How much longer are you going to have to wear that thing anyway?" Tony asks as he points to her cast.
"Two or three more weeks, I was set back when I fell two weeks ago. Rotten floor board in that house I went to with the team. The computer system was a mess but it helped with the profile. One less sick puppy in the world."
"Come on it's windy out here and I want to eat I'm hungry." He says as he takes her sweater sleeve and pulls her along.
The had become regulars in the small restaurant, a small family owned place. The wait staff smiled as they came and sat at a table near the near the windows. They didn't even have to ask for the menus anymore. The server brought over a large pot of tea for them to start with, then left with their order.
"How's Gillian?"
"She's great. I mean, she completes me, I've never felt so. I don't know how to explain it."
She laughs softly looking at him with a small shake of her head. "Happy, for no reason, just thinking about her makes you smile. You can't wait to see her and you want to spend as much time as possible with her."
"Yes and more."
"You love her, Tony. Have you told her?"
"Yeah I have, and she told me too."
"I'm so happy for you both."
"I looked ahead in the schedule we are off for the next three day weekend, Labor day and I have lots of comp time due me. I might even take an extra day or two."
" That's three months away. So go leaf peeping Gillian told me that she has always wanted go. New Hampshire is nice it's really pretty not to far up north that you can't get back in a hurry in case of an emergency. But still far enough north to see all the pretty colors. Some of the B&B's are really nice too."
"How do you know?"
"I went one year."
"With who?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.
"I was alone, we were given a few days off after a really bad case." Just by the way she looks he knows not even to ask what the case was about. They've all had them and cases like that are better off left unsaid.
"Moneypenny." He says, she knows when he starts a conversation with that one word he is either going to make a joke or he wants to take about something very serious. So she takes the bull by the horns and dives right in. "James, did you know that New Hampshire doesn't have a waiting period to get married, no blood work either."
"How do you know stuff like that?" He asks shaking his head.
"I'm smart."
"And dangerous." he adds.
"That goes without saying."
"Yes I knew. I might not be all knowing like you my Moneypenny , but even I can Google."
"So did you get a ring yet?' she asks innocently.
"Pass the pepper please." he says as he holds out his hand, completely ignoring her question.
"I want pictures." She replies as she places the pepper mill in his hand.
TPTPTPTP
He takes a deep breath and growls deeply as he looks at the reports he still has to do before he can leave for the weekend. Glancing at the his watch he sees that it is just after eight and he isn't even a quarter of the way through. He knows that if all of the reports and case files along with the needed weekly paperwork aren't done and sitting on Gibbs desk he can say good-bye to his plans with Gillian.
Picking up his ringing cell he barks out his name. "DiNozzo."
"Well hello Mr. Sourpuss."
"Penelope, are you feeling better."
"I'm fine Tony, thank you for sending over the take out, but stop worrying it's only the flu, I didn't get my shot in time."
"Can't help it." He admits to her.
"I know, so why are you in a foul mood?"
"I'm in the office and I have a mountain of work and if it's not on Gibbs desk by tomorrow I can't go away with Gillian."
"Do you want help?"
"I can't ask you to do that Penelope."
"You didn't ask Tony I'm offering."
"In that case yes please, but how?"
"Do what I tell you, okay?"
"Okay, what do I do?" He replies trusting her completely he waits for her orders.
"Are you alone in the bullpen?"
"Yes." he answers softly.
She smiles at his response like a kid trying not to get caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. "Put the plasma on, find a game to watch, go back to your desk and give me the IP address. You talk and I'll type, we should be able to get through it quickly. Pretend to end the call just put the cell on the desk but on speaker."
"I think I love you." he says retuning to his seat.
"As you should, I am a goddess after all. Now tell me what report are you working on?"
TPTPTPTP
He walks into the bullpen just after eight in the morning with a large cup of tea and an equally large cup of coffee black, strong and hot, for Gibbs.
"I thought you would be here earlier Tony to finish your paperwork, so you can enjoy your time off. Or are you planning on coming into work tomorrow when no one is here?" Ziva asks.
"I finished my paper work last night Ziva." Tony replies with a smile after he places Gibbs's coffee on his desk.
"I haven't even finished my paperwork. How did you finish it all?" Tim asks.
"I was here alone with only the ball game to keep me company, it went fast."
"McGee, check the security video to see if he had company last night, I think he is lying to us."
McGee nods his head and smiles slyly as she starts to type soon the video feed can be seen on the plasma. Tony can be seen at his desk with a file in front of him as he types his two finger hunt and peck style system. It also shows him stopping from time to time to watch the ballgame, and of him sipping from his water bottle. Both Ziva and Tim can't help but chuckle when they see Tony talking to himself as he works.
Frowning he pushes Tony out of the way and start to look though his computer to see it he has been hacked. He checks the time codes and the amount of paperwork that was done. "It all adds up he was here and he did the work according to the history."
"If you're both satisfied I'd like to work on some cold cases." Tony says as he pulls Tim out of his seat.
Gibbs says nothing at all, he has his suspicions but he keeps them to himself. Picking up his cup of coffee he nods his head to Tony thanking him silently for the hot drink.
Gibbs stands up and grabs his weapon and his creds. "You can go be back bright and early on Tuesday, except for you DiNozzo I expect to see you on Thursday eight A.M. sharp.
"How does he get two extra days off?" Ziva and Tim both ask at the same time.
"Comp time, the director told him to use it or lose it. He asked me I told him it was fine. If there is a case he can right back, right DiNozzo."
"Right Boss." Tony answers as he grabs his things getting ready to leave as well.
TPTPTP
Gibbs knew who it was just as the front door of his home opened. He took one step back and watched as Tony closed the door.
"Tony, You want coffee?" he asks showing him the fresh pot.
"No thanks, I'm just leaving now. I came to ask for a favor?"
"What is it?'
"Can you go to Garcia's place on Sunday around noon, she's had the flu this week, Just check on her."
"Sure, then maybe she can explain how she was able to help you with all of that paper work and not leave a trace not even a ghost of a trace." It's driving McGee mad how you did all of the paperwork.
Tony laughs and shakes his head "Why do I even try to pull one over on you? Why don't you ask her how she was hired to work for them."
"I know how she was hired, Hotchner told me, I just don't know what she did. Hotchner said it was above my pay grade.. He also told me that she is trustworthily if the need ever arose for her unique talent just to ask her.
"She won't tell me either if you're wondering."
"What does she eat?"
"She loves manicotti with a simple marinara, no meat, she is a vegetarian." Tony says then hands Gibbs a slip of paper for the address of a good place to eat and two twenties. "Get yourself something to eat as well Boss. I mean you can't live on coffee alone, even if you think so."
TPTPTP
He knocks on her door just after noon on Sunday. What surprises him is the soft curse that echoes through the door. He can't help but smile softly when the door opens. The most colorful woman he has ever met standing there dressed in a jeans and FBI sweatshirt on her feet are bright pink ankle socks.
"Agent Gibbs. Is something wrong?" she asks as she bends down to pick up Marmalade to stop his escape.
Gibbs shakes his head lightly, "No Garcia, there is nothing wrong. I was asked by DiNozzo to check on you and make sure you eat." At this he hold up a take-out bag. On the side is a stamp of the restaurant Tony takes her to.
She steps to one side letting him in, then she quickly locks the door with bothe dead-bolts.
"I am armed you know."
"better safe than sorry. The kitchen is this way." she motions with her arm showing him the way.
He glances at the living room and see a set of pink tools in a case ready to be used. On the floor he sees what looks like a broken piece of furniture.
Placing the bag on her small table he starts to unpack it while she gets some plates and silverware.
"After we eat you can make coffee while I try to repair what ever it is that you were trying to fix. What is it anyway?"
"A three story condo for Marmalade. I have the directions here I was just going to start when you knocked." she tells him as she reaches for the booklet that she left on her counter.
"While I'm building you can tell me how you helped Tony and why was it so important for him to get away this weekend."
She looks at him and can see the glare and the firm setting of his jaw that makes him such a good a interrogator.
"I need to know if he is in trouble, Penelope?" He says softy not wanting to frighten her.