"Do you mind?"

"What?"

"Your pencil, Tony. You've been tapping incessantly for half an hour," Kate groused, exasperated.

"Geez, sorry," Tony replied, making a face. "I didn't realize someone who snores would find others' habits so hard to deal with."

"I do not snore!"

"According to Jenny Shields, you do," Tony smirked.

"It's true," Gibbs chimed in, characteristically appearing from nowhere with coffee in hand.

Tony raised his eyebrows at Kate. She stood with her mouth open, trying to find a suitable defense. None came to mind and she sat with a huff, silently vowing revenge on the men.

Gibbs' phone rang, saving Kate from further embarrassment, and he answered with a terse, "Gibbs." He listened briefly before hanging up, grabbing his coffee, and heading back the direction he had come.

"We're going to see the director," he called over his shoulder. Kate and Tony glanced at each other quickly before scrambling to follow their boss.

-----------------

"We have a sensitive situation on our hands," Director Morrow began.

"Political, sir?" Gibbs asked, his voice barely containing the obvious disdain he held for politics interfering with his cases.

"In a way," the director answered carefully. "A Marine has been murdered. Your team is the only one I can trust with this."

All four faces (Ducky had been called in as well) openly displayed their confusion but only Gibbs was comfortable with expressing it.

"Sir?"

The director sighed. "The murder occurred inside Cheyenne Mountain."

"NORAD?" Kate exclaimed.

"Not exactly..." Morrow said, his face displaying reluctance to discuss details.

"Sir, with all due respect, my team cannot investigate this case if we don't have all the facts. Exactly what is going on?" Gibbs asked brusquely.

"I can't tell you that," Morrow began, holding up a hand when he saw Gibbs about to explode, "because I don't know. All I know is I've been ordered to get a team to a classified site to investigate the murder of a Marine. Yours is the only team with clearance even near high enough, so you go. Of course, you, DiNozzo, and Todd will have to have your clearances upped slightly but I've been authorized to do so temporarily."

"And Dr. Mallard?"

"Dr. Mallard's clearance is already high enough. Pack your bags; you leave in an hour." The director indicated that the meeting was over.

"Sir, request permission to clear Ms. Sciuto, as well," Gibbs barked professionally.

"Why?" Morrow asked curiously.

"She's an integral part of my team and forensics will likely be key to this case. I'll need her. And with McGee TAD to Norfolk, I'm short an agent."

Director Morrow considered it. "All right, I'll work on it. But you'll have to take her along; no material is being allowed off the base."

"Thank you, sir."

-------------

"So, Ducky," Tony began, sliding into the seat next to the ME. "What'd you do to get that clearance?"

"Ah, Tony," Ducky smiled, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to shoot you."

Tony laughed but the chuckle died as he realized Ducky wasn't joking. "Seriously?"

"Deadly serious, I'm afraid. You know, I had a friend once -- another medical examiner -- who was granted access to the infamous Area 51. There was apparently a most mysterious death and he was quite famous for his work..."

Tony tuned out the garrulous doctor and wondered silently what more there was to Ducky.

------------

"This is so cool!" Abby squealed, eyes shining with excitement. "I don't get to do fieldwork that often."

"Yeah," Kate agreed absently, staring out the window.

"Kate? You okay? You seem a little," Abby searched for the word, "out of it."

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

Abby was unconvinced. "Grace'll be fine, Kate. She's fifteen years old. Who'd you leave her with?"

"Palmer," Kate answered doubtfully. "They're pretty good friends."

"Jimmy'll take good care of her. And you're only a phone call away."

"I know, but it doesn't really help," Kate sighed. "Too bad she had school. Her uncle lives in Colorado Springs; she could have stayed with him."

"Ooh, the hot one?" Abby grinned.

"Abby!" Kate admonished with a laugh.

------------------

"So, Grace," Jimmy started, a nervous grin plastered on his face. "What do you want for dinner?"

"Why don't you let me cook for you, Jimmy?" Grace asked sweetly, ever eager for more 'guinea pigs.'

"Okay," Jimmy agreed reluctantly. "What are you making?"

"Ah, ah! It's a surprise."