It was a crisp fall afternoon, and Gibbs stood at the back of the NCIS booth, arms crossed, observing the bustling college information fair. The long line of students drifted past his table, barely sparing a glance at the recruitment brochures or the large NCIS banner hanging above them. Instead, their eyes were fixed on the colorful pens, stress balls, and water bottles that Tony and McGee were handing out with too much enthusiasm.

"Can you believe this?" Gibbs muttered under his breath, his sharp gaze never leaving the students. Tony was grinning like a kid in a candy store, offering a pen to a student who barely made eye contact before moving on to the next item.

"Hey, it's all part of the process, Boss," Tony said with a wink, tossing a stress ball up and down in his hands. "You gotta lure them in before you hit them with the hard sell."

McGee, who had been quietly distributing water bottles, shot Gibbs an apologetic look. "At least they're taking something. Could be worse."

Gibbs shot him a deadpan look. "How much do you think they’re really interested in a career with NCIS when all they care about is a free pen?"

Tony's grin widened. "They'll come around, Gibbs. Trust me, once they see the badge, the real work, and you—well, they'll be begging to join."

McGee adjusted his glasses, handing out another water bottle. "Maybe we should have brought a few more pens... and a lot fewer brochures."

Gibbs looked at them both, considering. "The work doesn’t change, guys. Freebies won’t get them through the door. But when they realize what we do—and what they’ll be up against—they’ll either stick around or leave. The ones who stay? They'll be the ones who are serious."