"Director I really do not think that it is necessary to continue showing this!" Ziva snapped indignantly.

Jen inhaled and narrowed her eyes, "Oh I do think it's necessary Ziva, if only to point out why I had to convince SecNav that your continued association to this Agency was in its best interests!"

Jen pressed the remote and the show continued. Ziva closed her eyes as she witnessed her walk into the audition room to face the judges.

Flashback – Ziva's audition

"Hello, how are you?" Simon asked with a wide smile.

"I am fine." Ziva blushed as she dipped her head slightly.

"Do you think you are a better singer than your colleague Tim?"

Ziva nodded confidently, "I think I can outperform McGee in a lot of ways…yes."

Paula sighed and pointed her pencil at Ziva, "Ok Ziva let's hear your song!"

Ziva coughed nervously and then took in a deep breath,

"When you are nearly…..feeling small….when tears are in your eyes. I will drive them all. I am on your side, when times get tough….."

Simon Cowell winced at the nasally version of the Simon and Garfunkel classic and with silent contempt decided to let the horror continue sensing that Ziva was clearly having a difficult and uncomfortable time.

Paula sat wide-eyed as Ziva continued her nasally drawl.

"….like a bridge over troubled waters, I will nail me down…"

Randy couldn't take any more and he chuckled loudly at Ziva's continued outburst of wrong lyrics,

"Woah, Ziva, let me stop you there sweetheart. I think you've huh…got a little mixed up with some of the lyrics there!"

Ziva folded her arms in defiance and rolled her eyes, "I do not understand, I listened to the track only this morning, I was sure I had all of the language."

Simon shifted in his seat, "the problem is that even taking the issue of the lyrics aside, you simply cannot sing, you're voice is coming out through your nose, to be honest sweetheart, you are the worst we have heard today. There is no way we can put you through."

Ziva narrowed her eyes, "First of all, you arrogant man, I am not your sweet heart and secondly, the last person who spoke to me in that tone of voice quite literally spoke through his nose, after I broke it!"

Simon frowned, "Well I can't help it if your singing is absolutely dire, I have to be honest and basically you sound like an elephant with a cold being electrocuted!"

Ziva snapped and rushed at Simon and was quickly pulled back by two burly bodyguards,

"I can arrange for electrocution in one simple phone call!" she shrieked as she was led out of the door.

Ziva was pushed from the audition room into the arms of her co-workers. She stood up straight and smoothed down her clothes, "It's a no…I think."

--ooo--

Again Jen paused the show.

"Ok, can we all identify what the problem was with that?" she asked sarcastically.

"Uh…she didn't get the words correct in the song?" Tony smirked.

Abby raised her hand and jumped up and down. Jen raised her eyebrow giving her permission to speak.

"She should have chosen another song that didn't make her sound so…nasally?"

Ziva rolled her eyes and muttered Hebrew curses under her breath.

Jen slammed her hand on the table and began to yell,

"Do you people not see how 'I can arrange for electrocution in one simple phone call' might be sending out the wrong message and image of this Agency!"

Putting her hand to her brow, Jen took in yet another deep breath in an attempt to calm down,

"However, that alone was bad enough, but Abby's revelation was really the icing on the cake."

The TV sprung back into life again and Abby groaned as her face appeared on screen.

Flashback – Abby's audition.

"Wow dude, I dig the thread's girl!" Randy beamed as Abby skipped into the audition room.

Abby smiled and put her hands behind her back ready to sing,

"It's Abby isn't it, and you are a forensic scientist. What's the coolest thing about that job huh?"

"Actually, I could kill Simon and not leave any evidence behind!"

Simon raised his eyebrows in horror, "I don't know what to say"

Randy chuckled loudly, "that's impressive girl, let's see if your singing is just as impressive! When you are ready."

Abby took a deep breath and then began to screech at the top of her voice, her eyes shut tight and an air microphone in hand,

"Buddy you're a boy make a big noise, playin in the street gonna be a big man some day. You got mud on yo face, you big disgrace. Kickin your can….."

Randy Jackson hung his head in his hand and Paula covered her ears as Abby continued,

"….we will we will rock you!….we will we will rock you!"

"STOP RIGHT NOW!" Simon yelled with his hand raised.

Abby stopped immediately and gave her best innocent look,

"Well? Am I going to Hollywood?" she asked quietly.

"The only place that you should go at this stage is perhaps the emergency room to have your voice looked at!"

Abby pouted, tears forming in her eyes, "Was I really that bad?"

Randy got up from his seat and hugged Abby hard, "I'm sorry honey, that was not good."

After three resounding 'no's' Abby sniffled and made her way outside and as she saw Tony she dropped her head on his shoulder and cried softly.

Ryan Seacrest put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "You ok Abby?" and she turned, her mascara stained face filling the screen.

She signed furiously and then dug her face deep into Tony's shoulder and continued to sob.

--ooo--

Jen paused the tape and Abby felt all eyes on her.

"Would you like to share with your co-workers what you signed?"

At that moment, the team glanced around as the door to the office opened and Agent Gibbs silently returned to his position near the cabinet.

"Uh…no," Abby faltered as she caught a stare from Gibbs.

"It wasn't a question Abby!" Jen snapped.

Abby gulped, "I can….hack into any computer and find out where you stay Cowell and then uhm…..you'll be the one going to the….uh…Emergency Room."

Tony couldn't help but let out a snigger but immediately regretted it when Gibbs whacked him upside the head causing him to yelp out loud.

"So, let me refresh your memory, we had Ziva threaten Simon with electrocution and then we had NCIS finest forensic scientist tell the audience how easily it would be for her to hack personal computers. Once again the reputation of NCIS shot entirely in flames!"

Abby grimaced and began to chew her bottom lip, "I'm really sorry Director, I was just upset…he was being really mean and I just…."

Jen stopped her short, "Trust me Abby, that wasn't being mean. You'll learn the true definition of that word later today. Trust me!"

Gibbs smirked as he glanced in Jen's direction leaving Abby transfixed with fear of the impending doom.

To be continued...