It was quiet: Too quiet. Despite the tension, Tony smiled. He loved that phrase and liked to think it as much as possible. Still, it didn't change the fact it actually was too quiet.
"Let's see what we've got", he said quietly opening the car door with great care. Ziva, McGee and Doris followed suit.
They spread out, forming a cautious line as they stalk towards the house. Each alert for any signs of disturbance. Tony's foot had barely touched the front steps when the first gunshots rang out. Four agents dived for cover.
Tony indicated with his head to McGee and Ziva which positions they should take. The Probie would just have to stay under cover for now. Slowly they stalked around looking for signs of trouble.
McGee was just passing a few arm lengths from Doris crouched behind a small bush when a large guy appeared from nowhere and took aim at him. Doris instantly stood and levelled her pistol at him. McGee, seeing her in danger did a diving tackle as the shots started resulting in Doris ricocheting around the garden like a ping pong ball. McGee landed heavily and rolled to a crouch almost immediately scrambling to find Doris in the undergrowth. He found her lying face down and in a panic lifted her by her arms to a stand.
"Are you OK", he whispered urgently, his hands frantically running over the curves of her body looking for signs of injury.
"Ah, I'm fine".
"It does look good," came Tony's laconic voice from behind him, "when NCIS takes someone down and the agents start making out".
McGee stopped suddenly, aghast at what he was doing to Doris. He turned to Doris, the colour in his face rising.
"I…I was just trying to check if you were OK".
"I know", she tried to reassure him.
"We took him down?" McGee finally registered what Tony had said.
"Ziva took him down", Tony clarified, "It's amazing what you can do when you're not spending your time crash tackling the new Probie."
McGee looked down, shamefaced.
"Get in the car McGee", it was a tone of voice McGee had never hear Tony used before. It didn't sound good, "We'll sort this out at the office." Really, really not good.
As they entered the bullpen Tony swung into action.
"Special Agent Chin, down to Abby's lab and wait until I call you", Tony yelled, Doris fled.
"You.", Tony pointed at McGee, "My desk: Now."
McGee followed him with his shoulders slumped and a glum expression on his face.
When they reached Tony's desk, Tony turned on McGee.
"What were you thinking?" he yelled.
"She was in danger", McGee yelled back aggravated.
"No, she was learning to do her job!" Tony was exasperated, "You could have got both of you killed."
"I just don't want her being killed on her first case", the anger radiated from McGee as he spoke.
"No, you want her safely at home raising your kids", Tony shot at him.
McGee almost rose in the air with indignation and directed his hostility straight at Tony, "How dare you insinuate that…" and he froze mid sentence.
Tony watched McGee deflate before his eyes, collapsing to a chair and staring into space. He waited for McGee to come to himself again.
"I dreamt about her last night", said McGee quietly.
"Tony grinned, "A wet dream?" he joked.
McGee slid him a guilty look and averted his eyes causing Tony to laugh out loud.
"That's never happened to me before, OK?" McGee continued shamefaced, "Not since I was a teenager and never about a co-worker."
Tony sat down on the edge of a desk and swung one leg freely, "speaking as one of your co-workers", he said lightly, "I am very glad to hear that".
McGee looked back up at Tony and a small smiled played across his lips. Then he became serious again, "What am I going to do, Tony? It's affecting my work."
"Ya think?" the old man's spirit still haunted.
"I'm going to have to leave", said McGee morosely, "I can't put her career in jeopardy"
"Oh, no you don't", said Tony leaning in closer to him, "You're not running away from this. You have to face the situation and deal with it."
McGee looked up at Tony and swallowed hard. "You're right, I know, its just she's so small and fragile…"
"She's an agent, McGee, a probationary agent who's relying on you to show her the ropes. She needs to learn to survive."
"I know", McGee conceded. "I'll back off"
"Good, we're having a welcome dinner tonight. Behave yourself. No go write up your report. I have a Probie to talk to."
Probationary Officer Chin", Tony started officially once Doris was seated. He preferred the height advantaged, it made him seem like a real boss.
"Yes"
"Why did you choose to stand up and aim your weapon rather than shot from your covered position?"
Doris looked down, embarrassed. "I. ah, wanted to protect Tim".
"You put yourself in danger, you know that?"
"Yes, it won't happen again."
"I know", said Tony solemnly. "You are also aware we have sexual harassment rules here?"
"I'm sure you're well verse in them", Doris muttered.
"Excuse me?", Tony lowered his ear to her mouth.
"Yes", he answered loudly enough to make Tony winch. He gave her an annoyed look.
"If Special agent McGee does something inappropriate, you have a duty to report it, you know that?"
"He has done nothing inappropriate", Doris defended passionately, "He was concerned for my safety, and there was nothing to it."
"And outside work?"
"Why would that matter?"
"He can't harass you outside of work either."
"He's not"
"Just so you know", said Tony casually taking his seat, "McGee wasn't potty trained until he was 6".
Doris pouted thoughtfully, "No..", she concluded finally, "I'd day he probably still wet the bed at 6, he was probably an ADD kid and they're 30 more likely to wet the bed for longer. He would also have under-developed gross motor skills, which led him to computing rather than sport. I'd say he was probably still potty training at 3 or 4, though."
Tony blinked at her. Profiler training was getting very specific these days.
"You on the other hand", Doris continued, "Probably trained early to get the accolades from your parents. I suspect you would even cover up accidents so they wouldn't be disappointed in you.."
"OK,"Tony held up his hand, "you've made your point.
He looked at her for a moment. She was certainly strong enough to be a special agent someday. Finally, he stood up and stuck out his hand. "Welcome to the team", he said, "and you are cordially invited to a welcome dinner in your honour tonight."
"Ah, thanks..", said Doris, slightly taken aback She shook the hand offered.
"Now lets see how well you write reports", said Tony dismissing her.