Tim made sure to make lots of noise before coming in with Ziva, but the other two men didn't comment and she knew enough not to ask as she watched them. The three of them seemed fine, if just a little introspective, so she concentrated on the game. Oddly, the Redskins seemed more reserved as the game resumed, also. Chicago quickly took control of the ball and began moving down the field.

Ziva had studied about football since the neighborhood potluck and was enjoying it much more than she expected as she now recognized the strategy behind many of the moves. The Bears had made one touchdown and were again in control of the game after they held the Redskins at the forty-two yard line. It was about eight minutes into the third quarter that the Chicago quarterback did something she did not understand.

"Why did he throw the ball to the other team?"

She barely had time to get out of the way before Tony jumped to his feet. "Interception, yes, we got the ball back." As the Washington Redskin ran the ball back the other direction all three men were on their feet, cheering and yelling. When he crossed into the end zone, Tony and Tim were hugging and slapping each others backs while Gibbs was pulling out his phone.

The interception and resulting ninety-six yard touchdown lit a fire under the Washington team and they scored another touchdown just as the third quarter ended. The four of them went back inside during the break, dividing up the desserts onto individual plates. Beer was replaced with coffee and tea, and Tony and Ziva both latched onto the rock candy sticks they had to sweeten the drinks.

From inside the suite the view was just as good as from the outside, so by an unspoken agreement, they remained indoors for the last quarter. Cheering and laughing, they watched as the Redskins continued to pound the Bears, finishing the game with a seventeen point lead. At the end of the game, none of them were in a rush to leave. Tony and Ziva pulled out their phones to take pictures of the luxury suite and Gibbs quickly joined in, much to their surprise while Tim shook his head at their antics, knowing that Gibbs' pictures were on their way to Vance.

Eventually, they made their way down to the waiting limo. As Adam was opening the door, Gibbs pulled Tim close. "Thank you, this was the most amazing birthday I could imagine."

"Nope." Tim smiled as he touched Jethro's chest. "This was a family day for all of us. You get your birthday present in the morning."

Tony stopped halfway into the car. "Damn, I don't know how you're going to top this, McGee."

"Do I at least get a hint?"

Tim started laughing and shook his head. "No, you don't get a hint. Since when have you been so nosy? You're sounding like Tony."

"Umm, hello." Tony waved his arms around at the opulent surroundings. "Hell yeah, if this is the warm up you can't blame him for being curious."

Ziva was already sitting in the limo, but she leaned past Tony so they could hear her. "Give him one hint, McGee, to make them both happy."

Thinking for a moment, Tim smiled as he decided what to say. "Tomorrow is quieter, more... personal."

Tony turned to Ziva. "Ah, that explains why us kids can't tag along." In answer, Tim just snorted and shoved him the rest of the way into the limo.

-NCIS-

Vance reported the next score update to his table companions and the mood darkened when Chicago pulled ahead. A strangled moan could be heard when the Redskins failed to move the ball and the Bears took it back in good position to score again, but it was all Vance could do not to shout when the text about the interception came through. As the speaker finally finished droning on about workplace efficiency the occupants at the next table began to migrate over and by the end of the game their table was quite crowded. Even the waitstaff stopped their cleaning to swing by the table every time a new text came in.

As they walked out to the car, almost an hour after the banquet finished, Jackie couldn't help but laugh. "Usually you can't wait to leave one of these dinners."

Leon made sure Jackie was settled in her seat before circling around to the driver's side. "Well, when an admiral pulls a chair up to wait for the next score, I couldn't exactly walk away."

"I guess you have a point." Jackie turned serious and he knew what was coming. "Leon, why didn't you want anyone there to know about Jethro and Tim?"

It was a discussion he didn't want to have at all, and certainly not on the freeway at midnight. "Let's talk about it at home, alright?"

-NCIS-

Another bottle of champagne was opened as Adam drove them through Chicago, showing off how beautiful his city was. They were amazed at the size of Buckingham Fountain, while McGee was fascinated by the technology behind the Crown Fountain. Either way, they all agreed that the massive park system had to be one of the finest they'd seen and for an inland body of water like Lake Michigan, the waterfront was most impressive. Adam offered to take a group picture of the four of them and they quickly handed over their phones. Finally the evening wound down, the limo arrived back at the hotel and they found themselves in the elevator, heading for their rooms.

"Tonight was really special." One look at Tony's face and both men knew he was talking about more than the game and the dinner and when he offered his hand Gibbs pulled him close and thumped his back while Ziva hugged Tim first.

Ziva moved over to hug Gibbs while Tony stepped closer to Tim, grasping his shoulders and pulling him closer so their foreheads were touching. "Have a good time tomorrow. You guys deserve every happiness in the world, okay?"

"Thanks, Tony." The chime sounded just before the doors opened and suddenly Tim found himself alone with Jethro. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Gibbs took his hand and tugged him close. "Tony was right, tonight was really special, in every way. Made me feel very," Gibbs struggled to find the right word until he remembered something Tim had said to him the day Sarah showed up at the Yard. "Very cherished."

Tim laid his hand against Jethro's chest, feeling the heartbeat against his palm. "Even the strong deserves a chance to feel that way and you're the strongest person I've ever known."

The elevator chimed again and the doors opened to their floor. Hand in hand they walked to the door of their suite. Both suddenly hesitant, they fell into their nightly routine as they entered the bedroom of the suite and Tim continued on into the spa bathroom first to get ready for the night.

While he waited Gibbs wandered through the suite, pausing to watch the skyline before he hung up his coat, remembering the envelope as he did. He shoved it into his jeans just as McGee came out of the bathroom still flushed from the hot water, eyes sparkling in the light. He wasn't wearing a t-shirt and Gibbs got a good look at the toned body he'd developed over the years.

"All yours."

It took a second to remember that Tim was talking about the bathroom. "Yeah, I'll just... I'll just be a minute."

-NCIS-

"Here, take my picture." Tony tossed Ziva his phone as he posed by the picture window. She snapped that one and several more as he moved around the room.

"Tony, you have been in nice hotel rooms before."

"Yeah, but this time is different, you know."

She thought about what he said for a moment before tossing him her phone. "You are right, it is different. My turn now." Smiling, she moved to the window for her own pictures.

-NCIS-

Gibbs leaned back against the marble countertop and stared at the envelope in his hands. Their room number was handwritten on the quality paper with a fountain pen, that much he could tell just by looking. He opened the envelope, reading the card twice before letting out the breath he didn't know he was holding. Smiling, he read it again for a third time.

Love is a precious and rare gift, all the more special when it finds you.

To two men who truly deserve such happiness,

Leon and Jackie Vance

Gibbs turned and looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Guess I was the last one to figure it out. Okay, now what?" He started to pace back and forth in front of the large tub. "What do I say? Hey, Tim, let's just keep going, alright?" Gibbs stopped and shook his head. "Yeah, like that's romantic. Tim, tonight was like a fairy tale... hell, Gunny, you're no Cinderella." Raking his fingers through his hair, he resumed pacing as he remembered Ducky's words to him.

He doesn't need the flowery speeches. When the time is right, just tell him what is in your heart. That is all he needs to hear.

"Is it really that simple, Duck?" He went back to stare at his reflection. Surrounded by the marble, crystal and bronze, he saw every line, every scar that reminded him of the hard journey life could be. "I love you, Tim. God knows you could do better, but I do love you." He continued to face the mirror, but seeing the possible future instead of his surroundings. Satisfied with his plan, and hopeful, Gibbs hurried through his nighttime routine before he lost his nerve.

-NCIS-

"You did what?"

Jackie blinked at the horrified tone in his voice. "I know we don't normally give gifts to your agents, but they've become good friends and this weekend is possibly the closest they'll get to a honeymoon. No one will see it as setting a precedent and if you're worried about the money..."

"No, it's not about the money and it's not about the precedent."

"Then what, Leon, what is the problem?" Jackie rested her hands on the kitchen island as she stared across at her husband, trying to figure out his objection. "They're a lovely couple and after all they've been through they deserve some happiness."

"No."

"No? What on earth do you mean, no?"

Her voice was getting shrill and Leon was glad the kids were at friends for the night. "No, they're not a couple."

"Not a couple? Why, because they're men?"

"Because it's a cover." He pushed on in the stunned silence. "They're two straight men undercover as a gay couple."

"You can't be serious."

Vance nodded slowly as he moved closer. "It wasn't a great idea, but it was the only one we had at the time."

"Are you stupid?"

"Jackie..."

"Because you'd have to be either stupid or blind to not see that what they're feeling is real, Leon."

She was still leaning forward, against the island, so he stood next to her, his back resting against it. "They're in too deep, but it's too late to stop it. Not until the op is over."

"So what? You can't tell me that they're the first agents to fall in love during an assignment."

"It's not real, Sweetheart."

"It is to them and that's all that matters."

"Jackie, Gibbs is a great agent and a good man, but when it comes to relationships..."

"Look at them, Leon. Really look at them. The way they fit together, it's so seamless, like they've been waiting for each other their whole lives."

He shook his head. "The op will be over soon and without that, they'll fall apart. It's my job to take care of my people and I promised Gibbs before all this started that I would make sure McGee was protected."

"And just how do you propose to protect him? By destroying the life he'd build with Jethro? What gives you that right?" Jackie didn't wait for an answer before storming off to the bedroom, the slamming door echoing through the house.

Vance poured two fingers of whiskey and slowly sipped it, giving her time to calm down. When he finally entered the bedroom, she was on her side, her back to him. Vance carefully hung up his tux before climbing into bed. He knew she was awake from the stiffness of her shoulders.

"Jackie, honey?"

She didn't move. "What are you going to do, Leon, when this operation is over and you try to break them up. What if Gibbs tells you to go to hell?"

"Honestly, I hope he does." His answer caused Jackie to roll over and look at him in the dim light.

"What?"

"I wish I could believe in the fairy tale, Jackie, but that's not the world we live in. The truth is that Gibbs' first wife and their child were murdered and he's never moved past that. There's a whole string of ex-wives to prove it. Letting himself fall into the role for a while is one thing, but to stick it out in the long run, that's a whole different thing. If we let the op just slide under the rug so no ones knows about it, what do you think will happen to McGee when Gibbs' ghosts tear them apart?"

Jackie wanted to prove him wrong, but the only ones that could do that were far away so all she could do was close her eyes and believe very hard that fairy tales sometimes come true.

-NCIS-

The bathroom light cast a soft glow into the bedroom, so Gibbs left it on as he walked through the doorway. Combined with the bedside lamp, he could clearly see the large bed. On his side, the bedding was folded back, waiting for him to climb in. On the other, Tim was curled up, sound asleep. "Ah, Timmy."

By his positioning, Gibbs could tell that Tim had been waiting for him before finally giving in to exhaustion, the long day, the excitement and plenty of food and alcohol having combined to exhaust the still recovering man. Gibbs dropped his chin down onto his chest as he chuckled. He was a man of few words, but he'd talked himself out of this chance tonight. Quietly he slid under the covers. Tomorrow was his birthday and he was going to give himself the best birthday present he'd had in a very long time.

Turning off the light, he tugged Tim closer. Without ever waking, Tim moved easily, allowing himself to be settled on Jethro's chest. His deep breathing tickled slightly as it stirred the hair on Jethro's chest. After so many lonely years, the words still felt strange on his tongue, so he whispered them again. "I love you, Tim."