True to his word, Director Vance manages to have NCIS Special Agent Samine Bogart in DC by 0900 the following morning. Tony is a little late to the interview because he didn't want Gibbs to catch him sneaking off. At this point, they both know Tony's transfer is coming. They both can see it like two trains about to collide, but neither of them officially discusses it. Tony is still Gibbs' senior agent until the transfer goes through.
So, Tony hides at this desk until Gibbs stalks towards Abby's lab. Then, Tony is bolting, tripping and falling over his feet as he leaves. Both Tim and Ziva give him a strange look, but he doesn't glance back.
Once he makes it to the conference room, he takes a moment to compose himself. He might be a few minutes late already, but what's another thirty seconds? He smooths his hair, tightens his tie, and schools his face into the best no-nonsense expression he can. If he is going to be a team leader, he is sure as hell going to look like one for an interview.
He slips inside, unsure how to handle his lateness.
Samine Bogart stands beside the conference table. Her eyes are locked on her watch. He glances her over, quickly. She is petite with an oval face, hooded eyes, and cheekbones that could cut glass. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a simple up-do that only draws more attention to those cheekbones. For some reason, she reminds Tony so much of Kate Todd that his chest tightens.
When he gently closes the door, the noise seems to startle her. She glances up, gaze fixed on him. Even though she's playing a part, Tony understands she knew he was here all along. She is trying to be the one in control or at least to let him know she isn't interested in playing games.
Too bad I'm not even playing one. I just got held up.
"I'm late," Tony admits.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Bogart replies. Her voice is higher pitched than Tony would have thought based on the way she looks.
"But you were thinking it." He smiles crookedly.
Hesitating for a moment, she relents. "Yeah, I was."
Her honesty makes the grin settle deeper on his face. He slides into a chair. Usually, there aren't any wrong answers for an interview. Except if she just lied to him, he wouldn't have bothered with talking to her. He would've shaken her hand, thanked her for her time, and chucked her on the first plane headed back to wherever she is currently stationed. Coronado, he thinks.
When she smiles at him, it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She's nervous to be here, almost intimidated by Tony. It makes him want to laugh because he is just Tony DiNozzo. And if she does join his team, she'll have to get comfortable around him. And fast.
They go through the motions of a job interview. Canned questions with bland responses. The back and forth is good, efficient and easy. Bogart has a take-no-prisoners air about her. She shifts back in her chair, playing up her confidence and comfort level. Tony leans forward, engaged and involved.
Bogart tells Tony about her time as a patrol cop and how she almost made detective—"I burned out," she admits. "It never felt like I was doing any good, no matter how hard I worked"—before deciding to become an NCIS agent.
"Why did you decide to join NCIS?" Tony asks.
Bogart shifts her weight. "My husband was a Marine before he was disabled during a deployment. One day, a bunch of guys tried to scam him out of his disability check. NCIS sent the perps to jail. I wanted to help people like my husband."
Based on the way she says it, that's the end of the conversation. Tony decides to end that line of questioning in favor of something a little more cheery.
"Why did you pick DC?" he asks. "It's not one of the more popular postings for the agency."
"My husband is a stay-at-home dad. He grew up in Alexandria." Bogart runs a hand over impeccable up-do. "He wanted our daughter to know her grandparents."
Tony clips a nod. "And you?"
"I'm an army brat," she offers, laughing. "Where didn't I grow up? My roots are always packed-up in a go-bag and set beside the door. As long as I'm with my family, I'm home."
Tony nods, trying to come up with his next question. Their conversation is easy and flowing well. He very much wants to put her on his team, but they're missing that…spark. That feeling he gets when he catches a lead that turns out to be right. That jolt he gets when he notices an attractive woman across the bar and knows that she'll be Ms. Tonight. That undeniable quality that keeps the team members gelled together, ideas bouncing off each other. Whatever magic he felt on Gibbs' team.
I felt it when I pulled her file. Where is it now?
After he finishes his questions, he turns his attention towards her. She leans forward, elbows on the conference room table. She tilts her head, trying to catch his attention.
He gives it to her. "Do you have any questions for me?"
"I heard you like movies." It's a statement, not a question.
He raises his eyebrows. "And?"
"Well, my last name probably reminds you of a certain actor."
At the mere suggestion, Tony nods slowly. He wasn't going to say anything. At the very least, not until she'd settled into her new role. Though, he would be lying if he hadn't already planned a marathon featuring Humphrey Bogart's best films.
Bogart's face pulls into a smile that says gotcha. For the first time since the interview started, Tony catches something in her eyes. That spark. That fire that runs among the best.
He settles back into his seat, instantly interested.
Why was she holding back?
She holds her hand, counting on each finger as she goes. "Don't call me Bogey. I don't know Lauren Bacall. I don't like porkchops or applesauce. And so help me, if you ever say, 'Here's looking at you, kid,' I'll quit so fast you won't know I'm gone."
And suddenly, Bogart goes from bland and forgettable to something more. Not to mention, she sounds so much like Kate Todd that it hurts. Nostalgia bubbles up deep in his chest. No, whatever this is, it runs far deeper than that. She is someone who could challenge him too.
Tony lifts his chin. "'Play it again, Sam.'"
Her eyes go flinty. "That was your one pass. Next one I hear, I quit."
"Duly noted," Tony says.
"Just so we can get it all out in the open." She has Tony's full attention now. "My little girl's name is Lucy and my husband's name is Ricky." Before Tony has a chance to say anything, she drops her voice into a perfect rendition from I Love Lucy: "Lucy, I'm home.'"
Tony cracks up. "You've – "
She interrupts Tony by putting her hand up. "No, Agent DiNozzo, I don't have 'any 'splainin to do.'"
And just like that, she's hired.