Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 11

Loki leaned back in his chair, having just finished writing his report of his fight with Sniper. Staring up at the ceiling, he blinked his tired eyes and immediately he couldn't see anything, just a whirling, vibrant red.

Then, just as suddenly as his vision had been lost, he could see again, but he was no longer in the squad room. In fact, he had no idea where he was. Loki had never been in any place like it.

It almost appeared that he was standing in a corridor, comfortable leather seats to one side under small, oval windows, with a body clad in white lying on the floor near his feet, the man's shirt ripped open. A much younger Ducky sat in one of the chairs near the body, a younger Gibbs crouching on the other side.

"Who the hell are you people?"

A young woman strode through the open door near Ducky's chair, her dark brown hair clipped back, wearing a white button down shirt with a dark jacket over it and dark slacks, a gun and badge at her hip. Her face seemed very familiar but he couldn't place it at first. Then Loki's eyes widened. It was Agent Sniper. The only thing missing was the grey metal band around her forehead.

She looked to Gibbs. "You're no M.E. assistant." Sniper glanced at Ducky. "And there's not a soft-shelled crab within a thousand miles."

Ducky glanced down. "Sorry," he murmured.

Gibbs lifted up his badge. "NCIS. We flew down here from Washington to take over the investigation."

"First the FBI tries to muscle in, and now NCIS," Sniper said, exasperated.

"You know, well, I do believe this is a dead Naval officer," Gibbs told her.

"Who died on Air Force One after having lunch with the president it's my job to protect," Sniper shot back.

"Well, okay, we can share jurisdiction," Gibbs said, getting up. "You can be on my team."

"Your team?" Sniper sounded unconvinced. "Why should you head the investigation?"

"You ever worked a crime scene, Agent Todd?" Gibbs asked, looking at Sniper.

Sniper, or Todd, didn't yield. "I am a Secret Service agent."

Gibbs gave a grin, tilting his head. "I thought not." He began to turn away from the agent.

"Don't dismiss me like that," Sniper said, and Gibbs stood up to face her just as a familiar voice called down from out of sight.

"Gibbs," DiNozzo said, coming down the stairs. "The pilot won't take off until the Secret Service chick gives us the...." He came out of the stairwell and saw Sniper standing there. DiNozzo, much younger here, hesitated as Sniper gave him a "really?" look before finishing. "....the thumbs up."

Ducky looked at the two agents as Sniper smirked, glancing back to Gibbs. "I think that just made it my team."

"No," Gibbs contradicted. "I think it means we just have to hijack Air Force One. Tony, escort Agent Todd off this aircraft and close the hatch." He turned away, heading for the stairs.

"You're not serious," Sniper said, following after Gibbs. "Wait, okay, okay!" Gibbs turned back to face her as she continued, "Your team. But only because I don't want to delay us further by having to shoot you."

For a moment, she and Gibbs held each other's gazes before shaking hands, his gloved one in her bare one.

Loki's vision went red and then he was back in the squad room again, McGee, DiNozzo, and Bishop all at their desks, tiredly working and drinking coffee.

Agent Todd.

Agent Sniper was Agent Todd. She was Secret Service, protecting the president of the United States. And she knew Gibbs. And DiNozzo. And Ducky.