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Chapter 7
Everybody shows up to work, including Clarissa. Everyone is quiet, unless they are discussing the case. A conversation doesn't start until Gibbs leaves the bullpen.
"McGee." Clarissa whispers.
"Yeah?" McGee responds
"I hope you've had some time to think, because I was wondering if we could perhaps talk over lunch. I don't want this to stay awkward between us."
"I have thought about it. Let's catch lunch at the café down the street, OK?"
"Sounds good."
The team continues to work, and Ziva's computer goes off.
Tony: I didn't expect Clarissa to be McGee's daughter!
Ziva: And neither did I!
Tony: Not to be mean to McGee or anything, but she's a bit too pretty to be McGee's.
Ziva: Tony.
Tony: Sorry. You knew what I meant.
Ziva: It is OK. I hope that the whole McGee-Clarissa thing does not affect McGee's work.
Tony: Same here.
Quick! Boss!
Ziva looks over to see Gibbs walking from the elevator, and closes her IMing screen.
"Ziva." Gibbs says entering the bullpen.
"Sorry Gibbs." Ziva responses.
"For what?"
"N-nevermind."
"OK?" He sits at his desk. "I want you and Tony to go interview the brother before lunch."
"Will do, Boss." Tony says.
A couple seconds of silence passes. "Like now?" Gibbs adds.
"On it." Ziva and Tony say in unison, and leave. Once in the elevator, nothing but silence.
"So." Tony says.
"Tony."
"I know, I know. I just, don't want things to be awkward between us." Tony says turning towards Ziva.
"They aren't." Ziva smiles, but Tony can tell it's fake.
"Zi."
"Look. What happened, happened. This is to stay professional."
"OK." Tony turns back, and they leave. "Hey." He says walking to the car.
"Yes?" Ziva responds.
"Remember when I said Marsicano sounded familiar? Well when we had a case with an Italian Marine, his mood was very upbeat, and that's when McGee once told me about his trip to Paris twenty-one years ago. He loved his trip, and that happened to be when he lost his V-card."
"V-card?" Ziva questions.
"He, you know." Tony tilts his head back and forth. "For the first time?"
"Oh." Ziva says. "Tony!" He looks at him.
Tony jumps a bit. "What?!"
"He was-"
"I know." Tony's voice falls deep. "Lucky bastard."
"Wait. You mean to say-"
"Yeah. He did before me. Don't tell him!" Tony says. "I am more empowered than he his. And it's going to stay that way."
"Yeah?" Ziva chuckles. "When was it for you?"
Tony clears his throat and quietly says, "Age 20."
Ziva tries to hold in her chuckle. "What?"
"I said age 20." Tony speaks a little louder.
Ziva chuckles. "I'm sorry Tony." Ziva can't stop smiling. "So four years after he did, you did?"
"No, not exactly, I'm older by two years. So two years after he did I did. It was just a four year age difference."
Ziva mouths, 'Wow.'
"What about you?" Tony asks pulling in.
"I do not want to talk about it." Ziva puts a straight face on.
"Oh come on. I told you about both McGee and I!" Tony turns off the car. "Wow that sounded wrong." He shakes his head. "Come on." He looks at Ziva. "Your turn."
"We have a job to do." Ziva gets out and walks up the house.
(-)
"Agent Marsicano."
"Yes Gibbs." Clarissa says walking to Gibbs' desk.
He looks over at McGee who is already looking back. Gibbs looks back up at Clarissa. "You and McGee go have your talk now."
"Wait," Clarissa says. "how did you know?"
"He's Gibbs. Gibbs knows everything."
Clarissa turns around. "Does Vance know?"
"No, not yet." Gibbs says. "But is there a reason he should?"
"N-no. I just. I'm not ready to talk to him yet." Clarissa says.
"Let's go." McGee says walking away from his desk.
Clarissa looks back at Gibbs, and he angles his head in the direction to the elevator, and Clarissa nods back. Once in the elevator, McGee hits the emergency stop button.
"Hey! You're not allowed to do that!" Clarissa says.
"Actually, yes I am." McGee says. "Well, not totally, but we've never got into any trouble for it."
"Why can't we just go to the café or something?" Clarissa questions.
"This is more private. Just in case something private gets mentioned." McGee answers.
"OK?"
"Now look, I did do my thinking."
"Before you say anything, I apologize."
"Apologize? What for?" McGee leans against the elevator wall.
"For giving everybody confusion over the last couple of days. I should be apologizing to everybody, and I will, but I just wanted to tell you sorry."
"I know everybody is in question." McGee says. "But saying sorry isn't going to cut it. You're going to have to explain this story to everybody else. Why don't you explain this to me?"
"As I said. When my step-father was killed. I found out I was not blood related. Yes, he legally adopted me, but I was not his. I knew something about me was wrong, I did not feel 100% Italian. My mother told me it was an American man, and left it there. After I joined the agency, I tried. After each and every fail, I tried harder, and harder. I got nowhere. I explained to my mother that I was leaving the country to find out more, I threatened to leave her there alone. She was so frightful. Both her and I know that she cannot survive on her own. She told me, and worked the best, and as fast as I could to get here. I got America and got both of our citizenships fast, but to get here, at NCIS, was the hard part. Vance wasn't in office at the time, so it made the process slower. Finally I got accepted, and talked to Vance on the phone to be requested to Gibbs team. I wanted to see you for myself before right away confessing. I wasn't going to say anything for a couple of weeks, but Tony was suspicious and found out. Both him and Abby confronted me, and demanded I told you that moment. So, I did. Now like I said, you don't need to play the father role. You make whatever decision you think is best."
McGee doesn't reply. "He put out his arms to bring Clarissa into a hug. "Come here." She takes a few seconds of hesitation, and gives McGee a hug.
"This feels right."
"Yeah." McGee says, then releases the hug. "I understand that there is not much for me to do now, but what I can do is love you. I am going to look after you like a father would."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I want to meet any guy you date, and see if he's good quality for you."
"May I remind you I'm twenty-one years old?"
"Yes, but you are still my daughter. I don't need any harm coming your way. I've had enough happen with my family here."
"Yeah I know."
"Why did you need to know almost everything that has happened to us?"
"Well," Clarissa again hesitates. "I wanted to know all I could about you. You, and everybody who is involved in your daily life. I didn't mean to find out so much, but I ended up doing so. My boss thought that it would help keep me there. He does not know the exact reason why I traveled to America, and I do not want him to know."
"I see." McGee replies.
"I have a question."
"Yes?" McGee responds.
"Will you be willing to meet with my mom? She wants to see you again."
"It wouldn't be for a good week or so. I'm in the process of moving at the moment."
"Oh? I did not know."
"Nobody knows yet. Please don't mention anything about it to anybody? I want to keep it a surprise."
"Not a problem." Clarissa smiles. "Just," she takes away her smile. "don't make it too long before seeing her." Clarissa clears her throat. "She says that there has always been a spot in her hear for you."
McGee smiles a bit. "That's sweet of her, and I've once thought about her, but this is going to be difficult between her and I."
"How so?"
McGee hesitates. "Do not tell anybody this, but I'm kind of in a relationship with Abby. And that is why I am moving. Her and I are moving into an apartment with each other."
"Oh." Clarissa slumps a bit. "I understand." She puts her head down.
"Look." McGee lifts Clarissa's head. "That doesn't mean I'm going to love you any less. I will talk to Abby and see if it's alright that I come to your guys' place and have dinner. Be like a family."
"You really mean so?" Clarissa smile reappears.
"Yeah." McGee smiles. "I mean so."
Clarissa hugs McGee and he returns the hug. Clarissa breaks from the hug. "I think we should get back to work."
"Yeah. Let's go." McGee says.
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