Tim and Tony sat in the car outside of the Chesters' house, awaiting their return. "So uh..." Tony started as he narrowed his eyes at his partner. "Sorry if I pissed you off, earlier, Probie. I really am happy for you, ya know?"

"Really?" McGee looked at him with a hint of disbelief.

"Well, yeah," he grinned. "You deserve a nice girl. You're a good guy. Besides, at least one of us has to have some kinda normal love-life. Sometimes I think this team is cursed in that department," he smirked and looked back toward the house.

"Thanks, Tony," he replied with a furrowed brow. "But I don't think the team is cursed. I think we just...don't have time for this kinda stuff. It's demanding. Sometimes I wonder how doctors manage to find love, seeing as their schedule is even worse than ours." He looked back at the house as well.

"Doctors have money," Tony retorted. "Sometimes a big house and a couple of shiny cars are all it takes to win a girl's heart."

"I have money," McGee said, a look of sudden, yet slight, panic taking over his expression.

Tony didn't miss it, "Knowing you, though, you haven't told her that."

Tim looked over at him, "No, I haven't. H-how would you know that?"

"I just do. You're pretty secretive and you don't gloat. I'm betting you haven't even told her where you work yet," he smirked.

"Yes, I did," he replied. "But not until we'd been dating for a while and started getting serious. It's kinda hard to build a relationship when you're hiding things all the time."

"Preachin' to the choir, Probie," Tony winced a bit.

McGee realized, then, what had struck a chord. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean-"

"Nah, it's okay," he laughed it off. "That was different; that was work." It had been work, but McGee knew as well as the rest of them that Tony had fallen for Jeanne Benoit during his undercover assignment. It was stupid, and Tony knew it. But you can't choose who you love. "Hey," Tony leaned forward a bit as he spotted a car pulling into the driveway. "Let's go."

The two of them exited the car and made their way toward the couple. When the Chesters spotted them approaching, Gregory pushed Jennifer back into the car. "Hey!" Tony shouted, "NCIS! We need to talk to you!" Gregory ignored him and got into the driver's seat, quickly slamming the door and throwing the car into reverse. Tony stood a few feet behind the car, drawing his badge and weapon. "Stop!"

McGee had his weapon drawn as well, but the car continued barreling back towards Tony. Tim thought quickly and fired at the front tire, causing Gregory to step on the breaks, but not before hitting Tony and knocking him to the ground with a thud. "Get the hell outta the car!" McGee shouted as he aimed his gun at Chester. "You okay, Tony?"

He heard his partner cough, "Y- yeah...just..." he coughed again, "Gimme a minute."

As Gregory exited the car with his hands on his head, Tim roughly turned him around and pushed him up against the car before cuffing him.

Jennifer got out of the car, "Oh my god, are you okay?" she asked as she went to Tony. "I'm so sorry... He said he'd kill me if I didn't do as he said," she was in tears. "He...he killed someone..."

"Yeah, we know," Tony pushed himself up off of the street and secured his weapon. "In case it wasn't already clear, we're gonna have to bring you in..."

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McGee was booking Gregory Chester after Gibbs was through with the interrogation. Tony exited the observation room and found Gibbs in the hall. "You okay?" he asked his senior agent. "McGee said Chester hit you with his car."

"I'm fine, Boss. Just got the wind knocked outta me."

"You should let Ducky check you out, just in case," he suggested, narrowing his eyes in slight concern.

"Really, I'm good," he protested, but Gibbs gave him a demanding glare. "Guess I'll...let him check me over anyway...ya know, just in case." Gibbs smirked as Tony turned to walk away toward the elevator.

"All set, Boss," McGee said behind him and he turned to see two guards escorting Chester down the hall.

"Ya did good, McGee. Let's finish up the report so we can get outta here."

McGee nodded, "If it's okay with you, would you mind if I made a quick phone call?"

Gibbs shrugged, "I don't care," and turned to walk away.

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Gibbs and Ziva sat at their desks typing up their reports when Tony finally decided to join them. Gibbs looked up as the agent took a seat at his own desk. "Everything check out okay?"

"Nothing's broken," he smirked.

"You're lucky," Gibbs told him. "What the hell were you thinkin', standin' behind a moving car?"

"It wasn't moving when I stepped behind it!" he defended. "I didn't think he'd actually try and run me over... Besides, McGee stopped him before he did any real damage. Speakin' of, where'd Probie run off to?"

As if on cue, McGee stepped off of the elevator and made his way toward the bullpen. "Hey, guys," he said as he rounded to his desk. "What're you all doing tomorrow?"

"Well, tomorrow's Saturday," Tony started. "First thing I'll be doing is sleeping in. Unless we get called in, of course..."

"I meant tomorrow evening," he clarified. "It's the only night Kendra will have off for a week. She's really eager to meet you all and wants us to go out to dinner; maybe have a few drinks, if you're free?"

"Kendra?" Gibbs inquired.

"McGee's girlfriend he has been hiding from us for over six months," Ziva explained.

"I wasn't hiding her from you," McGee blushed slightly. "But yeah, I'd really like you to meet her."

"I would love to, McGee," Ziva told him with a small smile.

"Guess I could clear my calendar," Tony said with a smirk.

"Great," Tim smiled, then turned to look at Gibbs who had, what he could only describe as, an amused look on his face.

"Sure, McGee. Sounds good." McGee flashed a smile and nodded in appreciation. He couldn't help but to feel a bit excited; perhaps a bit nervous as well. "Let's get these reports done, then."

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"I love you, Timothy McGee," Kendra said as she snuggled in close to her lover in her bed.

"I love you, too, Kendra Apperson," he smiled and she kissed him. "I just hope you'll still love me after dinner with my team tomorrow night."

"Oh come on," she playfully swatted him. "I practically know them, already, the way you talk about them. They're like your family."

"I'm mostly worried Tony might do something to embarrass me for his own personal amusement. Or that he'll see how incredibly beautiful you are and try to steal you from me," he smirked and ran a hand through her hair.

"Well, I can promise you I'll shoot him down embarrassingly if he tries," she reassured him. "But I don't think he will. He sounds more like a big brother than a bully." She leaned in to place a peck on the tip of his nose. "Will you stay the night, again?" she asked.

"No place I'd rather be," he told her as he pulled her tighter against him...

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"What's going on?" Tim was pulled from his sleep by a mixture of sounds. The phone had started ringing mere moments ago, and now Kendra was throwing on clothes in the middle of the bedroom. "What's wrong, Kendra?"

"One of my girls is in the hospital," she explained. "She was in a car wreck and I'm listed as her medical proxy."

"Is it serious?" he asked with concern.

She met his eyes, "Serious enough for them to call me. I'm the only family she's got, Tim."

"Is it Andrea?" he threw the covers off of himself as she nodded. "I'm going with you."

"You don't have to do that," she shook her head.

"Of course I do," he furrowed his brows as he pulled his shirt on and stepped up to her. "Like you said, she's like family. If anything, at least let me drive you." He could tell that she was afraid by the look in her eyes. There was no way he would let her drive herself like this.

"It's like four in the morning," she said and she slipped on her shoes.

"I'm a federal agent," he cocked his head. "I've been called in earlier than this with expectations of being able to chase down suspects and process crime scenes. I think I can manage going with you to the hospital."

She managed a small smile, "Okay."

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"Miss Belle?" the young woman in the hospital, Andrea, was in tears; he leg in a cast and strung up in a device to keep it elevated.

Kendra entered the room with sympathy in her eyes as she approached Andrea's bedside. "Andy, I'm so glad you're okay," she took her hand. "We saw the wreck on the way here. I was terrified."

"We?"

"Tim drove me here. He's worried about you, too. Can he come in?" Andrea looked over at the door to see him standing there, and she nodded.

McGee entered the room and went to stand beside Kendra, "Hey, Andy. Like she said, we're glad you're okay..."

"Okay?" her face scrunched up with more frustration, "Look at me! Look at my leg! How can I ever dance again? This is a disaster!"

"Andy," Kendra sat down beside her on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her cheek as she held her hand with her other. "You'll get better; your leg will heal and you'll rebuild your strength. This isn't the end."

"Did they tell you? It's broken in three places!" fresh tears streamed down her ivory cheeks.

"Yes, they told me. But you listen to me, sweetheart; we'll get through this. I'll help you. You can even stay with me when you get out of here. I'll help with all the physical therapy and everything, okay?"

"Anything you need," Tim added, "I'll be more than happy to help, too."

"See?" Kendra smiled down at the girl. "Everything's gonna be okay, you'll see."

Andrea studied her face for a moment, "Promise?"

"I promise, Andy," she replied with confidence.

A weak smile spread on Andrea's face, then she laughed a little, "Chrissy's gonna have to take my place, ya know. She's horrid."

Kendra laughed, "She's not horrid! She's your understudy. I chose her as a backup because I know she could handle the role if necessary."

"I meant a horrid person," Andy replied with a smirk. "And twice as horrid of a room mate, which is why I'm totally taking you up on your offer once I get out of here."

"Good. Because I would've fought you if you hadn't," Kendra winked at her. "Now get some rest, baby," she bent down to kiss her forehead then soothingly petted her forehead and back into her hair.

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"You're really amazing, ya know that?" Tim told her as they drove back toward the house; sunrise creeping over the horizon.

"Yep," she smirked. "I am pretty awesome."

"I'm serious," he laughed.

"Oh me too," she turned in her seat to face him. "I've gotta be pretty special to have kept you around this long."

"Are you kidding me?" he raised a brow. "I should be saying that to you."

"No, I'm not kidding, Tim. Usually, my job is pushed aside as fairly unimportant...and because it's so demanding, people just can't wrap their head around it and they get offended and just leave when I don't have the time they demand. But you...it's like you completely understand me."

"Both of us have extremely demanding jobs..."

"Yeah, but yours is understandable. You're out saving the world; making a difference; solving crimes. I'm...well, I'm a dancer!" she laughed.

"You're doing what you love to do, just like me," he said. "And you are making a difference. You go above and beyond the call of duty for your students." There was a long moment of silence and he glanced over to see her just looking at him. "What?" he asked nervously.

"I was just thinking about another reason you're so awesome," she smiled. He looked at her questioningly before turning his eyes back to the road. "Any other guy would've argued my offer to let a student recuperate in my home. They would've been pissed, actually. Instead, you were completely supportive; you had my back and even offered to help."

"I'll support anything you decide to do," he replied. "And I care about Andy, too. She's a good girl who's had a relatively horrible life until she met you. You're like her role model."

"She really likes you, too, ya know," she said as she reached out and took his hand.

"Really? I thought she was just being nice for your sake..."

"At first, maybe," she smirked. "But she told me the other day that she thinks you're pretty awesome, too." Tim couldn't help but to laugh. "What? Is it really so hard to believe?"

"Honestly? I dunno... I guess, since you seem to like me, maybe I can believe anything," he smiled at her.

"I do a lot more than like you," she reminded him. He blushed as he pulled the car up in front of her house. "Still wanna sleep over?"

"I think I'm due another few hours, at least," he leaned over to kiss her.

"Yeah, I vote we sleep till lunch."

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"Good idea, carpooling, Boss," Tony said as they pulled up in front of the grill/bar. "I'm gonna have to have at least a few beers to take the edge off of the fact Probie's got a girlfriend and I've been single for...too depressing to even begin counting how long."

Gibbs smirked, "Don't take that out on him, DiNozzo. Took him six months to tell us about this. Don't make him regret it."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Boss. I'm proud of him! Not only for managing to have a girl, but that he successfully kept it secret this long," he said as they got out of the car and headed toward the door.

"Looks like we're late," Gibbs said as they spotted Ziva, McGee and Kendra already at the bar.

"Late for being early, maybe," Tony said.

McGee's head turned toward the familiar voices approaching them and he stood, "Hey, guys. This is Kendra," he put a hand on her back as she stood to greet them. "Kendra, this is Gibbs and Tony." She shook each hand in front of her.

"It's nice to finally meet you," she told them.

"Nice to meet you," Tony smiled, appraising the brunette beauty. "McGee wasn't lyin' when he said you were gorgeous."

"And he wasn't lying when he said you'd try to charm me," she gave him a mischievous grin. Ziva could be heard laughing through he nose where she still sat at the bar. Gibbs had an amused look on his face.

"Wanna get a table or stay at the bar?" Tim asked Kendra.

"Um...well, I don't really mind either way," she replied. "But we'd have an easier time talking at a table."

*~.~*

Dinner had gone by smoothly, with light, comfortable conversation. They were well into their second drink and openly discussing an equal assortment of embarrassing and heroic moments as a team. Kendra had even ventured as far as talking about her father, who was a cop for most of her life, but retired after a career-ending back injury.

"He really is happy, though," she told them. "And I've heard more recounts of his whacky adventures on the force than I can tell. But when I heard about how your car was stolen, Tony," she laughed, "And used in a robbery then a high-speed chase before it was totaled, I couldn't help but to think about a similar experience my dad told me about."

"Do tell," Tony said, almost sarcastically.

"It wasn't his personal car; thank God. He would've had a stroke! At the time, he had a '67 Gran Torino."

"No way..." Tony seemed in awe.

"Way. She was pretty sweet," she said almost sadly.

"What happened to her?" Tony seemed deeply concerned.

"A neighbor's house caught fire while we were away on vacation," she explained. "But the fire department didn't get it under control until it'd burned down have of our garage, as well."

"Oh no..." Tony barely whispered.

"That's too bad," Gibbs added. "Gran Torino's a good car."

"Yeah, he still gets teary-eyed when he talks about it," she sighed. "But anyway, he'd just been issued a new Dodge Charger work vehicle a few weeks before that," she explained. "He got a call to break up a fight at the local high school. A couple of kids decided they were gonna take it for a joy ride."

"A police vehicle?" Ziva inquired. "How did they manage that?"

"Where we lived, at the time it was pretty common to just leave your keys in your car. Well, needless to say, Daddy never did leave another key in a car from that day forth."

"What happened to the car?" Tony was eager to hear the rest of the story.

"Oh the kids did a pretty good job driving the thing halfway through town," she said. "Until they ran into the back of a truck. Not just any truck, mind you. I know you've seen Back to the Future, Tony..."

"Oh god...not..."

"Yeah. And the windows were all rolled down, so the car was completely filled with...well, I'm not gonna say it out loud. I think you get the picture."

"I have not seen this movie," Ziva said with narrowed eyes.

Gibbs leaned over and quietly responded, "Cow dung."

"Ah," she made a slightly surprised face. "Perhaps I should not have inquired."

Kendra smiled in Ziva's direction, "That's why I didn't say it." She glanced down at her watch. "Oh god..." she turned to Tim, "I didn't realize it was getting so late. I promised Andy I'd go sit with her for a while..."

"That's okay," McGee said with a furrowed brow. "I...can you drive? How much have you had to drink?"

"Not much," she replied. "But maybe I should take a cab..."

"I can drive you," Gibbs offered.

"Really?" her face painted with gratefulness.

"Not a problem," he stood.

"I'll ride with you," Tim said as he stood and laid several twenties down on the table. "Thanks, for coming, guys," he told Tony and Ziva.

"Yeah, it was so nice to meet you," Kendra told them. "Sorry I've gotta run like this..."

"No problem," Tony said with a smirk. "We should do this again!"

"Definitely!" she replied.

"See ya Monday," McGee told them as they headed out.

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tbc