Hello my loyal readers!

No, you are not hallucinating – I actually updated Songs Like This!

I'll explain everything at the end.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the parody of the song. I do not own any lines from the original song that are contained in the parody. NCIS and the song I parody do not belong to me. I do not own the TV shows/game/actor that are mentioned in this chapter either.

Original Song: "Prayin' for Daylight" by Rascal Flatts

Prayin' for Updates

"That is it! I cannot take it any longer!" *crash*

That was the sound of an infuriated, idiom-hating assassin trying (and failing) to control her anger, thus leading to the violent demise of a wooden barstool. Still seething, Ziva chucked her knife across the room, where it landed smack-dab in the middle of Fornell and Sacks's table.

"Ziva!" her coworkers shouted in astonishment, only to be drowned out by her cries of, "It has been too long! Much too long! I am tired of waiting!" She reached for another knife, only to have Abby fly to her side and call frantically, "Gibbs! I think it's time for another NCIS!"

Tony, who had been sitting in boredom a few feet away, raised his eyebrows at this exclamation. "Already? Abs, 'LA' has only been on for a year! Do we really want to start heading down the Law and Order/CSI path so early?"

The Goth rolled her eyes as the rest of the team quickly assembled around her. "Tony, you should know by now that 'NCIS' in this instance stands for 'New Chapter Idea Session'." She emphasized the first letter of each word, then narrowed her eyes. "Have you been playing an endless game of Tetris for the past two months?"

"Uh," the Italian playboy stammered, hastily shoving his phone into his jacket pocket. "What makes you say that?"

Abby groaned loudly before turning to the others. "Anyone want to explain the point of this meeting to Tony?"

From across the bar, Jeanne lowered her glass of tequila to answer in a monotonous voice. "They're trying to get her back so they can sing more of those ridiculous songs."

Tony furrowed his brow as he tried to make sense of it all. "So, basically, these meetings have been about trying to lure Aweso-"

A chorus of, "NO! Don't say it!" roared throughout the bar, cutting off the movie buff. Confused, he tried again. "You want AQo-"

The others repeated their previous warning, and McGee clapped a hand over his friend's mouth before he could cause any more damage. As Tony glared at him, the geek explained, "Yes, we're attempting to bring her out of this writing hiatus so she can write more parodies."

The very special agent slapped McGee's hand away and leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table. "So, do you have any plans that may prove successful in getting the Crazy Writer Chick to, you know, write?"

"Actually, we do have a few good ideas," McGee stated matter-of-factly. He then reached beneath the table and with a wheezing grunt dropped a computer and a book titled "Baiting a Crazy Fanfic Writer for Dummies" upon the tabletop.

Tony's eyes widened at the sight of the hulking electronic device. "You stole this chick's computer? Are you finally making the transition into the 21st century, McF. Scott Fitzgerald?" He then caught sight of a plain white sticky note at the base of the computer, on which something was written in neon pink highlighter. "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

Abby peered around the screen and took a look. "I think that's the name of her computer."

McGee scoffed. "What sane person names their electronics?"

He then noticed the scientist's fingers caressing the bottles of potentially harmful chemicals in her pocket, and hastily added, "Besides you, Abs."

"Hey!" Gibbs barked, snapping his fingers. "Let's get back to business here! We have the computer and this book, but what's our real strategy?"

Sulking over at the bar, Jeanne grumbled to no one in particular, "Why don't you just sing another one of your silly songs?"

Unfortunately for the bitter doctor, her ex-boyfriend's hearing was sharper than ever, and Tony giddily reiterated the suggestion to his coworkers.

McGee peeked out from behind the copy of "Baiting a Crazy Fanfic Writer for Dummies" and responded, "That's exactly what the book suggests for ending a hiatus for this… species of writer." He skimmed the page a little bit more before pointing out a passage to Tony. "It also says to have these items at the ready for when she's on the prowl."

The juvenile agent nodded. "Sounds like a good plan, and I've got the perfect song to start us off. TJ?"

The DJ was busy reading a magazine when his name was called, forcing him to abandon his relaxed state and scramble to prepare the music. At last, he located the correct CD and hit play.

The group convened to croon in harmony:

We don't want to spend another lonely day

Ooooooh

There was a pause in the singing for a short musical interlude. Once it had finished, Team Gibbs began again:

We've got the Mac turned on

The keyboard set, the cursor blinks in Word

Doin' the only thing to

Speak our minds and let ourselves be heard

Their voices grew louder as the chorus started:

Prayin' for updates, waitin' for another song

Tony drooled as an appealing idea for future chapter content appeared in a comical thought bubble over his head, causing him to blurt:

'Cause I like seeing Ziva dressed in a pink thong

(His partner glowered and promptly stabbed the thought bubble with her knife)

McGee cautiously placed the first piece of bait – a black fedora – near the bar's entrance, murmuring:

Writer, come back to us, we hope you'll take the bait

Make sure no more chapters are published late

Prayin' for updates

The team regrouped once more for the next verse:

We made a bad miscalculation

Bettin' you'd be back real soon

But now you're getting back to parodies

So where's our newest tune?

The chorus came around again, this time without Tony's "mind-in-the-gutter" comment:

Prayin' for updates, waitin' for another song

'Cause this hiatus has been going on too long

It was Abby's turn to set out the bait, and she dropped the large vanilla milkshake next to the fedora as she pleaded:

Writer, come back to us, we hope you'll take the bait

Make sure no more chapters are published late

Prayin' for updates

Ziva took the next part for her solo:

Hoping that it will not be too long

Before it's time for the next song

The NCIS gang joined together once more, directing the next lines at the faithful readers:

Deep in our hearts we know that

You love songs as much as you love us

And that you must be sitting somewhere

Wonderin' if this break's unjust

Prayin' for updates, waitin' for another song

'Cause this hiatus has been going on too long

Tony gazed longingly at the stack of movies he set down next to the fedora and the milkshake before he burst out with:

Writer, come back to us, we hope you'll take the bait

Make sure no more chapters are published late

Prayin' for updates

For the final part, everyone cried:

Prayin' for updates, waitin' for another song

'Cause this hiatus has been going on too long

Writer, come back to us, we hope you'll take the bait

Make sure no more chapters are published late

Prayin' for updates

Prayin' for updates

We don't want to spend another lonely day

We don't want to spend another lonely day

Prayin' for updates

The music died, leaving the bar in complete silence. The patrons who were previously seated throughout the bar and clapped for the singing agents had gone AWOL when the parodies came to a screeching halt. Abby crossed her fingers, hoping the audience would return soon.

Suddenly, a door opened to the left of the room, and a shadowy figure entered humming the "Hawaii Five-O" theme song. The noise cut off as the newcomer paused to survey her surroundings in curiosity.

Abby dug her fingernails into McGee's left shoulder in anticipation. "It's her!" she hissed excitedly. "The writer! She's back!"

Hearing the Goth's whispers, the silhouette turned her head towards the group. Singling out Gibbs, Abby, and McGee, she beckoned them over.

The rest of Team Gibbs waited with bated breath as their representatives conversed with the writer. A few moments and a couple of nods later, the visitor drew the three NCIS employees into a big group hug before slapping the fedora on her head, taking a sip of the milkshake, and skipping off while squealing something about Matt Damon.

"How did it go, Jethro?" Jenny asked once Gibbs and the others returned. The rest of the group chimed in with a chorus of "Yeahs," eager to hear the writer's plans.

McGee spoke for the group of "ambassadors." "She said she's getting back to parodies. She has more free time now, so she was going to come back anyway, but she said the song was a nice touch."

Cheers erupted from the band of federal agents at their victory, and TJ started to play "We Are the Champions" in celebration. However, Gibbs held up a hand to silence the party.

"The writer also gave us this," he explained, passing a slip a paper to Tony. "She wants you and Ziva to sing this for the Fanfic readers."

The flirtatious movie-lover glanced at the paper, his jaw dropping as he recognized the original song. "No way. Do I have to sing this?"

"Would you rather risk being killed off in the next chapter if you don't?" McGee queried.

Tony shot him a nasty look before sighing and harmonizing with his crazy ninja:

Near, far, wherever you are

We can tell you the songs will go on…

Yes, I know that was a bit odd, but I figured it would be better than having a longer-than-normal author's note on the next chapter!

Anyways, the point of this was to let you guys know that I'M BACK! It's been a while, but Songs Like This is finally getting the attention it needs. Updates are not going to come as frequently as they did in the summer, but I hope to get a new chapter out every few weeks. The parodies for the next two chapters are ready (I just need to write the chapters), and I have a bunch of great ideas in progress already. And to think my original plan was to stop after nine parodies and an epilogue!

It would be an amazing welcome back gift if we can get to 80 reviews on this chapter. As usual, favorite parts would be lovely, but to change it up a little bit why don't we try top three favorite moments from the entire story so far?

Thanks so much, and it's good to be back!

AQotL

Original Ending Song: "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion (yes, the Titanic song)