Sorry this chapter was so short, but as the scene has changed, the chapter must change. Anyhow…not much to say here. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

They arrived at the crime scene in record time, thanks to Agent Gibbs radical driving. If she hadn't grown up around two older brothers that craved speed, she would've been sick by the end of their ride. She stepped out without any trouble at all much to Gibbs dismay. He had hoped to rattle her a little at least. The fact that it didn't bugged him. Was she unshakable?

He walked away from her and toward the truck where the rest of his team were gathered. They were waiting for him and his instructions. Gibbs walked around the body of the dead Petty Officer. He was crumpled against the trunk of a tree in the front yard of an average split level home. He was clad in his dress whites, though his cover seemed to be missing. She could make out several rips and tears in the fabric, each stained with blood. They were minor lacerations from what she could see. The knife that had been used was protruding from his mid section. Most likely, that was the cause of his death, but only the M.E. could make that call. The second she thought about it, the M.E. and his assistant came up to the scene and knelt down beside their newest charge.

"Sorry I'm late, Jethro. Mr. Palmer got us lost again. Hope I didn't miss anything."

The medical examiner had a Scottish lilt in his English accent. It was quite charming, she mused. He dug through his black bag and thanked the younger man when he handed him what he'd been looking for. Dr. Mallard inserted the liver probe into the dead Petty Officer.

For the first time since their arrival, Gibbs spoke, "What do we got, Duck?"

She stayed back, making sure she didn't impede their work. She was very unfamiliar with the forensic part of an investigation. Her forte was interrogation and questioning witnesses. She focused on what they were doing so she could learn, however.

"Well, as I've only just arrived, Jethro, I don't know anything yet. Give me a minute."

They waited patiently for the liver probe to do its job and at the beep, the older man spoke again. Agent Gibbs had waited by the body silently. His team was standing just behind him. Agents DiNozzo and McGee seemed to be having a somewhat friendly converstation, all the while Agent David making heated responses to whatever it was they were talking about. At first glance, you would've thought it was all just friendly banter, but Keller sensed a little edge to her comments. It was something to be explored later.

"Time of death, Duck?" Gibbs asked, his notepad in hand and his pen hovered over it in anticipation.

Dr. Mallard pulled the liver probe from the body and read the digital read out. "I would say that our dear Petty Officer expired approximately twelve hours ago. That would make time of death between 22:00 and 22:30 last night."

"Cause of death?" Agent Gibbs said, moving on.

Agent Keller grinned. Gibbs was very narrow minded on the job. When there was a case, she was sure that he did little else until it was solved.

"At first glance I would venture to guess that large military knife sticking out of his abdomen was the primary cause of death. Though I'll know much more when we get him home."

Without having to be told, the assisstant, Mr. Palmer, rose, "I'll get the gurney Doctor."

The young man left to carry out his task. The main team stepped forward only slightly, awaiting their orders. Gibbs turned and faced them.

"Tony, sketch and shoot. McGee, bag and tag. David, go talk to the witness that found him. Then canvass the neighborhood. Someone had to see something."

They moved without a word to do what they were instructed. Gibbs looked at Agent Keller and then turned without saying a word to her, as though she weren't really there. That didn't surprise her. She had expected poor treatment and alienation. She was a stranger to them and strangers were not welcomed. She was also there to observe them. That in itself made her an outcast. She simply stepped to the side giving Gibbs' team room to work.

She spent her time watching them. She didn't miss the way that Gibbs gave out assignments. He used Agent DiNozzo's first name. They were obviously close. The other agents he addressed using their surnames. There was nothing wrong with this of course, but it was interesting to see the difference in how he treated his teammates. There was room to explore there.

She noticed throughout that morning that Agent David kept to herself. She had been told much about this legendary team. They had a 98% solve rate for the cases their team caught. Ziva had been a member of the team since the former Agent Caitlynn Todd died. She was accepted rather quickly. Now, it seemed that there was a rift between her and the other agents, mainly Special Agent DiNozzo. This would need to be looked into further. They would joke, but some of the jokes seemed far more vindictive. Ziva would give him nasty looks and then return to her work, making sure to face away from him.

Agent McGee was very into his work. Any jokes or forms of conversation made by his colleague usually were ignored for the most part but, he would join in occasionally as he bagged evidence. Agent DiNozzo makes it hard to do just that. McGee and him seem to get along for the most part, but when Agent DiNozzo called Agent McGee 'Probie', McGee seemed to be hold in his contempt. Jessica saw it as brotherly teasing, but she assumed that McGee didn't see it that way. Perhaps that should be rectified. It was minor, but she could see it turning into something bigger along the way.

Jimmy Palmer didn't say much at all. He listened to Dr. Mallard's anecdotes of his youth with a smile, but she saw him steal glances at Agent DiNozzo once or twice. He even eyed Gibbs nervously a few times as though he wanted to talk or ask him something. He didn't seem like a part of the team at all to the others. He looked like he really wanted to be.

She also witnessed Gibbs eye his senior field agent warily when Tony sneezed. She was curious, but didn't ask. It was just a sneeze. She didn't understand the worry she saw in those steely, blue eyes. It was another question she would bring up at their sessions. At the moment, it wasn't important.

She turned when she heard footsteps approach, "Jethro has just informed me that we have a new team member. I am the medical examiner, my dear. I am Dr. Mallard."

"Special Agent Jessica Keller. Ducky?" She asked bluntly.

"Ah, yes. It was a nickname that I was given in my youth. Most of my friends call me that. You are welcome to as well, Miss Keller."

"Just call me Jess if you like, Ducky."

They shook hands politely. He had a firm handshake. He was kind hearted and talkative. He smiled at her and then left to drive the body back to headquarters. She would have to formally meet Jimmy Palmer back at NCIS she supposed.

An hour later they were all on their way back to the Navy Yard. They returned to their desks after sending all the evidence from the crime scene to the forensics lab and giving their reports to Gibbs.

Agent Keller sat at her desk quietly and wrote her report, making notes on her laptop. She was writing up her questions to ask during their first session. She chose a date, next day at noon, and sent the email to each person on her list. She had a feeling that Gibbs was a more direct person. She stood and walked over to him. She waited patiently in front of him after the third cleared throat went ignored. She would wait until he acknowledged her.

Finally he looked up, "You have something to say, Agent Keller?"

"Yes, actually. I wanted your attention and you wouldn't give it to me, Agent Gibbs. That's fine. I have played this game with others before, including Agent Fornell." She smiled when he looked up surprised, "I'll wait as long as it takes."

He nodded, "Good to know. What do you want?"

"I came over here to tell you that our first team session will be tomorrow at noon, Agent Gibbs. I would think it's okay to bring some lunch. The session should be about an hour long. I sent an email to the Director and all the other participating members."

"Why didn't you just send me an email?" He asked, feigning annoyance.

She grinned, "You demand that everything be brought to you directly, Agent Gibbs. I highly doubt you check your email for anything."

Tony practically choked on his jelly donut. McGee seemed genuinely surprised by her comment and Ziva simply grinned. It was very rare for someone to read Gibbs so well.

Agent Jessica Keller returned to her seat, but before sitting down she said, "If it's possible, I'd like to formally meet Abby Scuito and Jimmy Palmer before our first session. I would hate for them to be unprepared. If it's okay with you, perhaps you could introduce me to them this afternoon?" Again she formed the sentence as a request rather than a statement.

Gibbs nodded his head without looking at her. He was silent for some time while they all worked on their own things. He watched his team. Over the last month he had noticed differences in his agents. Ziva had been rescued and he thought that would mend the friendship between her and Tony. It apparently hadn't. Even he had to admit that he was still angry at her for trying to make him choose between her and his senior field agent. Tony had been with him the longest, even longer than Stan Burley. He couldn't and wouldn't choose her or anyone else over Tony. That was just the way it was. He did, however, appreciate her and her skills. She was a good agent, as was Tim.

This nonsense had to stop. He couldn't take his team being split up again. What was he going to do? He needed time to think.

When he was finally fed up, he stood abruptly and started heading for the elevator.

"Going for coffee.