Monday morning, Gibbs walked into the bullpen ready to confront two particular idiots on his team. His weekend had not gone at all according to plan, and whereas part of that could easily be forgiven, if McGee and DiNozzo still hadn't worked out their crap, heads would roll. Coffee in hand, he looked around. Ziva was at her desk, typing away at her computer. Gibbs checked his watch. The other two should be getting here any minute now. The elevator dinged and Gibbs turned.

McGee and DiNozzo came out of the elevator together. They were having a hushed conversation that for once, did not resemble an argument. Gibbs arched an eyebrow as the two got closer to him.

"She actually said that? That you want a subservient girlfriend?" Tony asked. He sounded offended.

"Yeah… Am I really like that?" McGee bit his lip.

"No! You thought you were protecting her. Hell, even I understand that. How many different ways does she want you to explain it?"

"You don't think I was trying to control her?" McGee seemed as surprised that Tony was on his side, as Gibbs was.

"No. She's being irrational. You do not deserve this. Has she spoken to you at all?"

"I tried calling her last night but she just yelled at me not to call again."

"She just needs to cool down. She's crazy about you, but right now, she's too worried about Amelia to see straight.. Just give it time."

"Thanks man, I needed that."

They passed right by Gibbs, not even looking up at him. Gibbs was pleasantly surprised that not only were they talking, but DiNozzo was going out of his way to help McGee… Maybe they could keep their heads after all.

Gibbs let his lips quirk into his half-grin. He was finally getting his family back.

NCIS

Tony wanted to jump up and down when Piper called him, Thursday night. He'd had an uneventful day at work and the most he had to look forward to, was spending the night alone, in front of his television. Just as he stepped into the elevator with Ziva, his phone started playing a ring tone he hadn't heard all week.

"Is that 'Howling for You' by The Black Keys?" Tony nodded, slightly impressed with Ziva's knowledge of good music.

"Piper's ring tone." He muttered while pulling his phone out. "Hello?"

"Hi. Are you busy?" She was trying to sound casual, but Tony caught the hesitation.

"No. I was headed home, actually." He took a breath, trying to hide his excitement. "What are you doing?"

"I just rented 'Crossfire Trail' and thought you might wanna join me."

"I'd love to. Wow, you really do have a thing for Mark Harmon."

"Your Magnum crush is in it, too." She teased him.

Tony laughed. "Want me to bring pizza or BBQ?" He was practically hopping from one foot to the other.

"Uh, whichever you feel like."

"On my way." He flashed a smile at Ziva just as the elevator doors opened.

"Good luck." She called, as he hurried to his car.

Tony tried to treat this as just two friends getting together for a movie night, but when Piper accompanied her hello with a kiss, it messed with his resolve. When they sat down, Piper left a few feet between them, but she was still close enough that he could smell her scented lotion. Being away from the scent for so long made it seem more powerful now.

It was twenty minutes into the movie when Tony realized he hadn't heard a sound, or felt a movement from Piper's end of the couch. He chanced a look at her from the corner of his eye. She was staring straight at the television screen, almost wide-eyed. One hand rested on her left thigh, the other was wrapped securely around a can of soda.

"Bored?" Her sudden question made him jump. She laughed quietly and turned to him.

"No, just not very interested in the movie." He answered truthfully, slumping back down on the cushion.

"Sorry. I was trying to plan our second, first date better than this."

"We're on a date?" Tony sat up straight.

"Did I not mention that? Oops." Tony chuckled at her nervous expression. "Do you want this to be a date?"

"Only if I get to kiss you at the end."

"Okay, I guess." She laughed, the nervousness slowly seeping out of her. She set the soda can on the small table beside her. "I've been thinking…"

"Uh oh." His smile melted away when he saw the seriousness on her face. "What is it?"

"I do want a commitment. I mean, I want one, but I'm not sure how to start one. Is it any different from what we had before?"

"It will be, if you start telling me about your doubts, instead of letting them eat at you. And at least try to start coming out from behind that wall."

"Okay… My doubts. Let's see… Well, for one, Amelia and Gavin have the only happy relationship I have ever seen." Tony's eyebrows went up. "I just always figured if I set myself up for disappointment, it won't hurt as much when it actually does happen. It wasn't you, I doubted. It was relationships in general."

"Piper, if you set yourself up for disappointment, it's all you're ever going to get." He was surprised at how wise he sounded, considering he hadn't rehearsed for this at all.

"Well, okay, but… I can't just turn off my brain when bad thoughts happen. I don't really know what you want me to do."

"You're doing it right now. Talking about things, not hiding them from me."

"I know you are the only one I want to be with. I'm fairly certain you feel the same about me…"

"That's exactly how I feel."

"I believe you. I mean, I really don't think you'd lie to me, especially not at this point." He could see her struggling to make her point. "You said you didn't want to invest in a relationship, unless I did too. " He nodded. "How can I prove that I want to invest in a relationship with you? I don't know how, other than to just tell you."

"I don't expect some big gesture. I just want you to trust me, or at least try to. Trust that I would never hurt you. Can you do that?"

She looked him right in the eyes. "Yes." Then she paused and smiled. "Can we end this date."

"Why?" He cocked his head.

"I want my kiss. And I want to start our second, second date. Second date is cuddle territory." Her smile grew. "I miss cuddling with you."

"Don't you think we're moving kinda fast?" His voice was teasing.

"Third date, is the make out date." She cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm totally okay with moving fast." He smiled. Then his face grew serious again. "But I want you to be ready for this. I don't want you to think you have to pick things right back up, just so I'll stick around."

"Being away from you made me realize how ready I am…" She rolled her eyes. "And there you go again, making me think mushy thoughts."

"Is that really a bad thing?"

"That depends… Do I still get my kiss?"

Tony leaned forward, fully intent on breaking every first date rule.

NCIS

Milo's Bar and Grill wasn't exactly a hotspot of activity for a Friday night. Piper looked across the round pub table at Lexi and held in the urge to ask if she was okay. Lexi had one hand on her cheek, holding up her head, and the other hand wrapped around her cell phone. She had pulled the little device out of her pocket for about the ninth time since the two women had sat down.

"Why don't you just call him?" Piper had tried being sympathetic, then supportive, now she was getting frustrated.

"And say what?" Lexi quickly shoved her phone back into her jeans pocket.

"That you miss him." Lexi glared at Piper before shifting her eyes to the table. "I know you miss him. You bring his name up every chance you get. Hell, you called the waiter, Tim."

"So?"

"So, his nametag says Mark." Lexi's mouth twitched. "Why won't you call him?"

"He hasn't called me all week." Lexi countered, still trying to sound determined.

"Only because the last time he tried, you told him not to call you again. He's being a gentleman and not pushing. I bet he's just waiting by his phone for…" Lexi looked up when Piper trailed off. Piper's eyes widened in surprise for a second. Then she smiled. "Maybe not." Lexi turned her head in the direction Piper was looking.

"You're kidding me." Lexi mumbled to herself.

The dim lighting of the grill made it hard to see the bar area. But Lexi had no trouble recognizing the two people who had just sat down, with their backs to her. She whipped back around and faced Piper's still smiling face.

"What are they doing here?" Lexi demanded.

"How am I supposed to know? You asked me to bring you here, remember?"

"Can we leave?"

"Hell no! I already paid for our drinks!"

"Text Tony and ask why they are here."

"Okay, fine… Geez." Piper quickly sent Tony a text asking him what he was up to. Lexi moved her chair so she was beside Piper, but could still see the bar.

From Tony: McGee wanted to have a guy night. Out at bar. He needs cheering up.

Piper shot a look at Lexi. "See, he misses you." Piper poked Lexi's arm as punishment.

"Ask if Tim is talking about me?"

"That's a weird question for me to ask him."

"Just do it!" Piper glared, but sent the text anyways.

From Tony; Are you kidding? Only every five seconds. Wish she would just call him so I could stop having me sleeve cried on.

"That was mean!" Lexi looked at the screen angrily.

"Honestly, I kinda know how he feels." Lexi straightened in her seat. "Oh, come on, you are just being stubborn. I know you want him back! You just can't admit that maybe you took things too far with this whole standing your ground crap. You want to teach him a lesson, okay. But you took it to a whole new level of 'screw you.' Just tell him you miss him. Do it now! Text him! I guarantee you will see a reaction." Piper cut off her speech when her phone buzzed again.

From Tony: What are you up to? Working?

To Tony: No, having my own sleeve cried on. You're right, it sucks.

Piper heard Tony laugh all the way from the bar. When she looked back at Lexi, she was staring down at her own phone. Lexi angled it so Piper could read the screen.

To Tim: I miss you.

From Tim: I miss you too, so much. Can we talk?

To Tim: I'm out with Piper.

"You idiot!" Piper tried not to yell. "Why'd you tell him that!"

"It's true. I am with you!" Lexi's phone buzzed in her hand.

From Tim: Oh. Well, have fun.

"Have fun?" Lexi mused.

"He's trying to be nice, moron. Can you blame him after you accused him of trying to keep you away from all your friends? You basically just shot him down, again." Lexi sighed and punched something into her phone. A moment later, her eyes squinted and she sent another text. Piper grabbed Lexi's arm and pulled, so she could see the screen.

To Tim: Piper thought I needed cheering up. So I got dragged out.

From Tim: Why do you need cheering up? Are you okay?

Piper knew Tim was playing it safe. His detective side had him fishing for information without revealing exactly what he wanted to know.

To Tim: I'm just fine. Piper only thought I needed cheering up.

"You are insufferable!" Lexi pulled her arm back when Piper roared at her. "He's trying, and you just keep slapping him for it!"

"I don't know how to talk to him." Lexi finally admitted. "I do want him back… But…"

"You're embarrassed." Lexi's eyes widened. "I knew it. You're embarrassed because you've been such a bitch for no reason and now you have no face-saving way of telling him you want him back."

"Have you been taking mind reading lessons from Amelia?"

"I have to pee!" Piper jumped out of her seat. Lexi just sat back and watched her leave.

Tony was tracing his index finger around the top of his glass when his phone buzzed. McGee still had his own phone in his hand. Tony smirked at the intense stare he was giving it. When he flipped open his phone, he had a new message from Piper.

Go to the bathroom.

Why? He sent back.

Just go to the freaking bathroom!

Tony cocked his head. How did she even know where he was? "I gotta pee." McGee just grunted, not even looking at Tony as he got up.

Once Tony made it to the tiny hall that led to the bathroom, Piper jumped out of the shadows.

"Hi!" She exclaimed, wrapping both arms around him.

"Are you spying on me?" He teased her.

"Hey, we were here first." Piper led him out of the hall and pointed to the table where Lexi was still sitting. "We saw you two come in."

"That explains Lexi suddenly texting McGee." Tony's eyes found his friend, still at the bar holding his phone.

"I have a plan."

"More plotting? Amelia would be proud."

"Yeah, I think she's really starting to rub off on me."

"Okay… What's the plan?"

Back at her table Lexi scrunched her eyebrows together when she got a text from Piper.

Left with Tony. Ball up and ask Tim for a ride home.

Lexi's jaw dropped. "I've been played…"

Tim was still staring at his phone when a new message popped up.

From DiNozzo: Look behind you.

Tim turned in his seat. His eyebrows shot up when he saw Lexi, not twelve feet away from him, looking down at her hands with a horrified expression. Her eyes came up and connected with his. He waved awkwardly at her. She blinked several times and waved back. He pointed at himself, then at her, asking to join her. She nodded and he quickly made his way to her table.

"Hi." He greeted her when he sat down.

"Piper ditched me for Tony," she said, bluntly.

"Did they plan this?" He didn't sound as if this bothered him.

"Probably." Lexi rolled her eyes. "Once again, our friends are plotting against us."

"Against? Seems like they are plotting for us." Lexi sighed and Piper's advice to 'ball up' cycled through her head.

"I've been bitchy," she finally said.

"I wouldn't have used that word."

"But I have."

"I wasn't exactly a perfect boyfriend."

"But I know you've been trying… I mean, I know about you asking Amelia for advice. After everything, you were still willing to chance her wrath to work things out with me. And I just yelled at you for it."

"I had it coming."

"Not like that."

"Okay, I think we're done beating ourselves up." He chucked and smiled.

"You're right, we should move on." They both looked at each other for a full minute of silence. "Do you wanna have a drink together?" She would have laughed at the surprise and relief on Tim's face, if not for the fear gripping her stomach.

"Yeah, I'd love to."

Suddenly they both felt so comfortable, that they ended up chatting about random topics for almost two hours, before either realized how late it was. Tim had to go to work the next morning, so they called it a night. Before Tim was ready to say goodnight, they were already sitting in his car, outside of the bakery.

"I owe you an apology." Lexi said, rubbing one hand up and down her arm.

"What for?" Tim shifted in his seat so his body faced her.

"I kinda lost my head a little… I mean, when I accused you of alienating me from my friends, I never gave you the chance to explain."

"You were right though. I kinda did pull you away from them. I got too overprotective."

"Well, I didn't help things by constantly complaining about them calling me helpless." She sighed. "And I feel kinda stupid for letting my temper get out of hand. But I got scared and… There's just a lot of history with my friends and…"

"I know." Lexi's eyes connected with his. "I know, Lexi. I know everything." She cocked her head questioningly. "Amelia told me about the assault... When you were at Culinary School." Now, her eyes widened. "I know why you felt so guilty. You felt like you weren't there for her. You carry that guilt with you, still. And I'm so sorry I added to that."

"It wasn't your-" He held up his hand.

"Let me finish. Amelia once told me that losing your father completely broke you apart. And I know how much it hurts for you to talk about it. He was your hero. After what your mother's family did, he was still there for you. She also told me that you smile the way you did when he was alive, when you're with me… I think I get it now, why your friends mean so much to you. I get why your so terrified of losing them. After losing your dad, they were all you had left. And I'm so sorry for trying to pull you away from them. I know they would never hurt you. I would never hurt you, either." He sighed, wondering if he should go on, but feeling almost too exhausted to think properly. He hadn't been sleeping well. "Lexi, I want you back in my life. I hate not being around you. If you just wanna be friends, I'll take what I can get. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll stop being a gentleman and I'll tell you when you're being stubborn. I'll even disagree with you, when you say HALO is more awesome than Call of Duty, cause it's not!"

"Yes it is," was her automatic response. Then she stopped herself from continuing the argument when she realized she had just proven his point. He smiled, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"I have missed you. I want you in my life."

Lexi pursed her lips together. "Do you wanna call me tomorrow when you're on break of something?"

"Yeah." Tim let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. The feeling almost made him light-headed. "I'll uh… I can walk you up to your door." He put his hand on the door to let himself out but Lexi held up her hand.

"I thought you weren't gonna be a gentleman anymore." Lexi smirked.

"Well… baby steps." He shrugged.

NCIS

Gavin had just come home for the night. He found Amelia sitting at the kitchen table with her cell phone up to her ear. He smiled and playfully flipped her hair, as he passed her on his way to the fridge. He caught just enough to know she was talking to Piper about Lexi. Suppressing the urge to speak, he grabbed the milk and chocolate sauce out of the fridge. He had hoped that all of their friends would grow up by now, but what Amelia wants, Amelia gets. And if she wants to continue to step in when her friends can't see their own problems… These people were lucky Gavin was a patient man. And doubly lucky he had learned not to argue with Amelia by their second date.

"Kay, well I'm sure to be getting a text from Lexi any minute now." Gavin heard her try to wrap up the call. He poured two drinks and returned the milk and chocolate sauce to the fridge. "Update me, if you hear from her before me." Gavin placed one glass in front of his wife and sat across from her. "Night, night." Amelia smiled and clicked off the phone. "Mmmhh, thank you." She traded her phone for the glass of chocolate milk.

"You're welcome." He took a drink. "Good news?"

"Piper and Tony plotted without me."

"I'm sorry." He paused. "Or is this a good thing?"

"Well, if it ends badly, they can't blame me." She smirked.

"Okay, good thing, then." Amelia just shrugged and smiled. "Sometimes I wonder about you."

"What?"

"How you can be the way you are and still keep hold of your sanity."

"Oh, I threw sanity out the window years ago. I'm better off without it anyways."

"I believe you."

NCIS

The next night…

Gibbs pulled into his driveway and sighed as he shut off the engine. It had been another one of those weeks. He cocked a half-grin as he got out of the truck. With any luck, there wouldn't be any call outs and he could enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon with Chloe. Maybe he'd grill up some steaks for them. He had been over to her house several times to help her with all her repairs, but he had yet to invite her into his home. He was half-way to his front door, when he decided to just go across the street and invite her over, now. Chloe knew what he did for a living, so seeing him with his gun still strapped to his belt shouldn't worry her. He climbed the three concrete steps up to her porch, opened the screen door, and froze.

There was a fresh smear of blood right next to the door knob.

Gibbs turned the knob and shoved the door open with one hand, and pulled his gun out with the other.

"Chloe!" He shouted into the empty front room. "Chloe, are you alright?" He heard a thump coming front the middle of the house. Holding his gun up, he went through the kitchen and into the hall leading to the rest of the house. "Chloe?" He saw a light on in the bathroom. The door opened and Chloe came out looking confused. Gibbs' eyes bulged at the sight of her swollen nose and bruised lips.

"Uh… Hi." Her eyes were on the gun he still had pointed up. Gibbs' blinked and quickly put the gun away.

"What the hell?" Chloe couldn't tell if he sounded angry, or concerned.

"Do you always rush into people's houses, wielding your gun?"

"There's blood on your front door!" He pointed behind him.

"Oh, I should clean that." She walked past him. He followed her to the kitchen and watched her get a dish towel.

"What happened?" He calmed himself down as much as he could.

"I had a misunderstanding with my bird bath."

"What?"

"I was going to clean out the bird bath. I laid the hose out, but had to go back to turn it on. On my way back… I tripped over the hose and went face first into the bird bath." Gibbs stepped closer to examine her face. "I bruised my lips and got a bloody nose. I'm okay, though." She side-stepped around him and went to the front door. Again, Gibbs followed her. "I need to turn off the water hose." He heard her say just as she opened the door.

"I'll get it." She smiled and let him pass her to go outside.

When he came back in, she was at the kitchen sink washing her hands. He had almost forgotten his entire reason for coming over in the first place. When it finally came back to him, he chuckled. She turned around and looked at him curiously.

"Do you always find damsels in distress this amusing?"

"No," he shook his head, still grinning. "I originally came over to invite you to my house for fire-grilled steaks." Her face brightened. "But now, I'm not so sure you need to be crossing a street in the dark." Her mouth fell open.

"You asshole."

"Hey, just trying to look out for you." He shrugged. "You know, being neighborly and all."

"Well, I guess you'll just have to hold my hand while we cross the street." She put her hands on her hips and smirked. "You know, being neighborly."

"I'm ready when you are." He held out his hand. She looked at him for several seconds, as if to check if he was kidding or not. When he held his position, she stepped forward and accepted his hand.

"I can't tell if you're being a gentleman, or just making fun of me."

"Which ever one makes you feel better." He smiled and led her to the door.

They were both laughing by the time they made it to Gibbs' porch. Neither one saw the shadow pass behind them.

Look for next story. Still working on a title but it centers around Gibbs and Chloe. Any ideas for a good title? Thanx and pls review!