Situation Shift: An Alternative Universe NCIS Fan-Fic

Summary: An undercover op, and a gunshot a few centemeters off course leads to a very different outcome for the NCIS team, especially Kate and Tony. AU Fic positioned after SWAK. Spoiler alert for both SWAK and Twilight. Rated T for mild violence and other non-K related activities ;)

A/N: I started watching NCIS in rerun on USA. I really like Ziva, but I really liked Kate too. I wanted to figure out a way to "save" her and that is where this fan fic came from. Obviously, I have no claim on NCIS save for my season 1, 2, 3 and 6 DVDs and my Abby Halloween costume.

Chapter 1: Assignment

It was a typical day in the squad room of NCIS. Gibbs had taken his coffee up to MTAC to be briefed by the director, McGee was typing away frantically, pulling up financial records, DiNozzo was leaned back in his chair, tossing Cheerios into his mouth and I was starting my day as I always do, by checking my e-mail. Sifting through the normal spam and forwards, there was nothing of interest so I turned to my co-workers. "Guys, do you know what's taking Gibbs so long in MTAC this morning? Usually he's telling us to 'grab your gear' or barking orders at us by now." "I do not bark orders, Agent Todd" came the all too familiar voice of our boss from behind Tony as he strode down the stairs. I immediately straightened up in my chair and looked at my computer screen. Gibbs sat down at his desk and questioned, "Where are we on the Lieutenant Spencer case?" I piped up first, determined to dig myself out of the hole I had jumped into moments before, "There are 8 houses and 5 couples on the Cul Du Sac where the Lieutenant and his wife lived. There are three sets of prints on the murder weapon, a garden claw." Tony chimed in next, "2 of the couples from the street have ironclad alibis for the time of death." "Abby is still working on processing the crime scene but she's running an analysis on some carpet fibers, DNA, as well as finishing up her examination of the blood samples from Ducky." McGee finished. Gibbs watched us all as we gave our reports and nodded. "Right, Kate, DiNozzo, with me up to the director's office." McGee stood up and stammered, "Uh boss, what should I do?" Gibbs froze, turned and just looked at McGee for a couple of seconds. "I'll . . . go help Abby in the lab." McGee offered and left his desk while our boss continued to lead the way upstairs to the Director's office.

We entered the Director's office completely unaware of the task ahead of us. Director Morrow was sitting behind his desk with a case file opened in front of him. "Kate, Tony, please have a seat." The director motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk. Tony glanced quickly at Gibbs as if asking for permission. Gibbs merely nodded and we both sat. "We are in a situation here with the Spencer case. There are too many suspects and not enough evidence to narrow it down. Miss Sciuto is still working but we need to get a jump on this murderer before he or she strikes again. That's where you come in." I looked from the Director, to Gibbs and back. "Oh no, no, you want me to go under cover with Tony?" The director nodded. "You can't be serious. If I'm stuck pretending to be married toTony you'll have another murder on your hands." Gibbs looked at me with that understated smile and replied, "You don't have to pretend to be married to him." I let out a sign of relief. "You can just pretend to be living with him." Defeated, I looked over at my new 'husband'. He had such a Cheshire Cat grin on his face that it took all of my strength not to smack him.