Title: Valentine's Day Surprise
Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.
Summary: The team feels Gibbs grumpiness is because he hasn't been dating…so they decided to force him to go on a blind date. What could go wrong?
Just a little two chapter story I wanted to put together for Valentine's Day. Will have the next chapter up by Valentine's Day.
All mistakes are mine, this has not been proofed.
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"Figure it out!" Gibbs screamed as he threw the file on his desk and stormed towards the stairs. McGee, Bishop, Torres, and Quinn all glanced back and forth at each other.
"What is going on with him?" Bishop was the first to speak.
"I don't know, but these last few months he's been even crankier and grumpier." Quinn said leaning back on her desk. "I've never seen him like this."
"He definitely needs a date."
All heads turned towards the voice off to their side seeing Abby step into the bullpen.
She shrugged. "He hasn't dated anyone in almost a year."
"And you know this how?" Torres asked.
"Look how much all of us have been hanging out at Gibbs. Plus Clayton's been over there a lot, wouldn't one of us have run into someone if he was dating."
The group looked around at each other some shrugging other trying to think if they might have seen someone leaving.
"So you're saying Gibbs needs to get laid and he'll be less grumpy?" Torres asked with a grin.
The rest of the group looked around as if Gibbs would walk in and head slap the man.
"Hey we all need a release now and then." Torres wiggled his eyebrows.
"I think Gibbs needs a little more than a release." Quinn chimed in.
"I agree." Abby added. "Which is why we are going to get him a date, someone that could be more than just a release. Someone he might want to spend Valentine's Day with."
"And how are we going to do that?" McGee and Bishop said in unison.
"We all know people, let's get a list of people and we'll go through and find someone that would be a good fit." Abby's excitement was growing.
"Gibbs will never agree." Torres chuckled.
"Oh don't worry. I'll take care of that." That ornery smirk played across Abby's lips. "Everyone get me a list of possible people and I'll take care of making sure Gibbs agrees to go."
Quinn's eyebrow went up. "This is all gonna be legal right?"
"Dinner tonight at Kapnos." Abby glanced at everyone looking for any dissention in the ranks. "Good, tonight at six." With that she turned and headed towards the back elevator.
"She never answered my question." Quinn still looked concerned.
"It's Abby." Bishop shrugged. "It will walk the line of legal/illegal."
##############
Gibbs pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. He had just climbed out and closed his car door when his phone beeped. Flipping the phone open he saw the text from Ducky. Need you in autopsy. Closing the phone, he made his way to the building and into the elevator. He took a swig of his coffee as the elevator descended. Stepping out, the doors to autopsy swished open and he stopped as he saw the team standing there. He glanced around at the team as he took the few steps into autopsy and the doors swished shut. Taking a sip of coffee, he stood there and waited.
"You're going on a date tomorrow night." Abby said the words quickly.
Gibbs stared at her a moment and took another sip from his to go cup.
Ducky patted Abby's shoulder. "What she means is we're concerned about you."
"We're worried." Quinn's voice was calm and soft. "You've been…." She searched for the right word.
"Grumpy." Torres chimed in, still not as afraid of Gibbs temper as the others. "And it seems to be getting worse."
"We think getting out having a nice evening with someone might help." McGee smiled politely. "I mean spending time with just us has to get old."
Gibbs still remained silent.
"I mean seriously how long has it been since you've been on a date?" Abby questioned not expecting an answer.
"Ten months."
Abby's eyes went wide. "Wow."
Torres' eyebrow went up. "When's the last time you got a little?"
Gibbs glared over at the new agent.
Torres chuckled. "It definitely hasn't been ten months."
"Again, what everyone is trying to say is it might be nice if you went out with someone on a date that might lead to more than one night of carnal passion." Ducky tried to be the voice of logic.
"And we have the perfect person." Abby's eyes brightened with excitement. "Someone that you could spend Valentine's Day with."
Gibbs gave a short curt answer. "No."
"Jethro." Ducky sighed. "We all just want-"
"Duck, you should understand better than anyone why I wouldn't want to be set up."
"Yes well." Ducky cleared his throat at the reminder that he had introduced Gibbs to Diane. "I didn't personally have anything to do with the selection.
"So you're here as the muscle." Gibbs' eyebrow went up.
"That would be me."
Gibbs spun around at the sound of the voice behind him, surprised to see Leon standing there. Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. "You let them drag you into this?"
"No, I agreed whole heartedly." Leon pulled down his suit jacket.
"So?" Gibbs balked.
"You'll go or two weeks' vacation."
"Maybe some vacation would be a good ideal." Gibbs smirked.
"Great. Fornell has agreed to take vacation too and Stephanie and Rebecca would love to come into town for a visit."
The smirk fell from Gibbs' lips as he heard the words.
"It seems Ms. Scuito has everything in order here." Leon smiled and nodded as he walked out of autopsy, the doors swishing open and closed.
Taking a deep breath, Gibbs turned back to the group. "One date."
Abby puffed up as satisfied smile spread across her lips. "I know you two will hit it off."
"I hope." Gibbs took a drink of coffee then chuckled.
The team looked back and forth between each other. They all knew that look and that chuckle.
"There are a lot of weekend seminars for agents coming up…some very long dull seminars." Gibbs added as he turned around walking out. The doors swished shut behind him and the group turned and looked at Abby.
"What!" She snapped the fear already evident in her word and eyes.
"You better be right about this." Torres shook his head.
"The last seminar Gibbs sent me to was about federal criminal law as it relates to suspect transfer." Bishop groaned. "I swear I wanted to kill myself after the first hour."
###########
Opening the unlocked front door, Fornell walked in and paused at the living room when he saw the man sitting on the couch. The glare that Gibbs gave Fornell said everything without saying a word. "I know, I caved, but you know how your team gets when they're on a mission." He paused. "Plus you have to admit you have been a bear to deal with lately."
Gibbs shook his head and gave an eye roll.
"I'm here to make amends."
"Is that so?"
Fornell nodded. "I figured I'd be here when your date gets here and I can be your out. If you need it."
"What I need is a drink." Getting up, Gibbs headed into the kitchen. Opening the cabinet door he pulled down the bottle of bourbon, grabbed two cups and poured them each a drink. Turning around he handed Fornell a cup as he took his own and leaned back against the counter. After a quick sip, he took a deep breath and looked at his friend. "Have I really been that bad?"
Fornell shrugged. "You've definitely had your moments."
Emptying the cup, Gibbs sat it on the counter.
"You wanna talk about it?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"Well if you do."
"I know." Gibbs ran his hands down his face and took another deep breath.
"Glad to see you at least decided to put something other than jeans and a sweatshirt on." Fornell grinned surprised that Gibbs had actually put on gray slacks, blue button down dress shirt and a grey jacket.
"Yeah well it's not this woman's fault that she was dragged into this." Gibbs brow narrowed. "Do you know who it is?"
"No, they didn't tell me, but sounds like it's someone you know."
"Great." Gibbs groaned.
The doorbell chimed and the two men looked at each other, then Gibbs looked at his watch. "She's early."
"I'll pour myself another drink and if you need me I'll be in here getting drunk."
Gibbs rolled his eyes and headed towards the front door. His hand touched the handle and he paused a moment, took a breath then opened the door.
"Surprise!"
Gibbs felt his heart stop as he tried to process the person standing there before him. "What…I-"
"I know I should have told you, but I really did want it to be a surprise."
Gibbs just stood there too shocked to even speak.
"Wow I really didn't think you would be this surprised." Tony grinned. "I thought your Spidey senses would go off and you'd know."
Still unable to speak, Gibbs just shook his head.
"Everyone wanted to tell you but I asked them not to."
"Tony." The name was barely a whisper.
"It's really me." Tony's grin widened.
"When, how?"
Tony chuckled. "The when is yesterday, the how is an airplane."
The smart ass comment finally dispelled some of the shock and Gibbs rolled his eyes.
"There we go the famous eye roll." Tony heard something from inside the house. "Is someone here?"
"Um, no just, no." Gibbs cleared his throat he'd heard it as well. It was clearly Fornell saying holy shit.
"I was going to bring steaks, but I thought maybe a dinner out would be a better idea…it has been awhile." Tony was still smiling. "I mean I know we've talked, but-"
"Dinner out is good somewhere with a bar."
"Absolutely." Tony laughed. "I really didn't think you'd be this surprised."
"I…I'm definitely surprised."
"Well I have so much to tell you and I could use a drink too."
"You can drive."
Tony looked shocked. "Really, wow."
Gibbs didn't trust himself operating heavy machinery right now. He still couldn't believe any of this. Tony was his date, had agreed to this, came from Paris and wanted it to be a secret. Did Tony actually have feelings for him, did he want a relationship…there were countless questions racing through his mind and he had no idea where to begin.
##########
"She's going to be a comedian I swear, she makes me laugh constantly." Tony smiled proudly as he talked about Tali.
"She does have your genes."
"Yes she does." Tony chuckled. "And she has Senior wrapped around her little finger."
"I can tell by the way he talks about her." Gibbs took a sip of his Bourbon.
"Enough about me." Tony's mood suddenly changed, growing more serious and somber as he played with his glass of water. "How are you?"
"Good."
"Really?" Tony's green eyes met steely blue.
Gibbs picked up his glass and downed the rest of his Bourbon. Obviously everyone had shared their concerns with Tony.
"I know this past year has seen a lot of changes."
Gibbs nodded.
"But it seems like everyone is fitting in and they're good agents."
Another nod.
"And you have Clayton working out of NCIS." Tony grinned. "Three agents to replace me."
"No one could replace you."
Tony was surprised by the sadness he heard in the words. "I don't know Abby says Torres does a pretty good job."
"He's not you and I don't want someone like you."
"I don't want my job back."
"I know." Gibbs saw the waitress coming by and held up his empty glass. "You want another?"
"No." Tony shook his head. "Waters good."
When the waitress came back with his drink, he thanked her then took a quick sip. "So are you here to check up on me?"
"Of course not." Tony looked offended. "I'm here because I missed you. I miss everyone."
##########
Fornell had just put the Bourbon back in the cabinet when he heard the doorbell ring again. He looked around confused a moment. Two people ringing the doorbell in one night, definitely odd. Heading to the front door, he glanced out the glass window and his brow furrowed. Opening the door, he smiled. "Can I help you?"
The woman looked at him confused. "Agent Fornell."
"Yes." He looked at her just as confused.
"Um, did I get the wrong address?" She pulled her phone out of her purse and pulled up the GPS. "No this is what Abby gave me."
Fornell's eyes went wide. "Are you-"
"Mandy Joseph, I'm supposed to have a dinner date with Jethro."
Fornell's mouth dropped open. Holy shit.
"Is there a problem?"
"Problem is an understatement." Fornell rubbed his forehead then looked at the woman before him. She was probably mid-forties, long curly sable hair that framed her face, deep hazel eyes and a well-toned body. "Do I know you?" She did know his name and for some reason she looked slightly familiar.
"It's Officer Joseph. I worked a case with NCIS and Homeland a few months ago, with you and Jethro."
"Oh right." He nodded. "It was the Rathburg case. I remember."
"That was it." She smiled.
"And you were supposed to be Jethro's date today."
Her brow furrowed. "Supposed to be?"
"I need to call Jethro." Fornell pulled his phone from the clip at his hip and was about to call his friend when he stopped. He glanced at the woman and shook his head and chuckled. "This is why he's been in such a foul mood." It suddenly all made sense. Gibbs foul mood wasn't about getting laid. It was about missing Tony and not just missing him as an agent. Fornell had always thought Gibbs had feelings for the younger man. Gibbs never questioned the team would set him up with Tony, because Gibbs wanted it to be Tony.
"Agent Fornell?"
"What?" Fornell shook his head. "Right sorry, um there's been a little mix up." The laugh Fornell had been trying to stifle suddenly broke free. "Oh it's a funny story actually and if you know the whole back story it's even funnier." He was still laughing.
"A mix up?"
"Yes." Fornell cleared his throat trying to gain his composer again. "Someone else showed up and well…since he didn't know who the date was with-"
"He's on a date with some other woman?"
Fornell's mouthed open about to speak then he chuckled. "Something like that."
Again she looked at him confused.
"However, I would be honored to take you to dinner." He saw her about to protest and he put his hands up. "Just as friends, to make up for the mistake. Separate car, anything you want." He watched as she considered it. "My treat, why waste the evening."
She chuckled. "Okay."
"Great. What sounds good?"
"I've really had a craving for Italian."
Fornell bit back a laugh as he whispered under his breath. "Funny so did Jethro."