~Author's Note~
I would like to start by explaining the long period of time between chapter 7 and 8. For those of you who don't know I am in the Navy. I go out to sea for sometimes months at a time which makes updating near impossible till I pull in. I am going to try and get as many chapters out this week as possible before we head underway again. After that I will not be able to update this story again till the first week of July. I've been working on this fic since March of last year, it started as a way to pass the time during my long and portless deployment in the Persian Gulf but eventually it took on a life of its own. There is a planned ending and the story is changing but I'd like to think it's for the better! I hope you all will stick around and I just want to tell you how much I truly appreciate everyone's feedback! Have a wonderful day!
~End Note~
A few hours later Rossi had four steaks on the counter for Jethro to grill over the fireplace when he arrived. Meanwhile David and Krystall were also in the kitchen happily cooking together.
"So, you made a new friend at school," his wife teased him as she kissed his cheek.
David smiled and turned his head to kiss her back. "Yes, I believe I did," David agreed as he pulled back slightly.
"Well I'm glad you're making friends outside the team," Krystall smiled as she packed him on the lips. Just then the doorbell rang and she left to answer it as David continued to cook.
Krystall came back with one relatively silent cowboy, and was chatting away with Jack.
"Steaks are on the counter Gunny," Rossi told the man with a smile as he draped A towel over his shoulder. Rossi was in a navy blue button up tucked into his jeans with a pair of his Italian leather boots on.
Gibbs shook Rossi's hand, "they'll be done in a bit," he said as he let go and grabbed the steak filled plate heading for the living room.
"Dave, great place you got here," Jack probed, interested to learn more about the man who had managed to befriend the cowboy.
"I'm an author," he told her as he started to dish out his pasta. Frank Sinatra played softly in the background as he started to clean everything up.
"I'm surprised Tim didn't freeze in awe then. He is an author as well," Jack joked lightly.
"I thought he might have been staring for a little longer than normal when we met," David chuckled light heartedly as he put the pot and utensils into the sink to be washed later.
"Steaks should be done in 10 minutes," Jethro said as he walked in the kitchen.
"I'll get the wine," Krystall replied as she had it for the other side of the kitchen where the wine rack was located.
"I'll get the scotch," David shot back as he headed for the cabinet above her where he stored his scotch.
Jack watched with a small smile as David wrapped his arms around his wife kissing her cheek before they both grabbed a bottle and looked for glasses to pour.
"They're a cute couple," Jack murmured with a small smile.
"Yeah," Gibbs agreed with the same strong silent type vibes he always gave off. Without warning Jethro leaned down and kissed Jack's head before heading to check on the steaks.
Jack just smiled softly as she watched him walk away before turning her attention back to the Rossi's. David had a knowing look in his eye as he walked past Jack with two glasses of scotch. Krystall handed Sloane her wine as they waited for the men to get back so everyone could eat.
Gibbs and Rossi walked back in, laughing, steaks in hand. It appeared to Jack and Krystall they were swapping old war stories.
Krystall took the steaks and added them to their plates. David then helped her set the table before they all sat down to eat.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Jack inquired as they all began to eat.
"Well, we've been married twice. First time was Vegas for 36 hours," Krystall recalled with a chuckle. "But this time around it's been almost a year."
"Do you both have children?"
"I have a daughter with my second ex-wife, Joy and a grandson," David told Jack as they all got to know each other.
"I also have a daughter with my second ex-husband, Portia," Krystall told her, "what about you?"
"I have a daughter as well, Hope," Jack told them with a smile. Under the table Jack and Cristal we're holding Gibbs and Rossi's hands. The woman knew both men had lost their first child.
"This pasta is amazing," Jack complemented Dave.
"He's quite the Chef," Krystall agreed.
"I don't know about that but these steaks are amazing," David returned.
"Thanks. Bout the only good way to cook a steak in my opinion," Gibbs accepted the compliment.
Dinner went on as everyone loosened up and laughed more. The dishes were eventually washed and put away as they all headed for the living room with freshly filled glasses on hand.
"And the kid just stared at me like I had three heads," David finished his story as a group erupted in a fit of laughter. Rossi looked down at his and Jethro's empty scotch glasses and motion for the man to join him in the kitchen for a refill.
"Thanks," Jethro muttered with a small smile as he watched Rossi pour the scotch.
"You should really ask Jack out," Rossi advised his new friend.
"Oh really?"
"She loves you Gunny. Whether you're too stubborn to see it or not," Rossi told him as he put the empty scotch bottle in the trash.
Gibbs responded with little more than a small sigh. He knew the Italian was right, and maybe he would on their way home. It was a good drive so they had plenty of time.
"Just think about it," David suggested with a friendly look before he headed back to join the women with Jethro in tow.
The rest of the night went by a bit more tame. The four chatted quietly about everything under the sun. Eventually Gibbs and Sloane headed home, then Krystall and David headed up to bed. It had been a very good night.
Rossi and Gibbs started hanging out more after that. The two would go shooting or fishing together, sometimes they end up at each other's homes, Jack and Krystall chatting animatedly.
The two women had become just as close as their male partners. Jack has been extremely happy once Jethro and asked her on a date. The two were doing very well almost like they were meant to be…
"Gunny!" Rossi's shout of delight echoed across the bullpen at NCIS.
"Dave! To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I've got a case I need your help on," Rossi told him honestly.
"What's the case about?"
"We've got four dead and one was a Marine on base by military housing," Rossi explained.
"Victims fit a type or…?" Jethro inquired.
"All were white males, in their 30s, brown hair, brown eyes, and in positions of authority," Rossi caught him up.
"What do you mean by positions of authority?" Gibbs wondered aloud.
"First victim was a police captain, second was the chief of surgery, third was a fire fighting captain, and now a marine gunnery sergeant," Rossi explained in more detail.
"What do you need from us?"
"I need to know if we can get access to the base security feed so we can find our guy."
"Are they not giving them to you?"
"They have been less than cooperative with our investigation," David explained.
"So you'd like to see if they would be more cooperative for us?"
"Would you be willing to if I said please?"
"Nope. I'll do it anyway," The cowboy replied to his friend.
"Thanks Gunny. We still on for poker this weekend at my place?" David inquired.
"I'm bringing Jack and Vance," The man confirmed, fully looking forward to the planned evening.
"Good! Krystall and Emily are going to be there!" Rossi informed his counterpart excitedly.
"Can't wait," Jethro replied with a slight smile.
"To get your ass handed to you at poker?" Rossi added with a smirk.
"Oh I don't know David. You might find your skills lacking in comparison to the Cowboy's poker face," Jack interrupted.
"Poker face or not cards and great profiling skills are where it's at," The Italian defended.
"Cowboys and Italians," Jack huffed in amusement.
"Sounds like the title of a cowboy mafia book," Dinozzo commented with a chuckle. All three agents turned to look at him pointedly. "Shutting up!" Tony conceded immediately.
"You down for a beer after work tonight?" Jethro asked changing the subject.
"Should still be in town so yeah."
"Where's the rest of the team?" Sloane asked, noticing he was alone.
"At the BAU investigating. This wasn't really a group outing," David explained.
"Ahhhh… didn't want to take the kids," Jack commented knowingly.
"Makes The drive much faster when there isn't an argument over the best doctor from Doctor Who every five minutes," David huffed out with a laugh.
Gibbs didn't say a word as he sent McGeachy a very knowing and pointed look as the kid shrank behind his desk.
"Don't let them intimidate you Tim," Jack told the man as she sent both Dave and Jethro a disapproving look.
"What'd I do?!" Rossi asked defensively. Jack simply answered his question with a raised brow. "Four marriages and you think I'd know when to keep my mouth shut by now," David muttered to himself earning a chuckle from his friend.
"I Heard you guys both found and lost someone on your most wanted list on the same day," Jethro changed the subject.
"Ahhh yes Reddington," David acknowledged with a sigh.
"Any details?" Jack now asked.
"No idea, whole thing has been hush, hush," David told them both.
"Makes you wonder…" Jack trailed off.
"About what?" Jethro now asked.
"Who Reddington is. I am a psychologist Gibbs," Jack explained.
Later that evening David, and Jethro were drinking a beer together on the couch. Jack had decided a night to her self was required and the boys had no issue hanging out alone.
"How's Krystall?"
"Good, good. Joy and Portia flew out for the week so today they all had a girls day," Ross explained to him.
"Avoiding The inevitable conundrum of bags strewn about the house when you get back?" Jethro guest with a chuckle.
"Don't you know it!"
There was a loud banging at the door which had both men exchanging confused looks. Jethro stood and walked to the front door, "David! Tell your FBI friend to fuck off!" Gibbs barked.
Rossi was on his feet and to the front door in seconds. Outside were several FBI vehicles and helicopter.
"Agent Gibbs, agent Rossi I need you both to come with me," The young agent at the door close to demanded.
"The hell you do-"
Rossi cut Jethro off, "What's your name kid?"
"Agent Donald Ressler," The man replied.
"Whose Authority is this under?" David asked.
"Assistant Director of the FBI Harold Cooper and director of NCIS Leon Vance," he told them both.
"What's this about?!" Gibbs asked now, just really annoyed his beer had been interrupted.
"I'm not at liberty to say. Assistant director Cooper will be informing you when we arrive," Ressler told both men. He himself was getting increasingly irritated with the delay.
"And where would that be?" Rossi now asked himself.
"That's classified top-secret," Ressler responded quickly.
"Son I know for a fact that my security clearance is much higher than yours so humor me," David frowned.
"It's a blacksite called the Post Office," Donald finally told them trying to speed this along, "it's in New York City."
Jethro started cracking up laughing while Dave just watched an amusement.
"Kid, even if I wanted to go to New York I wouldn't be going with you. Why don't you text the address or rather have it sent to Rossi here and we will be there when we get there," Jethro told the man before shutting the door in his face.
"Young Agents," Rossi huffed out a laugh as a text came in with the address.
"He's just a pup Dave, trying to prove himself," Jethro joked.
"Even so, you would think the kid would have a lick of common sense," David retarded as they both sat back down.
"We going to head out tomorrow so the brass doesn't doesn't get their panties in a twist?" Jethro asked.
"Yep, you pack tonight. We can head north and stop at my place in the morning before going to New York," David planned.
"I should call Jack and let her know what's going on," Jethro brought up as he stood and headed to the kitchen.
"Should probably call Krystall myself," David muttered as he set his drink down.
"Davey," Krystall answered.
"Hey love," David replied.
"Case?" she guessed.
"Not quite. The Brass needs us in New York," Rossi explained as much as he knew.
"Will you be coming home or heading straight to New York?" She asked no judgment or upset, just a wondering tone.
"I'll be home in the morning to see you and pack a bag," David replied before he had a better idea come to mind, "Actually do you want to come with?" David asked figuring they could all get a hotel and he could still see her after work. "I don't know how long they'll have us there and we can go explore New York together when I get off. Lord knows I am always on a case when I'm there," he explained the plan.
"Sounds lovely. I'll pack our suitcases and see you and Jethro in the morning," Krystall agreed happily.
"Awesome, i'll have the cowboy see if Jack would like to come along. That way you both can go out and have some time together while we are working," David suggested.
"Sounds good David," his wife agreed.
"I love you."
"I love you too. I'll see the three of you tomorrow morning," his wife replied.
"Tomorrow," David agreed and with that the call was ended.
"You invite Krystall to New York as well?" Jethro ask as he walked into the living room.
"You invite Jack?" Rossi countered.
"Yep."
"Good. She heading over now or in the morning?"
"She's going to pack and head over in a few hours," Gibbs confirmed.
"What time are we planning to head out?" David now asked as he started to look into hotels they could stay at.
"0400?"
"Works for me. I got our hotel rooms booked," the Italian replied, having found and booked two rooms for two weeks figuring they could make a vacation out of it at the least.
"I'll go pack. Jack will just give me shit if I'm not packed when she gets here," The cowboy said as he tucked his phone into his back pocket and headed for the stairs.
D: 0400 we are heading your way.
K: See you three then.
D: Love you. ❤️
K: I love you too David. ❤️
Rossi turned off the screen to his phone and downed the last of his beer. Without much thought the man tossed it in the trash and grabbed a blanket and pillow from the closet upstairs. David threw the pillow and blanket onto the couch before kicking off his shoes and taking a seat.
Once Gibbs was finished packing the two through on a western and cracked a new beer or each. They sat on opposite couches with their feet propped up and a beer in one hand.
Jack arrived as the movie drew to close. Once everything has been cleaned up Jack and Jethro headed to bed and Rossi get settled on the couch.
Jack, David, and Jethro were all up and getting properly caffeinated by 0400. They were on the road, with the cowboy following the Italian, heading to Rossies home by 0410.
The trio arrived at around 0600 packing Krystall's things into David's SUV. In a last-minute decision Jack and Jethro's things were thrown into the SUV as well with the two leaving their truck at the mansion.
The drive would've taken them six hours but traffic in Delaware caused the trip to end up taking seven hours instead. Rossi checked them into the hotel and then they all headed up to their rooms.
David and Krystall unpacked their suitcases, getting settled in and chatting about the plan for the day.
"So you and Jack are going to go shopping while we attend this meeting?"
"That's the plan!" She replied cheerfully.
"That's good. Maybe tomorrow night we can catch a play or a musical?" David suggested.
"That would be wonderful David!"
Rossi smiled to himself, and his wife, having seen it, walked over with a smile of her own kissing him softly. She pulled away after a moment, lightly patting his chest before she went back to unpacking. There was a comfortable and happy silence the rest of the time.
The two couples met in the lobby Jack and Krystall got a rental car for the day, while Rossi and Gibbs took Dave's SUV.