Jibbsfest 1

Must Contain: MTAC, Pair of Stockings, "that coffee belongs to Gibbs," Cynthia, Flashback

The Case of the Lipstick on the Coffee Cup by Aserene

Cynthia was sitting at her desk making sure the Director's MTAC Conference running late wouldn't affect her plans. She couldn't complain about her job, Director Shepard was wonderful to work for and was a good friend as well. There was just one thing that made life slightly difficult and if the raised voices coming up the hall were any indication this was going to be one of those things.

"You can't just throw my team in some seminar!"

"You're going too, and it's not my decision, it's a requirement," Came the equally loud response. Cynthia quickly grabbed the bottle of Advil from the top desk drawer. Director Shepard stormed past her desk grabbing the bottle of Advil followed quickly by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

"Well unrequire it!"

"Not my call!" She snapped back. The door to the office slammed closed and Cynthia cringed. She hadn't slammed in at least two weeks, this is so not good. She was about to pick up the phone when the door opened again and Gibbs stormed out, the Director following him to the doorway. "You better show up!"

"Yea, yea."

"It's yes Director!" Jenny shouted slamming the door shut again. Ouch, Cynthia though. So not good. Gibbs continued on his way out and down the stairs and a minute later the door opened again.

"Director can I get you something?" Cynthia inquired.

"More Advil, please. Thank you Cynthia," Jenny replied.

"Of course Director," came the expected response.

"I'll be in MTAC." Cynthia nodded and watched her leave. The phone rang minutes later. "Director Shepard's Office."

"Cynthia, Agent DiNozzo."

"Agent DiNozzo, the Director is not accepting apologies from Agent Gibbs."

"Uh Gibbs doesn't apologize but that certainly explains a lot," Tony responded. "I was wondering if the Director misplaced her coffee."

"She hasn't had any, but maybe she needs some."

"She hasn't had…Probie that coffee does belong to Gibbs!" Tony exclaimed. Cynthia hung up the phone and moved down the stairs. She found Agents DiNozzo and McGee and Officer David lurking around Gibbs' desk.

"So what's the deal?"

"Gibbs just came back downstairs with this coffee cup," Ziva answered.

"He had it upstairs, he's always drinking coffee," Cynthia said.

"Wearing lipstick?" DiNozzo inquired pointing at the red lipstick mark. Silence.

"Abby could run a chemical make up and we could see if it matches the Director's," McGee suggested.

"And just how would we get the Director's lipstick, Probie?" Tony questioned, but he looked behind him at Cynthia and then to Ziva. Cynthia noticed the looks and gulped.

"Cynthia, why don't you book me an appointment with the Director," Ziva suggested spotting Gibbs approaching.

"But she's…"

"Very busy, I wouldn't want to interrupt," Ziva replied leading Cynthia back up the stairs.

"DiNozzo if she's quitting because of you, you're fired," Gibbs said.

"Fired? Very Apprentice like, Boss," Tony laughed.

"What?"

"Apprentice? Donald Trump?" Gibbs glared. "Shutting up now Boss." Cynthia and Ziva shared a laugh as they continued to the Director's office.

"Ziva, how am I supposed to…"

"Shh…I'll take care of it, you just make sure she doesn't come in." Cynthia watched Ziva kneel down and pick the lock, thirty seconds later she slid into the room. Cynthia kept her eyes on the entrance and a minute later Ziva was beside her.

"That was…" Ziva gave her a look. "So now what?"

"Now it's Abby's turn." The two walked toward the elevator and took it down to the lab. Tony and McGee were already there. "No Gibbs?"
"Back up in MTAC, apparently we are required to go to some seminar and he's trying to get the Director to unrequire it," McGee explained.

"I've already complied the chemicals in the lipstick on the coffee cup, now I just need a sample to compare it to," Abby announced.

"Try this," Ziva said holding out the tube. The team waited silently until the screen blinked green.

"Positive match, that's the lipstick."

"So the Director drank from Gibbs' coffee," Cynthia stated.

"He let her," Tony corrected.

"I also found a pair of stockings in the drawer with the lipstick," Ziva informed holding them up. They were still neatly packaged. "Brand new, but begs the question why?" Again all eyes were on Cynthia.

"She usually wears knees highs but a few weeks ago they got a run and she needed a new pair. The store only had stockings and she hates them so she must have just thrown them in the drawer."

"Director likes knee highs, can only imagine why," Tony commented with his usual grin.

"Most likely not the reason you are thinking of," Ziva assured. Although I wouldn't be surprised.


"You think they know we can hear them?"

"Nope." She nodded, Sometimes DiNozzo you're one-track mind is not so far off. The two sat in MTAC beside each other watching his team and her assistant try and uncover a well-kept secret. "So do we really have to go to this seminar?"

"Yes you really have to go, but don't worry, I promise it won't be so bad," She said sweetly smiling.

"It will be, can't you stay in MTAC and for security I'll stay with you?"
"Not a chance Jethro."

"We could listen to the seminar over phone conference," he suggested.

"Don't you remember the last time we'd tried that?" She questioned teasingly and he smiled that secretive smile that she knew meant he was remembering.

It had been another hot August day. They still hadn't left the attic much less the make shift bed. The phone ringing startled the sleeping lovers awake and it was Jenny who grabbed the phone.

"Shepard?"
"Agent Shepard, what do you and Gibbs have?"

"Director!" She gasped somewhat surprised and nudged Gibbs awake. She mouthed 'Director' before sliding out of bed and grabbing a robe. The phone conversation continued with Gibbs adding words in every so often. She finally came close enough to the bed for him to catch her and he pulled her down beside him. She glared at him as she continued speaking and he grinned. His hand wandered up her leg and under the thin silk that barley covered her. He barley touched her but it seemed he had already discovered her weak spots.

However fair was fair and she handed him the phone to speak with their boss. He'd destroyed her composure and she certainly hoped the conversation was over soon. In the meantime she could have her revenge. She lay down beside him and nuzzled his neck and placed her hands on his chest, placing a kiss on his neck.

"Of course Director," came Gibbs' breathless reply. He hung up and tossed the phone across the room. "Not fair."

"I'll make it up to you, I promise." They did not leave the attic for several more hours.

"That was just the Director," Gibbs reminded after thoroughly enjoying the memory. "A seminar would be totally different, you don't have to talk."

"Your team would be disappointed if we didn't show," Jenny laughed. Gibbs huffed.

"So after this seminar?"
"Well I was hoping you could give me a ride home, I took the town car in."
"I might not take you home."
"Oh you will," she told him. "I need to sleep in a real bed at least one night a week," she warned. He smirked and glanced at the time before the smirk faded away. "I'll make it up to you," she promised, her voice lowering, he knew that tone, it sent shivers through him. She got up from the chair and pulled him up to leaving to go to the squad room.

The team was waiting idly in the bullpen when they came down the stairs. Tony was looking them over, mainly focusing on Jen. Ziva was grinning, wonder what's got her so happy, Gibbs thought. McGee and Abby were bickering and Ducky was watching them curiously. As the two came closer Gibbs whacked Tony on the back of the head and led the way to the conference room, the real conference room.

"Guess he didn't convince her," Ziva sighed.

"He might invent a case," Tony said hopefully. An elder woman stopped the group in the hallway.

"Director, I'm so sorry, but the seminar will not be taking place today, the FBI will be going today," she informed.

"Thank you for letting me know," Jenny responded trying not to let her irritation show. The woman went away. "Well I guess you can all go home."

"Told you he'd handle it," Tony whispered. WHACK. "Boss can we go home?"

"Director said you could," Gibbs replied. Ziva turned toward McGee who shrugged but went to get his stuff.

"Does that mean Gibbs and the Director are in agreement?" Ziva asked aloud.

"Guess so," Abby answered happily. The team left together and was hanging around their cars trying to figure out how Gibbs had gotten rid of the seminar when the elevator doors opened and Gibbs and the Director stepped off. Cynthia was behind them but moved quickly toward the team.

"They leaving together?" Tony questioned.

"Must be, she didn't call for the car," Cynthia answered.

"Well then," Ziva said stepping between cars and following the couple. Tony watched for a second before bolting to catch up with her.

"Gibbs is going to kill us," McGee sighed before he, Abby and Cynthia also followed.

"What's happening?" Abby asked trying to see.

"Shh!"

"We're trying to hear!"

"This weather is ridiculous," Jenny complained unhappily. She wrapped her arms around herself

"Cold?"
"Very, I didn't need a jacket this morning," She sighed. Gibbs wrapped his coat around her shoulders and she smiled sweetly. Guess chivalry isn't dead yet. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." He wrapped his arm around her, his hand finding its way to her hip and they continued to the car.

"Want anything specific for dinner?" She asked as if it were any everyday conversation.

"Let's skip dinner," he suggested with a smirk. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"Good idea." They both got into Gibbs' car and the team watched Jenny adjust the radio and Gibbs turning and with a finger tapping her nose before leaning in to kiss her.

"Well that explains the coffee and lipstick," Abby declared.

"And the locked doors," Cynthia added.

"Knee highs are easier to take off than stockings," Tony pointed out. Ziva punched his shoulder lightly.

"You shouldn't think about the parents like that!" She teased. Tony turned pale before shaking the image away. McGee laughed.


They got out of the car and walked up to the door. She got out her key and opened it; he stepped in first carrying her laptop bag. He helped her out of his coat and she pushed the door closed.

"Your team knows," She said. He shrugged, not like we weren't going to tell them eventually.

"They'll keep their mouths shut," he assured leaning down to kiss her. His kiss stole her breath and she had the dreamy look in her bright green eyes. It was a thrill that he could still have that effect on her and leave her in a place where she'd go wherever he led. He further surprised her by scooping her up and carrying her up the stairs.

"So how did you get rid of the Seminar speaker?"

"Need to know."
"And I don't?" She pouted slightly. HE kissed her again and dropped her on the bed.

"Not right now."

"Fair enough," she replied pulling his head down closer and kissing him. She hit the light switch and the room faded into darkness. All that was left were the faint giggles and low moans.

END