DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!

DREAM GIRL

Ch. 2

Gibbs struggled with his need, no his desire to know all about Karin. With all the programming accessible to do background and research on her only a finger's touch a way, granted not his own finger, but Tim would do his bidding if he asked, he managed to convince himself that discovering things about her the old fashioned way would be more rewarding. He looked forward to hearing her tell him about herself. His gut certainly had accepted that she was all he dreamed she'd be.

The day was agonizingly slow as he watched his team go through cold cases, as he met with the director about the upcoming policy changes and as he continued to watch the clock wondering if he should've taken the extra time to get her number, or just use the search to find it, so he could call her instead of having to wait for her to call.

Karin sent the last of her messages and sat back in her computer chair. It had been a more productive work day than she had deemed possible. After meeting Jethro, she couldn't help smiling at his name; she thought she'd be unable to concentrate on any of the assignments she was responsible for.

She looked at the time on the lower right corner of her screen: 4:35. Not entirely sure what kind of schedule Jethro was keeping at work, she debated about calling. Should she wait until 5:00, or would he be rushing out by then? Would he wait to see if she was calling?

'This is ridiculous,' she chided herself. 'You're a mature woman in her thirties. Call him.' She picked up the phone and punched in the numbers. To her surprise it had barely rang before a gruff voice answered, "Gibbs."

"Jethro?" she asked.

"Yes," a softer response. Gibbs looked at his agents who looked at each other and then back to their desks.

"I'm glad I caught you," she shook her head thinking it wasn't a great way to start a conversation. Fortunately, he chuckled.

"Me, too. Actually since you called now, I'll probably be heading out in about fifteen minutes."

"Would you like to meet up somewhere for dinner?" she asked realizing she'd done little more than snack as she worked.

"Sure. Any place you have in mind?" he asked all too aware that the trio around him though furtively avoiding looking at him were intently listening.

She smiled loving that he was letting her choose the place. "How about Chinese? Lo Mein's on C Street?"

"Sounds great. Meet you at fivish." He hung up and mentally kicked himself knowing that it was a habit he'd have to break when he was talking with her. For some reason it seemed rude when he was cutting off communication from her. He searched for the number she called from and hit send. When she answered a bit confused he said quietly, "Sorry about that." Three heads snapped up and looked wide-eyed at their boss.

The rest of the call was short and both said goodbye before it was ended. Gibbs looked around his desk finding it all in order. He reached in his drawer for his gun and badge, and then grabbed his jacket off the chair to go to the elevator. As he passed between Tony and Ziva he ordered, "Don't follow me," and grinned as Tony retook his seat.

"Who was that?" Tony exclaimed once the elevator door closed.

"Do you mean who called or who was sitting there talking?" Tim asked still a bit stunned.

"I am sure Gibbs would tell us, if it were any of our business," Ziva chose to be the voice of reason.

"We need to find out," Tony told his partners.

"No we don't," Tim replied shaking his head. "It's Gibbs' private life. I'm not interfering."

"Come on McTracker. I need you to at least tell me where he's going to be at. I'll go alone," he looked slyly over at Ziva, "Unless someone would like to accompany me."

Ziva shook her head, "I do not think that to be the most intelligent thing to do."

"The saying is wisest thing, Zee-vah," Tony pouted. "But, come on. I bet it's a woman and Gibbs hasn't had the best luck with them."

"And how will you help Tony? Are you going to send him signals? Or perhaps notes passed through strangers to slip to him?" Ziva asked incredulously.

"She has a point. What good will spying on him do? Other than angering him when he catches you?" Tim asked.

Tony humphed, "He's not going to catch me. Now can you see where he went or not?"

"It's your head he'll smack clear off your shoulders," Tim typed into his computer. "Looks like he's picking up dinner at Lo Mein's," Tim showed Tony the screen.

"Hmm… Take out or is he eating in?" Tony wondered aloud, but figuring the answer was obvious.

"This won't tell me that exactly."

"Exactly? What does that mean?" Ziva couldn't believe she was asking.

"Well, if he's there longer than say 15-20 minutes, he probably eating there, otherwise he'd be on his way home," Tim explained.

"Oh, he's eating in, I'm sure of it," Tony nodded confidently.

"How can you be so sure?" Tim asked.

"He's said he'd meet her. She must've picked the restaurant, because he didn't mention it." Certain they saw his reasoning he said, "I'm not sure about you two, but I could go for some Chinese."

"I will go with you Tony, but only because I want to give you an excuse to be eating in," Ziva could hardly believe she was joining in his hair-brained scheme.

"Try to keep me out of it," Tim told them.

"You are so in it, McGee," Tony teased. "You may as well come with us. Who knows? Maybe you'll get a good fortune in your cookie."

"Fine! But I'm NOT spying on the boss."

"Let's go," Tony waved at them to hurry along.