Three months had passed since Tony had joined the FBI, and his probationary period was now officially over.

"Congratulation, Probie!" – Cheered Patrick James 'P.J.' or 'Pajamas' Montgomery, one of Tony's new teammates, holding up his coffee in a mock salute. – "You survived three months with us! Not everyone can claim to have done the same!"

"Not a Probie anymore then, am I?" – Asked Tony cheekily, knowing full well he wouldn't be rid of the nickname so easily; he knew he wouldn't have stopped calling McGee 'Probie' just because he wasn't really a probationary agent anymore…

Sam 'Sammy' Ryan rolled her green eyes sweetly.

"Dream on, Probie…"

While not his type and also considerably older than him, Tony couldn't bring himself to contradict her so he just shrugged and took a big bite out of his chocolate chip cookie. It was delicious; his new teammates surely knew his Achilles' heel and had had the right idea about where to bring him. (As a second choice, just because Fornell had vetoed their first one: a pub. He'd said alcohol was out of question since they'd have to start early the next day and he didn't want to have agents with heavy hangovers to deal with. Apparently, their lead agent knew his underlings way too much…)

The day – his last as a probationary agent – was over and the group was out celebrating this milestone. To everyone's surprise, even the usually grumpy Sacks who liked going home right after work ended, had attended the 'party'. He was currently engrossed in a rapidly whispered conversation with Fornell, seemingly not quite agreeing with what he was being told.

Siles 'Sly' Field, yet another agent in their little group, shook his head in disbelief.

"They just can't stop working, can they?" – He asked, motioning towards the two senior agents in the far corner of the coffee shop. – "I bet they're arguing about that case with the corrupt agent."

"Nah, I don't think so. Maybe it's about that horrible woman who annoys her neighbors with her loud music all the time…" – P.J. guessed. – "The Office got twelve complaints just today…"

While the others were preoccupied with trying to find out what their boss and senior field agent were talking about, Tony had much darker thoughts running through his head: three months. Three months since he'd left NCIS and not once had he talked to any of his old colleagues and friends. Though Fornell had tried to persuade him to call at least Kate, Tim or Abby, he just hadn't been able to bring himself to do it yet. And now, he thought, it might already be too late. What would he say? How would he explain why he hadn't contacted them sooner? Would he want to know why the others hadn't called him?

Suddenly feeling nauseated, he stood.

"Thanks guys, for everything. I think I'm going home now…"

"What? But, Probie, it's still early! Tobias said we could stay 'til ten!" – Complained Sly.

"Yes." – Nodded Sammy in agreement. – "Why would you leave now? It's only half past eight…"

Tony shrugged.

"Just tired, I guess. You all stay and enjoy yourselves, all right? See you tomorrow." – With that, he made his way out of the café, ignoring the others' worried glances that followed him all the way to his car.

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

Meanwhile, Fornell and Sacks were indeed engrossed in their own conversation, though, in reality, it had nothing to do with either of their current cases.

Instead, it was about a future one.

"I still don't think it's a good idea, Tobias." – Insisted Sacks for the tenth time. – "He's not ready. He's just becoming a full-fledged agent here, he shouldn't be leading a case yet!"

Fornell sighed, feeling tired of the discussion and he also feared a headache was approaching.

He massaged his temple and sighed.

"I told you already, Ron: he needs this."

"And I told you: if he needs to talk to them, then let's arrange a party. Or let's invite them for Christmas. Whatever. But to make Tony lead a joint case!? Why?"

"Because the kid needs to gain his self-worth back! And he needs to prove to the NCIS that he didn't regret his decision."

Sacks raised an eyebrow.

"And he didn't?" – Fornell just growled and motioned for the waitress to bring him another lemonade. – "Okay, okay… So… What's the plan?"

Fornell waiting until he got his drink and he swallowed the whole thing with one gulp before answering:

"Here's what we're gonna do…"

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

"The NCIS…? Me?"

"Yes, Tony. I told you… We're the liaisons with them and we got an assignment-"

"I got that part! I just don't know why it has to be me!"

"Because Sacks and I need to go to a conference, and Field and Ryan are needed on the Thomson-case. So, it's got to be you or Montgomery and-"

"How about Pajamas then?"

Fornell felt as if he were talking to a particularly dumb child.

"He doesn't even know anyone there! You do! Better than any of us, I might add…"

"All the more reason for me not to go there!" – Tony argued. – "They know me and they hate my guts! They won't work with us if I'm the one going there… I think-"

"Bullshit." – Was the simple answer.

"But Toby-"

"Tony, listen: Montgomery is way behind in paperwork and you're ready. With your reports and to lead your own case, I mean. Hell, it's probably more difficult for me to let you go than it is for you to do this. But you need it. You'll see."

"No, I don't."

"Too bad. You're to be there in an hour." – With that, Fornell patted his young agent's back and gently pushed him towards the elevators. – "Get ready, DiNutso: it's party time!"

NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS * NCIS

"Yeah… 'Party time'… indeed." – Tony muttered under his breath. – "Of course, he would think of it as a party. Pfff!" – He continued grumping as he walked up to the security guard at the gate of NCIS building. – "Hi, Ralph, how are you?"

"Tony! Geez, I haven't see you in ages!" – The old man smiled. – "Where have you been? You haven't been injured, have you?" – He eyed Tony warily, knowing quite well that injuries happened to him a lot.

"Nah… I'm FBI now, Ralph…" – Tony whispered, flashing his new badge.

The kind security guard's mouth fell open at once.

"I'll be damned! YOU, Tony!? How? Why?"

The ex-NCIS agent sighed.

'It's a very long story, but I guess it's for another time. I believe Jenny- I mean: director Shepard is waiting for me…"

"Sure, Tony. Just go."

"What? No visitor's card?"

"Nah! It's always going to be your home, Kid."

Tony felt his eyes sting painfully as he shook the kind man's hand, thanking him, and made his way upstairs. He didn't want to use the elevator for he feared he might have met someone there… anyone. So he walked. He had never done that before; at least, never on his own accord and by the time he arrived at the level of the bullpen, he remembered why: his legs hurt and his lungs were on fire as he was breathing heavily.

'Damn, I'm getting old…'

However as soon as he arrived to his destination, he wished he were back on the stairs again.

"Tony…? TONY!?" – McGee exclaimed, jumping up and running towards him.

"McGeek… Why don't you shout a bit more? They haven't heard you three levels down…" – Tony sighed, a bit unnerved by the way his former colleague was standing in front of him and staring as if afraid he was just an apparition.

"Tony, Tony, Tony Tony!" – Abby screamed and jumped into his arms, apparently not having the same problem as the computer genius.

"Argh… Hi, Abby! Probie, maybe they did hear you three levels down… Argh… I'm glad to see you, too, but I can't breathe!"

"Sorry…" – The Goth smiled, finally letting go. – "You're back, Tony! You realized you belong to us, right? Admit it: you can't live without NCIS! Of course you can't, this is your family! We've missed you and-"

Tony hated to disappoint her.

"Abbs… Sorry but… I'm just here for a case." – He said shyly.

She deflated as quickly as a popped balloon; even her ponytails stopped bouncing.

"Oh. I see. Well, I've got to go back to the lab. Excuse me."

"Abbs…" – But she was already gone and Tony kicked his old desk in frustration. – "Great… just great. Damn!" – He yelped in pain.

"Ouch! Look out before you throw a hit!" – Came the indignant lecture from somewhere on the floor.

Tony stood on tiptoes (wincing as his left foot protested against the movement) and peeked over the desk to find a petite dark-haired woman sitting among a huge pile of wires under it, rubbing her arm he had apparently hurt with his little outburst and glaring daggers at him. She reminded Tony of an angry, hissing cat, ready to scratch his eyes out.

"You mean, 'throw a fit'?" – Tony began cautiously, trying to decide if she even belonged there or not. He was sure he had never seen her before.

"Whatever. Just don't do it again."

"Sure… And you would be…?"

She made a show of standing and offered him a hand to shake.

"Ziva David. Mossad. I'm here to talk to Special Agent Gibbs."

"Ahm…" – Tony took her hand tentatively, as if afraid she'd suddenly pull his arm out of its socket and run away with it. – "Mossad…?" – He looked questioningly at Tim who just shrugged.

The Mossad Officer smiled cheekily.

"This is the place where you say your name, Agent….?"

"DiNozzo. FBI. Probie, where's Kate? And Gibbs?"

"I'm not a Probie anymore. Actually, I'm-"

"I'm not a Probie anymore either, Probie, and it still doesn't stop anyone calling me that. So, to my questions?"

McGee shook his head fondly, remembering the times with Tony as his partner. He had never been able to win an argument against the slightly older agent back then either. Apparently, this hadn't changed a bit.

"Gibbs is in MTAC with the director." – He said finally. – "And Kate is his protection detail, so she was allowed in too."

"Protection detail? Why does Gibbs need protection?"

"Because Ari-"

"It doesn't concern you anymore, DiNozzo." – Gibbs called from the catwalk, appearing with the same perfect timing as ever. The NCIS team leader, followed by Kate and the director, strolled to his desk and turned towards the screen. – "I guess you're here as the FBI agent somebody insisted we involve, right?" - He observed, never looking Tony in the eyes.

At least Jenny and Kate eyed Tony fondly, looking like they wanted to hug him like Abby had but didn't want to do it in front of Gibbs who was, simply said, 'pissed off'. Again. Nothing new there.

Tony decided not to let himself be intimidated by the man.

"I guess. I only know you have a John Doe in Autopsy who could be a marine and then the case is your jurisdiction. But if he turns out to be a civilian, the case is ours."

"Oh… By 'ours' you mean the FBI's?" – Tony wasn't sure if Gibbs really sounded mocking or he had just imagined it.

"Yes. The FBI's. If he's a civilian."

"Interesting."

Tony decided to quit talking to someone's back and turned to Jenny instead, who was smiling warmly at him.

"So… the case…?"

"Yes, Tony. The director of FBI and I agreed it would be best to handle the case together until we can decide whose responsibility it will eventually be." – She explained, surprising Tony. As far as he knew, neither the FBI nor NCIS had ever agreed on anything like that before. They usually all wanted the case for themselves and fought tooth and nail for jurisdiction. – "An unidentified man was found shot dead in a dumpster. Three bullets killed him. We don't know much more. Yet."

"Ahm… And why do you think it could be your case? So far it sounds like any murder we investigated in Philly and Baltimore… What does either of us have to do with it?"

It was Kate who answered.

"It could be serial because the MO matches four previous killings; all across the US. So, that could make it yours. But the man wore a marine's uniform, that would make it ours."

"And…?" – Tony still didn't get it. It wasn't like NCIS to hesitate to just start working; consequences be damned. So, the question remain: why was he here?

McGee cleared his throat.

"The uniform wasn't quite all right… I mean, it could be nothing, but it could be fake. And nobody can identify the man. Why wouldn't his prints be in the system if he's a marine? Or his dental records? There's nothing. He's a ghost."

"Oh… I see. Curious."

Gibbs looked at him with a half-smile.

"Ya think, DiNozzo?"

Tony felt some of the old normality returning as he allowed himself to relax a bit.

"Yeah. Creepy. It reminds me of a film. It was about-"

"Agent Gibbs." – Interrupted Ziva about whom, it seemed from the identical surprised expressions, everyone had forgotten during the exchange. – "May I speak to you? Privately."

Gibbs regarded her somewhat cautiously while Tony felt irritated; how dare she ruin his moment of reunion with his old friends!?

"Why don't you just climb back under my old desk, Mossad-lady, hmmm?"

Ziva wasn't fazed though.

"Because I already found my pin."

"Your… pin…?"

Kate rolled her eyes.

"I think she means 'hairpin', Tony." – She said helpfully.

"Exactly that." – Ziva confirmed. – "So, Agent Gibbs: can we talk."

"Aha." – Was all the lead agent said and motioned with his head towards his 'office', meaning the elevator.

Ziva looked somewhat surprised but a firm nod from Jenny had her follow the NCIS agent right away. As they both disappeared, the director's warm smile returned; apparently, she wasn't disturbed by the sudden, unexplainable appearance of a Mossad agent at NCIS.

"Agent DiNozzo, welcome back. Please, feel at home, even if it's only for a short while." – With that, she started towards the stairs as well, leaving the three old colleagues standing a bit awkwardly, neither really knowing what to do or say. The lack of any contact during the past three months hung heavily between them, and not one of them wanted to address the big elephant in the room.

"She's a bit crazy." – Said Tony finally, as an effort to make small talk.

Tom frowned.

"The director?"

"Of course not, McGeek! That Ziva chick!"

"Oh. Yeah, I suppose she is…"

Awkward silence again, during which Tony wondered whether it would be inappropriate to sit at his old desk and check if Ziva had done something other than look for her 'pin'.

This time, it was Kate who broke the stillness.

"Ahm… So, what do you think she wants with Gibbs?"

"It's probably about Ari." – Offered Tim. – "I mean, she's from Mossad; what else could she be here for?"

"I don't like her." – Concluded Kate. – "I don't like her at all."

"I hear you."

Tony had decided to sit on the desk, and relished the semi-familiar feeling of being in the bullpen and debating with his teammates… khm… old teammates. He felt entirely at home even though he liked it by the FBI a lot and wouldn't want to change a thing now.

He also wished he could find out how exactly it had happened that he'd been sent here… alone. It seemed like Director Shepard wasn't surprised to see him here at all and Fornell had looked too smug for his own good when he had presented this task to him. Did his new boss want to help him get over his insecurities about the way his career at NCIS had ended this way? If yes then it might just be working, Tony had to reluctantly admit, hating that he was that easy to read.

One thing was for sure: this assignment would be interesting…