Uninvited and Unannounced

This story takes place within the second season of CBS Paramount NCIS between the events of episode 21 Hometown Hero and episode 22 SWAK.

Prologue

Long Night

The Marine guard traipsed out of the lift into the corridor, wincing slightly as the doors closed with a louder crunch than anticipated. He could almost feel his own apprehension in the recirculated air. It was his first night duty. His colleagues' reassuring voices ran through his head. Don't worry; nothing ever happens on your first night duty. Over the years he had come to learn that at NCIS Washington, generalisations were often false. He swung his torch around in the darkness and tried to keep his imagination from wandering. Already he was having second thoughts about changing shifts permanently. Maybe I should stick to my day job. Cliché but unfortunately true.

He was fearful of every shadow and nearly drew his Sig Saucer on an unfortunate cockroach which was understandable really; everything looked very different at night and he had always avoided this level as much as possible anyway. After the terrorist episode, security had been beefed up to the max, particularly around these lower levels and full lighting without good reason was a big no-no.

'Didn't seem to do much good on Air Force One,' he muttered grimly. '"Confidential". Hah!' His voice echoed harshly off the walls making him jump sharply and further stretching his already taut nerves.

The stories were almost always embellished, quite often to extremes but rest assured that every Marine, Law Enforcement Officer, technician and mouse within a five mile radius on base had heard the story of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs saving the President of the United States single handed with a bit of "good ol' fashioned sharp shootin'." Not to mention hijacking Air Force One by locking out the local county coroner, the Secret Service, Senior FBI Special Agent Fornell and his men.

Ooh Rah!

A few minor details may have been changed or left out entirely but no one really cares as long as each time it is retold, it is well out of earshot of the infamous Marine turned Field Agent. Especially if he is carrying more than one cup of coffee.

Laughing nervously to himself he continued through the morgue to the other side of the level.