Miranda Clarke had been working in the Human Resources department at NCIS for ten weeks. It was her first job after graduation and she was full of hope that this would be her job for life. She could picture herself retiring after forty years and leaving her co-workers in tears at the thought of losing their wise, compassionate and insightful senior manager who was always cheerful, serene and, of course, much admired for her elegant and tasteful wardrobe. Alas, Miranda's vision of a glorious future began to waver on her first day.

After a couple of days of induction, Miranda met her new boss – Delores Bromstead. Delores was politely described as strict and no-nonsense, and rather differently when she was out of earshot. A slightly dreamy girl like Miranda was always going to struggle to bond with Delores.

Miranda was surprised, therefore, at the end of her first week to see Delores' reaction to an injury report for a team member from Agent Gibbs' team. Earlier in the week another agent had suffered an injury on the shooting range and had received scant sympathy from Delores but when she heard that Special Agent DiNozzo had broken his leg in a somewhat mysterious way, Miranda was sure she could detect a hint of moisture in her supervisor's eye.

"Oh dear, Ton ..., I mean, Special Agent DiNozzo has broken his leg. Miss Clarke, could you please do some research on the type of chair which would be most comfortable for him while he recovers? In fact, while you are doing that perhaps you could extend your search to see if there are any other recommendations on how best to accommodate an employee with restricted mobility."

Miranda's interest was piqued; who was this person who seemed to have melted the heart of the Ice Maiden? She got her answer when Tony returned to work and came to see Delores to hand in some paperwork regarding his stay in hospital. As he limped bravely in, Miranda saw at once why Delores had been so upset. Miranda didn't know him but her heart seemed to miss a beat; and then he smiled and she was lost. She soon discovered that he was a favourite subject of gossip: she learned of his bout with the plague, of his rescue of Agent Gibbs from the submerged car, of the mission to Somalia and she realised that he was a true hero. She also heard less complimentary things but instantly saw that these were the fruit of jealousy and resentment and, with a thrill, she realised that he was misunderstood.

Fortunately, as the most junior member of the team, she was often sent to deliver and collect HR forms and, given his mishaps and multiple promotions, there were plenty to visit Tony about. He always gave her a charming smile and apologised for his dreadful scrawl. Miranda thought his writing showed character and she resolved to learn about graphology so she could study his handwriting and discover more about his hidden depths. She was always uneasy when she heard how his co-workers spoke to him: she would have scowled at them but she was too scared of Special Agents Gibbs and David. Sad to say, it is unlikely that anyone would have noticed anyway: Miranda would have been ideal on a stakeout as she was almost completely non-descript and unnoticeable.

NCISNCIS

Ziva was already in the squad room when Tony arrived at work the day after the first stage of the 360˚ training,

"Good morrow, Ziva," greeted Tony cheerily.

"Good morning, Tony."

"And how are you today, my cycling Princess?"

"I am very well, Tony. Why do you ask?"

"I wondered if I detected a touch of stiffness?"

"Not at all. Why would you think that?" asked Ziva.

"No reason, sometimes lesser mortals experience a touch of saddle soreness after their first cycling experience."

"I am fine, Tony," said Ziva, determined at that moment to walk without a limp however much her thighs were aching.

Tony directed such a searching look at her that Ziva wondered if he could tell that she was in fact a little stiff, but then he shrugged and settled down at his desk,

"So, have you decided what you're going to train Dorneget in today?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked, "why have I got to train him in anything?"

"That's why it's called 360˚, Ziva. It means that everyone trains one another. Yesterday Dorney trained you and today you return the favour, but," he said, seeing a satisfied smile hover on her lips, "I don't think it should be hand-to-hand combat."

"Why not?" she asked, "it is clear that he would benefit from some additional skill in that area."

"Ziva," Tony said patiently, "this is supposed to be about team-building not team shattering. Besides, it's also meant to give you practice in how to train someone, thinking of what will best suit your trainee, perhaps empathising with them. Think of the best training you've ever had and try to work out why it worked and then use that on Dorney."

This was clearly a new concept for Ziva, "so what do you suggest as you do not think I should teach him to fight?"

Tony had clearly given this some thought already, "why don't you teach him observational skills? Perhaps take him for a walk around the Navy Yard, train him to remember significant details. You're good at that and it's a useful skill for him."

"In the same way as riding a bicycle was for me?"

"Yes," said Tony firmly, "just think, now you can go on a stake out riding a bicycle."

Ziva nodded thoughtfully, "but perhaps not on a bright yellow one?"

"Good thought, Ziva. See, you're getting the hang of this."

Gibbs arrived at that moment, "Ah, the other trainer. Good morning Bo – Gibbs," said Tony.

"And what are you going to teach McGee today?" asked Ziva.

"How to be a sniper," said Gibbs.

"Nice one, Bo-Gibbs,"

Tim and Ned arrived next. It might almost be thought they had been waiting outside together nervously as they braced themselves for a day of being tutored by the two scariest people in NCIS.

"Greetings, co-workers," said Tony, "I hope you are ready for a day of enlightenment and erudition." All he got in response were looks of blank terror from McGee and Dorneget and slightly sinister looks of satisfaction from Ziva and Gibbs. "Remember," he continued, "at least three hours of training. And trainers, please remember how kind your instructors were to you yesterday." Ziva and Gibbs did not grace this appeal with a reply. Ziva simply said,

"With me," while Gibbs just jerked his head at McGee. Ned and Tim swallowed nervously and obeyed. Tony sighed and buried his head in his hands,

"I despair," he moaned.

He looked up and saw the new girl from HR standing in front of his desk with an odd expression on her face. He struggled to remember her name and then it came,

"Ah, Miranda! Were your parents Shakespeare buffs? You know, The Tempest ... made into an interesting film in 2010?"

Miranda's mind reeled. She didn't know why her parents had called her Miranda but now she made up her mind that, once she had finished her beginners' guide to graphology, she would read The Tempest, or perhaps watch the 'interesting' film. In the meantime, she thrust a form towards Tony,

"Ms Bromstead said could you fill out this form about your temporary promotion to team leader."

Tony took the form and smiled, "more forms! I sometimes feel our lives are just made of paper. Do you ever think that, Miranda?"

Miranda didn't know what to say to that but she suspected that, as an office worker, there would be no work for her without forms,

"Um, Ms Bromstead asked if you could fill it in today."

"Of course," said Tony, feeling as if his charm was failing somehow, "I'll drop it in later,"

"Um, I could come and collect it, if you like," offered Miranda.

"Thanks," said Tony, returning to his work. Miranda hovered uncertainly for a moment but then saw the Director coming down the stairs so scuttled off.

"Good morning, Director," said Tony a little warily.

"Good morning, where are the rest of the team?"

"Doing the second stage of the 360˚ training, Director."

"I hear it went well yesterday," said the Director with a touch of disbelief in his voice.

"I think so. Gibbs now knows that there's more than one button on his PC and Ziva knows ..."

"I've seen the security camera footage of what Agent David now knows," said Vance with a hint of a smile, "now what have you got on today?"

"I'm going to write up some proposals for Agent Afloat induction. Captain Dickens had some, well, let's say interesting ideas but I don't think SecNav will authorise Agents Afloat to keel haul miscreants."

"I've had an interesting proposal from Base Security, could you look into it later? No hurry. Don't forget, we've got our review later this afternoon."

Tony nodded in agreement and the Director left. Peace reigned in the squad room.

After a couple of hours, Tony decided to complete Delores' form and to look at the feasibility of Security's request. He delivered the form to Delores and then left. Delores looked at the form and tutted,

"He's forgotten to sign it, Ms Clarke, run after him and ask him to sign it, please."

Miranda ran on willing feet. She stopped as she neared Tony as she could see he was on his cell,

"... Caroline, it's me, Tony. I can't believe you've gone. By the time you get this message, this whole thing will be over. Love you ..."

Tony looked up and saw Miranda standing uncertainly down the corridor. He raised a questioning brow and she hurried forward,

"You forgot to sign it," she said.

Tony hit his forehead in an exaggerated gesture, "Sorry, other things on my mind." He took the piece of paper and signed with a flourish, "there you are."

"Are you alright, Agent DiNozzo?" asked Miranda bravely.

"I'm fine," said Tony a little surprised.

"Only ... only, you look a bit tired," pursued Miranda.

"Well, three jobs," said Tony ruefully, "that takes it out of you."

"You shouldn't let it get you down," said Miranda earnestly.

"Thank you," said Tony feeling a little spooked. He backed down the passage nervously. Miranda watched him go; she had a thoughtful, troubled look on her face which her loving family would have recognised as her about to get the wrong end of the stick.

Tony climbed the staircase to the roof and went out the fire-exit. He walked to the edge.

NCISNCIS

Gibbs was, to his surprise, rather enjoying teaching McGee the finer points of using a rifle. Once Tim had got over his nervousness in being alone with the Boss, he had proved to be a good student. Currently he was lying on his stomach, looking through the gun sight at the top of the NCIS building.

"Relax," said Gibbs, "don't tense, that will make your aim wobble. Now, tell me what you see."

"Wow," said McGee, "I didn't realise the sight magnified things so much. I can see really clearly."

"And what can you see clearly?" asked Gibbs patiently.

"I can see ... I can see Tony standing right on the edge of the roof. Boss, why's Tony standing on the edge?"

NCISNCIS

Elsewhere in the Navy Yard, Ziva was also finding that she was enjoying being instructor to Dorneget. At first he had been almost paralysed with fear but she had found it rather satisfying to draw him out so that he relaxed enough to begin to learn from her.

"Right, Ned," she said, "I want you to scan the top of the building and then tell me everything you saw."

Dorneget closed his eyes for a second, drew a deep breath and then did as he was told,

"I saw a pipe with steam coming out of it, an empty flag pole and Tony standing on the edge of the roof, looking down. Why would Tony be standing on the roof?"

At that moment, the sound of the fire alarm rang through the air.

NCISNCIS

Miranda decided that she should follow Agent DiNozzo, just to be sure he was OK. She crept up the stairs behind him and then saw him go out on to the roof and stand on the edge. She put her hand to her mouth in horror and tried to think what to do. In a panic, she hit the fire alarm: surely that would bring help? As the bell sounded, however, she suddenly doubted her actions. What if the shock of the noise triggered Agent DiNozzo into jumping? She ran through the door to plead with him. The door slammed behind her as she ran on her mercy mission.

Tony turned as he saw her running towards him,

"Miranda! What's the matter?"

"Don't do it," she pleaded, "nothing's that bad!"

"What are you talking about?" he said, "look, never mind, Tell me later, we need to get out, the fire alarm's going."

"That was me," she said incoherently.

"What was you?" asked Tony with an increasing sense of unease.

"I set the alarm off!"

"Why?"

"To save you!"

"To save me," asked Tony, "what from?"

"From what, from what you're about to do," she said a little wildly.

"I agree that it's not a very good idea," he said.

"Then don't do it," she pleaded.

"But the Director told me to," he said reasonably.

"The Director?" she said in an appalled voice, "but you don't have to do it just because the Director told you to."

"Look, Miranda, I know you haven't been here very long, but the Director is the man in charge. If he tells you to do something, you should do it. Unless you're Gibbs, of course."

"But, this is completely unreasonable," wailed Miranda.

"I'm not sure it's completely unreasonable," said Tony. "personally I don't think this is a good place to abseil from but Security seem to think it would work."

"Abseil?" asked Miranda.

"Yes, there's been a request to do a charity abseil from every federal building in Washington so the Director asked me to check our roof out."

"Abseil?" repeated Miranda faintly.

"Yes. Why, what did you think I was doing."

Miranda sat down with a thump. Tony, concerned, sat down next to her, legs dangling over the edge.

"I thought ... I thought ... I thought you were going to jump."

"Jump? Why would I jump? I'd probably kill myself if I did that."

"Yes," said Miranda.

The penny dropped, "You thought I was going to kill myself? Why?"

"Because this morning you said 'I despair'".

"Oh."

"And your team don't seem to understand you."

"Aahh,"

"And then you sounded so sad on the phone when you said you'd miss Caroline and that by the time she got the message 'it would all be over."

Tony's lips twitched and his shoulders shook. Greatly daring, Miranda touched his shoulder,

"Don't cry," she implored.

Tony pulled himself together,

"I was calling my Aunt Caroline who has just gone back to England. I was telling her that my ADD job would soon be over. I wasn't going to kill myself."

"Oh," said Miranda, "but what about your team. They don't understand you, you know."

"Miranda, I don't always understand them either."

Miranda slumped down a bit further, she could see her dream of a glittering career in NCIS fading away.

"But it was kind of you to care," said Tony trying to think of something to cheer his woebegone companion, "come on, let's get out of here."

"We can't," said Miranda miserably, "the door slammed behind me and I don't think it opens from this side. We're stuck."

Tony's lips twitched again and his shoulders shook but this time he couldn't control himself and he burst out laughing. After a few moments of doubt, Miranda joined him. He flung his arm around her shoulder as they leaned on each other in helpless giggles. They were so engrossed that they were taken completely by surprise when Ziva and Dorneget burst through the door shouting,

"Get away from the edge. Miranda, leave him alone."

Tony span round to look at them in astonishment and saw the Director following them. Miranda squeaked and Tony turned back to look at her. She was staring ahead in shock where two extending ladders were snaking their way up to the roof. Gibbs was standing on one with a gun in one hand while McGee, eyes tightly shut, was clinging to the other one.

"Agent DiNozzo, Miss Clarke," said the Director, "may I ask what exactly you are doing?"

"Uh, Director Vance," said Tony, "I don't think abseiling from here is a good idea!"