Meet and Greet...Rules
"Hey, Duck." Gibbs called out as he came through the sliding doors to Autopsy. He should have had a colorfully dressed very tall young lady at his heels, but when he turned around he saw that she had stopped at the elevator. In what she would learn was typical Gibbs fashion he called her name in his military voice then pointed to the spot next to him. She inched forward far more cautiously then he would have imagined her doing anything.
"Isn't that Autopsy?" She asked."Well, yeah. They won't let Dr. Mallard work on the bodies anywhere else in the building." It was his attempt at humor that didn't seem to register. So, he took her hand and brought her into the room.
"Well, there you are Jethro. I thought I heard you call out, but when I came round I didn't see you."
"How's it going Duck?"
"Just splendid, but I won't have any answers on the Lieutenant's stomach contents and how it may have contributed to his death until I get the results back from the screening. I certainly hope they get the new forensic scientist hired soon."
"It's kinda why I'm here Duck. I want you to meet Abigail Scuito. She's the new forensic scientist for the major case teams."
Both Abby and Ducky reached to shake one another's hand. "Dr. Donald Mallard..."
Smiling Abby said, "Ah, now I get it... Duck!"
"Well, my dear my friends call me Ducky and yes it is a lay over from my school days. Only Jethro here shortens it to Duck. Which do you prefer, Abby or Abigail?"
"Definitely Abby. Abigail is what the Sisters in school would call me when I was in trouble. My dad too." Tossing her head in Gibbs direction she added, "He shortens mine to Abs and I've only known him a couple of days. I guess that's just his way." She kept smiling and squeezed the big calloused hand that still held hers. She barely remembered she was in autopsy or that she was supposed to be freaked out by it. He made her feel wonderfully safe and secure. Not fully sure what it was she was feeling Abby decided against over analyzing it this early on. There was the brief encounter with one of her professors, but there hadn't been any other older gentleman. Gibbs was definitely a silver-haired fox...
"Abby, I hope you don't daydream like that while you're working."
"Sorry Gibbs... Sorry Ducky."
"Don't apologize. It's a sign of weakness."
Abby looked puzzled, between both older men.
"No need to be confused my dear you'll learn soon enough. That's one of Jethro's rules."
"Oh, I'm s-s... Right, I was just thinking about work and all the changes. So, what's it like down here?"
Just then a tall African-American man in scrubs entered. He came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mostly cold, but you get used to it. Hi, I'm Gerald. I'm Dr. Mallard's assistant."
"Pleasure to meet you Gerald. I'm Abby the new forensic scientist."
"Well, Abby I dropped off a bunch of samples to the old lab with Nicki and she's waiting on you to get started."
"Looks like my lunch hour is officially over. Nice to meet you all. Thanks for the lunch Gibbs."
She got a head nod in response then heard him call out as she got to the elevator.
"Make sure you stop upstairs to see me before you leave for the night."
He didn't get a response, but nonetheless felt certain she'd heard and would be there.
~NCIS~NCIS~NCIS~
"I'm not interested in your feelings about it Vivian. What concerns me is your inability to follow orders. Mine and Stan's. He's the senior field agent when I'm not around. If he says to pull the cold case files with similar MOs then that's what you do." Gibbs wasn't yelling but Abby could tell from where she was standing behind the half wall near Vivian's desk that her new boss meant business.
"May I go now?" Abby could also sense the stubborn insolence radiating off of the red head. Having only known Gibbs for a couple of days Abby still didn't think she could be that bold with the gruff former Marine. Actually, after talking to Nicki she wasn't sure how to reconcile the multifaceted man. He seemed so gentle and down right sweet and paternal to her earlier today. According to Nicki though he could bark and bellow with the best of them. She mentioned the phrase driven to tears more than once.
With a flick of his wrist Gibbs dismissed his junior agent. Since he hadn't looked up he didn't realize Abby had watched the exchange. He didn't notice her at all until he felt her presence in front of his desk. Leaning back in his chair, arms behind his head, Gibbs took in the raven hair pixie with ponytails. He wasn't sure how tall she was out of the three inch platform shoes she wore. Knee socks with bows on the back and a plaid skirt, tiny enough to guarantee she'd give a show if she sneezed, combined with a skull-cross bone T-shirt made her look like an overgrown school girl fully rebelling against the dress code. Then she would start in with 'yes ma'am or yes sir' and she was all Southern politeness. She was definitely a hybrid. Of what he wasn't completely sure of yet.
"So, how was the first day? I didn't get any of the answers I was expecting." His slight smirk was the only indication she had that he wasn't seriously pissed.
"There was a lot to move and set up in the new lab. Nicki is really good. I'm surprised she's leaving to go to the white collar division. I guess she got tired of the blood and gore of murder everyday."
"She certainly got tired of something. Well, let's get out of here kiddo."
"Gibbs, I'm not that young you know." She said taking his hand. The girl was practically skipping there was so much bounce in her step.
Looking at their linked hands and feeling the energy of her gait he felt he had all the evidence he needed to contradict that statement. "Well, let's get you home anyway we don't want the Sisters to worry. I'll drop you off. I know that neighborhood and I don't like the idea of you taking a bus after dark."
"You remind me of my daddy, Gibbs. I think he would have liked you a lot. He was such a Southern gentleman. I know you're not Southern...at least I don't think you are, but you sure are a gentleman. Were you always like that or did you learn it in the Marines?"
"Do you ever breathe long enough for a person to respond?"
On reflex Abby signed 'sorry'. She was shocked to have her stoic companion reply, 'I thought I already covered that rule', in the same way.
"You know how to sign? That's very cool. Who taught you?"
"Needed it for a case, you?"
"My mother is deaf. I learned how to sign the same time I learned to speak. My whole family signs. Mama can read lips really well. She says it's my weakest ability. She forgets that I don't really need to practice it as much as she does."
They'd gotten out to the main parking lot and were in front of a weather worn light blue pick up truck. Gibbs opened the door for her in a manner she was already getting used to.
"Buckle."
As she clicked the belt across her waist Abby chuckled at the man's ability to communicate monosyllabically. They were more than half way there before Abby realized that she hadn't given Gibbs the address. How the heck did he do that? This would be one of the many things she hoped she would come to learn about her new boss. For now she was happy to sit back and enjoy the ride. Day 1 at NCIS... check, BIG success.
