The Red Haired Woman
Chapter 6
A month passed by quickly. They were drowning in dead bodies, serial killers, and drug schemes. To her credit, Chanel acted entirely professional with Gibbs and continued her normal camaraderie with her co-workers. Tony and Chanel established a regular lunch date every week, as did Chanel, Ducky and Abby. Gibbs never went to lunch with her. Two weeks after the party he asked her to dinner and she agreed. Granted it was a weeknight so they could not stay out late, but dinner was delightful and Gibbs was completely charming. They didn't go out that weekend, much to her surprise. She found out later he had spent Saturday night entertaining a beautiful software manager who turned out to be the perpetrator of the crime they were investigating. He found out she was guilty from the DNA of the cigarettes they had smoked while he showed her how he built his boats. Gibbs had never even invited her to his house or offered to show her his boats. Still, she held her tongue and moved on as painful as it was. She would never let anyone know.
The next Friday was the President's Ball. Many congressmen and women, high ranking military personnel, some press, ambassadors from various countries, and of course the Supreme Court was invited although most chose not to go. It was an overwhelming and overpopulated event and Chanel dreaded it every year. If she was in country, she had to attend with the General. The President insisted and they always danced several dances. This year she would be escorted not only by her father but also by Lt. Colonel Gifford. They had gone out earlier in the week for dinner. There always had been a certain intensity between them in their two year mission in Afghanistan, but circumstances did not permit anything to change. Now circumstances had changed, and they were beginning to allow that intensity to develop. Chanel explained the on-going ambiguous nature of her and Gibbs' relationship and the more casual tone it had taken of late. She even explained that they apparently had an open relationship, as they were both dating others, although he had gone out first. Gifford could tell she was hurt by the whole turn of events, but he stayed neutral. If she went back to Gibbs, he did not want to have said anything that might later prove harmful to their shifting relationship. He was thrilled when she asked him to accompany her to the ball. He of course had his own invitation, but would like no one more than Chanel to accompany him.
That Friday Chanel came to work in her usual attire, worked on paperwork most of the day and around 4:30 shut her computer down. She left her desk and as she passed Gibbs' desk his throaty voice spoke up even though he didn't bother to raise his head. "You leaving early Chanel?"
"Tonight is the President's Ball, Gibbs. Unfortunately, I am expected to attend by the President himself. I was on my way to get dressed. My escorts will be picking me up in an hour and a half. I came in 30 minutes earlier this morning, so my time is accounted for if you are concerned. The Director has been generous enough to allow me to dress in his office."
"Escorts?"
"I will be accompanied by my father and Lt. Colonel Gifford. Now, if you will allow me, I need to go get ready, Gibbs."
They watched each other carefully, both showing hurt in their eyes, but neither willing to say anything either. Now was not the time or place anyway.
Everyone hung around the bull pen waiting to see Chanel emerge. Her father and the Lt. Colonel had shown up early just to hang out. Both men were dressed immaculately in their dress uniforms, both uniforms covered in medals. Gifford asked if he could speak with Gibbs a moment privately. Gibbs nodded and they walked around the stairs to a private nook.
"Chanel says that you now have a non-exclusive relationship. She also describes it as sadly ambiguous. I know she cares deeply about you, and I thought you felt the same for her. I don't expect you to respond to that. I just want you to know that I am taking on this chore of a ball for the delight of escorting Chanel. I am operating under the assumption that you and she are non-exclusive, and I am not dishonoring her, you, or myself in taking her tonight or to continue seeing her if she wants. And you should know that for some reason she has not chosen to share, she is devastated inside. She has said nothing about it, but I lived in some godforsaken places with her for two years. I know her very well." The two men stared hard at each other, until Gifford finally broke the uncomfortable silence again. "I'll leave you now. I think it is about time for her entrance. You should be there as well."
Gifford turned on his shiny shoe heel and walked back to the bull pen. Gibbs followed much farther behind.
The door to the Director's office opened and Chanel walked out. She was wearing a stunning emerald green dress that matched her eyes. It was both strapless and backless using bone to hold the dress tight and upright. Her breasts were almost spilling out of the shirred corset. The dress fitted her figure tightly until it reached her knees where it flared, shorter in the front with a slight train in the back. Her jewelry was entirely made up of emeralds, with a stunning diamond necklace with an emerald and diamond drop that hit her cleavage perfectly, matching earrings and bracelets. Her hair was scooped up in a purposely messy curly up-do. Abby had helped with her makeup, coloring her eyes in deep smoky tones and red lips. She looked dramatic and dazzling. She slowly walked down the stairs carrying a small matching purse. While all eyes were on her, she took in her Lt. Col as she had taken to calling him. He looked amazing with his dark eyes and chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and smaller waist. He was not an immense man, but he was at least 6 ft or taller. His uniform, at least this one, had to be tailor made to fit an athletic body like his. They would make an amazing pair. Her two escorts met her at the bottom of the stairs, while Abby followed close behind with a bag of her clothes of the day and her weapons. Abby gave the bag to Tony to take to the house tonight. He would be expected. Chanel smiled at everyone and wished them all a terrific weekend, turned with her escorts and left.