Chapter Text
Y/N had been working at NCIS for a while now. She enjoyed her work there, which was a personal job for her. Her parents were marines before they were killed in action, so working there made her feel indescribably closer to them. Making friends was easy for her; she became close to the two doctors working on the lower floors of NCIS. The human body fascinated Y/N; all the delicate veins and bones. Medical school was tempting in the past, but the years of extra school were way too much for her. So Jimmy Palmer and Ducky Mallard were some of her closest friends. As well as the MCRT team upstairs.
Walking out of the elevator and into the bullpen on a random Tuesday, Y/N was greeted by the faces of her colleagues, Ziva, Tony and Tim. She hated calling people by their last names, the notion of addressing people with their surnames made Y/N feel like there was a sort of barrier between them, and she didn’t want that. Her boss, Gibbs, wasn’t at his desk. This didn’t shock her, though. He normally came striding in about thirty minutes into her shift, coffee in hand and calling out that they had a case. Jethro Gibbs and the NCIS Director, Leon Vance, were the only exceptions to her rule of first name basis. Calling your boss and your boss’s boss by their first names is just weird. So she didn’t.
The absence of her boss meant Y/N and her coworkers could fit in a few minutes of playful banter before a case came in and the cheerful aura would be shattered.
“Good morning, Reid! You seem chipper today.”
Sitting down at her desk, Y/N shot Tony an exaggerated grin and responded.
“Good morning to you too, Agent DiNozzo. Thank you for noticing my brilliant mood; I had a most excellent start to the day!”
“Your husband at home this morning?” Ziva asked, smugly.
Y/N’s colleagues knew about her marriage and that her spouse was away frequently for work, but they didn’t know he worked for the FBI.
“Why, yes Agent David, he was. Flew in last night,” she replied, grin eager and giddy.
“You need to introduce us to him someday, you know?” Tim contributed.
“When the time is right, Agent McGee. When the time is right.”
She giggled at her use of ‘Agent DiNozzo’, ‘Agent David’ and ‘Agent McGee’. Being oddly formal was one of her favourite things to do.
Her office phone ringing interrupted the incessant nagging Y/N was sure she was about to endure. Picking it up, she was told to make her way to the director’s office right away. Placing the receiver down, she searched her brain. What had she done wrong? Was she going to get fired?
“Well, my friends,” Y/N began as she got up from her chair, “It was nice knowing you.”
“What is it?” Ziva quizzed.
“Vance just called me to his office.”
Tony snickered and gestured towards Vance’s office. Y/N saluted him and made her way upstairs. Reaching the director’s office, she took a deep breath and proceeded into the room. Inside, Vance was sitting at his desk with Gibbs on the other side. Oh, she was definitely getting fired.
“You wanted to see me, director?”
“I did, Reid. Take a seat.”
She complied, pulling out the seat next to her boss and giving him a sideways glance, receiving an unreadable look back before sitting.
“Your husband works at the FBI in the Behavioural Analysis Unit, correct?”
She cast a panicked look at Vance.
“Yes, is he okay?”
“He’s fine. I’m interested in his team’s expertise.”
“Well, sir, it’s not his team, per se, but why?”
He picked up a remote and pressed a button, implying that Y/N and her boss should turn around. They did so and were met by gruesome crime scene photos. Two women stripped naked, hanging from a tree. Bruises and small cuts covered their pale bodies.
“Two female marines were found hanging from a tree. They look like they were tortured before their execution.”
Gibbs finally spoke, “A message was carved into the tree.”
Vance zoomed in and Y/N read the inscription.
“‘They have repented for their sins.’ What kind of psycho is this guy?”
The director shut off the screen and waited for the agents to turn around again before answering.
“We don’t know. That’s why we want the BAU’s help,” he paused and inched his chair ever so closer to his employees, “NCIS has never seen anything like this before and while we have your BA in Psychology, we need professional help.”
Y/N nodded.
“Pick another agent to bring with you to Quantico. One of the other two will go to the crime scene with Dr Mallard and Palmer, and the final agent will search the victim’s houses. Gibbs and I will stay here. You need to get the Unit Chief to divvy his agents out to meet our own.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Who will you bring with you?”
“Tim. If that’s not too much trouble.”
“Of course not.”
She gave him a thin, awkward smile and started to leave before her boss’ voice stopped her.
“I’ll send Tony to the crime scene and Ziva to the houses, just to warn you.”
Y/N beamed at him.
“Thanks, boss,” she responded and left the office.
Gibbs was extremely observant. When Y/N first joined NCIS, she was freshly married and every mention of the FBI made her on edge. He pretty much immediately figured out that Y/N’s husband worked for the FBI. She came clean and blurted everything out to him. She talked about how amazing her husband was and how close she was with his friends and colleagues. He listened calmly and never interrupted her. Gibbs was one of her favourite people to spill her guts to at work; he never judged and always had something wise to say. A man like him as everyone’s boss would probably end most toxic workplaces.
When Y/N made her way back to the bullpen, she skipped to Tim’s desk and gently slammed her hands down on the aforementioned desk.
“Pack your bag, Timmy. You’re coming on a field trip with me.”
Tim seemed confused.
“What? Where to?”
“France.”
His eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“No, Tim. Quantico.”
Tony cackled; Ziva quietly chuckled behind her. She gave them a humorous glare and turned back to her fellow agent.
“Why?”
“Enough with the questions! This isn’t a quiz show. Now chop-chop! Time is of the essence.”
Tim complied and hastily packed his things. While waiting, Y/N loaded her bag.
“Why do you have to go to Quantico?” Tony inquired.
“Didn’t I just say this isn’t a quiz show?”
He raised his hands in mock surrender. Y/N huffed and shook her head.
“Special assignment from Vance. Don’t worry, though. You both have essential roles too.”
“What is the assignment for?” Ziva asked, now genuinely interested in the conversation.
She caught sight of Gibbs and Vance making their way down the stairs.
“Looks like you’re about to find out. Come on, Timothy!” she called after her as she sped-walked towards the lift, hoping to avoid another awkward interaction with the director.
Tim hurried behind her.
“What is this actually about?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.”