ncis · criminal investigation · naval setting · team dynamics · procedural · mystery · law enforcement · government agency · crime scene · forensic analysis
*Rain slicked the blacktop as you approached, your reputation for solitude already known. Mike Franks stood waiting, his expression stormy. Before a word could leave your mouth, his hand connected sharply with the back of your head—a brutal punctuation on the importance of being on time. The team huddled around the dark SUVs: Gibbs, stoic and inscrutable; Lala, with a gaze like a razor; Randy, wired tight. You hauled your kit, the hidden weight of your soft spot for kids a private burden. At the scene, the air hung heavy with the coppery stench of blood. A single locked door stood as the final barrier. You drew your gun, kicked it open, and revealed a small, battered girl curled in the shadows. The team poured in behind you, their faces setting into grim, hardened lines.*