What if?
Before we begin this chapter, here's a note from the Author:
FROM THE DESK OF WILLIAM RAYMER
MARCH 11TH, 2014
Dear What if? Readers,
I have been receiving many comments through this site's PM and review functions, commenting on the inaccuracy of my depiction of Ari Haswari's parentage. I intended to write that Ari was Eli's step-son, but realized too late that I had written half-son instead.
I had debated as to whether or not to go back, fix the erroneous references, then re-post the offending material. However, following a similar incident regarding my Chipmunk Tour Saga series and the events surrounding actress-singer-songwriter Joanna Pacitti's disqualification from the 8th season of American Idol (after the disqualification, I went through every C.T.S. story in which Pacitti appeared and replaced her with another character-PM me if you'd like to know more about why I did this), I decided in the future to not to go through that labor-intensive process again and to address similar situations in Author's Notes such as this one.
As for Gibbs' attitude to Leon Vance in Chapter One (another subject I was called on), Gibbs had just been through a traumatic incident involving the near-assassination of one of his top team members and was attempting to deal with it the only way he knows how.
Please continue to enjoy this and my other stories and comment on them as you deem necessary.
Respectfully,
William Raymer
And now, back to our show...
CHAPTER THREE
A few days later, a raven-haired woman wearing an NCIS visitor's ID badge walked off the elevator and into the squad room. She walked up to McGee. "Excuse me?" she said.
McGee looked up from his computer screen and saw the woman. "Can I help you?" McGee asked. The woman reached into a satchel slung over her shoulder and withdrew a manila envelope. "Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David, reporting for duty," she said.
McGee nodded. "I'm Agent Timothy McGee," he said as he accepted the envelope, which contained a signed letter from Mossad Director Eli David. It noted that Ziva had been detached to NCIS and was to serve with Gibbs and the Major Case Response Team for the duration of the La Grenouille investigation. "Welcome to NCIS. I'll let Special Agent Gibbs know that you're here. In the meantime, have a seat."
McGee stood from his desk, pulled his chair out from under it, then gestured for Ziva to sit down as he went to find Gibbs. As Ziva waited for Gibbs to arrive, the elevator doors re-opened, revealing Kate and DiNozzo.
They saw Ziva. "That must be the Mossad officer Gibbs briefed us about," Kate said. "I think so," DiNozzo said. "Let's go welcome her."
Kate and DiNozzo walked up to where Ziva sat. "Officer David, I presume?" DiNozzo said. "I'm Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, and this is Special Agent Caitlin Todd. It is nice to meet you."
"Same here, Agent DiNozzo, Agent Todd," Ziva said. "I'm just waiting for Agent Gibbs to get here." "Well, you won't have long to wait," Kate said, gesturing for Ziva to turn around. McGee and Gibbs were walking down the steps into the squad room.
"Boss, may I introduce Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David," McGee said. "Officer David, this is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Gibbs shook Ziva's outstretched hand. "A pleasure," Gibbs said. "Likewise," Ziva said.
"While you are working with us in investigating La Grenouille, you will assist us in our regular cases," Gibbs said. "Fine with me," Ziva said. "I look forward to learning from you and your team."
"Let's get you a regular ID badge, then let me show you around," Gibbs said before he led Ziva back into the elevator.
"She seems nice," Tony said. "At least, for someone who has just lost a family member—even one like Ari."
McGee walked up to Kate and Tony. "Abby wants to see us down in the Lab," he said. Kate, Tony and McGee walked up to another elevator and got in.
Down in the Lab, Abby was putting the finishing touches on a document titled "Jewish Culture for Dummies." The elevator doors opened, revealing McGee, Tony and Kate. Abby picked up three copies of the document and handed one each to McGee, Tony and Kate.
"How is she?" Abby asked. "Hard to read, I'd say," Tony said. "We've only just met her," Kate added. "Anyway, what's with this?" McGee said, referring to the "Jewish Culture for Dummies" document.
"Since you're going to be working closely with Officer David during the La Grenouille investigation, I figured you'd want to understand where she comes from," Abby said. "Well thought, Abby," McGee said. A beeping from Abby's desk caught her attention. "Yeah?" she said. "It's Gibbs. Tell Tony, Kate and McGee to grab their gear and join Officer David and myself at the motor pool. Got a dead body at Pax River," Gibbs said.
"On our way, Boss," Tony said. "Hold on to these until we get back," Kate said, referring to "Jewish Culture for Dummies." McGee leaned in to kiss Abby on the cheek before he joined Tony and Kate on the elevator.
::TBC::