AN: I don't own any of the NCIS Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

Set sometime before Season 3 as Kate is included.

1. A face from the past

Gibbs entered the bull pen from the elevator, carrying his usual cup of coffee. Kate and Tony were sitting at their desks in silence. Gibbs raised his eyes, slightly amazed at the scene before him, normally they were teasing each other over something, but today was different, he didn't realise just how different it was going to be. He took a mouthful of his coffee and dropped the cup in the bin.

"Get your gear, we got a case" he announced.

Tony and Kate looked up, then collected their bags. "Where boss?" asked Tony.

"Norfolk" he answered, Kate looked at him as he turned back to the elevator.

"That's it? Just Norfolk? What's the case?" Kate asked, looking between Gibbs and Tony. The question went unanswered. "Should we tell Ducky?" She asked.

"No need... our vic's alive."

At the Norfolk Naval Base Gibbs pulled the car up to a building and they got out. A petty officer met them and introduced himself as Mark Dandridge.

"Morning Sir, I'll take you to see Captain Hammond first for her to bring you up to date then she will take you to HMS York to meet with Commander Barrett." Dandridge informed them.

"HMS? That's British." Kate commented surprised.

"We're involved in a series of joint exercises. Captain Hammond suggested we asked for help from NCIS" answered Dandridge smiling at her.

Gibbs raised an eye at the mention of Captain Hammond. A knot appearing in his stomach at the name, but then they were unlikely to have any connection to the Hammond's he knew. Dandridge lead the team into a makeshift office, a female officer in uniform, her hair tied in a neat bun, was standing with her back to the door studying a file. The knot in Gibbs stomach tightened. She turned to the Petty Officer and requested refreshments for the team before turning to fully face the new arrivals. As Dandridge left Gibbs stood rooted to the spot. She hadn't changed since their last meeting. She still looked beautiful. He ran his eyes over her and noted the absence of a wedding band on her finger as she gestured to them to sit down. Tony and Kate glanced at each other surprised by Gibbs silence.

Captain Hammond looked at the people before her. Her stomach flipped as she looked at the silver haired agent. When she'd requested NCIS she hadn't expected him to come.

"Jethro, its been a long time" She greeted him.

"... Sure has, how are you? ... How's Jess?" He asked grinning at her.

"She's fine. She's at school in England, she's coming to visit soon." Lucy glanced at the others present. "I'm sorry, Captain Lucy Hammond, I'm a doctor attached to the British units here."

"Special Agents Anthony Dinozzo and Caitlyn Todd" Gibbs introduced his team. Lucy shook hands with the two agents. Dandridge returned with the tray of drinks and left them on the desk. Everyone helped themselves.

"So Captain what does the Royal Navy want with NCIS?" asked Jethro.

"Help. ... The ship came in from 2 days of manoeuvres about 4pm yesterday. Most of the crew were given shore leave with a 1 am curfew. Chief Petty Officer Michael Dean and Petty Oficer Sean Philips failed to show by curfew and no one reported seeing them after about 10 pm."

"They definitely went ashore?" asked Gibbs.

"I saw them myself just after they left the ship. Philips came by clinic to collect a prescription. I was on duty all night. ... About 3am 2 marines brought Dean in. He'd been badly beaten, not just with fists either. I operated to stop the internal bleeding, but he's in a bad way. Philips is still missing. ... Before you ask, both are exceptional men, on the promotion grid. Dean's coming up on 20 years service and Philips is his protégé. They've served together for 5 years. This is totally out of character for both of them."

"Ok, ... how much heat are we getting for this?" He asked her. She grinned.

"Still no better at diplomacy then?" She answered, "You haven't changed. Our MPs have done what they can, our NCIS liaison officer is away on vacation, I suggested Commander Barrett ask for help from Washington. They sent you."

"We'll need access to any records and to talk to anyone who saw them at anytime last night. Can we talk to their ship mates?" Gibbs proceeded.

"The MPs have already interviewed everyone on their watch, they'll brief you on the outcome, if you still need to speak to the crew and the commander approves they're all yours." She informed him.

"I remember why I hate diplomacy" He quipped. Lucy grinned.

"You've got an edge, we invited you." She responded. Gibbs noted the sparkle in her eyes, she was taunting him. Nothing had changed. This was going to be an interesting case.

"You can always uninvite us, then we have no standing unless one of our guys is involved." He told her. Kate and Tony watched the exchange in silence. Dandridge knocked and entered. He handed over some papers and waited.

"Thanks Mark. Here's a list of the ships company, along with details of who was on duty and those who went ashore, when they left and returned to the ship. The two marines who found Dean are confined to quarters until you've seen them." Lucy handed over copies to each of the agents.

"Dinozzo, you and Kate go interview the Marines. Then go to the clinic and speak to Chief Petty Officer Dean."

"Sure Boss." Tony answered.

"Dean's heavily sedated after surgery. I'll let you know when you can speak to him" Lucy told them. "We've arranged for you to use the conference room at the clinic while you're here if you need somewhere to work."

Gibbs grinned. Lucy was ultra organised as always. He agreed to meet the team back at the conference room and they left with Dandridge. He stood watching Lucy. She packed up some papers eventually looking up at him.

"... You're staring Jet"

"I know" He grinned at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Working. ... Can we do this later, we're expected on board" She said bringing them back to the matter at hand. Gibbs nodded, she was right their reunion would have to wait.

Kate and Tony were on their way to the quarters of the Marines. "What's with the boss and the captain?" Tony asked to no one in particular.

"They seemed to know each other" agreed Kate. "Wonder how. ... She's Royal Navy."

"Captain Hammond has done a lot of liaison work and was married to a Marine." Dandridge informed them.

"Gibbs was a marine, she can't be one of his ex wives can she?" Tony surmised.

"If she was I don't think he would have been so civil." Kate answered.