"Oh, yes! I am so very glad that I lived to see this day!" Tony proclaimed with glee. He snapped picture after picture of a much chagrined Tim who had just entered the bullpen with Abby's assistance. The young agent likely would have given Tony a biting retort had he not been preoccupied with not toppling over.
"I think you are simply jealous because McGee looks so good as a woman," Ziva commented, though she too was smiling in amusement at her cross-dressed co-worker. "If you did not know it was McGee, I bet you would have hit on him!"
In truth, Tim looked like an attractive women, save the over-the-top make-up. The body suit he wore gave him a shapely figure and created the illusion that he had moderately sized breasts. The low-cut top only enhanced this illusion. The short skirt helped show off his beautifully shaped legs – beautifully shaped, thanks to the multiple amounts of pantyhose he wore – and had he been more adept at walking in heels thing, he might have passed as a real woman.
Tony, though, vehemently disagreed. "I can spot a McGeek from a mile away. I'd never have hit on him, even in that get up."
"And why is that, Tony? He is wearing a skirt and is still breathing. Does that not meet your preliminary standards?"
Tim fell into his desk chair, wishing he could kick the heels off. "I hate these things," he moaned. "No way I'm going to make it through the night like this."
"Oh, that's a good attitude," Tony sneered. "I guess we should tell P.O. Foreman's family that we can't catch his killer because our agent can't tough out a few hours in a pair of heels."
"Considering his family didn't even know that the P.O. had a drag queen persona, you might have to go into a deeper explanation than that."
A young Petty Officer by the name of Paul Foreman had been found strangled the night before in an alley way, three blocks from a drag club called The Sequined Tit. Foreman had been dressed in a green, glittery gown with matching heels, a fuchsia boa, and a black, Betty Boop style wig. When his picture was shown around to local clubs, a few of the girls at The Sequined Tit identified him as a patron who went by the drag name "Clara Boa," a reference to 1920's "It Girl" Clara Bow. It seemed that young naval officer had a secret side which no one else knew about.
When no immediate leads turned up, Gibbs had made the executive decision to send someone into the club undercover. He wanted to recreate P.O. Foreman's "type." The P.O. had been a quiet and unassuming computer geek with a large build and what most would call a baby face. In light of this information, the decision of which of his two male agents to send had not been a difficult decision to make.
"McGee!" Gibbs barked. "Are you going to be able to handle this assignment?"
Part of Tim wanted to say that no, he wouldn't and suggest that Tony be the one made up like a courtesan. Then he could mock Tony, taking pictures of him all decked out in his wig and make-up and skirt and heels! To do that, though, would be saying to Gibbs – and to Tony – that he couldn't handle an undercover assignment. Tony might grumble about an assignment, but he would never admit defeat. If Tony could tough it out, then by golly, so could Tim!
"I'll be fine, boss," he assured, giving Tony a smug look. "I just need to practice walking in these a little bit."
"Don't worry about that. Abby will be there to help you along."
"Abby?" the three team members echoed in surprise.
"Boss, are you sure that's smart?" Tony asked. "She's not an agent. No offense, Abbs," he added, giving the Goth girl an apologetic look.
"We need someone at Tim's side, and you two are too obviously feds," Gibbs said. "Abby is their type of person, so she'll fit right in."
"I also know a couple of people who frequent the Sequined Tit, and they may have loose lips around me," she said. "I can take care of myself, Tony."
"You and Ziva will be on watch," Gibbs said, "but you'll be stationed outside. Abby and Tim will make the rounds inside and see what they can find out. If it sounds like they might be in trouble, we go in. Otherwise, stand your ground."
Tony, Ziva, and Tim filed out, the latter stumbling behind uncertainly. Abby grabbed her bag and followed behind, but was stopped by Gibbs. He gave her a concerned look. "You're comfortable doing this, Abbs? Because if not, I don't mind sticking DiNozzo in a dress and sending him in with McGee."
"Gibbs, like I told Tony, I can take care of myself. I've been caught in the middle of crazy drag queen fights and I've learned a thing or two. Besides, I know some of those gals will have my back," she assured him before running to catch up with the others.