JF18

Bonus points if you can find the secret, obscure Downton Abby reference in this chapter. I haven't actually watched Downton Abby either, but it's there.


Tim was on Kelly's doorstep, dressed in one of his best suits. A light grey suit, a black shirt and light grey geometric patterned tie, with his new black leather loafers, the ones that Tony had organised for him when he had come out of hospital. In his hand was a bouquet of roses, gracious and elegant. A demure bloom with hidden depths of character. An unusual colourway of a double blossom with a combination of golden petals with a pink blush and coppery bronze. A spicy fruity fragrance, with citrus base tones and a hint of sweet apple. Tim enjoyed the scent, as it swirled around in his nostrils.

Kelly opened the door with a wide smile as Tim presented the bouquet to her. "You're early." She smiled as she kissed him chastely on the lips. She had her hair and make-up done, but wasn't dressed yet, just wrapped in a white satin robe. "Thank you for the roses, you didn't have to, though. I love the colour, and that smell ... Mmm...Do you know what variant these are?" As Kelly found a vase to put the roses into a vase.

"Nope, don't know the variant. Just that they're called Anna's Promise and they're my promise to you." Tim said as he took her by the hand and pulled her close to him. "I promise that I am ready. I am sure and I am committed to you. You can expect me to put everything I have into whatever we end up being, that is my promise to you."

"Oh, Tim." Kelly sniffed. "That's beautiful. I promise you the same." she leaned up and kissed his lips softly. "Let me go get ready and we can get out of here."

In her bedroom, Kelly slipped off her robe and stood naked, looking in her full-length mirror. She was debating whether or not she should wear some regular lingerie, or if she should spice it up. She decided that it didn't matter either way since Tim had seen her in both, or at least partially, in both. Holding up the dress she had chosen to wear she rummaged around in her bra drawer for her favourite chic black bra, the one with the push up cups and triangle cut out patterns, before finding the matching lace thong. She slipped the dress on over her head and tugged it down her body, before adjusting the loosely fitted blousy v neck top of the dress. She ran her hands down her hips, as she adjusted the bottom of the dress, which formed into a tight, ruffled bodycon skirt with mid-thigh split on the right-hand side of the dress. Taking a seat on the ottoman at the end of her bed, Kelly slips her feet into her favourite metallic silver stilettos, the ones that are extra strappy and wrap around her ankle twice before buckling up. She slipped the silver dangly earrings into her ear lobes and slipped out of her bedroom into the living room.

She found Tim checking his phone, sitting in the armchair of her living room. "Ready to go?" She asked and saw that she had managed to sneak up on him.

"Oh yeah." He answered and swallowed hard. "You look beautiful."

"Is this, ok?" She asked, hesitantly as she gathered her small black purse that her ID, a credit card and keys. "You didn't tell me where we are going or what we are doing?"

"Perfect." Tim grinned at her as she locked her door, Tim taking the already packed overnight bag in his hand. He knew that unlike his team, Kelly had a brunch meeting with one of her authors, to discuss their upcoming book. "Honestly, I didn't plan too much. Dinner reservations and some dessert back at my place."

"Sounds like a perfect low-key date." She grinned at him. "I have a brunch meeting in the morning and then I was hoping that you would join Sharni and I for a run and play at the park, I was hoping we could take a picnic and make the day of it. Maybe go for a hike?"

"I'm free, after my meeting in the morning." Tim grinned at her.

Arriving at his friend Justin's restaurant, he handed the keys to the valet as soon as they were clear of the car, taking the ticket from the young man. He hadn't bothered glaring at the young man about not scratching his Porsche because Justin had told him that their valets were extremely careful. Tim gave his Gemcity name before they were immediately taken to their table. The round table was cosy with crisp white linen tablecloths, a small centrepiece of assorted flowers and floating candles adorned the top of the table and sparkling silverware. A drinks menu was offered in which they politely declined, instead ordering two sparkling mineral juices. The dinner menu was promptly offered before their server left them to pursue the menu.

Justin had been notified that his long-time friend had arrived and briefly left the kitchen. "Tim." He whispered, shaking the man's hand hello. Although they lived in the same city, they rarely saw one another. Both, at different stages in their lives Justin was in a same sex relationship and shared five adopted children with his husband. Their lives revolved around their children and giving them the best life possible. "It's so good to see you."

"Great to see you, too." Tim said as he heartily shook his friend's hand. "Justin Klugman, this is Kelly Gibbs. Kell, this is Justin. We went to MIT together. We were dorm mates." Tim introduced the two of them and Kelly offered her hand to Justin, only to giggle when he kissed it instead of shaking it.

"Lovely to meet you." she said, struggling not to giggle at the absurdity of Tim's friend's gesture. It was such an old-fashioned move in today's society. "So, you would be a good person to give me all the gossip on this one here. You know where the bodies are buried." She quipped at him.

"Sadly not." Justin grinned at them. "Tim has no bodies, he was always such a goody two shoes. However, I do have some blackmail material that I will happily share; another time soon."

"God no!" Tim denied with a chuckle. "Justin, I beg you, don't scare her off." He shook his head at his friend's antics. "I hope Kevin and the kids are good and tell me what you recommend on the menu?"

"Always good, Tim, you know that." Justin grinned at him wickedly. "Everything is good on the menu but tonight I recommend the roasted prawns and sea bass or the lamb grill. Both exquisite tonight and on that note, I best get back in the kitchen or these poor people won't get their dinner. Great to see you, Tim. Kelly, it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope to see you again, soon."

As Justin waved himself off, Tim grinned at Kelly. "How did Justin go from MIT to a chef?" She asked, taking a sip of her water, as their server returned to take their order.

As soon as they had ordered, following Justin's recommendation, Tim launched himself into an elaborate story about himself, Justin and Kevin, a fellow MIT graduate, whom Justin ended up marrying and how they all changed their career paths, post life at MIT. "Justin tried half a dozen various careers, nothing really stuck, until he and Kevin got together. Soon they were taking cooking classes and before anyone could blink, he had applied to culinary school. Kevin went into hotel management, when his father suddenly died and he had to learn on the job, while taking night classes. As you know, I ended up at Georgetown U and FLETC."

Kelly told Tim how she wanted to be a doctor, growing up and decided that medicine was too boring in her second year at school. Not knowing what she wanted to do, she undertook a Bachelor of the Arts, majoring in literature. Still unsure of what she wanted to do, she applied for an internship at Tidekedo Publishing House, which she claimed was a waste of two years of her life, as she learnt nothing. Then a fellow student whom she was acquainted with; Nathan Roach started Merk Publishing and offered her an entry level editor's job where she quickly was promoted to Editor, then Editor in Chief.

Their food arrived and they immediately fell into the rhythm they already had of sharing their food with each other. The sea bass was soft and delicate, moist and melted in their mouths. The lamb grill was divine, lamb cooked to perfection, pink enough to be perfect, but not raw, the red wine jus and garlic herb crust a nice surprise. The two of them declined a dessert menu and asked the server to pass their compliments on to the chef, before Tim produced his credit card to pay, leaving their server a hefty tip.

Arriving back at Tim's apartment, Tim dropped Kelly's overnight bag by the door and Kelly slipped off her heels as she made herself comfortable on the newly situated sofas. Tim started the electric fireplace, letting the flame roar to life and slipped into the kitchen to collect the tray of miniature bite sized desserts that Tim had collected from Elaine, earlier that evening. Joining Kelly on the sofa, the tray of desserts on the coffee table, which was now between the two sofas, Kelly leaned forward and gently kissed Tim's cheek. "Tonight, has been incredible." she whispered, before seeing the dessert platter.

"I thought some dessert was in order." Tim grinned at her, as he lifted the small sample of the chocolate cream cake Kelly loved to her lips. He had to stifle a groan as her lips caressed his fingers.

Kelly picked up the sample of Tim's favourite Lemon custard tart and held it to his lips. She was enjoying the intimacy that this simple act of enjoying dessert was bringing her, not to mention the feel of the extra nibble she felt as Tim took the dessert from her fingers.

Tim picked up a piece of meringue kiss and held it up to Kelly's lips. Kelly taking a small bite, leaving half. Kelly took the remaining half and offered it to Tim's lips.

The two of them got just under halfway through the box of sweets before they abandoned feeding one another in exchange for sharing some sweet kisses and cuddling on the sofa, instead.

Kelly's hands were linked up behind Tim's neck, toying with his hairline on the nape of his neck. Tim's hands on the waistline of her dress, just above her hips. Both enjoying their kisses, neither one in a hurry to turn the heat up.

Breaking the latest round of kisses, Tim and Kelly rested their foreheads against one another. "Whoa!" Kelly exclaimed, licking her lips, trying to tamper the desire coursing through her body.

"Maybe we should slow ourselves down, a little." Tim panted, he could feel himself getting excited and he didn't want to rush into anything, even though they had gone further than that, just that morning.

"What about we go and get in our PJs and read or watch a movie?" Kelly offered; she really didn't want to go home. She liked spending time with Tim, and she enjoyed the company, especially when Sharni wasn't there. More importantly, she felt safe at Tim's. Safety was something she didn't always feel since the attempted break in. "I'll even wear a tee."

Wordlessly, Tim stood and switched off the heater and the lights and collected her bag before leading Kelly into his bedroom. Inside his bedroom, Kelly dropped the bag onto the armchair, but before she could get ready Tim pulled her into a hug. Holding her body close to his, he began kissing her hairline, before moving to her forehead. A glazed look of want came over her, causing a soft sweep of want to course through his boy and soon his lips found hers.

His soft tongue was probing hers, inviting it in and tantalising her tastebuds, his arms not idle either, roaming and exploring her back. Kelly's hand mapping and navigating his body, eventually finding the knot of his tie. Loosening it, she roughly broke off the kiss to impatiently get the tie over his head, before resuming her assault on his lips. Tim's hands found her hips Nd pulled her body in flush against him. She could feel the beginning of his erection, digging into her hip as his hands travelled further south. His hands finding her backside, caressing and massaging it, as her hands were unbuttoning his shirt and mapping his hairless chest and taut stomach.

Tim hiked her right leg up in his left hand in an effort to get his sex closer to hers, wanting the friction they had experienced that morning. He wanted to recreate the pleasurable feelings and moans of ecstasy that Kelly had been making that morning. Her hands slipped between their bodies, toying with his belt buckle, as his right hand touched her breast. First a brush, before a more deliberate stroking motion, before grasping it and playing with her nipple through the thin lace of her bra cup.

Breaking the kiss gently, Tim kissed along her jawline and up behind her ear, leaving a trail with his hot tongue that had Kelly writhing against him. "Timmmm." she moaned in his ear, hotly. "Thought you wanted to go slow."

"I do, doesn't mean I can't make it enjoyable for you." Tim purred in her ear as he made his way down the side of her neck, nipping, kissing and sucking on the path of the carotid artery.

Taking control, Kelly's hands found Tim and she urged him to lower her leg, before guiding him to the hem of her dress and encouraging him to lift it up. Getting the hint, Tim slowly lifted the dress. Painstakingly slow, one inch at a time as he resumed the path his mouth had been mapping out on her body. Once his mouth reached the juncture of her neck and shoulder Kelly cried out, a wordless noise that had Tim grinning against her skin.

Unbuckling and opening his pants, Kelly let them drop, straight to the floor, as she reached for his hardened member through the black elastane jockey shorts he had on. Caressing it at first, before rubbing it. Soon enough, Tim was moaning her name. "Kell" Tim hands had managed to reach her hips before he removed the rest of her dress over head in one swift motion, "Beautiful." he complimented her as he saw her pale flesh clad in black lace with the strategically placed triangle cut out. Hs palm, reclaiming the breast he held before her redirection.

His hot, wet mouth replaced the hand that had been toying with her nipple as his tongue laved at the nip erotically, swirling, gently nipping and grazing his teeth over the sensitive bud. "Oh my God, Timmmm!" Kelly called out as pleasure jolted through her body. Grinning against her breast, he repeated the motion as his hands found the strap of lace covered thong. Toying with the strap, sliding an index finger inside softly, feeling the naked mound of the start of her womanhood had her panting. "Oh God, you haven't even touched me yet and I'm so close."

Tim repeated his motion again as he ran his finger over the lace covered triangle, before flicking his finger under the strap and running it the length of her slit. "Agghhh!" She cried out, her body shaking as he felt her body's tell-tale sign of a climax. He held onto her upright as her body stopped shaking and quivering. "God Tim, you didn't even get me on the bed."

Tim grinned at her widely. "Now you have something to look forward to." He sassed at her, chastely kissing her lips. "Do you want the bathroom first or shall I?"

"You go." she said softly, trying not to pant as she breathed deeply, trying to regulate her heart rate, again.

After one of the quickest showers he had ever taken, Tim was coming back in the bedroom to see that Kelly had her stuff, ready to go in there and had turned down the bed, ready for them to climb into. By the time Kelly was done in the bathroom, Tim was lightly dozing on the side of the bed she knew he preferred.


The following morning, Kelly headed out extra early, she had her standing Saturday date with her dad before a brunch meeting for work. She hated leaving before Tim was even awake, so decided leaving a note to call her at 10, to plan their next date was a good move. Tim decided to surprise her, he threw on his favourite casual jeans, beloved black t-shirt with the IT acronym on it and his cross-trainers and headed over to Gibbs' house to collect Sharni.

"Gibbs?" Tim called out, seeing Sharni look up from her spot on the floor but not greet him until Tim gave her the command to do so. As he did, the black and white, log-haired beauty came over and enthusiastically greeted him. "Hey girl," he whispered, scratching her behind the ears and petting her lovingly.

"Hey Tim." Gibbs greeted him, surprised to see Tim. He had been down in the basement when Tim called out, and that had surprised him. He certainly hadn't been expecting Tim, Tony sure, but not Tim. Gibbs couldn't help but grin at the young man, he looked relaxed and carefree. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Tim looking like that, thinking back, it had to have been before Ziva left. Before Eli David and Jackie were gunned down. Perhaps even before that, definitely before Amanda tried to kill him. Maybe he hadn't seen Tim that relaxed ever before, except for the one time he had tied one over at Abby's birthday party, before he joined the team. He and Abby may not have even been dating, then.

"What?" Tim asked suddenly, realising his boss was staring at him. "Do I have something on my face?" he asked, rubbing his mouth and cheekbones thinking he might have coffee residue or some crumbs from the toast he had eaten that morning on his face.

"Yeah, a real smile. Been tryin' to remember the last time I saw one of them on your face." Gibbs quipped and Tim blushed. "Your date must have gone well last night, if you're still smiling today."

"Date?" Tim asked, trying to pull off flippant and not convincingly enough for Gibbs. Tim knew it was a futile effort, but he wouldn't outright lie. He and Kelly had agreed to keep it to themselves until they were a few dates in and knew where the new relationship was going.

"Well yeah, we didn't know for sure 'til we saw you stop by the diner for a carry out box yesterday." Gibbs explained, patting the young man on the back. "That's when we figured it out. That was why you were antsy to leave yesterday, good for you."

"Ah thanks, someday soon, I'll tell you about her." Tim smiled at him, giving in, knowing that he wouldn't be able to maintain the lie if Gibbs questioned him, directly.

"When you're ready, I'd love to meet her. Maybe have the two of you over for dinner, too." Gibbs was awfully confident; he knew now that it was Kelly that Tim had taken on a date. He had met his daughter at 0600 for their standing coffee date and she had been unable to keep the smile off her face. What were the odds they both had dates last night and both of them had big smiles this morning. Plus, as per his own rules; there is no such thing as coincidences.

Gibbs wordlessly offered his subordinate a mug of coffee and Tim declined, which had thrown Gibbs for a loop. Tim explained that he had a hiking date and Kelly said that he could collect Sharni and take her for the day. "Remember what the dreaded leaves of three look like, will ya?" Tim just rolled his eyes and gave Sharni the command to follow him. "You've been a good influence on that dog, Tim. I was beginning to think that she was a lost cause, especially the way Kell was training her."

"She's a good girl." Tim cooed at her, ruffling her fur as he opened the door for her to climb in his car.

Waving goodbye to Gibbs, Tim told his phone to call the diner, so he could place his carry out order. With his hiking bag already packed in the trunk, the empty picnic basket beside it and Sharni by his side, he arrived at the diner.

"You are the best." Tim cooed, kissing Elaine's cheek, before hugging her tightly, lifting her and spinning her around. "Great idea with the dessert box."

"You're welcome. I take it Kelly was impressed." Tim blushed at Elaine's eagerness to know how his plans had come together. He hadn't known that Elaine had put the pieces together and worked out, it was Kelly. Now he was wondering, if back at the house, Gibbs had known too. At that sobering thought, the look on his face changed. "Everything OK?"

"Yeah, just realised that Gibbs might have worked it out too." Tim told her as she handed the order of their favourite club sandwiches, two sides of fruit skewers, Hersey's chocolate sauce in a small carry out container, some water bottles, some juices and a to go coffee for Tim." Just hope he didn't get the wrong idea about us."

"You're a gentleman, Tim. I'm sure Gibbs doesn't think you're really like that, especially if you were out with his daughter and he didn't say anything to you. Gibbs would say something if he had an issue with it." Elaine reassured him, as she handed him back his change. "You two be careful out there."


Picking Kelly up from work worked out perfectly for him, not two minutes as he pulled out of the diner's parking lot, she called telling him that she was done.

Arriving at Merk Publishing House, Kelly was waiting by the bench outside in the balmy October day. She had already changed her clothes, dressed in jeans, a black tee and a plaid green button-down shirt only buttoned from under her bust, down.

She tossed her bag, beside the picnic basket and hiking bag in the trunk of Tim's Porsche, before slipping into convertible. She greeted him warmly, enjoying being able to kiss him hello, putting her passion into action. "Mmm." Tim moaned into her mouth, enjoying the excitement of Kelly taking control.

As she pulled back, she grinned at him. "I've been wanting to do that all morning. Ready? Let's go."

Tim drove out to a place he knew in Maryland, great for day hiking. If they were camping or planning to spend the whole day, he would have preferred the drive to Shannondoah. But instead, the place he knew was close.

An hour's drive, it was a place that he had escaped to many times before and he was excited to share this space with her. There wasn't a waterfall like in Shannondoah and the hike wasn't as challenging, but it was nice for a relaxing, low-key date. A bonus point was that they had never been called to a crime scene here.

"We're here, already?" Kelly asked, surprised. "I thought we were going to Shannondoah or Rock Creek Park."

"Thought we'd try somewhere else." he grinned at her, as he pulled into the nature reserve and followed the twisty trail towards his favourite place to park. Once he parked the car, he handed Kelly the leash and retrieved his backpack and their picnic bag, before locking up and beginning their trek off into the wilderness.

Ninety minutes later, they came to a small clearing by the water, Kelly declared this was a perfect spot to stop for lunch. Setting out the blanket on the ground, Tim sat back and offered to set the food up, only for Kelly to swat his hand away, playfully. Sharni happily laid on the blanket by their feet, nibbling on her special treat Tim had given her. "This place is beautiful, Tim." she commented, looking at the vast, serene water before her that was lined with the beautiful colours of fall.

"Best thing about this place is that it's even beautiful in winter, when the ground is frozen, and everything is covered in snow." Tim replied, hugging her closer to him. "In summer, this place is cooler than the city and even though it looks idyllic, you can't swim here, so it's fairly peaceful here."

They ate in a contented silence, enjoying their food and their company. The young couple were snuggled into each other, feeding each other the chocolate sauce dipped fruit. Another hour had passed, enjoying the view and the quiet serenity, only a few words shared between them. They had shared some more sweet kisses, neither party turning the heat up, keeping them low key and lazy.

Eventually with a sigh and looking at his watch, Tim suggested it was time to make the trek back to the Porsche otherwise they would run out of daylight. This time, with the rubbish from their picnic dropped in the nearest trash can, Tim packed the blanket in his bag and slipped his hand inside Kelly's as they leisurely hiked back to the car. The trip took longer than the hike in because while Sharni went off looking for a bathroom, Tim stopped her and thoroughly kissed her, exploring and mapping her mouth as he leaned her against a tree for support.


Kelly and Tim returned to Kelly's place on her request to get Sharni's bed and a change of clothes, that somehow ended up being a stuffed duffle bag. "You know, we can spend some time here, too." Tim said from his spot on the sofa. "We don't have to always spend time at my place."

"Maybe I like your place more, and not because of the gym or the pool, although those are great perks." Kelly said as she came and stood before him, dropping the bag she had just packed with a thud. Leaning over, closing the distance between their faces, she nuzzled his neck a little before pulling back to make eye contact with him. "I like the feeling of safe and security it gives me. Plus, you're there to snuggle with and kiss. Perhaps, even in time ... make love with and to."

"Kell!" Tim moaned, drawing out her name, as he felt her climb onto his lap, settling herself directly over him. She reached up and kissed him, softly, before letting the kiss warm up to steaming, before pulling back from him, but holding him close still.

"I know you said we shouldn't rush it, that we should take our time, but I want you to know. I am ready whenever you decide you're ready." Kelly offered him.

"That's good to know." Tim murmured, as he extricated himself from under her. "But I need to know that I am ready too. If you knew my past history, besides Delilah, you'd know why this is important to me."

"What's so bad that in your dating history that makes you so unsure?" Kelly asked, as she settled herself on the sofa beside Tim. "It seems like you're ready, you let go of everything to a point and then it's like you remember something and you second guess everything."

"Remember I told you I had a lousy track record with women?" Tim asked, recalling a conversation that the two of them shared, very early on in their friendship.

"The thief who ran up the credit card debt, the vain cheerleader who was all about her, the spy who tried to kill you for information you didn't have, the goth who trampled your heart and made mincemeat of the pieces. Oh, I remember." Kelly said, reciting what Tim had told her.

"They all have one thing in common." Tim admitted, lowering his head slightly.

"If you tell me they were all red heads, I think you should leave." Kelly stated flatly. Tim couldn't tell if it was a joke or not and decided not, based on the straight lipped look she had on her face.

"Not, the thief was blonde, as was the cheerleader, Delilah and the goth had dark hair and the spy was a red head, but it was a bad colour job." Kelly breathed a sigh of relief at that, the last thing she wanted to do was a date a man, whom like her father, only dated women for the colour of their hair. "But they still all had something in common, I rushed into the relationship, invested too much of myself and I was hurt after each of them. I can't go through that again, Kelly. I have to be more cautious."

"We can do cautious." She said and kissed his cheek.