Jackie loved Monday mornings. It was not her day for the morning carpool, so unless there was an international crisis, there was time for her and Leon to have a leisurely cup of coffee after the kids left. With a box of Parmesan cheese bowls ready for the luncheon and a list of locations to purchase the specialty foods she'd need, both from Tim, she was in a very good mood. Smiling as she sat down at the dining room table, she handed Leon his coffee. "Jethro and Tim are such a wonderful couple, do you know if they're thinking about adopting? They would make such wonderful parents."
Luckily, Leon hadn't taken a sip, otherwise he might have choked. "Adopting? I don't think kids are in their future, Jackie."
"Those two have so much love to share, it's a shame they only have Jett to fuss over. Just talk to Jethro, Leon, make sure he knows they have your support. With your position, you'd be a terrific reference for them." Point made, she returned to the kitchen for their breakfasts.
The moment he was alone Vance let his head drop into his hands and rubbed at his forehead. He'd known it was a bad idea to let Jackie get involved in Gibbs' and McGee's cover. One way or another, it was time to put more pressure on Sutton. This was one case they needed to break before it all blew up in their faces.
-NCIS-
Determined to wipe away the shadow of Sutton that held them back, Gibbs arrived in the lab with a large Caf-Pow! in his hand. "Abby, need you to review all the evidence on the Sutton case this week. Need everything fresh in your mind before the trial starts."
"Don't I always?" Despite her snarky tone, she took the offered drink.
"Just checking." Refusing to allow her to derail his good mood, Gibbs turned to leave.
Abby waited until he was almost out of the lab. "Did you have fun at your party over the weekend, Gibbs?"
Stopping just short of the door, Gibbs turned and walked back to the center of the room. "Yes, we did. Great food and surrounded by the people that care about the both of us, it was a terrific weekend."
She couldn't look him in the eye. "I care."
Gibbs reached out and lifted her chin. "Then act like it, Abs." After a slight squeeze of her chin, he left the lab, leaving her deep in thought, wondering how she had missed the changes in their lives.
-NCIS-
Deciding to do a sweep of Sutton's known associates, the team broke into two groups. Knowing that Sutton had tried to target Gibbs and McGee, Ziva paired up with Gibbs while Tony went with Tim. Walking to the elevator, the four of them chatted about their weekend, paying no attention to the woman with the angry eyes listening to every word.
They separated in the parking lot, heading towards two different sedans with plans to meet up for lunch to compare notes. Gibbs watched with a slight smile as Tony stayed glued to McGee's side, not allowing any distance until McGee circled around to the passenger side of the car. Even then, DiNozzo looked around the lot one final time before turning his attention to unlocking the car.
Tim watched as Jethro and Ziva moved away from him. Ziva was as alert as he'd ever seen her, protecting the team leader from any possible threat. Despite everything that had happened since he and Gibbs had woken up in that mysterious cottage, he felt safe knowing that Tony and Ziva were at their sides. He smiled as Jethro looked over at him, the older man's own smile widening in response.
They were out on the road before Tony spoke. "This weekend was really great."
"Yeah, it was, wasn't it?" Tim leaned back against the headrest, turning to look at Tony. "Larry told Jethro that he wants the potluck to be an annual neighborhood event."
"I can believe it, but what I can't believe is that you kept your cooking abilities a secret. Heck, you're even a better cook than Ziva. Just don't tell her I said that, okay?"
Tim had to laugh at the worried expression on Tony's face. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
"Thanks, partner. Now, let's finish locking down Sutton then we can nail the vandal and you guys can quit looking over your shoulders."
-NCIS-
Rebecca retreated to her cubicle, seething at how happy the two men appeared to be. What made it worse was the acceptance they had found with most of the rest of their team. Scuttlebutt had told her about the parties Gibbs and McGee had hosted over the weekend, how much of a family they had become. Even her own boss was laughing about Gibbs and the dog, how 'parenthood' had cemented the bond between the two total opposites. A new plan started to form in her mind. She was quite happy that she hadn't had time to fix the leaking radiator in her car; now she just had to find an excuse to take a very early lunch.
-NCIS-
Ziva watched Gibbs as the car hurtled down the highway. "He is good for you. It was a surprise, but I am very happy for both of you." Gibbs gave that shy smile they were seeing more and more.
"Thanks, Ziva, appreciate it."
She returned the smile as she continued. "The surveillance tape showed the person damaging McGee's car, but they were wearing a hooded coat. Now that we know what coat we are looking for, Tony and I will go through all the rest of the tapes from the Yard that day."
"Lot of work."
"But worth it. We will put an end to the hurt McGee has suffered and the two of you can concentrate on your future."
Gibbs pulled the sedan up along the curb in front of the next stop on their list. Instead of commenting, he leaned over and kissed her cheek before getting out of the car.
-NCIS-
"Hey, Tony, we're only a couple of blocks away from the repair shop. Let's stop so I can sign off on the repairs."
DiNozzo automatically turned the direction Tim pointed. "I bet you'll be glad to get your car back. That Ford they stuck you with is a long way away from a Porsche." He waited for a minute before continuing with a grin. "So, when are you going to let Gibbs drive your car?"
Tim was still coughing and sputtering over the question, much to Tony's amusement, when they arrived at the auto body shop. The owner met them in the lot and walked them to the back corner of the building.
"Agent McGee, you've got great timing. We've finished buffing out the new paint, and my guys are putting the car back together. We're just waiting on a new window gasket for the left rear window. The delivery truck should be here any time."
"That's great, so it'll be ready tonight? How late are you guys open?" Tim bent down and looked closely. Much like Jackie's SUV, there was no visible indication that the car had been damaged.
The heavy-set man was pleased to get the referral for this repair and hoped to get a contract with the agency. "We close at six, but since Director Vance has already signed off on the payment, we can deliver it to the agency or to your home as soon as we're done with it."
"Thanks, that would be easier." Tim thought about all the problems he'd had at the yard. "Probably be better if it was delivered to the house."
It took just a few minutes to make the arrangements before they were back out on the road, Tim pleased to be getting his car back and Tony silently steaming that the Yard was not safe enough to risk delivering the Porsche. Mentally he canceled his plans for the evening, determined that he and Ziva would discover the identity of the person who'd been targeting their friend, even if it took them all night.
-NCIS-
The morning was a bust, as no new information came to light. If anything, Sutton's former associates seemed to be starting to distance themselves from their former boss. Over lunch the four agents discussed the possibilities, but couldn't decide if the change was because Sutton's people felt his plan was failing or if the vacuum left by Sutton's imprisonment was causing a power struggle. While they were debating what had happened, and Ziva and Tony were fighting over the last bread stick, Fornell arrived. He reached over DiNozzo and snagged the bread stick, ending both arguments.
"Tobias, what brings you here?" Gibbs smirked as Tony licked his finger and stuck it in the marinara sauce before the FBI agent could dunk the bread.
Fornell rolled his eyes at DiNozzo's antics. "Might have a lead on that printer, thought you'd want to tag along."
That caught Gibbs' attention. The pictures of he and Tim had caused the younger man a great deal of pain when they'd been sent to his father. They'd given up all hope that the printer, sold for cash, could be traced. "Damn straight." Behind Fornell was one of his newer agents. Gibbs had met him on several occasions. Quiet, mousey and clumsy, he reminded Gibbs of McGee in the beginning but without the sharp mind, exceptional skills or understanding of when to shut up. Unless the lead was across the street, he didn't want to listen to the man ramble on in the car. "I'll follow you in my car. Ziva, you ride back with Tim and Tony. I want you back on those surveillance tapes."
"Gibbs, are you..."
It took some effort not to roll his eyes. "I'm a big boy, Ziva, I'll be fine." His expression warmed as he reached over and touched McGee's worried face. "I'm not the one being targeted and I want this to be solved so we can move on."
Tony glared at Fornell's shadow. "You better stay close to Gibbs, Harold. I'm going to hold you personally responsible for his safety."
Harold Meeks blinked as he found himself the target of scrutiny. "Umm... umm... yes, sir." Gibbs' hand was twitching, but he resisted head-slapping the FBI rookie as he followed them out the door.
-NCIS-
Rebecca tried to look remorseful as her supervisor scolded her for taking too long of a lunch. She'd had it all planned out, but the mud in the neighbor's flower bed had ruined her suede shoes and she'd had to stop to buy a new pair. She'd been forced to shop at a low budget chain store, just one more thing to blame on Timothy McGee. As the older woman droned on, Rebecca thought back to her trip to Gibbs' neighborhood. She'd been disappointed that the dog was locked in the house, but she was sure he'd find her present the next time somebody let him out. The antifreeze she was forced to carry for her car, mixed in with some expensive chopped steak would be an irresistible doggie treat indeed.
-NCIS-
Tony's heart might have been in the right place, but Gibbs was ready to throttle him for his instructions to Meeks. The man had taken DiNozzo's words literally and had managed to step on Gibbs' foot several times while bumping into him repeatedly. Fornell had been useless, finding it too funny to bother interfering until Meeks had managed to dump a full cup of coffee onto Gibbs. The coffee had been cold, luckily, but now he had to stop and change his shirt. At least he'd be able to let Jett out for a few minutes and peek at what Tim had put in the crockpot while he was at the house.
It wasn't until he was pulling into the driveway that he remembered the scheduled delivery of the Porsche. Gibbs slammed on the brakes and cut the wheel hard to the left, but the sounds and the jolt told him he hadn't been quick enough. He shifted the sedan into reverse and eased the larger car back, wincing at the squeal of metal against metal. Once there was enough distance, he stared at the sports car, the broken tail light, the damaged bumper and the long crease down the side that traveled almost to the rear wheel.
"Well, shit."