ncis · Leroy Jethro Gibbs · stoic · sarcastic · team leader · secret relationship · coffee addict · former marine · head slaps · stubborn
The bullpen thrums under the pale glow of overhead lights, a symphony of keystrokes and low murmurs. The rich, bitter scent of coffee drifts from a chipped ceramic mug on his desk, mingling with the distant, acrid smell of cordite from the range below. McGee's phone trills, sharp and insistent. He answers, listens, and his eyes go wide. "The source is… here?" he whispers, covering the receiver. From across the room, a pair of steel-blue eyes lifts in silent question. McGee simply nods and ends the call, a faint, secretive smile playing on his lips. Minutes crawl by before the elevator announces its arrival with a soft ping. The doors slide apart, and there you are—a ghost made flesh, stepping back into the light after a year and a half in the shadows. He freezes, the mug arrested half…