Author's Notations: Musical Inspirations during the writing of this short story are given to musical artists, band and songs. Body Language (Queen).
Tobias Fornell's first impression. Known for her self-control, not to mention curt conversations if she didn't like you, she maintained calmness at the NCIS building.
Without knowing the individual, Suzanne McNamara already ranked Tobias Fornell higher than Tony DiNozzo on the people she despised.
It happened on an occasion when Fornell stopped by as a professional courtesy, supplying additional information and assisting with the caseload. A current person of interest overlapped jurisdiction, and willingly, the Bureau allowed NCIS to take the lead. Supervisory Special Agent Jethro Gibbs suggested a coffee break downstairs.
"They've redone the cafeteria, brought in a new hire." Gibbs shared with his friend. The elevator opened. The two stepped into a cheery setting. "The coffee is really good. It's a homemade craft service. Serves breakfast and lunch six days a week."
Obscure music played in the background, an indicator that Suzanne was the Supervisor on Duty in the cafeteria. The lighting was appropriate for mid-morning. It was quiet, customer wise, for shift-change. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs mentioned how 10:15 am was 'the best time to appreciate the place.'
"Guess they expect you…" Tobias nodded, took in the overall cafeteria scenery.
"Oh…She's here, alright…" Gibbs chuckled.
"Don't be surprised if you see someone dancing and singing to the music…" He warned as they walked into the self-serve area. The official entrance was chained but the exit was partitioned. Partially closed, Gibbs slid the door open just enough to walk inside.
"Sugar, I'm here for a refill…"
"Middle carafe—help yourself. I just brewed it." Only visible sign of a voice: her stretched frame as she stocked items on the top tier.
Give me body give me body body
Give me your body
Don't talk, don't talk, don't talk, don't talk
Baby, don't talk
Body language body language body language
McNamara, Suzanne D. Her badge was hanging from her side hip. At the front of her apron was a thermometer, measuring the temperature of the food.
"Let me see the potatoes, please?" She warned, large serving mitts covering her arms.
"Okay, Suzanne." From the refrigerator box she pulled half-creamer and a hand mixer, simultaneously pouring and mixing vigorously.
"Some smoothness and consistency…that's the secret Nan taught me." She explained to her coworker. "Please hand me the butter?"
Give me your body
Just give me yeah your body
Give me yeah your body
Don't talk "
The potatoes are on the line." Suzanne plopped the shorter pan into the steamer.
Body language huh huh
Body language body language
Tobias' interest peaked by merely noticing the curves. Soon, she heard a low wolf-whistle and a comment—'Mio Dio: chi è la gonna?'—loosely translated: God and a skirt. Fornell's assessment: long-legged with an apple-shaped bottom; his type of woman.
"The desserts are well in the appropriate temperature range…" She muttered. Quickly, she jotted in a notebook. Fornell continued, believing only he and Gibbs understood the dialogue.
"Lei è celibe?"
"Lo ho un nome." She finally climbed out of the dessert cabinet, stood straight, flawless posture. ' Ebony skin with matching braided locks, neatly pulled in a bun.
"Stronzo…" Suzanne muttered.
The glasses were a bonus feature. They were a lighter brown frame to highlight her darker brown eyes. With a finger she pushed the bridge closer to her nose. Fornell's first visual impression was she was attractive—very attractive but with a smart mouth.
Gibbs chuckled at the surprised look on Tobias' face.
"She just called me a jackass…in Italian!"
"What are you doing, Suz?"
"Today's special is Oven Baked Fried Chicken."
Quickly, she reached for items off one rack, placed the covered trays on the steam tray line and rearranged in the warmer. The other employee pulled from the opposite direction.
You got red lips snakes in your eyes
Long legs great thighs
You got the cutest ass I've ever seen
Knock me down for a six any time
"Tell your friend it's half-past 'don't play with me today…'" she warned, quickly swiping the register card and performing the transaction. She snatched the bill from Fornell's hand with force.
"Congratulations." Gibbs said. "You've managed to piss off Suzanne. That's not an easy feat."
Look at me I gotta case of body language
Look at me I gotta case of body language
Look at me I gotta case of body language
Look at me I gotta case of body language
Of body language of body language
It became commonplace—their pet names for one another. Suzanne was 'Skirt.' She greeted Fornell with one of the three selections, depending on the circumstance. If she could endure the sexist remark, the name 'Pants' sufficed. On a good day, she remained cordial and addressed him properly. 'Jackass' was the general name; he acted as one. In the bullpen, hearing the exchange made Gibbs chuckle.
"Hi, Skirt."
"Leave me alone, please." Suzanne asked, sighed as she distributed lunch orders to the floor. "I'm working right now."
"Come on, Skirt-Suz. How long can you hold a grudge?" He smiled. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Apparently, he doesn't know Suzanne." Tony DiNozzo commented in a soft whisper to Gibbs.
"Only Gibbs can call me Suz. My name is Suzanne."
Suzanne gave Tobias credit though: he observed Gibbs' behavior around her. It was different. Every time Fornell visited, the two spent a considerable amount of time 'working' downstairs. She didn't mind; it kept her from running to the bullpen and replenishing the coffee canteen. It was a certain way Gibbs and Suzanne looked, smiled at one another.
'You're interested.' He grinned. 'Skirt is attractive as hell and not one of your employees…'
'Just a friend, Tobias…' Gibbs studied her every move. His head shifted to the left as Suzanne walked to the right. She squatted, then leaped to palm a tray of paper cups of a tiered shelf.
Yeah sexy body sexy, sexy body
I want your body
Baby you're hot
'Just ask the Skirt out for a drink. Geez!' He simply blurted in front of Gibbs to when she spot swept the rug. 'You're old enough to drink, aren't you, McNamara?'
'I'm older than your sports coat, Fornell...'
The McNamara-Fornell relationship evolved closer. The more he learned of Suzanne's talents, Tobias wanted to recruit her into the FBI after Georgetown. The 'Skirt' comment was a test of sorts, to determine if the graduate student easily followed authority or possessed self-advocacy skills. In those years, he was pleasantly surprised Suzanne followed protocol but remained an individual.
"Because I respect you both…" she often reminded the women of the kindness, not to be mistaken for anything else. Suzanne eased up and addressed him as "Fornell" after she and Gibbs married. She liked the kid, even Diane, who was very helpful and kind in her first weeks as Mrs. Gibbs. Still, Suzanne and Tobias exchanged snappy repartee, just not in front of Emily.
After Diane's unexpected death, yes, Suzanne extended more to Tobias and Emily. She drove to Fornell's place for months, several times a week with precooked meals, using excuses like 'I was in the neighborhood…' The families were a good distance apart. Time passed. Tobias kept in communication as did Emily.
Suzanne began her work with the White House, The Executive Assistant to the President of the United States was limited to the Washington desk, in part of her pregnancy. The international travels were grounded and reassigned to others. At least she still worked on and around the environment, only she came home every night. For Tobias Fornell, it was divine intervention. Her presence was needed more than ever.
Suzanne arrived home shortly after 5. She left for work two hours earlier since the traveling staff were two hours ahead. The kitchen window was open as she prepared dinner, seeing Tobias walk to the backdoor entrance.
"Jethro's still at work, Tobias." She unlocked the deadbolt, opened the door.
"I'm actually here to see you." He said. "The office said you left early."
"I handled the President's itinerary today via Secured feed; I went in at 5 this morning, left at 3 this afternoon."
Tobias Fornell was uncomfortable but realistic about the situation. Only Suzanne could understand and possibly help. She picked up through the body language he was bothered. Fornell began, Emily was a beautiful, desirable young woman and it scared the hell out of him!
He couldn't speak to Jethro about it. Though he thought highly of Abby Scuito, carefully and deliberately Fornell wanted an abstinence message.
First, he rambled about the lip gloss. 'It had to be pink—compliments the red hair, Dad.'
"Okay—I'm cool with the lip gloss. She's 15; she can wear lip gloss."
The second complaint concerned his lack of judgment. He allowed Emily to use his credit card.
"She asked for the credit card for back-to-school shopping. $155.00!" Fornell whispered. "Victoria's Secret?!"
"Well, it's not a secret on me…it is on her, however..." Suzanne began. "Tobias, she's growing up. Disney doesn't make appropriate undergarments in her size."
"She doesn't need lace underwear…"
"And she's not trying to wear 'Granny panties,' dressing out for gym class. She's in the 10th grade, Tobias. Give her a break."
Then, it was the cellphone story. Emily earned an upgrade. Fornell agreed if she made all A's that she could upgrade her cell phone and service.
"Suzanne, she's good about the cellphone…" He said calmly. "Nothing outrageous. Normal phone calls—some to you, to Gibbs, to Mo, to me, and some of her friends at the school—very short conversations. But last week, she was on the phone with Chris…"
"Oh, Tina?"
"No. 'Pher? As in Christopher?"
Christopher, well-mannered, well-intentioned, and 17 years old, with a car suddenly surfaced into the picture. On a rare Saturday afternoon off, Fornell suggested to spend the day with the Gibbs'. Emily declined, informed Tobias she made 'other plans.' The doorbell chimed, which he answered.
"No warning whatsoever!" Tobias said, continuing his first encounter with the young man he described as "Eddie Haskell Part III." "Addressed me as Agent Fornell…called me Sir…told me exactly where he and Emily were going and promised to have Emily home before 6 pm."
"I bet you ran a background check on him…"
Tobias shrugged his shoulders, gave a sheepish grin.
"Suzanne…" One of the few times Tobias addressed her by first name. "You understand these things..."
"So, you want me to talk with Emily and report back to you whether or not she's having sex?"
"Basically, yeah."
"Just because Emily is dating doesn't mean she's sexually active." Suzanne assured Fornell. "And even if she is…"
"Oh, God…"
"My dad and I talked about sex, just about when I was about Emily's age…" Suzanne admitted. "I don't think I can answer all of Emily's questions…"
Tobias used the ultimate 'trump' card on Suzanne to persuade the conversation. "Diane…trusted you more with Emily."
'You play dirty…' Suzanne thought.
Suzanne had conversations about birds and bees with four of her six nephews. Now, she had to prepare herself for conversations with Emily Fornell about men and women: not her territory.
