October 30, 2007

"I miss Kate," Tony sighed, staring at Kate's empty desk.

"Wow, you just can't wait to get rid of me, huh?" Michelle Lee joked from her place by the copier.

A little over two months beforehand, Kate was in a car accident while on an assignment and broke her right leg was crushed. The Director had assigned Special Agent Michelle Lee, from the Legal Department, to be Kate's temporary replacement while she was on medical leave. While the team missed Kate, they also quickly grew to like Michelle. Her legal advice had proved to be extremely useful on cases, even going so far as to save Tony from losing his job when one case went wrong.

"Remember, Tony, she saved your job six weeks ago. You should not look a gift cow in the mouth," Ziva said.

Tony scoffed at Ziva's idiom mistake. "First of all, sweetcheeks, it's gift horse, not gift cow. Second, Agent Lee here knows I owe her my life. Doesn't mean I can't miss Kate. She's easier to tease."

Michelle laughed as she took a seat at Kate's desk.

"No wonder I've been the butt of your jokes more often in the last two months," McGee groaned.

"Be grateful, McGee, it just means he likes ya," Gibbs chimed in, walking in with three coffees in a carrier. McGee rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to his computer.

"Really, boss? Three? That's a little extreme," Tony said, standing up and walking towards Gibbs's desk.

"Hmm, that is a little unusual. Rough morning, Gibbs?" Ziva asked, also approaching Gibbs's desk from her own.

"They're not all for me," Gibbs said, finally sitting down. "One's for Haswari and the other's for Kate."

"Kate? She's coming back today?" Tony questioned excitedly.

"Yup," Gibbs answered, taking a sip of his coffee.

This got Michelle's and McGee's interests, and the two agents got up and approached Gibbs's desk to join their teammates.

"That is where my brother is then, yes? Driving Kate here?" Ziva prodded.

"Ziver's right. Should be here any minute," Gibbs confirmed, turning away from them, a silent signal for them to move away from his desk.

The team backed away from his desk slightly. Tony was on the verge of jumping up and down, while McGee and Ziva were clearly happy, just a little more subdued. Michelle's face fell as she realized this was her last day with the team.

"Agent Lee, it's been wonderful working with you," McGee said as he went to shake her hand.

"Your advice has been indispensable to us," Ziva agreed. "Thank you for being a wonderful teammate." Ziva went to give her a hug, which Michelle accepted, smiling.

"Thank you, guys," she said. "It has been an honor working on this team. You guys are all so easy to get along with. I wish legal was more like this." she started back to Kate's desk to pack up her things.

As she turned around, Ziva softly punched Tony in the arm. He winced and glared at her as she mouthed to him, "say something." Tony looked over to McGee, who nodded his head in agreement.

"Agent Lee," Tony began, walking toward her. She turned around at the call of her name. "All joking aside, I really can't thank you enough. If it wasn't for you, I'd be out of a job."

Michelle smiled. "Anything for a team member, Agent DiNozzo. I know if it came down to it, you'd do the same for me."

Tony smiled and nodded in agreement. Just as he went to say so out loud, he spotted the Director coming towards the bullpen.

"Good morning, Madame Director," Tony greeted. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Good morning, Agent DiNozzo," she greeted in returned, giving a nod to Ziva and McGee. "I've come to ask why Agent Lee is packing up her things."

"Agent Todd is returning today," Gibbs said, without taking his eyes off his paperwork.

"I'm aware," Jenny said. "I'm the one who authorized her return. But Agent Lee isn't leaving just because Agent Todd is coming back," she finished, smiling.

"Wait, really?" Michelle questioned, standing up straighter.

"Agent Lee, you've shown to me in these last two months that you are of the utmost value to this team. I believe, at this point, the team would not be able to function without you. Therefore, you are being promoted to Legal Counsel to the Major Case Response Team, effective immediately," Jenny informed her. Gibbs finally raised his head to look at his team and the Director. The other three team members smiled at the news.

"Wow, that's incredible, ma'am, thank you so much for this opportunity," Michelle said excitedly, approaching Jenny to shake her hand.

"It's well deserved, Agent. Your new desk will be set up by tomorrow," she gave the team one last smile and nod before motioning to Gibbs to come talk to her. Gibbs got up and the two moved away from the bullpen to talk privately while the four younger agents conversed.

"You didn't consult me on this," Gibbs said before Jenny was able to say anything.

"I don't need your approval, Agent Gibbs," she said, smirking. "I saw an opportunity and as the director I am authorized to make these decisions."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Jen, I just would have appreciated you telling me beforehand," Gibbs exclaimed quietly.

"Jethro," she responded softly. "She'll make a great permanent addition to your team." She patted his shoulder lightly and she made her way back up the stairs and into her office.

Before Gibbs could turn around to head back to the bullpen, he heard the familiar sound of the elevator ding. Upon hearing Kate's laughter, he turned around to greet her.

"Welcome back, Kate," Gibbs said softly as he met Kate at the entrance to the bullpen and gave her a hug.

"Thanks, Gibbs. It's good to be back," she responded.

"What, no hug for me?" Ari asked in mock offense, throwing his hands up in the air.

"I saw you yesterday," Gibbs replied, chuckling. "Got you both coffees, though."

"Best boss ever," Ari said, going to grab the coffee from Gibbs's desk. The rest of the team laughed.

"We have good news," Ziva stated as she hugged Kate.

"Agent Lee is staying on as official Legal Counsel to the team," McGee finished as he also hugged Kate.

"Really? That's great!" Kate exclaimed. She gave Tony a quick hug before approaching Michelle. "I look forward to working with you, Agent Lee."

"The feeling is mutual, Agent Todd. I've heard nothing but good things," Michelle agreed. They shook hands.

"This calls for celebration tacos," Ari said from his desk.

"We just had breakfast, Haswari," Kate said, exasperated.

"When are you not thinking about food?" Ziva teased.

"Hey now, why are you guys dissing tacos? This guy has a great idea," Tony said, walking over to Ari and giving him a fist bump.

"Save it for later," Gibbs said, hanging up his desk phone which no one realized had ever rang. "We've got a dead Marine in Laurel. Gear up."

The team immediately moved into action. Everyone quickly grabbed their weapons and other equipment from their desks and started to move towards the elevator.

"Ready to get back into it?" Tony asked Kate as they walked side-by-side to the elevator.

"Absolutely," Kate replied.