It was midday with the smell of college coed returns, preseason national football and the last rush of visitors to Washington before Labor Day. Their tasks were organizing the databases and files. Agent McGee inquired about a working lunch.

"I'll see if Suzanne is working today." She worked in the basement, called the "Hole" due to its delicious food like a "Hole in the Wall." On weekends, she cooked and delivered orders for breakfast and lunch only. The MTAC team noticed that whenever they worked, she did as well. It was not necessarily a coincidence she worked t at uneventful August Saturday.

"If it involves money, Suzanne is working!" DiNozzo responded. "She's a girl after my own heart." A bewitching smile crossed his face.

"And what type of girl is that, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked. "Good looking? Docile? Rule number 23, DiNozzo..."

"Never mess with a Marine's coffee…if you want to live."

The elevator rang.

"I may need to teach you 23 B: be kind to the person who fixes your coffee…"

The other agents noticed Gibbs' smile whenever she distributed food orders. Was it the coffee, they wondered? Never was a food order transaction initiated by the boss. Always, a large black coffee appeared on the cart, the top with G in red marker. The delivery was without prompt or word, just when he finished the previous cup and the second was at his reach.

"Thanks, Suz."

Despite the austere facial expression, not to mention the serious tone, Gibbs was interested. It was her eyes—dark brown—and how instantaneously they met his time and time again. He visited the Hole on occasion. Suzanne was always there. Her eyes and smile were the first to meet on early mornings and the last for comfort after a long day. Months ago, very comforting, intriguing dreams starred him and a comfortable friend. His only memory was a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty in his arms and Van Morrison playing in the background.

The seconds seemed longer when Gibbs and Suzanne made eye contact. Politely, she smiled. She was very shy—the very reason she glanced downward after initial eye contact. That one personality trait aroused his curiosities; to him, it was incredibly sexy. In his hand was money, including her tip.

"Thanks, Gibbs."

"Oh!" Gibbs reclined in the chair, contented with the beverage. "It's so good!"

The team looked at each other, inquisitive, curious for a happy boss? Contented boss?

"It's just a black coffee…" muttered DiNozzo.

"Ah, but it's the temperature." Suzanne sorted, distributed orders during her explanation. She carried two carts—a shorter refrigerator and a tall, lean warmer. DiNozzo inspected Suzanne, investigated with great detail throughout the explanation. She was taller than an average woman, almost the height of an average man. Her legs were long, so it was very enticing to see a squat or a reach. It was safe to conclude she was muscular but still feminine. Her bosom were above average but seemingly complimented her frame. Suzanne wore glasses and kept her braided hair in a bun. It was her know-how that captivated others, particular Special Agent Gibbs.

"You see, grunts waited patiently for the coffee at mess hall, on camp, and so on. Once they reached the table, the creamers and sugars were gone. It was either lukewarm black coffee or some other brown nonsense supposedly called coffee."

He missed the subtle throat clear to know money was due. When Suzanne caught DiNozzo's vision to her backside, even she participated in the Gibbs attention-getter: a smack on the back of the head! It was like a needle scratch to the record to jolt the present.

"I'll come back to you, Di-Pervert!"

"How did you know that Boss needed coffee?" McGee asked, acknowledged with a nod his thanks for his lunch.

"Call it a gift." She smiled at Gibbs, still relaxed and contented.

"Ziva, this is for you." Suzanne handed a beverage. "It's for Selichot. I thought it would help with the mind, body and spirit." Ziva declined lunch due to religious obligation.

"Thanks, Suzanne."

DiNozzo regained his composure and called for Suzanne, waving money in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Suz. "You can keep that."

"By the way, my name is Suzanne!" She reached in her apron pocket and returned the change to DiNozzo. "And you can't buy me…particularly with that amount!" The others chuckled as DiNozzo continued to stutter. Both Suzanne and the food cart headed towards the elevator.

"I'm really sorry, Suzanne!"

"Shut up, DiNozzo!" Gibbs barked as he tried to catch Suzanne, "She can't stand your ass right now!"

"Suzanne's rule number one: always be nice to the person who handles food." Ziva reminded her colleagues. "And for your sake, Tony, I hope Gibbs can smooth things over with her."

Gibbs managed to catch both Suzanne and the food cart inside the elevator.

"Which floor?"

"The bottom floor." She replied, rearranging her supplies. "You all were my last stop." She looked above. "Why are you coming to the bottom?"

"To make you promise not to spike food." Gibbs grinned.

"Only DiNozzo's, I assure you." Suzanne muttered. "One spice I can throw into his food that'll make him remember me…"

Gibbs was generally short on small talk. In the case of the friendly food vendor, he was quite talkative. She was a challenge to know on an intimate level.

"Grunts, Suz?"

"Daddy was Army; Enlisted man." Suzanne pulled her left sleeve upward to display a tattoo.

"Impressive." People affiliated with the military easily translated chevrons and emblems. The three and three—chevrons and arches—with an eagle—indicated Master Sergeant attached with Fort Campbell.

"I've learned more about you this afternoon than the five years you've worked here…"

"All you have to do is ask."

The bell rang and doors opened; Gibbs flipped the switch for the doors to remain open. Suzanne pushed her carts from the elevator. Gibbs offered to help, but she declined. There was an awkward pause, moment when Gibbs stood in the loading dock.

"Well…thanks for riding along with me." Suzanne smiled. "I promise; I won't spike his food."

"No, you can do that. Maybe it will remind him of…"

"DiNozzo's Rule 3—'Never underestimate your opponent,'" Suzanne responded. "Your team is not the only one familiar with the rules."

"Oh, really?"

"See you Monday, Gibbs."

"Wait!"

Gibbs' curiosity peaked. Of course, he smiled upon hearing her response. He hurried along the corridor to find her. Once he spotted Suzanne, the secured door slammed. Gibbs' lack of access credentials triggered the food area buzzer.

"Damn!"