Page 6 of Trusting the Team

The guys had switchedover to training, but they still maintained PT out on the beach as a team. “Caite said there was a new analyst that just came in,” Rocco said.

“Wh-,” Rex started, cut off by a yell from the water.

“Help!” the team started moving automatically. A slender woman in a sport bikini was dragging a coughing man onto thebeach, “Help!” They watched her drop on the sand, once she was clear of the tide.

She saw a group of men running toward her, the man next to her coughing, she rolled over onto her back shutting her eyes.

“Are you ok?” Rocco questioned as they fell on the two. Dari pointed at the man, without opening her eyes.

“Hey, can you open your eyes?”

Dari's eyes flew open as she rolled, pulling herself back onto her knees. “Gumby?”

Everyone stopped for a split-second reassessing the scene. Ace helped the recovered swimmer out of the way.

“Dari?”

Dari threw her arms around Gumby's neck. “I hoped I would see you being assigned here!”

Gumby pulled back and everyone stood.

“Assigned here?” Phantom repeated simultaneously as Rex said, “What are you talking about?”

Rocco answered, “A new analyst. You are at NCIS.” Dari smiled at him.

“Holy shit!” Bubba responded as he grabbed Dari from behind, swinging her around.

“You grew a beard!”

“You got taller,” Phantom acquiesced, noting her at about 5’7”.

“Don’t worry Phantom,” Ace hugged her. “I'd still fit in his clothes,” she teased.

Rocco wrapped his arms around her.

“Are you finished?” Gumby asked referencing what he assumed had been a swim.

“Yeah.” They all turned back toward the parking lot to walk her back. She turned, facing the guys, walking backward, “All the rest of you, I see rings...and based on the shit eating grins, you are all thrilled about it. How many more kids?”

“2,” answered Bubba, Phantom, and Rex.

“5,” Ace and Gumby replied.

Dari looked thoroughly surprised, “5?!”

“3 of mine are adopted, following a mission in Timor,” Ace answered.

“Gumby?”

“Sidney loves dogs.”

“Wow,” Dari shook her head as she turned back around, they were to her jeep. The guys mumbled back and forth as Dari pulled on sweats, “What?”

“We have a lot of BBQs,” Gumby said. “We've outgrown my place; we normally go to Ace's now.”

Dari looked at each of them, “Ok. So, you are asking me to a BBQ?” She hugged them one by one, “I'll text for the details. Or talk to Caite, I guess. Thanks!” The guys stood there looking dumbfounded as she backed up out of the parking spot and pulled away.

Dari pulledup to the address she was given. They had met her at the worst point of her life. They had taken care of her, got her a chance, she had heroes to hold on to, aspire to. Chris had been amazing at supporting her goals and signing her up for every sport and martial art that struck her fancy. She had gotten strong, capable, excelled at school; she was not the 9-year-old they saved anymore, would they be able to see it? “What are you doing?” she said aloud to herself. “Just walk in there.” Without looking Dari grabbed her door handle to push open the door, Phantom was at her door. “Oh, shit!” she exclaimed. She dropped her head to the steering wheel, feeling the adrenaline spike in her system. Glaring at him she pushed the door open on him, “You got me good, jerk.”

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