Notes: a nice English lady offered to beta/proofread the rest of the story for me. Thank you very much for all the help! Any leftover errors are all mine.
Chapter 3 – First Baking Battle
The first day of filming the show was a bit of a whirlwind for Delores and Tony, and intoxicating considering their success.
They were competing with pairs from the National Guard Utah, US Marshal Services and Boston Fire Department. All of them seemed to be well coached by the DoD and DoJ in relation to what they wanted from this PR campaign, so they had a man and a woman in each team. Tony would bet that the couple from Boston were an item, the Utah ones mostly hated each other, and the Marshal duo were both gay but very good undercover.
'This has become quite a good exercise in human behaviour,' Tony thought. 'Been a while since I had the opportunity to interact with such a diverse group. Maybe I should even thank McGee and Vance for the opportunity.' Tony scoffed, bringing Delores attention to him. 'Nah, let's make them regret their evil little plans!'
Tony shook his head to the whispered 'What?' from Delores, since the producers were in the room to give last minute instructions before the recording started.
'The presenter, Josh Miller, will come in, introduce the judges,' Janelle pointed to the three people seated on a dais at the front of the room, 'and then give the task. Each round has a theme, and the first two rounds have an hour limit each. The last one has 3 hours limit, but the judges can give extra time if anyone is quick enough on the first 2 rounds. Their discretion,' she finished. 'Josh and the judges usually stay around for the whole first 2 hours, but not for the whole baking time of the final round. They come back just for judging that one, but you guys stay in the full time with cameras on. If anyone needs the little boy/girl room, an assistant will accompany you. It's a competition after all. Whenever we focus on one team, the information about the charity they are supporting and how to donate will show up. We also have an option to donate through the show webpage, people to answer phone and any online contact. After a team is eliminated, they will sit down for an interview, okay. We are bringing teams back by popular vote, besides the winners, so do your best now but know that you have a chance to come back.'
The whole group yelled out 'YEAH!' and the assistants, technicians and producers ran around for 5 minutes setting everybody in place. Each pair had a long bench with drawers full of baking utensils and enough space to prepare and present their delicacies, and baking equipment, stove, oven, and sink behind them. On every right-hand corner of each bench, a miniature flagpole waited with a miniature flag of each of their departments. Whenever the competing team finished their task, they would press a button and the flag would pop up, signalling for the judges to check on them. Each team was also using aprons with the full name of their agency/department with their basic colours.
Tony and Delores were both in jeans and a simple grey t-shirt with NCIS printed in large, bold letters in dark blue. Their aprons were also navy blue with the full Naval Criminal Investigative Service printed in white.
'Let's hope this will help with the whole 'like CSI' thing we always get,' Tony joked holding the apron.
'Little brother syndrome, right there,' Lopes, the female agent from the US Marshalscommented.
Tony blew a raspberry in her direction and the whole group was laughing when the presenter, Josh Miller, entered the room and the recording officially started.
'Welcome all to the third Baking Battle under this two-weeks special with defence and law enforcement baking warriors!' Josh Miller started, with a bright smile, arms open wide, showing the whole area where the baking stations were. 'Today we have Agents Anna Lopes and Mark Hendricks from the US Marshal Services,' he started to point out each station and the pair at it waved to the camera shyly. 'Staff Sergeants Isaiah Marsh and Amelia Pratt, from Utah National Guard,' the waves were a bit stiffer. 'Captain Flynn Bauer and Paramedic Andrea Cobb from Boston Fire Department,' and with the last turn DiNozzo and Delores felt all the eyes on them. 'And Agent Tony DiNozzo and Ms Delores Bromstead from Naval Criminal Investigative Services!'
Josh stopped in front of Tony and Delores station. 'What's going on there, Agent DiNozzo? Not looking so pretty,' he said. The conversation was planned, if not rehearsed, to explain the man's colourful swollen face.
'Oh, you should see the other guy!' Tony joked. 'I though purple was my colour,' he winked and was happy to hear laughter around the room, even the technicians behind the cameras.
'So, the one responsible for this,' Josh pointed to Tony's face, 'is in a worse way?'
'Nah, not really,' Tony continued in a light tone. 'Sometimes the bad guy gets a good punch in. Sometimes we lose,' he said with a sad smile. 'That's why we are here,' he continued, moving his hand to show the other teams. 'To help the charities that support us, in law enforcement or armed forces, to do our jobs and help us when things don't go our way.'
There were applauses all around, and 'Hear, hear!' calls.
Josh approached to shake Tony's hand. 'Well said, Agent DiNozzo.'
'Tony, please,' he answered pumping the other's man hand.
With a smile, the presenter continued. 'And now for our judges!' Josh moved toward the dais. 'Our adorable Mabel Stewart, creator, and owner of Sweet Stewart, probably the most famous bakery on the West Coast!'
The woman stood up, waved to the room, and demurred on the compliment. 'A bit of exaggeration, Josh, but I stand behind my cupcakes,' she smiled. 'The best that are out there.'
Josh laughed and turned to the man sited by her side. 'Harry Salas, restauranteur, owner of Salas Eatery at the Bay, our harsher judge!'
The tall man unfolded himself to stand up, dark hair and eyes, bronze features with a white, wide smile. 'I just know what is good and I'm not afraid to say it!'
More laughs all around and the last person at the dais started to stand up while Josh made the presentation. 'Mrs Julianne Baxter, Assistant Director of Defence Forces Education and Training.'
She dipped her head in acknowledgement and tried her quip: 'I already reserved extra hours in the gym to work out all the delicious baking I will consuming today.'
Josh did a final turn around himself to check that everybody was in place before stand before the dais to deliver the final details for the day.
'Today Baking Battle will have the recurring theme of Law Enforcement staple foods,' he kept smiling and looking at each team. 'For the cupcake round, let's go with coffee as the main flavour we expect to taste. For the second round, the three surviving teams will need to present us with a fruit pie.' He turned to the Boston pair and winked. 'Boston cream is not considered fruit, so you are aware.'
The whole group laughed, and Tony said loud enough to be heard but not enough to be intruding on the presentation. 'That depends on the season,' getting more laughs.
Josh smiled and continued. 'The final round will need the two surviving teams to produce a cake that reminds us of a cheeseburger and fries!' He finished with a flourish.
The Utah team made some unhappy faces after the last information. Tony was happy to continue with his personal PR campaign here. He clapped his hands, 'Coffee breakfast, pie lunch and a perfect burger dinner! Reminds me of my time as uni!'
While the ones in the know were laughing, Josh try to clarify, 'What you mean "uni"?'
It's what you call the police in uniforms, the straight out of academy, the poor sods walking the beat,' Tony answered. 'I started my LEO life in Peoria PD.'
'LEO?' Josh asked again.
'Law Enforcement Officer,' this time was Captain Flynn Bauer, from Boston Fire Department, who answered.
Josh nodded and turned toward the judges, 'Well, we are all a bit more knowledgeable now,' and gathering laughs all around. Turning to look at the competitors, 'and with that, let's start this round! The clock is on! One hour to present us an amazing coffee cupcake!' Josh clapped his hands and walked towards the dais to sit with the judges.
The cameramen started walking around the room, each team having one camera on them all the time. Another camera would pan around and focus on the judges from time to time. The day's recording will be edited as soon they finished to be shown the same night at primetime.
The teams were strategizing and working with various degrees of success. Tony and Delores were quick to decide on their recipe and divided the work between them without trouble. The bickering from the Utah pair seemed to give credence to Tony's observation that they didn't get along. The lovey-dovey act from the Boston pair was telling, and the Marshals were really just having fun with the whole thing.
The clock had barely passed the 40 min mark when Delores hit the button to bring up the NCIS flag at their station, accompanied by a loud ding. The judges and the presenter, entertained by their conversation, turned to look at their station in surprise.
'Done already?' Mabel Stewart asked.
'Let's hope that the rush didn't spoil the results,' Harry Salas commented.
'If Agent DiNozzo or Ms Bromstead were ever on the armed forces, I would understand the speed,' Julianne Baxter, the deputy assistant secretary commented, while the group walked towards their station.
'My high school years were at Rhode Island Military Academy, ma'am,' Tony answered. 'And Delores here is a fierce taskmaster of the NCIS HR department. We dance to her tune,' he joked.
'Shush, you,' Delores smiled, really pleased with their results, if she could say so herself. 'I did have a very good partner. Tony here really knew what he was doing. It was a pleasure baking with him,' she completed, a little surprised how well they did together, at least on this first round.
'So, let's taste this marvellous first cupcake, then!' Josh clapped his hands and the judges lined up in front of the station, admiring the serving plates.
The cupcakes might seem a little bigger than the dainty ones on sale on upscale bakeries, but they would satisfy the appetite of active people just fine.
'Please, describe your creation,' Josh asked.
Tony pushed Delores forward discreetly, nodding in encouragement when she gave him a side look. She took a deep breath and start to explain.
'Coffee cupcakes with a soft dark chocolate filling, a latte Italian meringue buttercream frosting and a cinnamon cookie.' She smiled proudly at the surprised faces of the judges. 'The whole thing is Tony's recipe, and we did make a few more than the normal dozen, so I can say with all certainty that they are delicious,' she completed with a beautiful, and rarely seen, smile.
Tony felt himself blush. 'I mixed a few different recipes through the years until I found a way to make the best coffee shot in cake form,' he laughed at the judges' faces when they start tasting their baking good.
'OMG!,' Mabel didn't seem to be able to control herself. 'This is the perfect coffee! The latte frosting is like having that shot of froth milk on top!'
Harry Salas was also eating with delight. 'The dark chocolate is quite complementary to the whole thing.'
Josh and Julianne were trading looks while biting into the cinnamon cookie between the cupcakes' bits.
'That is impressive, Agent DiNozzo,' Julianne said after eating the last bit of the cupcake left on the paper form.
'Tony, please, Assistant Director,' Tony grinned and winked in an exaggerated form, inciting laughs from the group. 'You cannot enjoy what I cook and still be formal.'
Before any repartee from the group, the flags from the Marshal pair popped up, immediately followed by the Boston FD team.
'Well, we have two more cupcakes to taste, people,' Josh started to herd the judges to the other station, even if Mabel was still eyeing out the extra cupcakes available on their station.
While the judges went through the other two teams baking, Tony and Delores pick up the extra tray of cupcakes they prepared on the sly and offered them to the technicians milling around the scene. They were discreet in eating but grateful for the treat.
The other groups treats were praised and critiqued while waiting for the last team, the Utah National Guard, to finish. They finally pushed the button to bring the flag up with less than a minute to the hour deadline.
The judges went to their station to taste the last offering and then met in front of the dais to discuss their decision. While they talked, the groups were busy cleaning their area and discussing the next baking good they would prepare, all hoping to keep going.
At the end, it was an easy decision for the judges, since the ill-fitting pair from the Utah National Guard showed their incompatibility through their baking, with a mismatched and slightly disagreeable coffee cupcake with a too sweet vanilla frosting.
Josh turned to the competitors when the judges went back to their seats. 'It's always a difficult decision because we understand the effort you all put in this, but it's a Baking Battle and there's always someone that bites the dust!' He looked around, seeing the hopeful faces of three of the teams and the unhappy faces of the team he's about to eliminate.
'I am sorry to say, Staff Sergeants Isaiah Marsh and Amelia Pratt, but unfortunately the Utah National Guard team will not be going forward.'
The couple nodded in acceptance, not surprised at all. The other teams clapped and offered their goodbyes and support.
'Your charity of choice, "Utah Food Bank Fights Hunger Statewide", will continue to be listed in the show website and anyone can keep making contributions. We also ask that you keep yourselves available because two spots on the final will be decided by popular vote from all the participating teams. You might still come back!' Josh smiled while explaining but nobody presented believed this pair could gather enough votes to come back for the final episode.
The duo said their thanks and walked out of the kitchen/recording room to be met outside by the DoD representative, Daniel Hill, to accompany them to their interview.
Josh turned to the still present competitors and clapped his hands. 'And now for the second round! We expect a scrumptious fruit pie that remind us of lazy Sunday afternoons in some sunny backyard, folks! You have one hour, and the clock starts now!"
The three pairs of competitors started working right way.
On the fifty minutes mark, Tony was the one to clap the button to bring up their flag, catching the attention of the judges. They descended from the dais and approached their station just as the flag from Boston FD popped up.
'We will be with you guys in a minute,' Josh said before turning back to Tony and Delores. 'So, wow us again!'
Delores was feeling upbeat as she had rarely been before, so she didn't need any push from Tony to upfront the questions.
'We present you a caramel apple pie with an almond crust, gluten-free,' she introduced, showing the pie dish in front of them.
'Almond crust? That should be really crumbly,' Harry commented.
'Just needs to be well spread and baked until a bit over golden brown,' Tony said. 'But it's not something to eat with your hands,' he laughed.
The judges were quick to try out the sweet and, again, were effusive with the praise. Tony and Delores high-fived and started cleaning their station while the group moved to taste the Boston team offering.
'Strawberries and Boston cream?' Harry Salas sounded around the room. Not that the judges were ever discreet on their comments while on each team station. 'A surprising combination,' he said, taking a bite of the pie.
'I don't think it was quite successful,' Mabel commented, leaving most of her piece on the plate.
'Too sweet for my taste,' Julianne agreed.
The Boston team faces deflated, looking quite disappointed with the overall comments. The US Marshal flag came up and the judges moved swiftly to the other station.
'Blueberry pie!' Harry exclaimed. 'My favourite!'
The Marshals laughed and made small talk while the judges tried their baking. The Boston team started cleaning their station slowly, feeling they wouldn't be going forward after all.
The judges and the presenter huddled together in the middle of the room, whispering their comments until a full agreement was reached and they separated; the judges to their seats, and Josh to turning to address the competitors.
'Always a difficult decision and I don't know if I should thank you all for the extra pounds or curse you,' he joked. The presenter waited for the laughs to dying out before continuing. 'It was a close one, but NCIS was ahead once more!'
Tony and Delores high-fived again, laughing.
'You got my vote for the gluten-free option,' Josh said. He then turned to the Boston FD team that was looking quite defeated. 'I'm sorry, Captain Flynn Bauer and Paramedic Andrea Cobb, but you are not going forward at this moment.'
The pair nodded, expecting the decision.
'But remember that you still can be voted back,' Josh said. 'Thank you for your participation and let's remind our viewers that they can still contribute for your chosen charity, Beacon Academy through our website!'
The pair said their thanks, shook hands with the other teams and left for their interview.
Josh turned to the last two pairs. 'Now the last round! We're requesting a cake that makes us think of a hamburger or cheeseburger. Normally the teams have 3 hours to achieve their cake perfection, but the judges decided they will be giving you half an hour extra!' Josh opened his arms wide, as if bestowing a great gift on the teams. 'They liked what you baked so far and want to see what else you are capable of! Don't disappoint us!' He finished, shaking a raised finger at them.
The teams laughed but turned quickly back to their stations, planning what they need to do to complete the last task.
Every hour Josh would pop up in the recording room to remind the teams of the still available time, but the judges had left at the beginning of the baking and should only be back for the final judgment. Meanwhile, they were going through interviews about the special episodes of Baking Battle and the public relations campaign of the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice.
Everybody was back to the recording room for the final fifteen minutes of the baking time and it was interesting to watch the urgency of the action of the teams while the judges and the presenter gossiped in low tones.
A big clock was projected on the wall behind the judges' dais and the final 5 minutes were presented in countdown mode.
'Remember that the cake needs to be at the front of your station, ready for inspection before the clock sounds,' Josh informed, seeing the two pairs rushing to finish.
'Five… Four… Three… Two… And time!' Josh incanted while walking from the judges' area towards the last two competing teams.
Both teams raised their hands and stepped back from their offerings at the countdown of "two", not wishing to risk being disqualified.
'Let's see what you are offering us now for the last round of this Baking Battle, with a "burger dinner" in cake form!' Josh exclaimed, directing the judges to the station of the US Marshal team.
'We made vanilla cupcakes that we prepared to look like burgers using caramel and chocolate buttercream,' Agent Anna Lopes explained, showing a tray with delicate small cakes cut in the form of buns and glued together with the buttercream. It was a big tray and certainly to cut and put all of them together was a laborious effort. The caramel was sprinkled on top of the "buns" to imitate sesame seeds.
Each judge and Josh picked a "cupcake-burger" to try it out, making appreciative noises while eating.
'Inventive and quite nice for a party,' Mabel commented. 'But still a bit sweet to my taste, the whole combination.'
'Agreed,' Salas said, putting down a half-eaten cupcake. 'Maybe something more… spicy than sponge vanilla would work better.'
'Great effort, Agents' the assistant director extemporized. 'I thank you for the extra pounds,' she joked.
The US Marshal agents smiled, a bit disappointed with the comments, but still happy with their effort. They leaned in to hear the comments when the judges moved toward the NCIS station.
They were presented with an impressive cake in the form of a cheeseburger where you could see the buns, the meat pat, a slice of tomato, greenery for lettuce and even fries on the side.
Josh was actually impressed. 'You guys made this in 3 and half hours? Amazing!'
'This is not buttercream,' Mabel commented.
'We used marzipan,' Tony said. 'Fondant can be quicker but is not as tasty.'
'You have my vote there,' Harry Salas agreed.
'I thought you were amateurs, Agent DiNozzo,' the assistant director said a bit drily.
'Well, I am, but Delores here teaches underprivileged youth culinary arts in DC,' Tony answered, also in a dry tone. 'Their group is trying for sponsorship to create an official school. Showing her talents here seemed a good way to showcase what can be offered.'
Delores paled at first because of the tone of the assistant director but appreciated Tony's support. 'Tony was shanghaied for this because it was important to me, Assistant Director Baxter. None of us who volunteer at the trades school is a professional in the area, but we do our best to provide a pathway for those less privileged. But Tony needs to be recognized here because he did the marzipan all by himself. I only know how to work with fondant.'
Josh approached the station, trying to defuse the situation. 'We had other amateur bakers that can compete quite readily with professionals, Mrs Baxter. Baking is a work of love as much as a skilled one.'
'I agree!' Mabel Steward moved forward too, not liking the other woman's attitude. 'I never went to culinary school, Delores,' she addressed the competitor. 'I learned from my grandmothers, aunts, and my mother. It was always such a happy place, our kitchen.'
'My first teacher was my grandfather,' Harry Salas commented. 'I ended up in culinary school, but his initiation was what made me interested in cooking after all.'
Tony nodded, accepting the interference, and opening to back off. 'Exactly. I grew up helping in the kitchen and that knowledge helped during my college years. To get jobs and to be able to cook at the frat house,' he smiled.
Julianne Baxter nodded to the NCIS team but refrained from commenting further. The cake was cut, and slices distributed for tasting. She couldn't deny how tasty the cake was and she already recognized how well done it was, even if in an oblique way.
'Chilly chocolate?' Mabel asked, licking her fork unashamedly.
'Yes, for the burger,' Delores smiled stiffly.
'But the "fries" are made from orange cake,' Tony completed, patting the hand of his baking partner to try to calm her.
'Above and beyond, Agent DiNozzo and Ms Bromstead,' Josh said, smiling openly while thinking the production would have to "educate" future judges if they wanted this whole PR thing to work.
'Well, Mr Miller,' Tony answered with a bow. 'One should always strive to do one's best, no matter the situation.'
'Yes, I agree,' Delores patted Tony's hand in thanks. 'I was happy to know Agent DiNozzo would be my partner here. He always does his best and we all can see the results.'
Tony bowed again and winked toward the camera.
Josh laughed, happy to see the situation defused so quickly. 'Now the judges will discuss the winner of the day who will be going to the semi-final this Friday.' He motioned for the group to move towards the dais to discuss their opinions with their cameraman following them.
The US Marshal team approached the NCIS one to admire their work, taste it, and congratulate them, sure they would win this round.
'Don't listen to her, Ms Bromstead,' Agent Mark Hendricks said, holding Delores hand. 'Politicians, you know,' he grinned and winked.
'I hope this don't interfere with our chances with the trades school,' Delores fretted.
'It won't, Delores', Tony assured her. 'I'll talk with a few frat brothers, we'll spread the word around,' he completed.
'Thanks, Tony, you're a nice boy,' she smiled back.
'Boy?!' Tony pretended to be offended. 'I'm a manly man, Delores!' The group laughed at his "superhero pose".
While the competitors were mingling, bleeding out the stress of the day, the judges were discussing their opinions and votes for the winner, mindful of the camera on them all the time.
'I liked the US Marshall offerings today, they made a great presentation for amateurs bakers,' Julianne Baxter commented.
Harry Salas rolled his eyes, discreetly he hoped, but he wouldn't let the women and her politics disarray the show. 'Yes, they are good, but NCIS team is exceptional. We can't deny that!'
'They were almost professional on their delivery,' Julianne tried again.
'Considering their demanding jobs, especially Agent DiNozzo, I sincerely doubt he bakes cakes as a second income,' Mabel cut in.
'We need to decide on what we tasted today, judges,' Josh said to defuse the disagreement, thinking again that the producers really needed to clarify the role of the invited judge during these specials. 'And one of the officers of the San Francisco PD team did say he dreams about open his own bakery, so a professional level is not unheard off in the show or in these specials.'
'Yes, exactly,' Harry said, tired of the other woman's opinions. 'I say NCIS won this round, hands down.'
'I agree,' Mabel nodded with certainty. The whole group turned to Julianne, and she could see the camera pointed directly at her face. She might think the NCIS team had an unfair advantage, but she wouldn't be shooting herself in the foot, playing the villain in this situation.
'That they did, their baking was all fantastic.'
'So, all in agreement they are the winners?' Josh said and checked for the nods all around. He quickly turned towards the competitors, not wanting to give Mrs Baxter any chance for more comments and claimed their attention for the results.
'Well done, agents and Ms Bromstead! A well fought Baking Battle all around, but we need a winner, and for this episode, it is the NCIS team!'
Tony and Delores high-fived again, their smiles open and happy. Tony winked at the camera, bowed to the judges, and turned to the US Marshal team to compliment them.
'Very worthy competitors,' he said.
'Let's try a barbecue competition next!' Lopes laughed.
'You plan to try for Masterchef, Agent DiNozzo?' Josh joked.
Tony laughed out loud. 'Cooking and baking are a stress reliever for me, Josh. This was fun because it challenged me, but I don't want to go weeks, months stressing out trying to cook a five star plate in under an hour while planning on how to get rid of the competition.'
'Well said!' Agent Hendricks clapped Tony in the back, while the room laughed.
'I'm glad that you rate Baking Battle over Masterchef,' Josh said. He turned towards the US Marshall team. 'Thank you for your participation, Agents Anna Lopes and Mark Hendricks of the US Marshal Office. Donations to your charity of choice, Make A Wish Foundation, can be made through our website throughout the two weeks of these special episodes. And you can always be voted back,' he reminded them.
The pair waved towards the camera and the judges, shook hands with Tony and Delores one more time, then left the room to go for their interview.
Josh turned to the last competitors present. 'We will see you two again, Ms Delores Bromstead and Agent Tony DiNozzo of Naval Criminal Investigative Service, for the semi-final that will air this Friday. And as with everybody else, your charity of choice, Gary Sinise Foundation, will have a donation spot on our website.'
They nodded in thanks and went to shake hands with the presenter and the judges.
'And this is it for tonight, folks!' Josh opened his arms wide, smiling. 'See you again tomorrow for another Baking Battle with four new teams of valiant representatives of our armed forces and police departments!' He held his pose until an unseen voice shouted 'Cut!'