Probably should have mentioned this earlier: This story takes place two days after Kate's autopsy.
Also, for all you German-speakers, I know the phrases are bad, but my German is really bad. Thank you to Runy for translating it correctly (Danke Schön!)
ASL stands for American Sign Language.
It's Not What You Think-Chapter 2-The New Agent
"She's gone, Dr. Mallard."
The words rang hollow in the ME's ears.
She's gone.
NCIS/Abby's lab.
"What do you mean, boss?" McGee asked Gibbs as the older agent filled him and Abby in on what Ducky had told him.
"Kate's body is missing, that's what I mean. I don't want Tony to know until I know more about what's going on."
"That's easier said than done, Gibbs," Abby said. "Everyone in the building has been walking on eggshells around him for the past two days."
"I know that, neither of you are going to tell him. Got it?"
"Yes, boss."
"Got it."
"Good. I should probably tell you that the Director has called in an outside agent to investigate."
"An outside agent?" McGee looked at Abby and Gibbs quizzically.
"Someone not affected by what happens here. Who are they sending?"
"Lili Snyder," Gibbs answered as he left the two computer whizzes to their work.
"Cool!"
"Who's Lili Snyder?"
"You've never heard of Elisabeth Snyder?" Abby asked in half-mocking disbelief.
"Are you talking about Special Agent Elisabeth Snyder from San Diego? One of the youngest agents ever?"
"She would be the one and only. She and Pacci were partners up until four years ago when the Director had her transferred to San Diego. It's kind of hard to believe that Pacci was her probie when he started out here."
"Is she really as young as they say she is?"
"I don't know. I never really asked her how old she was, and don't even think about getting it from her file. She has top level security clearance, when she first came, I tried to go into her file, but the firewalls corrupted my computer."
"So, she's a real enigma."
"Yep."
Six hours later.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Jethro Gibbs," a young, blonde woman asked McGee as she came into the bullpen.
"Um…well…he's…um…Boss?" McGee asked Gibbs as he came up behind the two young adults.
"Lili! It's good to see you again," Gibbs said as he clapped a hand on her back.
"It's good to see you, too, Jethro. I just wish it was under better circumstances."
"So do I. McGee!"
"Yeah, Boss?"
"This is Special Agent Elisabeth Snyder."
"Hi, call me Lili," she said as she shook McGee's hand.
"Timothy McGee."
"It's nice to meet you, Timothy."
Her greeting was rewarded by the sound of Tony yelling with another agent over a case, "I don't care what you think, Probie! This wound was caused by a knife, not a bullet!" He walked away from the shaking agent and was met by the sight of Lili.
"Hey, Boss, McGee. Who's this?" he asked as he approached the small group.
"Tony Dinozzo, this is Elisabeth Snyder."
"Hi, call me Lili," she greeted him as they shook hands.
"Why's she here?" Tony asked Gibbs as sat down at his desk and began typing up a report.
"Agent Snyder has been assigned here temporarily. She's here to investigate an unrelated case," Gibbs answered.
"Isn't that my old desk?" Lili asked as Tony continued typing.
"Yeah. You'll be using Pacci's-" McGee started before being cut off by Gibbs.
"You'll be using Malone's old desk," Gibbs finished, seeing the look of hurt on Lili's face at the mention of her late former partner and probie.
"Cool." She went over to the indicated desk and took out a laptop and several files. She also took out a cord and hooked the laptop up to the desktop computer. Gibbs handed her another file.
"Here's you assignment, Liebe," Gibbs said. He continued in German, "Ich will nicht, dass Tony es mitbekommt," I don't want Tony to know he said. She nodded in understanding, knowing that he meant that he didn't want Tony to know what she was working on.
"Are you two going to do that all the time?" Tony asked them. "It's kind of annoying, like when you and Abby speak in sign language."
He doesn't know ASL? She signed to Gibbs.
Not as far as I know, he signed back. The two agents laughed.
"Ha ha, very funny," Tony said as he went back to his report.
NCIS/Abby's lab.
Lili entered the NCIS lab and was greeted by the roar of Abby's heavy metal music. She searched around for the source of the noise and, finding the stereo, paused the music.
"Hey! It was getting to the good part!" Abby whined before she saw the agent.
"I've heard this song before, Abbs. There is no good part."
"That's just because you're the punk to my Goth. You're too teenie-bopper," Abby answered, looking up and seeing the blonde who had turned off her entertainment.
"Hey! Don't mock the punk! Besides, I only listen to it. I'm not a punk-rocker, I'm a classical rocker. And don't you dare start mocking Mötley Crüe!"
The two women stopped their banter and hugged each other in greeting.
"So, I'm guessing you're here about the evidence involving your case?"
"You are correct, Madam."
"They're right here," Abby said as she handed the blonde woman a two boxes and a file.
"Cool, thanks. Hey, how are you holding up?" Lili asked her friend.
"I'm okay," the Goth answered. "I'm holding up," she added, seeing the look of disbelief of the agent's face. "I'm more worried about Tony, though."
"You mean Mr. 'This wound was caused by a knife, not a bullet!'"
"Yeah. He's been a bit-"
"Tightly wound?"
"Exactly. I think he's been affected the most by what happened. And now with the whole reason why you're here, I don't blame Gibbs for keeping Tony in the dark."
"What about her family? Jethro said the body was supposed to be released today."
"Gibbs called them and said that some suspicious evidence had turned up and the government wouldn't authorize the release of her."
"That makes my job easier. Thanks Abbs," Lili said as she pressed PLAY on the stereo and left. Her next stop would be autopsy.
Like it? Hate it? Suspense killing you? No pun intended.
