Prior to walking up to the men she made sure her hair was in place and ran her hands down her black lace dress to smooth it out. She had not known why this dress had screamed at her when she saw it. It was so different than anything she had worn to the White House functions in the past. It was ankle length, fitted, black lace with a red underlay. Now she glad she had gone with the impulse buy. Clearly she was meant to meet the man of her dreams at this party.

Molly Rydell walked up to the Director of NCIS. He was talking to an extremely handsome six foot tall man with silver hair. This man also possessed the most breathtaking pair of blue eyes she had ever seen. They seemed omniscient and full of emotion. But she had a hunch they could turn fierce and piercing when it was needed. His black suit fit him perfectly. "Good evening Director Vance." She interjected into the conversation as she approached them.

"Evening Molly." Leon Vance took her into an embrace. She and Leon had actually run into each other several times at events that required both their presence. It had turned into a friendship between herself and Leon's family that resulted in her doing dinner with the Vances at their home on a few occasions. "Molly, this is Special Agent Gibbs of NCIS. Jethro this is Molly Rydell-"

"-Press Secretary for the White House." Gibbs finished.

"Special Agent Gibbs. So nice to meet you." She shook the older man's hand that he held out.

Jethro was struck by her beauty. Well if he was being honest with himself he was struck by that dress. It hugged her body in all the right places to be elegant and flirty at the same time. He was also impressed how she held herself. Her presence oozed confidence and intelligence. If he was 20 years younger or she was 20 years older he would have asked her for her number. But he did not date younger. Hell these days he did not date at all, much to his divorce lawyer's dismay.

"Excuse me Gentlemen but I see the President is giving me the signal to come save him from the Senator over there." She excused herself after making small talk with Leon for a few minutes. As she walked away she turned, "I expect neither of you will even attempt to leave without spinning me around this dance floor at least once." She flashed a smile and headed for the President.

"That one is a fire cracker Jethro. And it looks like you have lit her fuse." Vance turned to look at his most decorated and most difficult agent.

"Little old for her don't ya think Leon?" Gibbs gave Vance the same doubting glare that he had received so many times before.

"Not for Molly. She does not date men her age. Nothing sets her belly on fire like running her hand through a nice head of silver hair while looking into the eyes of her lover." Vance put his hands up in defense. "Her words not mine."

"Well Jeeze Leon, if you're having that kind of conversation with her, are you sure it's me who lit her fuse?" Gibbs scoffed at his superior. "How well do you know her?"

"Well enough that the conversation occurred in front of my wife over dinner at my house. You don't have to believe me Gibbs. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Molly spent forty-five minutes attempting to keep up in conversation while keeping track of Jethro Gibbs' movements around the room. She made her way over to Leon and held out her hand. "I think I would like to dance now Leon." Leon made his excuses as he parted with his present company and took Molly's hand and lead her to the dance floor. He could not help but admire her when she cut to the chase. "So tell me about Agent Gibbs."

Leon chuckled. "I knew by the look in your eye Molly. I knew it."

"Come on Leon. It's not like I am a serial dater. I think I have been out with you and Jackie more than I have with any men since I have been in DC. It's not easy to meet guys in my job. They all feel intimidated when they figure out where I work. I can't date a man I can intimidate. You know that. Gibbs doesn't seem like he gets intimidated."

"That he does not. If you want that, you have your work cut out for you. He does not date often. He is a tough man Molly. Four marriages and three divorces."

"I didn't see a ring on his finger. Is he separated?" She started to look disappointed. Maybe Gibbs was not as available as she thought he was.

"First marriage ended when his wife and daughter were killed by the head of a Mexican Drug Cartel. If you are going to pursue him I would avoid that subject all together."

"Of course." She whispered. While the story was sad it also meant that Gibbs was available for her to "pursue" as Leon put it. "Any tips?"

"Only warnings. He is a smug SOB. Has a strict set of rules he lives by. More often than not his gut is right which also makes him a bit arrogant." Leon chuckled. He was trying to warn her off of Gibbs but the look in her slate colored eyes told him he was doing just the opposite. "You will also be hard pressed to find someone more loyal and protective. I must warn you that you have two strikes running against you."

"What could I have possibly done in the five minutes I was talking with you?" She gave him the same look he had gotten from Gibbs earlier. He hated that look.

"You are young for his taste and you are not a red head. He is a bit partial to the red heads. I think he likes the fight in 'em. I also have a theory that that's how he's ended up with three ex-wives."

"I can give him a fight if he wants one Leon." The song ended and Leon gave her a peck on the cheek. "Now where is your Agent Gibbs?"

Molly was looking through the crowd looking for Gibbs when a hand snaked around her upper arm and she heard a voice from behind her. "I was told that I could not think of leaving before I danced with the Press Secretary. I have it on good authority that she knows the retiring SecNav extremely well." She smiled and turned to find Gibbs behind her. How did he know she was looking for him?

"Well he is only my God Father." She shrugged and smiled. "He saved my Grandfather in Korea when his boat was hit and was going down. My father and uncle were already boys by then. So when Dad married later in life and Gramps had already passed, he took up the position."

"He speaks highly of you." By this time the song was already half over. She had a suspicion that Gibbs had sought her out to fulfill his obligation of a dance so he could head home. She looked at the watch on her left wrist. "Am I keeping you from something?" He asked.

"Nope. I am just checking to see if it's late enough to call it a night without looking like I'm ditching the Secretary. I have many phone calls to make in the morning before briefing time. When you're retired everyday is Saturday. When you work at the White House, it is still Wednesday night. I think I have put my allotted time in. After this dance I may head out."

"Well why don't we go say good night to the Secretary and I will walk you to your car. I was thinking about heading out myself."

As Molly made her farewell rounds Gibbs went to the coat check to get their coats. When he reached into the pocket of his suit he found a business card inside. It was that of Molly Rydell, Press Secretary to the White House. On the back was a hand written phone number. He smiled. He had to give her credit. She was sneaky. He hadn't felt her hand near his pocket.

"Well DiNozzo would be crying right now if he saw this." Gibbs and Molly had made it to her 1966 Mustang Convertible.

"DiNozzo?"

"He is my Senior Field Agent. He had this car until it was blown up during an assignment. He has been searching for the perfect replacement for it ever since."

"There is no replacing this car."

"Funny. He says the same thing." Gibbs smirked and Molly almost melted into a puddle right there. Did he have any idea how sexy he was? "Another thing that's funny is when I went to get our coats I found this-" he held up her business card "-in my pocket."

"Well Jethro, you never know when you might need the number to the Press Secretary to the White House. Because at some point you are going to realize you want my number and I'm just trying to save you the embarrassment of having to call my Godfather for it." She looked him in the eye when she said it and he found himself admiring many things about her….again.

"Appreciate you looking out for me. Don't want to know what kind of disparaging remarks SecNav would have for me when I call and ask him for the phone number of a girl who is clearly much younger than me."

"Want to know what I have to say about age?"

"Dying to hear it." He moved closer to her. She was now leaning against the hood of her car and he was beginning to invade her personal space. She liked it.

"Well there is the Groucho Marx argument. You are only as old as the woman you feel." She smiled when he chuckled.

"And the second?"

"Nothing sets my belly on fire like running my fingers through a nice head of silver hair-"

"-while looking into your lover's eyes." He finished her statement. "Seems as if I have heard that somewhere else tonight."

"You must have been talking with Leon about me. You know what that means?" She smirked.

"What?" He raised an eyebrow.

"That means that you will be using that card."

She was shocked when he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He whispered in her ear. "You wouldn't be wrong." She could hear him smile and then he turned around and began to walk away.

"Don't lose that card Special Agent Gibbs." She called to him.

"Oh I won't Press Secretary Rydell." He called without looking back as he walked away. He put the card in the pocket of his long coat and patted the pocket with his hand for emphasis.