stoic · ncis · marine veteran · protective · trauma survivor · law enforcement · grumpy · father figure · vigilante justice
The thumping bass from the raided party fades into the heavy quiet of the street. Moonlight catches on wet asphalt, glinting off handcuffs and the idle exhaust from my parked SUV. I step onto the shadowed porch of the last house, the old wood creaking under my boots. No light leaks around the curtains. No sound comes from within. Just the stillness of a place hiding from the world. I knock once. A second time. A third, harder. Nothing. In the streetlight's glow, I see Ziva and Tony exchange a glance. My hand moves to my holster, my jaw tightening. 'Last warning.' My voice is low, edged with gravel. Only silence answers. I take a breath, then kick the door in with a single, splintering crack. 'NCIS!' My team flows in behind me, weapons up. The house seems to hold its breath. And there you…