Wednesday - 6/23/2010
0700 hours
Work falls into the day much the same way it's been going for the past few days, with the exception of course of the strife that's plagued the team, until now. Morning greetings were the same respectful, almost cheerful but nothing personal had been included. Other than that, Tony's almost back to his old self, with the exception of the countless times he drops a wistful glance at the desk that used to be Tim's. Neither Gibbs nor Ziva call him on it or even bring it up, choosing instead to let the comfortable silence remain their newest team member at least for now, as they work their way through cold cases. It's the calmest comfortable day so far this week and only the arrival of the director's assistant with a stack of folders in her arms changes that.
Seeing a blur of movement out of the corner of his eye, Gibbs looks up from his work to see the lovely lady who is Vance's right hand come to a stop in front of his desk with a stack of folders in her arms, looking remarkably uncomfortable as she speaks what's on her mind. "Agent Gibbs, Director Vance wants you to have these. He says you'll know why and that he expects your answer by 1400 hours, Friday."
Silently, the Team Leader gets to his feet with a tiny grin on his face because it's not her fault and still she's acting almost guilty for being the bearer of bad news. "Thanks." He tells her quietly as he gently takes the stack from her. "It's fine. Not his fault Keating had a family emergency."
With a nod and a sigh of what is undoubtedly relief, she's gone from the squad room, disappearing behind the wall that separates what was Tim's desk, from the back hallway. Setting the stack on the desk across from his own, the Team Leader addresses his agents, already watching him now. "Figure it out."
Rising to her feet, Ziva, who wasn't here of course, when the guys worked together to find her replacement, isn't clued into the fact that he's telling them it's time to do it again, this time for Tim's. "What exactly is it that we need to figure out, Gibbs?"
Tony's quick to his feet and to her rescue, although there's not exactly a smile or a grin on his face right now. He hadn't enjoyed replacing Ziva, however temporary that had been and he sure as hell won't enjoy replacing Tim, especially since this time, the one they pick will wind up being permanent. "Who we want to replace Tim."
Both his tone and the use of the now transferred agent's first name garner an extra glance from both of his team members, not out of pity or shock, but rather out of pleasant surprise and pride. It's finally become clear that Tony has come around and that he is showing how little he's enjoying this change. Gibbs mentally congratulates him, but outwardly rewards him with a small nod, a look of approval and the promise of fresh coffee. "Goin' for coffee. Dig in."
Watching the boss leave for his coffee run, Tony sighs as he begins going through the stack, separating them by gender first, before handing Ziva the stack of women in the running for the job. "You choose out of this stack, I'll choose out of this one, for obvious reasons."
Quietly, Ziva nods. She's not going to make this any harder or more unpleasant for any of them by adding anything unnecessary to the discussion. She's proud of Tony for handling this as well as he is now. Even the mature way he's dividing up the unpleasant task in front of them impresses her. She respects him enough to leave it alone, rather than make something of it that will only embarrass him.
*********NCIS*********
Walking to the coffee shop, Gibbs' head is all over the place, from the long, beautiful night he and Tim shared, as well as the blissful shower they shared this morning before breakfast and the date they set for tonight before parting ways to get to work on time; to the monumental task his team faces now to find the brilliant computer whiz' replacement. No one else will have Tim's heart, his compassion, his drive, his dedication, his...and the list is endless. He'd known he wasn't capable of being impartial enough to decide when they'd worked to replace Ziva and this time he's even less so. And to make matters impossibly worse, this time will be permanent.
His heart reminds him that it's a change he can live with a hell of a lot easier than he had been forced to live with some others; Mike, Kate, Jenny, Pacci, Paula and most especially his girls. That reasoning is the sole buoy that's holding him up through this monumental change because this time, it's already worth it. This time, things are different; whole, fulfilling, full of life again, more than happy, ecstatic. Work might be tough for a while - but this time, he wouldn't want it any other way because keeping Tim on the team would have meant giving him up personally and that just isn't an option.
*********NCIS*********
Abby can't wipe the smile off her face this morning. She busies herself doing everything she can think of to pass the time anxious for tonight. Her babies get special cleaning, her lab gets extra attention too. Even her ballistics lab gets a thorough going over, twice. Anything she can do so that she avoids going up to the squad room where they'll be all over her in a second to ask why she's so cheerful, she's doing it. She almost wishes for a fresh case just to pass the time. C'mon, seven o'clock!
Although she won't be where he can see her tonight, Abby know that Tim will ultimately thank her and be grateful to her for her intervention. In fact, she's almost positive he'll be begging her to forgive him for his attempt to force himself to change direction - simply because all the women he's dated have turned out to be complete idiots, or worse, killers - well almost all of them. He'll admit that she's right - that she's been right all along when she's repeatedly told him she knows what's best for him and that her loving him should be enough for him. After all, she's already told him she loves him like puppies. And everyone knows she loves puppies so much, she'll choose them over people any day, right? What more could he possibly need?
*********NCIS*********
For a new guy on the job, Tim's walking on dangerous ground right now. Here he is on day two of his new position, still learning the ropes, still finding out what's involved where the details are concerned, and he can't get his head out of the clouds, or away from thinking about and planning tonight's date with Leroy!
"Are you usually this hard at hearing, Agent McGee?" His new boss asks with unmistakable disappointment and irritation.
That's enough to jerk his head back down to earth and he sincerely apologizes, forcing himself to keep it short. "No, Sir I apologize. It won't happen again."
"Good!" The older man who reminds Tim of his father, snaps. "Now, as I was saying, you'll be expected to run a check of every techs use of their system, twice a week - and for randomly changing the time you do it. On top of that, you'll also be..."
What seems like hours later, the man has stopped talking and is staring at Tim with irritation again. But this time, Tim's ready for him because he's firmly focused on work like he should be. "I want to make sure I don't miss anything, Sir. So if you don't mind, I'll need a written list specifying everything you just told me. I can go get it written up now, unless you already have one?"
"No, I don't. Go on, get to it. But, make it snappy." The man concedes with obvious reluctance.
"Yes, Sir."
Tim makes his escape and gets to work, happy to finally be doing something besides listen to the man talk. Not written down? Seriously? How the hell does the guy expect anyone to remember all of that? That's worse than Gibbs' rules, for crying out loud! Think, Tim!
Turning off his mental commentary, he applies himself to his work, once again, focusing intently and tuning out the rest of the world.
*********NCIS*********
Coming back to the squad room with his tray of drinks and bag of sandwiches for his agents, the Team Leader silently sets the tray and the bag down on Tony's desk, leaving the Senior Field Agent to divvy up both. Glancing up, Gibbs sees Vance watching his team from overhead. He hasn't spoken to him at all this week, outside of case-related stuff and those interactions had been short and to the point. Now, it looks as if the Director has something on his mind. He heads out of the squad room and takes the stairs to the top, stopping at the railing next to the Director, who immediately engages him in conversation.
"Good to see DiNozzo behaving himself. Appreciate McGee setting him straight so quickly about keeping things out of the office. Only spoke to him about it Monday. Disappointed that I had to lay into him about it at all, though. I expected better from both of them. Although I was relieved that the confrontation didn't escalate into one of those juvenile wrestling matches, those two tend to have on occasion."
Gibbs' quizzical look obviously clues the man into the fact that the Team Leader never heard about any of this.
"Not a lot that goes on around here that I don't find out about." Vance reminds him dryly. When the Team Leader has no comeback, the Director finally knows what's missing. "Neither of them said anything to you about it."
"No."
"Step into my office, Gibbs." Vance requests. "I think there's something you need to see."
*********NCIS*********
It's nearly noon when Gibbs returns to the squad room, a hell of a lot less happy than he'd been when he'd left it well over twenty minutes ago. Without missing a beat, he stops in front of Ziva desk and hands her a twenty-dollar bill "Lunch run. Go."
Surprised, yet thrilled for both the break and that the boss is buying; Ziva is quick to get to her feet. "Yes, Gibbs."
Tony, too, is quick to his feet, happy to be getting a break from this heart-breaking job of replacing Tim and happy that the boss if feeling very, very generous today. Tim is really rubbing off on the guy. Tony can't find fault with that at all.
"Not you, DiNozzo." Gibbs growls, not even attempting to mask his anger.
Shocked, Tony freezes, his eyes turning to meet those of his boss, seeing Ziva stop in shock as well. The Senior Field Agent feels his gut clench when the fury on the boss' face and in his tone finally registers. When Gibbs nods at Ziva again, she's takes off, quick to leave them alone as the man obviously wants.
Before she's even on the elevator, Gibbs is leading the way out of the squad room, through the back, heading for the interrogation rooms. "With me, Tony."
Now, he's really confused because angry Gibbs doesn't use his first name like this but then again, angry Gibbs does do everything else Tony's seeing right now. So what the hell's going on? Oh, wait a minute! The man's just come from talking to the director, right? Oh, Crap!
*********NCIS*********
Walking into the deli the team frequents, Ziva is not surprised to find Abby there, eating her lunch, but it does bring to mind the fact that their resident Lab Rat has not visited or spoken to them at all today. That is not like Abby and something in the Israeli's gut tells her that it bears a little investigation. Placing the team's order, she heads over to the booth Abby is currently sitting in, her back to the door.
"Abby?" Ziva greets by way of a question left unasked.
"Ziva! Oh, hey!" The older woman's nervousness sticks out like a sore thumb.
Sliding into the booth, on the seat across from Abby, Ziva beings to probe. "Abby, we have not seen or heard from you this morning. That is not like you. Are you all right?"
"Me? I'm fine, Ziva. Perfectly fine. Why would you think I'm not fine?" Abby's eyes stare at her water glass, not looking anywhere but straight through it, as if she's trying to disappear.
It's obvious that getting anything out of her isn't going to be easy. But, Ziva's not giving up yet. She's got time before her order's ready and the guys need time alone to hash out whatever the problem is between them now. With her tone as serious as her expression, Ziva digs in. "Abby. Do not lie to me. Something is going on with you. What is it?"
"It's nothing, Ziva! Leave me alone!" In a flash, Abby's gone, the blur of motion that is her leaving almost quicker than the eye can see, almost making Ziva dizzy. The woman didn't even finish her lunch! Wow. Okay, there's something going on that bears more investigating and soon! Motioning for the waitress nearby, Ziva requests the uneaten half of Abby's lunch be boxed to go and bagged with the rest of her order. Getting to her feet Ziva heads to the counter to pick up her order, now in a hurry to get back to the office.
*********NCIS*********
"Thought I told you that it stays out of the office, DiNozzo?" Gibbs growls openly now that the interrogation room has been cleared of technicians and the cameras and microphones been turned off.
Tony's heart drops. He knew it! Before he can think, his gut reaction speaks for him. "McGee..."
"Hasn't opened his mouth to me! Not even about the new one Vance ripped him thanks to your little stunt downstairs!" Gibbs snaps angrily. "Kept his mouth shut with Vance, too."
Tony feels like a heel. Oh God! He hadn't meant to get Tim in trouble. He'd checked to make sure no one was looking when he'd approached him yesterday! This wasn't supposed happen!
"You forget about tthe cameras, DiNozzo? Everywhere!" The boss is still in 'super-pissed' mode.
Right now Tony doesn't even blame him. The Senior Field Agent knows he screwed over his partner - even if they're not on the same team anymore - they always will be part and parcel of a team of sorts. There's too much history and reliability and even trust - when things are right between them. God, what a mess he's made of things! The cameras! God, DiNozzo, you're such an idiot! Tony mentally screams at himself. "Boss, I did! I swear! I completely forgot about them!"
Gibbs frowns. The guy's too shocked and upset to be lying and Tony doesn't lie to him anyway. Still, it doesn't chase away the fury that's crashing through him right now. Because what he wants to say next is personal, he lowers his voice so that he can't be heard outside the walls of the room they're in. Leaning in closely to his agent's ear, he speaks his peace. "Want you to remember this, DiNozzo! Tim kept this to himself AND gave you the benefit f the doubt last night, so don't let me even hear of you saying one word out of line to him!"
"Wait! Benefit of the doubt? Boss, what...?" Tony's baffled and for once he's not afraid to show it, although somehow he manages to keep his own voice lower than normal.
"Let's just say, he's not nearly as gullible as he used to be, Tony. You'll have to prove it to him this time."
Tony's silent for a minute until his brain catches up to what it is the older man is talking about. "So, last night, when he said..."
"He meant it. Doesn't mean he's not watching out." Gibbs points out. "Man's far from dumb, DiNozzo. You know that. And he's done with being the butt of your jokes and pranks."
"I know, Boss." Tony replies without hesitation.
"Knows how to take one for the team." Gibbs remarks dryly, knowing Tony's bragged about doing that himself more times over the years than anyone can count, giving the same credit to the others, rarely if at all. It's an opportunity to point that out without having to dig anything up and it won't hurt in terms of keeping Tony's ego in check right about now. Sure the guy's upset and that's a good thing in the grand scheme of things, but
"Wait, you mean you didn't...when Vance told you, you didn't say an...no of course you wouldn't." Tony sighs. "Boss, I am sorry."
"What the hell were you thinkin', DiNozzo? Thought you'd test me when I said it wasn't being brought here?"
"No! Boss, look, I went down there to talk to him, ya know, man to man, tell him I could work on being okay with everything."
"Not what it looks like on the video feed."
"I know. I took one look at his serene expression and got super pissed because I'd spent all night trying to make sense of it all and he obviously didn't have a care in the world - and I just lost it."
"So, you decided to hold it against him that he's found happiness outside of work for once?" Gibbs asks with a dangerous aire of calm. "That what I'm hearing, Tony?"
"Stupid, I know. Look, Boss, I know the kid's been through more than his share of heartbreak and I know that it's not my business. It's like I said, I really am sorry!"
Taking a deep breath, Gibbs mentally shuts the door on this because it's already over the line of personal and doesn't need to be discussed at work any further than this. He understands a lot better now, why Tim wasn't able to just put it away last night after he got home from the diner, though. He's glad he gave the younger man the space to talk and think when he'd obviously needed it.
But for the here and now, the question is what to do with Tony. He'd gone against the boss' order that this not be brought into work and had gotten Tim in trouble for it. And he hadn't been man enough to tell Gibbs to his face. He can't do anything publically about it but he has to do something and a head slap that Tony lives for isn't an option. Or is it? Is that what Tony needs; that familiar behavior modification tool he's come to look for when he, himself knows he needs it? Gibbs knows it keeps him feeling secure in his Team Leader's continued trust in him to do his job and become a better person while he's at it. Tony's admitted as much to him, outright.
Maybe Tim's right and team night at Gibbs' house isn't the answer as much as something much more familiar is. Watching Tony fidget right now, he's almost sure he's on the right track. It's obvious the guy's waiting for the axe to fall over this. Reaching over, he puts the man out of his misery and delivers a very sharp, gesture of correction. His face clearly shows his displeasure at having been disobeyed on top of his agent getting a former teammate and supposed friend in trouble for it.
Tony's head stings. The boss hasn't head slapped him that hard in a very long time. Then again, it's been a long time since he's earned one that hard. Looking hard at him now, he sees the man's disappointment more than his anger. With his heart on his sleeve for one very rare moment, he looks at the man who's been his mentor for years and who he's trusted to look out for him and support him while teaching him everything he knows - remembers Tim's words from the other night loud and clear now:
"...The man who's loved you like a son - treated you better than your own father has - taught you almost everything you know - gave you all the slack you ever needed - pulled you in whenever you needed that too - did you REALLY think how you reacted to finding out about his new relationship with me - wouldn't affect him?"
Watching Tony go silent, Gibbs feels a ray of hope slice through him that all is not lost between him as the boss and this Senior Field Agent he doesn't want to lose from his team. They need each other in this capacity and he knows it. They both know it. He's not surprised when Tony blinks and looks at him again, this time speaking his mind.
"Thanks Boss. And... I am sorry."
Looking the young man over closely for a long moment, Gibbs reaches out, grasps Tony on the upper arm for a moment and honors his admission with a response straight from his heart. "Apology accepted."
*********NCIS*********
Ziva returns to the squad room to find it empty. She's not surprised though because she knows the guys are sorting out whatever the problem is between them. It does tell her that it's big enough that they can't talk about it in here. That gets her thinking about last night. As she sets the separately bagged orders on the respective desk, she wonders just how big of a problem this is going to become. It saddens her that it is one at all because both Gibbs and Tim deserve happiness without the interference of others - the same as anyone else deserves. With these two having the personal history of pain and heartbreak, it makes it even more true for them.
Well, one thing she can do is let them know she supports them, when the time is right, of course. But for now, there's Abby to contend with. Something is going on with her and being able to give her the rest of her lunch is as good an opportunity to find out what as any. Carrying the bag containing Abby's lunch, Ziva heads to the back elevator.
"Ziva!" Tony calls out to her as he spies her leaving the squad room at the opposite end of the room he's returning to.
She stops and looks back, returning to their work area without comment as she waits to see what he wants from her.
"Thanks for getting lunch."
Looking around, she's a little surprised to find that Gibbs hasn't returned with Tony since lunch is here. "Where is Gibbs?"
"Probably getting coffee." He answers with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"Again?"
"Again. Where were you headed just now?"
"Abby's. I ran into her at the deli and when I asked her why she hasn't been up to see us today she got very nervous. When I pushed her to tell me what is going on with her, she got rude and defensive and left in such a hurry, she abandoned her lunch. I have brought it back for her."
"That was nice of you. Wonder what's going on."
"I was about to go find out."
"You mean try to find out. If Abby doesn't want anyone to know. She'll zip up tighter than Fort Knox."
"Tony..." Her genuine confusion is cute under normal circumstances, but right now, his patience is non-existent. His mind is already focused on the investigation they're about to embark on with the Mistress of the Dark as he likes to call her. Is she living up to that nickname?
"Never mind, Ziva. C'mon. This I gotta see." Tony snatches his own lunch off his desk and walks with her, curious to see exactly what she's talking about. He's taken all of three steps with her when his cell phone rings. Looking at it, he frowns. Gibbs.
Glancing at Ziva, Tony answers the call. "Hey, Boss, what's up?"
"When's the last time you talked to Ducky?"
*******NCIS*******
Having sorted out the mess with Tony, Gibbs headed out for more coffee to go with the lunch Ziva is bringing back for them. His thoughts travel back to the night this mess he's just sorted through began, which brings him to the realization that in order for his friend to have called him as upset as he had been, Tony must have taken the initial brunt of his anger out on Ducky.
With the chaotic flow of things these last few days, it wouldn't surprise him if his Senior Field Agent had put off sorting things out with the M.E. only to eventually forget. Whipping out his cell phone, he checks to see if he's right, starting with Tony. When the younger man answers his phone by getting straight to the question of what he needs from him, Gibbs returns the favor by laying out the only question on his mind right now - the one Tony needs to answer, not for him, but for Tony's own sake. And for Ducky's.
The man's reaction speaks of how right Gibbs is. "Ducky! Oh, man! I'm on it! Thanks, Boss!"
Snapping his phone shut, Gibbs keeps walking, now ready to enjoy his coffee and when he gets back to the squad room, his lunch.
******NCIS*******
Walking slowly through Autopsy's swooshing doors, Tony feels his heart down in his feet. He's disrespected this man and to make matters worse, had to be reminded to make things right with him not one day later, but two!
"Agent DiNozzo. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Ducky asks in a tone that clearly says he does not consider this visit to be a nice one at all.
"Gotta minute?" Tony asks with what one might consider a full measure of meekness.
"Oh?" With eyebrows raised in surprise, Ducky nods. "My office just so happens to be available at the moment since Mr. Palmer has gone for the day."
"Thanks, Ducky." The younger man offers as the M.E. follows him into the office, closing the door securely behind him.
"Sit, tell me what's on your mind?"
"I owe you an apology, Ducky. I was out of line. Way out. I am sorry."
"I see. While I accept your apology, Anthony, I must tell you that I am wary ..."
"I know. And I don't blame you. But, I've been doing a lot of thinking...and watching...and from what I see and what I can figure...they're good for each other and they won't hurt each other on purpose."
"And here on the job?" Ducky pushes for more foundation on which to lay his trust on with this.
"I'm really not happy that it means McGee had to transfer off the team, but if I was in his shoes and it came down to that choice for me; I would have transferred too."
"Well, I must say, Anthony; I am relieved to hear that you've had a change of heart. However, time will tell..."
"I know. Even McGee's still wary of my promise that I'm working on being okay with this."
"Anthony, they do not need you to be okay with it. They want you to be simply because they care about you and Jethro continues to rely on you on the job. And whether or not you realize it, Timothy is still relying on you as well. He's relying on you to help watch Jethro's back."
"I know, Ducky. And I won't let him down; either of them." Tony vows with complete seriousness.
"Now, that is music to my ears, young man!"
******NCIS*******
Lunchtime for Tim might be a little lonely, if it weren't for the privacy his spot on the ground under a shade tree in the park grants him. With his sandwich open and coffee in front of him, the book he's trying to read, spread open across his lap and his windbreaker on to ward of the chill he's comfortable enough that he leans back against the tree and lets his mind wander. Since his watch is set with the timer he needs to get back to work on time, he's not worried about where his thoughts will take him as they drift away from the book that actually holds little interest for him at the moment In fact, he's almost hoping...
Gentle kisses on his skin where his shoulder meets his neck, wake him pleasurably as tender hands run slowly across his body in two different places at once. Where one hand reaches and plays with one of his nipples, the other is affectionately carding his hair.
Like a contented cat, he stretches into his lover's touches, moaning in delight. "Mmmm. Good morning."
Lifting his head up from where he's been loving on Tim, Leroy smiles as he kisses him on the mouth now; tenderly, invitingly, before pulling back to return the greeting. "Good morning."
Tim kisses him back before he pulls back to ask what's on his mind. "How'd you sleep?"
"With you in my arms, it's always a good night." Leroy replies seriously as he returns the very words Tim said to him not so long ago about this very same subject.
Reaching up to card the older man's hair, Tim softly replies. "I feel the same way, Leroy."
Reaching down, Leroy captures his mouth in a soul searing kiss that deepens as the moments go on, until Tim has to pull back to breathe.
Letting his hands caress his lover for a moment, Tim reluctantly drops his hands and moves to get out of bed as he admits. "I wish we had more time this morning but I really need a shower."
Leroy grins wolfishly. "That makes two of us."
***End Flashback****
A loud peal of laughter nearby drags Tim from his recollection with a momentary sense of disorientation. Looking around him, he's relieved to find that everyone out and about is for all intents and purposes, ignoring him. It's a good thing at the moment because right now he dare not move the book in his lap for fear of embarrassing himself. As a matter of fact, he bites into his sandwich and forces himself to read two pages of the book so his jets can cool down. Jeesh, he needs to be more careful!
Glancing at his watch, he works his way through his lunch while enjoying the sounds of a nice day, with birds singing and dogs barking a few dozen yards away. Once he's done eating, he bags the trash and gets to his feet, tossing the bag in the nearest trash can on his way back to his car. He's still got time to spare but he wants that time spent in the office so he heads back in, his mind once again focusing on work.
Almost as an afterthought, he mentally head slaps himself for not using the lunch hour he's just had to plan tonight's dinner date at home more intricately. So far, he's got nothing on tap, except excitement and anticipation. But, that's not exactly going to put the food on the table. Great, now he'll have to think of something after work - on the way to the store. Talk about last minute!
*****NCIS*****
Lacking any fresh case, the afternoon is dragging on uneventfully. Looking forward to tonight, Gibbs certainly isn't complaining. Sighing with a touch of boredom, he stands to his feet, tossing his pen down on the cold case he's already read through three times in the last two hours. It's time for a break. He's already out of the building before his phone rings and his initial reaction is that he hopes it's not a new case. Snapping his phone open, he answers it in his usual way. "Yeah. Gibbs."
"Jethro, do you have a moment?"
"Headed out for coffee now, Duck. Meet up with me."
"I shall be there shortly."
Gibbs snaps his phone shut, his mind thinking back to his earlier thoughts about the M.E. He hopes Tony's made his peace with the kindly Scotsman. He'll take him to task for it later if he hasn't. He himself, should have already checked to see how Ducky's doing after the stressful night before last. He'll apologise for him when he meets up with him, for falling down on that one.
*****NCIS*****
Five O'clock finds Tim clocking out with pep in his step as he hurries to his car. Dinner by 6:45. He can do this, even if he still has to come up with the entire plan between now and then. It's far from his usual way of planning everything days ahead but then again, this impromptu dinner is just that, unplanned.. But, he has to do more than cook. He's got to set the scene too. Real candles this time instead of the fake ones he used last night. A nice curtain on the front door, even though it's nowhere near the kitchen. It'll add some zest to their night if they don't have to worry about privacy down here.
Not sure why his mind has wandered off the more important stuff like the menu, Tim mentally shakes his head as he gets to his car and settles in for the drive home, trying to focus on finishing out a plan for dinner. He'll have to stop off at Wal Mart to get everything he's thinking about. It's a long way out of the way but he's got time. Turning on the radio, he hums to the music and focuses on his driving.
*****NCIS*****
It's 1700 and Gibbs is going out of his mind with boredom. While he does not want a fresh case, he wishes he could send the team home and be done with the day already. There's still Abby to deal with on the tail of what Ducky told him in regard to her phone call to the M.E. the other night. But, he'll tackle that tomorrow. No need to rock that boat today. To eat up the time, instead, he tosses his pen down on the desk and gets to his feet. "Where we at with those files?"
Tony glances up from his stack of the very files in question and attempts to answer the man. "Uhm, Boss. It's only been a couple of hours."
"And?"
"And we're being careful? So, we don't have any first round candidates yet?" Tony keeps his tone careful as he reminds the boss in pointed questions why it is they're not rushing into this. The answering sigh and toned down glare says he got his point across.
"First round?" Ziva pipes in with genuine confusion, inadvertently keeping the conversation going..
"They have to get through you and I before they get to round two - the boss man here." Tony answers for her, not wanting this dragged out any more than necessary. Talking about it isn't any more fun than plowing through these personnel files.
"Oh." Ziva replies as she processes what's being said, her mind still bothered at having been unable to talk to Abby again since the Lab Rat had not been in her lab earlier. "That way..."
"They don't waste the boss' time and we don't get any squirrely people in here." The Senior Field Agent fires off without even filtering his mouth. Run off at the mouth that way is actually worth it when the end result is the smirk on the boss' face as the man gets back to work, the first one all day.
*****NCIS*****
Finding everything he wants for tonight's dinner and special evening he now has all planned out for Leroy, has been a bit of a chore, but forty-five minutes later finds Tim checking out at the store, his basket full of groceries and a few things for the house. It's not long before, with a half dozen reusable store bags loaded down with items, he's headed to his car, his thoughts already on the menu and plan for setting the stage for tonight.
After last night, he wants this dinner to be extra meaningful and cozy. It's important to him that Leroy be treated as well if not better than Shannon would have been treating him. The man deserves as much in his relationship. Almost absently, he notices that it's getting darker out and that he parked practically a mile from the door, according to his aching feet, anyway. Shifting the bags on his hands where he's holding them, he forces the weight he's carrying to settle better. Finally, he sees the car, feeling a wave of relief that he can soon put his multiple bags down and massage his hurting hands that are so full, he can't even reach into his pocket for his keys. Smart, Tim. Real smar...ow!
The round end of something hard is thrust forcefully into his back, shoving him up against the side of his car Startled, Tim drops his bags, the contents spilling out everywhere as a deep voice growls in his ear.
"Don't. Move!"
