Recap: Monday, 19th October. Back to the office II. Plays directly after Chapter 22.

~ Just another day at work ~

(NCIS Headquarters – 7 :45 am)

Gibbs looked up from an employee file when he heard a grunt from the mattress next to his desk.

"Hey," he turned to Mini-Ziva who slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"N..." she furrowed her brow in thought.

"NCIS," the agent helped with a smile, "Yes, we're at NCIS. You slept through the whole drive and me carrying you upstairs."

The little girl looked around.

"Where McGee?" She inquired confused as she saw his empty desk.

"Not here yet."

She wrinkled her nose, "McGee home?"

Gibbs laughed, "He better not be home, but on his way here."

With a yawn the little girl got up and walked over to him. Her small arms reaching out in order to be picked up.

"Did you slept well?" asked Gibbs as he gently hugged her after having lifted her onto his lap.

Mini-Ziva nodded her head, yawning again as Gibbs made her sit on his desk, directly in front of him.

"I'm gonna fix that button now, okay?"

She sleepily nodded, still yawning loudly as the agent gave her a small blue ball to occupy her while he repaired the buttonhole.

A second later McGee appeared in the bullpen.

"Morning boss."

"McGee!" Ziva greeted him happily, while the team leader gave his agent only a curt nod.

"Shalom Ziva," McGee gave the little girl a wide smile before he went to his desk, letting his backpack drop next to it.

"What are you doing there, boss?" He bluntly asked as he saw his superior grab his switchblade from behind his back, letting the blade snap open directly in front of Mini-Ziva, who seemed more than unfazed by it.

"Need to widen a buttonhole." Gibbs stated matter of fact, concentrating strongly on loosening the seam.

"Uhm.. okay..." With a frown McGee shed his jacket and bent down to boot up his computer.

Out of the corner of his eyes Gibbs saw McGee put away a colored gift bag, "What's in the bag?"

"A surprise."

Gibbs looked up from his 'work' and regarded his agent.

"I'll tell you later?" McGee grinned and motioned with his head to Ziva. The little girl still played with the squeeze ball, trying to flat it as much as possible. Unaware of their conversation.

The senior agent raised an eyebrow and snapped his knife shut, "Alright." He took a timeworn sewing kit out of his desk drawer.

"Where's Tony, boss?"

Gibbs looked at his watch, "Probably still asleep in his bed." Not bothering with a scissor he cut the unrolled yarn with his teeth, before threading it through a needle.

"You..."

"If you think waking up DiNozzo is a pain, try waking up Tony." Gibbs interrupted his agent and smiled at Ziva, who had looked at him at the mention of the teenager's name.

"Good point, boss."

"There," the team leader grinned triumphantly, "Try now." He set Ziva back on the floor, watching as the small child easily opened and fastened the button.

"Toda," she gave him a wide smile.

"You're welcome."

"Me play?" Ziva looked into the general direction of the provided toys, which were resting between Gibbs' and 'her' desk, in order not to be in anyone's way.

"Go on," Gibbs laughed, watching her run over to her toys before he concentrated on McGee again.

"Did the Newbies passed the security yet?" He asked as he placed the sewing kit back into his desk drawer.

"No."

Seeing his boss stare at him, McGee continued, "But I've got their numbers, so I'll phone them."

"Good idea." Gibbs smirked and stood up.

"Ziva?"

The small child's head popped up from behind 'her' desk, "Wanna come and visit Abby?"

"Yay!" Coloring book forgotten, Mini-Ziva run fast towards where the team leader was already waiting at the end of the team's area.

(Abby's lab 8:15 am)

"Abby!" Gibbs shouted over the loud music.

With a start the goth spun around, her eyes dilating as she saw Gibbs standing in front of her.

"Gibbs! You're back! I've missed you!" As she said this, she lowered the volume of the music and went to hug the agent for dear life. The force of impact causing Gibbs to stumble a few steps backwards.

"Abs," the agent chuckled, "You saw me numerous times last week."

"I knowwwww," she whined, still clinging to him "But you weren't here and McGee still needs training in bringing me a CafPow!s on time."

"That a hint Abs?" He gently pealed her off him.

"Training McGee to bring me one on time or if you had one?" She questioned, before gesticulating wildly with her arms, "If so, then I guess it's both."

He kissed her cheek, "I'll see about McGee."

"What about my..."

"Not my job, Abs." He laughed.

"But Gibbs..."

He just smirked and motioned over his shoulder. Only then Abby looked behind him.

"Ziva!"

The little girl giggled, amused at the display in front of her as she held something secretively behind her back.

With much less force than used with Gibbs, Abby bent down to hug her.

"Oh, what delicious things do you've got behind your back?" Abby asked intrigued, even though she had already seen what Mini-Ziva hid when she had hugged the small child. But asking her was too much fun.

"Dunno." Ziva grinned at the goth.

"Is it for me, maybe?"

The little girl grinned and nodded.

"Here," she finally gave the view of the CafPow! free.

"Your a life saver," Abby squealed and snatched the drink from Ziva's hand, before standing up and walking back to her work bench, "I really needed that. The case I'm working on is giving me a headache."

The little girl laughed and joined Gibbs, who gave her a smile and rested a hand on the back of her head.

"We'll be upstairs then, Abs."

"Sure," she waved at them, her face never leaving her computer where she worked busily on a trace.

Mini-Ziva looked up at the agent.

"She's always like that," whispered Gibbs as they entered the elevator.

(Bullpen – 8:32 am)

"Boss, Director wants to see you." McGee greeted them as they returned from their little excursion.

"Did he said what he wanted?" The team leader didn't even bothered to sit down at his desk.

"No."

"Found out where the newbies are?"

"Kinda," McGee scrunched his nose, "Agent Thompson isn't answering his cellphone and Agent Peters said she was stuck in traffic but will be here soon."

"Try to reach Thompson further, " Gibbs called out as he walked to the stairs.

"Will do," muttered McGee, already annoyed with his new team members.

Meanwhile Ziva had gone back to play behind 'her' desk.

The new team members would use McGee's old desk and the one at the far end, while Ziva's was left unoccupied for the shrunk agents to use and McGee would used Tony's old one, like he did when Gibbs went on 'vacation' all these years ago.

(Vance Office)

"How's DiNozzo?" The Director leaned back in his leather chair. His hands neatly folded in front of him.

Gibbs shrugged, "Bored. Even he can only watch so many films in a row before getting too much of it."

Vance smirked, "With two new agents to train you might need some additional pair of hands to keep up your track record."

Gibbs' left eyebrow went higher, "What are you proposing, Leon?"

"He could help you with finding out information about victims and suspects."

"Wouldn't that against protocol?" The sarcasm in his voice unmistakeable.

"So is bringing your child to the office all the time."

The team leader scoffed, "Yeah right."

"He coming in today?"

"What makes you think he hasn't already." challenged Gibbs with a smirk.

Vance stared at him, a sly smile at his face.

"He got his visitor pass and knows the way, So If he'll be awake anytime before noon, he may comes to NCIS."

"Good," Vance nodded his approval, "Sent him up when he arrives."

(Bullpen – 9:04 am)

"McGee!"

"Peters just arrived at the front gates. Should be up any seconds."

As if on cue the elevator dinged and gave the view free on a blond woman in her mid-twenties. The black pant suit and sternly back-combed hair elicited raised eyebrows by both, McGee and Gibbs.

"Dejavue," smirked Gibbs nearly inaudible, before he changed his features to a hard glare.

"Hello, I'..."

"You're late," growled Gibbs, interrupting Agent Peters immediately. The woman pulled her hand back, which she had stretched out in greeting.

"I'm.."

"Never apologize, it's a sign of weakness," scowled the team leader, keeping his voice just loud enough not to be heard by Ziva.

He pointed to McGee's old desk, "Sit, be still, do your work."

With a start Gibbs then turned around, "Going for coffee."

"That was Rule 6," commented McGee once his boss was out of earshot.

"Rule 6?" Agent Peters questioned warily.

"He has his own set of rules which every agent in his team has to follow. Rule 6 is one of them."

"How many are there?" inquired Peters, silently wondering if she really wanted this job.

McGee grinned and went over to his new colleague, "50. You'll learn them over time. I'm Timothy McGee. Senior Field Agent. Nice to meet you."

She gratefully shook his hand, "I'm Mia Peters, a Probie and at the moment very terrified of my boss. Nice to meet you too."

Tim laughed, "Do you work and do it good and he'll be a lot nicer."

"And come to work early," added Peters smiling.

McGee nodded, "Come, it's time for you to meet someone."

He led her over to Mini-Ziva, who looked up as they approached her.

"Ziva, this is Mia. She's going to work here too, from now on."

The little girl regarded the blond woman for a moment before she set the red crayon aside, with which she had been coloring a circle.

"Shalom," Mini-Ziva slowly stood up and walked to the agents. With McGee being nice to the stranger she felt more secure about being nice to the unknown person, too. Certain, that McGee and the others would protect her if anything would happen. After all this was her comfort zone.

"Hello, Ziva." Peters smiled.

"You draw?" the little girl took a crayon and held it out for the woman to take.

"Uhm, I'm not sure."

Mini-Ziva knitted her eyebrows together, "You no draw?"

"A few minutes can't hurt," commented McGee and picked the papers and crayons of the floor, "But how about we do that at the desk? It's much more comfortable."

Ziva watched him relocate her crayons and shrugged, "O'tay." She agreed and looked back at Agent Peters who still looked uncertain.

"Come," she took Mia's hand and dragged the woman over to the desk.

Tim was stunned as he watched the scene, "Since when does she connect with strangers like that..." he wondered, but covered his surprise quickly. "I'll get another chair."

"No!" the little girl called out quickly, "You sit here." She climbed of the chair and waited till he had taken a seat before climbing onto his lap.

"See." She craned her neck to grin proudly at him. Having solved the problem all alone felt good to her.

"Thank you," McGee laughed and took the offered crayon, "So what do we draw?"

"Tigger!"

"Tigger from Winnie the Pooh?" Agent Peters smiled, already liking this girl.

"Uh huh!" Mini-Ziva bobbed her head.

"But he's not blue," McGee frowned at the blue circles on Ziva's paper.

The little girl just shrugged and so they kept coloring and drawing various partly very strange forms.

"Why did you took her hand? I've never seen you do that to a stranger before," McGee whispered as Agent Peters went to fetch her water bottle from her bag.

"You here!" Ziva gave him a toothy smile, "Me no ah'ffaid!"

"I'm glad you're okay," he whispered, squeezing her momentarily, before they went back to coloring.

(Bullpen – 9:57 am)

-"Lo,"- Ziva glared at the man in front of her. The task of drawing momentarily forgotten.

"Sweet kid," Agent Thompson laughed, "Now go play somewhere else." He made a move to collect the papers which were scattered around the desk on which Ziva was quietly drawing.

"What do you think you're doing?" McGee questioned as he came back from the restroom.

"What does it looks like? I'm trying to get to my desk." Thompson proceed to glare at him.

"That's not your desk," McGee smirked, giving Ziva a wink which made her giggle.

"Listen buddy, I'm here to reinforce Agent Gibbs' team and as Agent Peters said," he motioned to the blonde woman, "The other desks are already occupied."

"Well," McGee grinned and joined Ziva, standing beside her chair, "This desk is occupied as you obviously can see."

"But..." Thompson frowned.

"The desk back there," he pointed behind Agent Peters, "Is yours."

"What?"

"You came too late for the other desk, now live with it," deadpanned Gibbs as he joined his agents, piercing Thompson with a stare.

"And if you think of making another stupid remark to myself, Senior Field Agent McGee or to Ziva here or any other NCIS employee for that matter, you can find another job," warned Gibbs, while putting a protective hand on Mini-Ziva's shoulder.

"Agent G-Gibbs?" stammered the new agent.

"The one and only," McGee grinned smugly as he walked to his own desk.

"What ya waiting for?" growled the team leader as Thompson still stood in front of them, too shocked to move.

However as soon as Gibbs had said the words, the agent scurried to the back of the team's area.

"Good boy," whispered the senior agent laughing.

"'ibbs?" Mini-Ziva smiled at him, "Look me draw!"

The team leader turned all his attention to the little girl, "That's a really nice picture. Very good."

Ziva beamed at the praise, "McGee help."

"Really?" He smirked across the team's area at his agent.

"Uh huh!" nodded Mini-Ziva, "You wanna draw?"

"Maybe later," he shook his head with a smile, "I've got some more work to do before dinner. You keep having fun," he kissed the top of her head before walking over to McGee's desk.

"Good idea to let her draw at the desk."

"I thought it's better than her drawing on the floor. And it kept Stupido from taking the desk." Tim explained his motives.

"Stupido?" Gibbs smirked.

"El estupido," clarified McGee, "Other names which come to my mind aren't very child-friendly," McGee replied without second thought. "Uhm, I mean..."

"They have to follow your orders, so make them do so," stage whispered Gibbs, proud on how much his agent had developed over the years.

"What's your opinion on Agent Peters?" The team leader wanted to know.

"She's really sorry about coming too late to work. Already working on the first cold case. And she and Ziva seem to get along."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow at this.

"She and Ziva had a little chat and Ziva told me that Peters was 'O'tay'." McGee smiled at the memory.

"Uh huh." Gibbs looked over at his miniature agent. She was still happily drawing and didn't seemed to be bothered by the earlier dispute over the desk.

"I also made it clear that she doesn't need to dress up like that," McGee gave his boss a grin.

"So good to keep?" checked Gibbs. He had given his agent a say about who to pick out from the final candidates, which he had selected while being on forced vacation. It was much like when they had searched a replacement for Ziva, albeit this time he wasn't so reluctant about choosing a new agent.

"Yep. If she can prove that her abilities are as good as mentioned in her file."

"We'll go to the shooting range tomorrow. Let's see if Thompson loses the attitude till then." Gibbs walked back to his own desk.

(Bullpen – 1:43 pm)

Tony had entered NCIS headquarter only minutes after McGee, Ziva, Gibbs and Abby had come back from their dinner. The goth having insisted on tagging along and having dragged McGee with them. Not that the MIT graduate minded or resisted much.

"Hey guys," Tony called casually as he reached the team's area.

"Tony!" Mini-Ziva speedily run towards the teenager. She nearly would have dropped her ice cream if Gibbs hadn't taken it out of her hand the moment she had dashed off.

"Hey bug, having fun?" He grinned at her, and willingly lifted her off the floor, "Oof, You're heavy." he groaned as he set her on his hip.

"No," she shook her head in negation, "No heawy!"

"Maybe you just need to train more?" Gibbs offered with a smirk.

"Funny," the teenager commented, a large grin on his face nonetheless, "Aren't there supposed to be new agents?" He looked around.

"Got a case, they are tracing a lead." The team leader supplied with few words.

"Alone?"

"Their lead." Gibbs smirked, "It won't lead them anywhere, except nearer to live in a nuthouse."

"Nut'ouse?" Mini-Ziva repeated with a frown.

"Need to watch my mouth," Gibbs reminded himself silently, "Ziv, you want your ice cream back?"

The little girls eyes dilated and she quickly made sure to be set down in order to take her ice cream from Gibbs, who made a move to lick something off it.

"'ibbs! No! Me have!" She protested loudly.

"Here," he smiled and handed her the ice back. "Sit down while eating."

The little girl nodded earnestly, not wanting to lose the ice to Gibbs just because she hasn't done as she had been told.

"Tony," the team leader addressed his shrunk agent with a calm expression, "Director wants to see you."

"Why?"

"Nothing bad. Just go," he motioned with his head upstairs.

"Uhm. Okay..." Still a bit unsure the teenager climbed the stairs.

"Boss?"

"Vance wants to offer Tony to work in the background."

"Really?" McGee gaped.

"Yep." Gibbs smirked, "Work, which you should do too."

"Right. Already on it, boss." The temporary Senior Field Agent walked to his desk.

(Director's Office)

"You wanted to see me?"

"Come in, DiNozzo."

"What's this all about?" Tony frowned.

"Straight to the point," laughed Vance, "Haven't expected less of you. I've heard that you could use something to do."

The Director regarded the young man.

"So?"

"Heard that line before," thought Vance, "You could work with Agent Gibbs' team. Also it would only contain background checks and other activities which can be done hidden from view."

"Hidden from view?"

"No contact to victims families, suspects, no phone calls." Clarified the Director.

The teenager leaned back in his seat, "What's in it for me?"

Vance took a toothpick into his mouth, "As I'm told Agent Gibbs controls how much money you get from the amount NCIS still pays."

"Yeah. And?"

"I'm sure Agent Gibbs would raise this amount if you do something for it." Vance said casually.

"Like working for the agency," continued Tony with a dark expression on his face.

"Of course you're aloud to find another job in order to raise your monthly money. But what I offer might be more interesting."

The teenager sighed. Vance was right. Finding a job which suited his liking wasn't very easy. Most of the easy ones in the area were already taken by students. And he wasn't about to work a eight to five job when there was no need too.

"Okay," Tony simply stated.

"Good, you will clarify they rest with Agent Gibbs. If you excuse me, I got a call in MTAC waiting."

Straightening his jacket the Director dismissed Tony.

(Bullpen – 2:40 pm)

"How did it go?"

"I agreed." Tony scowled.

"I see," the team leader smirked, "I'm not going to disturb your beauty sleep. Don't worry."

"You don't?" The teenager squinted at him.

"You'll be here at 11 am at the very least. You can go around half three. I'll double your money. You come into work three to four times a week." Gibbs stated matter of fact, not even looking up from his file.

"That's it?" Tony was surprised.

"Try to keep it up first and then ask again," the agent regarded Tony smirking.

"You think I'm not able to do so?"

"You like to sleep, stay up late, go out with Jaz and friends..." Gibbs trailed off which caused Tony to roll his eyes.

"What about today?"

"Nah," Gibbs smirked, "Already too late."

"So what I'm going to do here?" Tony frowned, already thinking of sitting around for hours with nothing to occupy his mind.

The senior agent looked into Ziva's direction. The girl having laid down after she ate the rest of the ice cream.

"You could take Ziva home. Maybe take her to the playground two blocks from our house, once she's more awake. It will power her out again and you shouldn't have any problems."

Tony thought for a moment, his eyes also coming to rest on the now sleeping child, "I can do that." he nodded.

"I'll make sure to be home in time to bring Ziva to bed." Gibbs stood up to wake the sleeping girl.

"Ziv," he gently stroke a stray strand of hair out of her face.

"What?" she mumbled yawning.

Gibbs smiled, "Tony's taking you home. Maybe visit the playground after you slept a bit."

The little girl eyes rested on Tony, "Really?"

"Yep." Tony grinned.

"O'tay," she slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.

A few minutes later they were ready to leave.

"You've got everything? Car key, house keys, spare key for my car..." Gibbs checked after he had zipped Mini-Ziva's jacket..

"Where I'll get the seat for Ziva," finished the teenager Gibbs' sentence, "Yes, yes and yes." Tony crossed his arms.

Gibbs smirked, "Money?"

"If I say no would you give me some?"

"Something tells me you'll have that covered."

"Worth a try," Tony shrugged.

"Be nice and listen to him, okay?" Gibbs had knelt down in front of Ziva who was now standing right next to Tony, ready to leave.

"O'tay," the little girl grinned. Already excited to spent time with Tony, without anyone else around.

Gibbs nodded and kissed her cheek before standing back up, "Don't..."

"Drive too fast." Tony dismissively turned around to go, "Come on, bug."

"Shalom!" With a giggle and wave to everyone Mini-Ziva followed the teenager.

The team leader watched them till they entered the elevator. When he turned around Abby and McGee were grinning at him

"What?" He gruffly asked.

"You're so..."

"Nice," Abby finished McGee's sentence.

Gibbs squinted at the pair, "Can't live up my 2nd B with a kid around, can I?" He challenged them.

Abby's grin got bigger, "Admit it Gibbs," she walked over to him till she stood right in front of him, "You like it!"

The team leader sighed, shaking his head as Abby launched herself onto him. "That's soooooooo cute to see."

McGee laughed quietly at the scene, which caused Gibbs to glare at him.

"Abs," he freed himself from her embrace, "Don't you've got work to do?"

She smiled openly before snapping to attention, "Si, el jefe!" With a laugh she swiftly walked to the elevator, before Gibbs could come up with a remark.

Meanwhile McGee was lost in thought, still grinning stupidly.

Gibbs coughed, "McGee," he warned threateningly.

"Work, Boss." The agent hurriedly opened the current case file, "On it, boss."

Satisfied to have everything back under control, Gibbs returned back to his own report. A smirk gracing his lips.

~ Fin ~

Shalom = Hello

Toda = Thank You

Lo = No

El jefe = Yes boss/sir/etc.