Jennifer 'Jenny' Shepard, slender red head and new Director of NCIS, she knew more about how to handle Gibbs then anyone at NCIS with the exception of Medical Examiner Donald 'Ducky' Mallard, or so she thought until she met his Agent Caitlin 'Kate' Todd. Jenny watched the group from the loft above the bullpen. She knew Gibbs was stubborn but apparently he wasn't the only hard-headed one on his team, because just days after being shot in the shoulder by Mossad turncoat Mikal Rivkin the only female agent on Team Gibbs sat at her desk typing one handed. Her shirt black in color like her sling, it nearly perfectly blended. Gibbs had been down visiting their forensics expert Abigail 'Abby' Scuito when Agent Todd snuck in, bag on shoulder and coffee in hand, Jenny was surprised when Kate deposited the coffee on Gibbs's desk.

The moment he saw Kate he glared and Jenny got to hear their exchange because they were not quiet, well he wasn't. "I thought I told you to take time." Not a question.

"I have paperwork to catch up on." the small brunette, though Jenny would say auburn, continued to type one handed, faster then many other agents, Jenny included, could type with both. Kate wasn't telling him that she, the Director, okayed it.

"Kate." his icy glare alone would have sent most agents running add the growling tone and even some of the harder agents would take a step back, Jenny remembered when it scared her and to be honest it still did at times, but Kate simply looked up from the file she was reading.

"Gibbs." she lisped cocking her head to the side with an innocent smile.

He rolled his eyes shaking his head, "One sign of pain and you go to Ducky are we clear?" he grumbled.

"Crystal." she beamed having gotten her way, a single dimple on her left cheek appearing. Gibbs smirked leaving her at her desk he sat at his, weapon locked away he began reading his paper, finishing the coffee in his hand he tossed the go cup grabbing the one Kate had left on his desk. Jenny knew of no other agent brave enough to pull that.

By seven thirty, coffee in hand, probationary Agent Timothy 'Tim' (no middle name) McGee arrived, "Kate." he grinned seeing her.

"Hi Tim." she smiled back at the round faced agent.

Without another word but the smile now on his face Agent McGee placed the cup on his Boss's desk "Morning Boss." Gibbs nodded, apparently that was enough for the boy as he went to his own desk and like Kate went straight to work answering his emails and checking the news on-line.

The last of the team to arrive, barely on time, and most assuredly the most amusing of the group Agent Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo, quite the reputation as a ladies man but a good agent and no sexual harassment suits against him. He was singing along, loudly, with his Ipod giving his best Sinatra impersonation smiling and winking at the other agents in the area. "Kate!" he grinned seeing the only woman on the team sitting at her desk.

"And what was this one's name DiNozzo or should I say how old?" Kate asked.

"Just happy you're okay partner."

"Not buying it." she shook her head "Are you Tim?"

"Nope. And her name's Tiffany." Tim added continuing to type, Kate chuckled. Gibbs gave no indication that he heard them as they bantered, Jenny realizing it must be an everyday thing.

"You're just jealous McGoo, she's twenty-three and a gymnast." he grinned. Kate rolled her eyes. Putting everything away, he deposited the coffee in his hand on Gibbs's desk "Morning Boss." Gibbs nodded never taking his eyes from the paper he was squinting at.

They were an interesting team.

Nothing new for the day the team did their usual busy work until lunch then they scattered to their usual haunts. Gibbs left for more coffee, Kate went to Abby, so did McGee and Tony just leaned back in his chair and fell asleep.


"Kate!" Abby gently hugged her best friend "I didn't know you were here."

"Too boring at home, the new Director said I could come in and do paperwork if I felt up to it."

Abby frowned. "She made me wear a suit."

Kate chuckled "Gibbs took care of it." she gestured to Abby's typical Goth gear.

"No more getting shot Kate." Abby gently hugged her again.

"Do my best, cause it hurts like hell." Kate slowly sat on one of Abby's high stools. "But Abs I would do it again."

"I know." Abby nodded, she knew how Kate felt about Gibbs, it was a little more then just doing her job.


It was at their return that Jenny saw more. Kate and McGee had returned together, and were both eyeing the flowers on her desk, the smiley balloon a stick in her pencil holder made Kate smile, she knew it was Tony. The two bouquets of flowers however drew a look of confusion, one an eloquent white vase with the usual bouquet from a catalog, beautiful but typical, Jenny noted and it seemed Agent Todd thought the same as it was the other bouquet that had drawn her attention more. A dozen lavender roses in a simple clear vase with a purple ribbon tied around it. No card, not even a store logo.

Kate continued to look at them as McGee grabbed the card from the other for her, pulling the note from the envelope he scoffed reading the name on it before handing it to her. "He can't be serious, he gets me shot and sends me flowers!" her voice raised enough it woke Tony from his sleep, he jumped to his feet.

"Flowers…someone sent you flowers?"

"Yea." Kate muttered "Tim can you put them up there?" nodding McGee put the flowers on top of her file cabinet.

"Don't seem happy Kate." Tony stepped closer.

Card in hand she gestured to the flowers that now stood on the file cabinet behind her as she switched places with McGee "Ari. Ari sent those. 'Sorry to get you involved, my deepest apologies for getting you shot. Hope to see you again Ari'. Hope to see me again!" she scoffed muttering. "Asshole." Having read the card over her shoulder McGee knew the card said more but Kate wasn't telling Tony.

"So toss them." Tony shrugged.

"They can sit back there." she gestured too swiftly and flinched. Sitting back down once McGee moved out from behind her desk she quickly began digging through her purse, cringing when a familiar go cup was set on her desk at the same time she pulled out her pain killers. She chanced a look up to see Gibbs looking at and holding his hand out for the pill bottle he knew she couldn't open one handed, Jenny waited, Gibbs had threatened to send her to Ducky at the first sign of pain. He opened the bottle handing her a pill, technically two half pills as she had somehow managed to snap most of them in half. She hated taking the whole pill they made her sleepy. She waited for him to say go to Ducky but he didn't he just frowned at the flowers behind her head before returning to his own desk.

"Roses get to stay?" Tony asked covering a yawn and sitting back down.

"Yes." she smiled touching them.

"So not Ari?"

"Not Ari." she said softly, taking the pill with the coffee Gibbs had left on her desk she smiled at the purple roses. Moving them next to her monitor she turned them until the bow tied into the ribbon faced her, they were simple but beautiful, just roses nothing else in with them.

"Boyfriend you've not told us about?" Tony pressed.

"Like I've had the time for one of those lately." she chuckled turning on her computer before grabbing her file that she'd locked in her drawer. Typing she forgot about it until Tony piped up.

"Maybe Ducky?"

"Maybe I what Anthony?"

"Gave Kate the purple flowers."

"Certainly not." the Scotsman assured Tony upon his timely entrance into the bullpen, Kate knew why he was there, she threw a glare at Gibbs who simply ignored her and read the paper "If I were to give Caitlin roses they would be of the red, yellow, white or pink persuasion not purple."

"Why not purple?" Kate cocked her head and flinched at the pain but otherwise she remained calm on the outside, inwardly however yelling 'Son of bitch' .

"Well as with all things my dear, roses of different colors have meaning. Red, love. White, purity. Yellow, friendship and so on."

"Kate, white?" Tony snickered, the Scotsman turned to him, Tony stopped, clearing his throat he pretended to be interested in his computer.

"What is purple Ducky?" Kate asked when he didn't rattle it off with the others.

"Ah, yes well…" Ducky stumbled over his words, Jenny knew it was a rarity for the older man "You say there's no card?" he asked.

"No. And you're stalling." Kate eyed the M.E.

"Got it." McGee looked up from his computer, looking back down he said "Oh." and blushed.

"Tim?" Kate asked.

"Uh…yea…g..got it right here….um…"

"Spit it out Probie." Tony scrambled over to McGee's desk when he continued to hesitate. "Ohh ho ho." Tony giggled in delight. "This is great!"

"I swear if someone doesn't tell me I won't be the only one with a bullet wound." she glared in their direction, Jenny was impressed not a Gibbs like glare but good all the same. Jenny watched Gibbs for a moment, no reaction to the scene in front of him, he was letting them play. He had mellowed since they were partners.

"Tell her Probie." Tony grinned dropping his hands on McGee's shoulders. "Come on, tell her."

"La…lavender or purple roses are used to symbolize…" he swallowed hesitating then clearing his throat McGee read "Love at first sight." the tips of his ears reddened.

"Oh." Jenny had to cover her mouth to stop the laugh at the shocked look on Kate's face as her eyes shot to the purple roses. "Um, kay."

Laughing Tony moved next to Ducky in front of Kate's desk giving a little dance as he said "Looks like someone likes you." Jenny cringed, Tony wasn't paying attention, "An office crush, a secret admirer, a devotee…" Tony's head bounced forward with a hard 'thwack' as Gibbs continued passed them to the elevator. "Leave Kate and her mystery man alone, yes Boss." Tony rubbed the back of his head leaning he whispered to Kate "No name makes sense, I mean come on like anyone here would be stupid enough to send you flowers and leave their name with Gibbs and rule 12."

Kate nodded in agreement. "Maybe they know I like purple and didn't think about the meaning?" Kate offered Ducky.

"Perhaps my dear." he patted her hand "Lunch tomorrow, you promised."

"I did." she nodded giving the older man a sweet smile before smacking Tony's hand away from her coffee flinching as she did so. "I will shoot you." she threatened.

"Anthony return to your desk please." Ducky came around Kate's desk holding his hand to her "Caitlin I believe you and I have a date in autopsy or perhaps the conference room." he indicated to both the elevator and stairs with a simple nod.

"Conference room." she mumbled taking his hand and following him until she could link her arm with his. He carried her coffee to keep it safe from Tony. Jenny nodded and smiled as the duo passed her on the mezzanine. As Gibbs had said Ducky was going to check Kate out, and so did Jenny herself as they continued on. Kate was her height but had the curves that she lacked, she was very beautiful but didn't appear to act on it. Jenny could see why Tony and Tim were smitten, she was sure even Ducky had a crush. But they weren't the ones she watched.


As soon as she'd heard about the flowers, Jenny was sure from one of the boys, the forensic scientist made her first appearance in the bullpen. Jenny was still trying to get used to the woman, no girl's appearance, Agent McGee wasn't her only genius. Though she dressed like a Goth, she had found Abigail or Abby, as she preferred, to be a chipper and sweet girl with an addiction to caffeine that could rival Gibbs's. The girl was nothing like the stereotypical gloomy and depressing Goths. A quick group of clumps brought Kate's attention from her computer to the bouncing Goth before her. "Oh my God, they're beautiful!" she clapped smiling at the purple roses.

"Very." Kate agreed.

"Who sent them?"

"I don't know, there was no card." Kate continued typing stopping only to flip the page. "Can you help me take them to my car? I can't carry my purse, bag and the flowers."

"Sure." Abby smiled "What about those?"

"They can stay." Kate grumbled.

"Ah, Jerk Flowers." Abby nodded.

"Ari." she corrected.

"Really? And they survived the day." Abby whispered glancing to Gibbs surprised he hadn't tossed them.

Kate knew the reason, "Too many witnesses."

After work true to her word Abby helped Kate take her things home. "So who do you think sent you these?" Abby followed Kate inside.

"No idea." she shook her head dropping her purse on the table by the door "Hi honey." she smiled at the Jack Russell terrier dancing happily at her feet.

"Can't believe you named her Toni." Abby laughed shutting and locking the door behind her.

Kate laughed "Rumor has it DiNozzo has a fish named Kate."

"No rumor." Abby laughed with her "She's a little gold fish, he bought her the day, you know…" Abby gestured to Kate's shoulder.

"My x-rated Peter Pan." Kate chuckled slowly slipping the sling off and hanging it on her coat rack.

"I'm so gonna have to use that one." Abby chuckled.

"Explain something to me Abby." Kate slowly sat on her couch leaning back so she didn't jar her shoulder, Abby sat next to her facing her " Why Tim and not Tony? He's a better fit with you and we go out all the time."

"Because Tim's not mine, we're not serious and Tony's like a big goofy brother." Abby answered honestly adding "I don't like either of them like you like Gibbs."

"He's my boss Abby, rule 12."

"Kate after everything we've gone through rule 12 needs to go."

There were days she felt the same, laying in the hospital possibly with the plague, after her surgery in the hospital for the bullet to the shoulder... but "Abby I love you but I love my job, I try anything and Gibbs'll fire me, remember 'Pull that crap at NCIS and I won't give you a chance to resign'. I'll be fine, and when I'm not you'll be the second to know because you'll be helping me clean out my desk."