Hello everyone!

I'm sorry for updating so late (oops, rule # 6). I like I said I had difficulties with this chapter. The big lines of the story are already set, and I'm struggling to write the different chapters.

Thanks to all the readers for your reviews, or adding this story in your alert/favorite list.

Thanks to BlueEyes444, she's a great beta reader! All remaining mistakes are mine.

Chapter 4

Chris was chewing on her lower lip; she was more than a little worried about being accepted by Tony friends and mostly by Gibbs. Both were important to her.

Tony was really worried; he hoped everything would go smoothly and that the team would understand his relationship with Chris.

Abby on the other hand was excited; she was bouncing on her feet and she waited for the team, along with Ducky and Jimmy to come in her lab. She called them just a few minutes ago.

They arrived at Abby's lab all together knowing that Abby wanted them to meet her new partner, Chris.

Abby began, "Everyone, I want to present to you Chris Mitchell, my new co-worker! Chris, my favorite people at NCIS!" Then pointing to each one, "This is special agent McGee and that's Ziva, and here's our wonderful M.E. Ducky, his assistant Jimmy and over there is our bossman Gibbs." Chris nodded to everyone.

McGee, wanting her to feel welcome, shook her hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, Chris." Chris shook his hand, smiling in return; she did the same with Ziva as with Jimmy and Ducky. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you all…"

Approaching Gibbs she extended her hand but seeing it was not returned, let her hand dropped. It hurt her more then she thought possible. It wasn't going as she hoped with Gibbs, for an unknown reason, her father didn't seem to like her.

Gibbs had a difficult time to hold himself together; she looked so much like Shannon, it literally hurt to even be near her. He saw the pain in her eyes when he refused to shake her hand but he couldn't, not when he saw Shannon staring back at him.

And without knowing why, he felt a lot more concern then he should for a random stranger. Being a little angry with himself he growled a "welcome to NCIS."

Ziva, trying to diffuse the tension, arched one eyebrow as she rose to the point. "You said 'finally' why?"

Chris groaned internally. 'It's showtime'. "Well… um, I kinda already know about you…"

Tony has been quiet the whole time, trying to calm himself down. He came behind Chris and put his hand on her shoulder. "I told her about you." Tony could see their brains going over his action and words and he knew one of them would figure it out before long. He could see McGee and Jimmy's confusion, Ducky's understanding, Ziva's irritation and Gibbs's silent fuming.

Ziva was the first to speak. "You are a couple!"

Abby came to their rescue. "Yes they're a couple, I just learned it. And it's cute, don't you think?"

Gibbs was furious. "Cute is not the word that came to my mind Abby." Then turning to Tony, he growled, "Rule 12."

Tony couldn't understand Gibbs' fury; sure he knew that this news would be like a little storm but he didn't think it would be this bad. Putting his mask on, Everything's fine, and giving a fake smile the Italian tried to joke. "She's not my partner Gibbs, we aren't on the field together. She works in the lab, I'm an agent and see no rules are broken…"

It didn't settle Gibbs's temper. To the contrary it only worsens it.

Sensing Gibbs' mood and before it could end badly, Abby replied, "Oh, come on Gibbs, be a little supportive! They're in love, so be happy for them."

Gibbs was beyond furious or he would have thought before snapping at Abby, "You know how Tony works. He's in 'love', he'd do everything to charm her, and in two weeks it will be over! Then working will be difficult and you'll need to fire her and find someone else if he doesn't seduce her too!" And then turning to Tony he added, "I can't believe you used your influence to get her the job!"

That hurt; like a shot to the heart. Gibbs, a man that Tony considered a father thought that of him?

Tony had thought that Gibbs knew that he wasn't that shallow. "That's what you think? That I made Abby choose her? That I'm just a player who can't love someone for more than two weeks?" Anger was quickly replacing the hurt.

Chris couldn't believe how bad the situation was becoming. "Tony, please calm down…"

Blinded by his anger, Gibbs snarled, "That's who you are, DiNozzo." Then turning to Chris he added, "And you! I told you I'd watch you. I know to listen to my gut and put in my veto. You can't work here. Pack your things and go!"

Abby was taken back. "GIBBS! She's not working for you! You can't fire her!" The rest were silent; not knowing how this was going to go down, that was the only thing they could do.

Chris couldn't handle it; it was all too much for her. So she mumbled something, excusing herself and left.

Tony tried to stop her. "Chris! Please wait!" Turning to Gibbs he yelled, "I hope you're happy!" before he ran out after Chris, hoping he could get to her before she left.

Ducky was dazed, he didn't understand his friend's reaction. Shaking his head, all he could say was how much he was chagrined by his attitude. "Jethro, I'm really disappointed…"

"You're not the only one Ducky," Abby blurted. "Gibbs, I picked Chris by myself. Tony didn't influence my decision, and for your information, they've been together for more than six months now. How could you be that thoughtless?" Abby couldn't understand Gibbs. 'How could her silver fox could be so insensitive?'

Gibbs didn't answer her. Looking at his team, he realized his mistake. Ducky's disappointment, Abby's hurt, Ziva's incomprehension, McGee and Palmer's fear.

Without a word, he stormed out of Abby's lab. He knew he shouldn't have reacted that way, he understood the other's feeling because himself felt that way about himself right now. He couldn't even try and begin to figure out his reaction but he knew that if he didn't want to lose DiNozzo's respect and friendship, he had some serious apologies to do. Never mind his rules.

Tony was in the same state as everyone else. How could Gibbs say those things about him; how could he think so low of him after all these years? But it wasn't his priority right now; he needed to find Chris and to make sure she was okay. Running in the corridor he found her at a little corner. He tried to calm himself by breathing slowly and deeply but it wasn't working as well as he hoped.

Chris was leaning her back on the wall, her head bowed. She took a deep breath to compose herself; she was having an internal struggle. 'Well, I wanted to know if my biological father would somehow know me and like me as a stranger. Now, I know! Why, why did I need to open the Pandora's box! Now I have to make sure he never realizes I'm his daughter since I'm pretty sure if he finds out, he'll feel obliged to like me because of blood. And I will not handle the sudden love. How could I? How could I handle the fact that if I weren't family my parent will dislike me!'

Feeling arms surrounding her, Chris looked up and saw her boyfriend embracing her. She held onto Tony, her head in the crook of his neck, trying to sooth her sadness in his warmth.

Tony hugged her, trying to comfort her the best he could. "Hush… It's going to be okay, you'll see. Everything will be okay…."

TBC

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