(The following Thursday)

It was a normal morning so far. Bella and Tim emerge from the elevator, deep in conversation as they make their way to the bullpen. Naturally, Tony couldn't help but try to eavesdrop on the conversation in hopes of some blackmail material.

""Bella, would I want to go bareback?"

"No Tim, you definitely do not want to go bareback. Personally I prefer bareback though. You're able to connect and get in sync with them. You have to make sure you have the right angles or you can hurt them."

Hearing the conversation, Tony gasps right as he drinks his coffee, managing to spew it on his desk. Receiving nothing but an odd look from Bella and Tim, Bella's attention went to Gibbs.

"No bareback for me Bella."

Seeing the horrified look on Tony, Bella looks him over as she picks up her desk phone. "You alright there Tony? Oh yes hi, this is Bella Woods I have an appointment for three on Saturday. I was curious if the black Arabian could be ridden bareback?"

Appointment? Black Arabian? What are they doing? Getting smacked out of his thoughts, "Horses DiNozzo. Get your mind out of the gutter."

Mentally sighing realizing it was a relatively normal conversation, "Right. Sorry boss." Wait, horseback riding?

~*~

"Wait, I'm suppose to do what?"

Bella laughs as she watches Tim, "Just place your foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up."

Tim stares at the saddle then at the horse, "There is no possible way it's that easy."

"Would you like to me to show you how it's done Tim?" Raising an eyebrow as she gives him mischief filled smile.

His eyes shot towards Gibbs who was preoccupied talking to the woman who ran the horses, thankfully Gibbs missed the question.

"Watch how I do it Tim." Grabbing a hold of the saddle, she slipped her foot in the stirrup and the next thing he knew, she was sitting on top of his horse. "See."

(ten minutes later)

Tim, finally on his horse, couldn't help but watch as Bella walked over to her saddle-less horse. "How are you going to get on that one?"

"It's not that difficult really." Standing near the horses' head, she took a few steps before leaping and throwing one leg over the horse. Pulling herself into a sitting position, she balances out her riding stance. "Ta-Da!"

Shaking his head at her, he couldn't help but be amazed by the different things that he learned about her over the short amount of time they had been dating. Then again, it also made him wonder what else that she could do that he didn't know about yet.

Seeing her smile as she patted the horse she was on, he couldn't help but smile. "You ready Bella?"

Smiling at him, she hid back a laugh. "I am Tim, but you're not. You're going to be taught the basics of horseback riding. Then we can go out."

Seeing Gibbs walk up to them, his horse trailing behind him, a black cowboy hat was in his hands. Bella's eye grow wide when she sees it and smiles down at Gibbs, "You still have that? I thought that it had gotten lost in one of my military moves."

Gibbs smiles at her as he hands the hat off, "Nah. I stashed it one day and I forgot to give it back. I thought today would be a good day to see 'Cowgirl Bella' back in action."

~*~

Still uneasy, but thankful to no longer be going around in a circle Tim watched the way Bella moved as one with her horse. She had been right, it was a bit more difficult and he was thankful she knew enough to know he wouldn't want bareback.

Jethro's voice coming from the side of him, "Something on your mind McGee?"

Shaking his head no, his eyes stayed focus on Bella. "She just never ceases to amaze me. I never would have imagined her on a horse and look at her."

"She grew up around horses, she was heart-broken when she had to leave them behind. She worked with them while she was in the military, but nothing like this."

He smiles at her back, before realization from Gibbs' remark sinks in. "That would explain how she was able to get on so well. It wasn't as simple as she said it was!"

"No, but I must say you were better then DiNozzo and at least you're not wearing cowboy boots."

Before he had the chance to gather a response, Bella appears in front of them her eyes on her uncle. "Wanna race?"

"One of us has to keep an eye on Tim Bells."

Giving her uncle the same pleading look the last time they were here, she knew he would cave. He always did, she had perfected the look since she was five. "He's a big boy Uncle Jay. Please?"

Sighing more to himself then anyone else Jethro turned to Tim, "Just go easy. If he starts to go faster then you want, pull back on the reigns and put a slight pressure on his side with your feet. He'll stop."

Nodding to Gibbs, he turns in time seeing her horse bolt forward. He started to shout until he heard her laugh and saw Gibbs bolt after her. Hating the fact he was holding them up, he also felt a bit of pride knowing that she wanted to have him be apart of this- this small part of her.

~*~

Tim looks around at the wooded area around them. "So, where are we exactly?"

Bella smiles as she takes in the sight, "We are exactly where we are suppose to be."

Tim raises an eyebrow as he looks at her, carefully watching her face. "You have no idea where we are do you?"

A sly grin appears on her face as she turns to look at him, "Not a clue."

Laughing at the look on his face, she takes her hat off and sticks it on his head. "Hold that for me."

Bella dismounts her horse, and looks up at her boyfriend, trying to hold back her laughter. After adding the hat, Tim is dressed in a black cowboy hat, a white t-shirt and Wrangler jeans-which she has no objection to. Deciding to have fun with him, she smiles, "Wow, Tim. All you need is the tan trench coat and a plaid button up shirt and you'd be 'McGee: D.C. Ranger."

Looking down at Bella, Tim replies, "Are you mocking me, Bella?"

Giggling, Bella answers with a huge smile on her face, "Maybe. What are you gonna do about it, Cowboy?"

Throwing his leg over the saddle more confidently then he feels, he lowers himself to the ground fairly decently. Raising his eyebrows up, he shares the same grin on his face that Bella had moments ago. Seeing her make her way ever so slowly away from him he shakes his head, "I don't think so Bells. You're not getting away that easily."

Bella bolts in the only direction she can which is towards the small river that runs through that part of the trail. Feeling his arms wrap around her, she laughs as he pulls her against him. Suddenly feeling airborne, she realizes he's picked her up and moving towards the stream. Realization hits her, "Tim, you wouldn't."

He smiles at her as a gleam of mischief flickers in his eyes, "Oh, but I would." Seeing the shock on her face, he lets go as she screams and lands in the water. Laughing full-out by now, he can't stop as she gets up glaring at him.

Her butt now soaked, she slowly makes her way to where her boyfriend was currently standing laughing at her. She stops in front of him thoroughly pissed as he reaches out for her. Lacing one of his hands with hers, the look on his face causes her to sigh and shake her head laughing along with him. Looking up at him, she smiles. "Is that all you got cowboy?"

Placing his other hand on her waist, he shakes his head no. Taking a step forward, he lets go of her hand as his eyes flicker from hers to her slightly parted lips. He leans down kissing her gently as he cups the base of her head, drawing her into a deeper kiss.

That was exactly how they were when Gibbs finally caught up with them. Rolling his eyes, he dismounts from the horse as he sees them pull apart. "Can't you two ever save that for when I'm not around?"

Bella's eyes shine as she smiles at her uncle, "We could, but then what would be the fun in that?"

Gibbs shakes his head as he moved towards them noticing her wet pants. "Do I want to know why your jeans are soaked?"

Looking away form her uncle to Tim, "Someone thought it would be funny to drop me in." Seeing how close Gibbs was, Bella smiles and signs to him discreetly.

Seeing him smile and nod, she gains Tim's attention by slipping her hand into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone. "Bells, what are you doing?"

"I just wanted to take a picture with you in the hat." Looking up at him with the same pleading look she gives Gibbs, she smiles inwardly as he nods his head. She grins, "Smile Tim."

At that exact same moment, Gibbs jumps at McGee, pushing him into the water. After getting soaked, he looks up to see Bella snap a picture before she grins at her uncle. "Nicely done Uncle Jay."

~*~

A few hours later after trying to get their clothes to dry, the trio gathered their stuff deciding it was time to head back towards the stables.

Bella glances over at Tim, "Mind if I ride with you back to the stables? Wet pants and riding without a saddle don't mix well. Easier to slide off."

Tim smiles at her, mainly because the look on her face was cute but also because it gave him a reason to have her close and not be made fun of by Gibbs. "Hop on." Placing his hands on her sides, he helps boost her up before struggling slightly to get on, doing much better then he had earlier that day.

Shooting a look over her shoulder she smiles and nods in approval, "Looking good Tim. I just might make a horse rider out of you yet."

Wrapping his arms around her, he holds her as close to him as he possibly could. Her sweet perfume drawing him in. "Worried Tim?"

"No, just the thought of you falling from the horse is a little unnerving, and I thought-well-I want to make sure you'll be ok." Feeling her hand settle on his and squeeze, he knew that even though she was in fact a trained rider she wouldn't make fun of his concern for her.

Letting Bella take the lead, Gibbs fell in behind leading the black stallion behind him. He rarely got to see the two of them in a natural setting; it was always work, her home or Gibbs' own home. They moved naturally in sync with each other, connected by some strange unseen bond. It was similar to that of the one that he and her shared, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Hearing her laugh, he smiles inwardly to himself, Ducky had been right; even if they didn't stay together, her happiness was more then worth it.