Usual disclaimer applies:I don't own NCIS, or anything like it (sadly).I am not making any money out of this, it's written purely for entertainment purposes.

Thank you once again for the kind reviews - I hope you continue to enjoy...

It was the night of the gala...

Tony DiNozzo stood looking in his bedroom mirror, appraising his appearance. After several minutes he decided he was happy with what he saw and picking up his keys and gift, left his apartment and headed for the Gala.

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Dr Donald Mallard brushed imaginary lint off his dinner jacket. "Mother?" he said as he walked into the living room, "I'm off now, remember?"

He winced at his choice of words. At 96 and with her memory riddled by Alzheimer's, his Mother would have loved to remember anything, let alone her son going out for the evening.

She smiled beatifically at him, sat in her favourite wingback chair, surrounded by her pack of Corgis. Ducky crossed to her and kissed her cheek.

"Donald? You look very handsome - now behave yourself!"

"Yes mother. Miss Williams is here if you need her. She has my cellphone number for emergencies, and your supper for 9 O'clock. Have a lovely evening." Even as he spoke to her, he knew she wouldn't recall a single word in five minutes.

"You have a lovely evening too dear. Watch out for unscrupulous women!" his mother warned as she pecked a kiss on his cheek.

Ducky smiled and left the house, waving at her as he got into the waiting cab.

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Abby opened her apartment door to be greeted by a walking bunch of flowers.

"Good evening Miss Scuito!" they said, and then Tim McGee's smiling face peered round them.

Abby giggled, "That is so sweet! Come on in!" and she stepped back to allow him into her home.

Tim stepped over the threshold and handed the flowers to Abby. It was then he saw the whole of her outfit, which rendered him almost speechless.

"Wow Abs - you look...well, amazing!" he gaped, goldfish impression-like.

Abby bobbed a curtsey and smiled at him. "Why thank you kind sir - you look pretty good yourself!"

Tim coloured, and turned round, "So, will I do? I mean, I'm not going to show you up?"

Abby leant over and kissed him on the cheek, "You're so sweet Tim! Of course you're not! Give me a minute to put these gorgeous and totally unexpected flowers in some water and we can go - okay?"

"Sure. I've booked a cab for about now, I hope that's okay?" Tim called to her as she went into the kitchen.

Abby momentarily appeared at the door, "You think of everything!" grabbing her purse and fan, she walked over to McGee who held out his arm.

"Miss Scuito? May I have the pleasure of escorting you this evening?"

"Why Mr McGee! Certainly!" Abby giggled she took his arm and they left her apartment.

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Gibbs checked his dressing table.

"Wallet - check. Cell - check. Keys - check." In his head he added, Nerves like taut wire? Check!

Even though he had told Abby and Ducky that he had no intention of attending tonight, somehow his mind had been changed earlier in the week.

Actually, it wasn't just "somehow".

Leroy Jethro Gibbs knew exactly why he had changed his mind.

It was partly because he wanted to see a certain dark haired colleague in a non-work situation and, perhaps, to dance with her. Perhaps more, but he refused to continue down that avenue of thought.

The other reason was that he could sense the excited anticipation in the office about the occasion, not justfrom all the younger agents, but more surprisingly Ducky.

"I can't believe you are going to this gala, thing!" Gibbs had told his friend over a late night coffee in the lab.

"Well, I haven't been to one of these occasions for years, and I always used to enjoy them before. Besides," he added, with a twinkle in his eye, "where else will I get the pleasure of dancing with Abby and Caitlin?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes at this.

"Now, Jethro, you know as well as I do that we all want you to come along. 'Kick back' as Abby calls it. She and Kate have been discussing their outfits for at least three weeks now y'know?"

Gibbs was aware, even though both women had been careful not to discuss it directly in front of him, he was aware of quiet conversations on the phone in the office and quick sketches on post-its in Abby's lab.

"It's just not my scene, Duck" he said, and hoped that would settle the matter.

And it was the truth anyway. He'd never been good at formal occasions, even when he was in the Corps. All that effort - why bother? As long as his hair was regulation length, he was clean-shaven and his clothes were clean and pressed, what else was there?

At least that was what he had been trying to tell himself.

Until last weekend when he had discovered his favourite coffee shop was "closed for improvements". It had forced him to hunt down a previous haunt across town. He'd tracked it down, and as he stood, sipping his coffee on the sidewalk, he'd seen the shop opposite.

Was it fate? Not that he believed in that. Only fools believed in fate.

Or coincidences. Or the like.

However, he couldn't deny that the shop in front of him seemed to hint that perhaps he should be changing his mind about the next weekend's plans.

It sold - and hired - formal wear.

He had stood weighing up the situation for several moments. Binning his empty coffee cup he crossed the street and entered the shop.

As he walked through the door he had made a deal with himself. If they did have a suit that fit him to his satisfaction - and was a reasonable price - he would go to the gala. If they didn't, well, he had plenty to do on his boat...

An hour later, he stepped out of the shop in slight shock.

A suit had been found and, on fitting, it could have been made for him.

The shop assistant hadn't intruded, merely said that if he wanted a hand or a different size in anything, just to use the call button. She had hoped he would - not many men this good looking ever came her way.

Sadly for her, the suit was a perfect fit. Gibbs had stepped out of the changing room to double check in the full length mirror that covered the whole changing room wall and all of a sudden all he could think of was "I wonder what Kate will look like?".

Shaking his head at this thought, he had decided that, yes, the suit was good.

The price was also good, as the shop assistant pointed out they were newly open and so not many people had discovered them yet, so they were offering a discount.

Gibbs booked the suit, paid his deposit and left the shop.

It had all seemed such a good idea at the time.

Now he stood, more dressed up than at any of his three weddings, wondering if the cologne he had used was too much.

His clock ticked loudly, and the chimes announced 1930 hours.

Gibbs pocketed his wallet and cell and headed out of his house to his car.

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Kate was eaten up by nerves.

What had possessed her!

That morning, she had been up and about early, been for an early workout and was just out of the shower when her cell had rung.

"Caitlin Todd"

"Kate! Hey, its Tony"

"Tony? What's the matter - tell me we haven't got a case! Not tonight!" Panic overwhelmed her - were all her careful preparations going to come to nothing?

"Hey Kate - calm! Nothing like that! Its about tonight - I can still make it, so don't panic. I just wondered, er…" uncharacteristically Tony hesitated.

"Wondered what?"

"If you would like me to come and pick you up? I have a cab coming and I can ask if he'll swing by your apartment, its not out of the way really."

Kate was stunned at Tony's thoughtfulness.

"Tony, that's very kind. Er, sure! What time should I be ready?"

"Great! About 7.30? That way we can be fashionably late?"

"Fine. I'll see you tonight at 7.30 then Tony. Hey, thanks again!"

"No problem Kate - till tonight then?"

And they had rung off.

Kate had met Abby for lunch, Abby thrilled that Tony was being so thoughtful around Kate. They had made their appointments in good time, both pleased with the results of their hair stylists and beauticians work.

And now it was 1930hrs and someone was knocking at Kate's door.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Tony stood in front of her, open mouthed at the sight before him.

"Wow Kate - you look amazing!" he finally stuttered.

Kate coloured, "You look pretty good too Tony" and he did, she had to admit it. In fact he looked more than "pretty good", Tony in a tuxedo really did show how attractive he is, she thought.

"So, are you ready?" Tony asked her.

"Sure! Let me grab my purse" Kate said as she reached for her bag.

"Oh! I nearly forgot - these are for you" Tony proffered Kate a small florists bouquet.

"Orchids! Tony! They are beautiful!" Kate gasped at his gift.

"You like them?" Tony had subtlety quizzed Abby about Kate's favourites earlier in the week.

"They must have cost you a fortune! Oh, they are perfect! Have we got a minute for me to put them in water?" Kate hurried through to her kitchen.

"Sure!" Tony called after her. It gave him the opportunity to see Kate from all angles as she spun round in her heels to find a vase.

She appeared a moment later, with a single bloom tucked into her hair.

"I couldn't resist it - does it look okay?" she asked, tilting her head so he could see.

"Kate, you look breathtaking" Tony breathed.

She coloured at both his gaze and words.

"Okay" Tony coughed to cover his embarrassment, "Shall we go?"

He proffered his arm to her.

Kate smiled radiantly at him.

"Why certainly!" she said as she draped her pashmina across her shoulders and took his arm.

As she stopped to lock the door, she paused a moment.

"Kate? You alright?" Tony looked at her.

Kate reached across and lightly kissed his cheek, "Thank you Tony - I really appreciate this. I hate walking into these things alone"

Tony felt her soft lips on his cheek and cheered inside.

"My pleasure Kate"

She retook his arm and they walked to the cab.

TBC