This story is in response to a fiction challenge at the Special Ops Board where we are given first and last lines and told to write a story with them.

"I don't think I can make it," she sniffled into the phone.
Miranda had awakened with a king-sized headache, runny nose and watery eyes. All the usual cold symptoms. This was supposed to be her big day. The first day of her new job. And she felt like something the cat wouldn't even bother to drag in.

"Take two aspirins and get your butt in your car," Gibbs barked into the phone. "I'll expect to see you in half an hour or less, Agent Devereaux." He banged down the receiver and turned to smile at his agents.
"Agent Devereaux isn't feeling well today."
"Ah. That's too bad," Kate smirked at Tony.
"We'll have to see if we can't help her feel better, won't we?" Tony said with an evil grin.
McGee sat in his corner with a small smile on his face and kept his mouth shut. Finally, someone else would be the new kid. The probie. The scapegoat.
"What are you smiling at, Probie?" Tony asked, leaning over McGee's desk.
"Nothing. Nothing," McGee muttered.

Miranda moaned. She really didn't know if she was going to be able to do this.
Hopefully they wouldn't have a case so they wouldn't have to go out. Maybe they could just show her around NCIS headquarters and let her meet everyone. Hopefully.

After a quick shower, she got ready and headed out the door. Just before the door closed, she realized she had forgotten her keys. Catching the door, she ran back in and searched till she found them lying on the floor by her bed where she had probably dropped them when she switched purses.
Once more out the door and running down the steps to the car, she tripped. Fell flat on her face. Her purse flew and everything scattered. Scrambling around on her knees, she picked everything up – along with a few twigs and leaves – and stuffed them into her purse. Getting to her feet, she realized her stockings were in shreds at the knees and she was bleeding from scrapes suffered in the fall. Miranda stared from her knees to the front door of her house to her car, considering her options. Finally she decided she didn't care, she is so late if she doesn't get there Agent Gibbs is either going to kill her or fire her, so she will just go to work as she is. By this time, she's hoping he will kill or fire her, she doesn't care which.

Backing the car out of the drive into the street, she was stopped by a horrible crunching sound. Sure that she has just murdered someone, she put the car in park and jumped out. Finding that she had only killed a neighbor's bicycle and not seeing anyone around, she jumped back in the car and heads for work. She would find out who the bike belonged to and make it right.
Of course she hit every single red light on her way in. Twice she was nearly hit by people who had failed to yield when their light turned red. Ambulance and police sirens sounded behind her, so everyone had to pull over and let them through. And then there was the mess when the ambulance and police had gone by and everyone tried to beat everyone else back on the road.

Finally, Miranda reached NCIS Headquarters. Slowly she made her way inside, showed her I.D. and got on the elevator.
As the doors opened and she walked off, she saw Agent Gibbs and four other people watching her. Gibbs had his arms crossed and was looking at his watch.
"Agent Devereaux…" Gibbs began.
Miranda dropped right where she stood. She couldn't have walked another step if they paid her. If they threatened to torture her. She was done.
Abby had come up to meet the new girl and get in on the fun. She ran to where Miranda lay, passed out cold.
Looking over her shoulder, Tony said, "She looks dead to me."