"So that's settled, and the body is being transported to our facility as we speak. In the meantime, I want to introduce you to the rest of my team. Come in, guys," Booth called. Leading was a lean Asian woman whose very walk oozed confidence in many areas. She strode up to us, saying "Angela Montenegro, nice to meet all of you." Angela appeared very friendly and amiable, more so than Dr. Brennan. Following her was a shorter man with light brown curly hair and nearly colorless blue eyes. Following suit, he introduced himself as Dr. Jack Hodgins. The woman behind him was tall, striking and likely African American in origin. She stated her name as "Dr. Camille Saroyan, but call me Cam." So this was the Cam that Gibbs had to share a room with. Too bad she wasn't a redhead-otherwise she was definitely Gibbs's type.

Dr. Brennan provided the rest "Angela is a forensic artist and expert in facial reconstruction and digitizing, Hodgins a forensic entomologist and particulate specialist, and Cam a forensic pathologist and premiere doctor in autopsy. The body should arrive at the lab soon. Just follow Booth and I and we will begin our investigation. "

Leaving the area, we hopped back into the monogrammed NCIS van. Tony whined like a child until I let him drive, so my sore ears and I finally relented. I had to admit, albeit the lack of speed, Tony was quite an accomplished driver. Tailing the black Suburban, we arrived at the "lab" in due time. I could see the shiny silver of Gibbs's sedan behind us as he zoomed into the parking spot in closest proximity to ours.

We strode into the building in pairs, Booth's hand on the small of Brennan's back, his chivalrous nature fully showcased. Tony was next to me, walking closer than typical but not quite touching. Angela and Hodgins were behind us, chatting amicably and laughing together. Little did they know they were sharing a room. Gibbs and Cam followed them, the two official leaders, though Booth pretty much controlled the Jeffersonian side of things. They actually appeared to be quite at ease with each other, which surprised me due to Gibbs's typically cold demeanor. McGee, with his head hung low, comprised the end of our group, looking like a lost puppy dragged along for the ride. Though a wave of sympathy shot through me with his solidarity, he would be happier upon Abby's imminent arrival.

I saw the body laid upon a silver autopsy table, and scrunched my face at its grotesque appearance. How could someone get a human out of that? I had seen horrors in my Mossad days, most of which I rarely spoke of, like Tali's death. Involuntary tears flooded my eyes at the though of my baby sister's demise. As furiously and quickly as I tried to wipe them away, Tony still noticed my anguished expression and in an alarmingly sweet gesture, pushed a strand of hair off my forehead, an electric current running through me, as he asked me what was wrong. Though I was pleasantly surprised at his tender touch, this was not the time or the place. I mouthed "Later" to him and for now, we left it at that.

I noticed everyone was staring at us, and feeling my face redden, I excused myself to the ladies room to reapply my smudged makeup. After an intense struggle to locate it in the vast facility, I was putting on mascara when I heard the door open and close and Dr. Brennan walk in.

"Hello, Officer David. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, as you've been in here for quite a while." she said. Shocked at her display of friendliness after my cold attitude, I told her "Please, call me Ziva. And yes, I am fine. I was just thinking about my little sister who died in a Hamas bombing. I am Israeli." I explained, feeling my eyes fill up with tears once more. Most people would be astounded by my blunt directness, but Brennan seemed to give me a run for my money in that area. In a shocking gesture, she put her long arms around me, explaining how her parents had disappeared when she was 15, leaving her in foster care, and finding her mother murdered just three years ago. She reassured softly that I was not the only one with a troubled childhood. Booth had demons in his past as well, and to please call her Tempe. Surprisingly, she actually made me feel better.

"So what's it like working with all men? I spend most of my time with Booth, and he's chivalrous to such an extreme it annoys me. I can't imagine three of him." Tempe said.

Jumping on a change of subject, I quickly responded "Well, Gibbs and Ducky are chauvinists, though Gibbs refuses to admit it, McGee is too afraid of me to do anything and Tony is…" I couldn't think of a word to describe Tony's attitude toward women. Before Jeanne, I would've said a womanizer but now, I wasn't sure.

She took my lack of a continuation as an opportunity for her to speak. "Let me let you in on a secret. Men are the only things that stump me. So don't worry about Tony." The air of finality in her voice ended this topic of conversation.

"I think we should leave here before the overprotective alpha males think something happened to us," Tempe said.

Laughing slightly, I nodded, and my newfound friend and I departed the sanctuary of the ladies room.

We rejoined the group in the high-ceilinged room, all congregated in an odd ovular figure around the silver autopsy table containing the grotesque sight. Cam was examining what appeared to be tissue samples as the other gawked. I noticed one of our number was missing-Angela. Before I could contemplate her possible whereabouts, she strode in, in her hand a file emblazoned with the official FBI logo.

"I got an ID on our vic in the NCIS database. Name's Petty Officer James Garabin. Born October 16, 1984 in…Bren, what's the matter?" Angela stopped her briefing at a glimpse at the incredulous expression currently masking the doctor's features.

"No. It can't be him. There's no way. You're wrong. Redo the tissue markers. It's not him!" her voice rose several octaves and decibels by the end of her rampage.

"Bones, did you know him?" Booth's concern for his partner's anguish was clearly evident in his soothing tone.

"He was Russ's best friend and like another brother to me, until…" Of course. Until her brother left.

"It's okay, Bones." Booth reassured her, rubbing small circles on her back. "We'll talk more about this later" he whispered into her ear, but my sharp ears picked it up.

"Okay, so like I said, he's 25, was born in D.C., graduated from AU, joined the academy, spotless career." Angela closed.

Gibbs started to put input as to the investigation. "Number one, what's someone from D.C. doing in Miami.

Tempe interrupted, "We're pretty sure this was a dump job. We need Hodgins's particulate evidence to confirm, however." Her gaze rested on the seemingly quiet scientist.

" B." He hurried off purposefully to identify the dirt and bug samples.

Tony interjected "Is there a number two, boss?"

I turned away for a second and then I saw Tony rubbing the familiar spot on the back of his head. Man, Gibbs was smacking him a lot today.

"Of course not, boss. Continue." He massaged his sore head unconsciously.

I spoke up "So if our Petty Officer was such a model citizen, what in the world is the motive for his death?"