Even though he spent his paid vacation in the Bahamas, Tony didn't feel any better, or up to facing work. The loss of a close co-worker was tough to deal with and it hit him hard. Kate had been fun, smart and strong. Nothing except Tony got to her. Dealing with her unexpected death was hard on the whole team. Now, more than ever, he wanted revenge on Ari, and would not rest until he lay in an early grave. If he ever caught him, he would kill him with his own two hands.
When the elevator came to a stop, he took in a deep breath and stepped into the silent office. Agent Timothy McGee sat hunched over his desk, talking on the phone. Jethro Gibbs was nowhere to be found. The other workers shuffled quietly through the tense office. It appeared as though nothing had happened, but Tony knew everyone was hurting inside. But no one hurt like him.
The elevator doors opened again and Tony swung around to greet his boss. Gibbs did not appear happy. He stepped on to the floor with an angry, grief stricken expression. Tony felt his pain, but knew that it was not to be discussed. Instead, he sat at his desk and waited for his orders.
"OK team!" he shouted across the room. The lab technician Abby Scuito joined them, along with Ducky, the coroner. "We have a job to do, and let's do it! I plan to kill Ari with my own hands before sundown!" Tony's eyes fell shut. Even the memory was too much to think of. Deciding to try and shake it off, he sat up straight in his chair and awaited instruction once more.
"DiNozzo! I want you down in the lab with Abby. You're going to help her track down our suspect. We have a small lead, let's try and make it bigger." Gibbs turned to Timothy. "McGee, any news of our new arrival?" McGee hung up the phone and nodded.
"She's on her way, being escorted by two other agents," he replied. Tony's jaw dropped. A replacement? For Kate? That couldn't be so, no one could do this job like her. His heart shattered at the thought of never seeing her in the desk next to his. Never listening to her complaints about him. All the small things that he would never again experience. Gibbs voice roused him from his thoughts.
"Tony, I know its tough, but you'll pull through. All of us will." Once again, the elevator doors opened. Escorted by to burly, dark men on black suits, was a tall, brunette dressed in a simple suit and tie. She had long, curly hair and stared at them with piercing grey eyes. He couldn't take his gaze off her. There was something familiar about her.
"Look, Tony's back to normal!" Abby joked.
"Agent Gibbs, this is your new team member, Agent Candice Klyne. She had just been transferred out of the Navy." Backing up, the men bid farewell and disappeared onto the elevator.
'Candice Klyne…' Tony thought. It couldn't be… There couldn't be anything else to make this day any worse.
"Agent Klyne," Gibbs began as he shook her hand. "Good to see you again." He pointed to the team. "At the back, we have Abby Scuito, she's our lab tech. Beside her is Ducky, our coroner. Next to him with the blank expression is Agent Timothy McGee. In the front at the desk is-"
"Anthony DiNozzo…" she smirked as she approached him. "… It's been a while."
Tony gulped and let his eyes fall shut. How this day get any worse?