The phone rang at Gibbs' desk twice before it received a gruff "Gibbs."
McGee was trying to focus on his computer, but his eyes kept drifting over to the new team member. She fascinated him. Unlike most girls that came within fifty feet of Tony, she showed no interest. Not only that, but she blatantly shot him down every time he tried. He wasn't sure why Robyn was so different. She had a quiet way about her. She was intense. When she looked at you, all you wanted to do was stare back at her. Despite the intensity of the gaze, it was warm. Yet, there was something hidden behind it. McGee could see that, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't place it. But, it looked a lot like anger. Her eyes alone made McGee's brain lose all contact with his mouth. He was left stammering and stuttering until he saw a look of actual concern cross her face.
McGee was snapped out of his thoughts when Gibbs got to his feet. "Grab your gear. We got a dead Marine in Norfolk." He said beginning to walk. As he passed Robyn's desk he dropped the NCIS field clothes on it and a pack to carry it in. Not once did he make eye contact as he passed.
Robyn sighed and put the stuff in the black pack and got to her feet, following behind the rest of them. It was then that McGee noticed her slight limp. He wondered where it could have come from. She was so interesting to him. All he really wanted to do was know her.
The team made it to the crime scene which was surrounded by caution tape on the side of a long road with woods on either side. A pale body lay on its side. Dried blood encrusted the torso of the body's cotton, button up shirt. McGee had the job of taking pictures of the scene while Tony and Gibbs went looking for evidence in the woods.
Robyn and Ziva were looking for evidence around the body. Ziva was showing Robyn the ropes of being an NCIS agent.
Robyn hadn't noticed that she was now looking for evidence near McGee.
"Hi." McGee said, one corner of his mouth rising, forming a soft half smile.
Robyn looked up at him with her piercing eyes and an amused smile. "How many times am I going to have to say 'hi' to you today?"
McGee then remembered having said 'hi' to her when she walked in this morning, and then he remembered saying 'hello' to her only a few minutes after that. Then he had said 'hi' once again right before lunch. Not to mention the one in the elevator when they were on the way to the scene. This was the fifth time he had greeted her in the span of two hours. He wanted to slap himself.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not used to new people." McGee said, desperation filling his voice.
"Don't worry about it." She said, wondering why he was getting so worked up. She even thought that she saw beads of sweat start to form on his forehead.
McGee made the mistake of looking into her eyes and the fumbling of the words began. "I-uh. J-just um." He stopped, thinking of what to say. When he saw Robyn beginning to lose interest, and look almost disappointed.
"I'm recovering from a concussion." McGee blurted out. It was a lie, but that was the first thing that came to his mind. He wanted to hit himself for about the seventh time today, but then he realized that he sounded somewhat interesting when he said that. "That's why I'm acting this way." He added, gaining confidence. To his horror, he heard the hilarious laughter coming from Ziva. To make things worse, the disappointed look never left Robyn's face.
Knowing he had to think quick to come up with how he had gotten 'a concussion' before Robyn truly wouldn't believe him he blurted without thinking hard enough, "I was at my apartment and I fell getting out of the shower!" It was, once again, the first thing that popped into his mind. He shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to see the look on either Ziva's or Robyn's face.
"Sounds like you need one of those Life Alert pendants McAccident." Emerged the amused voice of Tony from behind. "Or Bath Fitter. They can give you a handicapped accessible shower or bath in one business day." Tony added with a smug smile.
"Shut up Tony." McGee grumbled.
"Open your eyes McGee. You don't get paid to just stand around." Gibbs joined in.
Finally gaining the courage to open his eyes. When he did, he wished that he hadn't seen that look Robyn gave him. She just shook her head and let out a slight sigh. McGee had to look away, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach.
Back at headquarters, the team was gathered around their leader.
"Alright, what do we know about our dead Marine?" Gibbs asked, standing in front of the television which now projected a picture of the dead man.
"Well boss." Tony began confidently. "His name is Jason Roberts. Twenty-seven years old. He had a wife named Terry, no kids."
"His address is 1909 Berkley Street." Ziva joined in.
"Do we have any idea who could have killed him?" Gibbs inquired.
"We have the murder weapon which Abby is testing for fingerprints now." McGee added.
"Well. Let's pay his wife a visit." Gibbs said evenly.
"Wait. There was a piece of a suit found hanging on a branch." Robyn added quickly.
Gibbs turned to look at her and suddenly Robyn wished she hadn't said anything. She was given an icy glare that even made the rest of the team grimace.
"So?" Gibbs growled.
"S-so…it was an expensive suit. Very expensive. So…I think we can rule out the murderer being financially unstable…" She said, struggling to keep eye contact.
Gibbs didn't take his eyes off her as he said, "Tony…Ziva…We are going to talk to Roberts' wife." He finally turned, making his way to the elevator.
"I didn't even get that bad a look when I spilled his coffee…" McGee whispered to Robyn. He watched her smile the most convincing smile he had ever seen. But when he saw the hurt look in her eyes, it broke his heart.
"He'll warm up to you. Don't worry." He said softly.
She shook her head, the smile gone. "No…He won't." she mumbled as she got to her feet, walking towards the elevator.
"Where are you going?" He asked, still sitting.
"To solve the case. What else?"
McGee sighed and rose to his feet, rushing after her. "I'm helping."
