Work Text:
DARWIN – AIRPORT
As they stepped off the plane, the heat hit them like a wall. The air was so thick that DeShawn sighed after only a few steps:
DeShawn: "This isn't heat, this is punishment."
Michelle shaded her eyes with her hand and stared into the sun:
Michelle: "How do people even live here? I feel like a chicken in the oven."
Evie and JD exchanged a smile.
Evie: "Welcome to the Northern Territory, boss. There are even crocodiles looking for shade here."
JD: "And they're probably complaining about it being too hot."
As they got into the SUV, DeShawn moved away from the seat, which was almost scorching.
DeShawn: "If I have to sit on that again, I'll arrest the sun myself."
Evie (laughs): "You better get used to it, cowboy. Darwin knows no mercy."
Michelle wiped herself with a tissue and sighed:
Michelle: "I hope the case is at least in air conditioning."
JD: "Unfortunately not. Murder on a boat in the middle of the bay."
DeShawn: "Great. So the combination - sun, water and a body. Just what I wanted after breakfast."
Evie opened a bottle of water and handed it to him:
Evie: "Welcome to the tropics, partner. This is where you sweat."
DeShawn looked at her and laughed:
DeShawn: "If I make it through this week, I'm going to write my own manual: How to Not Burn in Darwin - A Guide for Non-Australians."
JD (dryly): "Chapter One: Don't Go Outside."
The team laughed as they drove toward the harbor—the heat billowed over the road, the air smelled of salt and rust, and somewhere in the distance a parrot screamed. An example awaited them. And so did Darwin.
In the evening, everyone took a breather as the sun finally slipped below the horizon. The air was still warm, but after a long day in the scorching heat, it felt like salvation had come.
The team was sitting on the terrace of a small bar by the sea. In the background, the sound of the waves and distant music from the jukebox could be heard. JD was rocking his chair with his foot, holding an ice-cold beer in his hand.
JD: “This... this is almost better than Sydney after the rain.”
Evie (smiles): “Almost. Just a few less mosquitoes.”
DeShawn (shakes his head): “Fewer mosquitoes? You left me in the middle of a swamp today with two million of those beasts! One bit me through my shirt, Evie!”
Evie (trying to hold back a smile, but failing): “Okay, I admit it… maybe I left you there on purpose.”
Michelle (with a glass of wine): “That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Evie laughs, then looks out to sea, where the wind was gently stirring the surface. In the darkness, only the lights of fishing boats could be seen, and somewhere in the distance, a night bird could be heard calling.
JD: “You know, DeShawn, I thought you’d be the first to burn out. But Mackey almost melted today.”
Michelle (dryly): “If it’s another day like today, I’m officially switching to an office job. With a fan. And iced coffee.”
Evie: “Dream on. We’ve got a reconnaissance on the water tomorrow.”
DeShawn: “Great! So I’ll have a chance to get burned on the other side — by the sun and the reflection off the water!”
JD laughs and toasts with the bottle:
JD: “To NCIS Darwin – Survival Section.”
Evie raises her glass and adds with a slight smile:
Evie: “And if we make it to Monday, we deserve a vacation.”
Laughter filled the warm night, the waves crashed against the shore, and for a moment all was quiet — at least until they set off again into the hell of Darwin heat the next morning.
In the middle of the night, the sound of a doorbell broke the silence of the hotel. At first, Evie thought she was dreaming, until she heard JD’s voice from across the room:
JD (in a sleepy voice): “Coops… your phone. Again.”
Evie growled, turned, and reached for the phone on the nightstand. The screen read “NCIS Darwin Field Office – Urgent.”
Evie (quietly): “This can’t be good.”
In ten minutes, they were all in the hotel parking lot. Michelle had her hair tied back in a hastily made ponytail, a coffee in one hand, her badge in the other. DeShawn yawned, holding a notepad in one hand and waving at the mosquitoes with the other.
DeShawn: “In the middle of the night, really? What, the body couldn’t wait until morning?”
JD: “Welcome to Darwin, where bodies don’t know working hours.”
When they arrived at the scene—a small jetty by the river—a local policeman met them. The lights were flashing, the air smelled of mud and tropical humidity. The body was lying half in the water, half on the planks of the jetty.
Policeman: “A fisherman found it around two in the morning. We thought it was a drowning until we saw this.”
She points to the victim’s neck—there was a narrow, red rope belt around it.
Evie (serious): “Suffocation. Then they threw him in the water.”
JD (crouching): “The clothes… military style. Could be someone from the base.”
DeShawn lights his flashlight and shines it around the pier. There are footprints on the wood, leading to a path that disappears into the undergrowth.
DeShawn: “We have footprints. Fresh. And pretty big ones.”
Evie looks back toward the darkness of the river, where the waves gently crash against the shore. Her brow furrows as she says quietly:
Evie: “Someone didn’t want this night to be quiet.”
JD looks over at her and nods.
JD: “Welcome to Darwin. I hope you all have enough coffee.”
DeShawn sighs as a mosquito lands on his shoulder.
DeShawn: "Coffee? Bring five liters instead."
Lights flicker over the body, waves crash — and the hot night turns into the beginning of a new, dark investigation.
Evie was scanning the area around the pier when JD said quietly:
JD: “Hey… see that?”
Everyone turned toward the river. On the other side, barely visible through the thin layer of fog, there were flashing lights—three, maybe four, moving slowly along the shore.
Michelle (quietly): “What the hell is that?”
DeShawn (with flashlight in hand): “A boat?”
Evie (holding her breath): “No. Look, the lights are too high for a boat. And they’re moving steadily.”
JD reached for the binoculars from his bag. After a few seconds, he exhaled:
JD: “A truck. And… I think there’s three other people with it.”
Evie took the binoculars from him. The truck’s lights turned toward the water for a moment—and at that moment, she saw something. A person in dark clothes, throwing something into the river.
Evie: “I see something. They threw something in the water.”
Michelle: “It could be evidence. If it’s connected to the victim, we can’t wait.”
Evie looks back at DeShawn and JD.
Evie: “Let’s get the boat ready. Let’s get across before they disappear.”
DeShawn (raises an eyebrow): “In the middle of the night, on a river full of crocodiles? That’s how every bad horror movie starts.”
Evie (coldly): “We’re not in a horror movie, we’re investigating. And if they really dumped a body or a weapon, we’re not going to wait until morning.”
JD smiles and grabs his kit.
JD: “Let’s go. I just hope the crocodiles have something else on the menu tonight.”
In a few minutes they were on the boat, the engine humming softly, the water lapping against the hull. The flashing blue lights of the police cars followed them from the shore for a while—then everything faded into darkness.
On the other bank, the lights had gone out. All that remained was the sound of the engine, echoing through the thick tropical night, and Evie’s voice, barely audible above the waves:
Evie: “Something tells me this isn’t just another drowning.”
The boat slid slowly toward the other bank, the light from the searchlight illuminating only a small section of the river—the rest was submerged in darkness. The air was heavy, the smell of damp and mud cutting through the night.
JD (quietly): “Ten meters… slowly, so we don’t alert them.”
Michelle held the thermal imaging scope, her face tense.
Michelle: “I’ve got them… three. One’s standing by the truck, two are a little ahead, like they’re looking for something.”
JD checked his gun and whispered:
JD: “Okay. Evie, with me. DeShawn, Michelle—they’re coming from the left. If anyone moves, don’t shoot unless you have to.”
DeShawn (with a grin): “Classic. You always take the fun side.”
JD: “That’s why I survive longer.”
When they landed, they turned off the engine and pushed the boat gently into the reeds. Footsteps on the muddy shore were barely audible. The truck’s lights were now only burning behind them, the fog wrapping them like a cobweb.
As Evie and JD approached, there was a soft rustling from the other side—Michelle and DeShawn were in place. Evie raised her hand, a sign of readiness. Then a voice came.
Man (from the darkness): “I told you to sink it deeper. If anyone finds this—”
Evie froze. The voice was low, husky… recognizable.
She looked at JD, who nodded slightly.
Evie (quietly): “That’s him… the one from the surveillance camera.”
Suddenly—click.
Something cracked under JD’s foot.
The man by the truck turned, his flashlight shining straight at them. Man: “Hey! Who’s there?!”
Evie cursed under her breath and pulled JD back by the rusty metal crates. The light from the man’s flashlight cut through the fog, shining inches past their faces. Their hearts beat in a steady rhythm with their own breaths.
JD (whispering): “Do you think they saw us?”
Evie (cut off): “If they didn’t, they will in ten seconds.”
Suddenly, another light flashed from across the river—then another, and another. The beams began to move, shaking the reeds, coming closer. Evie noticed that there were more of them than they thought.
Evie: “It’s not three… it’s six. They’re dressed like workers, but look—”
She nodded toward one of them, who was carrying a rifle with a sawn-off barrel on his shoulder.
Evie (quietly): “These aren’t random dealers.”
JD: “Great. So we’re outnumbered now. Do you have another brilliant plan, Cooper?”
Evie looked out toward the water, where the boat they’d come in was barely visible in the fog.
Evie: “If we head toward the river, they’ll hear us. If we stay here, they’ll find us.”
JD: “That was… incredibly helpful, thank you.”
Evie (sharply): “Shut up, JD. Listen.”
For a moment, everything was quiet—just the sound of frogs and a distant engine. Then the sound… of footsteps on the water. Someone was close.
Evie pulled out her gun and quietly looked up over the edge of the crates. One of the men came within ten feet of them, holding a flashlight in one hand and dragging something across the floor with the other.
Evie (whispering): “It’s a… bag. Same as the one at the previous crime scene.”
JD: “If you open it…”
Evie didn’t wait. She was up in an instant, grabbing JD’s hand and whispering:
Evie: “Now.”
They both jumped out of cover, JD hitting the man with the flashlight, Evie disarming him and pulling him to the ground. The others turned—shouting, orders, then a shot.
The bullet whizzed toward Evie, but she dodged in time.
Evie instinctively backed away as the bullet whizzed by, her heart racing. At that moment, she saw the suspect quietly approaching Michelle, clearly intent on scaring her or worse.
Evie raised her gun, but her hand trembled slightly. The fear paralyzed her—she couldn’t fire the shot.
JD, who was standing next to her and noticed her freeze, wasted no time. With a quick movement, he raised his gun and fired. The bullet cut through the darkness and hit the suspect in the shoulder, knocking him back and preventing him from attacking Michelle.
JD: “Are you okay?”
Evie was still breathing rapidly, her eyes wide.
Evie: “Yeah… yeah, I just… I couldn’t.”
Michelle huddled close to them, shocked but not hurt.
Michelle: “Thanks… JD.”
Evie looked over at JD and nodded slightly, a confused mix of relief and shame on her face.
Evie (quietly): “Something stopped me… but you saved me.”
JD just nodded, saying nothing. At that, the footsteps of the other suspects began to approach—DeShawn and Michelle were already on their feet, ready for the next move.
Evie took a deep breath and focused again: her heart was still racing, but her panic had subsided.
Evie: “Let’s go. This isn’t over yet.”
Hand in hand with JD, they moved toward the boat, the suspects’ lights still flashing through the fog. The tropical night grew more tense — and Evie knew she would have to overcome her fear if they were to survive this investigation.
The suspects have escaped and the team returns to base to rest.
LATER AT THE MOTEL
Evie sat on the edge of the bed in her room at the base, her legs crossed, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her thoughts raced—the image of the suspects, the bullet that had whizzed past her, JD’s shot, and her paralysis. She took a deep breath to calm her heart, but her thoughts kept returning to the incident by the river.
She heard a soft knock on the door.
JD: “Ev? It’s me.”
When there was no answer, he opened the door slightly and stepped inside, his face a little tired but still alert.
JD: “Hey… I didn’t mean to bother you, but…”
He looked around to make sure she was alone, then added,
“… I just wanted to see how you were.”
Evie mumbled for a moment, unable to find the words. JD stepped closer, slung his backpack slightly over his shoulder, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
JD: "Can I ask... why didn't you shoot?"
Evie pauses for a moment, her breath hitching, her eyes blank. Her gaze drifts to the window, her voice barely audible as she continues.
EVIE
(whispering)
Because I was scared.
(breath — heavy)
When I was little… I was six. I found a gun from my mom. She said she had it for defense. I thought it was a toy. I was playing with it. Then my dad came through the door… and I pulled the trigger and—
Her voice breaks. There's silence in the room, just the distant hum of the air conditioner. Evie closes her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek.
EVIE
(on the verge of crying)
He fell. He didn't get up. I remembered him not by his face, but by that sound—the one I still hear every time something moves behind me. No one explained what happened to me. They just told me I ruined my life. And ever since… when there’s a fire, a shot, a movement in the darkness—something locks up inside me. I can’t do anything.
JD remained silent. He didn’t move, he didn’t say anything—he just stared at her, his face pale, as if he knew the weight he’d been carrying his whole life.
Evie continued, her voice low, almost colorless.
EVIE:
“After that incident, Mom was arrested. They said she was guilty of negligence because the gun wasn’t properly stored. I remember… being led away in handcuffs. She was screaming my name, and I was just standing there, holding the teddy bear. No one explained what was happening.”
She sighed, her gaze falling to the floor.
"I spent the rest of my childhood in foster care. Different families, different places... none of them lasted long. I was always 'problematic,' too quiet, too cautious. They always said something broke me—and they were right."
JD finally spoke, his voice deep, calm:
JD:
"Evie... no child should have to go through this. No one should have to carry a memory like that. But look where you are now. You stayed on the right side, despite everything. That says it all about you."
Evie smiled at him slightly, but there was still something dark in her eyes.
EVIE:
"Maybe. But sometimes I feel like I'm just here to make up for the mistakes of the past."
JD nodded slowly.
JD:
"No. You're here because you're good at what you do. Because you have a heart that fights—even if it's wounded."
Evie leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed out the window at the night sky.
EVIE:
"Sometimes I wonder if my father would be proud of me... if he would look at me with the same eyes he did that day."
JD stepped closer, his hand gently touching her shoulder.
JD:
"I think he would be proud. That you survived. And that you're still here—despite everything."
Silence fell between them, but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. It was warm, like a distant echo of understanding that didn't need words.
The sun was slowly rising over Darwin in the morning, and the heat was already creeping into the air, even though it was only seven o’clock. The NCIS base was quiet—too quiet, considering the night they had just had.
Evie sat at her desk in the small office, a cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes were tired but determined. JD entered first, with that familiar smile that was both a test and a comfort.
JD:
“Good morning, partner. I know you slept for five minutes again and you’re going to claim it was eight.”
Evie chuckled slightly, halfheartedly:
EVIE:
“Five and a half, if you must know. Coffee saves lives, JD.”
DeShawn and Michelle joined her a few moments later—DeShawn with an ice cream cone in his hand, Michelle with a file under her arm.
EVIE:
“Really, Jackson? Ice cream for breakfast?”
DeShawn smiles:
“Hey, the heat in Darwin is extreme. Scientifically proven — it’s hydration.”
JD:
“I don’t know if it’s scientific, but it’s definitely fun.”
Evie looks over the file Michelle has placed on the table.
EVIE:
“What do we have?”
MICHELLE:
“We’ve identified the victim from last night. His name was Corey Waller. He worked at the docks, but he stopped coming to work two weeks ago. He was connected to a shipment that supposedly went missing from one of the warehouses.”
JD flips through some photos.
JD:
“The same shipment that they tried to shoot you and Evie for?”
Michelle nods.
MICHELLE:
“Exactly. And according to forensics, Waller was dead for at least two days before we found him.”
Evie sets down her cup, a serious expression on her face.
EVIE:
“Then someone at the docks is lying. And if Waller knew too much… they silenced him.”
DeShawn looks out the window, where the air is already shimmering with heat.
DeShawn:
“So… another day in paradise.”
JD sarcastically:
“At least thirty degrees at seven in the morning. A dream.”
Evie stands up, grabs her jacket, and heads for the door.
EVIE:
“Let’s go. We’ll be back in Sydney sooner rather than later. And hopefully — with the air conditioning working.”
DeShawn follows with a grin:
“If you can survive Darwin, you can survive anything.”
JD adds quietly, almost to himself:
“Except for Evie, when she runs out of coffee.”
Michelle and DeShawn smile. The tension from the previous night has dissipated, at least for a moment — but they all know they have a long day ahead of them.
The air at the crime scene was thick and heavy—a mixture of humidity, dust, and the smell of metal.
Evie and DeShawn walked slowly along the river where Corey Waller had been found the night before. There was some marked evidence scattered around—the remains of a rope, a broken flashlight, and wet shoe prints leading toward the shore.
DeShawn used his gloves to pick up a piece of plastic from the mud.
DeShawn:
“It looks like part of a crate. Maybe the one that fell out of the truck.”
The air at the crime scene was thick and heavy—a mixture of humidity, dust, and the smell of metal.
Evie and DeShawn walked slowly along the river where Corey Waller had been found the night before. There was some marked evidence scattered around—the remains of a rope, a broken flashlight, and wet shoe prints leading toward the shore.
DeShawn used his gloves to pick up a piece of plastic from the mud.
DeShawn:
“It looks like part of a crate. Maybe the one that fell out of the truck.”
Meanwhile, Evie knelt on the ground and ran her finger through the mud where a dark stain had been smeared.
EVIE:
“Blood. It’s not fresh… but it’s not more than a day or two old.”
DeShawn looked at her.
DeShawn:
“So someone was here after the murder.”
Evie nods, her eyes straining, her gaze resting on the trail leading toward the edge of the woods.
EVIE:
“And he was trying to hide something.”
She sniffs the smoke—a thin plume of gray smoke rose from behind the trees in the distance. Evie and DeShawn exchange a look.
DeShawn:
“Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
EVIE:
“If you mean burning evidence… you’re thinking in the right direction.”
They quickly ran toward the smoke, cautiously, weapons ready. After a few hundred yards, they came to a small clearing where a pile of crates was burning—one of them had the Darwin Port sign on it.
Evie jumped forward, grabbed a fire extinguisher from the car, and began to put out the flames.
EVIE:
“Quick, help me turn this over!”
DeShawn helps her, but as they turn the largest crate over, a black, baggy object falls out—a USB drive, almost completely charred.
DeShawn:
“What do you think is up there?”
EVIE:
“If we’re lucky… enough to find out who’s behind all this.”
Meanwhile, in town —
JD and Michelle stood outside the old Darwin Supply Depot. The sign above the door said Since 1973, but it looked like it had been last renovated that year. JD opened the door, the old bell above it jingled.
An older man sat behind the counter, wearing glasses and a defective heat mask.
JD:
“Sir, NCIS. Did you see or hear anything unusual by the docks last night?”
The man slowly rises, his eyes darting to the side for a moment.
MAN:
“No… I didn’t see anything.”
Michelle notices his nervous posture, his hands shaking slightly.
MICHELLE:
“Interesting. Because your store is the only one with a view of the river… and someone left a package right outside your door.”
The man swallows, his face turning pale.
MAN:
“I… I can show you something. But not here.”
Michelle and JD exchange a look.
JD (quietly):
“Well, this is moving fast.”
MICHELLE:
“Take us there, sir.”
Meanwhile -
Evie and DeShawna — surrounded by burned crates, USB in Evie’s hand.
Evie says quietly:
EVIE:
“I think we’re going to get this out of the way a lot sooner than anyone wants.”
DeShawn nods.
DeShawn:
“And the question is — who’s going to be the next one who wants us to keep quiet.”
Meanwhile, Evie knelt on the ground and ran her finger through the mud where a dark stain had been smeared.
EVIE:
“Blood. It’s not fresh… but it’s not more than a day or two old.”
DeShawn looked at her.
DeShawn:
“So someone was here after the murder.”
Evie nods, her eyes straining, her gaze resting on the trail leading toward the edge of the woods.
EVIE:
“And he was trying to hide something.”
She sniffs the smoke—a thin plume of gray smoke rose from behind the trees in the distance. Evie and DeShawn exchange a look.
DeShawn:
“Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”
EVIE:
“If you mean burning evidence… you’re thinking in the right direction.”
They quickly ran toward the smoke, cautiously, weapons ready. After a few hundred yards, they came to a small clearing where a pile of crates was burning—one of them had the Darwin Port sign on it.
Evie jumped forward, grabbed a fire extinguisher from the car, and began to put out the flames.
EVIE:
“Quick, help me turn this over!”
DeShawn helps her, but as they turn the largest crate over, a black, baggy object falls out—a USB drive, almost completely charred.
DeShawn:
“What do you think is up there?”
EVIE:
“If we’re lucky… enough to find out who’s behind all this.”
Meanwhile, in town —
JD and Michelle stood outside the old Darwin Supply Depot. The sign above the door said Since 1973, but it looked like it had been last renovated that year. JD opened the door, the old bell above it jingled.
An older man sat behind the counter, wearing glasses and a defective heat mask.
JD:
“Sir, NCIS. Did you see or hear anything unusual by the docks last night?”
The man slowly rises, his eyes darting to the side for a moment.
MAN:
“No… I didn’t see anything.”
Michelle notices his nervous posture, his hands shaking slightly.
MICHELLE:
“Interesting. Because your store is the only one with a view of the river… and someone left a package right outside your door.”
The man swallows, his face turning pale.
MAN:
“I… I can show you something. But not here.”
Michelle and JD exchange a look.
JD (quietly):
“Well, this is moving fast.”
MICHELLE:
“Take us there, sir.”
Meanwhile -
Evie and DeShawn — surrounded by burned crates, USB in Evie’s hand.
Evie says quietly:
EVIE:
“I think we’re going to get this out of the way a lot sooner than anyone wants.”
DeShawn nods.
DeShawn:
“And the question is — who’s going to want us to keep quiet next?”
Next to Evie, smoke was still rising from the burned boxes. The USB was half-melted, but it might still be usable. DeShawn reached into his bag and pulled out a protective bag, and Evie carefully placed the device inside.
Evie:
“I’ll send this to Blue as soon as we get back. If there’s anything useful in it, she’ll dig it up.”
DeShawn:
“Blue can get the FBI out of the data if you give her enough coffee.”
Evie smiled slightly for the first time in a long time.
“Maybe I’ll be the one to get her coffee this time.”
Then they heard voices from the radio station.
Michelle (over the radio):
“Evie, DeShawn—we found someone who might know more. Meet me at the old warehouse at the end of the docks.”
Evie:
“Roger. We’re five minutes away.”
The sun was already blazing hot when they arrived, and the heat was rising from the asphalt. JD and Michelle stood at the entrance to the old warehouse, next to the man they’d met at the store—now visibly nervous, sweaty, his gaze drifting toward the river.
JD:
“His name is Martin Quinn. He claims to work as a delivery man for the local port.”
Evie:
“And why would someone who delivers crates know what’s going on at the scene of a murder?”
The man blinked, then said quietly:
Martin:
“Because I was there. But not because I was part of it… I was just a middleman.”
Michelle:
“A middleman for what, Mr. Quinn?”
The man glanced toward the entrance before speaking quietly:
Martin:
“Those crates you find burning around town? They’re not regular cargo. They have electronic components in them… some from countries that you would have to have a permit to import. I was just delivering. I didn’t know what they were really hiding.”
DeShawn folded his arms.
DeShawn:
“And who ordered you to deliver?”
Martin hesitated.
Martin:
“A guy named Keller. He said he worked for a government contracting company. I’ve only seen him twice… but…”
Evie:
“But?”
Martin:
“Yesterday… before the fire… I saw him again. He was there, in that same truck. And I swear, he had an NCIS tag on his jacket.”
Silence. JD and Michelle exchanged glances, and Evie took a step forward.
Evie:
“Are you saying someone from NCIS is involved in this smuggling?”
Martin:
“Or someone pretending to be one of you.”
Evie looked at JD.
Evie:
“We’ll check this out. Right away.”
Later at the base. Blue was already sitting at her computer when Evie placed the sealed USB in front of her.
Blue:
“Ah, hot stuff. What if I told you I could open this in less than an hour?”
Evie:
“Then I really owe you a coffee. Double.”
Blue:
“A deal!”
DeShawn stood next to Evie, silently watching the screen.
DeShawn:
“What if Martin is telling the truth?”
Evie:
“Then we have an enemy within. And that means we can’t trust anyone anymore.”
Blue laughed, not taking her eyes off the code.
Blue:
“If someone is really trying to cover their tracks, they’ll have to get past me first.”
A line of text appeared on the screen: “ACCESS GRANTED.”
Blue turned to them with a broad smile—which quickly disappeared as the file opened on the screen.
Photos. In them—a warehouse in Darwin Harbor, crates, people… and one person in the foreground.
A man in an NCIS jacket. His face partially in shadow, but clear enough to make Evie pale.
Evie (quietly):
“This can’t be true…”
JD stepped closer, looked at the monitor.
JD:
“Evie, do you know him?”
Evie took a deep breath.
Evie:
“Yeah. This is… Agent Calson.”
After weeks of investigation, the team finally found themselves on the verge of closing the case. At Darwin Harbor, they had gathered all the evidence, interviewed witnesses, and collected photographs that revealed the nefarious activities—smuggling electronic components, burning evidence, and even misrepresenting one of their own agents as an NCIS agent.
Evie sat by the window of a small office in the local NCIS field office, her gaze fixed on the harbor. The USB drive they had found in the burned crates had revealed everything—photos, emails, and documents that revealed Agent Calson’s involvement with the smugglers. She was cool but focused.
Evie:
“It’s all here. There’s no room for doubt. Calson is out.”
JD nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and seriousness:
JD:
“Good job, Evie. This is one of those cases where you didn’t just follow the trail—you caught it.”
DeShawn clenched his fist, the feeling of victory sweet:
DeShawn:
“Darwin was in hell, but we survived it and got everyone to safety.”
Michelle added:
MICHELLE:
“And most importantly—none of us were seriously injured. Which was not a given.”
After the formal closure and handover of the case to the local authorities, the team packed up. Evie took one last look out the window at the foggy harbor, where the nights had turned to chaos. She took a deep breath and set down her bag.
Evie (quietly to herself):
“Finally over.”
The trip back to Sydney was peaceful. The NCIS-owned plane flew calmly through the Australian atmosphere, DeShawn half asleep, JD reading a magazine, Michelle occasionally flipping through reports on her tablet. Evie sat by the window, her mind racing to everything that had happened.
DeShawn (waking up):
“How was Darwin, huh?”
Evie (sarcastically):
“Hot, full of spiders, and sometimes it smells like smoke. If we ever moved here… I’d never get a day off.”
JD smiled:
“Sounds like the perfect vacation spot.”
Evie murmured softly and looked out the window. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, colors of red and orange blending over the city far below.
Evie (quietly, almost to herself):
“But anyway… I’m happy to be going home for now.”
It was already dark by the time they reached Sydney. The NCIS base was quiet, only a few lights shining in the night. The team stepped out of the vehicle, every move relaxed, but still with a slight tension left over from the past few days.
Evie walked toward her room, took a deep breath, and smiled, for the first time in a long time without fear.
JD stood behind her, smiling slightly:
JD:
“See? Sydney is still nicer than Darwin.”
DeShawn smiled and pulled his mask off:
DeShawn:
“And no spiders.”
Evie laughed, the relief priceless.
As they were assigned to their rooms at the base, Evie sat at the desk, looked at the case photos, and then rested her head in her hands. After a long time, there was no panic, no fear—just a quiet victory, the feeling that together they had overcome something dangerous.