Dallas had the table set by the time the two men returned from their meeting. Allowing the Colonel to enter first, Tim closed the door and then replied, "Wow, Dallas, that smells wonderful."
"Better enjoy it, McGee. From now on, you'll be taking most of your meals in the mess," Gibbs replied.
"Don't listen to him," Dallas corrected, putting the last of the steaming dishes in the middle of the dining area, "you'll eat here whenever you want."
They each filled a plate and Gibbs and McGee began briefing Dallas on their meeting. Major Victor Reyna, who met the officers upon their arrival, was the senior officer. He had served with their decedent, Major Patterson, but it had been a relatively short-lived service. The next senior officer was Captain Paul DeLeon. He and Reyna along with their senior enlisted, Sergeant Major Luke Guzman, had all served together for the last eighteen months. None of the men had much to say about their previous C.O. – good or bad.
"So, you think they're covering?" Dallas asked, pushing her plate back.
Gibbs nodded, "Oh, yeah. Definitely."
"Since I can't go through channels, do you mind requesting their personnel files, Dallas?" McGee asked.
"Consider it done," she replied.
McGee stood, taking his plate as he did, and headed toward the sink. Gibbs and Dallas shared a glance as Hunter asked, "What're you doing, Tim?"
He looked back guiltily and shrugged, "Old habit. Being back in base housing, I did what I had to do at home. You finish your plate, you take it to the sink to be washed; depending upon whose turn it was to do dishes or dry."
Dallas smiled in answer, "Yeah, I recognized the drill. It was the same when I was at home."
"Your family was military?" Gibbs asked.
She nodded, "Dad was a full bird colonel in the Air Force."
Continuing to clear the table, McGee interjected, "Then how'd you wind up a Marine?"
"It's all that was left," was the matter-of-fact reply. "My oldest sister followed dad into the Air Force. My oldest brother got a scholarship to play football at West Point so he took an Army commission. My older brother played baseball at Annapolis and went on to be a Navy seal."
Gibbs finished, "So you took the easy way out and became a Marine."
"Right," Dallas answered dryly.
Joining McGee at the sink, she took the washcloth. "Think you've done enough, Tim. I'll wash up and put everything away."
"I can help."
"Don't think so, Marine," Gibbs answered, "I expect you on the track at 0-500 for PT."
McGee groaned, "I hadn't thought about that." Looking back to a smiling Dallas, he continued, "Guess I will let you finish, then."
Nodding her understanding, McGee said his good nights and left the couple alone.
Gibbs continued to watch Dallas clean up the small kitchen. His thoughts drifted to another time, years ago when he was in a base housing kitchen, watching a woman pickup.
Feeling the stare, Hunter looked over her shoulder just in time to catch the wistful gaze. She put away the last glass, turned the light on over the sink and then walked up behind the still contemplative NCIS agent.
"Where are you?" She asked quietly, putting her hands on either shoulder.
He leaned his head back against her body and answered, "A million miles and another life time away."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Nope."
"Gibbs," she started only to be cutoff.
"It's not important to the case and not germane to our relationship, Dallas."
Knowing that tone meant no more discussion, she didn't reply but left the kitchen to get ready for bed leaving the former Marine still sitting at the table.
Forty-five minutes passed before Gibbs showed his face in their bedroom. Dallas ignored him, continuing to re-read the same two pages that she'd been trying to absorb for the last 30 minutes. When he joined her in the bed, she still refused to acknowledge him. On a heavy sigh, he spoke, "I know you're not really reading because you haven't turned the page since I came in."
"You're wrong," she said, deliberately turning the page, "I'm just thoroughly digesting this part of the plot."
Smiling enigmatically, he replied, "We don't normally do our pasts, do we?"
"This isn't normal," she answered, still not putting down the book. "I'm expected to be your partner and a full fledged member of your team."
"You are," he answered.
Slamming down the book, Dallas replied heatedly, "Then treat me like it, damn it. Don't work around me or imply I'm doing something extra just because it's your normal crew. You specifically asked for me."
Gibbs accepted the criticism, "You're right. I did ask for you and you are an equal member of this group. It won't happen again."
"Better not," was the mumbled reply.
"What was that?" he asked, grabbing his glasses and book from the nightstand next to his side of the bed.
"Nothing," Dallas quickly responded, bringing her book back up to continue to read.
It was almost 1 a.m. when Dallas saw the light of the computer screen flash on. Stealthily exiting the bed so as not to wake up her companion, she quietly dropped into the chair and into Tony's line of sight.
"We're back," he answered tiredly.
Dallas nodded, "Everything go well?"
"Yeah," he stretched and yawned, running a hand around the back of his neck, "we got a few names that we're going to run by the head of the drug task force tomorrow."
"Anything you need me to do?"
"Naw, not right now. I'll let you know if we get any hits from them." Tony answered.
Dallas had noticed the low rumble in the background as soon as she and Tony made their initial connection. It had grown steadily louder until she could no longer ignore the sound.
"What is that noise, DiNozzo?"
Looking mournfully over his shoulder, he responded, "Ziva. She snores like a drunken sailor. And, it's apparently made worse by consuming massive quantities of alcohol."
"I'm so sorry," Dallas answered honestly. Smiling, she replied, "Want to trade bunkmates?"
"Sleep with Gibbs?" Tony looked horrified, "No, thanks. Better the devil you know. I've slept with her before."
Hunter's eyebrows shot straight up to the top of her head, "Really?"
Smirking, he replied, "Not what you think, Agent Hunter. We've been undercover together as husband and wife. I know what she's like." And he produced a pair of earplugs from his shirt pocket which he showed to the camera.
Dallas smiled, "Sleep well, Agent DiNozzo."
She started to stand from the desk and turn off the computer when she was halted, "Wait a minute, Dallas."
Hunter dropped back down into the chair at Tony's request. "About earlier," he began.
"Don't mention it, DiNozzo."
"Yeah, well, I know you were just concerned about our welfare. You didn't mean anything."
Dallas smiled, "Glad you understand, Tony."
"Yeah, okay, then, good night, Dallas."
"Night, Tony."
And she clicked off the computer and padded back to the bed. Turning off the small lamp, she quietly slipped back between the covers and rolled onto her side. Dallas felt the movement next to her and wasn't surprised when a warm, calloused hand caressed her hip, pulling her back against a warm, solid body.
Whispering, he said, "Told you once he got his head out of his ass, he'd figure out what you were doing."
Smiling, she replied quietly, "Right, as usual, Jethro."
"And, next time, you might want to consult with me before you offer to change bedmates." And he pinched her backside and went back to sleep.