The Good Neighbor
Chapter 21
Gibbs and Sarah spent the rest of the day excitedly preparing for their "date" that evening.
Sarah's Day
Sarah glanced over toward Gibbs house when she heard his truck leave. "Wonder where he's going?" she asked her Boston Terrier Lily. "I hope he is not running off on me." The dog just looked at her and snorted. "You're right, he wouldn't do that. He's not that kind of guy."
Sarah started cleaning her house like a mad woman. She paid special attention to the dining room. Usually when Gibbs came to her house to eat, they would eat in the kitchen. She wanted things to be more romantic, so she set out candles and flowers from her garden.
Sarah had been fixing up her place since Myron. She was making the house hers and hers alone. She had repainted and had been adding new furniture and other things. Abby had been so much help with the decorating. She and Abby along with Ziva had decorated each room in Sarah's new style. They had enlisted Tony, Tim and Gibbs to paint all the rooms.
Sarah had finished cleaning and the prep-work for her dinner. She went upstairs to choose her outfit for the evening. Sarah was standing in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear that evening when her phone rang. "Hello."
"Hey Sarah" Abby replied. "You ready for lunch."
"Sure, but Abby I have a problem." Sarah said bluntly.
"Oh Sarah, what is it?" Abby blurted out worried.
"Gibbs is coming to my house to dinner and I have nothing to wear."
"Well that is easy to solve. We are meeting Ziva at a restaurant near the mall. Why don't we just go shopping and find you something?" Abby replied. "Question though. You have never been worried about what to wear for Gibbs. What changed?"
Sarah stuttered. "Well ….. Abby ….. I sort of made a decision this morning. "
"Oh we have to talk." Abby was almost cheering over the phone. "I'm on my way over." Abby hung up the phone immediately. Sarah just looked at her phone and smiled. She could imagine the Goth speeding to her house very excited.
NCIS
Gibbs' day
Gibbs had called Ducky and headed over to his brownstone. He had to discuss a couple of ideas he had for his date with Sarah but he wanted the older man's opinion. Again he was afraid it was too soon to assert his feelings for her. The last thing he wanted to do was to interfere with her "recovery" from all the years of abuse she had endured with Myron.
Gibbs pulled up in front of Ducky's place and walked up the steps and knocked on the door. "Good Morning, Jethro." Ducky replied as he opened the door. "Won't you come in?" He stepped back into the foyer allowing his friend to enter. He noticed that his friend had a troubled look on his face. "Would you like some coffee, Jethro? I am sure I can find some."
"No thanks, Duck. I brought my own. No offence but your coffee tastes like sludge." The old man chuckled. "Well I am partial to Earl Grey myself. Now what is wrong my friend? You look troubled."
The two men walked into the living area and sat down on the sofa. "Well Duck, it's personal." Ducky nodded. "And it involves Sarah."
The old man smiled. He hoped that the couple had made that leap to a deeper relationship. "What can I help you with?"
The silver haired man stammered for the words. "She asked me to her house for dinner."
The older man smiled. "Well Jethro, you've been to her house many times for dinner right?"
"Yes, but somehow this seems different. It is the way she asked me Ducky."
"Oh! How?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"It was just in her voice and she mentioned taking risks." Gibbs replied. "I don't know it just seemed well" He paused. "More seductive."
"And that is a problem for you. You told me that you loved her."
"I know that. Just don't want to push her."
"Really Jethro, you have been married four times. What is different this time?"
"She was so injured and abused by him, Duck." Gibbs replied. "I want her to feel that my attentions are sincere. That I would never hurt her."
"She knows that, Jethro," the old man said, "she knows. If your attentions weren't sincere you would have made a move on her long ago. So how can I help you?"
Jethro Gibbs explained his plan for the evening to Ducky who listened very attentively smiling and nodding his head in approval.
NCIS
Sarah's day con.
Sarah was not surprised that Abby was out of breath when she jumped out of her red hotrod just minutes after their call ended. "Tell me; tell me how did you ask him to dinner?"
"Calm down Abby, it was just an invitation but I want it to be a more romantic dinner that we have ever had." Sarah told her. Abby jumped at her giving her a giant bear hug.
"Oh I am so happy for you both." She was almost jumping for joy. "It is about time." Sarah just stood there waiting for Abby to calm down. Abby noticed a slight nervousness in Sarah's face. "What's wrong, Sarah?"
"Nothing really." Sarah replied. "Just my old insecurities coming back again, I just am afraid that he will turn me down or worse be like what I had before." Abby looked at her puzzled. "You know all sex and nothing more."
Abby looked at her shocked. "Sarah!" she almost yelled. "This is Gibbs. Have you not seen the way he looks at you? He would not ever treat a stranger like the way Myron treated you. He loves you. I can see it."
"I know that in my heart Abby. " Sarah said. "But my head has doubts."
"Well I suggest you listen to your heart. Trust Gibbs. You can't go wrong, trusting Gibbs." Abby hugged her again. "Let's go meet Ziva and find you a knock out outfit. Something that will blow him away. Not that it would take a very hard breeze." She chuckled.
The two headed out to door and got into the car and sped off to meet Ziva.
NCIS
Gibbs' day con.
Gibbs arrived back home just after lunch with most of the things he needed to put his plan in motion for the evening. He went down to the basement. He had been working on a project for Sarah's house. It was a plaque for her front door. It was expertly carved with roses. He put a few finishing touches on the plaque and then placed it in an already decorated box.
He smiled to himself. "She's going to love this." He glanced over at the huge bouquet of flowers sitting on the workbench. He thought about his plans for the evening and he smiled.
Just at that moment his phone rang. "Gibbs," he answered.
"Hey boss." Tony replied.
"What's up DiNozzo? We can't have case."
"No boss, just wondering if you have talked to Ziva?"
"Not her keeper on her time off, DiNozzo but I think she was going to lunch with Abby and Sarah. Sarah mentioned something about shopping."
"Ok, thanks Boss."
"What's up Tony?"
"Nothing Boss. Just tried to call her and she usually picks up and I got concerned." Tony stammered. He had known would question him why he was looking for Ziva.
"Really? She's a big girl. She can take care of herself." Gibbs knew they were seeing each other. He enjoyed Tony's nervousness.
"Oh, I know she can Boss. Just got concerned. That's all." Tony replied.
"They'll be back soon."
"Well if you talk to her tell her to call me." Tony told him.
"Sure." Gibbs hung up the phone and smiled to himself. He knew that the two had been quietly dating for a long time. He just wondered when they would come to him about it. He might just have to call their hand on it sometime in the future.
He looked at the clock. It was 1500 hours. He was meeting Sarah at 1900 so he had four hours to wait. He looked around the basement. He sighed. This afternoon was going to be an eternity. His eyes then stopped on the wood he had been saving for something special. An idea popped into his head and he started smiling. "That's it. I'll start working on Sarah's girls' surprises, today."
He found the plans for the toy boxes he had been wanting to make and went straight to work. He was doing something for the woman he loved and he hoped it would make her smile.
NCIS
Sarah's Day con.
After lunch Ziva, Sarah and Abby went to the local mall and started looking for an outfit for Sarah to wear for her romantic dinner with Gibbs. They had checked out several places but Abby had not found anything she found suitable. Sarah and Ziva were concerned that she was taking this to personal.
Finally then walked into a small boutique called Shannon's. It had just opened so none of them had been there, yet. "Maybe its name is a good omen." Sarah chuckled. "Shannon was always on my side. Maybe she has something picked out for me all ready." Sarah smiled.
"Let's check out the dresses." Abby replied as she bounced into the back of the store.
By the time Ziva and Sarah had made it to the back of the store Abby had picked out four dresses she wanted Sarah to try on. Sarah took a look at one silky black dress. "Oh Abby, I can't wear that it's going to show off too much." Sarah blushed.
"You want to catch a Marine, don't you?" Abby asked her. All three women could not help but laugh. Sarah still shook her head.
"But this might be a little too much bait, don't you think Abby." Sarah smiled.
"Give me a break, Sarah. Just try it on." Abby encouraged her.
"Yes Sarah, try it on you might like it." Ziva chimed in. "It is a very beautiful."
Sarah could not help but smile at the two and she grabbed all four dresses and headed into the dressing room followed by Abby and Ziva. A few minutes later Sarah emerged wearing Abby's very form fitting black dress with a short hemline and a very low cut revealing neckline. Abby was almost clapping with joy. "That is the most beautiful dress. You look so sexy." Sarah was fidgeting. She kept trying to pull the dress down and she was trying to cover up her cleavage.
"Abby can you not see that Sarah is very uncomfortable in that dress?"
"She will get used to it. Gibbs will love it." Abby replied. She walked up and lifted up her hair. "Now how should you fix your hair?" Abby just kept going on and on about the dress.
Finally Sarah put her hands on Abby's shoulders. She looked into her eyes. Then Sarah mustered up all the assertion she could. "Abby, you are one of my best friends and I love you but no this dress is not for me." Sarah took another deep breath. She had to stand up for herself. "I am not going to wear this dress. I am not comfortable will all this skin showing. First I am not as young as you and I think a more mature woman needs to be more reserved. Second I just don't feel comfortable in this." Sarah turned and walked back in the dressing room. Abby and Ziva both could see tears in her eyes.
Abby stood there with a hurt look on her face. " Abby, she is right. She did not look at all beautiful in that dress. She was terrified." Ziva told her. Abby nodded and followed Sarah into the dressing room.
"Sarah," Abby approached the dressing room and knocked on the door. "I'm sorry. You just looked so beautiful and I know Gibbs would love you in that dress."
Sarah slowly opened the door allowing Abby to enter. She was back fully dressed in her own clothes. Abby saw the black dress thrown on the floor by the mirror. Abby stepped past Sarah and picked it up. She put it on the hanger. Sarah sat down on the chair. She put her head in her hands. "I'm really sorry, Abby. That dress is so beautiful but it caused me so much stress I would not be happy."
"I understand that now."
"It's just" Sarah stopped and could not stop the tears falling from her eyes. "When - Myron- " Abby walked over and knelt down in front of her.
"What is it, Sarah?"
Sarah took a few deep breaths. "When Myron was alive, Abby. I had to keep covered up. Even shorts in the summer were a problem."
Abby looked at her strangely. "Why?"
Sarah wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue from her pocket. "Well if I went outside the house in something tight or revealing he belittled me. If I wore anything that was at all pretty he would accuse me of committing adultery and then he would hit me. If I was at home and wore anything that revealed anything it put his already hyped up libido into overdrive. This meant if I did not give in to his demands he would pout and then he would get violent". Sarah looked into Abby's eyes. "So you see Abby why revealing my figure causes me so much pain."
"I understand. But Myron is gone. He is not going to hurt you ever again."
"I realize that Abby but despite all the work I have done with Rachel I still have confidence issues. I still have flashbacks. Not as much as before but I still do. Sometimes nightmares. Gibbs knows, Rachel knows but nobody else."
Abby engulfed her in a huge hug. "Oh Sarah, I did not know how much you have endured. Please forgive me. I would never want you to be uncomfortable."
"It's ok Abby. I understand. You didn't know." Sarah wiped her eyes again. "Let's go out and see if we can find something we can all be happy with."
"Are you sure you want my opinion? After everything." Abby questioned her. Sarah nodded and left the dressing room.
They stepped out of the dressing room arm in arm. "You two are alright now, yes." Ziva questioned.
Both Abby and Sarah nodded. They moved over to another rack of cocktail dresses. As they were looking a young blond girl walked up to them. "Miss Scuito?"
Abby turned and looked at her. Abby did not recognize her but Sarah did. "You look so familiar. Do I know you?"
The young woman looked at Sarah. "Are you Mrs. Layton? Janice's mother."
"What a minute, I know you. You're Maddie, Maddie Tyler." Sarah exclaimed. "You were Kelly's best friend."
"Yes and I hope I was best friends with Janice too."
"Oh you were. We just hated it when you had to move away." Sarah replied "Are you back to stay?"
"I'm here going to college. I am working here part time to pay the bills. Can I help you find something?"
"Well yes, I'm looking for a nice dress for a romantic dinner. Nothing to sexy or revealing. I've lost some weight and I don't have anything pretty."
"I think I have just the thing in the back." Maddie smiled and turned toward the back. A few minutes later she returned with a powder blue. It had beautiful tiers with beaded trim made the Patra dress look beautiful. The hem line was just below the knee with a scalloped bottom. The dress had a V shaped neckline but did not dip to far down. The sleeves revealed the arms but had a scalloped cover.
When Abby, Sara and Ziva saw the dress it was like they all said a collective "Ah! "
"Maddie, it's perfect." Sarah gasped. "Oh I hope it fits. Can I try it on?"
"Absolutely". She handed the dress to Sarah who walked quickly into the dressing room.
Within minutes Sarah came back out wearing the dress. The color was perfect. It fit her new body like a glove. "Well ladies, what do you think?" Sarah asked as she sashayed in front of the mirror.
"It's gorgeous. You are so right Sarah. Less is more. Gibbs will totally love it." Abby replied almost jumping up and down. "I know just how to fix your hair."
"You look very beautiful." Ziva said
"You're going out with Jethro?" Maddie questioned. Sarah nodded. "That is so great. When I saw him last he seemed so alone."
"Thanks Maddie." She gave Maddie a hug. "I'll take this dress and yes Abby you can fix my hair." She smiled leaving to go to the dressing room to change. She was so excited. She had found the perfect dress and was excited about the evening to come.
NCIS
Gibbs' Day con.
Gibbs spent the whole afternoon planning and working on the toy chests for Leah and her baby sister. Thanks to his work on the surprise the afternoon flew by and it was time for him to shower and change for his dinner date.
He raced upstairs to his bathroom taking two steps at a time. He went to the closet and got out his grey suit coat and pants. He laid them on the bed. He searched his closet looking for just the right suit, shirt and tie. He finally settled on his charcoal grey suit with a dark blue shirt and a lighter blue tie. He knew Sarah loved the color blue and he was willing to do anything to please her.
He then stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The hot water started to steam up the room as he disrobed and got under the warm stream of water. As he began to shampoo his hair and wash the sawdust from his body he began to rehearse what he wanted to say to her. A speech he had been trying to say to her since the night she asked for a lawyer and wanted to divorce Myron.
He spent longer in the shower than he usually would but he wanted everything to be perfect. He stepped out of the shower and quickly toweled off. He then began to shave and comb his hair still going over and over his mind. "I just hope I can give her the night she deserves."
NCIS
Sarah's Day con.
Sarah, Abby and Ziva came straight to Sarah's house after buying the dress and leaving the mall. Together the friends ended up in the kitchen helping Sarah prepare dinner. Sarah had turned on the radio and the trio began to dance around the kitchen laughing and just having a wonderful time.
Just then Ziva's phone rang. She smiled to herself when she saw the caller ID. "Hello Tony." Ziva answered.
"Hey Sweet cheeks, I am so glad you finally answered. I was really worried about you." Tony blurted.
"Tony, why were you so worried? I can handle myself you know."
"Oh I know you can, believe me. I just was concerned I mean with Rule 3 and all." He tried not to sound too concerned but he had been worried about her.
"Rule 3?" Ziva searched her memory for what that rule was. "Never be unreachable." She smiled to herself. "I was with Abby and Sarah. I just had me cell on vibrate. We had a very important mission."
"Really a mission. I thought we weren't on call this weekend."
"We are not. "
"So was it for Gibbs?" Tony continued to question her.
"No," she looked at Sarah. "Well sort of I guess. But it is not what you think, Tony. I will explain later." She smiled over at Sarah. "What did you want from me, Tony?"
"Well," he stammered. "Since we are not on call, "he took a breath. "Was wondering if you wanted to join me for a movie night?"
Ziva smiled to herself. Lately their movie nights had become more and more heated. Both Abby and Sarah noticed the smile and could not help but giggle.
"I am helping Sarah right now." Abby and Sarah both motioned for her to go. Ziva chuckled. "Looks like my help is no longer needed, shall I bring the pizza?"
"No sweet cheeks, we can order it when you get here."
"All right Tony, I will meet you are your apartment." Ziva hung up the phone and turned to her friends who were now giggling.
"Sarah, you really do not mind if I leave." Both Abby and Sarah just smiled.
"Have fun, Ziva" Sarah replied. Sarah went over hand hugged the Israeli.
"You will let me know how this evening turns out, yes."
"Absolutely." Sarah smiled.
Ziva grabbed her purse and headed out to her car. Sarah checked on the food. "Dinner is done for now. The rest I have to do just before he gets here. Guess it's time to go upstairs and get ready." Abby nodded. Then the two headed upstairs.
NCIS
Gibbs looked at the clock. It was 5 minutes to 7. He had seen Abby leave about 30 minutes earlier. He knew that Sarah was now at her house alone. He grabbed the large bouquet of roses and his now wrapped present for Sarah. He then started out the door stepping across the driveways to Sarah's house.
He stopped at the door, took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. A few minutes later Sarah slowly opened the door. She was standing behind the door as if she was hiding herself from him. "Sarah, why are you hiding?"
Sarah giggled nervously. "Not hiding Jethro. Just enjoying you in that suit and my favorite shirt. Didn't I give you that tie?"
"Yep. Now young lady step out I have something to say." Sarah stepped out from behind the door and then closed it behind her. At first glimpse of Sarah's dress and hair Gibbs was in awe of her beauty. The dress was beautiful and it showed off her new figure wonderfully. "May I say that you look absolutely gorgeous? I have never seen you look so beautiful," he gasped. Sarah ducked her head looking at the floor. Gibbs' heart sank. He hated that she still felt uncomfortable when she was given a compliment. "Sarah, look at me. You look beautiful and I want to enjoy the complement because I mean it." He sat the flowers down on the door side table and cupped her face in his hand. "You have down so much to improve your life. I am so proud of the woman you are becoming." She smiled at him as tears filled her eyes. "I have stood back and waited for you. I did not want to push you. So tonight I am asking your permission to court you. I want you to feel that I want you from you. I promise to support in any way you want me too." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Will you give me permission to pursue you with a true loving relationship as the objective?"
Sarah smiled but tears were coming down her cheeks. "Jethro, court me? That is very old school.
"I'm an old school kind of guy. We have been friends for twenty years. Now I want you to be my for lack of a better word girlfriend." Gibbs wiped the tears off her cheek with is thumb. "So what do you say?"
Sarah shook her head and smiled. "Why yes, Mr. Gibbs I grant you permission to come to court me," she said in her best southern belle accent.
Gibbs could not help but chuckle. He decided to play into the joke. "Thank you Miss Sarah. I am honored by your permission." He took her hand and kissed it in a grandiose manner. He then handed her the gift. "This is for you. I hope you like it."
Sarah opened the beautifully wrapped box. She gasped as she saw the plaque for her front door. It read "Welcome to a now Happy Home." Sarah smiled. "Oh Jethro it is beautiful. Thank you so much."
Gibbs smiled. "You're welcome." He then handed her the flowers. "These are for you, too." She took the flowers and started toward the kitchen.
"I'll put these in water."Sarah replied. Gibbs watched her walk toward the kitchen enjoying once again how beautiful she looked in her dress. He could not help but smile. She was so beautiful. He was yanked from his thoughts by Sarah's screams. "Jethro come quick" she screamed.
He raced into the kitchen. His thoughts were racing trying to figure out why she would be screaming in her own kitchen. When he entered the kitchen he found Sarah standing on top of her small kitchen table. She was still screaming and pointing toward the corner near the store. "I just saw a rat. It was huge. Get him out of my house."
Gibbs released a breath he did not know he was holding. "Calm down Sarah. I'll find him." He walked over toward the corner and pulled the stove out so he could see if the rat was still visible. He found a hole in the wall right behind the stove it was no bigger than a quarter. There were mouse droppings behind the stove along with a mouse trap. The bait was missing. There was no sign of a "huge rat". He turned and looked at Sarah. She was shaking and had a horrified look on her face. "A huge rat, Sarah?" he asked. "Got any steel wool." Sarah nodded and pointed toward the top drawer next to the refrigerator. Gibbs walked over and opened it to find a Ziploc bag full of steel wool, next to a roll of duct tape and several more mouse traps. He smiled to himself. He quickly took the duct tape and steel wool. He filled the hole with steel wool and secured it with the duct tape.
He then turned and walked over toward the table. "That should keep your rat out of the kitchen until I can patch the hole for you," he said smiling. "Let me help you down."
"Jethro are you sure he is gone?"
"That scream send him running for his mother. I'm sure he won't be bothering us again tonight." He reached up and put his hands on her waist and carefully lowered her to the floor. She kind of slid down his body and stayed close when her feet landed on the floor. She looked up and her face was very close to his. Their eyes met and Gibbs lost himself in her eyes. She parted her lips slightly as if she was almost inviting him to kiss her. This time it was Gibbs that was overcome with emotion. He so wanted to kiss her but he still wanted to follow her lead. He started to pull away.
Sarah grumbled quietly and reached for his cheek. She pulled him back to her. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. She put her free hand behind his neck holding him closer. Gibbs started to resist but she was so beautiful and she had kissed him. He returned her kiss this time with more passion than the last time.
They continued to kiss and explore each other's mouths. Gibbs put his hands back on her waist and pulled her body closer to him. Both of them were getting aroused by the kissing.
Just then Sarah pulled back. She pushed him away from her. A horrified look now replaced the happy glow that had been there before. "I can't," she muttered. "I just can't. " She left the room. She ran up the stairs and went into her room. She slammed the door and locked it.
For a few minutes Gibbs stood there dumb struck. What had just happened? She had kissed him. He had thought she was ready. Then it hit him. Things were moving too fast for her.
He then followed her up the stairs and stood at the door. He knocked softly. "Sarah, sweetheart, open the door. It's ok. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do."
"Go away Jethro. I don't want to talk about it. "
"We don't have to. Let's just eat and have a nice evening," he told her. "Things were going too fast. I'm not leaving until you unlock this door." Gibbs sat down on the floor opposite the door. "I mean it, Sarah. I'll sit here all night."
About thirty minutes later, Gibbs heard the lock on the door open. He stood up to greet Sarah as the door slowly opened. "I called Rachel," she whispered. "I just had a flashback. I'm fine now."
"Well let's go downstairs and eat."
Sarah looked horrified. "My dinner. I'm sure it is ruined by now."
"Then we order out. No big deal."
"I so wanted tonight to be perfect."
"It has been," Gibbs replied. "That was a special kiss we shared and when you are ready I would love to kiss you again. No pressure though." She smiled. "So pizza or Asian?"
"Asian," Gibbs held out his arm to escort her downstairs. Sarah looked up at him. "You know there wasn't a huge rat only a little mouse."
"Yep and in your deception my dear you forgot I know that you're afraid of snakes not mice." He chuckled. Sarah looked at him and blushed.
Gibbs smiled and patted her arm. He reached for his phone and order Asian food for them.
The couple sat down on the couch and Sarah put in a movie. They cuddled together as they waited for the food. They were content with things. Their relationship had turned the corner and they were happy with that.