Tony was shaken from peaceful sleep by the violent vibrating of his mattress. He moaned internally and rolled over, the vicious vibrating continued and forced him to stumble out of the bed.

He shuffled sleepily out of his bedroom and into the main living space of his apartment. It was a Sunday and he had allowed himself a small sleep in. Picking sleep out of his eye he made his way through the chilly apartment zombie-like and to his desk where his lap top was set up on a mound of paper.

He had been off work for what felt like years now but was only a few months, he had been physically ready to return weeks ago. His arm was no longer bandaged, he kept it covered at all times now, the third degree burn scar was particularly hideous. But he was off all medication and was feeling back to his usual self, he had even ventured to the gym a couple of times last week. The only thing stopping him waltzing back into NCIS was Vance and the ASL and work-place communication tests he would hopefully be undergoing tomorrow. All he needed was a few lousy documents certifying him as competent enough to work efficiently at NCIS before he could return.

He had already attended three lectures that he had been required to attend and Vance had pretty much signed him off on the required ASL and lip reading classes. He was pretty much fluent in ASL now, he had been working so hard at it. The lip reading would take a bit longer but he was definitely getting there.

He jiggled his leg nervously as his emails loaded on the laptop, he was expecting the confirmation email from Vance, the 'all clear' for him to start up again when he had the papers. He swallowed hard when the unopened email popped up, from the director of NCIS. Tony and Vance had hardly spoken, only sending quick emails with instructions and questions.

The email was short, precise and to the point. Yes, he could go do the tests and get the papers. When he had done so he was required to come into the office and meet with Vance, to finalize everything before he could begin work.

Tony smiled to himself and spun around on the chair in celebration. He had already booked the testing for tomorrow, it would take all day but he had managed to set them all up to be on the same day to get them over and done with. He was quietly confident in himself, he had been working so hard it would be difficult not to pass.

Now he had woken up quite a bit more, he ventured into the kitchen and made a cup of coffee while thinking about his plans for the day. It was a Sunday and he had no coaching or classes to attend, he decided not to waste the whole day studying for the tests; it would only make him nervous and he knew everything by heart. Planning to study in the evening he drained the last of his coffee, showered and dressed. He needed to pay a visit to the shops for groceries but had nothing else in particular he had to do.

He sat back on the couch eating a burnt piece of toast and staring vacantly at the paused image of 'Speed' the movie, he had been watching the night before. He could call Abby or Palmer and see what they were doing, or McGee? Check if they wanted to meet up at some point on their day off.

The group had been an immense help supporting him over the past weeks. Tony had no idea how to show his gratitude. He had a gnawing, tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach. It was churning with nervousness but more with excitement about his return to work. He had literally been going mad over the past weeks, once catching himself wandering about the empty apartment reenacting half the scenes in 'Diamonds Are Forever', playing Sean Connery. He had the urge to send an urgent email to his team, announcing his triumphant return. He held on, after all he had been replaying the moment over and over in his mind since the day he had exited the hospital doors. He had to keep it a surprise, well, as much of a surprise as you can keep from well trained investigators. He knew Gibbs would be hot on his heels but McGee and Ziva were pretty much clueless, Abby could would probably try to weasel it out of Gibbs, but Gibbs knew how to keep a secret.

He gazed over at his mobile, his fingers itching. He was so excited and all it would take was one measly text message to his team and his secret would be out. He reached over and snatched up the phone and flipped the top, tapping at the keys as he composed a new text to both McGee and Abby.

'Hey, Hey Kiddies, anyone want to grab a coffee sometime? It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science.'

He smiled to himself at his own message before dropping the phone in his lap and taking another bite of the dry toast. He had held on to his excitement and sent the coffee invite instead. It wasn't long before his phone was vibrating with a new message received. It was McGee-

'What are you on about? If you're talking about getting a coffee, no. Everyone got called in late last night, gotta case. We're all here if you were gonna ask anyone else.'

Tony couldn't help feeling slightly left out and disappointed- all the more reason to be pumped about going back, he was just starting up a reply when his phone vibrated again, this time from Abby.

'Black Hawk Down, 2001. Too easy. That is NOT science, but science is what I am doing now. Sorry Tony! Bossman called us in last night, we've got a weekender. :( PS. You're new name is Tony Stark- I finally watched it.'

Tony smiled at Abby's reply. Tony Stark was Iron Man's name off the movie 'Iron-Man', he had been pestering Abby to see the movie for months. He closed her message and continued on with his reply to McGee's.

'Come on McGoozle! Black Hawk Down, 2001, Ridley Scott? I thought you were meant to be smart? Whats the case?'

McGee didn't take long to reply-

'Murdered marine in Norfolk.'

'Beautiful, you at your desk? Everyone there?'

'Yeah? Yes, they are.. Why?'

'ALRIGHT! Go on instant messenger, McQuickly!'

Tony heaved off the leather couch and scooted over to his desk and flipped on his laptop, still clutching his phone. He fumbled about and closed a couple of tabs, then brought up his instant messenger- McGee was online, he pulled up a conversation. This was much cheaper and quicker than texting.

'McGoo! Being a rebel in class?' He typed up quickly.

'What do you want Tony?'

'Nothing, bored. So Gibbs and Ziva are there then?'

McGee felt bad for Tony, being left out of the work at home. It was somewhat understandable having him nosing about on the case.

'Yeah, Gibbs is in MTAC. Ziva and Brigs are here.'

'I see, now tell me something my dear Probalicious. Where are you currently seated?'

McGee swallowed slightly as he sat in the NCIS building and shut his eyes as he typed up his response nervously.

'Uhh.. You're desk? I have to; Brigs is in mine.'

'I see. Interesting.'

'What?'

'Have you, or have you not touched my Mighty Mouse stapler? Answer quick McGoo or I'll know you're lying!'

'No! No! I haven't! Abby already accused me, she dusted it for prints, it's clean!'

'Fine...'

'What?'

'Alright. Lets play a game?'

"Tony, come on. I'm supposed to be working. Gibbs will get me in trouble'

'Your such a phylum cnidaria!'

'...Jellyfish?'

'Spineless, Mcgee.. Truth or dare?'

'What? No, come on, Tony!'

'?'

'Alright, truth?'

'Wrong. Dare or dare?'

'Fine. Wait a second, Brigs has screwed something up again.'

Tony spun around on his chair with wearing a goofy grin, he still managed to get at McGee when he wasn't even in the same building. He waited half a minute before McGee announced his return on the messenger, by this time Tony had thought up his plan.

'Yeah, I'm back.. '

Tony was about to type up when a his screen flashed with an alert, somebody else had logged on, Ziva was now online. Before he had a chance to do anything else his screen flashed again, Ziva had started a new conversation with him and added in McGee.

'I knew it.' Ziva's message popped up. Tony laughed to himself and imagined the wordless conversation that Ziva and McGee were probably having with each other across the room, avoiding Gibbs and Brigs. Ziva would be upset about being left out of the conversation and McGee would splutter slightly and come up with no reasonable response. Tony typed up his own message in the mean time.

'Ziiivvvvaaaa! Nice of you to join the show! Now, hush a little- gather around.. Campfire! McGee- back to the dare.'

Back at the NCIS office McGee and Ziva appeared to be working, Brigs shot them a quick side glance before returning to his own research. Ziva was staring at her computer screen apparently reading something intently, but not typing. She wore a slight smile. McGee on the other hand was typing furiously and frowning. Brigs turned back to his computer and sifted through the matches on his search, he was concentrating hard, his fingers typing furiously and his eyes were stuck on the screen. He'd hit something solid and it looked like he was on the verge of a breakthrough. He was slightly distracted as McGee rose from his desk and bent to the floor next to him, rummaging in a small cardboard box, the 'Restricted, Don't You Dare Touch It, I'll Know If You Do, Don't Make Dust It For Prints Again' cardboard box, as Abby like to call it. Brigs only glanced at him briefly before turning back to the screen, right now murder was more important than whatever McGee was doing. He then spent ages finalizing his findings and setting them out simply as not to confuse his boss (something he had managed to pick up in his stay in the bullpen), when he felt something tingle on the back of his neck.

He had been so focused on the screen that he had not noticed McGee sneaking up behind him, brandishing a bottle of Super-Stick super glue and a small box of sparkly sequins. He jumped up in fright when he turned to see McGee squatting behind his chair. Brigs turned around rapidly trying to get a glimpse at whatever he had been doing to the back of his chair. McGee put his hands up in surrender and backed off a little as Ziva let out a laugh.

"Uh- Yeah, Brigs. Zach I was- Look it's not anything against.. I.." McGee said. His smile dropped slightly, Brigs looked furious. Brigs stared down at the back of his desk chair. McGee had obviously been kneeling behind him and working at it for quite a while, he had no idea how he'd missed it. McGee had managed to super glue tens of the glistening sequins to spell out a word on his chair, he had not managed to catch him before it was finished. It read 'PROBALICIOUS', around the outside of the word were super-glued star and heart decorations.

Brigs stared up at McGee with eyes wide. McGee muttered something and hurried back to his desk. It was then that Brigs noticed McGee's computer monitor was turned to face Brig's desk. A web-cam sat on top, a green light flickering. McGee grabbed the monitor and swung it back around, but not before Brigs caught a glimpse at another man his head tilted back in laughter on the other screen. McGee had been video-calling.

"Alright, I know you don't like me! I've got it! I tried to ignore it, everything- but this has gone way too far! I know that brand of glue! It's almost impossible to find, you have to get it imported it's so strong? I wont be able to get this off!" Brigs glared at the two other agents, knowing Ziva was somehow involved. The tone in his voice was surprisingly menacing, he had taken the light-hearted joke badly.

"Brigs! Boy, I'm sorry! I dunno.. He bullied me into it!" McGee stuttered glancing back at the screen. He dropped the glue and sequins back into the cardboard box and gave it a good kick. Ziva put her hands up in surrender.

"God, how old are you? You both act like five year olds, now you're telling me you were bullied into doing this? By who? Give me a break!" Brigs said, throwing his jacket onto his desk and folding his arms.

"Calm down, Brigs. If you want we can get you a new chair?" Ziva asked, as surprised as McGee at Brigs's reaction.

"I know what you're trying to do! Don't tell me I don't know because I do!" Brigs declared. Ziva looked at McGee who shrugged, slightly confused.

"Um, yes." McGee said, his eyes glancing upstairs, hoping Gibbs didn't return before they had calmed the junior agent down.

Tony stared intently at his laptop screen and watched almost proudly at McGee inched his way over to his replacement and knelt down beside his victim. He had trained him well. It was amazing how oblivious the other agent seemed to be, if only Tony had been working with this guy, it would of been so much fun. Tony had to admit McGee's handy work seemed pretty neat, the decorations were the finishing touches, Tony was glad he had remembered the sequins, hearts and stars he kept in his draws for a rainy day.

Brigs finally noticed and looked horrified at the sight of his chair. Tony only had time to watch as Brigs peered suspiciously into the camera before McGee swiped in back to face it's normal way. Tony waited patiently, chuckling to himself. He could still see McGee raising his arms and shrugging before pointing a blaming finger back at the camera. Tony only chuckled harder.

A few minutes passed and Tony grew bored, he was instantly snapped out of it when Brigs came into the picture, pushing McGee out of the way and turning the screen to face him. Tony stared into the Probationary Agent's face, Brigs looked surprised and seriously pissed off. Tony sat leaning back in his chair, his arms folded and his knees pressed up to the desk where his laptop sat. When he saw Brig's face he remained in the same position, plastering on a 100 watt smile and raising his hand to his forehead saluting the agent, he hoped McGee had his speakers turned on.

It didn't take Brigs long to recognize Anthony DiNozzo, he had a deep scar running down the side of his face and smiled cheekily at him. He couldn't help but stare at him for a second, trying to organize his thoughts. He had no idea how to react. DiNozzo mock saluted him and waited for his response, he waited a little longer as Brigs looked up from the monitor nervously at somebody else, then back at Tony. Brigs's hand came into view and hovered slightly at his brow, he looked as if he was having an internal battle with himself. It hovered there before he let it drop. It was a failed sign for hello. Tony's laughter rang muffled through the speakers on McGee's desk.

Tony lent forward and spoke into the small laptop speaker.

'Good morning so far?'

'Not particularly' Brigs typed back, smart enough to remember to type it.

'McGoo really is a rude, egocentric, pompous twit. One hard-core being actually, I'd steer clear of him if I were you, he's one bad-ass kid!' Tony said, nodding seriously and refolding his arms. Brigs straightened and swallowed. He furrowed his brow and searched for a reply to write. 'Or I mean, you could just do what I do when ickle McProbie-wan-kenobi steps out of line, just slap him silly!'

Brigs realized he was being made fun of.

"Hey, are you hearing any of this?" Tony asked before moving forward and typing up his message just in case, as he focused on the keys he missed the scene that was playing out on the screen. Brigs had looked up suddenly, his mouth agape and his arm pointed accusingly at McGee. Brigs was pushed back a little as Gibbs stepped in front of the screen to stare down DiNozzo.

Tony hadn't noticed Gibbs's appearance and continued to type with over exaggerated actions, using one finger on each hand to type out the message. He made a big show of pressing the enter key, raising his hands into the air in triumph, only to lower them gingerly when he saw Gibbs's face large on the screen in front of him. The message popped up beside it.

' So how's work turning out for you? Now tell me, is Papa-Bear-Gibbs treating you well? There's not much to getting on his good-side, I'll let you in on the little secret- it's all in the foot massages, sure way to earn his - -'

The message sprung up on the screen. Gibbs read it while DiNozzo rearranged his face. Brigs and McGee stood either side of Gibbs looking over his shoulders at the screen. McGee was smiling. Gibbs raised an eyebrow as Tony held up his arms to the screen as if presenting Gibbs's face.

'Speak of the devil' Tony smiled, no reaction appeared on Gibbs's unreadable face. Tony cast his eyes down and tried again-

"Sorry Dad.' Tony said solemnly, biting back a smile and keeping his face dead serious. He looked into Gibbs's eyes and understood immediately. He raised his hand to the back of his own head and gave it a smack.

Gibbs's lip twitched and he looked down a little before into DiNozzo's face again. He rose his hands to the screen and signed his message while also saying it aloud for his other team members to here on their end, so they all got the message at the same time.

"Morning DiNozzo" Gibbs signed as said aloud, glancing up at Ziva and then McGee. "You got anything to contribute to our case?"

"No, Boss" DiNozzo said, "Just hanging foul.."

"Any viable reason for you disrupting my teams diligent work-space?" Gibbs signed and said.

"Diligent? Really?" Tony laughed slightly then caught Gibbs's look. "Uh.. yeah- comic relief?"

"Good-bye DiNozzo."

"Going so soon?"

"No, but you are."

"Oh really? I was kinda happy just hanging here actually, maybe I'll help out McPrankster?"

"Good-bye DiNozzo."

"Over and out." Tony said. He saluted the people in view of the camera, Ziva slid into frame just as he was about to switch off his camera, he paused and pointed accusingly at her.

"And don't you dare think about touching my letter opener!"

Ziva smiled sweetly, DiNozzo brought two fingers up to his eyes, pointing at them then extended one pointing finger at Ziva. I'm watching you. Then he switched off the camera.

Tony sat for a minute in front of the computer, half a grin still stuck to the corners of his mouth. The tingling in his stomach was still there, the hyperactive behavior was the result of his excitement and the latest show had only fueled it.

He knew Gibbs would accept him back into the team without a second thought, they had been through thick and thin together, they were loyal. Something was nagging at the back of his mind and was the source of the nervousness churning his gut. It wasn't going to be the same, nothing was ever going to be the same. There was going to be no field work, he was going to be riding the desk for the rest of his career. He had forced himself to accept it, made himself believe that it was okay, and better than nothing- he had moved on. He just didn't know how much Gibbs expected of him, that man was unreadable. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden on his team, and part of his mind couldn't figure out how a deaf agent was not going to affect the team for the worse.

His usual determined attitude kicked in, he was going to have to make this work. He had to prove himself to his team and to the director. He was originally selected on his ability in the field, he was a street-smart Baltimore cop at heart, but now he had to prove he had a little more under his belt. He had to prove to them all that they were not making a mistake letting him back.

Tony spent the rest of his day lounging about his house, venturing out later in the afternoon to pick up some groceries, which mainly consisted of Captain Crunch cereal, some microwave popcorn and chocolate yogurts. The corner shop down the end of his block had gotten used to having him come in over the past few weeks. He had lived there for three years and they had never recognised him, even though he shopped their every week- a couple months of being the 'deaf guy' and he was a local celebrity.

Tony's evening was spent revising for his tests. He was confident in himself and had no doubts but that didn't cure the nervousness he had- it seemed to be growing as the night wore on. He sifted through booklets and papers on everything relevant, he pretty much new them all by heart. He stared at the pictures and diagrams for hours despite knowing them all to a tee. He gave up earlier than he expected and chucked his half eaten bowl of two minute noodles into the bin before retiring to his bed. He figured a good nights sleep wouldn't hurt, plus he'd rather not sit up brooding over his growing nerves.

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