Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS. I just like playing with the characters. I promise I won't break them.

Just edited some punctuation mistakes that my friend pointed out. Our primary six teacher called it - 'nitpicking'. Thanks for the help.

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"Tony!" Ziva yelled as the latest crumpled ball of paper hit the ground. "Would you stop doing that?!?!"

Realising that Ziva would soon kill him, Tony paused in the act of creating a new missile. Instead he slid over to sit on her desk. Ziva continued to stare at her computer screen, trying desperately not to laugh.

"Tony, some of us actually working. A Marine and his family are missing. Do your job. Investigate."

"I am investigating, Zee-vah. I am investigating where McGee went in the middle of the day, when we have a case and why Gibbs let him go," he replied, trying to sound mysterious.

"Maybe it is case related."

She didn't think it was likely, since he was on his own, but she was at a dead end and had nothing better to do than mess around with Tony. They shut up as Gibbs stormed down from the director's office.

"Where the hell is McGee?"

"Um, well, boss, he, um, he, er, said, well, um," Tony spluttered.

"He said that you gave him permission to leave Gibbs. We don't know where he is," said Ziva, cutting in coolly.

"Well, find him!" Gibbs ordered as he headed to Abby's lab.

After a pause, Tony grinned.

"Doesn't look like it's case related, Zee-vah," Tony smirked, dropping into his chair and leaning back triumphantly.

"How does Gibbs expect us to find McGee?"

Tony leaned forward, putting his chin in his hand and pretending to think.

"This morning McGeek had a message from some girl."

"Honestly Tony, is that all you ever think about? Why were you looking at McGee's phone anyway?"

"He had a message."

Ziva sighed and decided not to push the point.

"Why would McGee skip work? This Marine is his cousin, yes?"

"Well if the girl is really –"

"Wow Tim, this is weird."

Ziva and Tony wheeled round. Tony felt his jaw drop as he saw McGee, and next to him the daughters of their missing Marine. Chloe, the older of the two at thirteen was looking at them, while Sally, who was only three, hid behind her. Chloe turned to face McGee.

"What's weird?" he asked.

"Stepping straight into the world of Deep Six."

Tony thought her voice sounded strange.

"I keep telling you Chloe –"

"The characters are not based on your co-workers because of the little note at the beginning of your book. However, Tony and Ziva are very Tommy and Lisa like, from what I've seen."

McGee mumbled something.

"Tim, when you do that I don't know what you're saying."

McGee mumbled again. This time she could just make out the word 'inspiration'.

"I don't blame you. They seem like . . . colourful characters."

Tony cleared his throat.

"We are here you know."

Chloe didn't respond but Sally pulled on her trouser leg and pointed at Tony.

"Thanks," she said, smiling at her little sister. "I'm sorry, what was that Agent DiNozzo?"

"I said, we are here."

"I was here when you assumed I was Tim's girlfriend."

"But I didn't know –"

She cut him off by putting a finger to her lips. Sally was pulling at her trouser again. Chloe looked down.

"I'm tired," she murmured and she clasped her hands and laid her head on them.

"Ok honey, we've just got to get cleaned up."

Tony noticed for the first time how disheveled and dirty they were. Was that blood on Chloe's shirt? He looked at Ziva who had just hung up the phone.

"Gibbs is on his way," she declared.

"How did you describe this Tim?" Chloe asked. "Explosions and gunshots?"

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