Hope you're enjoying it Read and let me know what you want next from it. I've put mutterings of possibilities and questions at the bottom. Thank you all so much for your lovely comments though They help soo much even if it's just like This is good. Hope you all enjoy x


Gibbs released a long breath he didn't know he'd been holding and took a sip from his 18th coffee of the day. It was late. Or early depending on how you looked at it and his computer was getting him nowhere. He gave the infuriating machine a whack out of frustration and lack of sleep.

He looked across to McGee and DiNozzo at their desks, for once their roles reversed. McGee was in a deep sleep, his keyboard no doubt imprinting into his face while DiNozzo was staring fixedly at his computer screen.

Three weeks had passed since the incident at the hospital and they had practically nothing to show for it. They'd not learn much from the body of the attacker, no record of him on any database they'd searched, telling them he was most likely a hit man and an expensive professional at that. And no luck finding anything on the kid, 'Alex'.

No amount of questioning or pushing from Gibbs had forced any information out on who the kid was, the school he'd given Gibbs had come up with nothing and if the other agencies knew anything they certainly weren't playing ball. Something was up. Gibbs knew it and he hated being left in the dark. Even Fornell had been of no use. Something or somebody was blocking their entire investigation and Gibbs wanted to know why. His gut never let him down and it was telling him something was amiss, he wouldn't give up trying to find out what that was. It just who Gibbs was, he wanted his team to feel safe again.

Gibbs knew this same feeling was pushing DiNozzo too. He worried over his lead agent, Tony had returned to work a week after going into hospital with an intensity he'd rarely seen in the younger agent. Gibbs could tell that DiNozzo just wanted what Gibbs did. He wanted answers and he wanted the case solved. Although Gibbs had the feeling that is was more for Ziva's sake than his own.

Gibbs' mind wondered a moment before he glanced at his computer and realised the date.

Ziva would be released from hospital later today.

He had tried to fight her on her coming straight back to work but he'd seen that look in her eyes and knew it was no use. Shannon has been the same. At least he could keep an eye on her this way and perhaps she would help calm Tony down and return him to normal a bit more.

'Grab your stuff.' Gibbs announced suddenly into the early morning silence.

McGee woke with a start, his face indeed showing the signs of sleeping on his keyboard.

'We going somewhere Boss?' DiNozzo questioned.

'Yeah, home. Go get some sleep. Ziva gets out today so we'll meet at the hospital at nine and then carry on.'

They moved over to the elevator, the doors opening with a gentle ping.

'Do you think that's wise Boss? Letting her come back so fast?' McGee queried

'Come on McGoo, you ever tried arguing with our resident ninja?'

'Good point.'

Gibbs smirked as they rode down, DiNozzo and McGee bickering. It seemed the anticipation of Ziva's return was already lightening spirits.


Ziva was quiet when Gibbs first arrived but her mood improved when DiNozzo and McGee finally made it. They checked her out, McGee showing he cared in the way he knew, faffing over Ziva's paperwork making sure everything checked out okay and she had all the medicine and any pain meds she needed. Gibbs wasn't worried; he'd make sure he got Ducky to check her over when they got back and every so often to make sure she was healing okay.

It was good to have the team back together again. Things were always unbalanced if one of them missing, Gibbs thought back to when Tony and Ziva were captured, not knowing where they were; it was not something he wanted to experience again.

The three of them bickered incessantly on the way back to headquarters. DiNozzo moaned about Ziva riding shotgun, about Gibb's driving well about anything really and argued with McGee about arriving to work on time. Apparently DiNozzo's alarm clock had failed him once again while McGee had has issues with the bus.

'Hah' Tony chuckled 'Oh the bus! Seriously don't get some of your choices Elflord.'

Gibbs droned them out with thoughts of the case, thinking how he could next find out more. After getting nowhere on finding anything about the kid he had decided that he must have been more involved that Gibbs had thought. Perhaps Tony had been right and Alex had been the one to get them out. But he couldn't be much more 18 surely, maybe 22 at a push. He wished Ducky had had a better opportunity to talk to the kid and find out more.

They all piled out of the car and made their way up to the bull pen. Tony in the lead, called back to the others, 'Oooh Boss ain't gunna be happy.' 'Somebody's in his chair.' Tony sing-songed.

Gibbs froze when he recognized who was sat in his chair, feet up on his desk, and air of nonchalance surrounding them.

'Hey Gibbs.'

'Alex.'


Alex smiled at the disgruntled agent in front of him.

'Nice to see you all again, glad you're finally out of the hospital Miss David. Sorry I couldn't hang around.' He grinned, enjoying the looks on their faces. He loved this bit when working with other agencies. The moments when they were trying to work him out.

'That is your name then. Alex?' Tony interjected.

'Yeah' Alex shrugged 'It's easier than having to keep coming up with fake names, seems a bit pointless seeing as most people know who I am. Well those who are 'in the know' he continued giving Ziva a wink.

'You're British.' Gibbs remarked, finally breaking from his frozen state, not that the others had noticed, mistaking it for a Gibbs glare.

'I'm English.' Alex corrected. 'In a way there's no such thing as a British accent, and your American ones are more of an effort to keep up. I forget to exchange the right words sometimes, soccer instead of football and don't get me started on the way you guys say aluminium.' Alex gave Gibbs a breezy smile.

Gibbs stared at Alex. 'Why are you here?'

'Interesting. Not who are you then?'

'I can get to that later. For now, why are you here? You didn't seem to want to be here or involved before. Why the change of heart?'

'I had to sort some things out first but it seems now working together would be mutually beneficial for us both.'

'Working together' McGee asked while Tony spluttered.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow at Ziva who had remained strangely quiet. She was staring intently at Alex who just smiled back at her. Questions for later.

'Okay then. So who are you?' Gibbs continued his interrogation

'And how did you even get up here?' Tony added.

Alex stopped smiling becoming serious. 'I know people. I know a lot of people. And most of them owe me something if not their lives or their jobs, but that's all you get for now until you sign these.'

Alex pushed forward a pile of paperwork which Tony moved forward to pick up, handing a stapled bunch to Gibbs. 'What is this? What are we supposed to sign? Are you here to steal our organs?' Tony joked. McGee sighed and grabbed the paper work from Tony.

'Hey! Didn't your mother ever tell you not to snatch McRude'

McGee glared at Tony at looked through the paperwork, Gibbs waiting for what he had to say staring at the kid in front of him. Who was still sat in his chair.

'It's an Official Secrets Act Boss' the amazement clear in McGee's voice 'a high level one too.'

'The Highest Level' Alex corrected.

'And what is it that demands the need for the highest level Official Secrets Act?' Gibbs asked leaning forward on the desk, staring straight into Alex's eyes searching for something hidden in them.

'Alex Rider.'


Hope you like it Please review let me know what you think, what it needs. Wondering who else's perspective to write in, like maybe Ducky's ? I'm sure Gibbs would make Ducky look Alex over. Ziva as well I should do. But who next?

I also don't know how old Alex should be and where in his own plot line this would fit in not knowing much about the Alex Rider series. I want him to be younger than Gibbs thinks but not so young that it makes him more of a child. I don't want them worrying about him aaalll the time, some worrying yes but not OTT. He still has his job to do. Hmmm also who should his boss be? Blunt or Jones or who ? And do you want Jack or Ben or any of the SAS guys to be in it ? Let me know what you want from it :)

Thanks for reading I'm so pleased you seem to be enjoying it I think