Thanks to everyone who's replied so far!! I know quite a lot of people are worried that the new character Rhys, might turn out to be a mary-sue, but I can assure everyone that I'm trying my best to avoid that. If I do, however, start wandering into "mary-sue" territory, just give me a nudge. She does have a role to play in the grand scheme of things. As I've said before, this is my first NCIS fanfic, so I don't have a very good grasp of the genre yet, so please excuse me if some of it sounds a little 'off'. Once again, big thanks, and I hope everyone will continue to READ and REVIEW!!!
P.S To the Australian reviewer who stated that some of the dialogue made her 'think in American': Funny you should say that 'cause I'm Australian too :P
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the NCIS series. I am only borrowing the characters and torturing them a bit
Warning: May contain spoilers of certain episodes
Chapter 2
Having arrived at work earlier than usual, Kate was surprised to see a woman sitting at the desk, which had once belonged to Christopher Pochee. Busy rifling through the drawers, the stranger did not notice Kate's presence as she walked towards her.
"Can I help you?" Kate asked, curiously.
Startled, the woman looked up, before breaking into a wide smile, which revealed a small dimple in her left cheek.
"Hello," she said. "I'm Clarisse Winters, the new agent?"
"Caitlin Todd." Kate replied, taking the offered hand and shaking it vigorously. The diminutive red head standing in front of her barely reached her shoulders, and for the first time in a long while, Kate found that she had to look down, to maintain eye contact. "You can call me Kate."
"Tony's told me a lot about you," Rhys said with a smirk, leaving Kate wondering uneasily about the kind of remarks Tony had made about her to their new colleague.
"So, um, Clarisse," Kate said, struggling to change the topic. "How come Tony's not here yet? I thought you were staying at his place for a while."
"It's Rhys," She replied. "And as for Tony, well, he didn't exactly come home last night. I'm not surprised either, seeing that he only has the one bed. I should probably move out soon, I think I'm starting to cramping his style," she said with a laugh.
"Only after two days?" Kate asked incredulously. "Figures," she muttered under her breath.
Before she could make another comment, however, the elevator doors opened and Gibbs stepped into the bullpen, talking on his cell phone, with Tony following not far behind.
"We've got a live one." Gibbs said, closing his phone.
"Where to?" Kate asked, immediately alert.
"The White Fang Hotel, Omaha city, Nebraska."
"Aww boss," Tony complained. "I just got here."
"I thought you liked flying out for cases." Rhys said teasingly.
"Exotic places Rhys, you know, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Gitmo......" he recited.
"What's wrong with Nebraska?" Kate asked with a smirk.
"I don't like corn." Tony answered solemnly as the elevator doors closed.
"Gibbs, NCIS." Gibbs said as way of introduction, eyeing the young police officer standing guard near the crime scene. Obviously a recent recruit, Gibbs could see a faint green tinge to his otherwise healthy complexion.
"Detective Calen Mackenzie, from Omaha PD, sir." He said, eagerly holding out his hand. Gibbs ignored the proffered hand and moved to take a closer look at the body, with Tony and Kate following close behind.
Trying to ease the young detective's embarrassment, Rhys extended her hand. "Rhys Winters. Nice to meet you, detective," she said, giving him a wide grin. Flushing red, Calen shook it weakly, before looking away.
"Hey Rhys!" Gibbs called out. "I'm not paying you to chat up the local rookies. Get over here and start bagging and tagging." Then, turning to Ducky, "You think it's another one?" he asked, staring at the military ID belonging to the victim, which had been deliberately placed next to the charred remains.
"Without proper equipment and the necessary tests Jethro, I can hardly - " Ducky started to say, but Gibbs interrupted him.
"I only want an educated guess, Ducky," he said.
"It would appear so." Ducky said with a sigh.
"So we're looking at crispy number three then?" Tony asked, looking up from his sketching. Kate gave him a withering glance, but before she could rebuke him, they noticed Rhys arguing with a man, who was trying to make his way towards them.
"This is a NCIS crime scene," Rhys said angrily. "You can't come in here." Stepping in front of the intruder in an attempt to stop him, he only gave her a once over glance, before brushing her aside with one arm and continued walking.
"Hey!!" Tony yelled furiously as Rhys stumbled and almost fell.
"I wan to see your superior, now." The man stated shortly.
"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS." He said, leaving Ducky with the body. Tony, Kate and Rhys stepped up behind Gibbs, forming an almost semi-circle around their boss and glared at the intruder.
"Special Agent Ryan Hayley, FBI," the man replied. Up close, the agent appeared to be in his late twenties, solidly built, and ruggedly handsome. "This is a federal investigation. NCIS have no right to be here."
"On the contrary," Gibbs said. "The victim was a Staff Sergeant in the US Marine Corps. We have every right to be here."
"From what I hear, this is the third victim to die in this manner and NCIS still haven't come up with any real leads. We are taking over the case, and I would appreciate if you and your people do not contaminate the crime scene," Hayley said.
Who is your superior, Agent Hayley?" Gibbs asked, getting out his cell. "Let me speak to him."
"You do that Agent Gibbs," Hayley said. "While you're having your nice little chat, I'll call my people to bag the evidence, and get our vic down to the morgue."
"It's our victim now," Kate smirked, indicating towards the white van that was driving off. As if on cue, Ducky stuck his hand out of the window and waved.
Sitting in the stuffy interview room at the Omaha PD headquarters, Amelia Chandler and Dana Able shifted uncomfortably. At 19 years of age, the two college students glanced nervously at each other, before putting on a mask of indifference.
"Were you were you not with the victim, Staff Sergeant Nicholas Mills in the White Fang Hotel on the night of Friday, the 4th of November, 2004?" Kate asked in exasperation, asking the question for the fifth time. The two co-eds sitting opposite her were not co-operating.
"If you say so." Amelia answered vaguely, looking down at her manicured fingernails.
"Tell us what you know, ladies," Kate said. "Or we could charge you with obstruction of justice."
"We were having a good time, that's not a crime," Dana said defensively.
"What do you think, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked quietly.
"I love the corn country." Tony answered distractedly, eyeing the girls. Seated next to each other, the shapely blonde, Amelia, and the athletic-looking African-American, Dana, made a striking pair.
"Anything relevant you have to add?" Gibbs asked, barely containing his annoyance.
"Sorry boss," Tony apologised sheepishly, before turning his attention back to the situation at hand.
"They know something." He said, observing the interview through the one-way glass. Gibbs nodded slowly, staring intently at the reluctant girls.
At this moment, Hayley burst into the darken room. "You have no right to detain them, Gibbs," he said. "Amelia and Dana are witnesses, not suspects. You had no right bringing them in for questioning."
"On a first name basis, are you?" Gibbs said. "I should have known."
Hayley flushed red before answering, "Your people stole the body, I have the witnesses. Only fair."
"I want answers," Gibbs said, glaring at the federal agent.
"I'll cut a deal with you," Hayley offered. "I'll get the witnesses to talk to your people, and you let me in on the investigation."
"I don't cut deals," Gibbs answered coldly.
Hayley waved him off dismissively. "Call it co-operation, whatever you want. I have the information you need."
Gibbs studied the young agent, before reluctantly agreeing.
"Good," said Hayley. "Let me talk to the girls."
A/N: I'm not sure if "Pochee" is the right spelling of the name, but since that's how it's spelt on the transcripts at , it's the spelling I'm going to use. BIG thanks to my beta!! Please REVIEW!