Fornell slipped a flash drive into the screen's USB port and pointed the remote at the screen. A list filled the screen.

"We have almost nothing on her," the FBI agent said. "No fingerprints, no facial recognition, no real name. We call her Kate Sniper."

"Because of the gun," Gibbs said quietly. Fornell glanced over at him.

"Yes, because of the marine sniper rifle she carries. We don't know much else, but we have been able to connect her to various operations and assassinations."

Fornell zoomed in on the list, allowing Gibbs, the Avengers, and the agents to scan the names, places, and dates before continuing. "She seems more of an investigative sort, doing the stealing and research before her assassin buddy comes in to finish the job."

"Who's her partner?" Gibbs asked.

"We don't know," Fornell told him. "He's practically a ghost. Anyway, I've been able to connect her to multiple cases, none before 2008. She's very good, Gibbs. But I'm sure you're already aware of that."

"Do you know who she works for?" Romanoff asked, appearing very interested in the conversation.

Fornell shook his head. "We don't."

"Any idea why she'd be working with Leopard and Space Walker?" DiNozzo inquired.

"No," Fornell said. "Assassination is more her buddy's forte. Sabotage, data theft, tracking down leads – that's more of her skillset."

"So what's she doing trying to kill Gibbs?" McGhee asked.

"Or Loki," DiNozzo responded.

McGhee shook his head. "She took a shot at Gibbs in Vance's office. The only reason Loki was there was because you sent him up there."

DiNozzo looked like he hadn't remembered that part.

"Is her partner working with her now?" Rogers asked.

Fornell pursed his lips. "Hard to say, but it's probably safe to assume no. If he was, he'd be the one taking the shots at Gibbs, not her."

****

Bishop didn't know what time it was anymore. Tense, she sat in her chair, in the same position she had taken up when Gibbs had left, hours ago. She couldn't move, no matter how logical it seemed to get up, walk around, grab something from the vending machine. She just couldn't convince herself to move. Not while Loki was in operation.

"Agent Bishop?"

Dr. Strange's voice made her lunge to her feet, stumbling because her entire left leg had fallen asleep and failed to support her weight. Catching her balance on the armrest of the chair, she shook her leg while directing her gaze to the neurosurgeon anxiously. "Yes?"

"Where's Agent Gibbs?" he asked, eyes scanning the room.

"He had to go," Bishop explained, her words tumbling over each other. "How's Loki?"

Dr. Strange offered her a triumphant smile. "The operation was a success. I removed the energy source from his head." As Bishop continued to stare at him blankly, barely able to comprehend the good news, he added, "He's okay."

"Can I see him?"

Strange nodded. "Just be aware that he's still feeling the effects of the anesthesia. But he's awake, so yes, you may see him."

Bishop followed the doctor into Loki's hospital room, feeling her breath quicken as she saw him lying on the medical cot, a pillow propped up behind his head. His eyes were wide open, not appearing like he'd just had surgery at all.

His gaze turned to her, standing in the doorway. His brow furrowed, obviously confused as to why she was there.

"Where's Gibbs?" he asked.

"He had to go back," Bishop said. "Something came up." It occurred to her that she didn't even know why Gibbs had left. She had been too worried to ask.

"Why are you here?"

"He asked me to stay with you," she answered, hurt by his question. As Strange told her to call him should anything happen, she walked slowly into the room and sank down into the chair beside his cot.

Loki's eyes had followed her all the way to the chair, his brow still furrowed. It took him several moments before he spoke again. "Thank you. For being here. For staying with me."

"Of course," Bishop said, unsure of what else to say. All of her worry began to drain out of her body, leaving her feeling awkward and self-conscious and tired. It didn't help that the last time they had been "alone" together, she had almost kissed him.

By his expression, she could tell he remembered that, as well.

"I should call Gibbs," she said, starting to rise. But Loki reached over and grabbed her wrist.

"Please don't," he said. When she gave him a bewildered look, he amended his sentence. "I meant please don't leave."

"Okay," Bishop said, sitting back down. She waited for Loki to release her wrist, but when he didn't, she gently pried his fingers from around her wrist. But instead of relinquishing his hold, the god just wrapped his fingers around hers.

Now I understand why Strange warned me, she thought, fishing out her cellphone. After informing Gibbs about Loki being all right, she placed her phone away and looked back to the Asgardian. He looked slightly less...afraid, she supposed the word was. His eyes weren't as wide anymore, and he had relaxed.

He still held her hand in a death grip, however.

"Do you want to be here?" he asked, looking away from her.

"Yes," Bishop answered, surprised that she was being honest. By the way Loki whipped his head around to look at her, he was surprised, too.

"You do?"

Bishop nodded, giving him a smile. "Yes, I do."

"But you said you hate me."

Bishop took a deep breath. She might as well tell him now.

"Loki, I don't hate you."

Loki took several moments to digest that, his expression thoughtful. "I know," he said. "Why do you say you hate me?"

Bishop sighed. "My brother was in New York a year ago."

Loki looked at her, his gaze solemn. "He didn't die," Bishop continued. "But he would have, had the Chitauri not collapsed a moment before stabbing him. I hated you, for that. For nearly taking my brother from us. I hated you for a year, Loki. I hated the monster with horns and a scepter."

Loki released his grip on her hand.

The way he looked away from her, the way he let go of her, the lonely expression on his face, hit Bishop hard. She didn't like seeing him like this, seeing him vulnerable. She reached over and took his hand, squeezing it.

"But," she continued. "When you walked into NCIS, you were only half of what I thought you were. There was more to you than I had seen before, more that I didn't want to see. But that half – you – has proved himself more than once to the team, and it took an operation to make me realize that."

Loki laughed softly, turning to look at her. "You don't hate me?"

"No," she said. "I don't."

Slow clapping came from the doorway.

Bishop groaned and Loki narrowed his eyes as they both looked up and over to see DiNozzo leaning against the doorframe, clapping. He was smirking.

"How long have you been there?" Loki demanded, starting to sound more like his old self.

"Long enough to see you two lovebirds make up," DiNozzo answered, coming into the room. "Gibbs sent me. You can go home now, Bishop."

Bishop was reluctant to leave but wasn't sure if she wanted DiNozzo to detect that. "Who's staying with Loki?" she asked, stalling.

DiNozzo raised an eyebrow. "Me. Why do you think Gibbs sent me? I'm to stay with Loki until Gibbs can come."

Loki looked at Bishop. "Tell the doctor that I think I'm going to need more pain medication."

DiNozzo laughed. "Did Bishop tell you she won me double my twenty?"

Loki looked at Bishop, who sighed and let go of his hand. DiNozzo's smirk only widened on catching the motion. With that smirk, he launched into an explanation of her leaving the Navy Yard and the subsequent monetary gain, ending with, "You're starting to win your Tess, Danny Ocean."

Loki glowered at DiNozzo as Bishop stood, starting to feel uncomfortable. But she couldn't help but ask, "What?"

Loki shook his head at her, but it was too late. DiNozzo was already talking. "See, Bishop, you and Loki are Tess and Danny Ocean from Ocean's Eleven. He's trying to win your heart and you're trying to hate him."

"I know, I know," Bishop said hurriedly, striding to the doorway. "I saw the movie." She cast a look back at Loki. "Bye, Loki. Feel better."

"I was," he said. "Until you got up to leave."

DiNozzo coughed into his hand, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"I have to get home," she said, not able to even come up with a lame excuse for leaving. In truth, DiNozzo's comparison scared her. For Danny Ocean, despite all of his flaws, had won Tess back in the end. She was still trying to figure out her jumbled feelings for Loki now that she had admitted she didn't hate him, and DiNozzo predicting that they would end up together frightened her. She couldn't explain why.

"All right, darling," Loki said. "Good night."

Bishop left, overhearing Loki complain to DiNozzo. "You had to go and scare her away."

"I don't think I can scare someone away who was already leaving," DiNozzo retorted.

Bishop left the hospital, climbing into her car and sitting there for a moment. "Tess," she murmured, shaking her head. "DiNozzo, you have the wildest comparisons. Loki and I aren't even anywhere near Tess and Ocean. I don't...I don't care for him like that."

But even saying it aloud couldn't even convince herself that it was true.

/**/

What did you guys think? Of Fornell's revelation, of Loki and Bishop?

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! Remember to comment and vote!

Skylar Wittenborn