You Make My Earth Quake

Disclaimer:
As always, I own nothing!

Rating:
T

Genre:
Romance/Hurt/Comfort

Pairings:
{past}Coulsye
{future}Skibbs

Lyrics Used:
Lucy Hale - "Nervous Girls"

Somewhere Between the Two

I'm that girl you think has got it figured out | But, I walk around with a head full of doubt | The cruelest words about me, come from my own mouth, la da di, la di da | Yeah, I'm that girl who wants I ain't got | Who looks in the mirror, and, sees all that I'm not | Wish I could jump off this reckless train of thought, la da di, la di da | Well, it's a cruel, cruel world

I'm scared and I'm brave, somewhere between the two | I'm beautifully strong | And, tragically confused | Yeah, I'm that girl | That's just like you

Come Monday morning, Skye had somewhat surprised herself when she'd decided to take Tim up on his job offer and found herself making her way through the Navy Yard. She'd located the NCIS Headquarters building fairly easily. After making her way through security, she found her way up to the third floor she'd been directed to. Stepping off the elevator, she spotted Tim in the bullpen, offering him a small wave and a hopeful smile. McGee simply returned the with an encouraging smile of his own.

Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo saw the exchange and turned to see who McGee had been smiling and waving to. "Who's she, McGeek?" Tony questioned, curiously, taking a moment to appreciate the young woman's appearance. Her long, lean, form suggested she was athletic and stayed in shape. Her smooth, caramel-colored skin was undoubtedly attractive. Her short, dark hair had been pulled back into a wavy ponytail resting in the center of the back of her head – her bangs draping over her forehead, elegantly. Her walk suggested an air of confidence – another attractive quality. Definitely way outta McGee's league. Tony thought to himself as he made a mental note of all the pick-up lines he could use on her before returning his attention to McGee.

"She's just a girl I met at the coffee shop, Saturday." McGee replied, casually. "She was looking for a job and I referred her." Looking across the bullpen, he could see the gears turning in Tony's head. "Tony, stop! She's new in town and to this job – give her some space. The last thing she needs, right now, is you hitting on her." He warned.

"Why?" Tony questioned, quirking an eyebrow, challengingly. "You interested in her?"

"Of course not." McGee replied, mildly annoyed by Tony's antics. "She's just a nice girl who just needs to get her bearings before you start in with your usual flirting."

"Fair enough." Tony conceded, knowing there would be plenty of time to win the new girl over. "But, riddle me this … You just met this girl in a coffee shop, two days ago, and you referred her for a job, here." Tony began, curiously. "As an agent?"

"Well, yeah." McGee replied, simply. "And, I see where you're going with this, Tony. But, Skye's got credentials even you and I couldn't touch."

"Skye, huh?" Tony questioned. "Very sexy name." He muttered, to himself. "What kinda creds we talkin' about?"

"The kind you wouldn't believe, even if I told you." McGee replied, rolling his eyes, slightly. "Honestly, it doesn't even matter. We don't even know that Vance is gonna assign her to us." He reasoned. "If – and I repeat if – he does, then, I think we should let her skills speak for themselves and leave it at that."

"I think you're bluffing." Tony surmised. "But, have it your way. If she does get assigned to us, though, she's your problem. You know Gibbs is gonna be watching her like a hawk and he's gonna be all over you the first time she drops the ball for bringing her to us, in the first place."

"You don't think I already thought about that before I recommended her?" McGee challenged.

"Just as long as we're clear." Tony replied, holding his hands up in a mock surrender before the elevator dinged, again.

"Clear on what?" Gibbs barked, shifting his gaze back and forth between Tony and McGee.

"So, Miss … Johnson …" NCIS Director Leon Vance began, reading over Skye's resume. "Says here you a SHIELD agent before coming to Washington?" He questioned, quirking an eyebrow curiously as he waited for Skye's response.

"Yes, sir." Skye replied. She couldn't help the nervous energy that had taken hold of her since she'd decided to do this. She stood before the director with a rigid posture and her hands crisply folded behind her back as she waited for him to speak.

"Give me one good reason why I should hire a young lady who previously worked for what was very publicly labeled an agency of fugitives?" Skye had fully expected that question as well as the penetrating glare. Truth be told, Skye had a whole long argument about how misunderstood SHIELD was, but, she had a better idea in mind.

"With all due respect, sir, talk is cheap." Skye replied, boldly, staring the Director straight in the eye and holding his gaze as she spoke. "I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves."

Leon couldn't stop the smallest of smirks from tugging at the corners of her lips. He'd already read over the girl's credentials and had already decided to take a chance on her. But, her response to his question only solidified his decision in which team to place her on. "I like that answer." He smirked, ever so subtly. "I'm going to be placing you with our best team leader, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs." He added, rising from behind his desk. "Wait here and I'll go and get him."

DiNozzo, McGee, and Gibbs had all been busying themselves at their desks before McGee and DiNozzo looked up from their stations to see the Director standing atop the stairs leading to his office. "Agent Gibbs!" He barked, drawing all the agents' attentions. "My office." He added, somewhat softer after he'd gotten the team leader's attention.

Following the Director up the stairs to the office in silence, Gibbs was mentally taking stock of all the ways he wanted to wring the Director out for interrupting his work when he wasn't aware of anything he'd done to warrant a trip the Director's office. However, he was soon distracted when he stepped into the office only to come face to face with a young, Chinese-American woman standing tall and proud – though, he could sense her nervous energy. She was slightly younger than most agents. But, her face and her body language spoke of a maturity far beyond her years. "Agent Gibbs." Leon Vance spoke, disrupting Jethro's assessment of the young woman. There was something about her that made Gibbs want to know more about her and that surprised him. "I'd like you to meet Ms. Daisy Johnson – or Skye as she prefers." He introduced the team leader to the young woman. "She's our newest probationary agent." He added, carefully watching the way that Gibbs was mentally assessing Skye. "Or should I say … your new probationary agent."

That got Jethro's attention. "What?!" As much as he wanted to get to know this young woman, he didn't like the idea of messing with his team's dynamic. He knew nothing of this woman or what she would and would not be capable of – or even if she could be trusted.

"Don't worry, Jethro." Leon smiled, cheekily. "The girl's got the stuff. She worked for SHIELD before coming to us -"

"You want me to bring a fugitive onto my team?!" Gibbs declared, his outburst cutting the Director off. "Director, you know what SHIELD was accused of – probably better than I do –"

"'Accused' of … None of that was ever proven." Leon argued, patiently. "I gotta tell ya, Gibbs, this girl's pretty impressive and extremely competent." He added, before stepping closer to his agent. "Not to mention, she's as handy with a sniper rifle as you are." He spoke softly so that only Gibbs would hear. Stepping back, he added "Besides … After David left, you know you're a man down, and I think you'll find her to be quite helpful to have around." He spoke decidedly, his voice leaving no room for argument, before returning to his desk. "You'll find out, pretty quickly as you've got a case."

"A case?" Gibbs challenged, still eyeing Skye curiously.

"We got a dead Marine on Valencia." Vance announced. "Here's the address. Why don't you take Skye with you and let her prove herself to you?"

Shifting his gaze between his new agent and Vance, Gibbs knew he was being overruled and decided that things could be worse as he turned on his heel. "Come on." He called over his shoulder as Skye snapped to action, grabbing the proffered gear bag from Vance.

Striding through the bull pen, Gibbs just stared straight ahead as he continued toward the elevator. "DiNozzo! McGee! Gear up!" He declared, with Skye still hot on his heels. She wasn't shy, he gave her that.

"Uh, Boss?" Tony replied, grabbing his own gear bag as he moved to follow Gibbs and the new girl he'd seen in the bullpen, earlier that morning. "She's comin' with us?" He questioned, curiously.

"She's part of our team." Gibbs replied, simply, as the four them entered the elevator.

"And, we're already taking her to a crime scene?!" Tony questioned, concerned.

"This isn't my first rodeo." Skye quipped, pointedly. "Just hope you can keep up."

Gibbs just grinned at the confidence exuding from his new probationary agent. She's got spunk. Jethro thought to himself, silently. I'll give her that. He added, really only half-listening to the back and forth bantering between Tony and Skye. She was definitely holding her own. "DiNozzo, you're riding with McGee." He finally interjected, cutting the banter short. "Johnson … You're with me." He added as they reached the garage level and split off in their separate directions.

Following Gibbs to his car, Skye just braced herself for anything. After the not-so-warm welcome she'd received in the Director's office, she couldn't be sure what to expect from her new boss. So, she opted for the only solution she knew. She braced herself for anything.

Author's Note:
Well, I hope you've all enjoyed this update! I wanted to add more, but, my husband will be home from work soon and I can't write while he's at home because I type too fast and he complains that the noise bugs him. So, sadly, I will not be able to update again until this coming Wednesday. Many apologies! But, I hope you're enjoying this story and will continue to stay tuned for more chapters to come! I got a lot of good stuff in store for Skye and Gibbs. You definitely don't wanna miss it!

~Skye Coulson