Summary: The Witness, or Sort of. The team continues to investigate the murder and Buffy finds someone who might help them identify the killer.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy or NCIS

------------------------------CHAPTER 4------------------------The Witness, or Sort of

"So," Tony said as he brought the ID of a marine onto the screen in the 'bullpen.' "Our marine is a Corporal James Hawkins, age 24. Has been home from Iraq about a week now, was deployed about a year ago. He was staying in his apartment downtown and hasn't contacted any family or friends since he has been home."

"Wow, a little anti-social much?" Buffy asked.

"A little trouty," Ziva followed, nodding. Buffy gave her a confused look and Tony corrected her.

"Fishy, Ziva."

"Fishy, trouty, whatever. A trout's a fish," Ziva said.

"Any phone records from his cell around his time of death?" Gibbs asked, trying to ignore Buffy's inane comment as well as Ziva's and Tony's argument.

"Yeah boss, he received a phone call a couple hours before and made a phone call around 11 o'clock to the same number. Still trying to figure out the number though, it was private," McGee said as he went and started typing again at his computer.

"Any information about the murder weapon?" Gibbs asked.

"Normal hunting knife you can find at any outdoors store or hunting shop," Ziva said. "There really isn't anything distinctive that sets it out to pinpoint where it was bought. I'm trying to scan some of the serial numbers on it to see if I may find a match to a specific store. Abby is checking it for prints."

"Any more info about the club itself?" Gibbs asked, looking around.

Buffy was again sitting at her desk, scrolling through her desktop. "Yeah, the club is completely public, but you have to pay for the private rooms. Unfortunately, whoever paid for the room where Corporal Hawkins was murdered paid in cash. Covering his traces," Buffy said looking up.

"We need to find witnesses at the crime scene, find out if anyone saw anything," Gibbs said as he started to walk away to go see Abby.

"Ooh, I can do that boss. I can go there tonight, blend in, see if I can get anything through casual conversation." Buffy said, looking happy to be able to do something really useful. "Or," Buffy said and paused as she got a doubtful look on her face, " I could always flash the badge if that doesn't work."

"You do that Summers," Gibbs said as he disappeared from their line of vision.

"Cool," Buffy said. "Wonder what a club in Virginia is like?"

"Want some back up?" Tony asked.

"Naa, I'll be good, thanks. I was, like, club-girl back home, used to go all the time. I know all the ins and outs and stuff…. well…. mostly…..at least in Sunnydale. I'll be good," Buffy finished as she patted Tony on the shoulder as she walked past him to go get coffee.

----------------Abby's Lab---------------

"Find anything Abbs?" Gibbs asked as he plopped a Caf-pow down on the desk next to Abby.

"Nothing on the knife. Guy must of used gloves to keep his prints from going all over it," Abby said, taking a sip. "However," she said as she went to her computer and started typing away. "I did find some traces of some type of drugs on the inside of our vic's pockets. We may have found why our vic got into trouble." Abby paused for a second, staring at her computer, then spun around before Gibbs could leave. "So, what do you think of the new agent?" she asked.

"Very quick on the uptake, but I don't like to make first impressions," Gibbs said as he walked out of the lab.

"Uh, huh," Abby said, turning back around to her computer. "I think we have another strong-willed and competent agent," she said, smiling at her computer.

-----------------Later that night---------------------

"Ever been to a club Ziva," Buffy asked as they walked towards Jillian's, both decked out in club attire. Buffy had decided to bring Ziva along to help stake out the place a little bit, finding clues. She had decided to not take Tony mainly because of how much he reminded her of Xander and how much Xander was a magnet for trouble.

"A few times," Ziva answered. "I wasn't too impressed with them. So you went to a lot back in California, yes?"

"Oh, tons," Buffy said, a smile of memory coming on. "The Bronze was, like, the cool hangout place in Sunnydale. Well…. I guess it was really one of the only remotely interesting hangout places in Sunnydale," she finished with a smile.

"So, what do you think, split up?" Ziva asked as they walked up to the club.

"Yeah. We might get more info that way," Buffy said.

"And just casual conversation?" Ziva asked again.

"Yeah, their tongues might be a little looser that way. Some people just clam up when they see or even smell a badge," Buffy answered.

"Smell a badge?" Ziva asked, confused.

"Just a figure of speech," Buffy said with a half grin. Ziva nodded. "It's more fun this way anyways," Buffy finished with a sly grin. Ziva laughed and walked off.

Buffy was about to walk up to a group of guys when her spidey sense tingled and she noticed a clearly pale and hungry looking man walk a brunette out the back door. "Why do vamps always seem to follow me," Buffy groaned and followed them out. To try to smooth some suspicions and hopefully calm the girl a little, Buffy fished in her jeans for her badge and when she stepped out she yelled in a commanding voice towards the couple who were clearly starting to struggle, "Halt! NCIS!"

In a flash, the brunette yanked the man over her shoulder and in the blink of an eye, he was dust on the pavement.

"Hey B," a familiar voice called out in a Boston accent to her as the brunette stood up, her tattoo showing clearly on her arm. "Wow, you're 'n official keeper of the peace now."

"Hey Faith, didn't recognize you," Buffy said, genuinely pleased to see her formerly only sister-slayer. "I guess I didn't really expect you here. How are you doing, and what are you doing in Virginia? I thought you were in Cleveland?"

"To answer the first question, I'm five by five. Being free's sitting well wi' me," Faith answered with a smile as she walked over and they both sat on the steps, facing each other. "To answer the other questions, a couple newbie slayers came into Cleveland and Red's babysitting 'em for now. She also said there's more activity down here lately without a slayer around, so decided to come here for a while, check it out, ya know?" Buffy nodded with a smile, remembering Faith's restless tendencies. She realized as she thought about it that Ziva was kind of like that too. "So, when did you become all government agenty?" Faith asked, bringing Buffy out of her thoughts.

"Actually this is my first day on the job. I did training for a couple of months though before that. Seems Riley put a good word in for me in the crime agencies and NCIS was the first to contact me, so I contacted them first. Thought it would be good, fighting bad on and off the job now instead of flipping meat patties on a grill," Buffy said with a grin.

"Way to go B," Faith said, slapping Buffy on the shoulder. "Something I guess I would prob'ly consider, except, hey, wanted fugitive here," she finished with a grin, pointing at herself. "So what brings you out here? Just hangin'?" she asked.

"Actually work. That reminds me, were you here last night around midnight?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, why?" Faith answered with a shrug.

"Did you notice this man by any chance?" she asked as she pulled out a picture of Corporal Hawkins.

"Yeah, he got into a kinda scuffle with another guy, 'till security told 'em to break it up. Saw them walking t'the back rooms later on after I staked a vamp out back," Faith said. "Why, he in trouble or somethin'?"

"He's dead, murdered here last night," Buffy said. "Hey, you think you could come into the office and give us a description of the guy you saw him with?"

"Sure B, only problem is, not real reliable here with my record."

"Actually, Riley was able to tweak your identity a little bit. The girl who was in jail in LA is a Faith Wilkins, you're Faith Lehane. He just tweaked around the past of Faith Wilkins to make her actually have a past, and your fingerprint fits Faith Lehane, so you're good," Buffy said.

"That's sweet, B. Wish Riley would have told me sooner though. Woulda made life a little easier, ya know?"

"I'll mention that to him the next time I call him," Buffy said with a grin.

"So where do I need to meet you for this whole thing?" Faith asked.

"Oh, you can stay at my place tonight and I can bring you in to work with me in the morning," Buffy answered.

"Jeez, way to make it sound like bring your kid to work day or somethin'," Faith said with a grin and put her hands up defensively when Buffy started to protest. "Just jokin' B, I appreciate you letting me stay at your place."

"Well, its exchange for you helping me with this job," Buffy said and added, " and this case. Well, better go and let Ziva know I found a witness, or sort of witness," Buffy finished with a sigh as she stood up and Faith followed her.

"Ziva your partner?" Faith asked as Buffy opened the door.

"Yeah, she's cool, very slayery," she added.

"Is she a slayer?" Faith asked.

"Naa...at least, I don't think so," Buffy said as they walked back into the club and the music.

--------------------------END CHAPTER 4-----------------------------