Author's Notes: Okay so here is a fic I have been working on for quite some time. I wasn't sure if I should upload it now or wait until I'm finished but curiosity got the better of me and I wanna know what y'all think. Plus, I really want to share it with someone as it's a different fic to what I usually write and I think it's got a good plot. I also put a lot of work into Claire's character, so feedback is greatly appriciated. Please let me know what you think!
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Summary: Claire Renold always struggled to fit in and find her place within a team until she is recruited to NCIS and has no choice but to push her limits. As Gibbs's new junior agent and Jenny's niece,Claire feels the pressure and it's only the friendships she forms that keep her on her feet. Tiva, McAbby/Tibby, Jibbs and Jimmy/OFC.
Chapter 1: New Recruit
It was hardly past six-thirty on a bright Monday morning when Claire Renold drove her dark blue 2008 Cadillac STS car through the NCIS visitor's gates and into the parking lot. Claire had a bit of trouble with getting a park but finally parked her car and got out before making her way into the building.
Claire had dragged herself out of bed in her new apartment at such an early time in order to get to NCIS for her meeting with Director Jennifer Sheppard…her aunt. It was official business though so Claire was dressed in some dark pants with a white shirt and a black collared over-shirt. She chose to wear heels, black and simple, but nothing too fancy. Her light brown hair had been cut recently so it sat an inch below her earlobes, as it was too much a hassle to try and tie up or style it in anyway.
'Here you go, ma'am' the dark man said as he handed her a visitors "badge" to wear.
'Um, thanks' Claire frowned as she tried to juggle the files she had been carrying along with a large cup of coffee while attempting to clip the badge to her shirt. 'I'm okay' she nodded and turned around, bumping into the man that was lining up behind her. 'Oops' she cringed slightly. 'Sorry!' she said and continued to juggle her things as she headed for the stairs.
After further clumsiness almost had Claire tempted to take the stairs, she finally arrived outside the Director's area via elevator. She took a deep breath and straightened her clothes, checked her hair and readjusted her grip on her files and coffee.
'May I help you?' Cynthia asked with a small smile.
'Ah yes. I'm Claire Renold…ah, I have an appointment with-' Claire looked up as the door a little to her left opened and Jenny stood there.
'Me' Jenny finished for her. 'Come on in, Claire' she smiled.
'Thanks' Claire breathed in relief and hurried after her, almost dropping her coffee along the way.
'I didn't know you liked that much coffee' Jenny raised an eyebrow at Claire's cup as she shut the door to her office. The cup Claire was holding was about the same Gibbs had in his hand several times throughout a day.
'Well ah, this time of morning called for a large cup' Claire said, sitting calmly in the chair in front of the desk. She placed the files on the desktop, relieved to free her arms. 'This is ah…an official meeting? Right?'
'It is' Jenny nodded as she sat at her desk and reached for the files to examine them briefly.
'So um, do I call you Director?' Claire wondered. 'Aunty Jen? Jenny? Ah…Jennifer?' she shrugged, not actually sure what to call her off-duty either as they hardly saw each other on a regular basis apart from Christmas.
'Jen or Jenny would be fine' she smiled at her niece and nodded. 'You remembered the files' Jenny noticed. 'Impressive' she added a little teasingly since Claire had a tendency to forget things on occasions like these.
'Sure did…Jen' Claire smiled back, ignoring the teasing as she was used to it from her family members, especially Jenny.
'You have no idea what this is about, do you?' Jenny guessed, placing her reading glasses down along with the files.
'That obvious?' Claire winced.
'Yes' Jenny smiled shortly before talking in an authority tone. 'I have filed for your transfer from your position as an assistant to the Navy. I wish to sign you on here…at NCIS…as a junior field member of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs's team'
'W…' Claire sat up straight in her chair and took a moment to realize she wasn't hearing things. 'What? Here…me? But-'
'I understand you have very limited experience-' Jenny went to say but was cut off.
'More like none' Claire replied in a somewhat shocked tone. 'Oh, sorry' she winced at the look she was getting and went quiet again.
'As I was saying…your experience isn't why you have been assigned here-' the next interruption was Cynthia over the phone saying that she has contacted Agent Gibbs and he is on his way.
'Claire, we will continue this in a moment, please wait outside while I speak to the superior agent…it won't be a minute but please do not say anything to him just yet'
'Gotcha' Claire nodded and headed out of the room to sit on a seat but a second later she turned around and went back to open the door but Jenny stood there, holding out the files she'd forgotten.
'Ah right, thanks' Claire blushed a little and sat down with a sigh.
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Claire sipped the last of her coffee as a sudden sound almost made her jump. She glanced over to see who she presumed was Agent Gibbs. He walked right past her and into Jenny's office without so much of knocking or hearing anything Cynthia said. The doors shut firmly behind him.
Claire sighed and bit her lip a little nervously. She looked at the door every few minutes and wondered what to do with her now-empty cup of coffee.
'There is a bin here' Cynthia said with a sympathetic smile.
'Oh, thanks' Claire smiled and got up to dispose of her cup. She sat back down in the chair and allowed her mind to wonder briefly to what Jenny and Gibbs could be talking about. Probably her.
Another twenty minutes came and went before the doors finally reopened, making Claire jump slightly and she got to her feet in an instant.
'You're Claire Renold?' Gibbs asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
'Y-yes sir' she nodded and felt nervous at the intimidating look she was getting from the senior agent. 'I have my files-' Claire had made a reach for her files but they slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor. 'Sorry' she said and quickly bend to pick them up, feeling embarrassed but she also hated that she was used to this happening to her.
Gibbs waited for her to stand up again and she held out her hand, which he shook.
'The files?' he asked.
'Oh, right' Claire handed them over.
Gibbs didn't read them though and looked her over one more time before heading back into Jenny's office.
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Jenny looked up as Gibbs came in with a defiant look on his face. His expression was also filled with pure skepticism.
'I don't think she should be a special agent, Jen' he stated. 'You seriously think she has the ability to perform as a field agent, solving crimes?'
'Yes, I do. Admittingly not yet, but if you teach her…she will get the hang of things. Trust me Jethro' she said, her eyes narrowing with his.
'Jen, I would trust you with my life, but this?' Gibbs pulled a face as he gestured to her door, where Claire was sitting anxiously outside.
'Give her time' Jenny said and she was very persistent until he finally caved and headed back out of her office.
Claire flinched a little as her files were shoved at her and Gibbs headed for the opposite direction.
'Are you waiting for an invitation, Agent Renold?' Gibbs sighed and she grinned broadly before chasing after him.
'Thank you, sir' she said hurriedly as they rode the elevator to the squad room. 'I don't know why Jen wanted me on your team specifically…'
'Me neither' Gibbs replied quickly but hadn't missed that she referred to the Director as "Jen" so they clearly knew each other. He stepped out of the elevator and then turned to her. 'How old are you, Claire?' he asked.
'Ah, twenty-two, sir' Claire said a little nervously. 'Why?'
'Don't call me sir' Gibbs told her and led her into his office where the rest of the team was. Ziva growled at her computer and slammed several buttons down while McGee watched her with a slight cringe but fought the urge to remind her that abusing the machines theoretically don't make them work better. Anyone that had known Ziva long enough could tell she was clearly in a bad mood and not to bother her. But unfortunately for Claire, she didn't know Ziva at all and the moment she walked past her desk, the sudden acts of frustration made Claire jump, much to Tony's amusement.
Gibbs whistled loudly and caught the attention of his team. 'DiNozzo, McGee, David…I'd like you to meet Special Agent Claire Renold, she will be working with us from now on' Gibbs told them and then sat at his desk, realizing coffee would have to wait.
'New agent?' Tony asked and then a smirk covered his face while McGee rolled his eyes at him.
'Timothy McGee' he introduced himself and held out a hand to her.
'Nice to meet you' Claire smiled as she shook his hand and felt a very friendly nature about him. She felt confident and approached Tony's desk with a small smile.
'Anthony DiNozzo' he told her and also shook her hand. 'But you can call me Tony' he added with a charming grin.
'Well, it's nice to meet you too Tony' Claire nodded and went over to Ziva, holding out a hand.
'What?' Ziva snarled and looked up, but didn't shake her hand. 'Hi' she said simply and then went back to her disobedient computer.
'That would be Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David' Tony added as Claire withdrew her hand. 'She's a little…well' Tony shrugged as Ziva glared at him, daring him to say it.
'Right' Claire nodded. 'Mossad?' she then wondered.
'Israeli' McGee provided.
'Oh' Claire said and backed a step away from Ziva. 'I'll ah…let her be' she nodded.
'Good idea' Tony said.
'Um so my desk is…?' Claire asked Gibbs while looking around. He didn't utter a word as his phone rang but pointed over to the desk beside McGee's.
Claire had hardly taken a seat when Gibbs got up and grabbed several things from his desk.
'Gear up!' he told everyone and they were on their feet in a second. 'We've got a dead marine and his wife, West Virginia' he told them and tossed the keys to Tony. 'Claire' he then turned to her as she approached his desk. 'You know how to use one of these, right?' he held up a gun in its holder.
'Yes sir' Claire nodded. 'I was trained'
'Good' Gibbs placed it on his desk in front of her along with an NCIS badge. 'Come on' he said and headed to the elevator. The other three agents were skillfully right behind him.
Claire had a small backpack that she dumped beside her desk and then grabbed her gun and badge a little proudly. She was adjusting the holster when she heard Gibbs's yell.
'Today, Renold!'
'Coming!' Claire ran towards the elevator but just as she got there, she missed the elevator door and it closed on her.
'Damn it' she frowned. 'I'm making a great first impression' Claire sighed and the doors opened again, Gibbs was glaring at her as he held his hand on the button.
'Sorry sir' she said and joined the others.
'Don't call me sir' Gibbs repeated and let the doors close, turning to give her a stare.
Claire gulped and just stared at the ceiling and prayed things don't get any worst than this…
Author's Notes: This was basically the first chapter, giving you a little insight to her character etc. Please let me know what you think of Claire, how she's gonna do, who she may get along with best...etc, anything like that...but most importantly, what did you think? :) I hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter, I will update in the next few days depending on my feedback/reviews.
-Mel