Flash Sideways.
"Its the right decision. Its not going to be a popular one. But it is the best one we've got."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Want me to make the call?"
"I'll do it. Just give me a minute."
Tim arrived at Bistro Aix ten minutes before Cassie was due to arrive. Speaking to the maitre d', he asked that a bottle of Plumpjack Winery reserve chardonnay be chilled for the table. He knew Cassie liked this wine, and preferred sticking to the one drink, rather than having cocktails before dinner. Tims thoughts since lunch had been about walking with Cassie, even holding her, taking her in his arms, kissing her before saying goodnight. Why had she asked him how he would kiss her? He knew she was only teasing, but Tim had had a crush on Cassie when they were both in Washington. Gibbs rule notwithstanding, Tim at the time knew Cassie was out of his league. He was a probie agent, the butt of all jokes, still unconfident in himself and his abilities. That was more five years ago. This Tim McGee was a different man, but he did not know if he had the courage to take the risk of ruining his friendship with this amazing woman.
Cassie sat in the back of taxi, on her way to Bistro Aix. She had spent the last hour and a half getting ready, longer than she did for dates. She had not made up her mind if that was what this was. She knew she had teased Tim about what their first kiss would be like earlier that day. Now she knew how he thought about it, she wanted it to be real. Her daydreams of Tim placing his arms around her, pulling her into his chest, his green eyes looking into her deep dark brown ones, smelling his aftershave as he leaned down. Cassie kept thinking she was crazy, Tim didn't think of her that like that. She knew he had had a crush on her when they both in the Navy Yard. She hadn't done anything back then because she knew it would never have worked out. At the time, Tim was still new to the job, still too green, still too unsure of himself. Now, she realised, they were partners. Equal in confidence and career, equal in love, neither dating, nor dated anyone seriously for the past two years. Cassie decided if Tim didn't give her a single hint tonight, she wouldn't either. But she knew she would not keep that promise. She would place a subtle hint to test the waters before diving in. Or would she? Cassie had less than five minutes to make up her mind.
As Cassie stepped out of the taxi, she spotter Tim through the window, sitting at the bar, holding a bottle of Corona. Unlike herself, Tim liked a beer before dinner, but would then stick to wine. She watched as his head turned towards the windows, a smile brightening his face as he saw her. He stood up as Cassie made her way inside, passing the maitre d' and heading for the bar. Tim smiled as he saw what she wearing, a strapless white knee length dress with flowing black flower print, which hugged her athletic figure, causing women to look at her, loving the dress, while hating the woman wearing it. Not because they couldn't pull it off themselves, but because the men they were with all cast admiring glances at Cassie. Tim knew he would be on the most envious men in the bistro tonight.
"You look amazing," Tim said as she approached, reaching out and kissing her cheek. As he pulled back Tim saw some of the men cast withering glances at him, knowing to hit on Cassie would be to mess with him. "Shall we sit?"
"Please," said Cassie, feeling famished after the full day on campus. Cassie saw Tim nod towards the maitre d'. the two of them being known customers, as they normally came here for Cassies birthday, and at least once a month for dinner. Plus, the executive chef was a fan of Tims work. Cassie had never seen Tim turn such a shade of red on their second visit here. Tims dessert of praline cheesecake had come with a note from the chef, asking Tim that he enjoyed the cheesecake as much as he had enjoyed the Thom E Gemcity novels. Because of this, Tim usually had no problems booking a table here, even once walking in on the spur of the moment after arriving back late from a night out at the theatre.
As they sat down, a waiter appeared with a bottle of white wine, and the maitre d' handed them menus. Cassie watched the waiter pour the wine, seeing it was the Plumpjack chardonnay she loved. Tim was pulling out all the stops tonight, she thought, maybe it was a date after all.
Cassie knew the menu well, and before she even opened it, she knew what her order would be, but Tim never usually ordered the same thing, sometimes asking which chef was working, some of who liked to surprise him with one of their creations. When Cassie looked around, she saw they were in the "romantic" section, as Tim described it. The tables here were all for two people, with pencil thin candles on the table. Cassie knew they were here more for Tims privacy than the maitre d' trying to play matchmaker. The restaurant had never told anyone who Tim was, and they liked it that way. Tim had come down after his latest book launch and signed everyones books as a thank you for not telling people who he was. This relationship worked well, as Tim had brought his editor with him previously, who had complimented the restaurant, and had come back with other authors afterwards.
Cassie placed her order after seeing Tims nod, knowing he was ready to order.
"I'll have the crispy calamari, followed by the risotto, please," This was Cassies favourite meal at Bistro Aix, and after today she felt she deserved it. Looking at Tim, she knew his order would be different.
"I'll have the creamy french onion soup. Is Marcell working?" Tim asked, the maitre d' nodding at him. "Ask him for a steak dish, cooked medium, no mushrooms, please?" The maitre d' smiled at the full time federal agent, sometimes author. Collecting the menus, the maitre d' headed towards the kitchen.
"Why do you do that?" Cassie asked, knowing Tim would end up having the best meal out of everyone in here that night.
"I like Marcells cooking. If it had been Shawn or Lucinda, I'd have ordered something off the menu." Tim said this without arrogance. Shawn and Lucinda knew Tim trusted Marcell, after the man had recreated a dish from one of Tims novels for his editor, who seemed very shocked when the dish arrived.
Cassie and Tim talked about how the day had gone, with more than a thousand names signed up for further information. They both knew that only a small percent would respond for follow up emails, and even fewer would apply. NCIS had the smallest amount of applications of college graduates out of the alphabet soup agencies, and with the need for agents to be multi-skilled, their review process was one of the hardest to get through. Tim remembered his first interview, held in Washington DC.
Flashback
"Mr McGee, why do you want to be a federal agent? You feel you will get an easy ride because your father is an admiral perhaps?" Tim disliked this person immensely. Tim looked inside of himself, to find the part of him that stood up to bullies.
"Sir, I have wanted to join NCIS for the past fifteen years. If I wanted an easy ride, I would have applied to the FBI or NSA. NCIS is part of the Navy. I have an inner ear condition which causes severe seasickness whenever I step onto a sea vessel. My family has served this country in one capacity or another for more than ten generations. I intend to honour that service by joining NCIS." Tim really wanted to show off, but knew that would count against him.
"Mr McGee, NCIS is not a substitute for the Navy, it is a federal agency. What do you know about it?" Tim knew he was being tested. Tests he could pass, this one he would ace.
"NCIS is the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, whose agents are commonly referred to as "Navy Cops." It is the successor to NIS, Naval Investigative Service. The origins of both can be found back to 1882, when the Office of Naval Intelligence was formed by then secretary of the Navy, William H. Hunt." Martin Gerrard was shocked. This young man knew his history. Raising his hand, he stopped him.
"Mr McGee, how much of NCIS do you know?" He asked, wondering if this man knew what he wanted to do at NCIS.
"Pretty much everything. I grew up on Navy bases around the world. I knew NIS and NCIS special agents, and count some of them among my first friends. I once invited NIS agents to my ninth birthday party," Tim said, turning red. Gerrard realised NCIS wasn't simply a government agency to this man, but part of his way of life, always there, always present, always would be.
"You said you could have an easy ride with the FBI or NSA. What makes you say that?"
"The FBI and NSA have both tried to recruit me. They both offered me positions within their cybercrimes divisions. These are just two of the job offers which I plan on turning down."
"What else have you been offered?" Wondering who wanted this young man.
"I won't name names, but the best offer I have had would have most people already signing their contract."
"Do I want to know?" Asked Gerrard smiling, knowing the corporate computer world often spared no expense on computer geniuses.
"Starting salary of $900,000, car, apartment, travel allowance, choice of assignment, ten weeks holiday a year, shares in the company after I've been with them three years. Plus I get to keep the apartment after five years."
Martin Gerrard was floored. NCIS agents were lucky to make that starting salary in fifteen years, and this man was going to turn it down. He knew if he didn't accept this man, he would become part of a bidding war, with the FBI and NSA offering him their support to get him into NCIS after he'd been with them for a few years.
"Apart from your computer skills, what else can you offer NCIS?" Knowing just this one area of study would be enough to get him a job, other skills could be developed.
"I speak Greek, Dutch, German and Italian fluently, as well as a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering." Gerrard knew this man would get in. His language knowledge made him a definite prospect for postings abroad, as well as with the intelligence section. He would be able to coordinate with these four countries, as well as other countries around the world. Gerrard knew he would be a most sought after agent once graduated from FLETC.
"Mr McGee. Knowing this, I will recommend to FLETC you be accepted, to follow the NCIS course path. Should you wish to change your mind, you will need to inform your instructors within fourteen days of starting your course." Tim was shocked, he was in. "Its not official until you receive your acceptance letter, but the fact you are willing to turn down an offer most MIT graduates would kill for, shows me your level of commitment to the service. Welcome aboard."
End Flashback
Tim and Cassie were sitting at their table, having finished splitting a chocolate glace between them. The chocolate chiffon cake was Bistro Aixs best creation, Tim thought. After their starters and entrees, they had decided not to get a dessert each but share one. They hadn't realised this gave the illusion they were the perfect couple, sharing a life together as well as a dessert. With the second bottle of wine still half full, Tim looked at the Maitre d', indicating with a movement of his head, he was taking Cassie out to the fountain gardens.
The fountain gardens were the best feature of the Bistro. A collection of water features and lights, it was a perfect amalgamation of landscape gardening and light show. Tim knew it drew its inspirations from the fountain shows in Vegas, but here, you got a lot closer than you could in in the entertainment capital of the world. Tim carried the wine bottle and his glass, Cassie her own, as Tim guided them outside. Moving towards one of the small leather sofas in the garden, Tim saw the look on Cassies face. This was the look she had worn when Tim had brought her for her birthday. It was one of contentment, that her night was perfect.
As they sat down, neither knew that in less than an hour, this perfect night would be ruined.