The First Redhead

Author's Note: This idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while and I am excited to get it started. For the sake of this working, I have swapped the NCIS: LA team with the NCIS team. So now Gibbs and his team are in LA and Hetty and her team are in DC. Also, for this to work, I am saying that both Gibbs and Sharon grew up in Stillwater, Pennsylvania. Since we don't know all of Sharon's past this is my take on her life.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the realm of NCIS or Major Crimes.

Visiting the Past

Special Agent Gibbs strode through the squad room and straight to his desk, "Gear up! We've got a dead sailor."

Special Agents Dinozzo, McGee, and Bishop quickly grabbed their bags, side arms, badges, and coats and rushed to the elevator to catch up with their boss.

"Where are we going boss?" Tony Dinozzo asked, still trying to get his bag on his shoulder.

"Downtown LA," he said before handing a sticky note to McGee.

"I'll call Ducky and give him the address," Tim McGee nodded, taking the note from his boss's hand.

"According to the Director," Gibbs spoke as the elevator reached the garage, "we will be working with the LAPD on this."

"Why is the LAPD involved?" Ellie Bishop confused voice echoed in the large garage, "I thought you said it was a dead sailor?"

"I did, but the Major Crimes department thinks that this is linked to a serial killer that they have been looking for. If it turns out to not be the serial killer, then we get the case. If it is, then they are to take the primary lead and we are to help them," Gibbs finished as he got into the charger and started the car.

McGee and Tony rode together while Bishop rode with Gibbs. By the time they arrived at the crime scene, there were patrol officers everywhere, crime scene tape up, SID on scene, and detectives already investigating. Gibbs got out of the car and went straight to the patrol officer in charge of the log in sheet, while the rest of the team got their gear out of the cars.

"Tony," McGee groaned, "I really don't know how you haven't run out of movie references to make."

"What's wrong, Mc-Grumpy-Pants? I thought you liked my never-ending knowledge of movies."

Rolling his eyes, McGee turns to Bishop, "You are riding back with him."

"Or I could ride with you and we could make him ride with Gibbs," she supplied.

"Hey! No ganging up on me, probie!" Tony said as he slammed the trunk closed.

"You can ride back with us, Tony," Jimmy Palmer said as he and Dr. Donald Mallard came up behind them.

"Thank you, Autopsy Gremlin, but I the last time I rode with you two, you got us lost," Tony joked.

"He is getting better, Anthony," Ducky cut in as he walked ahead of them and straight to the body, "But I have taken over the directions for a while until Mr. Palmer learns how to use a map."

"What do you think, Duck?" Gibbs asked as he walked up behind the group.

"He has a stab wound to the chest, and two to the stomach," Ducky said in his thick English accent, "It looks like he bled to death, but I will know more when we get him back."

"Now wait just a damn minute!" Lieutenant Provenza called as he witnessed the feds taking over his scene, "This is our crime scene. As in the property of Major Crimes, so who are you and why are you here?"

Gibbs stepped forward and pulled out his badge, flipping it over to show his ID, "NCIS, Special Agents Gibbs. Our Director talked with your Chief and said that we are to share this crime scene. The victim is a Naval Officer which is why we have jurisdiction as well."

"Chief Taylor talked to your Director?" Lieutenant Flynn asked from behind his partner.

The rest of the team was now gathering round them as they took in the Navy cops in front of them.

"Yes," Gibbs said passively, "This is your crime scene, but we are working it with Major Crimes."

"Fine! But our coroner is taking the body, not yours," Provenza said grumpily before turning to the team behind him, "This is Lieutenant Flynn, Lieutenant Tao, Detectives Sanchez and Sykes, our tech guy Buzz Watson, and I'm Lieutenant Provenza."

Gibbs nodded as did his team before he introduced everyone, "Special Agents Gibbs, Dinozzo, McGee, and Bishop, and our ME and his assistant Dr. Mallard and Jimmy Palmer."

"You'll meet the Chief and our Captain when we get back to the station," Provenza then turned as Kendall arrived.

They spent about another hour at the scene going through evidence and collecting statements. When they were done, the NCIS team followed that of Major Crimes back to the station. As the rest of the group made their way into the Murder Room, Gibbs was directed to Chief Taylor's office.

"Agent Gibbs, I presume," Taylor said as he hung up his phone and stood up to greet the silver haired agent.

"Yes sir," Gibbs said as he shook the hand that was offered to him.

"I have already talked to your director, and your team with be working alongside Captain Raydor's team," Taylor stated before sitting back down, "Anything that you find will be part of Major Crimes' investigation if it is a part of our serial killer case. If not, you will just work as equals."

Nodding, Gibbs headed out the door without waiting to be excused and headed in the direction that his team had gone earlier. As he entered the murder room, he could see both teams hard at work talking about the case. He could see a redhead at a whiteboard in the center of the room, but as she moved, her hair seemed to change color. Maybe she wasn't a redhead. What caught him off guard was her voice. All of a sudden he was thinking back to his junior year of high school.

Stillwater, PA about 40 years ago

Leroy Gibbs was walking through the hallways of his small high school when his gym teacher/vice principal pulled him aside.

"Mr. Gibbs, will you follow me to my office please?" he said as he gestured towards the office.

Gibbs followed and soon found himself in the vice principal's office along with a girl around his age with dark reddish hair, a slim figure, and amazing legs. She was beautiful, and he couldn't figure out how he had never seen her before. He would have surly noticed someone as stunning as her. He was also confused as to why he was here. The last fight that he was in he was off school grounds and his dad had broken it up.

"Mr. Gibbs," the VP started as he closed his door and sat behind his desk, "I would like you to meet Ms. O'Dwyer. As you know St. Catherine's had a pipe line burst and we are therefore taking some of their students. Ms. O'Dwyer is one of them, and based on the class selection that she made, we think that you would be best suited to show her around."

Gibbs turned to the girl and smiled, "Leroy Gibbs," he said sticking his hand out.

"Sharon O'Dwyer," she said as she took his hand and gently shook it.

Her skin was soft and he didn't realize that he was stroking the back of her hand until she cleared her throat and blushed. He smiled at her sheepishly and pulled his hand back. They left the VP's office and he led her down the hallway and into the chemistry lab. The teacher looked u about ready to admonish him until she saw Sharon walk in behind him.

"Mrs. Barton," he said as he approached the front of the classroom and softly introduced Sharon, "This is Sharon O'Dwyer. She is a transfer from St. Catherine's."

"Oh, alright," Barton smiled at Sharon and beckoned her forward, "I am going to pair you with Mr. Gibbs, is that alright?"

"Yes Ma'am," Sharon smiled kindly at the teacher, "That is fine."

"Okay. Take your seats you two, and be sure to get the instructions from the side board for today's experiment."

They both headed to the middle of the class, where a bench was clear and ready for them. By the time they had finished their experiment and had already hit it off.

"Okay, so it's time for lunch," Gibbs said as he led her down the halls to the locker she had been assigned that happened to be next to his, "We can sit out in the courtyard or go to the diner around the corner?"

"Are you asking me out on a date, Gibbs?" Sharon laughed as he leaned against the lockers, "We've only just met about two hours ago."

"And what if I am?" he smiled at her as his bright blue eyes sparkled in amusement, "You are extremely beautiful, and I might want to try now before all of the other guys start to notice you."

She snorted before nodding and closing her locker, "I will go to the diner with you, but as friends only."

"Deal," he chuckled and grabbed her books from her hands and carried them as they walked to the exit and towards the diner.

Lunch went well for the two of them, and they finally were able to talk about themselves and their families.

"My dad is a judge and my mom is a doctor," Sharon said as she stole one of his French fries, "I have a younger sister and two older brothers. What about you?"

"My dad runs the market around the corner from City Hall and my mom passed away a while ago. I don't have any siblings," Gibbs said as he snatched a pickle off her plate.

"I'm sorry about your mother," she said as she grabbed his hand in hers and held it for a while.

Shrugging, he squeezed her hand and said, "She was sick, and I would rather her be gone and no longer have pain than be stuck here suffering."

"Let's change the subject," she said without letting go of his hand, "Does everybody call you Gibbs?"

Laughing, he shook his head, "Yeah, I think people think it's more normal than Leroy or Jethro."

"Jethro?" she asked, "Is that your middle name?"

"Yeah," he said.

"I like it," she smiled down at their hands, "Can I call you Jethro?"

"You'll be the only one," he joked, "but I kind of like that."

"Me too."

They finished their lunch and went back to school just in time to making it into their history class. She sat next to him in every class now, and if she were being honest with herself, she loved it. As they were leaving the school, Jethro groaned as he saw Chuck Winslow and Ed Gantry walking towards them.

"These guys are going to be a pain in the ass," he said as he tried to steer them away from the incoming confrontation.

"What do you mean?" Sharon asked as she followed his lead away from the two approaching boys.

"They are the local bullies, and I am their local punching bag," he said with tension audible in his voice.

"Hey Gibbs!" Chuck called out to them, "You know it is against the law to harass women into dating you, right?"

"It should also be against the law for you to talk to them too," Ed joined in.

"Just ignore them and keep walking, Sharon," Gibbs ground out between clenched teeth.

"We're talking to you," Chuck yelled as he grabbed Gibbs' arm and spun him around.

"Wow! Look at the piece he has on his arm Chuck!" Ed yelled as he ogled Sharon.

"Why don't you come with us, baby? We will treat you better than the son of a store clerk," Chuck said as he reached for her.

Gibbs threw the first punch and watched as Chuck fell to the ground, but soon he was hit by Ed as he came to the defense of his buddy. Sharon ran to get the VP who quickly broke up the fight, and after she explained the situation, Gibbs and her were free to go while Chuck and Ed had to report to detention.

"Thank you for defending me back there," she said as she lightly brushed her shoulder against his.

"No problem. They can beat up on me all they want, but I was raised to not let a man lay a hand on a woman to harm her," Gibbs said as he continued to rub his sore jaw.

"Let's get you to your dad's shop and get you cleaned up," she said as she took his hand in hers and walked a bit closer to him.

By the time they got him cleaned up and his dad had scolded him enough, it was time for Sharon to head home.

"Let me give you a ride," Gibbs said as he stood up and grabbed the keys to the old truck.

"Thanks," she smiled and followed him out back and let him help her into the car.

They rode in relative silence for the 10 minutes that it took them to get to her house. When they pulled up, Sharon leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"You know," she said colleting her things from the back seat, "I think I would like to try going to that diner again, but maybe as something more than friends."

"I'd like that a lot too, Sharon," Gibbs grinned and his blue eyes shimmered with glee, "Tomorrow after school?"

"It's a date," she said as she got out of the truck and closed the door behind her.

Gibbs sat back in his seat and watched as the redhead who stole his heart disappeared behind her front door.

Present Day, Murder Room

They were still discussing the possibility that this murder was part of their serial killer's pattern when Gibbs decided to speak up.

"Major Crimes can have the case for now while we figure out if it is the same guy," he said watching as Sharon turned around and instantly recognized him, "When we find out what is going on, we can make adjustments then."

"Uh, Captain," Provenza stood up and gestured towards Gibbs, "This is…"

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs," she breathed as she approached him slowly.

"Sharon O'Dywer Raydor," he replied, "At least I am assuming that you are Captain Raydor."

"Yes," she said as she stopped in front of him.

"How are you, Sharon?" Gibbs asked softly.

"I'm good. What about you, Jethro?" she said as she brought her hand to his chest and smoothed out his jacket.

"A lot better now," he smiled at her and followed her as she motioned for him to follow her into his office.

The other two teams watched the display of affection with confusion. Tony turned to Provenza before turning back to look at the office. The blinds snapped shut and everybody in the room stared at the door waiting to hear it lock, which it did soon after.

"Ex-wife number 3?" Bishop asked.

"Nope, that was Diane, and we met number 4," McGee replied.

"Have we met ex number 2?" Tony asked without taking his eyes off the office.

"Yeah," McGee said, "She was the one that we helped out when that guy was after her."

"Oh, that's right!" Tony said with even more confusion surfacing in his mind, "So, who is she?"

"Ex-wife number one?" Amy Sykes supplied.

"No!" all three of Gibbs team replied.

"His first wife died," Tony said without giving any more detail.

"Well, they obviously know each other," Flynn said just as perplexed as Tony.

"And the Captain has only been married once," Provenza offered.

Julio threw his hand up only to realize that nobody could see him, "What if they know each other from when they were younger?"

"Where is the Captain originally from?" Tao asked as he pulled up a search window on his laptop.

"I know she is from the East Coast," Flynn answered while walking over to Tao's desk.

"And Gibbs is from Stillwater, PA," McGee told them as he joined Flynn and now the rest of the group.

After several minutes of furious typing on Tao's behalf, the two teams stood around Tao's desk looking at a photo from a high school in Stillwater.

"Leroy Gibbs and Sharon O'Dwyer, Homecoming King and Queen," Bishop read.

"They look pretty close," Amy smiled at the picture of the two leaders smiling at the camera as Gibbs had his arm around Sharon, and she had her head on his shoulder.

"Well, this is going to be interesting," Buzz said as he looked back to the closed office.

TBC…