Disclaimer - I do not own NCIS.
A/N - Sorry for the long delay folks. My Muse and I got into a heated discussion about how this story was going. I'm pleased to say that our creative differences have been resolved and more chapters are on their way. LOL!
Hope you continue to enjoy. Thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them!
At 0615 Baxter Murray was standing two steps away from his front door, leaning against the wall, with his partner, Evelyn by his side. She was gently smoothing his hair and held the small paper bag at his face as he continued to hyperventilate.
"Breathe for me baby, that's it, breathe Baxter honey, you're okay," she said soothingly.
"Haa...oh God, I can't do this...heeeek!!"
"Bax, honey, I need you to calm down," she continued with a little more firmness in her voice.
Eventually his breathing calmed to a near normal state and he placed his hand on his brow and began repeating the mantra he had been saying all morning,
"I can do this, I will do this, I will succeed!"
Evelyn smiled, opened the door and gave him a gentle push out the front step.
"Have a good day darling, remember it's a learning experience and learning is fun!"
Baxter swallowed hard and nodded weakly, before walking slowly towards his car for the early morning journey to the Navy Yard.
At 0615 Gibbs was already on his second coffee of the morning. He'd managed to make in to the Navy Yard, just after 0530 hours and was trying to catch up on paperwork. Even though he wasn't looking forward to the day, he didn't want to have to deal with 'the weasel' and have Jen breathing down his neck for his outstanding paperwork. So he had decided the day before that an early start to finish off his case reports would leave him free to deal with Baxter, or more importantly, the volatile mix of his team and Baxter Murray.
Ziva and Tim arrived together into the bullpen with sullen faces and drooped shoulders. Their reluctance to start the day was clearly evident, and, out of character, especially for Ziva. Eventually, Tony arrived too, with a wide smile on his face. Gibbs gave him a curious look, wondering why he wasn't obviously demonstrating the dread of the impending Baxter Murray like his other two agents.
"So when does the 'he-who-must-not-be-called-gremlin,' arrive huh? What you got planned for our Pre-Probie boss?" Tony asked excitedly.
Gibbs grinned immediately sensing that Tony intended to have fun with Baxter,
"He's due to be here at 0700 hours DiNozzo and I figured that we could just use him as and when the need arises. I'm sure as hell not wasting time making sure he has a full schedule while he's here!"
Tony nodded and sat down at his desk, still grinning from ear to ear. Gibbs checked his watch, noting that at 0655 it was nearly time for Baxter to arrive. He rechecked his watch at 0703 and decided to ease the growing tension in gut with a large mouthful of coffee.
At 0710 the elevator doors swished open and Baxter Murray took a deep breath and stepped out assertively towards Gibb's desk. Tony, Tim and Ziva simultaneously looked up to the wall clock and then winced in sympathy for the man who had gotten off on the wrong foot before he'd even stepped out of the elevator.
"Good morning, good morning, good morning! I'm so happy to see you all again. I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to today. I'm all set and ready to learn."
Baxter giggled near to the point of hysteria,
"Oh, you know, isn't this so weird guys? Normally you have to sit and listen and learn from me, but my how the tables are turned today huh? Now it's my turn to listen and learn to you good people!"
The entire team simply stared blankly at Baxter, who sensing that his greeting wasn't getting any reaction nervously coughed and made his way to stand in front of Gibbs desk.
He stuck out his hand and beamed widely,
"Special Agent Gibbs, Baxter Murray, you're 'shadow' for the day, reporting for duty!"
It didn't take long for Gibbs to slip into his 'pissed off' Gunny mode and his face was like thunder as he lifted his head slowly to stare hard at the younger man in front of him.
"You're late," he said slowly, his voice as cold as ice.
A faint whine came from Tony and he could hear Ziva take a sharp intake of breath, he could also hear the lump in McGee's throat being swallowed hard. He almost laughed out loud, thinking that even though they weren't in the firing line, with one look and one tone of voice, he could still scare the rest of the team.
Baxter Murray wilted quickly under the intense gaze of the former marine.
"I...uh..."
Gibbs rose swiftly and headed towards the elevator, beckoning Baxter to follow him with the crook of his finger. Baxter, unsure of what to do next, turned warily to Tim for guidance. Tim gave him a quick nod in the direction of the elevator, urging to follow Gibbs. This sent the younger man scurrying along to keep up behind NCIS team leader and as Gibbs entered the elevator, Baxter jumped in beside him,
"Wh...where are we going?" he asked nervously, only to have a silent stare as his response.
As the elevator doors closed Tony laughed out loud,
"Oh-ho! Now that was fun to watch! And I think that even beats your first elevator conversation Officer David! At least you were, what, ten minutes before Gibbs had that little 'chat' with you?"
Ziva nodded and grinned as she recalled the first conversation, and, the first head slap that she'd been subjected to by Gibbs on her arrival at NCIS as the Mossad Liaison Officer.
"I almost feel sorry for him," she replied to Tony, "well, only a very little, he is a weedy little man!"
Tim winced as he continued to stare at the closed elevator doors, "He is so dead. I guess we're not gonna have a long trip to our next crime scene today, guys!"
With one flick of the switch the elevator jolted to a sudden stop and the lights immediately dimmed. Gibbs turned to the younger man and was sure he could detect a slight trembling in Baxter's frame as he stood wide eyed with trepidation. He took a small step forward and stood toe to toe with him, seriously invading his space, their noses almost touching. He began to speak slowly, and quietly, but with a tone that could cut steel.
"Let's get one thing straight. I did not sanction you being here, but that said, I will follow my orders to keep you entertained for the day. However, listen carefully Mr Murray, when I say that today, you play by my rules and that means you do as I say, when I say it, or else you suffer the consequences, one of which might be getting yourself killed should we be unlucky enough to have to visit a crime scene. Do I make myself clear?"
Gibbs intimidating technique was too much for the younger man. Whether it was the cold steely stare, the low icy voice, the sheer overwhelming presence of the former marine or the cumulative effect of all three, it resulted in the one surprising outcome that Gibbs didn't expect.
Baxter Murray began to sniffle and his bottom lip started to quiver. His eyes filled instantly.
At once, the steely blue eyes rolled to the ceiling and Gibbs sighed loudly.
"Oh, for God's sake, pull yourself together Murray, you work in a federal agency, have some respect for yourself and grow a God-damned backbone!" he snapped.
Removing a silk handkerchief from his pocket Baxter began to dab gently at his moist laden cheeks and eyes.
"I'm sorry Agent Gibbs, I'm just a little nervous that's all, I'm normally the one who's organizing things and making things happen, I'm just not used to uh..."
"Don't apologize," Gibbs interrupted with a bark, "it's a sign of weakness!"
Baxter nodded, sniffled and swallowed back his tears, calling on his reserves of strength to become more assertive in front of the older agent. He took in a deep breath and straighten his shoulders.
"Are my eyes puffy?" he asked, beginning to furiously fan cold air over his face with his hands.
Gibbs sighed once more and ignored the question and simply flicked the switch of the elevator. As the doors opened he led Baxter back into the bullpen with a firm hand on his back,
"Get your ass moving, Murray, you're first job is to make today's coffee run!"
Okay, I guess I'm being a bitch making Baxter cry, but I couldn't help it, honestly.
To be continued....