Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even my computer.
"Morning Tony! Boss." McGee wandered into the main office of NCIS, also known as the bullpen by those who worked there, nodding at his co-workers.
There was a fourth member of the team, but she wasn't expected until exactly eight, which was when her bus arrived. Apparently, she still wasn't allowed to drive in America, and with the amount of accidents and the speed she drove at, no one was exactly surprised.
Traditionally, Gibbs and Tony were the first ones in in the morning, and the last ones out at night, frequently working sixteen-hour days. Frankly, McGee wasn't sure how they managed it. Sure, he pulled all nighters when the case demanded it, but he couldn't function on less than eight hours of sleep normally. Tony seemed to survive on catnaps, and Gibbs drank so much caffeine, McGee doubted he slept at all.
Even when they'd been up three days straight, those two looked fresh as daisies, while McGee and Ziva were baggy eyed and snoozing in interrogation rooms. One of those skills McGee hoped he would pick up really soon.
His thoughts were sidetracked by the arrival of Ziva, the last member of their team.
"Hey Tony, McGee, Gibbs."
"Ziva, you run from the bus stop?" Tony asked, looking at his watch.
"No," she said, a little smugly, "I got a car."
Tony and McGee froze.
"Legally?" Tony asked, slightly uncertainly.
"Yes. Totally on board."
"Above board Ziva, above board."
"Yes, that." Ziva sounded impatient, as she usually did when faced with colloquialisms. "Anyway, I can now drive us to crime scenes."
Tony choked slightly, and McGee took over.
"It's not that that's a bad idea, Ziva, but the vans usually have sensitive equipment in them. Maybe you should get more practice in first…" McGee sounded as though he expected to be killed for suggesting it. Knowing Ziva, he might be.
"How will I get practice if I can't drive?"
"You're right Ziva." Tony became her unexpected ally. "You should drive the van, with McGee, and I'll go in with the Boss."
"You'll what, DiNozzo?" Gibbs' voice cut in, impatient tones demanding an explanation.
"I'll… go in with you? Boss?" DiNozzo's voice sounded uncertain.
"Fine. But stop chitchatting. Petty Officer Dylan Myers, found beaten to death in an alley outside Scorpio."
"Think it's a homophobic crime?" As DiNozzo asked, McGee and Ziva turned a surprised gaze on the man.
"What makes you think he's gay, Tony?" McGee asked.
"He was found outside Scorpio. It's a new gay-club in the city."
"Wait a minute…" Ziva had a thoughtful look on her face as she interrupted, "How do you know about a gay club?"
Tony waved his hand dismissively in her direction. "I know the guy who owns it, so I've been a couple of times."
"Would have thought you were a little wary of gay-clubs after Voss." McGee slipped in, smiling impishly.
"McGee! You're on the victim. Daviid, find out how contaminated our crime scene is. DiNozzo, find out more about the club, since you're the expert here." Gibbs barked, grabbing his coffee and leaving, confident in the expectation that they would follow orders.
Ziva and McGee raced for their computers, Tony loping after, and he picked up his phone to dial a number.
"Hey, Sebastian. How's business?"
There was a brief pause before he continued. "You know the guy who was beaten up outside your place lately… Yeah, that is a stupid question… He one was in the Navy… Wait. What?"
He held the phone to his ear with his shoulder as he typed something into the computer.
"Thanks Seb… Yeah… Yeah… Tell your Nonna I say hello…"
He laughed, and put down the phone.
"Gibbs will want to see this."
"See what, DiNozzo?" Gibbs seemingly materialised behind Tony, enjoying the muffled squeak of fright the younger man gave.
"Jesus Boss, don't do that!"
"What did you find out?" Gibbs ignored his complaint, focusing on the work.
"Our Petty Officer was the second victim. The first was beaten up, but spoke to the police. In his statement he claims his attackers were three large men in dark clothes."
Gibbs appeared to be waiting. "And?"
"That's it. He died in surgery straight afterward, the police were lucky to get as much as they did. No one at the club has seen anyone fitting the description."
"The crime scene was completely gone over by the local PD before they realised it was ours. All evidence is down with Abby."
Gibbs turned to McGee expectantly. "What have you got?"
"Myers was on shore leave, according to his commanding officer, he's well liked, and his record doesn't show anything incongruous. His family say he hasn't even had any messy break ups or had any enemies. His being gay seems the only reason he could be a target."
"Good. Any surveillance cameras?"
"Yes, boss. And a bouncer, but they didn't spot anything, and it was out of the camera's view. These guys know what they're doing. No trace, no evidence. Just a couple of dead guys."
Gibbs rubbed his forehead in frustration. This case seemed much closer to home than usual, what with that prick having made that comment to them the night before. Tony had even taken him and Abby to Scorpio one night, when Ducky was working.
That was the problem right there. It could have been him. It could have been Tony, or both of them.
"No trace, no living witnesses. That means, unless we catch them in the act, or get a confession, these bastards will walk." Gibbs growled, looking at Tony. "We need to get some men in Scorpio."
"Sure thing, Boss."
McGee looked at Tony. "Do you mean us? Because I wouldn't be able to act gay!"
"Just be yourself, McGee." Tony joked. "And of course he doesn't mean you. I'm so far out of your league it isn't funny. Seriously, they're homophobic, not stupid. No way would I go out with you."
"Well, I wouldn't go out with you either. Maybe you should take McPherson, he's about as attractive as you."
Tony winced. The man McGee referred to had a lazy eye and a receding hairline. "Very funny McGee. You think of going to Broadway? You could star in a musical, I hear Elf Lords are big there."
"McGee! DiNozzo!" They snapped to attention, stopping their bickering immediately. "McGee, you and Ziva set up the surveillance van. DiNozzo, grab Abby and meet me at the car."
"Yes Boss." The pair chorused, hurrying off to do their jobs, leaving Ziva standing next to Gibbs.
"Why is Abby going?"
Gibbs grimaced. "Well, I don't know what to wear in a gay club."
With that comment he left, leaving behind a gaping Ziva staring at his back.
