AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
Belongs to Donald P. Bellisario.
ACCIDENTALLY HURTING HIM
"Gee, thanks for waiting, guys," Kate said sarcastically as she came into the bullpen. Can't believe they did that, she fumed. Especially Tony. Was he that afraid of Gibbs that he would let the man run roughshod over her?
"Chain of custody, Kate. You had to stay with the boat," Gibbs reminded. Besides, I knew she wouldn't let anyone b.s. their way into stealing the boat, he thought to himself.
"I'm not stupid, Gibbs."
"Never said you were."
"I didn't have to ride in the tow truck with that boat, now did I?" Gibbs watched her, his eyes flickering. What was she getting at? "You do this to all the newbies, or just the females?" Did I just seriously hear that? he thought to himself. Why would she even think that?
"Do we look like sexists?" I know I sometimes get inappropriate with her when we're at home, but I try not to do it at work, he thought to himself. Okay, the heels thing had been bad. . But that was just to distract her from feeling sorry for herself. With a huff, Kate turned to Tony, ready to lay into her husband and then stopped. He was hiding it, but there was a hint of hurt in his eyes. Oh damn, she thought. She had just done that. "Come on, Kate. Rene would kick my ass if I was disrespectful to a woman. It's one of the things he taught me," he continued. Who's Rene? Gibbs wondered as the woman nodded, indicating that she knew who the younger man was referring to.
"Toneā¦I'm sorry," she apologized and he nodded.
"And for the record, it was not an initiation," he assured.
"Got it," she said.
"Okay, okay, fun's over. Give me the highlights," Gibb stated, wanting to change the subject.
SHOWING SKILLS
Tony listened and nodded as Kate explained how changes to making the US currency had slowed down amateur counterfeiters but not professional.
"It has one tiny flaw," she continued.
"I'll be damned," Tony and Gibbs stated and the woman smirked.
"Knew the guy who figured out that a granny was hiding heroin in a horse's ass would find the flaw," she stated.
"You reached into a horse's ass?" DEA Agent Kent Fuller asked with a smirk. Must've been a rookie or something, he thought to himself. Why else would he be the one to do it?
"I was wearing gloves," Tony responded. "And besides, animals like me. It knew I wasn't just putting my hand up there for kicks, and was perfectly pleasant considering the circumstances." At this the DEA agent grimaced as the female NCIS agent stifled a laugh. She loved it when Tony got to show off to other people. So many times they underestimated him and he let them do it, but she wasn't going to let that happen anymore.
"Okay, so what's up with the bill?" Agent Fuller questioned, getting them back on topic.
"On top," Tony replied.
"United States," Agent Fuller read. "What's wrong with that?"
"Read it again," Kate encouraged and the other agent stared at it. Then it clicked.
"Untied States," he read. "Forger's dyslexic."
"And not just the forger," Kate said, grinning. They had a lead. This was good.
