Special Agent Timothy McGee stood on his top floor balcony, looking out on the Atlantic Ocean. With his first cup of coffee in his hand, McGee was reflecting on the last week he had spent in Florida, and on the first week he had spent with Combating Transnational Organized Crime(CTOC). His new apartment was now fully furnished, both bedrooms set up, along with the lounge and kitchen. His view from this balcony was perfect, he mused. He had a clear view straight out onto the Atlantic Ocean, and could see for miles the perfect ocean that made him sick every time he set foot on a boat.

buzzzzzzz

McGee looked down at his phone sitting on the table, showing the text message from Kei Wan, one of his new colleagues. Kei had offered to show him around the farmers market this Sunday, as well several places he might need. McGee knew he needed to find a drycleaners, a computer store, somewhere to get a good haircut and manicure, and hopefully, a decent bar that didn't have karaoke.

Tim, Rics gonna be joining us. Pick you up at 10. Be ready, or I go without you. Kei.

Kei's timekeeping was legendary. Rumour had it he left a 2 star general at the Pentagon who believed Kei would not leave without him. When Ric asked him about it, Kei gave a smile that would leave the Mona Lisa jealous. Tim had decided not to test the young Asian man. Knowing he still had an hour before the two men arrived, he decided to have breakfast before getting ready.

Heading back inside, Tim looked around his new apartment. His bedroom was perfect, large ensuite bedroom, double walk-in closet, and plenty of room to walk around. Walking out of his room into the living area, Tim couldn't help smiling. He finally had a sofa and chairs. His old place didn't have room for everything, this place did. He had his bookshelves dividing the dining area from the lounge, hiding the dining table from view when he watched television or was reading a book. He had set up a small computer desk in the corner as well, which currently held his laptop,as well as the printer/scanner underneath.

Looking through the room, Tim could make out Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. Tim had sat on his other balcony last night, reading through reports while the sun went down on Jacksonville, Florida. Back in Washington, reading reports had always been done at his desk in the bullpen. In Jacksonville, Tim had sat on a balcony, sipping a cold glass of chardonnay, and snacking on carrot sticks. Tim felt that everything was coming together here. He had met the four other agents who made up the main team of CTOC. He had also teleconferenced with their senior liaisons at the FBI, NSA and Homeland Security. He and Ric had even had an hour long meeting with Deputy Director Jerome Craig, the man responsible for coordinating NCIS efforts across the globe against Organized Crime.

Their first day on base was spent having a tour of the facility. They had been shown the shooting range and gym first, as they would need to keep their qualifications valid to maintain active field status. After that, they had met the Major Case Response Team, who had responsibilities for all Navy Personnel on and surrounding Jacksonville, and would be deployed to Georgia should they be needed. It was here Tim was reunited with an old friend, Cassie Yates, currently Senior Field Agent on the MCRT. Tim had arranged to meet Cassie next weekend to catch up on their lives in the last two years.

Once this was done, they were shown the CTOC Assessment Centre. To Tim and Ric it was a mash up of MTAC, the Bullpen and the Briefing Room where NCIS medal ceremonies were held. Here, Deputy Director Craig introduced them to their new team.

"Special Agents Balboa, McGee, meet the Combating Transnational Organized Crime team. First up is Kei Wan, he's your pointman for drugs cases, transferred over from the DEA 3 years ago."

Handshakes were swapped, and pleasantries exchanged.

"On the telephone, we have Special Agent Amanda Ryan, your expert in people trafficking and sex crimes. This is Michael DeLa Tour and Sunaina Sato. Agent DeLa Tour is your Interpol Liaison, he'll be briefing you each time they send something across. Agent Sato is only one year out of FLETC, but already specialising in cybercrimes. Agent McGee, you will be Agent Satos supervising officer for her speciality field, Agent Balboa, you and Agent Wan will be responsible for all her other areas."

"Understood, Deputy Director," stated Agent Balboa.

"I will need an update every Wednesday at 1000 hours, as well as a written report submitted by 1000 hours every Monday. The report can be put together by the team. However, please be aware the report will be shared with my counterparts and their superiors at FBI, CIA, NSA, DEA, CGIS, ATF, other members of the alphabet soup, along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, The National Security Council, Cabinet members, and of course, the President of the United States. Spelling mistakes will not be tolerated, Agent Balboa."

"Understood, Sir."

"Excellent, I'll let you get you to know your team. First report, Monday, 1000 hours, no later. Good to meet the both of you." With that, the Deputy Director walked out without a look back.

"Whoa," said McGee, "he is nothing like I've heard."

"Trust me Agent McGee, in this environment, he is king, put him in an actual arrest scene or crime scene, its a no go. Administration, intelligence gathering, dealing with foreign governments and organizations, he is the best. But actual Law Enforcement, I'm afraid not." said Kei, he eyes glued to a report in his hands.

"Good to know. Everything ok there, Amanda?" The blonde woman had finished her telephone call, and was now deep in thought, looking at her computer.

"Yes, sir. We have been sent intelligence from the NSA and GCHQ in the United Kingdom. They have found two different cargo haulers smuggling people into the UK, unknown origins, suspected Eastern Europeans. They have no idea if the cargo haulers were independent or part of a ring. They have sent over the data for review."

"Have it sent out to the team, me and Tim will review it once we get set up." Only on the job two minutes, and Balboa already had his first mission. So much for admin.

"We have your desks set up here, sir." This was the first Tim heard from Agent Sato, his new probie. Tim realised he would have to make her a schedule, having three supervising officers was going to create conflict unless boundaries were drawn up pretty quick.

"These two desks are yours, sirs." This was from Agent DeLa Tour. "These are where your predecessors sat. Hope its ok. Everything on the systems should be up to date."

Balboa looked at Tim. They had discussed the team set up, as well as what systems they would need. Balboa could see many things wrong with the view in front of him, but decided to let Tim take the lead with this.

"Tim…"

"On it, Ric," Tim was eager to get this sorted. "Ok, new seating arrangement. Ric will be sitting here, I'm across from him at the other end. Sato, you'll be on my right, DeLa Tour, you're to my left. Wan, on the left of Ric, Ryan, on Ric's right. We also need bigger desks, as well second computers for everyone. Who's been responsible for equipment requisition?"

"Thats me," Wan said, "I've been the unofficial office manager under Taylor and Stretford."

"You seem unhappy with that, Kei." Balboa noticed the grimace as he had said that, and knew the man disliked the job. He was a former DEA Agent, and current NCIS Special Agent, not someones PA.

"Not exactly the best use of my talents, sir."

"No kidding. Drop the sir, Kei, that goes for all you. Balboa and McGee fine, as are Ric and Tim. If you prefer to be called by your title, or a certain name, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The four agents all looked at each other, knowing working under these two would be very different to their former bosses, both of whom had been military for more than 15 years.

"No one?" Balboa checked. "Ok, lets get this show up and running. Sunaina, shadow Kei for now, you are going to be our unofficial office manager. This is one of the chores you can give out to probationary agents in a few years. I'll speak to Deputy Director Craig later this week for our own contact with requisition and stores. Tim, carry on." Balboa was great dealing with people, but terrible with interior design. Seeing Tims Washington apartment and how he had maximized his space, he knew this would be a walk in the park for the younger man.

"The second computers need to have the standard NCIS setup. Let them know setting the computers up on the networks will be taken care of separately."

"McGee, you want me to sort that out?" Sato offered. Stretford had treated her like Tech Support for the last 6 months she had been in Jacksonville.

"Thanks for the offer, Sunaina, but I can handle it. The twelve computers in here will need to link in with the two computers set up by the teleconference screen, the computer by the conference table, as well as with all our home computers, laptops, PDAs, and smartphones."

The four members of the CTOC were astonished. These two men had only been reassigned two weeks ago and were changing everything. Amanda Ryan was not a happy woman, she did not do change.

"Why would we want that? Think we are not going to work hard enough here?" Her attitude said nothing but Argue with me, I need a good fight.

Balboa stepped up for this one, after all, it was his idea, Tim was just making it happen.

"Ryan, when it comes to intelligence analysis, we all know we can make connections long after we have reviewed it. What happens if you make the connection at 3am, lying awake in bed? You gave to get up, dressed, get your gear and drive down here to access all the data. In that time, you could have forgotten some it. This way, if you get the connection, you can check it within seconds. Saves time for everyone." Ric had a feeling she was gonna be a difficult agent to work with, and probably hated change. Losing both your Team Lead and Senior Field Agent was a lot of change to handle.

"Sorry, Sir, we normally put in 10 to 12 hours a day, and at least 6 over the weekend. Having to work at home wasn't what I wanted." Ryan appeared apologetic saying this.

"Good news for you then, Ryan," Tim offered. "Save coming in on a weekend, you can work from home in the comfort of your pjs and sofa, rather than slacks and an ergonomic chair."

Amanda Ryan practically glared at Tim, almost daring him to continue speaking to her.

"Ryan?" Balboa questioned.

"That should be fine, thank you, Si… Balboa."

"Nice save. I know it will take some getting use to, your new lead agents, our way of working. We are not expecting you to get used to it straight away, like anything, it will take time."

Ric and Tim were looking around the team at this, watching all of them start nodding, Kei and Sunaina with smiles on their faces. Tim guessed, neither were a fan of their old bosses. Michael seemed distant, but knowing he was their Interpol Liaison, he probably had something to deal with right now. Tim thought that Ryan was upset with him. He knew she had been part of CTOC for the last six months, and probably thought she would get the SFA role. Tim had read up on her file.

She was the daughter of a former State Department official, and spent most her childhood and all of her teenage years moving between Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. She had graduated with a degree in Criminology from UCLA, before applying for the FBI. In her 8 years there, she had specialized in sex crimes and people trafficking. She had then been seconded to NCIS for a year before transferring permanently. Tim guessed, after nearly 10 years, she was due the promotion. After finishing her personnel file, both from the FBI and NCIS, Tim realised the problem. Amanda Ryan had issues playing well with others, especially those she disliked. Tim wondered if she disliked him.

Judging by the way she looked first at Balboa then at him, Tim knew. She didn't dislike him. Amanda Ryan hated him.

Great, thought Tim, one day into the job and I've already got someone ready to see me fail.