Chapter 1: Meeting the Team (Between Mind Games and Silver War )

NCIS

Directors Office

"Good morning Director Shepard, Staff Sergeant James Worth reporting for duty!" I say, nodding to the woman sitting behind the desk. She may look fairly harmless, but this woman was the director of a whole agency of federal agents, and was a great field agent back in the day.

"At ease, Staff Sergeant, do you know why you have been reassigned to NCIS?" Director Shepard asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yes ma'am, there was a, ah, small argument with myself and an officer and it was decided it was time for me to be discharged and retire to civilian life." I said, brushing over the argument. The officer was a Grade A asshole, letting all the power get to his head and treating those of lower rank like shit.

"You punched him in the face and threatened to throw him overboard…" She said dryly, getting a flush from me. "You're lucky I looked over your file and decided I wanted you in my agency, otherwise you'd be getting sized for a Leavenworth uniform."

I nodded, for assaulting a superior officer I should have been dishonorably discharged and thrown into a navy prison. Thankfully our records worked best for me, mine being exemplary while the officers file was filled with complaints from everyone. I knew though that the Director still stuck her neck out for me, and was ready to work hard to prove that she was right to take the risk.

Before the conversation could continue though, the door was opened, letting in an older man with silver hair and bright blue eyes.

"The Director is in a meeting Mr Gibbs you can't just wander in!" The Director's assistant shouted, running in after Gibbs.

"It's fine Cynthia, I was going to call for him anyway." Director Shepard assured the badgered assistant, sending her back to her desk outside the office.

"You want to see me Jen?" Gibbs asked, standing near me and glancing me over. I was slightly taller than Gibbs, standing at 6ft 2 inches, with dark brown hair and bright green eyes. I was muscled from years in the marines and had a scar on the back of my left hand that got another glance from Gibbs.

"Agent Gibbs, I would like you to meet Staff Sergeant James Worth, who is freshly discharged and transferred over to us at NCIS." The Director said, glancing between me and Gibbs.

We both nodded to each other, before Gibbs turned back to the Director.

"Why am I meeting a former Staff Sergeant? Is he a risk?" Agent Gibbs asked, keeping an eye on me which I could respect. He knew nothing about me and I was near his boss.

"Actually I'm adding him to your team. His file is already on your desk, and your team is the only one with a spot free." Director Shepard said frankly.

Agent Gibbs stiffened slightly.

"That is my team Director, I choose who I put on my team." He said, glaring slightly at the Director.

"It is also MY agency, I decide who goes where." The Director said firmly, before her eyes softened slightly. "There will be a trial period of a month, if you can't work together by the end of the month then Staff Sergeant Worth can be reassigned to a new team."

Gibbs stared at her, before nodding and leaving the office.

"...do you think he likes me then?" I joked slightly, getting a chuckle out of Director Shepard.

"Gibbs is a hard man to impress, but he's the best agent I've got." She cleared her throat and then pulled something out of her drawer.

"Here is your new badge, and pistol, I assume you are familiar with the Sig-Sauer?" She asked, putting both the badge and the gun on the desk close to me, magazine lying next to it.

I nodded, taking the gun and checking it over before putting it in the holster, putting the magazine in the pocket before looking at my badge. It declared me a Probationary Agent of NCIS.

"Looks like I'm starting from the bottom again." I chuckle, before looking up again and nodding at the Director. "I won't let you down ma'am. Thank you for the opportunity."

"I know you won't. You'll find Gibbs and his team downstairs, ask one of them to take you to meet Miss Sciuto and Doctor Mallard." Director Shepard said, sitting back down and getting to her computer.

Taking the dismissal for what it was, I nodded again and walked out the office, nodding at Cynthia on the way out.

As I walked down the steps to the team rooms, I listened to the hustle and bustle of the NCIS teams going about their day. It was a far cry from the hectic warzone of Iraq.

I poked my head around one of the walls, seeing a middle aged man messing around with a younger man who seemed to be trying to get work done.

"Tony for the last time I am not hacking into the Director's computer so you can find out our new teammate." The younger man said, sounding exasperated at the older man's antics.

"Come on McGee, don't you want to find out who's replaced you as the newest probie on the block?" Tony said, trying to move McGees hands to the keyboard in front of him.

"Or you could just ask him." I said, chuckling slightly at the sudden twist Tony did, obviously not hearing me walk behind him.

"Mother of God, it's Gibbs 2.0." Tony whispered, who couldn't sound more horrified if he tried.

"Sorry about him, he doesn't get any better. I'm Agent Timothy McGee, this idiot is Agent Anthony Dinozzo. And you are?" Agent McGee asked.

"I am Probationary Agent James Worth, just call me James. I was told to ask one of you to show me around and meet a Miss Sciuto and a Doctor Mallard?" I asked, making a mental note to remember the names.

Tony jumped up with a grin. "I'll be happy to show you around our humble abode. Follow me!" He exclaimed, walking over to the elevator.

I shake my head slightly but follow Tony to the elevator that had just opened up, allowing us both in.

Tony pressed one of the buttons, closing the doors and sending us down.

"So Probie, what made you decide to join NCIS?" Seemed Tony didn't like quiet.

"I didn't decide. There was an…altercation between me and an officer and it was decided I should transfer over to NCIS." I explained.

"Ooh I'll be looking forward to more of that later, but first! We are at the lair of Abby." Tony said, waving his hands in a spooky manner.

We both walked into a forensic lab where loud rock music was playing, setting my nerves on a slight edge before I calmed down. I never did well with loud noises at the best of times.

There was a Goth woman standing at one of the computers, drinking what looked like a massive container of Caf-Pow. Her black hair was done up in twin ponytails and she was dressed up in black clothes. She looked amazing.

"Hey Abby! Got a new Probie to torture for you!" Tony shouted over the music.

Abby turned around, eyes widening at the sight of me. She quickly turned down the music to my relief.

"Oh hi! I didn't know we were getting a new agent. I'm Abby Scuito, forensic scientist." I held my hand out, but she brushed it aside and gave me a hug.

I stood there for a second, before awkwardly hugging back for a second. Abby suddenly broke the hug.

"So what's your name? Are you gonna be working for Gibbs?" Abby asked rapidly. She was like the energizer bunny on crack.

"Im James Worth, pleasure to meet you Abby. I'm gonna be working for Gibbs for a month or so, if he doesn't like me after that month then I'll be switched to a new team." I explained, still recovering from the hug.

"Well I hope you stick with Gibbs, he's awesome! I'll be down here if you ever wanna talk about science!" Abby said happily, giving a quick grin before turning back to the computer, grabbing the Caf-Pow off Tony and glaring at him.

"Well, onto the next one then! Time to meet Ducky." Tony said, leading me back to the elevator.

"She was… different." I said slowly. most people who i met that worked forensics were serious, with very little humour. Abby seemed like complete opposite.

"Abbys a strange woman but she's the best forensic scientist around, and she's got Gibbs wrapped around her finger." Tony explained grinning a little. Tony seemed the type of guy who could make a joke about anything. I think I like him already.

The elevator stopped at Autopsy, Tony leading the way in where an old man was talking to a freshly autopsied corpse.

"I'm terribly sorry for taking so long my dear, I'm a bit short handed since Gerald had to continue physical therapy, but I don't think you'll complain too much." The old man muttered, talking to the woman laying on the table.

"Hey Duck, quit talking to the dead girl and talk to the alive dudes that just walked in." Tony said, leading me over to Ducky.

"Ah, a new face. Pleasure to meet you, I'm Doctor Mallard but please, call me Ducky."

Ducky said, about to hold out a hand to shake before realising it was still bloody.

"Pleasure to meet you Ducky, I'm James Worth, no nicknames yet but I'm sure someone will make one up soon!" I joked.

"Ah, you're the young man who threatened to throw an officer overboard." Ducky chuckled, cleaning his tools.

"In my defence, I'm pretty sure I would have got a medal for doing it. No-one liked him." I said grinning.

"Well try not to throw anyone around here please, I don't want more work than necessary until I get a new assistant." Ducky said.

"Sure thing Doc, I'll wait for the new guy to show up before I throw people off buildings." I joked. Ducky seemed like an odd sort, but he was a good guy.

Tony led us back to the elevator. "Did I hear right? You threatened to throw an officer overboard!?!" Tony said loudly, almost laughing.

"Yep, punched him in the face too. Almost got in major trouble but had some decent people sticking up for me and the Director stuck her neck out for me and let me transfer over to NCIS." I explained.

"Good to know, if you feel like punching someone, let me know to duck yeah?" Tony chuckled, getting a laugh and a nod from me.

We walked out the elevator back to the team room, where McGee was still working and there was a cup of coffee on one of the desks.

"Hey Tony, boss was looking for you. He's-" McGee said before being interrupted.

"Right behind you." Gibbs said. I instantly spun round, fingers twitching before calming down.

"Hey Gibbs, reckon you can teach me how to do that?" I say with a grin, hoping to make my reaction seem unimportant.

"No. Desks there for you." Gibbs said, pointing to a desk opposite his and Tony's.

I walked over to the desk, opening the drawers where an old art book lay.

"Who's is this art book?" I asked, not wanting to look inside just in case. It could be personal.

All three men turned and looked at it with a scary intensity. Tony walked over and took it out of my hands, not rudely but firmly.

"Belonged to a friend, she's, uh, gone now." He said quietly.

I nodded. "Want me to move desks? I don't wanna work at this desk if you ain't ready for it to be used again."

Gibbs shook his head. "Sit down Worth, the desk is there to be used." He said.

I nodded and sat, putting my badge and gun in the drawer. I looked around at my new team and nodded. I could work with this.