Chapter 2
Deep cover operations that could last months or even years. Terrorist attacks that would make 9-11 look like a walk in the park. Murder. Theft. Things that were a little more serious than what MCRT dealt with.
"So Dad deals with the idiots and you guys deal with the sociopaths," said Dabi.
"That's if we're lucky," said Sam. "Some of these guys are bucking for the position of the Devil's right-hand man."
"I am so glad I'm just studying to take over my grandparents bakery," Dabi muttered.
She had been introduced to Callen, Sam, Kensi, Deeks, Eric, and Neil. They all understood she was deaf and, to her delight, Eric knew sign language.
There was just one teeny tiny little problem. For some reason Gibor did not like Deeks. He had started growling the moment he'd spotted him.
"I'm really sorry," said Dabi, keeping a firm grip on her beloved pet. "He's never done this to anyone, not like this."
"Do you know what his background is?" Callen asked.
"Not really. The vet found a tattoo in his hear, but beyond that, no clue. I found him as a stray in Stillwater, over the summer. Locals said he'd been there for a while but no one knew where he'd come from. I adopted him after he saved me from nearly being hit by a truck that had come around a blind bend," said Dabi.
"If you give me the tattoo numbers, maybe we can trace him," Neil offered. "It's a long shot but it's worth a try."
It took a little coaxing and a bit of patience but they managed to get the faded numbers and letters. Armed with the information, Neil promised to do her best, while Eric and Callen showed her around the facilities.
At the gun range, Eric offered to buy her a true L.A. pizza if she could cold consistently hit the center of the target, having heard from Abby that she had been taught how to shoot by Gibbs and his team.
"Ten rounds in a SIG Sauer, going live," said Dabi, putting the clip in, racking the slide, and pulling back the safety.
"How far?" Callen asked.
"Hundred," Dabi replied.
The target was set and Dabi took aim. Ten rounds later, they were looking at the target.
"You've been taught well," said Callen. All ten rounds were grouped fairly close together.
"I never wanted to learn, but when your dad's a former Marine sniper and an NCIS agent who has a habit of pissing people off, plus a boyfriend who's studying to become a cop, that's when it becomes a necessity," said Dabi, removing the empty clip before setting the gun down as she had been taught. "You owe me a pizza," she said to Eric.
"And I know just the place to go," he replied, smiling.
Later:
"Found out why Gibor doesn't like Deeks," said Neil, carrying an iPad as she joined them at their desk.
"Because he has good taste?" Kensi asked sweetly.
"Hey! Dogs like me!" Deeks protested. "I made friends with Monty, didn't I?" he said, referring to the bomb-sniffing dog he'd adopted.
"That's not a dog, that's a walking garbage disposal," said Sam.
"Whom your daughter spent four hours having a tea party with the last time I baby-sat her," Deeks shot back.
"Did you ever manage to get the lipstick off his face?" Kensi asked, grinning.
"That was lipstick? I thought it was strawberry juice," said Deeks, eyes going wide.
"That explains why Quinn found dog hair in her lipstick," Sam groaned.
"Oops," said Deeks.
"Oops is right," said Neil. She held up her iPad and tapped an icon, transferring the file to the main plasma screen. "Gibor once belonged to this really nice guy, Parker Markan. He's currently doing time for animal cruelty and a few other charges, way over in Pennsylvania. Seems he had a habit of creating puppy mills that were less than sanitary, and Gibor was one of those puppies. I found his number in the files I dug up from a local vet's office, the same vet who was also nailed for the puppy mill business."
"Looks like Gibor is a cross between a Jack Russell and a Border terrier," said Callen, studying the file on the screen. "Small but agile, and very smart. Probably why he makes such a good hearing dog."
Deeks glared at the image of the man on the screen. Parker Markan bore a strong resemblance to him, with shaggy -, I am going to make friends with Gibor."
"I can hear your bank account crying already," said Kensi.
"A man on a mission," he said. "Neil, I need the nearest butcher shop and a pet store that specializes in dogs. When are we supposed to see Dabi again?"
"Eric took her to a pizza parlor and I promised to do a training session with her tomorrow," Callen said.
"A training session? On what?" Kensi asked.
"Apparently McGee and DiNozzo aren't giving her much of a fight; they're a bit afraid of her, so she wants a chance to fine-tune some of her lessons," said Callen, smirking.
"That should be fun," said Sam. "She looks like she could break in half with one wrong move."
"She mentioned Ziva was training her but whenever she tried to get anyone other than her boyfriend or her dad to train with her, the guys run in terror," said Callen. "It seems they're afraid of the Boss's Daughter."
"Maybe we should get the rubber knife involved," said Kensi, an idea coming to her mind.
"The electric shocky thingie one?" Deeks asked nervously.
"The one you got zapped with? Yup," said Kensi, grinning evilly. "If nothing comes up, this could be an interesting session."
"I fear you," said Deeks, eyes wide. Then he turned his attention to Neil. "Any way, one way or another, I will make friends with Gibor."
"If he bites you, I'm taking pictures," said Kensi, smirking.
"If he bites me, will you kiss it better?" Deeks asked.
"No, I'll be too busy laughing," said Kensi.
"And here I thought you were my partner."
"I am, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to have some fun at your expense," Kensi shot back.
"Your fun, my pain. I think I'd better check my health insurance," Deeks muttered.
The next day:
"So I don't have to pull back on the punches?" Dabi asked hopefully.
"Wouldn't be any fun if you did," said Callen, circling her on the training mat. He wore work-out clothes and so did she, with her hair pulled back in a braid. Both wore padded gloves.
"Cool!"
"Of course, if you want a real training session, Sam's got a few tricks he could show you," Callen offered, throwing a punch that she blocked.
"Yeah?"
"Former Navy SEAL."
Dabi's eyes lit up. "That explains the muscles under his shirt." She threw a punch of her own that he blocked and only just blocked the kick to his stomach. She followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks he was hard-pressed to block.
"You're good," he admitted.
"And this is fun," she said.
"Yeah? Wait until the rubber knife gets involved."
Dabi grinned in anticipation. "Tony's going to be terrified of me when I get back to Washington." Then she blinked, remembering something. "I wonder if he found the rubber snakes in the trunk of his car yet? I know Abby helped me spring-load a dozen of them before I left."
"Rubber snakes?" Callen repeated, not sure about what he was hearing.
"Yeah, he and I have an on-going war. He still hasn't forgiven me for buttering his kitchen floor or putting itching powder in his underwear drawer some weeks back."
Callen tried not to cringe. Then he started laughing. Deeks was now on the floor on his back, thanks to Dabi suddenly tossing him over her shoulder. He had just made the bad mistake of putting his hand on her shoulder when her adrenaline was rushing.
"Why do we have stars in the training room?" the detective asked in a dazed voice.
