AU scenes/stories for NCIS episodes. Each is independent from all the others since this is all based on the possibility of parallel universes and multiple timelines... many, many of them. Later on some may seem to follow something that happened in an earlier AU episode story, but it's probably coincidence unless I say otherwise in the beginning.

This is #8 - a short alternate universe story/scene for Season 1, episode 8 Minimum Security

The original episode aired on November 25, 2003.

The dialogue, a small part anyway, is from the episode.

Rating: K+

Category: General

Warnings: Spoilers for episodes, probably just the one that the AU story is about. But down the road who knows?

Disclaimer: I own nothing NCIS. I'm just borrowing the characters for a bit.

And finally, all mistakes are mine.

Gibbs sliced his hand across his throat and the feed ended.

"Go Jethro. I'll have a plane waiting for you," Director Morrow promised.

Determination on his face, Gibbs nodded once and headed out of MTAC.

The implications were enormous and Morrow needed his best man on it. NCIS would take this, at least until FBI and CIA butted in claiming national security. Getting his team there quickly and first would ensure a better than snowball's chance that they could find out what was going on ahead of the others.

"Get your gear," Gibbs barked to his team. "We're goin' to Gitmo."

Tony grinned. "Ha. Ha. That's a good one, boss."

The boss was already halfway to the elevator by the time Kate and Tony looked at each other.

"He was kidding, right?"

Kate saw Gibbs reach for the button and said, "I don't think so."

Laughing jubilantly, Tony danced across the squad room.

"We're going to Cuba!"

Kate's eyes smiled as she tried not to giggle.

"When you said priority ride, you weren't kidding, boss."

The look on Gibbs' face screamed, 'when do I ever kid?'

"Sit down, DiNozzo. Kate, our translator?"

"Petty Officer Second Class Khalil Sa'id is a naturalized American citizen. He was born in Egypt. No next of kin in the US. And I haven't found a US address."

"Languages?"

Uh... Arabic, Uyghur and Pashtu."

Gibbs looked at her, assessing the information. "Where was he before Gitmo?"

"Our Naval station in Bahrain. He's been in Cuba for five months."

"DiNozzo."

Tony squirmed a little before going into his spiel.

"Guantanamo enjoys a year-round climate, cooled by the breezes from the windward passage."

He didn't notice Gibbs' displeasure and probably wouldn't have cared anyway.

"Some of the more popular pastimes include skin diving, sunbathing and horseback riding," he finished with a flourish,

Kate smirked. "I would be the last one to rain on your parade, Fidel, but you got that from the official Navy website. It's PR."

Gibbs had had enough.

"DiNozzo," he insisted his agent focus.

"Uh, yeah boss. Paula Cassidy. NCIS Special Agent Paula Cassidy."

He tipped his laptop toward Gibbs.

"Pretty."

Gibbs had seen her on MTAC's screen and already knew what she looked like.

"What else?"

Still excited, DiNozzo almost squealed, "I can't believe we're in a 40 million dollar Gulfstream. I mean, it's gotta be CNO's or SecNav's. You know, Tiger Woods has one of these, Tom Cruise, all the big movie stars. This is their ride."

"Are you finished?"

"Almost." He reached for the panel button and said, "Check this out. It's a Gulfstream."

They were met by Paula Cassidy, who had met Gibbs through MTAC and was expecting them.

"Welcome to Gitmo, Agent Gibbs," she said to the boss while her eyes roamed up and down Tony.

"Agent Cassidy," Gibbs acknowledged. "Special Agents Kate Todd and Anthony DiNozzo."

"Nice to meet you," Kate addressed her.

"Same here." Paula waved her hand toward the plane. "Nice ride."

Knowing why it should be obvious that they used the fastest and priciest transportation available, Gibbs replied, "Well, we needed to get here quickly, Agent Cassidy."

Tony had a silly smile plastered on his face. "Call me Tony. Can I call you Paula?"

"Sure... Tony."

Their eyes met and anyone in range would have seen a spark.

Gibbs turned on the two of them, leaning in a little to break the spell.

Paula wore a slight blush as she tore her gaze away from Tony to look at Gibbs.

"I have a map here for you. You'll have one of the better houses on the base."

"We appreciate that, Agent Cassidy. Now, c'mon, we have work to do."

He marched up to the vehicle and tossed his go bag into the open trunk. The others did the same as Paula started to unlatch the driver's side door. Tony almost choked when he saw Gibbs put his hand on the door... right before Paula could pull it open.

"Gibbs drives, Paula. Don't argue, just give him the key."

Kate, aware of the mutual attraction between the two of them, got into the front passenger seat, leaving the back for Tony and Paula.

"Where is Sa'id?" Gibbs wanted to know as he steered the car from the flight line.

"Bill is keeping him busy... as you requested."

Gibbs noticed the little hint of anger under the surface in her voice.

"Kate, Tony, Bill Gamal is a senior FBI translator. He and Cassidy are going to help us figure out what our petty officer is up to."

Paula calmed down a bit, recognizing Gibbs as a bit of a control freak. She'd heard good things about him... and a couple of bad things, but he was the supervisory agent and she'd do what she was supposed to do and do it well. Along the way, she planned on getting to know Tony better.

End

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This concludes the first block of season 1 AU scenes/stories.