I'm so so so so sorry for the long delay. Like I said on my profile the computer that I was working on all these died one day. Seriously I left the room with S&CEA open and came back to a dead computer. But that's not why your here.

Maybe it was a good thing because I realized there were a few anachronisms in this chapter that I've been able to work around. That's what I get for poor planing I guess.

Here we go! Gibbs' chapter, there's going to be some time and perspective jumps in this chapter. Because Gibbs says so little he is a hard character to advance a story with but I gave it my best shot.

00000

DiNozzo walked off the elevator and frowned when he saw both Abby and Tim watching the balcony standing by Tony's desk. "What are we looking at?" he asked as he stopped beside Abby. As far at Tony was aware it was just another Wednesday – well a Wednesday without Ziva but other than that not particularly special.

"Gibbs is in with the director and a guy in full dress." Tim replied, "We didn't get a good enough look to see his rank." Tim came in early to shore up Abby's firewalls; Tony figured that the two had finished just in time to see Gibbs and the guest.

"Why's he here?" Tony asked and he pulled off his back pack.

"Don't know, isn't it exciting?" Abby asked. She pulled her eyes from the balcony to grin at Tony as she bounced lightly on her heels.

Tony moved around the dynamic duo to sit. When Tim frowned down at him question clear on his face Tony just asked, "How do you think Gibbs'll react to the two of you gawking like that?" Tim gave a little startled sound and hurried over to his desk. Abby just kept watching.

0000

"Agent Gibbs," the director began, "This is Major Evan Lorne. He has been assigned to NCIS and, as Ziva is currently on assignment I thought he might do well with your team for now. Major this is Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He's head of our Major Crimes Unit." Gibbs looked the Major up and down. He was young for the post – in his late thirties maybe – with dark hair and blue eyes. He was dressed to the nines: commendations pinned in place, cover tucked under his arm, shoes polished, and hair neat. The major nodded a silent greeting to Gibbs who replied in kind.

Gibbs shot a look at the director. "Maj. Lorne was assigned to us by SecNav, perhaps you could tell us why Major?" The director asked.

"I'm here because the Navy and Air Force secretaries are having a pissing contest, sir." Lorne replied evenly, "I have been posted on Air Force bases for quite a while, the Secretary of the Navy wanted to know what the scientists I protect were researching. When he found out he didn't have the clearance he ordered me here." Gibbs could tell that the major was pissed about his new assignment. Gibbs was too after all he did not need a green investigator slowing down his team. The Major also looked exhausted. He had pale rings under his eyes and it looked like his rigid posture was the only thing keeping him upright. "Now, sirs, I have been travelling for the last two and a half weeks, is there anything else you needed?" He subtly gestured to the army green duffel on the ground next to him a clear indication he hadn't even stopped at a hotel on his way to the navy yard.

"No major that will be all. Gibbs and his team can show you the ropes. Your former CO has already contacted me and wants me to tell you that if you get yourself killed while on home soil he will be very cross with you." The Jenny dismissed the pair. Gibbs watched Lorne smirk at his CO's message before ushering the major out and down the stairs.

Gibbs was unsurprised to see Abby's excited gaze by Tony's desk. He was similarly unsurprised, though disappointed to see Tim rushing back to his seat. Tony must have arrived late – again – his computer was still running its start-up procedure.

"Gibbs! Gibbs who's your friend?" Abby asked as she bounced over to the foot of the stairs. A stern look from Gibbs stilled her bouncing feet and kept her rambling in check. He grunted at the marine and gestured to Ziva's vacant desk.

"McGee. Major Lorne is going to need a scrubbed computer. Set him up." Gibbs barked out. As Lorne settled gratefully into Ziva's seat he tucked the duffle between Ziva's chair and the low partition that separated the work space from the walk way. The marine rubbed a hand over his tired eyes as Tim moved around him disconnecting his tower. "Abbs, this is Major Lorne. He's been assigned to us while Ziva's away." He hoped that Abby heard the silent 'be nice' he mentally tacked onto the end. He also hoped he meant it.

Gibbs settled into his own desk and started the start-up sequence on his own computer when a light snore brought his attention back to the major. From this angle he could see the yellowing of bruises on the wrist of the hand that supported his head. His hair – though slightly longer than most officers – was short enough that Gibbs could see a slightly darker bruise running along the back of his neck and disappearing under his hair. Still the man was asleep on his first day at NCIS. Gibbs couldn't let that slide.

"On your feet Marine!" Gibbs barked out lowly. Tony heard, Tim and Abby had disappeared with Ziva's tower and thus didn't hear. Agent Thomas behind Gibbs likely heard. Most importantly Lorne heard and snapped quickly to attention. He stumbled a little when Ziva's desk chair rolled at the suddenness of his movement. Once he was upright his eyes blinked open. He quickly scanned the room confusion evident. Gibbs watched as the Major quickly took in Tony, an agent on the balcony, Tim's vacant desk before finally landing on Gibbs. The frown on his face cleared up and he sat back down with a heavy sigh and a yawn that threatened to break his jaw. Lorne tried to cover it up with his hands but did a poor job of it.

"Sorry Gunny: I outrank you." Gibbs could see the grin half hidden by the Major's hand. The agent took half a second to wonder how the Major knew his rank before dismissing it. It wasn't exactly secret after all.

Gibbs frowned: he couldn't have a member of his team with delusions about the chain of command. He rose from his seat calling out, "Lorne, with me." He resolutely ignored the Major. Gibbs figured Tony would direct Lorne to the elevator. By the time the Elevator arrived Lorne had joined Gibbs.

00000

"Why are you here Marine?" Gibbs asked after the elevator shuddered to a stop.

"I told you already, sir, Sec-" Gibbs cut him off.

"Not that, you're dead on your feet, why are you here today?" Gibbs clarified softly. Gibbs' team might complain about long nights stuck in the office or field but Gibbs knew exactly how much each member of his team could take before their work got sloppy. By the looks of things Lorne passed that mark a day or so ago.

"I was told under no uncertain terms that if I wasn't in the director's office by 0800 today I would be court martialled." Lorne replied with a smothered yawn. "The trip back to US soil from my base normally takes 19-20 days, I did it in 17. I got off a," he paused, "personnel carrier and was driven directly here." He laughed mirthlessly, "I don't even have anywhere to bed down if I wanted to."

"What is so important about your previous posting that SecNav got involved?" Gibbs asked, a beat passed before he continued, "Why would he assign you to NCIS? We're a civilian agency."

"I can't tell you about my posting beyond the fact that I am military 2IC on a research expedition in hostile territory charged with security." Lorne started apologetically. He thought for a minute about Gibbs' second question before he answered, "I'm here because my COs COs CO pulled some strings. I've been told to treat this a bit like downtime while they work on getting me back. Right now a whole bunch of people who hate politics are trying to fight through political BS to get me back where I can make a difference." Lorne replied tightly, yawning once more. Gibbs got the impression that the Major would not have been quite so loose lipped if he was better rested. "I was also told that it is only downtime in the sense that I am not in a war zone, not in the sense that I can just do whatever I want until I get sent home."

Gibbs flicked the emergency stop on the elevator which always reset it and sent the car back to the floor it left. The two disgorged and walked back into the bullpen Gibbs went to his desk and scribbled his address onto a note pad. He tore it off and handed it to the obviously confused Major.

"Here, this is my house. You can use the main floor spare room for the day. You're no good to me if you can't keep your eyes open. I expect you in at 0800 tomorrow ready to work." Lorne nodded as he took the note and grabbed his duffel, "And leave the blues at home tomorrow." Gibbs couldn't resist the parting remark about his uniform as Lorne headed for the elevator.

00000

Only one day passed before another issue arose. Major Lorne had been working with Tim interviewing witnesses Gibbs decided that Abby should look through the Major's notes to see if anything jumped out. Abby couldn't read his writing. She had shown it to Gibbs and Tim after Lorne told her it was a computer code. Neither could make heads nor tales of it. Tim – though not an absolute authority – knew most code enough to recognize it – even if he couldn't write it himself. Gibbs had an authority on Slavic languages and he couldn't recognize it despite the symbols looking slightly Slavic. Tony had looked over Tim's shoulder and said something about a TV movie made after a sci-fi series ended called "Wormhole Extreme: Never Ending Cycle" or something apparently it looked just like the alien language in the film. Gibbs hadn't even asked why Abby had put Lorne's note pad into an evidence bag.

Gibbs, like Abby, was less than satisfied by Lorne's explanation. So he called the Major into his 'office' for a chat.

Gibbs got real close to Lorne who didn't even twitch at the proximity. Gibbs didn't even get the usual stiffening of shoulders that most marines displayed no matter how disciplined. "Do you want to tell me, marine, why you felt the need to write your notes in code?" Gibbs bit out lowly.

"No sir I do not." Lorne replied with his face straight.

"You don't what, Marine?" Gibbs barked back. His fists clenched at his sides.

"I don't want to tell you why I write my notes the way I do. I already told Ms. Sciuto why I used that particular language." Gibbs was right: Lorne was much more tightly lipped when he had had a good night's sleep.

"You expect me to believe that an air force Major with no computer training is fluent enough in a code my computer guy has never seen to write notes in it? By hand?" Gibbs' doubting tone rang clear, "Why would you be more fluent in that language than in English –which as far as your blacked out records are concerned is your first language?" Gibbs bit out angrily. Most of the major's history was redacted but NCIS had been able to determine that the man was born in America and – baring a trip to Greece in high school hadn't left before his enlistment. Gibbs stepped back from Lorne – proximity clearly hadn't had the effect Gibbs was hoping for.

Lorne finally looked in Gibbs' direction but his face did not betray the rising indignation Gibbs had hoped to see. Instead the Major smirked – had the major not look as buttoned down as he did Gibbs might have described it as feral. As it was Gibbs decided the man was showing off way too many teeth. "Because, sir, we marines are smarter than the fly-boys. Some of the zoomies still can't conjugate properly." Gibbs didn't know an awful lot about computer coding but he didn't think that coders had to worry about conjugation.

"It's not a computer language." It wasn't a question but Lorne answered it anyway – a surprise to Gibbs.

"It's not only, or originally a computer code, Gunny." Lorne opened and closed his mouth a few times as if he was debating whether or not he should elaborate. Finally he came to a decision: "All you need to know, sir, is that it is the common language of my base. So all of my reports and any base-wide announcements are in it and for this reason it is easier for me to write notes in it." With those parting remarks Lorne reached around Gibbs – moving his body for the first time – and flicked the emergency stop.

000

End.

Hey all, a kind reviewer pointed out what is likely the biggest gaff in this whole story. Lorne is Air Force, not Marine. It's too late to change that so this Universe will be exactly the same at the TV shows except Lorne joined the marines instead of the air force.

Not as long as i would have liked, and not as long as it was initially, but it will have to do for now. Let me know what you think.