Disclaimer: seeing as I haven't put one of these on for a while, I'd better do it now. I don't own anything, except for Esther and any additional family members.

A/N: Esther's still having her slightly disturbing dreams. We might meet other family members! Or not, I haven't decided yet.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent – Eleanor Roosevelt

I arrived at work early again and there was a memo sitting on my desk from the director. Esther, it said, please meet me in my office ASAP. I shrugged my coat off and stood up again. I pushed open the frosted glass doors and the director's secretary Cynthia smiled at me, "Director Shepard will be with you in a moment" he fingers went back to typing at a phenomenal speed, her bright red false nails creating a blur.

I sat down, but no sooner had I done it the director came out. "It's nice to see someone checks the memo's left on their desks" I followed her in and sitting at the table was my old Staff Sergeant. "Good morning, sir" I said stiffly and The Director pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit down. I sat down and placed my hands in my lap. "Now, Esther, it has come to my attention that the probationary officers we hire around here have absolutely no marine or military experience. We're going to change that"

I looked up from the glass tabletop, "how?" The Director smiled at me, a thing she did a lot now. "We're sending them off for military training, and you're in charge" my heart stopped beating, "are you sure I'd be capable of something like that? I've only been here a few weeks and I'm sure I could find someone more qualified to do it…" I trailed off and the Director leant back into her chair, "I wouldn't be asking you this question if I didn't think you were capable"

I stared her, open-mouthed. She turned her laptop towards me, "these are the plans. I'd like you to take them and modify whatever you want. You're in charge now" I took the laptop from her, "Yes, ma'am" I stood up and placed the laptop underneath my arm, then headed towards the door. I turned back to look at the director and the Staff Sergeant, "thank you, Director" I said quietly and Staff Sergeant Greydove cleared his throat loudly, "you'd better straighten up now you've taken up this job. People will think you've gone soft in the time you've been back here"

I smiled, "yes sir"

I arrived back downstairs just as the lift opened and a sleeping looking Tony stepped out. "Morning" he yawned widely, sat down heavily and placed his feet up on the desk. I sat down and I must have looked a little shocked, as he shot up and leant over towards me. "Essie? Are you okay?" he asked and I nodded, and then shook my head. "What's that supposed to mean? I swear you marines have your own language when it comes to answering simple questions" he got up and crouched down next to my desk.

"The director… has put me in charge of the probationary officers. They are to do 6 months of military training before they are able to officially join a team at NCIS. I have directions here that I change to my standards and then we ship off to a military camp" Tony smiled, "that's great! Why do you look so unhappy?" I shook out of the trance I was in and smiled shyly at him, "I'm just a little shocked, that's all. I've only been here a little while"

Tony patted my knee; "the director would only do something like this if she thought you were capable" he got up again and sat back down at his desk. I opened the laptop and looked at the plan in front of me. It was going to take a lot of work.

After 3 hours of careful reviewing and editing, I closed the laptop and yawned widely. I had waited until that night to finish the plans and I was ready to go to bed. My eyes closed and the phone rang next to me. I opened one eye and reached over. "DiNozzo" I answered automatically and I heard Tony's voice on the other end, "shut up guys!" I sighed, "Anthony! What are you doing?" I demanded and he laughed drunkenly, "Essie! You need to come and have a drink with us! Donnatella and Jordana are here with me!"

He was talking about our sisters. "Tony! Jordana isn't old enough to drink yet! She's only 18. Where are you?" he told me that they were in a bar on Thrix Avenue. I shoved on what I had been wearing at work and a coat. Trust Tony to get drunk and take Jordana to a bar. I got into my car and zoomed off towards Thrix Avenue. I got there and fought my way through crowds of people to the front bar. "Excuse me…" I said to the bartender but he ignored me.

I sighed and pulled my NCIS badge out of my pocket. He stared at it for a second, then leant over the bar top, "what can I do for you?" I leant over as well, "I'm looking for a man of about 30 with 2 girls, do you know where I could find them" he pointed to the other side of the room, "they came in about 3 hours ago. One of the girls refused to drink anything"

So that narrowed it down. Either Donnatella had refused (highly unlikely) or Jordana had refused. I preferred the second option, personally. Both my sisters lived in Baltimore, so there was no way they were going home tonight. I suppose they'd just have to crash at my place for the night. I spotted Donnatella stumbling towards me. "Essie!" she squealed, "You came! That's so great!" I rolled my eyes. "I'm not here for long. You and Jordana are coming back to my place. I'll drop you home tomorrow before work"

I grabbed her wrist and steered her towards the table. Jordana sat there with a glass of coke, laughing at something Tony had just said. "Come on, Bambina. We're going" I glared at Tony, "you're supposed to be the eldest here. I look after everyone else while you sit around drinking and seducing women into your bedroom. You've never had a girlfriend for more than 2 weeks and when you do she turns out to be a mass murderer, or worse! I can't take it any more!" I cried and Tony stared wide-eyed at me.

I continued on my rampage, "I would rather be serving our country in Iraq right now, but instead I'm training probationary officers and sitting in an office all day doing nothing! You sit in that office like you own it, with your feet up on the table and poking fun at Ziva all day long. Until our boss comes in, then you're like an excited puppy. Jumping around trying to make you look good! There are so many things that annoy me about you, Anthony. Those were only a few. I swear you're turning into dad, it's only a matter of time before you'll be sitting in front of the TV, a bottle of whiskey glued to your hand"

I stormed out the door, and headed towards my car. Then that hollow feeling clouded my vision and I plopped down into the gutter. I rested my head in my hands and helplessly cried. I couldn't stop it coming, not matter how hard I tried. I don't know how long I was there until someone scooped me up and sat me in the passengers' seat of my car.

I didn't really care who it was. I knew it wasn't Tony, because he was blind drunk. My sisters weren't strong enough to lift me and it certainly wasn't the bartender either. I sniffed loudly and pressed my cheek to the window, watching the stoby poles go by. We stopped suddenly, outside my apartment. They threw open the door and lifted me up again.

I quietly breathed in his scent. It was so familiar. By this stage, my eyes had closed and refused to open again. I was so tired. He placed me in bed and pulled the covers over me. The light was turned off and I heard him mutter, "Sogni dolci, Mela"

I sighed and turned over. The voice was soft and comforting. I had a fair idea of who it was, but I couldn't be sure.

A/N: ok, so I'll have another chapter up soon. 2 days of school left!!!