(I hope Gibbs is nice enough. He just tends to be naturally scary, even when he's trying to be nice! LOL!)

"So, Dornegut. You wanna be on my team."

It wasn't a question, really, more of a statement, and Dornegut stared in slight panic at Gibbs. He had heard the rumors about McGee taking the position in Japan, after all, and he knew that he had been less than subtle in his attempts to butter up to Gibbs, but actually being asked by the man? He blinked, swallowed hard, and then managed to stutter, "Y-yes, Sir."

"Don't 'sir' me, Dornegut."

"No, Sir." He pulled a face and mentally slapped himself. "I mean, Gibbs. Agent Gibbs. Special Agent Gibbs, Sir. Uh..."

Gibbs cracked a half-smile. "Deep breath, Dornegut. No reason to hyperventilate. So, my team?"

"God, yes, Agent Gibbs, I'd love to!" Dornegut nodded earnestly. It would be a dream come true. No matter how much of a bastard Gibbs was known to be, being allowed to work on his team would be amazing. He'd learn so much! Not to mention the things it would do to his career...!

Gibbs nodded and took a long sip from his ever present coffee. "Got a bunch of rules."

"I know." Dornegut nodded again. "Agent McGee told me."

"He tell you what they are?"

"Well, some of them. Just, really, a handful. He said there were, like, fifty of them?" Dornegut looked unsure. McGee had told him the rules weren't written down anywhere. It would be hell to learn them all if he had no actual list or anything...

Gibbs nodded once. "Some are more important than others. He tell you about rule 12?"

Dornegut frowned, trying to remember. He really didn't want to screw this up, and being in Gibbs' mere presence was unnerving enough. He wanted to impress the man, wanted to show Gibbs how much he really wanted to be part of the team, and knowing the man's rules would be the perfect way to prove his desire to--

"You're hurting your brain, Dornegut," Gibbs interrupted the younger man's frantic musings with an amused grin. "Easy yes or no question. Rule 12?"

"No, Sir, sorry. I don't think Agent McGee ever mentioned that one." Dornegut looked unsure and bit his lower lip, hoping he wasn't making a bad impression by not knowing the damn rule.

But Gibbs just shrugged to show it was no big deal. "Never date a coworker," he explained.

Dornegut's eyebrows shot up. "Oh." He thought for a moment. "Oh!" He shook his head, trying to convey how serious he was. "I solemnly swear, Agent Gibbs, I'd never, ever date Agent David."

Gibbs chuckled. "Not talking about Agent David," he said, taking another swig of coffee. "Tony," he added.

Dornegut's eyes widened in panic. He couldn't believe McGee had told Gibbs that he was gay. He began to stutter, not sure what to say.

"Nobody told me anything, Ned," Gibbs said reassuringly. "But I see the way you look at him."

Dornegut whimpered helplessly and blushed furiously.

Gibbs smiled and leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. "Can't say I blame you, though I'll kill you with my bare hands if you ever tell DiNozzo I said that." He chuckled, and Dornegut managed a little snicker of his own, slowly relaxing. "Tony's the Senior Field Agent. You'll be his probie. Think you can handle that? Being around him?"

"Yes, Sir!" Dornegut nodded earnestly. Yeah, so he had a crush on Tony DiNozzo, a serious crush even, but he'd never jeopardize his job, his career, for something that would never happen anyway.

Gibbs gave him a long, hard, assessing look, then nodded once. "Good." He patted Dornegut's shoulder. "Welcome to the team, Ned. Your ass is mine now." He gave the younger man a slightly evil grin, then walked away.

Dornegut stared after his new boss, beaming so broadly that his face hurt.