Warnings: Topics of rape, drugs and alcohol

A/N: We're finally going to get our first look at the OC. I tried to write her into the story much like Kate, McGee, and Ellie were written in. Gibbs picked them because he saw something in them and he wasn't forced to take a member on (yeah, wasn't a big fan of Jenny Shepard). Vance may be a jerk at times but he isn't using the office like Jenny did. Different debate for a different day haha.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to leave a review, or send me a PM, favorite or follow this story. It has been nice to have some friendly conversations with people on this site. I continue to be appalled and disgusted by the barrage of hate and insults being thrown at the cast and crew and anyone that has anything favorable to say about Season 11.

If ever the team was lacking a feminine touch it was now. There was no amount of sensitivity training that could help Gibbs, Tony or McGee when it came to interviewing a distraught rape victim.

Hours sitting with her turned to days and days turned to weeks. Tony's injuries had mostly healed and he'd taken the sling off, much too soon in Ducky's eyes but it was a frustrating reminder of everything that had gone wrong in May. Their frustrations were really starting to escalate as well. He'd nearly come to physical blows with their victim's rather boorish boyfriend the last time they had gone to interview her.

Gibbs had saved him from that particularly nasty situation, sending him back to headquarters and thus benching him for the rest of the week. Tony had taken the hit in the chin like usual, but inside he was screaming, spiraling out of control. He needed a release of some kind, an outlet for his anger, and sadly his options were lacking.

Staying late to look over the case wasn't helping matters. A month now had passed and even though the hospital had gathered all the forensic evidence that they were going to need once they did have a suspect in custody, that was their problem. They couldn't find a suspect. Amber had gone out drinking with her girlfriends at a seedy bar in downtown Baltimore and been drugged. She woke up in the hospital, battered, bruised, barely recalling anything but trying to fight off her attacker.

Even her sketch of the man she claimed to have raped her wasn't helping. It was too organic, looked like any guy on the street. And the most disturbing aspect off all, was that their guy had a fetish because despite being found wearing a Naval officer's uniform, Amber was actually a marine.

He could see her embarrassment of the whole situation every time he went to talk to her. She was a marine. This wasn't supposed to happen to her. But it had, and NCIS was trying to do its best to solve it. It was slow going and it was making Amber more and more angry and distant and she didn't want to talk them anymore. Another reason why he'd almost come to blows with the boyfriend yesterday. He'd wish Gibbs had just let him go at it.

It would have provided him an outlet to his pent up emotions. It would have felt good. He didn't care that he was still recovering from a nasty brawl just a month ago. He was itching for a fight, itching for...something to alleviate his tension. And sitting here, staring a case file until he was blue in the face was not going to do that.

Tony slammed the folder shut and grabbed his gear, storming out of the bullpen knowing that if this case wasn't solved soon it was going to consume his team and destroy them.

"Hey, DiNozzo," a voice said and he turned to see Peter, one of their dispatchers gesturing for him to wait. "Got something you might be interested in?"

"Unless it's a hot girl, I highly doubt that," Tony snapped, stopping his progress so Peter could catch up.

"Tip on the Amber Hamel case. Boston detective thinks there might a link to a case up there. Told her to stop by tomorrow and chat with you," Peter said with a grin. "Who knows? Maybe she's hot."

Detective Natalie Callahan winced at the bright orange walls of NCIS which seemed to be accented by a rather large skylight. She had wanted to journey to D.C five months ago when a woman's body had gotten tangled in lobster traps off out of the Boston Harbor, wearing a Captain's uniform. After it had been discovered that the woman had not been military and they couldn't identity her, it seemed natural to contact NCIS or the FBI. Something just didn't add up in her eyes and Natalie had researched beyond their small city and found that there were fifteen open cases with a similar method of operation.

All her profiling instincts told her that their suspect was Navy or at least had ties to the Navy. Why else would he be dressing up the women his was targeting in uniform?

Her arms firmly around the stack of files she had pulled to bring here, Natalie stepped off the elevator and into that horribly painted room. The agent that had been assigned to escort her upstairs led the way into a cluster of desks. Quickly assessing the situation she observed two men working, both of similar height and age.

"DiNozzo," the agent said, garnering the attention of one of the men, "this lady thinks she has something for the Amber Hamel case."

His eyes were suddenly on her and she felt completely stripped down, they were intense, filled with emotions and not to mention they were a really pretty shade of green. He stood then, pulling himself up to his full height, straightening his suit coat over broad shoulders and a strong chest. "Thanks, Dave," he said to the agent, "I'll take it from here."

Natalie watched as the agent who had escorted her up nodded and walked away. DiNozzo moved around his desk coming to stand in front of her. She instantly felt his presence and gazed up at him. "The woman on the tip line said I should…I should talk to you," she said, anxiously. "She said your team...your team was working on a similar case."

"We've been chasing dead leads for almost four weeks now," DiNozzo replied. "Anything you can tell us Detective Callahan is going to be extremely helpful."

"I don't know how helpful it's really going to be—but I think your case is linked to several others across the country."

DiNozzo crossed his arms over his chest. "Go on."

Natalie licked her lips, anxiously. "Five months ago a woman's body was found snagged on a lobster trap in Boston Harbor. She was wearing a military uniform but when we ran her prints through AFIS we didn't get any hits. She was labeled as Jane Doe and her case was logged in our cold case files. I think…I think our perp is either currently in the Navy or…was in the Navy."

"Why do you think that?" he asked, gently.

"Because he's dressing up his victims like officers. Maybe a female officer humiliated him and this is his way of getting back. Of course, there would be an entire pattern of sociopathic behavior before this but until we actually have him in custody it's all conjecture."

DiNozzo smiled, gently. "Of course. Why do you think this woman was killed by a repeat offender?"

Natalie held out the files in her hands. "I found fifteen other open cases with a similar MO. Quite frankly, I'm surprised NCIS hasn't been brought in yet—all the victims were found in coastal cities when Navy ships were in port. Now, I don't know much about the Navy, but all the women who were found were in proper uniform for their depicted rank. That signals he has to have some knowledge of the Navy."

"Fifteen?" DiNozzo repeated taking the files from her.

"Yes," Natalie said, with a nod. "I'm really the only one that looked this up?"

DiNozzo raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled. "Well, we've been solely operating on the basis of this being a one time thing, considering our victim is alive."

Natalie was startled. That didn't fit the MO. "She survived?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately she doesn't remember much. Could be traumatic shock."

"Is there a possibility that she could regain her memory?"

"Doctors don't know at this point," DiNozzo said, closing the file. "Can you walk and talk at the same time?" He didn't give her time to answer and was immediately walking away. The other agent titled his head in the direction that DiNozzo had gone and Natalie took off at a jog to catch up with him. "Curious, how did you find out about Amber?"

Natalie finally managed to match his long stride. "I had search filters set up on my computer that alerted me to certain trigger words about this case. I caught a news report of NCIS and Metro police asking if anyone knew anything to come forward, that a young marine had been raped in Baltimore, dressed in a Navy uniform. It reminded me of the woman that we found, dressed in military uniform not being in the Navy at all."

DiNozzo pressed the button for the elevator and stepped aside to let her get in first. He hit the button for the floor they wanted and the elevator responded in kind, descending. "Smart thinking, Detective."

Well at least someone thinks so, Natalie thought as the pair stepped out of the elevator and made their way through a set of glass, sliding doors. At the sound of the doors opening a small, stately looking man glanced up at them and smiled despite the fact that he was in the middle of an autopsy.

"Ah, Anthony," the medical examiner said in a Scottish accent. "What brings you down here? Is it your arm? I told you not to take that sling off before it was too soon."

"Hairline fracture is healed, Ducky. My arm is fine," DiNozzo replied, peaking Natalie's curiosity. "Detective Callahan thinks we might have a serial killer on the loose regarding our rape victim, Amber Hamel."

Ducky blinked and smiled at Natalie. "Did Metro send you over here to speak with us?"

Natalie shook her head. "No…I came...I'm from Boston."

"Boston? Our case has connections in Boston?"

"I think it does."

DiNozzo held up her file. "Fifteen other cases that have a similar MO. It looks like our girl got lucky and survived, Ducky."

Ducky's face grew serious. "Well, I guess it is quite possible that the killer didn't finish because someone stumbled upon him or startled him. She was found at the park, plenty of things there that could have spooked him into just leaving her there figuring she would end up dead. I'm wondering, though, my dear, what brought you to this conclusion?"

Natalie's gray eyes flicked between the two men. "It just didn't seem…well, it didn't seem normal that a Jane Doe would be found snagged on a lobster trap dressed in a Navy captain's uniform and then not actually be in the Navy. So I did...some digging on my spare time to see if my hunch was right."

"So, you used your gut?" DiNozzo supplied, grinning.

"Sure. I guess if that's what you want to call it."

"Has this young lady been introduced yet to Gibbs? I think he'd like her."

DiNozzo continued to grin even as his cell phone rang and he excused himself to go speak on it.

Natalie waited until he was out of earshot to ask, "Who is Gibbs?"

"You're looking at him," a voice said behind her as another man came up to the table. "Hey Duck, been thinking about the Amber Hamel case. Can I pick your brain? Something's been bugging me about it."

"Ah, your timing is impeccable as always, Jethro," Ducky replied, smiling warmly at her. "Ms. Callahan here was just bringing Anthony and I up to speed on a serial killer in Boston. Seems he likes to dress his victims up in uniform."

Gibbs turned towards her then. She could see a man with silent authority, former marine judging by the way he composed himself, and had startling blue eyes that she felt like were digging into her soul. "You find another victim up in Boston?"

Natalie nodded her head. "Five months ago. She got stuck on a lobster trap. Otherwise she would have floated out to the Atlantic. We never could identify her. Theory is that she was a runaway or prostitute abducted off the street. But…I found fifteen other cases with identified victims throughout the entire country."

"You've got my attention, Ms. Callahan."

"When our Jane Doe was discovered not to be military I searched on the FBI database for open cases in the Boston area with a similar method of operation," Natalie started, "There were two others that happened over the course of two years. But when I broadened the search I found the thirteen other cases spanning over a decade. Agent DiNozzo has my file."

DiNozzo returned as if on cue, snapping his phone shut and handed the file over to Gibbs. "That was Washington General. Amber was just admitted for attempting to commit suicide."

Gibbs' eyes grew dark as he nodded and briefly glanced at the file before handing it over to Ducky. "Take a look at this Duck, come up with a profile."

"Will do, Jethro," Ducky replied, heading towards his desk as both Gibbs and DiNozzo left autopsy. Natalie was left standing there confused as to what she was supposed to do next. The agent had told her not to go anywhere in the building without an escort so…

"HEY! Callahan?" Gibbs snapped, good-naturedly as he poked his head back into the room. "Are you coming with us or not?"

Natalie glanced at Ducky, who gestured with his hands to follow, mouthing the words, "Go. Go." She smiled at him and turned on her heel, chasing after Gibbs and DiNozzo. She slid between the two tall men just before the doors of the elevator closed.

Gibbs hit the button to bring them to the garage. "How do you feel about getting your hands dirty while you're visiting us, Callahan?"

"Meaning?"

"I'd like it if you interview Amber."

"Really?"

"You'll find that I'm rather a bastard at times and DiNozzo, let's just say doesn't always have the softest touch when it comes to women. And my team has been getting no where with her. Perhaps a new, fresh face will be what she needs."

Natalie glanced over her shoulder at DiNozzo. Yeah, she could picture him being a ladies man. He had the looks after all, but there was something in his eyes that told her he was more than what he let on. She glanced back at Gibbs. "Okay. I'll do it. Does that mean the Boston PD is officially working with NCIS on this case?"

Gibbs raised his chin slightly. "You came to NCIS, you tell me."

"I think we can mutually benefit from a joint operation, Agent Gibbs," she replied with a smile.

"Me too," Gibbs said, grinning, "me too."

Tony noticed that Natalie was a natural when it came to interviewing victims. Of course, she probably had more experience in this than his probie did at this kind of thing because she was a cop.

Already he could tell that Amber was opening up more to her, felt more at ease around her friendly smile. It was easy to trust her with her girl-next-door looks and pretty smile. She looked more like she should be doing advertisements for Cover Girl than chasing down bad guys and both Tony and Gibbs were suddenly reminded the gaping hole that was missing on their team and still needed to be filled.

Natalie brushed her long brown hair behind her slender shoulder and looked at Amber, gently. "Amber, I know it's hard but I really, really need you to think back about the night you went out to the bar with your friends. Anything you can remember might be helpful, even if its just a smell or something you ate."

"I do remember smelling a pipe...like my grandfather used to smoke," Amber said, softly, tiredly.

"That's very good, Amber," Natalie encouraged her. "You told Agent Gibbs and DiNozzo in your first interview that he was wearing black. Was it a tee-shirt, sweatshirt-back pants?"

Amber closed her eyes tightly. "A tee-shirt...I...I think. I don't know, Detective. It's blurry."

Natalie gave the hand she was holding a squeeze. "That's okay. You're doing great. Did he speak to you at all?"

"Once...when I...when I was trying to fight him off...he said he liked it rough too."

"Was his voice deep? Nasally? High pitched?"

"Deep...very, very deep."

"Did it sound like someone you know?"

Amber shot her glare. "What? NO!"

Natalie squeezed her hand again, to calm her. "Amber, I'm just covering all bases here. Alright?"

"F-fine."

"In your report you told the agents you had been drinking. Did anyone buy you a drink that night at the bar?"

"S-someone sent a round of shots over. We...we never found out who they were from."

Natalie nodded her head and leaned forward. "This is important, Amber. When you left the bar, where were your friends? Did they leave with you?"

Amber shook her head. "N-no. They said...they told the agents they put me in a cab to go home. I don't understand, Detective! Why didn't they come with me!" She dissolved into a fitful of sobs then just as her boyfriend came back into her room. He roughly grabbed Natalie by her shoulder and pulled her out of the chair she was sitting in and tossed her in the director of the two agents. She went crashing into Tony who managed to catch her and break her fall.

Gibbs quickly found himself having to defuse the situation again and he was pretty certain that if Natalie hadn't landed in his SFA's arms, Tony was going to finally punch the guy. A hospital room free-for-all was not what the lead agent needed. "Detective Callahan is from the Boston PD. She was just asking Amber some questions related to her case."

"Fantastic," the boyfriend snarled. "Why don't you take the pretty little Yankee girl and get the hell out?"

"We were just leaving," Gibbs informed him, silently ushering Tony and Natalie out of the room.

"Boss, that bastard pulls another move like that again-"

"I'll beat him down myself, DiNozzo, okay? Right now, I want you and Natalie to go back to that bar."

Tony blinked and looked at Natalie briefly. "And look for what, exactly?"

Gibbs shrugged. "At this point," he said, "anything that's going to help us nail the son of a bitch that did this to the wall."