Hi Friends!

Here's the first installment of my multi-chapter discipline fic featuring Tim. I always feel like Tim is not written about as much as the other "kids." Here's my contribution to changing that! Please review… it's especially important in my new stories so that I know how it is being received. And thanks to my faithful editor, MaidenMoonshine. : )

CHAPTER ONE

Tim was downright chipper as he got off the elevator Monday morning, rain pouring down from slate gray skies just beyond the familiar orange walls of the bull pen.

The bounce in Tim's step and gleam in his eyes wasn't missed by Tony and Ziva. The more senior agents practically had scowls on their faces as they attempted re-entry to the working world after the weekend.

Tony and Ziva's demeanors were in stark contrast to Tim's sunshine-y attitude.

"What's up with you, Probie?" Tony demanded as Tim strolled by. "Were you promoted to Head Elf Lord this weekend? Did you get your high score title back from that 12 year old from Poughkeepsie?"

Ziva smirked at Tony's comment and shook her head as she logged into her email. Things never stayed dull with her partner around.

"Joke all you want, Tony," McGee said with a smug smile. "I had a great weekend and your childish barbs aren't going to ruin that."

"On the contrary, McHappy," Tony said, walking over to McGee's desk. "I just want to know what happened to make you such a ray of sunshine. You're almost as bouncy as Abby right now."

Ziva joined the boys at McGee's desk, coming to Tim's rescue.

"It is true, McGee, you look different, but do not tell us if you do not want to share. I am happy for you anyway."

"Thank you, Ziva," Tim replied, looking pointedly at Tony for being nosy. "But I don't mind sharing. I met someone this weekend and we hit it off. We have our first official date tonight."

"I knew that Probie air of smugness wasn't just because you got extra XP this weekend," Tony said. "Give us the deets. Who is she? What's she like? And more importantly, let's see a picture."

"Her name is Macie and she's a veterinarian," Tim said, pulling up a picture on his computer. "She's a gamer too and a big fan of Deep Six. I met her when I had to take Jethro to the vet."

Tony had stopped listening halfway in as he gawked at the blond haired, blue eyed beauty in Tim's screen.

"She is very smart and did I mention she loves gaming and reading?" Tim continued as Tony and Ziva's leaned over him to look at her picture.

"She is very pretty," Ziva said, returning to her desk. "Good for you, McGee. You have a lot in common, yes?"

Tim nodded and began to answer but Tony beat him to it.

"In common? Did you see her, Ziva? She is smokin' hot!" Tony said as he also returned to his desk. "McRomeo is going to need to step his game up for this one."

Ziva shook her head as she turned to McGee.

"That is not true, McGee," she advised. "Just be yourself."

Tim smiled and Tony waved off Ziva's remark.

"Listen, Probie," Tony started. "You wanna keep this one, you better listen to me. I can give you my surefire approach to bagging this babe."

Tim rolled his eyes, but good-naturedly as he knew Tony was trying to be helpful in his own annoying way.

"No thanks, Tony. I'd rather take dating advice from Gibbs."

Gibbs strode in as Tony was forming his retort.

"Just don't marry'em, Tim. That's all I got, Gibbs said as he headed to the elevator. "Grab your gear. Dead Marine at Quantico."

The trio moved in a flurry to follow their boss. As they hopped in the elevator Tim's text alert went off and the ridiculous smile returned to his face as he read it.

"Not the time, Elf Lord," Gibbs said without looking at McGee as Tim began typing a response.

"Right boss," Tim said as he pocketed his phone, smiling. At least he had gotten a chance to shoot back a kissy face emote.

—NCIS—

"Wrap it up," Gibbs barked, leaving the bullpen to get his tenth coffee of the day.

All three agents looked up from their computers before snapping back to work. The case, unlike most of those who came across Gibbs's team, had been cut and dry. A young Marine perished at the hands of his wife, who had found out he was having an affair. Her confession had come almost as quickly as her decision to spike her husband's dinner with rat poison.

Unfortunately for him, his wife's cooking had never been that good so he trudged through the poisoned shepherds pie without so much as a complaint. Fortunately for NCIS, the wife was as guilt-ridden as she was impulsive. Gibbs and the team were barely into the case when she arrived on the scene with tears and the rest of the pie.

"You know, I hate to be right," Tony piped up a few seconds after Gibbs left. "But I was right. It was the wife."

"I do not believe that you hate to be right," Ziva said as she rolled her eyes. "And in this case, she confessed before you even said anything! I do not think that counts."

Tony shrugged.

"What do you think, McQuiet? Do I get to count this one?"

Tim furrowed his brow at his computer screen. He grabbed a pile of papers that had tiny numbers on it and squinted to check one to the other.

Before Tony had a chance to say anything else, Tim threw down the pile of papers in a fit of frustration.

"This is hopeless! Gibbs wants all these figures double checked before I turn in my report on this case. I'll never finish in time to keep my date with Macie!"

Tony and Ziva exchanged a look as Tim reached for his cell phone, presumably to cancel his date. Both agents were done with their reports and biding time until Gibbs released them for the night.

"Hang on there, McFreakout," Tony said as he walked to McGee's desk and grabbed the stack of papers. "Go on. Ziva and I will take care of this."

Tim couldn't believe his ears. He looked to Ziva for confirmation.

"That is right, McGee. We will get this done in no time flexed."

"She means flat, Probie," Tony interpreted as he rolled his eyes. "Now go, before Gibbs comes back and gives you something else to do."

Tim didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his coat and phone and was gone with a trail of thank yous left behind for his teammates.

Once the elevator doors closed, Ziva picked up her half of the leftover work, smiling at Tony.

"That was very nice of you, Tony. You better watch out. You may be growing into the man I know you are after all."

Tony met Ziva's eyes and the chemistry that was always flirting between them was nearly palpable.

"Is that right, Ms. David. Well, I will take that as a compliment."

Tony's tone was playful and his eyes were inviting Ziva to continue.

"As it was intended," Ziva said, lowering her eyes and allowing her long hair to fall in front of her shoulders.

The two just sat grinning ridiculously at each other until Gibbs rushed by.

"Back to work. Don't wanna be here all night," Gibbs ordered, noticing Tony and Ziva had taken over McGee's paperwork.

"Getting back to work, Boss," Tony said as he began checking numbers.

Gibbs smiled to himself as he watched Ziva also dig in to the task at hand. He knew how much those two hated paperwork but that didn't stop them from helping Tim. His team really did care for each other, like family.