"Bloody hell, Novilene! Do you have any idea how worried we are!?" Lia exclaimed angrily on the video call as Thea watched her with an amused expression.
"Sorry, Cee." The 20-year-old woman, Novilene Cruz, cringed and smiling nervously. "Have I ever told you... that you're so beautiful?"
Thea snorts and almost choking her own breakfast. "Wrong move, woman." She commented and Novilene glared her through the laptop screen.
Almost everyone went panic that none of them couldn't reach their contacts. It turns out that their house was on fire and the belongings are already burned by it. Novilene called each one of them to apologize for their lack of communication and were busy with being interrogated by the firefighters. Needless to say, Lia was beyond angry and wanted to strangle the young woman if she wasn't here by now for calling her.
"I'm sorry for making you guys worried." She sighs sadly. "We didn't mean it if mom-"
"Don't put the blame on me, young lady!" The three of them jumps in surprise to hear a loud angry voice.
"You should've listened to me in the first place! You never listen to your daughter at all!" Novilene yelled her back and sighs heavily. "Listen, I'll call you guys soon. I'm sorry for everything."
The screen went black and they stared at each other, laughing at how they bickered each other like children. Thea couldn't believe how Novilene scolding her mother, Maria, while she tries to deny the idea of burning the house on purpose.
"Poor, Novy." Thea pitied the young woman and grateful that her mother is completely opposite of Novilene's mother. "She's going to have an early white hair before you, Lia."
"I feel sorry for her, especially how her mother tried to control her future." Lia spoke up and knowing how Novilene's life been a bit of hell.
Thea couldn't help but agree with her. Novilene's mother, Maria Hunt, key word tried to force her to become a Lawyer instead of being a cop or Doctor. Novilene hated the idea of someone controlled your future and decided to do a little bit of rebellion. She's smart at such a young age and can make her own decisions.
"How did your parental figures react? You going to transfer working with them?" Thea asks curiously.
"They are delighted to hear that I agreed." Lia answered and glancing down at her watch. "The FBI's on the other hand... they are sad but supported my decisions."
"You're one of the best Agent, Lia." Thea pointed out but Lia shakes her head, denying of being the best Agent.
"There are other Agents better than me."
"You're being too modest, Cee." She sighs heavily and sipping her orange juice. "You can use-"
"Thea, I can't use your car." She gives her a look and wondering why Lia can't use hers. "Someone will pick me up and I need to apply for my driver license in here."
"Who?" Thea asks curiously and still mad about Kate destroying her Science project.
"My Unit Chief, Jethro Gibbs." Checking her watch that it's almost time for him to be here.
"Where have I heard that name before..." Thea muttered as Lia went to changed her clothes while she washes the dishes.
A week ago, Gibbs offered her a job to become part of their team permanently. Gibbs saw her raw potential when she helped them on Sergeant Fuentes case. Her guardians are pleased to hear their girl accepted the offer. Everyone in the orphanage are going to missed her but they promised to call her often.
Ring!
Thea frowned and watched the screen to see a man, waiting outside of their condominium. She pressed the button and clearing her throat.
"How may I help you?" She asks the unknown man politely.
"Is Lia Snow there?" The unknown man asks her curiously and didn't expect she has someone living with her.
"Yeah, um... are you Jethro Gibbs? If you are, may I see your identification?"
"Sure." Gibbs showed his identification as Thea opened the door, smiling sheepishly at him.
"Sorry, I just have to make sure if you're an imposter or not." Thea leads him inside their home. "It's an actual force of habit that my parents including my sister, to check their identity in case."
"Your family must've been taught you to be cautious all the time." Gibbs commented and Thea smiled at him.
"Yeah, I'm actually living by myself until Lia wanted to stay with me." Gibbs stared at her curiously why her family letting this girl live by herself. "No worries, my family knew that I'm not alone and I have an adult to supervise me."
"Do they know it was Lia?"
"No, Lia wanted it to surprise them. She lied to them about not making up my sister's wedding." She smiled and couldn't wait to see their priceless expression. "Sorry about the decorations, my sister preferred the handmade by ourselves than buying those expensive decorations..."
Gibbs stared at the flower decorations made out of colorful papers. He shakes his head and couldn't believe how Lia and this girl manage to decorate this much.
"It's beautiful."
"Thank you." She feels so happy that someone complimented their homemade decorations. "I'm Thea Anderson."
They heard footsteps to see Lia just finished changing her clothes. "Good morning, Jethro."
"Morning, let's go?" He noticed Lia already have her bag for her first day of work as NCIS Agent.
"Sure, Thea, do good and stay safe." Thea smiled and kissed Lia's cheek. "Good luck on your finals."
"Thanks, Lia, you're the best." She excuses herself to review before going to school.
"Let's go?" Gibbs and Lia left the condominium.
Lia and Gibbs made it to bullpen together to see Kate and Tony have already arrived.
"Hey." Tony greeted them.
"Morning. How was your weekend?" Kate asks his Unit Chief and already knew her friend is working with them permanently.
"What have we got?" Gibbs ignored the small talk and Lia laughs nervously how his man is much focus on his work than his personal life.
"So much for a small talk." She commented sarcastically.
"I helped Thea for decorations and the bridesmaid dresses... are ready for Phoebe's wedding." Lia spoke up and ignoring her sarcasm as she went to her desk right next to Tony.
"Wow, sooner or later, Phoebe will be Mrs Dobrev now." Lia chuckled and agreeing with her.
"Car crash in Quantico last night. No fatalities." Tony read it out loud completely ignoring the women's conversation.
"Next." Gibbs ordered him.
"Petty officer caught shoplifting at Bloomingdale's."
"Is there anything worth over $50,000 at Bloomingdale's, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asks sarcastically.
"I don't think so."
"Then why would we handle it? Next."
"I heard a rumor about an ecstasy ring at Lejeune."
"You heard a rumor?" He stared at him in disbelief expression.
"He's been searching for a case, any case, since I came in." Kate explained as Lia opened her computer to look for something interesting case.
"All Agents not working active cases are to attend a sexual harassment lecture at the NCIS human resource training center at 0930 hours today." Tony read it out loud and Lia cringed at the idea of attending the lecture that are not active in working the cases.
"Tony, I've been attending those lectures plenty of times back in the Philippines. I'd rather be on a case than listening to it all over again." Lia pointed out and shiver slightly.
"You mean, they actually train you guys how to harass?" Kate asks them curiously as Lia glared at her slightly. "Hey, I'm kidding. Except for Tony."
"For the last time, Kate, I was only trying to get on my seatbelt on." Tony spoke up and clearly not impressed by her statement.
"Right. Seatbelt." Rolling her eyes and couldn't believe his every word he says.
"What are you guys talking about?" Lia asks them curiously and Tony peered at her closely as she moves her chair slightly backward.
"Hmm... you didn't wear glasses today." Tony spoke up and Lia blinked her eyes.
"My eyesight is not worse, I just wear it for a disguise in case my friends saw me." Lia explained. "I have it in my bag."
"You look beautiful in my eyes, Lia, with or without your glasses." Winking at her as she shakes her head.
"You always have time to flirt me, Tony." Kate scoffs and couldn't agree with her more.
"A dead Navy Commander just washed up on a North Virginia Beach." Gibbs explained to his team.
"Yes!" Tony exclaimed happily and Lia shakes her head at his actions.
"Shotgun." Kate informed him and walked ahead together with Lia.
"I hate it when she does that." Tony grumbled and smiled widely as he glancing at Lia. "On a second thought... it's not bad sitting with this Filipino woman." Whispering the last part.
"To think this case will happen to be the beach..." Lia sighs heavily and mentally thank herself for tying her hair in a ponytail as usual.
"Haven't done this case before?" Tony asks her curiously when she assisted him.
"There's always been a first time for everything." She spoke up and trying to look for clues.
"Snow!" Gibbs called his new teammate.
"Yeah!" Lia stands up properly and approaching them.
"Escort Ms Fontaine off our crime scene, please."
"Sure, right this way, Ms Fontaine." Lia escorted her including her crew.
Lia came back after she escorted them. She sighs heavily and hated the news reporter already.
"She asked a lot of questions about this case." Lia spoke up and standing right next to Tony.
"You should've picked me, boss." Tony whined while Lia sighs heavily.
"Knowing you Tony, I'm sure you're going to charm her and ask her number." Lia spoke bluntly knowing this man is a womanizer the way he flirts with her or any other woman he met.
"Don't worry, I have my eyes on you." Tony winked at her as she shakes her head and focusing the task at hand.
"Do you think he was shot or drowned?" Lia asks them curiously.
"Either way, he's dead." He removed his sunglasses.
"It's too bad. Good guy." Gibbs commented while taking pictures of the dead body as Lia silently prayed of his death.
"He got you out of that sexual harassment lecture." Tony pointed out. "I'd rather be at the lecture."
"Why? So you could drool towards the pretty woman?" Lia asks her sarcastically as he smirked.
"You jealous?" He asks with an amused expression while she gives him a deadpanned expression.
"It takes a lot to get me jealous, Tony." She smirked and see Ducky approached them.
"That man is an imbecile!" Ducky exclaimed angrily and pointing where the Petty Officer is. "He shouldn't be a school crossing guard. Here moved."
"Is it always like this?" Lia whispered to Tony curiously.
"Sometimes. Haven't heard you this pissed since you shoved that French flic off a cliff, Duck." Tony commented.
"Ano? (What?) you shoved a French cop over a cliff?" Lia asks him with disbelief expression. She couldn't blame him since looks can be deceiving. To think this elder man could do those harsh actions such as pushing someone off the cliff.
"There was a lake below, my dear." Ducky explained to their new team member.
"60 feet below." Gibbs spoke up bluntly while Lia shakes her head, trying to grasp new information about Ducky.
"Ducky, this crime scene's a mess. Can we move the body?" Lia decided to change the subject.
"Why not? The imbecile obviously has." Ducky grumbled as she laughs nervously.
"Let's turn him over, see if he was shot in the back." Gibbs ordered them as they turn the body slightly.
"Guess we can rule out accidental drowning." Tony commented.
"Oh, my friend, even if you'd survive the water, you would never have walked again." Ducky explained while observing the dead body.
"The DEA found a couple of bodies up at fort story that might be tied to this." Gibbs pointed out.
"At least they know not to contaminate a crime scene." He stands up and walked away from them.
"Hey, you two, clean this up bag him, and meet us up there." He handed them the bag and left them alone.
"Well, it gives you a warm feeling, doesn't it?" Tony asks his boss sarcastically while Lia stared at him with a confused expression. "Knowing Gibbs trusts us with a contaminated crime scene."
"Less talk and work faster." Lia spoke up and helped him to pick up the body.
"You don't complain much, do you?"
"I do and it depends on the situation."
"What kind of a situation would that be?" He only received silence from her. Thinking about the plans to annoy her as he did to Kate.
"Thanks for waiting, guys." Kate thanked them sarcastically while Lia smiled sheepishly at her friend.
"Chain of custody, Kate." Gibbs spoke up. "You had to stay with the boat."
"I'm not stupid, Gibbs." She rolls her eyes.
"Never said you were."
"I didn't have to ride in the tow truck with that boat now did I? You do this all the newbies, or just females?" She asks with a serious expression while Lia couldn't help but mentally agreed with her.
"Do we look like sexists?" Tony asks her and Lia.
"Ask me who's buried in grant's tomb. It's a tougher question."
"Can we just stop for a minute and focus the task at hand?" Lia pleads and stared at Kate. "We have a killer on the lose and bickering will get us nowhere to solve the case."
"Always been the peacemaker." Kate sighs heavily and looks down at her notes. "Nine students from UVA were having a beach party. Around 02:30, they heard what they first thought was fireworks out on the water."
"Gunfire." Tony spoke up.
"Good guess, Tony." She commented sarcastically.
"The whaler had six holes in its stern, two in the engine housing."
"Commander was running." Gibbs spoke up while writing down the notes.
"Probably from a larger boat they heard race up the coast. About 15 seconds later, the mary celeste came roaring out of the dark and onto the beach. Scared the hell out of them." Kate explained.
"What did you find on the boat, Kate?" Lia asks her curiously.
"Fishing gear, bait, coffee thermos, ham sandwich. I logged everything, sent it to Abby."
"No drugs?" Tony questioned the brunette woman.
"No, is there a drug connection?" She stared at them with a confused look on her face.
"DEA thinks so." Gibbs answered. "Two dealers floated ashore last night at fort story. Aerated."
"Well, there were no drugs on the whaler."
"You sure?" He asks Kate curiously. "I knew a granny in Baltimore hid a kilo of H in her horse's return."
"No horse on the boat, Tony." She rolls her eyes. "We working a joint investigation with the DEA?"
"Yeah. Ducky's got all three bodies in an autopsy, and Abby's drying the money." Lia answered her questioned.
"Money?"
"The dealers were found with fanny packs with wet franklins." Gibbs pointed out.
"Well, I got to see those bills." Kate informed them.
"Why?" Lia asks her curiously.
"I did work for the secret service. We tend to get all hot and bothered over large sums of hundred dollar bills." Kate answered.
"Is that what it does for you?" Tony questioned Kate sarcastically.
"What does it for me, Tony? Is a mystery that you will never solve." She glared at him while Lia sighs at their bickering as usual.
"I know the answer. Grant." He smirked while Kate fake smile as she left.
"Why do I feel like a high school principal?" Gibbs grumbled as Lia laughs nervously as she ate her orange fruit.
"I don't know boss." Tony answered and snatch Lia's fruit. "Thanks, sweetheart."
"If those college kids are right," Lia ignored him as usual while he pouts having no reaction from her. "Whoever shot the commander ran into the Chesapeake or up to the Maryland coast. We need to find out which."
"I'm on it, if you only feed me your oranges." Tony teased her and Gibbs smack his head.
"DiNozzo!"
"Oh, dear." Lia laughs nervously and finishing her last orange. "I'll help you... excluding the feeding part."
"Let DiNozzo do his work, Lia." Gibbs denied the idea of her working with Tony alone. He couldn't help himself but feel overprotective towards her.
"For the 1990 to '96 series, treasury introduced micro-printing as a countermeasure against computer printers and copiers." Kate explained it to them. "Good enough to stop high school kids but not rogue countries of the world's top forgers." She clicked something to let them see the image closely. "It's got one, tiny flaw."
"I'll be damned." Gibbs commented and Lia whistled in amused expression.
"To think this money is fake all along." Lia pointed out. "It's hard to imagine that this money is being forged to someone else."
"What?" Tony looked at it closely as he's behind Lia.
"You'd think a man that can find heroin in a horse's ass could find this." Kate commented and stared at the DEA Agent, Ken Fuller.
"You'd reach into a horse's ass?" Agent Fuller asks them sarcastically.
"I had a glove on." Tony spoke up and Lia stared at him blankly. "United States. What's wrong with that?"
"Read it again." Kate ordered him as she highlights it.
"Untied States. Oh, so the forger was dyslexic." Lia bit her lower lip lightly as she observes the picture closely.
"Not just the forger."
"Who would pay drug runners with counterfeit money?" Lia asks out of the blue.
"I know you don't want to hear this, Gibbs, but your commander could've bought with bogus bills. That's why they killed him." The DEA Agent spoke up.
"Commander Farrell was not dealing drugs." Gibbs pointed out. "Tony, where did you find that boat was headed when they dumped the two bodies?"
"Well, according to the tide charts, since the bodies washed up at fort story, the boat had to be entering the bay." Tony answered and shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, that narrows it down." Kate commented and facing at Gibbs direction. "Even if we knew the marina we still don't have a name or description of the boat."
"Well, let's talk to someone who does." Gibbs spoke up. "Can you pull in the boss of the dead drug runners?"
"Trujillo?" Agent Fuller asks while crossing his arms. "Sure, for as long as it takes him to get his lawyers down here."
"Bring in that dirtbag that runs the rival gang, too."
Agent Fuller chuckled. "These aren't a couple of sailors caught buying grass. These are pros. They won't tell you the name of their mothers."
"No offense, but maybe you just don't use the right tone of voice with them. Bring them in." The DEA Agent left the forensics lab. "Anybody at your old agency you can trust?" He asks Kate curiously.
"Trust to what?"
"Find out who forged these notes and where they've been circulating."
"Shouldn't be a problem."
"Without telling their boss." Kate gave him an exasperation look. "Is that a problem?"
"Gee, now why would that be a problem?" She asks sarcastically and left.
Lia mentally sighs and wondering why Gibbs ordered her more than she is. Not that she's complaining but somehow he's trying to be close to her for an unknown reason. Someone banged the window to see Abby is smiling at them. Abby did the sign language as Gibbs signed language back at her.
"Great." Gibbs complimented the gothic woman.
"What are you doing?" Tony looked confused while Lia smiled that she also knew sign language as well.
"They are communicating using sign language, Tony." Lia answered as they stared at her surprised. "My Aunt owns the orphanage. There are some children that are deaf or mute, we teach them to sign language." She explained while doing sign language.
"You taught them?" Gibbs asks her and is amused at her actions.
"Yeah, I studied it before taught it to them." She stared at Abby and did the sign language while speaking. "Sorry Abby, I just explained to them how I could understand the sign language. Care to tell us about your discovery?"
"That's fine and I'm glad you know about it." Abby reassured her using sign language then explaining it to her and Gibbs.
"How did Abby sign?" Lia asks Gibbs curiously.
"Her parents were deaf." Gibbs answered.
"Where'd you learn?" Tony asks his boss curiously.
"She just said that the AK-47 round that killed the commander came from the same weapon that killed two drug killers." Lia changed the subject seeing how Gibbs is tense about the question.
"Yeah, why didn't she just come out and say that?" Tony questioned and completely oblivious to it.
"Thank you for sharing your discovery, Abby." She thanked the woman as Abby beamed happily at her.
"You just became my new best friend, Ce-"
"You're always welcome, Abby." Lia intervened and laughs nervously. She doesn't like anyone calling her full name. Tony looked interested and wondered what Abby is about to say towards Lia.
Abby smiled and completely understands her reason why she prefers to say Lia not her full name. "That was fun, Gibbs. You still got the touch. I'm pleased to know you sign language as well, Lia." She did the sign language once more.
"Ooh, she's got more." Gibbs spoke up and followed her.
"I picked up GSR on the smugglers' hands. Their weapons were fired really recently." Abby explained to them. "The commander's was clean." Typing something on the computer as they read the screen negative.
"They said seadog didn't deal." He walked away.
"Seadog?" Tony asks curiously as Abby sign language then Lia smiled. "Let's go." He grabs Lia's hands as they finally made it inside of the elevator. "Who's seadog?"
"Lia, do you have the news reporter number?" Gibbs asks out of the blue.
"Yeah, she said and I quote 'if you have any leads, don't hesitate to call me'. Why?" Then it clicks her. Gibbs wanted to ask the news reporter of what they have found so far about this case. "Sure, I'll call and ask her for lunch as soon as possible." She sign language towards Gibbs silently that could irritate Tony more.
"Thanks, Cecilia." He signs language and smirked as she groans.
"How you guys sign, I should have known." Tony spoke sarcastically feeling out of place seeing them communicating through hands not mouth.
Gibbs did sign language on Tony as Lia shakes her head. Sometimes it feels like Lia is working with children instead of mature adult people she works for.
"My family and I are going to attend the wedding." Lia received a call from her friend, Novilene, and completely ignoring Tony's stare.
"Do you think it'll be awkward that your biological father, Jason Gideon, and your stepdad, Nathan or Ethan Hunt? To meet up the day of our friend's wedding?" She asks curiously while looking for clues about the case.
"Nathan is my stepdad while Ethan is my stepbrother." She sighs heavily on the phone. "I just hope that they're not going to compete which one of them is the best dad."
"Let's pray for the best, I'll call you soon Nov... don't do anything silly that some colleagues of yours are going to hate you more for it."
"Says the she-devil herself." She scoffs and hangs up before Lia says anything.
"That brat..." She muttered angrily and putting her phone down. "Staring at me will get you nowhere, Tony."
"I didn't know you could do multitasking." Tony shakes his head. "What's Abby is trying to say to you? Starting with sea?"
"How was lunch, Jethro?" Lia asks and changing the subject seeing their Unit Chief comes back as Tony playfully glared at her for changing the subject.
"They're here yet?" Gibbs asks them.
"Downstairs, waiting." Tony answered as they followed him. "You're not going to tell us about lunch, are you?"
"No and Lia, thank you for recommending the restaurant." Gibbs thanked the Filipino woman. "The food was great."
"You're welcome, Thea took me that restaurant yesterday after all the decorations we've made." Lia clenching her hands repeatedly and they noticed how she got three band-aids on her right fingers.
"Always changing the subject, Lils." Tony commented and tried copying Gibb's sign language a few hours ago.
"You should wash your hands with soap for saying that." Gibbs spoke up bluntly and Lia shakes her head at Tony's stunt he pulled.
The three of them went inside the medical examiner room.
"Special Agent Gibbs." Agent Fuller called their Unit Chief. "Frank Trujillo and Darryl Wilkins as requested."
"Over here." Gibbs called them as he opened the morgue drawer to pull the two dead body.
Lia closes her eyes and silently prayed of their dead. Tony rubbed her back to comfort knowing she hates to see the dead bodies. She opened her eyes and thanking Tony with a smile as he returned back the gesture.
"Is that a glimmer of recognition I just saw?" Gibbs asks them curiously. "It seems these two belong to you."
Wilkins laughs while Lia narrowed her eyes at them with her cold expression. "Well, good. I can slide, right?" He asks Gibbs.
"Not if you killed them."
Trujillo chuckled as Wilkins does at well. "Never scuffed anyone in my life."
If there's one thing Lia hated it most, laughing the dead people assuming it is funny to them. She controlled her temper and let Gibbs do it to interrogate them.
"I'm the only one not finding anything funny here. You know why?" He pulled down the cover of the third body. "This naval commander didn't die a natural death or fighting for his country. He died in a crossfire between you two dirtbags."
Trujillo rolls his eyes and completely bored about this. "I want my lawyer." He spoke up.
Lia mentally rolled her eyes and handed Gibbs the fake money. "This was found on these two boys in the cooler. It's counterfeit. Comes from a foreign government known to support terrorism." Gibbs explained it to them. "That makes you two dirtbags suspected enemy combatants under the patriot act. Tony, read them their rights. Put them on the first navy transport to Gitmo."
"You do not have the right to remain silent. You do not have the right to an attorney." Tony spoke up and approaching them.
"Gibbs, we don't know who counterfeited that money." Agent Fuller whispered at Gibbs and Lia low enough to hear him. "Even if it does come from a country friendly to terrorists, you can't send them to Gitmo. They're U.S citizens." He reminded them.
"Watch me." Gibbs whispered back and Lia looked clueless about what he's going to do.
Lia was completely speechless how Gibbs bluff worked so hard that could make Trujillo talks to them. She mentally shakes her head and focusing the task at hand.
"The two men on ice are brothers." Trujillo spoke up. "Jesus and Carlos Garcia. They run two of my boats. Fishing's been poor lately cause of... poachers in my waters."
"Your waters?" Wilkins asks with disbelief expression. "You own the oceans, Frank?"
He smirked and stared at them. "So, I kept my boats in port until our, uh... little dispute... could be settled."
"I can recommend a federal mediator." Tony spoke up sarcastically and Lia elbowed his stomach roughly as he groaned in pain. Who knew this 5'4 Filipino woman could be strong by just elbowing someone. "Sorry. Couldn't resist." He rubs his stomach and pouting at her for being so serious about it.
"Please continue, Trujillo." Lia spoke up and ignoring his look.
"Yesterday, I learned that the Garcia brothers took one of my boats out Sunday night, and never came back."
"Without asking you, Jefe?" Gibbs asks curiously.
"Si. Sin mi permiso." He spoke in a different language.
Wilkins chuckled, "You ain't balling no more when your marks don't ask, Frank."
"Callate, tonto, okay?"
"You can ride out with that salsa spit, okay?" He glared at him with full hatred.
"Believe that, Darryl?" Gibbs asks the black guy.
"There's no way he wouldn't come with the real in front of my grille." Wilkins spoke up bluntly.
"Real in front of my grille." Tony spoke up and chuckled. "I got to remember that." Lia mentally sighs at his statement but continuing writing down the notes.
"You know what that tells me?" Gibbs asks them. "As far as you were concerned, that boat was Trujillo's, fishing in disputed waters."
"I mean, I wasn't hip till this narc dragged me down here." Wilkins spoke up. "Swear on my seeds, okay? We ain't whacked them."
"He's not lying to you." Trujillo assured the Agents. "He didn't kill them."
"Yeah, this is good, Tony and Lia." He fake chuckled and find it amused while Lia masking it confusion to blank expression. "Oh, it's good. You got two rival dirtbags vouching for each other. You think Garcia chartered Frank's boat out to come some sports fishermen from Iowa?"
"Would they want to do anything legal?" Tony asks his boss curiously.
"No." Lia answered and shaking her head. "They were probably hauling drug smugglers."
"Or illegals."
"Or running guns." Gibbs spoke up.
"We miss any potential charters?" Lia asks the two suspects curiously.
"I told you everything I know." Trujillo spoke up. "Can I go now? Por favor?"
Gibbs thinks about it a moment and nodding his head. "Yeah, sure... once we have the boat." Trujillo stops turning and giving him a blank look. "Help me out here, Darryl."
"He's got GPS locators in all his boats." Wilkins answered.
"Now, why didn't you tell us that, Frank?" Gibbs asks the man.
"I like to handle my own problems." Trujillo spoke up and glared at Wilkins for saying it to them.
"Not this time. This one is ours."
"May I use your phone?" He asks Gibbs.
"Yep." He grabs his phone. "What's the name of the boat?"
"Can Tony sniff for drugs now?" Agent Fuller asks them.
They already have the name of the boat La Eterninad from Trujillo. Lia giggled when the German shepherd dog licking her face. The fact that he's being named by one of her teammates.
"Tony?" Tony asks with a shock expression.
"Some coincidence, huh?" Fuller asks and amused seeing the dog adored Lia. "Usually Tony hates stranger people but it appears he likes you, Snow."
"Must be her looks." Tony commented and winking at Lia.
"Flattering will get you nowhere, DiNozzo." Lia stands up and patting Tony the dog's head. "I don't even know why some animals seem to like me."
"Interesting..." He muttered and couldn't believe that this Filipino woman is full of surprises.
"Deck's been hosed, but there's blood residue." Gibbs spoke up and spraying it. "Get me some swabs, Snow. I'll start the cabin."
"Got it!" Lia responds and doing the task at hand. She swipe the blood and jumped in surprised to hear the weird sound engine. "What kind of engine's in this thing?" She asks Gibbs curiously.
"Drug runner special. Blown 502 putting out 800 horses." Fuller explained and looking inside to inspect something.
"I'm quite surprised that you didn't scream, Lia." Lia gives him a cold look towards Tony as he flinches in fear of her sudden coldness. "Did I mention you look hot with that look?" She sighs heavily and shaking her head.
"Find anything interesting, Jethro?" Lia asks Gibbs curiously.
"Main cabin's a mess." Gibbs answered. "Bloodstains, bullet holes... found some bloody bandages on the bunks. One of them's hurting."
"Can I search for drugs?" Fuller asks Gibbs.
"We're just getting started." He stared at the sea with deep thoughts. "What you can do is check with the marina office. See if they paid a mooring fee. Strike out at that, start canvassing the marina and find out someone..."
"Gibbs I'm a Federal Agent. I know who and what to ask."
"I keep forgetting you're not a dog walker."
"Oh... that's very funny." He rolled his eyes. "Come on, Tony." Dragging the german shepherd dog away from them.
Lia laughs seeing Tony the dog barks while Tony scoffs annoyingly. "Who knew that Fuller named the German shepherd dog by you." She commented and stands up.
"Very funny, Lia." He rolled his eyes and stared at the main cabin. "They should've hosed down in here."
"They did just enough to avoid attracting the attention of someone walking by." Gibbs explained.
"We're going to be bagging and tagging for hours." Tony pointed out.
"Jethro..." Lia spoke up and trying to piece something. "Commander Farrell was indeed in the crossfire, he saw something and wanted to report, however... someone killed him before he had a chance to escape." She stared at the sea with deep thoughts. "What if... we're not only dealing drug dealers but a terrorist instead?"
"Where did you get the idea, from Lia?" Gibbs asks her curiously.
"I apologize if I'm crossing the line of doing a solo investigation..." She smiled sheepishly seeing his amused expression. "I did some digging in every crime scene we've done. I double check to see if there are any clues we've missed."
"But?"
"I found nothing on the drugs but my bet is we're dealing terrorist and the suspect we interrogate has no idea they've been played." She stared at the sea.
"Hmm... have you done solo case before, Lia?" He asks her curiously and amazed by that theory of hers.
"Yeah and often to partner up with Novilene when she drops by Philippines to see my family, the orphanage and I." She answered without hesitation.
"I read your files that your Aunt owns the orphanage while your previous partner happens to be her husband." She nodded her head. "You never fail to amaze me, Lia."
"If only I got the time." Lia snapped out her thoughts and glancing at Tony when he stares at the bikini women are having to sunbathe under the sun. She didn't notice that he just stand right next to her.
"Ang baboy mo! (you're a pig!)" Lia yelled angrily and pushing him out of the boat before snatching the camera out of his hands.
Splash!
"What was that for, Lia!?" Tony spit the sea out of his mouth and looked shocked at how this woman could push him so hard before he could blink.
"Hmph!" Lia walked out of the boat and Gibbs smirked. How this woman could be so quick of what Tony is thinking right now. Not to mention, whatever she's saying in her own language, she must've been saying offensive words towards Tony.
"I hope you enjoy the sea, DiNozzo." Gibbs spoke up sarcastically.
"Boss, she pushed me for no reason!" Tony whined and pulled himself up.
"She has a reason and I bet Lia knew what you're thinking about." He smirked and leaving the sulking Tony behind.
Lia is needed to have a private tutor to teach her how to draw. She sighs heavily and wanting to swim on the ocean in order to escape from her work.
"Trouble in paradise?" She snapped out her thoughts and glancing at his direction seeing her fail of drawing on her hands.
"How am I supposed to be an excellent Agent when I suck at sketching, Jethro." She told her and Gibbs shakes his head. "I'm deadly serious. What if next time, someone asks me to sketch someone?" She lets him see the drawing and hard to tell if it's a person or an alien.
"I'm sure that you're not that terrible at it." Lia gave him a look as he chuckled. "I take it as a yes. Since you drew it just now."
"You have no idea." She sighs heavily and throwing the paper on the bin. "I tried so hard but it ends up I'm screwing things up."
"Not all of us have talents when it comes to arts."
"Tell me something I don't know." She pouts and crossing her arms.
"What did you say to Tony earlier?" He asks her curiously.
"That was my Filipino language and it means you're a pig. I saw him eyeing the bikini women undressing." She explained and glancing behind them to see Tony is wearing newly dried and fresh clothes. "I thought that he needed to cool off."
"You never fail to amaze me, Lia." He chuckled and Lia smiled sheepishly at him.
"Nothing from the marina office, but Jenny and Nancy were very helpful." They heard Agent Fuller voice.
"Jenny and Nancy?" Tony asks the DEA Agent curiously.
"The girls on the sloop over there." He pointed out where the women are and waved at them. "They're sailing that beauty all the way down the Intracoastal Waterway to Miami for her owner."
"All the way to Miami..." Tony muttered and flinched in case Lia might push him towards the sea again. He sighs in relief that Lia is busy writing down her notebook as usual.
"They're going to be there by the time you tell me how they were helpful." Lia stopped writing and stared at Agent Fuller of what he gathers the information so far.
"When they docked yesterday, there was someone on his boat." Agent Fuller explained.
"Did you get a description?"
"Late 20's, glasses, short hair. Gay or low testosterone. They waved. He ignored them."
"No way." Tony commented and stared at him with disbelief expression.
"That's what I said." Agent Fuller pointed out.
"What did they say?" Lia asks curiously.
"Guy had a couple of cell phones. When he wasn't working making calls, he was working a laptop... then about 1:00, Jenny started grilling some prawns. By the way, they're aussies." He said the last part to Tony while Lia mentally rolled her eyes.
"Aussies." Tony said it louder. "I love auss-"
"Finish that sentence and I won't hesitate to push you again. Same goes for you, Agent Fuller." Lia spoke up in a cold tone with a sweet smile that could make them shiver in fear by her expression. "We're here for work not for flirting someone."
"So, uh, Jenny was grilling prawns?" He coughs slightly and scared of this woman.
"Saw a white van pull up here." Agent Fuller answered. "The guy with the glasses was really excited to see the driver. She said they hugged a lot."
"Gay."
"Describe the driver?" Gibbs asks.
"Same look as glasses, without the glasses." Agent Fuller answered. "They brought some heavy suitcases from boat to the van, then they helped the third guy with a bandaged leg to the van. He must've been in the cabin the whole time. Then they drove off."
"Any more on the van, other than the color?" Tony questioned the DEA Agent.
"Nope. I tried. All they could remember was that it was white. Can Tony sniff the boat now?" Agent Fuller asks permission towards their Unit Chief.
"It's all yours." Gibbs gives him permission to let the German shepherd dog sniff the boat.
"It sure is." He holds the pink paper and places it on the boat's window.
"What's that?" Tony asks curiously.
"Asset forfeiture notice."
"Don't you have to find the drugs first?"
"I used to worry about rules like that. Then I met you guys. Come on, Tony, up. All right, good boy. Hold on." He leads the dog inside of the boat.
"I'm telling you, boss... Aussie chicks, definitely different than American chicks." Tony explained to his boss while Lia is speaking to someone on the phone. "A guy's even got to approach them differently. I'd have gotten more than the color of the van out of them."
"I know I'm going to regret this, DiNozzo..." Gibbs sighs heavily. "But to follow up on Fuller's interview."
Tony smiled widely and like the idea then mentally jumps in happiness to interact with the chick. He saw Lia came back as she stared at him with a skeptical expression.
"You're smiling like a crazy man, Tony." Lia commented and Tony grasping her hands.
"I'll be with Fuller, beautiful, to follow up his interview." Tony waited for her reaction and she nodded in understanding.
"Behind that being the ladies man, I'm sure you can do your work pretty well." Tony groaned and Gibbs snickered at his attempt to anger or jealous her up.
"Not the reaction I was expecting to..." He sighs heavily and letting go of her hands.
"I'm not surprised if you're asking their number. Don't get your hopes up and assuming they're single."
"Ouch, you wound my feelings."
"You need to face the reality, Tony."
"Hey." Kate greeted her teammates and noticed Tony wasn't with them.
"Anything from your friend?" Gibbs asks her.
"Yep."
"You disappoint me, Kate." He sees the familiar face he hated most, Tobias Fornell.
"Me, too, Gibbs." An unknown man spoke up and seating on Gibb's chair. "I thought she knew better than to trade down." Kate turned away while Lia looked confused and wondering who he is. "Oh, is this yours?" He stands up and let Gibbs sits down his own chair.
"You need to seriously rethink your definition of the word friend."
"If I were in Marcy's shoes, I would have down the same thing." Kate defended her friend.
"Careful, Agent Todd." The unknown man warned Kate. "You're running out of job options." He glances at the unknown Filipino woman then immediately know who she is. "You must be Lia Snow."
"How did you know my name?" Lia asks him curiously and narrowing her eyes at him. "It wouldn't be fair for not knowing who you are."
"FBI, Tobias Fornell." He introduced himself and shake hands with her. "Firm grip you got there."
"I quite get that a lot." She let go and not feel intimidated by him.
"Lia Snow, right before my eyes. You've been given a job opportunity to work such as CIA or NASA. Unfortunately, you turn down their offer, why?" Fornell asks the woman curiously and couldn't help but she resembles his old female friend.
Lia ignored their shocked and giving Fornell a cold expression. "What I've made my own decision has nothing to do with you." She couldn't believe how this man knew someone wanted her to work with them before.
"Working with these cowboys, I'm quietly surprised. You should've worked with me instead. After all, you work FBI Agent before back in the Philippines right?"
"Agent Gibbs persuade me enough to join his team."
"Leave Agent Snow alone." Gibbs feels overprotective towards her. "Since I once again have the pleasure of your company, Agent Fornell, we're into more than phony franklins and dead drug dealers." He changed the subject.
"Much more." Fornell spoke up bluntly. "Those serial numbers matched a batch of bogus bills passed by 9/11 hijackers."
"You mean to say that our killers aren't drug dealers. They're terrorists." Lia connected the dots and they stared at her with a surprised expression. "Something is off and when Kate finds out that the money was fake... I just guessed it and the look on your face, Agent Fornell, that you find out ahead of us. I connected the dots."
"Let's not forget... you did a little bit of investigation behind my back, Lia." Gibbs informed her and she laughs nervously.
"That one as well."
"You're sharp, Snow." He smirked and wanting to be part of his team so badly not them.
"I tried." She shrugged and scratching lightly on her right cheek.
"Hmm..." Fornell knew Gibbs thinking the same thing. This woman resembles someone they know at how she scratches her cheek often feeling nervous of their stare.
"Since 9/11, the Bureau's compiled a worldwide terrorist database incorporating files from over 70 foreign intelligence services. Any prints lifted from that boat left by known terrorists will get a hit." The man who video called them, Charlie explained what they have information so far about the terrorist.
"Why didn't we have access to this database, Charlie?" The man, Tom asks.
"All you had to do was ask, Tom." Charlie pointed out.
"If your Agent Fornell hadn't been here to get us priority, my feeling is... I'd still be asking."
"Perhaps I should leave him there?" He asks.
"I don't think that's necessary, Charlie. Just hardwire us into this terrorist database."
"Sorry, Tom. We like to monitor who's accessing our data." Somehow this man wasn't feeling any sorry at all from what Lia analyze him.
"How's it to keep a list like this to yourself, Charlie? I'm sure when our colleagues who head the other agencies hear of this, they're going to be pounding on your door."
"Oh, hell, why not?" Charlie shrugged it off. "We're all on the same team. But Tom... if any colleagues hear about this, I'll pull your plug, and NCIS priority will follow the Sandusky, Ohio Fire Department. "
Tom nodded his head. "Understood. Thanks, Charlie." Ending the conversation and glancing at them. "Good luck." He left them alone.
"I see where you cowboys get your chutzpah." Fornell commented sarcastically while Lia mentally holds her anger how this upper superior could be so secretive.
How will they be able to solve the case when they won't tell them everything about it? "How long to scan the entire database?" Lia asks Fornell curiously.
"Don't know." He crossed his arms and stared at Lia. "No one's ever done it."
Lia nodded her head in understanding and they found the match. "You know him?" Gibbs asks Kate.
"No." Kate answered.
"The name is Saudi." Fornell answered. "Same as most of the 9/11 hijackers."
"What's the red star?"
"Active case with high priority." Lia answered since she'd done a very dangerous case before that it almost end up her life.
"You haven't lost your touch being the former FBI Agent, Snow." Fornell complimented her with a smirk on his face. "He's one of the foreign terrorists wanted for the UN bombing in Baghdad. Believed to have slipped out of Iraq through Syria three weeks ago. Whereabouts unknown."
"Not anymore." Gibbs spoke up as he left the room while Lia, Kate and Fornell followed him.
"It worked! I had Jenny and Nancy grill some prawns. They don't call them shrimp in Australia." Tony came back from the interview. "Sip really nice chardonnay with a wonderful bouquet. I didn't drink..." He saw their looks. "I sniff."
"What the hell's he ranting about?" Fornell asks Gibbs.
"I should have chosen Lia for this." Gibbs grumbled while Lia sighs heavily at Tony.
"Boss, I had the girls do exactly what they were doing when the white panel van pulled in." Tony spoke up. "To jog their memory. It worked! They remembered the driver was wearing a company uniform."
"Which company? Water company? Phone company?" Lia asks and drinking her medicine knowing she's going to ride a car again soon.
"Jefferson power? Vantage cable?" Gibbs asks the Italian man.
"Milkman? Breadman?" Fornell asks. "Hell, that white van could be from any of a hundred different commercial county or state outfits."
"It's a start."
"I'm not done." Tony showed them the videotape he's holding. "I pulled this videotape from the security camera at the Mobil station on the road out of the marina."
"Oh, that's really smart, Tony." Kate complimented him.
"Any guys could have done it." Winking at Lia and she shakes her head.
"Guy? Learn to shut up when you're ahead." She glared at him.
"What time the girls say they saw the van?" Lia changed the subject before they could bicker more.
"Ah, around 1300." Tony answered.
"Are we submitting to the Sundance film festival?" Lia turned around to see Abby is joining them.
"Best territory film category." Tony spoke up sarcastically and glared at Lia. "I'm still pretty mad at you for pushing me out of the boat."
"Expect the unexpected, Tony." Lia spoke up and glancing at Abby snickering at his misfortune while Kate chuckled.
"I like you, even more, Lia." Abby spoke up and hugging her behind as the Filipino woman smiled and holding her hands. "So if anyone's interested, the only prints off the boat I could match were the druggies in the cooler."
"Not the Commander." Gibbs spoke up.
"Negatory."
"We got a match on a terrorist." Kate commented.
"You didn't tell me that." Tony spoke up and looked surprised to hear the news.
"Who could get a word in?"
"I ran those prints through the Bureau." Abby pointed herself as she let go of Lia. "I got nada."
"You did not have access to the full database." Lia explained it to the Gothic Forensic woman.
"You're holding out on us." She accused Fornell with a scowling look on her face. "That is not nice."
"Found it!" Lia spoke up and pointing at the screen. "Rewind it, please." She smiled in satisfaction. "Jefferson power."
"Damn it." Gibbs cursed it. "Can anybody read that number?"
"Eight, three, one." Tony answered.
"They've gotta be going after the power grid." Kate spoke up.
"I found traces of c-4 in the stuff you bagged on the boat." Abby added on.
"Thank god." Fornell exhales with a grim expression showed on his face. "They're just gonna try to blow something up." Everyone stared at him. "We've been sweating terrorists hacking into our power grid distribution software. That could shut down half the country. C-4 indicates a hard target. A power plant, a substation, distribution node, which are all under tight security. Which are about to get a hell of a lot tighter."
"There's a good chance that driver works for Jefferson power." Gibbs commented and Lia agreed with him.
"I hope he does. We'll have them before sundown." Fornell called someone on the phone. "Terrorist alert. A, P, B on Jefferson power company van number 8,3,1. I want to know where it's based, who's driving it and I want it in five minutes. Thanks. You've done a terrific job." He thanked them and walked away.
"I feel like I just kissed my sister." Tony breaks the tension and Lia raises her eyebrow at him.
"I didn't know you had a sister, Tony." Abby spoke up.
"I don't. I was fantasizing." He smirked at Lia. "I'd rather have you kiss me for real, beautiful."
"Oh my gosh... it's an honor to be kissed by a Casanova-like you." Lia spoke up bluntly with no emotions as Abby laughs and high-fiving her.
"Nice one, Lia." Abby complimented her and went back to her lab.
"Fornell's got a target fixation." Gibbs spoke up.
"Come again?" Kate asks.
"It's when a fighter pilot gets so fixed on his target that he flies right into it." Tony explained.
"Ah." She nodded her head in understanding. "Like you and women?" He fake smiled.
"Do you think that Lia and I will be together?" He asks and Lia mentally looked startled at his sudden question.
"Leave her alone, Tony." She glared at him and thanking Lia's Uncle is not here otherwise, he'll go on overprotective papa bear mode for flirting his baby niece or daughter figure.
"That August blackout was caused by a tree falling on some power lines, that's right?" Lia changed the subject.
"Something like that, Cee." She agreed with her.
"Well, hell, these guys don't need C-4. An axe'll do." Gibbs spoke up and following Kate.
"Okay, here's the timeline for the August 15 blackout." Kate pressed it something on her computer.
"Put it up on the plasma, Kate." He ordered the woman as the screen changed.
"It started at Eastlake, Ohio, at 1400, and by the time it reached Indian point in Buchanon, New York, all the Northeast and most of Canada was dark."
"Pull the state's power grid up off the internet."
"Whoa. Look at this."
"It says three key failures in Virginia could cascade until every state from here to the Rockies is dark." Tony read it out loud.
"Yeah, more than says. It shows how." Kate pointed out. "Wait, take down those three flashing nodes simultaneously, and you take out the entire Eastern power grid."
"All we have to do is stop them from taking out one?" Lia asks Kate curiously.
"It looks that way, Lia. I mean, if any two fail at the same time, the slack can be picked up. There will be blackouts but it won't cascade." Kate explained.
"Well, which one do we go for?" Tony questioned.
"The closest one. Right here." Gibbs pointed on the screen.
"Agent Fornell is concentrating Agents on the three key nodes. He's also emailed me a driver's photo." Kate explained while working on her laptop.
"That was fast." Lia commented as she drives the car.
"They had the van number." Tony reminded her.
"Here, take a look." Kate passed her laptop.
"What's an alias. What's he do?" Gibbs asks.
"Power Inspector." She answered
Lia drives faster knowing they're going to black out the entire place or worst. "Is our node at the end of that transmission line?" She asks the brunette.
"Yes. About three miles West."
"Take that road." Gibbs ordered the Filipino woman as she turned the wheel.
"Didn't think you'd want to stop to open the gate?" Tony asks his boss and stared at Lia. "You're not a mind reader, are you? It's like you know what Gibbs is thinking right now."
"Hell, no."
"There's a crisis that we needed to stop them as soon as possible." Lia answered and making the car go faster. "They don't have to blow the nodes. This guy knows where to take down three transmission towers and do the same thing."
"How do we know this line is one of them?" Kate asks curiously towards Lia and Gibbs.
"It crosses the nodes, doesn't it?" Gibbs pointed out.
"Two lines cross this node, in and out. That's four places within a mile of the node that he can blow a tower down."
"Wel, maybe we'll get lucky."
"Nobody's that lucky."
"Hmm! We are."
"He could be a power company employee doing his job."
Lia glances across Gibbs direction and widening her eyes slightly. "Everyone duck!"
Everyone duck as they heard a gunshot. "No, I don't think so!" He grabbed his gun to start shooting as Lia followed and started shooting as well while driving the car.
Lia breathes slowly and shoots him straight through his right shoulder. She stopped the car and everyone gets off with their guns.
"Freeze!" Gibbs ordered, however, the man, Saudi, ignored it and tried to do his task but everyone shoots him to stop.
Everyone walked slowly and Lia immediately knows what the wires meant that connected the phone. "Phone's got detonators."
"Looks like the other two must have the same setup." Kate spoke up and examines the bomb. "Looks like he's got all three phones set to the same number."
"How many numbers did he dial?" Gibbs asks Kate curiously.
"Six."
"One more and budda-bing, budda-boom." Tony commented sarcastically and wanting to ease down the tension.
If Lia knows they aren't in a serious situation, she would've laughed by now. "Lucky he wasn't phone-savvy."
"Savvy enough to wire three phones to the same number." Kate pointed out.
"What if he used speed-dial?" Lia asked curiously and let Tony do the body.
"How's your first day of work?" Novilene asks her friend curiously through video chat.
"Apparently... we aren't dealing drugs but also terrorist as well." Lia informed Novilene as the young woman hums in understanding.
"It must've been a hard day for you."
"Since when our day ever been easy for us being Federal Agents or a cop?" Lia pointed out and she received a shrugged from her friend knowing she is right. "When are you coming?"
"A week before the wedding." Novilene answered. "My siblings and I are going to attend the wedding since they promise it to Steve and Phoebe."
"None of us didn't expect those two will be together." She giggled and Novilene smiled. "Those two are always wanting to strangle each other."
"Yeah."
"Maybe you and Zack are going to get married next." Lia teased the young woman as she blushed furiously. "Zack is always dedicated when it comes to you."
"I know... he treasures me a lot like I am his precious gem in the whole world." She smiled and imagining herself walking down the aisle of her wedding.
"I couldn't agree with you more."
"How's your teammate?"
"They're... special... they have a sense of humor, unlike my previous team."
"You'll get used to it."
"I know, especially how Jethro is a bit... overprotective towards me how Tony flirts often." Lia left the part where he also received a slap from their Unit Chief.
"How I wish you work with me instead of them, Lia..." Novilene sighs heavily and has to endure all the insults she received from her colleagues.
"Jethro persuades me enough and my parental figures think, it would be best to use my assets to work in a different country rather than my home." Lia pointed out. "Even the FBI wanted me so badly."
"You got your hands full of opportunities to choose, Cee." She laughs knowing Novilene is one of the best Agent.
"I know, anyway... always be careful, Nov."
"You as well."
Novilene ends up the video chat and sighs heavily. She stares outside of the windows in deep thoughts and thinking what the young woman could do next.
"It's not time yet... soon, Lia."