DO AS I DO

CHAPTER 1

"No."

"Gibbs..." Her eyes narrowed, not happy with his refusal.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you promised." She keeps her voice low and coaxing, as if she were dealing with a toddler.

"Not comfortable with this, Holly." He looks at the woman seated beside him with a look of stubborn persistence.

"You don't have to be... but you did promise, Jethro." His frown deepens as she plays this trump card. She knows him well enough to know he always keeps his promises. "Just once... then if you don't like it, we can stop."

Gibbs hesitates further, he was already uncomfortable with their surroundings, more so with the diamond stud at this throat, and now this... her sudden demands of him. It wasn't that he didn't know how... or that he didn't enjoy it. But everyone was watching, like one of those bad dreams where you find yourself in front of a crowd only to realize you're naked.

Still holding her hand out expectantly, she wiggled her fingertips at him. He sighed in defeat, having learned during the past year with Holly Snow that the woman always got her way... one way or another.

"Please, Jethro... it won't kill you." Her sultry pout was just the icing on the cake that she knew he couldn't resist.

"Not the point." He knew he was going to give in, but he held out with one last pouting frown to make sure the moment was just right.

"Just one dance, Jethro... you promised you'd dance with me tonight." He loved it when she begged... especially when he had every intention of giving her exactly what she wanted and more.

Gibbs stands up, placing his hand in hers as he glances around the room filled with Washington's elite, all dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns. No one looked more beautiful than Holly in her shimmering low-cut silver gown and Gibbs was proud to be the man escorting her. He didn't even really mind wearing his new tuxedo with the Chinese collared shirt and diamond button stud holding the crisp white shirt against his throat. Holly picked it out for him and he had to admit, he did look rather '007' in it with the platinum stud complimenting the silver in his hair.

He closes his hand around hers as she stands, then extends his arm tucking her fingers into his elbow. Escorting her formally onto the dance floor with everyone's eyes on them almost made his steps falter. Some were merely interested in their host and hostess having the first dance of the evening. Others who knew them better, were shocked by the fact that Gibbs was going to dance... actually dance in public... something they had never seen before.

His whole team was there tonight. Their attendance guaranteed by Holly's subtle, but effective threat to get even with them if they missed the first big fundraiser for her nonprofit agency to help women get out of prostitution. In reality no one at NCIS would have missed this night for anything less than a DEFCON III alert from the President. Who had also been invited, but had reluctantly declined siting National Security matters he needed to attend to. His second in command and most of his cabinet were there though, along with movers and shakers, the rich, the famous and even a few infamous notables to add spice to the night. The evening seemed to be a great success so far.

That is, if she and Gibbs could make it through this first dance without any mishaps. Holly had no idea of his skill in this arena, having only swayed to a couple of country songs with him in his basement to go on. She was impressed with the way Gibbs hid his discomfort; walking confidently out to the middle of the dance floor with the eyes of Washington's elite on them. He stops and turned to face her with a slight smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth and Holly has a momentary flicker of worry about what that smirk meant.

Then the music started and she was shocked to hear it was not the one she had chosen, but a romantic country ballad called 'The Dance' by Garth Brooks. One Gibbs had chosen because of its message... and it was one of his favorites. He pulls her in close, holding her hand curled into his left shoulder as his right hand curved around her hip. He lets his smile widen as he teases, "Hope you know how to two-step."

Holly can't help but smile back at his boyish delight at having surprised her. "What farm girl doesn't?" She relaxes into his hold as they begins to shuffle step around the floor in time to the music. Not only is Gibbs a good dancer, he is amazingly light on his feet and glides her around the floor, adding spins and flourishes in perfect time to the music. A crowd has gathered at the edge of the floor, waiting their moment to join in after this first dance is done. The choice of the song is not lost on Holly or those watching and they can't help but smile at the happy couple on the dance floor.

As the song comes to an end, Gibbs twirls her around several times and then stops suddenly to dip her low, then bring her back up slowly. He places a kiss on her lips that has the crowd cheering and clapping as they now step out onto the dance floor to join them for the next song. Before Holly can even catch her breath, Gibbs has begun guiding her slower now in time to this contemporary Sinatra classic.

"You are a man of mysterious talents, Jethro." Her flushed cheeks and smile make her even more beautiful than ever. "I thought you said you didn't know how to dance?"

"No... said I wasn't comfortable with it. Never said I didn't know how."

He grins and leans in to give her another peck on the lips as they finish off the dance in silence and harmony; moving as if they have danced together for years. Not everyone is on the dance floor and one person in particular is watching Gibbs and Holly closely; studying their every move.

"Did you see them?! The way they danced... the way he... God, what I wouldn't give to... " Palmer stopped, not sure how to word his most secret desire to his best friend.

"To what, Jimmy?" Abby stopped her busy work of cataloging evidence to look over at her shy friend. She saw him blush pink and knew what he was thinking. "Be like Gibbs?"

"Ohh... no... I couldn't..." He stammers and turns a darker shade of pink as Abby voices the words going through his own brain.

"Jimmy, you're... like a baby Gibbs." She was always trying to bolster his confidence and let him see that he could be whatever he wanted to be... even if that was a mirror image of their fearless leader. She had her doubts Palmer's testosterone levels would ever rise to that level, but a little confidence couldn't hurt.

"Really? You think so?" Jimmy was shocked to even be considered to be anything like his idol.

"You're a stud muffin, Jimmy!" Abby could never understand how Jimmy Palmer couldn't see what a good-looking man he was. He just needed to believe in himself.

"Oh, man... that doesn't sound very Gibbs-like, Abby."

"Jimmy, what I'm trying to say is you have it in you. YOU... CAN... BE... LIKE... GIBBS." She comes around the work bench to face her friend, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him gently with each word. When she still sees doubt in his eyes, she lowers her voice again and tries again. "Ask McGee for advice, he's learned a lot from the boss man."

"Tim? He doesn't seem very Gibbs-like to me, Abby. He's more...?"

"Exactly! Tim is TIM! He's comfortable being who he is... kind of." She shakes her hands as if to erase that thought and hurries on, not wanting to distract him with that particular topic. "The point is, Jimmy, you need to discover who you are... who you want to be."

"I want to be like Gibbs. Confident, in command, never in doubt... and so smooth with the ladies. Not like DiNozzo, who pours on the charm so thick he drowns them in it. Gibbs doesn't even try... he doesn't even seem interested and the women just flock to him. That's how I want to be... a man who can get a woman like Holly Snow!"

"Whoa there, Palmer! Let's take this a step at a time, all right?" She holds up her hands, palms flat in a stopping motion. "You've obviously identified the type of man you want to be... or imitate... not that I'm judging! You could do worse than emulating the silver-haired fox. But first you need to study him, learn his moves... don't go jumping in front of a speeding bullet like Holly Snow right off the bat. You'll get smooshed. You gotta learn how to stop those bullets before you do that."

"Right.. gotcha. Study Gibbs... learn from the Zen Master of Love."

"Yes, Grasshopper... now go. Get out of my lab before Gibbs shows up and asks 'what have ya got, Abs' and I have to tell him nothing because you were distracting me. Go!"

Palmer gives her a happy grin, glad his friend has once again given him advice and direction. Little does Abby know how that advice will set in motion a series of events implemented by Palmer's desire to learn from their fearless leader.

Gibbs was always aware of his surroundings, alert to trouble and he'd never lost that sixth sense that had served him so well as a sniper. That sense when something wasn't right... some little thing in his universe was out of alignment and the twinge in his gut told him about it. Ever since the case where Holly's former employee Charlotte had been accused of killing her johns... only to find out it was her psycho boyfriend attorney, Gibbs had been hyper-vigilant when it came to Holly. She was still a powerful woman, but with her company growing rapidly and expanding into the tri-state area and beyond, he always knew there was a possibility some other pimp would try to stop her from helping the girls get out of the business.

It started a week or so earlier, when Gibbs had been standing in line at his favorite Barista for his morning brew. He got that twinge... that inkling that something was wrong. He had scanned the small shop that he'd been coming to for so many years and wondered reluctantly if it was time for him to change up his routine... find another coffee shop for a while. When he sees nothing out of the ordinary he dismisses the thought and smiles when the girl hands him his order without him having to say a word. On the walk back to the Navy Yard, he decides to mix things up a little by going to the Sultry Bean in Georgetown now and then... since he spent three or more nights a week at Holly's place anyway.

Off and on over the next week, Gibbs again feels like someone is watching him; and it wasn't just out in public now. He was beginning to feel the eyes on him at the office too. It causes him to be more tense than usual, but he tries not to let it show. He scans the bull pen area frequently but sees only those people who belong there. The only difference was Palmer, Ducky's timid assistant who'd been hanging around since he got shot at by an unknown assailant at the crime scene earlier this week. He understood the younger man's desire to prove himself capable in helping catch the suspect, but honestly he was getting on everyone's nerves. He was trying too hard to remember the name, remember the face, to help in any way. Gibbs wonders if that is the source of his gut feeling and decides to have a talk with Palmer about it.

He scans the bullpen and realizes for once, Palmer is nowhere in sight. He gets up and heads for the back elevators which will take him down to autopsy. As the motion sensor doors slide open upon his arrival, Gibbs is surprised to see Palmer sitting at Ducky's desk, typing on his laptop.

"You taking over for Dr. Mallard now, Palmer?"

"No, just trying to write a letter... an email to my mom, Agent Gibbs. Trying to explain what happened."

Gibbs takes a moment to scan the email and realizes Jimmy's moral is in need of a little boosting from the depressed tone of his note. He slides the laptop back away from Palmer's hands, causing the younger man to sit back and look up at him as he perches on the edge of the metal desk.

"I don't quite know how to tell her... that her son is a coward and completely useless when it really counts."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Palmer." He has the urge to lay a comforting hand on Palmer's shoulder, but keeps his hands firmly clasped in on his thigh.

"How do you do it, Agent Gibbs?"

"Do what?" he asks the question even though he knows what the younger man is seeking by the look in his eyes.

"Face the danger? Deal with it... the fear? You probably don't even feel fear..."

"We all do, Palmer. It's what you do with that fear that matters. Do you let it control you? Or do you control it? It's all about staying focused and doing what you have to do... even when you're afraid."

"How do you know? What you have to do?"

"You watch their eyes. Looking in someone's eyes can tell you a lot about them."

"What do you see in my eyes?"

Gibbs hesitates a long moment, wanting to help the younger man get through his self-doubt about his actions on that day. He knows Palmer made mistakes that a seasoned agent wouldn't have made, but now was not the time to bring that up.

"I see a man who chased after a guy with a gun... a man who got shot at and had the sense to hit the deck." He lays his hand on Palmer's shoulder now, giving it a gentle squeeze as he stands up to leave. "Hold off on that email to your mom, Jimmy. You'll have something to write home about soon enough."

He pats Jimmy's shoulder and walks out, leaving the young man to think about what he said. Jimmy sits there for a long moment, then scans the email he had started and smiles as he reaches out to hit the delete button. Maybe Agent Gibbs was right... he just needed to look people in the eye more.

After that case was closed with the arrest of the man who shot at Palmer, there was a noticeable change in him. Even though he had disobeyed Gibbs' order to stay in the office and went to the trailer park, Gibbs couldn't stay angry at him. Sure he had yelled at him for putting himself in a dangerous situation, but he was also proud of him for going after the suspect, ramming him with his own car and ensuring he didn't get away. Gibbs hadn't been able to maintain his normal glare while scolding Palmer and finally gave him a wink and a half smile as he handed him a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his nose.

Gibbs wasn't one to waste time on compliments and back patting when someone did something right. He just expected it of his agents and a simple nod of approval usually sufficed. But in Palmer's case, he let him know he was proud of him; proud of his courage and his quickness in reacting to the situation. His parting comment to Palmer about 'him now having something to write home about', had Palmer grinning for the rest of the day.

By Friday however, Palmer's new-found confidence was beginning to have an unsettling effect on some of his co-workers. They noticed a change in him, when he talked to them it was more like an interrogation. He stared at them, eyes never wavering and then his would narrow as if he was trying to catch them in some type of lie. He was trying out his new advice from Gibbs, really looking people in the eye and he found it exhilarating how they seemed to back down. Even Tony had stopped teasing him incessantly.

Palmer walked out of the evidence garage, leaving Tony, Ziva and McGee to continue their work on the evidence they collected from the trailer. Tony followed his retreat with suspicious eyes until he disappeared into the elevator before he turned to his co-workers to voice his concerns about Palmer's change.

"You two notice anything hinky about the autopsy gremlin lately?"

"Hinky, Tony? No. But I have noticed Jimmy seems to have found his confidence."

"Yeah. Well put, Ziva. Palmer is more confident. After all, he had quite a week. He chased down a bad guy, got shot at... and caught said bad guy all by himself."

"Yeah, but... it's I don't know. It's like he's challenging me... ME! The autopsy gremlin is challenging ME!"

"Maybe he is just letting you know... in his own way, that it is time to stop, Tony." Ziva was tactful as always and McGee gave her a grateful smile.

"Stop what?" Tony was clueless as usual when it came to his own actions and how they affected the people around him.

"The teasing, the nicknames... the practical jokes at his expense?" McGee spoke softly, knowing from experience what Palmer was going through. He had endured years of that type of abuse from Tony before he finally got up the nerve to tell him to stop.

Tony takes a moment to consider this... seeing for the first time that Jimmy Palmer was now truly a part of the team. He'd been in the field with them, taken rounds from bad guys and risked his life to keep that suspect from escaping.

"Okay, maybe it is time to ease up on the autopsy gre... aahh, on Palmer. But I am not inviting him to this weekend's gaming challenge. No way I want him messing up my mojo with that mini-Gibbs stare he's been practicing all week." The others just laugh in agreement and get back to processing the evidence.

Things quiet down in the office and no big cases come their way. They are actually scheduled to have the weekend off and the whole team is looking forward to it. Tony and McGee had planned to spend the weekend competing in an online gaming war that they had become surprisingly skilled at. Once Tony let go of the stigma that only geeks played online games, he became as addicted to it as Tim. Since McGee had the ultimate gaming set up at his house, with his mega-computer wired directly into his fifty-five inch plasma screen TV, Tony would be spending the weekend there.

Abby and Ziva also had plans, but of a more civilized nature. They were planning to spend one day at a local spa, exclusive and expensive, being pampered and preened. Then, they would head over to McGee's house to see how the boys were faring in the online competition. They had no doubt the two video warriors would make it into the final rounds of the competition... and they wanted to be there to cheer their friends on.

Gibbs is planning to spend the weekend with Holly at his house, as had become their pattern. From Friday evening to Monday morning he could pretend she was there, living with him the way he wanted her to... but hadn't actually asked her yet. Maybe this weekend they would have the long overdue talk about Holly moving in with him. They had been dating over a year now and life was about as perfect as Gibbs dared let himself expect. The only thing that would make it better was if Holly agreed to move into his home... thereby eliminating their difficult schedule of time split between their two residences.

Away from work on Friday evening, Gibbs has a few errands to run, mainly stocking up on things for the weekend at his house. He was standing in line at the local grocery store when he suddenly had that feeling again. Something catches the corner of his eye, a glimpse of... something, but when he turns there is nothing there. He sighs inwardly and realizes he needs this weekend off more than he thought. Taking his packages, he heads out to his car, stows them in the trunk and then flips his phone open to hit the speed dial.

"Hey, babe... how did the meeting go?" Gibbs drops into the driver's seat as a smile creases his face at hearing her voice. She gives him her usual short, but entertaining rundown on the hassles of operating her growing business. When she is done, he responds, "Sounds like you could use a nice dinner out... say at Ruth's Chris in Crystal City?"

"Ohh, nice... and exactly what I need. An excellent steak and good wine while we watch the planes come and go at Reagan airport. What time can I expect you?" Her sultry tone oozes through the phone to him and he smiles again.

"I'll pick you up at seven... then back to my place for a nice long, quiet weekend."

"The whole weekend, huh? How did you manage to get your team off for a whole weekend?"

"We're overdue. I'll see you in a bit." He flips his phone shut and scans the road before pulling out into traffic and heading home. Once again he feels a strange feeling of being watched and his eyes scan the side and rearview mirrors, but nothing suspicious is seen. He sighs again and punches the radio button, letting the country music ease the tension in his gut.