a/n: i don't think i mentioned last chapter: i'm not doing this in any order at all (obviously).

January, 2001

It was on a crisp, icy January morning that Tony DiNozzo returned to the Navy Yard. He was back from a week's Christmas vacation, and then a weeklong course at FLET-C that officially terminated his probationary status and promoted him to full special agent, and he bounded off the elevator smugly.

His prime reason for being so abominably cheery on his first day back under Gibbs' thumb was—

-that the empty desk that sat forlornly next to Gibbs' and across from DiNozzo's was no longer to be empty.

DiNozzo strutted into the bullpen with an extra flounce in his step; hell-bent on impressing, intimidating, and generally upstaging the transfer agent they were getting from within NCIS. Even if she—and he was exited about the she part—was internal NCIS and not technically a probie, he was looking forward to watching someone else flounder around in a panic under Gibbs' autocratic squad room rule.

Gibbs was nowhere to be seen—but the new agent was already perched at her neatly organized desk, leaning forward on an elbow as she intently studied intelligence information displayed on her computer screen.

DiNozzo halted in front of her desk—she looked up, and he raised his eyebrows, startled—he hadn't exactly expected his new team mate to be, well—distractingly hot.

She blinked patiently and then cocked an eyebrow—there was something annoyingly familiar about her smirk—and he didn't want her to get the upper hand by saying something clever before him, so he cleared his throat dramatically.

"Thought federal agents only looked like you in Bond movies," he drawled, turning up the patented DiNozzo charm. He flashed a sparkling, toothy grin and held his hand out gallantly. "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, at your service."

The woman stared at him a moment, eyebrow still cocked, and then glanced down thoughtfully at his hand. She reached out with her right hand, removing it from her jaw and lifting her head, and shook his—firmly.

He flexed his fingers as he pulled his hand back gracefully. He let his backpack slide off of his arm until it hit the floor with a thud, his eyes still lingering on hers. She didn't look away—which he took as a good sign.

"You're my new partner?" he said, breaking the silence—since Gibbs was leader, the third man—woman—for their team was equal partner.

"At least I'm not working with idiots," she remarked wryly. She inclined her head. "Jenny Shepard," she introduced.

"Jenny," he repeated in a deep voice, flashing another grin.

He sat down on the edge of desk and she pursed her lips, watching him with vague interest. He leaned forward, glancing around him surreptitiously, and lowered his voice, giving her his most dashing look.

"You're lucky you have me, you know," he told her.

She tilted her head, and then leaned back, crossing her arms.

"Am I?" she asked. "Why is that, Very Special Agent DiNozzo?"

"Gibbs is a man to be reckoned with," Tony said solemnly. "He's the Chuck Norris of the Navy Yard—he never sleeps, he never eats, he runs on coffee—he never smiles," he warned mystically, leaning closer to her. "You've got me to show you how to tame him," he bragged—even if it wasn't true. He smirked. "That, and I'm handsome."

She chewed on her cheek silently, lifting an eyebrow, her long red hair resting over one shoulder in thick, messy curls. She abruptly leaned forward and cocked her head to the side, laughing a little.

"I've seen him smile," she said vaguely. "Seen 'im sleep, too."

DiNozzo glared at her, taken aback.

"You—wait, you've already worked with Gibbs?"

She gestured her index finger around in a circle, indicating the bullpen.

"This isn't my first rodeo with El Jefe," she whispered—and DiNozzo narrowed his eyes warily—how did she already know what they called him around here?

He didn't have time to think about it before he was slapped harshly on the back of the head and then yanked off of Jenny's desk by his collar and the scruff of his neck—and the next thing he knew, Gibbs was forcibly throwing him into his own seat behind his own desk.

The Boss gave him a good, hard glare, and stormed over to the new woman's desk, picking up her left hand and indicating a sparkling, elegant white diamond on her ring finger.

"This is mine," he growled.

She smiled demurely; Gibbs dropped her hand and retreated to his desk. She leaned forward and gave DiNozzo a pointed look.

"You're the lucky one, Tony," she said pointedly. She showed him her engagement ring again. "It's me who tames him."

January, 2001

this scenario has a special place in my heart, since Lauren Holly was originally slated to portray 'Kate Todd'.

-alexandra