A/N I realize I haven't put in the standard disclaimers that I don't own NCIS so here it is. This is the next chapter in my foray into Jimmy and Jessica's lives. Please let me know what you think.
NCIS HQ
Jimmy looked at his stack of mail sitting on his workstation in autopsy as he walked in the room carrying his Al Cappuccino and an Elvis Presso for Jess. She was in a meeting with the Director and Parker to review an upcoming case.
Sitting down in his swivel chair and taking a sip of his coffee, he noticed a letter from the Medical Examiners Association and opened it up. Jimmy raised an eyebrow and smiled. Setting the letter to the side, he continued going through his mail.
Jess stopped at her desk to drop off the reports in her hand before heading down to see Jimmy. Nick was on the phone and Tim was following a digital trail to locate the money. When she reached Jimmy, he looked up at Jess and handed her the Elvis Presso. She took a sip and let out an ahhhh. "Just what the doctor ordered" she said with a smile and gave him a kiss. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Jimmy responded. "I got something in the mail."
Jess raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" She sat on the edge of his station.
Jimmy opened the envelope and handed the flyer inside to her. She took a moment to read it and looked at him.
"The Medical Examiner Conference is at Disney World this year?"
Jimmy nodded. "Would you like to come with me?"
Jess smiled. "I'd love to. We should take Victoria with us."
"I was hoping you would say that." He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her.
Just then Kasie walked into the room and cleared her throat. "Should I come back later?"
Jimmy and Jess were startled for a moment and almost fell out of the chair. Everyone started laughing.
"I'm glad you're not trying to make up some phony excuse," Kasie said with a chuckle.
"No point," Jimmy said with a laugh. "We've disclosed our relationship."
"Disclosure on some employment form isn't needed to state the obvious." Kasie commented with a smile.
"Are we that obvious?" Jess asked.
McGee and Torres, who had just walked into the room, burst out laughing. "We understand why you would want to keep your relationship out of the workplace. There is nothing to fear from us, except for the occasional busting of your chops." Nick said.
"We're all rooting for you and any teasing is all in fun." Tim added.
Jess and Jimmy stood up from the chair and smiled at their friends. "Thank you," they said in unison.
"What brings you all down here?" Jimmy asked.
"Parker wants us all to meet with him in the conference room. There is a new witness to a case we had in the past that claims to have some new information." Tim stated.
"What, no Bandium alert?" Kasie asked.
They all chuckled and headed upstairs.
A few days later
Jimmy walked into the jewelry store owned by a friend of Director Vance who made the introduction. Upon identifying himself, Jimmy was led into a back office. A tall dark haired man with blue eyes came from behind the desk and shook Jimmy's hand.
"Dr. Palmer, welcome. My name is Kevin de Volks. Leon tells me you are looking for an engagement ring and wedding ring."
"Thank you. Yes. Please call me Jimmy."
"Who is the lucky lady?"
"Jessica. We work together."
"Great. Let me show you some possibilities. Because you are friend of Leon, I will show you our special collection straight from our Antwerp location and with Antwerp pricing."
"Wonderful. I'm going to meet my lady soon and bring her here. I'm scouting ahead for what you have to offer."
"Very good Jimmy." Kevin brought out some trays of diamonds and rings to look at. After looking at the selections and prices, Jimmy found a one carat brilliant cut diamond that was recommended to him by Kevin and several different settings. He also perused the wedding bands and decided to let Jessica choose the one she wanted to wear for the rest of her life.
"I'm going to meet up with Jessica and bring her here."
"Very good Jimmy. I'm looking forward to meeting her."
"See you in about a half an hour," and he was gone.
Jessica was waiting for Jimmy at his favorite diner. She ordered a tuna melt for him and a chicken salad for herself because he told her that they didn't have much time to eat. That got her wondering why they were in such a hurry. She was also mystified why Parker went to a meeting at the FBI with McGee and Torres and not include her. Kasie was tight-lipped and headed out to lunch with friend.
A few minutes later, Jimmy walked in and gave her a big smile when their eyes met. Sitting down next to her in the booth, he gave her a short, but passionate kiss. "Hey," he said.
Jess kissed him back and said "Hey yourself."
Their food was delivered and each took a bite. "So, are you going to tell me what the big surprise is?
Jimmy looked at her with a smile. "What, don't you like surprises?"
"I'm a federal agent. I don't like surprises." Jess responded.
"Even if they are from the man who loves you?"
Jess kissed him on the cheek. "Even if they are from the man I love."
Jimmy chuckled. "Well I'm hoping that you will like this one."
"Are you going to give me a hint?"
Jimmy shook his head. "Nope, you'll find out soon enough."
Jess shook her head. "Even if I attempt to obtain the information using my feminine wiles?"
Jimmy laughed and held up his hands. "I surrender. I can never say "no" to your feminine wiles."
Jess laughed with him. "I suppose I can wait a little while longer."
They finished their lunches and walked hand-in-hand toward their destination by way of the waterfront a block away from the jewelry store. Finding a bench with no one else around, Jimmy and Jess sat down and looked out over the water. Jimmy took Jess' hands in his and looked into her eyes. "I was planning on doing this after a romantic dinner but I didn't want to wait any longer. You and I have talked about this for a few months and you know I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Victoria wants that too. I also knowyou want the same thing so why wait any longer. Jess looked at Jimmy with tears in her eyes and watched as he got down on one knee. "Jessica Knight will you marry me?"
Jess stood and pulled Jimmy to his feet, wrapping her arms around him and smashing her lips into his. When they broke for air Jimmy asked "Is that a yes?"
Jess smiled at him and said "Yes…..yes…yes!"
Their lips met again to seal the commitment.
"I have another place for us to go just up the street."
Jess raised an eyebrow.
"Let me show you."
Jimmy took her hand and led her to the jewelry store.
"I wanted your input on your engagement and wedding rings. The proprietor is a friend of Director Vance."
"Lead the way darling."
Once inside the back office and introductions were made, Kevin showed Jessica the items.
"Jimmy was here a little earlier and selected this beautiful one carat diamond solitaire for you and wanted you to pick out the setting you would like. Jess gasped and gave Jimmy a big kiss. "It's beautiful sweetheart." Looking over to Kevin she asked "Do you have any recommendations that would show off this beautiful stone?"
Kevin smiled and said "I do. I think one of these three settings would be perfect. What do you prefer?"
Jess tried each one on and a few others but came back to the first one she tried on. It was elegant yet simple and was perfect. She held it up and asked Jimmy what he thought. "It's perfect, just like you."
Jess kissed Jimmy with everything she had and said "Thank you. I'd like this one."
Jimmy turned to Kevin and said "You heard the lady. She'll take this one." Kevin chuckled and said "Great choice. I'll have the ring sized and the stone mounted while we look at wedding bands."
He called his jeweler in the room and he took Jess' ring size and the items to prepare the ring. Kevin pulled out a few trays of wedding bands. "Do you have any suggestions on what goes with my engagement ring?" Jess asked.
The three of them looked over the options when Jess gasped and pointed at one. "How about that one?"
Jimmy and Kevin both looked to where she was pointing and nodded. "It looks perfect." They both said.
Kevin pulled the ring from the tray and handed it to Jimmy where he slid it onto her finger. Jess held it up to the light and showed it to the two men. "Wow they both said." The band had two blue sapphires that would sit on either side of the solitaire on the engagement ring.
Jess beamed and threw her arms around Jimmy. At this time, the jeweler returned to the office with Jess' engagement ring completed. He showed it to them and handed to Jimmy. "Would you like to do the honor?"
Jimmy said "Absolutely," and took Jess' left hand in his. Removing the wedding band she had tried on, he slid the engagement ring onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly and looked gorgeous. Jimmy wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly.
With their shopping concluded, Jimmy signed the papers for payment and insurance. Kevin said, "Thank you and congratulations. Come back when you're ready to pick out Jimmy's ring."
"We will," Jimmy and Jess said in unison. "Thank you for your help."
While they walked back to NCIS, Jess received a text from Kasie. It read "Did you say yes?" Jess laughed heartily and showed it to Jimmy. "How did she know?"
Jimmy laughed along. "I think Director Vance has a big mouth. I asked him if he knew of a great place to buy a ring. He must have said something."
Jess kissed Jimmy and took a picture of her ring and texted it to Kasie with the caption "Does this answer your question?"
A short while later both of their phones were chirping with messages from the entire crew congratulating them on the great news.
"We better call Victoria." Jimmy said.
"You're right about that."
Jimmy dialed Victoria's number and put it on speaker.
She answered "Dad? Is there anything wrong?"
"No sweetheart. Jess and I have some great news that we wanted to share with you."
"You got engaged!"
Jess answered. "Yes sweetheart. The Palmer family will soon have a new member."
"Congratulations you two. I'm so excited."
"Thank you. We'll see you at home tonight."
They continued to walk along hand in hand. Jimmy lifted Jess' left hand and kisses the ring. "Now that I have my ring on your finger is it time to talk about moving in together?"
Jess chuckled. "Yes it is. Do we move into your place or mine or do we get a new place? Maybe buy a house?"
Jimmy looked at her and said, "I don't care where we live as long as you're there. I just want it to be a place that has good schools for Victoria and maybe a future child of ours."
Jess stopped walking and wrapped her arms around Jimmy and kissed him. "I'm sure we'll find the perfect place. Since my place is smaller, I think it would be better for me to move in your place. We can decide if we want a new place later."
"Incredibly smart and incredibly beautiful. I'm the luckiest man in the world."
"Don't you forget it," said Jess before they both burst out laughing.