Chapter 2

Nana was retiring and going on a cruise to heaven-knows-where. That meant Dabi was now completely in charge of the bakery.

"I've also been given explicit instructions to renovate the apartment," said Dabi. She was sitting at her father's desk at NCIS, cradling a cup of coffee, and trying to prevent the onset of a headache.

"In what way?" Gibbs asked.

"Any way I want. Seems the place has too many memories for Nana and when she comes back, she wants the place completely different." Dabi groaned, rubbing her temples. "And I don't even know where to start. I know what needs to be done, but beyond that, I have no clue."

"What needs to be done?"

"Plumbing could use some repairs, especially in the bathroom. Wouldn't hurt to have the wiring checked. Get that up to code, if need be."

"It does," said Gibbs. "The building was originally built in the 1960's and the last renovation was done about fifteen years ago."

"You know this how?"

"I pulled the paperwork," he said, handing her the file.

"Great, more paperwork. I hate paperwork."

"That's what computers are for," said Tim.

"Does that mean you want to come and work for me? Help me out with the paperwork?" Dabi asked hopefully.

"Not a chance," said Tim. "I don't want to wind up in a psychiatric hospital any time soon."

"Gee, thanks. Plus, Leo will be moving in with me. Ever since Fran moved out to the college dorms, the place has been a bit empty," Dabi said.

"They're not going to fix the loft?" Ellie asked.

"Insurance company says the building is too badly damaged, so the owners are just going to collect the insurance and move on," said Dabi. "Good thing Rocky gets along with Jed and Ruah."

"Any idea what started the fire?" Gibbs asked.

"I don't know and neither does Leo. We're not hearing anything, which pisses us both off. Good thing Leo had tenant insurance, though," said Dabi.

"DiNozzo..." Gibbs said.

"Calling the fire department, boss," said Tony, already picking up the phone.

"If it's an accident, that's one thing, but if it's arson, then that's a whole other mess," Tim said.

"And raises questions of who and why," said Ellie.

Dabi groaned. Gibbs just smiled. "You'll be just fine," he assured her. "You may make mistakes along the way, but trust your people and be willing to share the load where you need to. Daniel and Sharee probably made their fair share of mistakes but it looks like things turned out just fine."

"Is that before or after I put a bullet in someone's ass?" Dabi asked sourly.

A week later:

Leo walked into the office, followed by a tall man using a cane. The man was clean-cut and wore jeans and a dress-shirt. He was looking around curiously, not sure why Leo had brought him there. Dabi was at her desk, paperwork scattered around her, and swearing.

"These bastards are short-changing me but I can't figure out where!" she growled.

Leo tapped her on her shoulder and her head jerked up. "What?" she demanded. "Oh, hi."

"Hi. Bad time?" he asked. "I hate paperwork."

"I've noticed. What gives?"

"One of our suppliers is short-changing me but I can't figure out where," she groused. "Plus that contractor that Dad recommended? He just told me that the entire damn building needs a wiring code up-date. And so does the plumbing. Plus one of the delivery trucks has apparently broken down but no one will tell me what the hell is wrong with it!"

"Bad day."

"Very!" Leo smiled. "I may have a solution to at least some of your problems. This is Owen Rivens, former Navy. His specialty was Logistic Specialist."

"Hi Owen, I'm Dabi. Nice to meet you. What the hell is Logistic Specialist?"

"It's otherwise known as Storekeepers, and they are are tasked with maintaining ship or company military supply stores. They do what you're trying to do, which is run the bakery."

"Does that include paperwork?" she asked hopefully.

"A large part of it, yes."

"Ma'am, may I take a look at your supplier paperwork?" Owen asked politely. "I may be able to figure out what's going on."

"Please!" Dabi said, all but shoving the file towards him. He snagged a pencil from the cup on the desk and started going through the file. There was a knock on the door and the person, a man dressed in jeans, shirt with store logo on it, and apron stuck his head in, catching Dabi's attention.

"Barack's is here with a shipment," he said.

"And they're the bastards that have been shorting me," she growled, heading out of the office.

Leo and Owen followed her, with a scowl developing on the former Navy officer's face as he went through the file. Someone else caught Dabi's attention. They were rapidly becoming short of flour and sugar, two of the bakery's absolute must-haves. The supplier was Barack's Bakery Supply Co.

"I'm trying to get that fixed, I swear," Dabi said. "The idiots are here now and I'm on my way to deal with him."

Owen tapped Dabi on the shoulder. "Ma'am, may I deal with him?" he asked.

"Please! And stop calling me ma'am! My name's Dabi!"

"Yes ma'am."

Dabi growled and Leo smiled. At the docks, Owen took the waiting man's paperwork and said, "Nothing gets cleared until I check each and every item, is that understood?"

"I'm in a hurry," the man whined.

"Too bad. You've been short-changing this lady on her orders and if I find one single thing wrong, being late for whatever you're late for is going to be the least of your problems," said Owen. He smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes, and the man gulped nervously.

"I mighta forgotten one or two things," he mumbled.

"Really? Then, once everything is off-loaded, I suggest you go back to your company and get them," Owen growled.

Owen was thorough in his examination and when he was done, the look on his face was not good. "The order called for two dozen bags of flour. You're short four. It also called for two dozen bags of caster sugar. Again, you're short four. You're also short several boxes of Crisco, baking soda, baking powder, and coconut flour. And you're charging her for the full order. Are you out of your damn mind? As soon as this is done being off-loaded, you, sir, are going back to the supply company and getting the rest of the damn order and you can bet your britches I will be counting each and every one!"

The driver all but ran to his truck. Owen turned to Dabi and said, "I would strongly recommend you discontinue using that company, ma'am. I know someone better."

Dabi was looking at him with wide eyes. "Do you need a job? I hope you do!"

"I could use one, ma'am," Owen admitted.

"You have one!"

"When do I start?"

"You just did! The office is yours! You handle the paperwork and those idiots, I'll handle the baking," she said. "By the way, are you allergic to cats?"

"No ma'am. I like 'em well enough; couple of strays kept me company when I was stationed in Kuwait," he said, following her back in to the bakery.

"Fine. Your office is also home to Jed, Ruah, and Rocky," said Dabi. "Jed walks on his elbows because of radial agenisis, Ruah is all white and possibly part Cornish Rex, and Rocky looks like someone stuck a cattle prod up his ass. Oh, and Jed likes to sleep on the phone for some reason."

"That's what a headset is for, ma'am," said Owen.

Dabi stopped in the middle of the bakery, stuck her fingers in her lips, and whistled loudly. When everyone was looking at her, she jerked a thumb at Owen. "This is Owen. He's our new office manager. He just tore a strip off of Barack's and apparently we won't be using them anymore. Seems he knows someone better. Therefore, from now on, the paperwork and the office is his."

"Does that mean you'll be less grouchy?" one woman asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You're a grouchy bitch when you're doing paperwork."

"I am not!"

Several people chimed up, "Are too!"

Dabi's face went scarlet. Owen looked at Leo, eyes wide.

"She's the boss," Leo said. "If she says you have a job, you have a job."

"She doesn't even look old enough to be running this place, much less running these guys!"

"Born and raised here. Her grandmother, Nana, just retired and handed Dabi the reins. They know it and now you know it," said Leo.

"I've got my work cut out for me, don't I?"

Leo just grinned. "Still want that job?"

"After Kuwait and the Navy, this should be fun."

Leo patted him on the shoulder. "You ain't seen nuthin' yet, brother. Trust me. Daddy's a former Marine and now NCIS. Think about it."

"I am and I'm not so sure I like what I'm thinking..."

A few days later:

"He made Chief Petty Officer before being injured in an attack near the Kuwait Navy base," Gibbs said, reading from the file he'd brought Dabi. She had asked him to run a background check on her new office manager. Recent events had taught her to be careful about the people she hired, and Gibbs had been quite happy to help. "His actions earned him a Purple Heart and a Navy and Marine Corps Medal and his file says he was a damn good storekeeper who got hit with PTSD."

"Which is why he was working with Leo," said Dabi.

Owen joined them, clipboard in hand. He was still in jeans and dress shirt, but the shirt was more relaxed and the sleeves were rolled up, and he had a wireless headset in one ear. "Ma'am," he said, indicating where she needed to sign. "Sir," he said, nodding at Gibbs.

"Jethro Gibbs, NCIS," said Gibbs, offering his hand.

"Owen Rivens, sir. Thought the name sounded familiar. You were one of the agents involved in that whole mess with Harper Dearing, weren't you? When he set off that bomb on the USS Brewer?" said Owen, accepting the handshake.

"And went after us at NCIS," said Gibbs.

"Bastard. Hope you guys got him."

"He won't be causing anyone any more trouble, that's for sure," said Gibbs.

"And that's exactly what I have to do," said Owen, spotting something. "Jameson!" he yelled, heading for a scruffy-looking kid with a sour look on his face.

Gibbs grinned. "He's a good one," he said.

"Good to know. Now if he would just stop calling me ma'am, I'd be happy."

"So call him Chief; it was his rank."

Dabi smiled. "The girls already call him Handsome."

"And the cats?"

"Tolerate him and he tolerates them. Life is so much fun."

"You ain't seen nothing yet."

"I hate you."