The elevator door dinged and McGee raised up in his desk chair to catch a glimpse of who it might be coming onto the floor. He'd gotten into a habit over the past week or so, always hoping that Elle might be coming to see him. This morning, though, it was Gibbs. But, he was followed by a pretty blonde-headed young woman.

"Isn't that Elle?" Tony asked, obviously seeing what McGee was.

"Yeah, it is," McGee replied, getting up out of his chair slowly.

"This should be interesting," Ziva commented, smiling smugly.

I saw McGee walking towards me and I didn't hesitate for a second. I walked right up to him and, looping one arm around his neck and sliding the other hand up his chest, I pressed my lips against his firmly. It took him only a nanosecond to respond and wrap his arms around my waist.

"How did he do that?" Tony exclaimed, nearly falling over in amazement and shock.

"She must really like him," Ziva remarked, her brown eyes wide.

"That is so not..." Tony began to say, but when Gibbs caught his eye and the younger man quickly changed what he was about to. "That is so not professional, right Boss?"

"I'm not stopping them, am I, DiNozzo?" Gibbs replied shortly, head-slapping Tony for watching the sweet moment between Elle and McGee.

"Right. Got it, Boss," DiNozzo declared, sitting down suddenly.

Ziva grinned at him from where she sat at her desk. "I think it is sweet," she declared. "McGee deserves someone who cares about him and Elle needs a shoulder to lean on right now."

"Maybe we should go somewhere a little more private," McGee suggested quietly, pushing some hair off my face tenderly.

"That's a good idea," I whispered. I could feel at least a dozen sets of eyes boring holes into us as we stood in our embrace.

McGee led me to the elevator I'd just come from and let the doors close behind us. Suddenly, he hit the emergency switch and most of the lights went out, leaving the elevator car very dim.

"Now," he put a hand on either side of me against the wall, "where were we?"

I put my hands on his chest and stopped him for a moment. "Wait a minute, McGee. I need to say something." I looked up into this bright blue eyes and saw a mixture of affection, concern, and sweetness. "I'm sorry I ignored you for so long. I was...having to sort some things out my head. But, McGee, I swear Will spoke to me last night. He said that it was okay for me to be happy again."

McGee gazed down at me earnestly. "And do you think you can be? Can you be happy again?"

I nodded and put my hand on his cheek lightly. "Yes. It's time for me to move on with my life."

"So where does that leave us?" McGee wanted to know, leaning a little closer to me.

"Where do you want us to be?" I asked, sliding my other arm around his neck.

"What about we...go out on a date? How's tonight?"

I smiled at last, letting out a deep breath. "Tonight sounds wonderful, Timothy."

He smiled too and leaned in close, pressing his mouth against mine firmly as his arms slid around my waist tightly.

Tony checked his watch again. "It's been almost five minutes," he told Ziva. "What could they be doing in there for so long?"

Ziva rolled her dark eyes. "What do you think? I doubt they're swapping stories. They are both grown up." She narrowed her gaze. "Are you jealous, Tony?"

Tony snorted. "Me? Jealous? No way!"

Ziva laughed. "You are so jealous!"

After several minutes of what we'd enjoyed on the sofa that night in front of the TV, we were interrupted by a knock on the elevator door.

"You two need to wrap this up," Gibbs said from the other side. "McGee has work to do and you're distracting Ziva and Tony."

"Coming, Boss," McGee called breathlessly, pulling back from me.

I leaned my forehead against his. "So, what time are you going to pick me up tonight?"

"Seven sound all right?" he asked.

"Perfect."

McGee opened the elevator doors and walked out, leaving Elle inside. She had to get to work and then he'd pick her up for dinner after they both got off. The Junior Agent walked back into the bullpen, whistling a happy tune. Tony observed him critically.

"She a good kisser?" he asked.

McGee glared at Tony. "That is none of your business," he replied sharply, sitting down at his desk.

"Uh, McGee, your top button is a unbuttoned," Ziva pointed out, trying to hide her smile.

McGee glanced downwards and then quickly buttoned up his shirt. "Thank you, Ziva."

"What time are you taking her out?" Tony wanted to know.

"Seven," McGee replied triumphantly. He had a date on a weeknight and Tony had made it well known to the team that he hadn't had a date in over three weeks.

"Where are you taking her?" Ziva asked curiously.

McGee froze. "That's a good question, Ziva. Where would you like to go if someone took you out?"

As Ziva thought, Tony groaned. "McGee, you're talking about two totally different women here. Ziva is a trained Mossad assassin and Elle is a writer who works at Barnes and Noble! Big difference!"

"Okay," McGee agreed. "You're right."

Tony smiled, convinced that McGee was about to ask him for advice. Instead, he turned to Gibbs.

"Boss, you got any good ideas?" Tim asked the older man.

Gibbs struggled again to hide his smile. "There is a nice little Southwestern place downtown. It oughta do just fine."