The tall redhead strode confidently across the restaurant. She looked angry and ready for a fight. Gibbs watched her strut. "I pity the guy she's gunning for,"he thought. "That guy is toast!"
The woman stopped right in front of his date. She looked her up and down disdainfully. She pointed and turned to him. "Is this her? Is this the one you walked out of your son's birthday party to meet? The emergency at work?"
Gibbs stood and placed his napkin on the table. "I'm very sorry Ma'am ... " was as far as he got before the redhead slapped him across the right side of his face.
"Don't you dare ma'am me like you just forgot our anniversary." She turned to his date, "Which he does every ... single ... year." Then back to him. "But to miss cutting little Timmy's birthday cake was just unforgivable and with him just out of the hospital and all. And for what? This ... this ... floosy."
It was his date's turn to stand. "Floosy? For your information I only agreed to this date as a favour for my cousin and they didn't say anything about him being married." She turned to Gibbs and slapped him on the left cheek.
"How could you? Your poor little boy deserves a better daddy than you."
She turned and walked out of the restaurant, head held high. The redhead's words, "You tell him, Sister!" trailing behind her.
The restaurant was silent. The warped music tape played on - slightly out of tune. Gibbs sat down too stunned to speak. The redhead turned to face the other diners. "Ladies and gentlemen you have been watching a scene from "Icing on the Cake," a new play written by yours truly and opening in 2 weeks at the Dale Street Experimental Theatre. If you want to find out what happens next do come along. Curtain up at 7pm. Tickets are available."
There was a slightly bemused ripple of applause. "Thank you, thank you." She said graciously. "Now it's time for my co-star to buy me dinner." The other diners chuckled and turned back to their meals. The redhead sat down opposite Gibbs and picked up the menu. "What's the seafood like in here?"
Gibbs leaned across the table. "Lady, I don't know who you are and I really don't understand what's going on but you just ruined my date." He hissed, trying not to garner any further attention from the diners around them.
"No I didn't," she replied without taking her eyes from her menu. "You were hating every minute of it. I could tell just by watching you from the bar. Terrible dress sense that woman had and what was that laugh? My god, she sounded like a whale with the flu!"
She took a bread stick, snapped it in two and bit down on one half whilst pointing at him with the other.. "No, I just saved your ass, that's what I did." She held out her hand. "Diane. Diane Russell. Let's see if this date works out any better for ya ."
Laughing and still in a state of shock, he took her hand. He smiled – a shy yet dazzling smile. "Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
"Wow, that's a name!" Exclaimed Diane. "I wasn't expecting that. People don't forget you in a hurry, huh?"
He smiled bashfully. He seemed uncomfortable with compliments. "I guess not. The seafood is very good here by the way." Diane smiled back at him.
"Well good, let's order shall we?"
TO BE CONTINUED...