my life to begin. It suddenly became real to me all that had changed. In just a short time I rented out my mother's house, put a down payment on a condo in the D.C. area, and was about to begin a whole new era in my career. After hearing all of the horror stories about Special Agent Gibbs, my stomach did a small flip flop as I waited in silence for him to appear.

I was standing in front of the Director's desk with my hands behind my back. I had my feet slightly apart in a 'parade rest' kind of position. I was wearing a black suit that was well tailored with a knee length skirt and a purple bustier underneath. I always like to show a little of my own personality in my clothing by shocking people with the unexpected. To finish my look I had on a pair of black, strap-y heels, with my auburn hair cut in a short bob. It had lots of layers in it, and I was in the habit of pushing it back off my face with a headband while working in my lab. The color wasn't natural. But I decided I had been a Brunette for far too long…so I went to the beauty salon with a picture of a light auburn color and had it changed. I love the color and how it brings out my green eyes.

I was startled out of my own reverie as the door to the director's office came open in a flash and an older man in a black pants, black sport coat and black button down shirt came into the office with his gold badge clipped to his belt.

"You called, Director?" He was a handsome man…probably in his late fifties, with a strong build. His hair was silver and very controlled.

"Gibbs, I want you to meet the newest member of your team. This is Elizabeth Brandle. She is a highly recommended Forensic Scientist."

Gibbs looked over at me with a scrutinizing eye that made me feel like I was the chink in all of his problems. "I already have a first class Forensic Scientist on my team."

"Ms. Brandle has been assigned to be Ms. Scuito's lab assistant."

"Oh, hell, Vance! You know as well I as I do that Abby will never accept someone into her lab. I don't care how good she is." He became agitated as he came closer to the Director to make his point.

"This was not my decision. Apparently Ms. Brandle has something in her psychological profile that warranted her being sent specifically to this team. She has an impeccable work record. Just give her a chance and introduce her to your team before you take her down to Ms. Scuito's lab to get settled in."

"Settled in?" Gibbs chuckled at the whole situation. "You know how Abby is about her instruments…no one touches them."

"If I may, sir?" I asked in a much more bold voice than I felt at that moment. Gibbs looked at me with a piercing gaze that told me that I had already made a mistake. "I mean, Gibbs. I am the same way about my lab instruments. I brought my own Mass Spec with me."

I think I caught him a little off guard as he smirked slightly. He walked over to me and looked me up and down to take in my full person. I noticed his eyes stop and rest on my bustier that was peaking out of my buttoned up suit jacket.

"Tell me, Ms. Brandle, who travels with a Mass Spec? That is a fairly large instrument to cart around."

"Please, call me Lizzie, everyone does. And, well, I do. I was transferred to many different labs on a regular basis in Houston. I find that all Mass Specs run a little different and have their own temperaments. So, I finally gave in and purchased my own. Now I at least have consistency anywhere I go." My eyes never left his as I tried to convey a bravado that I simply did not possess.

"Follow me." With those words Gibbs turned around in one swift move, grabbed my file from the director's hands and began to leave the office. I looked over to the director with a question in my eyes about following his orders.

"I suggest you keep up with him Ms. Brandle." The director dismissed me as I scurried out of the office and caught up to Gibbs. I followed him down a staircase that overlooked the entire first floor. There were groupings of desks that each had about four to five desks in them.

Once we reached the bottom we made a quick turn and walked down a hallway of sorts to end up in one center with four desks facing each other.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs got one man's attention as he walked into the grouping of desks and passed the people to find his own desk.

"Boss?" Tony stood up from his desk and looked over to Gibbs for direction.

Gibbs set my file down on his desk and grabbed a cup of coffee. "Where's McGee?"

"McGeek is down in Abby's lab helping her with some bandwith thingy." Tony came out from behind his desk dressed in dark slacks and a dark maroon button down shirt with a black tie with matching colors swirled in it. He was probably in his late thirties and very handsome.

"He's probably helping her to determine the optimal Bandwith for the Forensics network system in order to gain the most efficient times on future calculations and database searches." I spoke out of turn without even thinking and immediately knew that I was crossing lines.

"Exactly." Tony pointed to me while he still addressed Gibbs. "Who are you?" Tony looked me over as he came closer to where Gibbs and I were standing.

"This is Elizabeth Brandle. She's the newest member of our team. She will be assisting Abby in the Forensics department." Gibbs announced me to the group.

"Ahh, Boss, Abby is not going to like that."

"I know that DiNozzo. But this came from above Vance…so it is our task to see that Abby at least gives her a shot."

"That means no hitting on her, Tony." An accented female voice came from over my shoulder as a beautiful dark brunette woman came into the bullpen.

"Ziva I can control myself."

"Really? I give it two days before you do something that can be misconducted as sexual harassment."

"It's misconstrued, Ziva."

"Alright you two, behave." Gibbs interrupted their banter with just a few stern words.

"I apologize for Tony's behavior. My name is Special Agent Ziva David." The young beautiful woman extended her hand in my direction.

"Lizzie." I shook her hand.

"And I'm Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo." He extended his hand to shake mine as well. "If you ever need anything, Lizzie, I am your guy. I can provide you with restaurant suggestions, housing arrangements and even give you insider tips on the Boss man's rules." Tony gave me a cocky smile as he nodded his head towards Gibbs to point out the boss man.

"DiNozzo." Gibbs walked up behind him and smacked him on the back of his head. "Try not to flirt with the new girl on the first day."

"Right, Boss."

"Lizzie, let me take you down to Abby's lab and get you and your Mass Spec situated in your new role." Gibbs nodded towards me to get my attention as he turned and started to stride away with determination.

"You have your own Mass Spec?" Tony impeded my progress in following Gibbs with his comment.

"DiNozzo!"

"Right, Boss. Shutting up, Boss."

I took that as my cue to hurry up and catch up to Gibbs as he hit the button on the elevator. I ran towards the doors as they opened and he got on the elevator. I heard the sound of the floor button being pushed and slid into the elevator just as the doors were closing.

"Close call, Lizzie. You'll have to learn to move fast with this group."

"Not a problem, Boss." I smiled in his direction to see if he was okay with me using that term to address him. He smiled back at me and shook his head as he chuckled at my obvious seeking of approval.

"Don't worry about me, Liz. Abby is the one you're going to have to win over. She's very particular about her lab."

"I already got that impression. I take it she's never had a successful lab assistant before?"

"Not yet." Gibbs eyed my bustier again as the elevator came to a stop and the doors began to open. "But I have a feeling you might be different." He walked out of the elevator with a smile on his face.

I heard the sound of music beating wildly as I followed him into the lab. I was shocked to see a tall, black-haired Goth wearing a short black and red plaid skirt and skin tight black t-shirt. She was standing in front of wall of computer screens and typing furiously.

Gibbs walked up behind her without her noticing and blew a short puff of air on the back of her neck. One of her pigtails fluffed up from his action as she turned in surprise.

"Gibbs! You have to stop doing that."

"Aww, you love it Abbs."

"Not always. So what brings you to my domain on this day? I don't have anything for you, we don't have any open cases. And I don't see a caf-pow." Her eyes flicked over to me quickly as she took in my presence in her lab.

"I have someone here for you to meet. This is Elizabeth Brandle." Gibbs gestured to me during his introduction.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Abby." She extended her hand towards me as she bounced with the glee of someone who enjoys her work.

"You can call me Lizzie. It's good to meet you too." I smiled at her and took in her collar and dark make-up that worked so well on her.

At that time I saw another man come around a corner from an office in the back of the lab.

"I think I figured out our communication problem, Abbs." He stopped in his tracks and stood a little straighter. "Boss? Did you need something?"

"At ease, McGee."

"McGee this is Lizzie Brandle, Gibbs just introduced her to me." Abby smiled at me and him as she made our introductions.

"Hi." He came over and shook my hand with a smile.

"Can I take it you are the missing member of the Gibbs team from upstairs?"

"Guilty."

Gibbs walked over to Abby and leaned into her personal space as he addressed her in a commanding way. "Abbs, Lizzie is here for you."

"Aww, Gibbs, you brought me a present?"

"She's your new lab assistant." Gibbs didn't give her any space or escape as her whole face went into a downcast mode.

"Gibbs, why would you do this to me again? You know I don't work well with other people in my space." Abby tried to escape his stance and reach for a stuffed Hippo that was sitting on a shelf just out of her reach.

Gibbs used his body to impede her actions. "This was not my decision. But the upper management believes she would be a good fit with you."

I turned my attention to McGee to see the look of terror that crossed his face as he watched the interaction between the two. It was easy to see that all of the members of this team had a special bond and connection that came from years of working together in close quarters; and it made me wonder if I would ever be able to cross into their world.

"But, Gibbs, my babies?" Abby made a face that looked sad as she cowered under his penetrating gaze.

"Well, one good thing about Lizzie is that she comes with her own Mass Spec."

Abby looked up at Gibbs with surprise in her eyes and then turned to look at me again. "You have your own Mass Spec?"

"I sure do. I call him Spectro Magic." I smiled at her as she stepped out of Gibbs protective circle and came over to inspect me closer.

"What's the first procedure you perform when you receive results from a Forensics test?" Abby rattled off her little test of my skills.

"Check it a second time."

Her eyebrows raised at my accuracy; she then moved her eyes down my body a little until she spotted the bustier peeking out from under my business suit. "I dig your bustier…where did you get it?" She came over to me and ran her fingers over the sweetheart top of my purple bustier.

"Thanks. It's this great little online boutique called the Cheeky Witch. They have all kinds of quality Goth wear."

"And that is where I make my exit. Abbs, get her settled in and find a place to put her Mass Spec." Gibbs leaned over and pressed a quick kiss on Abby's cheek as he passed her on his way out.

"Aye, Aye, Sir." She saluted him in a playful gesture.

"Don't call me, Sir." He then stopped and looked over to me. "And you…good job." He smiled and continued to leave the lab.

"McGee!" Gibbs bellowed as he started out the door to the elevator.

"Boss?"

"With me, Now!"

"I'm on your six, Boss." McGee grabbed his jacket and started to run out the door. "It's was nice meeting you Lizzie."

"You too, McGee." I yelled out to him.

"McGee!"

I heard the sound of the elevator ding as the doors closed. McGee must have just made it on the elevator in time to join Gibbs.

"I've never heard of Cheeky Witch. Is it all Goth wear?" Abby got excited as she went to her computer to pull up the site.

"Yeah, I love their stuff. But I only integrate a few pieces into my wardrobe to kind of throw people off." I walked up to her side as she pulled up the website and started to scroll through new items they had on the site. "I could never pull off your look…it never looks right on me. I think I'm just not meant to be total Goth. But it looks fabulous on you."

"Well, it's not for everyone." She was riveted to the site as she found a few pieces she liked. "Oh, this one is great!"

"Abby, I want to let you know that I completely understand your protectiveness over your lab. I lost quite a few employees at my last place due to my strict guidelines and idiosyncrasies. But I also want to assure you that I will do my best to follow your lead, not touch anything without your permission and learn to work in accordance with your style. I hope to simply be able to enhance your already brilliant work that precedes you."

Abby stopped looking at the Cheeky Witch site and smiled over at me. "I think I'm going to like you. So what kind of instrument is Spectro Magic?"

"He's a hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spec. I know every inch of him." I smile as I think about my baby.

"Nice! My baby is the new 5500 series. Same model just more power. So, where should we put him?" Abby looked around her lab until she found a small counter that was empty underneath the windows that opened onto the street level. "This should work. Do you have him with you?"

"Yeah, he's in my car. I can't carry him by myself."

"No problem, I'll get someone from the Navy Yard to bring him in."

"You'll have to tell them to be careful with him. He's prone to falling apart on me when he gets agitated. Practically molts every time I move him."

Abby laughed as she picked up her cell phone to call the front desk to assign some guards to my baby's moving to his new home. As I take a long look around the basement lab I realize it will take some time gaining access into this group of misfits…but I know already that I like it here and I hop to make it my new home.

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After two weeks of working on Team Gibbs I am learning the ropes quickly and starting to make a niche of my own. Abby has gone over every inch of her lab with me and explained to me how she works. I took mental notes of her procedures and even asked about areas in which I might be able to help. As we became closer friends she started to tell me what tests she would like to give me to run when we are in the process of a case.

It has been a quiet two weeks. Well, I take that back…there hasn't been any case activity, but there has always been some kind of music blaring in the background of our work each day. At the end of the first week I noticed myself starting to sway to the music and catch the beat with the movement of my hips.

"Ah, you like my music." Abby turned around just in time to see me make a couple of minute sways.

"Well, after a week you start to appreciate its rhythmic qualities. Who is it?"

"Android Lust, they are one of favorites. But I will have to introduce you to the whole collection I have. I always have music on in my lab. I find it helps me to keep moving and to concentrate on the case."

"I'm the same way…just usually a different genre of music." I smile back at her as I hit the strong drum solo with the pounding of my hands on the counter in front of me.

"What kind of music do you listen to?"

"I'm more of an eclectic person when it comes to music. There isn't much that I don't like."

"You rock, Liz." Abby smiled in approval as she came over to check my procedure for analyzing hair particles. "Looks good! I never thought I would say this, but you just might be a good lab assistant."

"Does that mean you won't tie her up Abbs?" Gibbs came into the lab in his usual determined rush with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Gibbs! I would never tie up a lady. Especially one that looks as good as Lizzie."

Gibbs took a look over his shoulder at me and shook his head with a small smirk as he looked over my outfit for the day. I was wearing a very demure outfit. It was a dark green suit that closed with a long line of buttons down the front of my suit jacket and a matching skirt that hugged my curves and ended right at my knees. I topped off the outfit with some fishnet stockings that were held up by a black garter belt.

"Looking very professional today, Lizzie. But you're missing your usual hint of Goth in your outfit." Gibbs asked me in a very matter of fact tone, as if it was a perfectly reasonable observation.

"Umm, not really, its…well, it's hidden." I smiled as his eyebrows rose.

He turned to Abby in the next second. "Abbs."

"Yeah, Boss?"

"Ducky is using this slow time in the office to have everyone catch up on their CPR retraining. I want you and Liz to report to autopsy before the end of the day."

"No problem, Gibbs."

Gibbs smiled at her and then used his hands to sign my girl.

I watched with apt attention as they started to have an exchange using sign language.

How has Liz been working out, Abby?

She is great. We work well together.

Glad to hear it. I would hate to find another assistant bound and gagged. You have such bad luck with assistants Abby.

Don't think that will happen. She has a good grasp on boundaries and is very cautious of crossing them.

I wondered if I should tell them that I am fluent in sign language. But I decided to stand there and let them have their private conversation in front of me.

She seems to be a lot like you, Abby, just not as outwardly rooted in the Goth lifestyle as you are.

She has a little freak in her like all of us. She wears it with pride. It's just hidden beneath the professional exterior.

What is that supposed to mean?

You should see her choice in lingerie. She is kinky through and through.

Abby that is highly inappropriate.

Abby's eyes got bigger with inflection as she signed, She's hot, Gibbs. Even you had to have noticed.

"Abby!" Gibbs said her name out loud as a warning for her to watch how far she took the conversation. I had a hard time hiding the smile that was forming on my face and holding in the giggle that wanted to come out at the awkward position she put him in so quickly.

"It's good to see that you are working out, Liz. I hope you prove to be a valuable member of our team." Like always, with those final words he made his retreat out of the lab.

The next week went pretty much like the first. Abby and I became used to each other's presence and started to work together in sync. It got to the point that I could read her actions and figure out what she would want to do next. At times we would even start to dance around the lab in sync as we ran practice tests. It was quite a sight to see.

My outfits started to become a little more risqué and revealing, with a Goth overtone. I became used to Abby's unusual choice in clothing and found that I loved being able to express myself a little more freely around her. I could never go completely Goth, because that's just not me…but I found that I loved putting in one or two items in my wardrobe that helped me assert my femininity and made me feel powerful.

On a Monday morning of my third week I was hanging out in the bull pen with Tony, Ziva, McGee and Abby. I was sipping on a cup of my favorite White Chocolate Mocha Latte as I listened to their morning banter. They cracked me up as they went back and forth with random topics.

"Tony I do not understand your obsession with movies. You're always quoting them and they never make any sense." Ziva was picking on Tony as usual. I think she has a thing for him. The two of them remind me of elementary school kids on the playground pulling on the pigtails of the girl you like

"You wouldn't understand, Ziva. It's a guy thing. There are so many lessons that can be learned in movies. Quotes that will forever make up a part of our society and form the way we live."

"Like what?" Ziva raised her eyebrows to challenge him to come up with some quotes on the spot.

"Okay, how about 'Stella!'?" Tony used his best acting bravado with the Brando accent and hand gestures.

"A Streetcar Named Desire, with Marlon Brando." I blurted out the name of the movie without even thinking twice about whether he was asking for an answer.

Tony looked over at me with a little bit of surprise on his face. Then he turned back to Ziva, "How about this one 'I want you to go to your windows, open them up, and yell out as loud as you can "I'm as mad…"

"as Hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" I chimed in with Tony as we both finished the quote at the same time. This time Tony stopped and turned to face me with a scrutinizing look.

"What? What did I do?" I looked him with innocence as I realized that maybe I overstepped my familiarity with them.

"You better watch out, Tony, it looks like you have a challenger for the title of Movie Buff in the office." McGee kept up the lighthearted aspect of the conversation by challenging Tony.

"That will never happen, McGoo. For I am the Movie Trivia King."

"Really? What makes you assume you know more than I do?" I raise my eyebrows at him as I join in on the playful banter.

"You have not proven yourself yet, young Padowan."

"Give me your best shot." I smiled at him as I waited with baited breath to beat him at his own game.

Tony took a deep breath as he stood up from his desk and began to pace in the middle of the bull pen to think about his challenge. All of a sudden he turned quickly to rapidly send off movie questions. "Name all of the actors that have played James Bond?"

"Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig…oh, he is a beautiful man. And wasn't there a Timothy Dalton?"

"How does Hannibal Lector eat his liver?"

"With some flava beans and a nice Chianti."

"Name the Indiana Jones films?"

"Well, there was Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and most recently The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

"Can you name all of the Star Wars films?"

"Hmmm, we start with Episode One: The Phantom Menace, Episode Two: Attack of the Clones, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith …that really was a good one. Then there is the original Star Wars that was titled simply Star Wars during it's first release, but later gained the name Episode Four: A New Hope, then there is Episode Five: The Empire Strikes Back, and finally Episode Six: Return of the Jedi. But you could also include the newest animated Star Wars film The Clone Wars, but I find that not even worth mentioning."

Tony squinted his eyes at me before he asked his next question. "What's the first rule of Fight Club?"

"You never talk about Fight Club."

"Who's Keyser Soze?"

"The actor who plays him or the character that plays him?"

"Both?"

"Kevin Spacey plays Keyser Soze, who is played by Verbal Kint."

"You remind me of the Babe."

"What babe?"

"The babe with the power."

"What power?"

"The power of VooDoo."

"Who do?"

"You do."

"Do What?"

"Remind me of the babe."

"Do you have any idea what they are doing, McGee?" Ziva looked over to McGee as Tony and I stayed locked in each other's gaze.

"They lost me awhile ago." McGee shrugged his shoulders.

"Never figured you for a Labyrinth fan, Tony." I teased him a little before he continued.

"It's all part of my task to stay informed about movies in the past and present."

"These are too easy…why don't you try giving me a real challenge?"

"Okay, what does Tom Cruise say to Renee Zellweger at the…?"

"That's too easy." I interrupt him before he even finishes the question. "You complete me."

"And I always thought that I would complete you, Liz." Gibbs came striding into the bull pen with his usual coffee.

"Boss. We were just testing Liz's knowledge of movie trivia." Tony was the recipient of one of the famous Gibbs stares that I had heard of so many times. "Which has absolutely nothing to do with the cases we are working on."

Tony turned to go back to his desk as Gibbs put his coffee down on his desk and went into the top drawer to retrieve his sidearm.

"Grab your gear. We have a dead petty officer in a drainage ditch on Washington Avenue." Gibbs barked the order like he was ordering his next meal at a restaurant…there was such ease, familiarity, and yet authority in him.

I watched in fascination as McGee, Tony and Ziva all jumped to attention and started moving in a flurry of movements to get their sidearms, badges, and backpacks full of their gear. In just a few seconds Gibbs was on the move again with all three of them following him to the elevator.

Abby jumped up from her spot on McGee's desk, "Well, that's our cue. We need to go prepare the lab to receive the evidence. As soon as it gets here we have to start analyzing it."

"Just let me know what you want me to do and I will follow." I jumped to attention and followed Abby to the elevator to head down to the basement to set up the lab. It looked like I was finally getting the chance to work my first federal case.

TBC…

A/N: Thank you for reading my first attempt at an NCIS story. I don't know where this one is going because it all started with the idea of a character similar to Abby, but not quite as eccentric with the task of integrating herself into their team. I would love any advice, suggestions, or critical reviews. Either way, Please Review…it inspires me to write.