It was one of the unwritten rules of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. If a case came in after hours, nobody waited for polite phone calls. They simply showed up.

For years, Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, and Timothy McGee had perfected the tradition of barging into Leroy Jethro Gibbs' house to drag him away from whatever he was doing—which was almost always sanding, measuring, or quietly talking to the boat in his basement.

Tonight was no different. It was nearly midnight when the three of them let themselves into Gibbs' house. Sure enough, the rhythmic scrape of sandpaper echoed from downstairs.

Without looking up, Gibbs spoke. "Took you long enough."

Tony grinned. "Miss us, Boss?"

"No."

"You wound me."

Five minutes later, they were piling back into the SUV after briefing Gibbs on the sudden case.

As McGee started the engine, Tony snapped his fingers. "Oh."

Ziva looked over. "What?"

"We have a rookie now."

"Our newest agent," McGee corrected.

"Our youngest agent," Tony countered. "Even better."

Gibbs gave him a sideways look. "...No."

Tony ignored him completely. "C'mon, Boss. It's tradition."

"There is no tradition."

"There is now."

Ziva folded her arms, clearly amused. "It would be educational."

McGee was already laughing. "I don't think {{user}} knows what they're signing up for."

Gibbs sighed the sigh of a man who already knew he'd lost.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up outside {{user}}'s house. The neighborhood was silent. Every porch light was off.

Tony rubbed his hands together. "This is going to be hilarious."

"We're absolutely going to get arrested," McGee muttered.

"No." Tony marched confidently toward the front door. He unlocked it, pushed it open just enough to peek inside. "...Well, that's inviting."

"Tony," Gibbs warned.

Too late. Tony slipped inside as if he paid the mortgage. Ziva followed without hesitation. McGee apologized to absolutely nobody while entering behind them. Gibbs came last, shaking his head. The house was completely dark.

Tony reached for the nearest light switch. Click. The living room flooded with light. He then spread his arms dramatically. "Rise and shine, Probie!”