Author's Note: We are back and I'm very sorry about the delay. It was my fault since I took forever with my part of the chapter. Anyways, no excuses. A new chapter from both Zabrina and I and we thank you guys for all the reviews we've been getting. =]
(Bella1992's)
Tony headed out to his car while pulling out his cell phone to update Gibbs. "Hey Boss."
"What do you have, DiNozzo?" That was the first words that came out of Gibbs' mouth when Tony called him.
"What? No greeting?" he joked.
"DiNozzo."
"Yeah, I know. I delivered the body and they should be working on coming up with the ID soon enough. Anything on your side of the job?"
"We interviewed the neighbors around the building and same story from all of them. Never saw the guy and never knew what the apartment was rented out for, but there was one that said they saw something the night before."
Tony got out his keys to unlock the door. "Okay, Boss. What do you need me to do now?"
"Right now, I want you to head over to the FBI Hoover Building since Ziva should be arriving there any minute. You two find out who the body is and we'll take care of the rest here," Gibbs said while Tony unlocked his door and got in his car.
"She's coming?"
"Yeah, call me back when you get some more information."
"Right, Boss." He hung up after Gibbs and started the engine. Out of everything he thought he'd do when he woke up that morning, he certainly didn't think it would turn out this way. It was shock seeing his little foster sister again. Although they were the same age, he still considered her the younger of the two. "Talk about your fun filled day," he mumbled as he drove out of the Jeffersonian.
Hoover Building
Booth had just filled Director Cullen in on the case and was about to leave when he heard the door open behind him and a middle eastern woman walk in. "Ah, you must be Officer David," the Director greeted from behind the desk.
"Yes and you must be Director Cullen, I presume."
He nodded and stood up as a greeting and motion towards one of the seats in front of him. "Please take a seat. That is Special Agent Booth and he is currently working on your case right now. He's just filled me in on what they have so far."
Ziva carefully looked at Booth with a watchful eye. "FBI?"
"That's what Special Agent means," Booth easily replied. "Would you like to hear what I've filled Director Cullen in on?"
"Please go ahead." For some reason there seemed to be a trace of tension between the two as Cullen sat behind his desk. He was pretty sure they didn't know each other, but he could always be wrong.
"Do you know each other?" he asked. It was better to make sure than to assume.
"No, but I think you've already had the pleasure of meeting DiNozzo, am I right?" she questioned. They hadn't had such a great experience with the FBI before so she had to be careful of what she let out.
Suddenly at the mention of DiNozzo, Booth seemed to relax a little and an easy smile tugged on his lips. "Yeah. Seems like a nice guy, has a big mouth though." He coincidently left out the fact that one of her teammates was Bones' foster brother, but then again, she didn't ask.
Ziva chuckled and nodded. The tension in the room was gone and she felt more comfortable talking to him. "You have no idea. He's like a parrot that doesn't stop to think of what he's going to say."
"Talking about me?" As if he had them talking about him, Tony appeared in the doorway.
"Look at what the dog dragged in," Ziva greeted.
Tony raised an eyebrow at her figure of speech. "Cat, Ziva. It's cat. It's been four years. You gotta pick up on things like this." He snapped his fingers as he talked before turning towards Booth. "Nice to see you again." He then turned back towards Ziva. "Boss said you needed a ride to the museum. Where's Probie?" he asked.
"He's staying back to help Abby in the lab and why are we going to a museum. We're suppose to check in on the body."
Director Cullen who had watched the two interact sighed and spoke up. "If none of you are here to give me new information than I suggest you go back and do your job."
"Right, I'll update you when Bones gets an ID on the victim," Booth said as he went to open the door.
"I can see when I'm not wanted," Tony said under his breath, causing Ziva to hit him upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?" he said, rubbing where she had hit him.
"For being rude," she replied simply as she walked pass him and out the door that Booth was holding open.
DiNozzo glared at her back and begrudgingly followed afterwards. "Woman," he grumbled.
Booth let the door close behind Tony and walked after the two. "Do I need to separate you two or will you play nice?"
Ziva looked at Booth with a stare. "We are playing nice." She stopped. "Bones can't ID a victim, they are the victim." She sent DiNozzo a confused look, which she thought he would have as well.
"That's what he calls Tempe."
"And who's Tempe?"
Smiling, Tony decided to shock her. "She's my sister."
Out of what she thought he would answer, that wasn't it. "What? Since when do you have a sister?"
"Don't worry, this is the first I've heard of Bones having a brother, too," Booth interjected.
"Wait. Is this Dr. Brennan? Ducky's friend?" Ziva continued to ask.
"Yep. Talk about small world, huh?" Tony grinned stupidly and shrugged. "She's my foster sister, but it doesn't matter. She's still my sister."
Booth stared at Tony before nodding. He wasn't happy with Tony at first and he still wasn't sure if he liked it, but he could tell that DiNozzo really cared for her. His phone went off, cutting through his thoughts. "Tell me you got something, Bones."
"The gunshot shot wound in the victim's sternum was the original cause of death. The bullet was still intact when Cam retrieved it; it's a 35 mm."
"35 mm? How's Angela doing on the sketch?"
He could hear some keyboard clacking in the background. "We should have the ID by the time you get back."
"That's great. I'm on my way back now with DiNozzo and his partner, Officer David." They said their goodbyes and Booth turned towards the two behind him. "That was Bones and we have the cause of death."
"And the victim?" Ziva prompted.
"Should be ID'ed by the time we get to the Jeffersonian."
Tony clapped his hands together. "Great. What are we waiting for? Let's go," he said, starting his ways towards the parking lot in the garage.
"I still don't understand why you've never talked about her before. She's a famous author, no?"
Tony looked at Ziva, surprised. "Famous author? She writes?"
Booth grinned and added some information. "She writes in her free time, even dedicated one of her books to me."
"Oh, yes. I remember that. It was a bestseller and easily one of my favorites she's written. She's a very good author. You didn't know that, Tony?" Ziva asked questioningly. "She's your sister."
He let out a breath of disbelief. "I know she's my sister, but it's not like I keep tabs on her twenty-four. And do I seem like the kind of guy who would read in my spare time?" He paused and turned his attention towards Booth. "Wait. She dedicated a book to you and not to me?"
Booth shrugged as he said, "I'm her partner." He got into the driver's seat of his car while Ziva got in the passenger's seat of Tony's.
"And you haven't talked to her in years," she added. "Plus, the agent in the book is likely based off of him. You should read it, it's good."
"I will." Tony slid on his sunglasses and flashed his partner a smile. "Later."
(Forensic Fan '93)
Dr. Brennan frowned slightly at the bones on the table. Wendell had laid them out for her. "Mr. Bray, did you note—"
She was cut off. "The cut marks on the third vertebrae? Yes, it came after 35mm gunshot."
Looking up, she saw Wendell studying the skull. "Who would shoot you, cut you up, feed you to animals, and roll you in a tub of salt?" he murmured to the skull he was holding. Brennan shook her head. Wendell and Ducky would get along great if they ever met.
Angela came up onto the platform. "Bren, I got a hit on the sketch."
Brennan straightened, popping her back as she did so. "Yes, Angela?" she asked, holding a hand out to accept the drawing.
Angela handed it to her. "One Jonathan Gallagher. He's been missing for about two months now. His fiancé, Sam, reported him missing as soon as the police would allow."
Tempe nodded. "I'll tell Booth."
"Tell me what?"
Booth, Tony and a Middle Eastern woman that Brennan didn't know walked up as Booth swiped his ID card. "We have an ID."
Tony grinned. "Great. Can't wait to tell my boss."
Cam walked up behind Brennan. She nodded her hellos before saying, "Speaking of bosses, Goodman just talked to Director Vance and Director Cullen. FBI and NCIS and the Jeffersonian are going to be working hand in hand on this."
Brennan nodded, but Tony groaned. "Does this mean Fornell?" he whined.
Tempe smacked him upside the head. "Do not whine, Anthony," she said.
He rubbed the back of his head. "Dang, Tempe, you hit harder than Gibbs. I'll whine if I want to!" he said sullenly.
She smiled at him and said, "Only if you want my cookies ever again."
"Our special green chocolate chip cookies? You'd deny me my green chocolate chip cookies?" he asked, aghast.
Booth turned to the woman. "Is it just me, or have I missed something?"
She nodded. "I believe we have." Interrupting DiNozzo's and Dr. Brennan's bantering, and feeling slightly put out that Tony could interact with another woman like that, Ziva David walked up to the woman and said, "Who is our victim?"
Brennan turned to her, and said, "His name is Jonathan Gallagher. Who are you?"
Ziva glared lightly. "Officer Ziva David, Mossad. I know who you are. Dr. Temperance Brennan." She smiled. "I have read all your books. I like how you based Kathy Reichs on you and Andy Lister on Agent Booth here."
Tempe smiled back, recognizing that Ziva was trying to be polite. "I'm sorry to tell you, Andy Lister isn't based on Booth. I'm glad you liked them, but what does this have to do with the case?"
The Israeli smiled faintly. She liked this woman already. "Good idea. What do we have, Dr. Brennan?"
"Our victim was shot by a 35mm, cut him up, feed him to animals, and rolled him in a tub of salt. His name is Jonathan Gallagher. Angela drew a sketch for us."
She handed it to Tony. He took it and showed it to Booth, who leaned over his shoulder. "What is this guy? A computer geek, like McGoo?"
Booth nodded. "He's a squint-like guy alright."
Cam and Angela glared. "Are you saying we're geeky looking?" Cam asked, semi-insulted.
The ex-sniper raised his hands in defense. "No! That's not what I'm saying!"
Angela snorted. "Like I believe that. Do you believe that, Cam?"
The forensic pathologist shook her head. "No."
He whispered to Tony, "Help me out here, man."
Tony grinned and backed away. "You're on your own man."
Sadly for him, he backed into Ziva, who said, "I heard that, Tony. I would hate to think you were afraid of little old us."
"No, I'm not, I swear!"
Before anyone could answer, Tony's phone went off in his pocket. Ziva, obviously referring to an old joke between the two of them said, "Tony, your wounded cow is calling for you."
Booth, and everyone in the room but the NCIS people, blinked and thought, "Wounded…Cow?"
Tony stepped away as Brennan said, "Aside from that, we don't know much. Booth, now that we have an ID can we get started?"
Ziva cut in. "We'll handle that beginning."
"End, Ziva!" Tony called. "We'll handle that end!" He held the phone away from his ear. "Sorry, Boss… No, I didn't mean to—Yes, Boss. Right away, Boss…On your six, Boss! We'll stay here, and bring McGee with us tomorrow." He hung up.
Tempe and Wendell had gone back to the bones, while the Squint Squad had started going back to their own workings. Hodgins came up onto the platform. "Dr. B!" he called, as he ran up the platform. "I got a time of death!"
Everyone on the platform, which consisted of Booth, Ziva, Tony, Brennan and Wendell, turned to look at the entomologist. "Yes?" Brennan asked.
"It was about 60 days ago," he said grinning.
Brennan and Booth nodded. "That'd work," Booth said.
"Fits the time frame," Brennan agreed. "But it doesn't explain decomposition."
"Now we need suspects," Ziva murmured over the hum of machines, not hearing Brennan's last comment.
Tony said, "We canvas the neighborhood, then."
To Goodman, who was watching from the observation deck, thought, "Good God. Anyone who's never worked with these people before would think they've been working together for years."
Booth said, "Bones and I will take the houses on the right of the house, and DiNozzo and Ziva will take the streets on the left."
Both Ziva and Tony shook their heads. "We'll have McGee tomorrow, too," Tony said. "We'd best split up. Guys and girls."
Brennan chanced a glance at her brother and her partner. Would they get along? Would Booth end up shooting another clown? Or worse, would they end up talking about her and their childhood together?
Ziva grinned and said to Brennan. "It's going to be Booth, Tony and McGee? Oh, I pity McGee."
Tempe looked at her, and asked, "What do you mean?"
"If I judged Booth right, he's going to want to tease McGee as mercifully as Tony."
Brennan smiled. "You should see the way he teases my interns."
The women nodded as Booth and Tony started talking about ways they could split up.
Just as Brennan opened her mouth to say something to Ziva, her phone rang, and said, "Excuse me." She stepped to the other side of the platform. "Dr. Brennan," she said.
"Hello, my dear."
"Hello, Ducky. How are you?"
"I'm good. Abby has the evidence from the crime scene. She's going to bring it over right now."
Brennan nodded. "Good. Can you give me a description of her so I can get her into the lab here?"
"She has black hair, about 5 feet 10 inches, wearing a black shirt with a sequined design on it, and a red plaid skirt."
She took notes. "Okay, thanks, Ducky."
"Good luck my dear."
"Thank…You? Why do I need it?"
But Ducky had already hung up.
She walked over to Ziva again and said, "Who's Abby?"
Tony looked up, "Abby's coming?" He and Booth had been discussing guns and which were better. Tony was a little shocked that Ziva hadn't joined in.
Tempe nodded. "Yes… Ducky said she's on her way over. Let's wait for her in my office… That way I can call security and have them escort her back her."
DiNozzo started to say something but firmly shut his mouth. Best let Tempe find out on her own. Ziva said, "So, Dr. Brennan, are you going to come out with a new book? McGee and I were discussing your most recent book."
Tempe nodded. "Yes, I a—"
"Tempe, why didn't you tell me you were a writer? I'm your brother after all!" Tony interrupted Tempe. Booth shot him a look that said, "Good luck."
"Because, Tony," Brennan said, sitting behind her desk, "I was not in contact with you at all. We lost touch, remember?"
"Yeah, so? I still have the last name DiNozzo!" he said defensively.
His former foster sister raised an eyebrow. "And what does that have to with the price of peas in China?"
Tony and Booth both rolled their eyes. "Tea in China, Bones," Booth said, while Tony said, "Tea in China, Tempe."
Ziva too rolled her eyes, but at the men sitting on the couch as if they belonged. "Peas sounds better," she argued.
Brennan nodded. "Thank you, Ziva! I have to agree with you on that."
Suddenly, a tall woman, dressed in black, with black hair done up in pigtails, a red plaid skirt, black combat boots, and tattoos on her neck, entered and said, "I was told this is—Tony! Ziva! You're here! I didn't get lost. Geez! Your building is huge!" she said, talking to everyone. She had a CAF-Pow! in her hand.
Brennan blinked. Who was this woman?
Tony smiled and said, "I think you're looking for my sister, Abbs."
There was silence as Abby took in what Tony had said.
Then…
"YOU HAVE A SISTER AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!?!" she squealed.
Tony nodded and pointed to Tempe. "She's—"
Before anyone could do anything, Abby swept Brennan up into a giant hug. "Oh my god, Tony, why didn't you tell me you had a sister! We've known each other for ten years, and you didn't tell me!" She was hugging Brennan so tightly that she couldn't exactly breathe. "Plus she's a world famous anthropologist and author! She's more famous than McGee!"
She had obviously recognized Brennan.
A voice said from the doorway, "So, what else haven't you told me, DiNozzo?"
Ziva and DiNozzo turned towards the doorway. "Boss!" Tony said, in shock.
Author's Note: We got some more characters involved. Abby, Ziva, and now Gibbs. =] We would love it if you left a review on your way out. And hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to get out.
