Chapter 6
A month later, Tim was sitting at his desk working on some paperwork from a case they just solved. Gibbs was on a video conference with Director Vance. Tony was on lunch duty and Ziva was talking with Abby in her lab. Fornell and Erin walked off the elevator and Fornell spoke which caused Tim to jump.
"Jumpy are we Agent McGee?"
"Uh…. No Agent Fornell. Agent Gibbs is with the Director in MTAC." Tim said as he looked at the elder man.
Fornell looked from McGee to his daughter "Agent Morgan, wait here until I return."
Erin nodded as she watched Fornell walk up the stairs. She smiled as she walked to Tony's desk.
"How are you feeling Erin?"
"Good. My doctor cleared me to return to active duty." Erin replied as she sat in Tony's chair.
Tim's smile widened as he said "That's good to hear. Are you going back to Langley?"
"Uh…no, I can't work undercover anymore because of my last op. I might work for the FBI." Erin explained as she saw Ziva walk into the squad room "Shalom Ziva."
"Shalom." Ziva greeted as she sat at her desk "What brings you to NCIS?"
Erin shrugged as she said "Fornell asked me to come with him."
Ziva nodded as she began to work when Tony walked in with lunch. "Gibbs still with the Director?"
"Yea and Fornell." Tim replied as he glared when Tony dropped the bags on his desk.
Tony raised an eyebrow toward Erin "What Agent Morgan, what graces us with you presences?"
"Oh, I'm here with Fornell." Erin replied as she stood up from Tony's desk "Or Gibbs decided to hire me to take your job while NCIS is sending you to work with Agent Sacks. Take your pick."
Tony began to laugh but stopped as he glared "Funny! I didn't know spooks have a sense of humor."
"Oh! Didn't you hear? I am not a spook anymore." Erin retorted as she walked by him and took his fries.
Tony glared as he yelled "HEY!"
Erin smiled as she heard Fornell's voice "Agent Morgan, are you playing nice with DiNutzo?"
"Not at all." Erin replied as she took a bite of a fry. Fornell smiled as he walked passed his new agent.
"Here Tony." Erin stated as she handed the half eaten box to him.
Tony looked at the box then huff a response as Ziva and Tim laughed. Erin walked by Tim's desk and discreetly drops a note that read "Dinner tonight at 8 rights?"
Tim looked toward the elevator and nodded as he saw Erin smiled before stepping on the elevator.
A few minutes later, Gibbs walked down the stairs. Tony was still mumbling about Erin as he asked "What Fornell want boss?"
"Nothing just giving intel." Gibbs said as he sat down at his desk and began to write.
Tony looked shocked as he replied "The FBI doesn't give anything for free boss."
"I didn't say it was for free DiNozzo. Agent Morgan will be working with us for awhile." Gibbs retorted as he picked up his glasses and read something.
"Why?" Tony asked as he looked from Ziva to McGee. Gibbs glared at his senior field agent "Never mind why boss."
"When does she start?" Ziva questioned as she looked at him.
Gibbs sighed harshly as he said "At 0730 tomorrow."
All three agents looked at each as Gibbs stood up to leave the squad room.
~~**~~
Tim arrived at Erin's apartment at 6:45, though they had agreed to meet at his place at 7:30 since his apartment was closer to the restaurant. He held a rose in his right hand as he knocked on the door with his left. A tall, slender, blonde haired woman answered the door with a confused look. "Tim, what are you doing here? I thought she was meeting you."
"I really needed to talk to her before dinner." Tim explained as he noticed the expression on her roommates face. "Oh no, it's nothing bad."
The woman nodded as she called for her roommate "Erin! Door!"
Tim smiled as he entered the apartment and saw Erin quickly run out of the bathroom "Tim… I thought that we were meeting at your place."
"We are -- I mean we were but I need to talk to you." Tim replied as he noticed Erin wasn't quite ready.
Erin looked quickly at her clothing which included a pair of boxers and a tank top. "Oh…sorry. I am not quite ready." She said as she began walking to the bedroom "You can come in my room to talk."
Tim nodded as he replied "Oh, uh this is for you."
"Thank you Tim. It's beautiful." Erin stated as she made a detour to the kitchen to put the flower in a vase. Tim followed Erin into the bedroom. She turned toward him as she folded her arms across her chest. "What's wrong Tim?"
"Nothing is wrong. I just, uh just wanted to know more about your father." Tim explained as he sat down on the bed.
Erin turned to the mirror as she finished her makeup "Like what?"
"Anything Erin. What's he like? I mean he seems pretty special to you." Tim said as he watched her finish with her makeup and reach for her dress.
Erin sighed as she looked at Tim, who took the cue to turn away as she dressed "You have technically met him already."
"What? How?" Tim quickly said as he turned around then quickly closed his eyes when he saw Erin dressing "Sorry. What do you mean I have already met him?"
Erin pulled her dress up and turned her back to him as she asked "Can you zip me up?"
Tim opened his eyes and quickly pulled the zipper on her dress "Can you quit deflecting my questions."
"Fine." Erin said in a sigh as she continued "My father is Agent Fornell."
Tim's eyes widened as he said "As in FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell?"
"Yes Tim." Erin replied as she said "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I really like you and was afraid you wouldn't want to see me again."
Tim took a deep breath as he stated "Does he know about us?"
"I guess so." Erin said with a shrug while she put her heels on.
Tim's eyes narrowed as he questioned "You guess so?"
"Yea. He was the one who invited us to dinner." Erin answered as she opened the bedroom door. Tim quickly followed Erin out of her bedroom. He saw Erin walk toward the mantle above the fireplace as he replied "I heard you are working with us."
"Fornell's idea." Erin responded as she began to put her necklace on. Tim noticed and walked over to help her put it on. "You don't want to work with us?"
Erin shook her head as she explained "I guess I do but its hard getting back into working with a team especially being moved into two different agencies."
Tim nodded as he clasped the necklace "I couldn't imagine. As CIA, how could you trust anyone?"
"It's hard but you learn how to read people and depend on yourself." Erin answered as she placed an earring in her ear.
Tim smiled as she turned toward him "You look beautiful."
Erin blushed as she replied "You clean up well yourself."
Tim smiled as he took her hang and led her to the door.
~~**~~
The drive was quick and quiet as both were deep in thought. In the restaurant, they were seated quickly and began looking at the menu. A few minutes later, Erin looked up as she asked "Would you like something stronger than water?"
"Uh, I don't know. Would that look bad to your father?" Tim replied with a chuckle.
Erin glared as she replied "No. I am getting him a glass of bourbon."
"I was only kidding Erin." Tim said as he began to get up "What would you like?"
Erin stood up quickly "Let me go get the drinks."
Tim nodded as he gave her a questioning look. "Sorry, I am just nervous." Erin replied as she took a deep breath.
Tim smiled as he said "Well then, I would like a glass of white wine."
Erin smiled as she walked to the bar. Tim watched as she ordered the drinks. He could tell she was more nervous than she was letting on. He also knew that he should be more nervous than he was but he couldn't think of anything but how beautiful she was in her forest green strapless dress. The dress was pretty but she made it stunning. Her chocolate colored hair was in soft curls that accented her face. He was brought back from his thoughts by a familiar voice "Now Tim, I don't think her father will approve of your undressing his daughter with your eyes."
Tim looked up and smiled as he saw Janie. "I didn't know you were joining us Mrs. Arthur."
"Erin seemed super nervous on the phone so I came for moral support." Janie explained as she continued "Tim, please call me Janie."
Tim nodded as he watched Erin begin to walk over to the table with a big smiled on her face. "Mom, I didn't know you were coming."
"I was just telling Tim that I came for moral support. Janie explained as she gave her daughter the mom look "Now Erin, you shouldn't be drinking."
"Mom, one drink won't hurt. I need something to calm my nerves."
"Would you like anything Mrs. -- I mean Janie?"
Janie looked from Erin to Tim "That's sweet Tim. Can you get me a club soda?"
Tim nodded as he walked toward the bar. When Tim left, Janie looked at her daughter "Did you tell him about your father?"
"Yes, he asked me at the apartment and I told him." Erin responded as she looked at the bar.
Janie watched her daughter as she said "So, he didn't run for the hills like you thought he would?"
"No, he took it surprisingly well." Erin replied as she felt a presence behind her "Hello Dad."
Erin. Janie." Tobias greeted as he sat down beside Erin "Where is McGee?"
Erin motioned to the bar as she said "Getting mom her usual."
"Ah, I see." Fornell replied "So Janie, did you come to spy on me?"
Janie chuckled as she said "No Tobias, I am making sure you play nice"
Fornell scoffed as he stated "Me? Not play nice? Since when?"
"You better be nice to this boy." Janie warned as she continued "He is good Tobias."
Tobias nodded as he said "I know he is Janie."
Erin glared at her parents as she said "Please behave."
Both parents looked at her as Tim walked to the table and placed the club soda in front of Janie. He looked at the seat he had been sitting in which was now occupied by Janie's father. Erin felt Tim's awkwardness as she looked at her father "Dad?"
"What sweetheart?" Fornell replied as he stood up to shake Tim's hand "Oh! Hello Agent McGee."
"Agent Fornell." Tim greeted as he looked quickly at Erin."
"Dad." Erin said again as she sighed "You are sitting one chair over."
Fornell quickly looked at his daughter then the table "Oh sorry."
"No, its okay. I can sit in the other seat." Tim quickly replied as he moved his drink.
Janie shook her head as she interrupted "Here Tim, you can sit beside Erin."
Tim smiled as he moved beside Erin, who sent her mother a silent thank you. The waitress quickly walked to the table to take the orders. While waiting for their dinners, Tim excused himself from the table. After he left, Erin glared at her father. "Dad please behave. I know you don't like NCIS but I really like Tim."
Fornell took a drink then looked at his daughter "I just don't think you should be dating right now, especially someone who you will be working with."
"Tobias, you won't lose her if she finds the right guy." Janie said as she looked to the bathroom. "Erin why don't you check on him, while I speak to your father. Alone."
Erin smiled as she stood up to find Tim.