Chapter 2

Thanks for all the reviews. Here is chapter 2.

When Gibbs got back to the bullpen, things had begun to heat up on the case. The computer search McGee had done provided some interesting leads, the DC police had found the car and they now had a suspect in custody. Amazing what happens in a short time.

It still took another couple of hours to wind things up. So there Gibbs sat drinking his fourth cup of coffee of the day, working on the paperwork to send their suspect to jail and thinking about that beautiful lady he had met this morning. He was kicking himself for not getting her number. At least she had his he told himself and hopefully she was thinking about calling him. He could not get her beautiful eyes out of his mind and that hair looked so soft he just wished he could run his fingers through it. Her personality had reminded him of Shannon. Always smiling, her eyes sparkled with joy and she seemed to be a pretty tough lady.

He looked at his watch. It was 12:30 and he had not eaten all day. Man can not live on coffee alone he supposed. He decided to go get a sandwich from the vendor out front. "I am going to get some food McGee. I will be right back" he said. Tony and Ziva were on a food run themselves. "Sure Boss" McGee answered. McGee watched his boss as he headed toward the elevator. Gibbs had been a little off his game since he went for coffee this morning . He wondered what was on his mind.

Just as Gibbs stepped into the elevator his phone rang. It was a number he did not recognize but the caller ID picked up a name. " Waverly" it read. He answered it quickly. "Gibbs"

"Hello, this is Samantha Waverly, Agent Gibbs. You know from this morning."

"Oh yes Samantha. Is Kelly ok?" he answered trying not to sound too excited at her call.

"Yes she is fine. I called her mother and explained everything that happened. She is grateful to you for protecting her daughter. Kelly has many issues that seem to get the kids attention and they seem to attack her. She is kind of like the runt of the litter."

"I got that feeling. She seemed like a loner. Did you get her dress fixed?" he asked.

"No, I am not much of a seamstress so I ran to the store and bought her another one just like it. Her dad will never know the difference," she told him.

"Can I help you pay for it?" He really wanted to help Kelly.

"No problem it was only $10.00. But thanks she is such a sweet little girl really. It just breaks my heart the way the other students treat her."

"Well, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help her or you."

"I will. I was wondering if I could do something for you to say thank you. You did not have to get involved. Many people wouldn't. Afraid of being sued or just to evolved with their lives. You have to be a busy man with lots of important things on your plate." Samantha was really nervous. She was going into uncharted waters here.

"No. Really I just saw her problem and I jumped in to help. You don't owe me anything." Gibbs was surprised her wanting to repay him. He thought that was a really sweet gesture.

"Well I really want to repay you someway. I was wondering what you were doing for supper tonight?" she asked cautiously. She was really nervous now and her stomach was in knots. What if he said no? She was not sure she would survive a rejection on the first time she asked a man to supper.

"Probably I will order something delivered and go down to my basement and work on my boat. Why?" he answered with a slight twinge of anticipation.

"I put on a big pot of Texas chili this morning and I was wondering if you would like to share it with me. I have chips and salsa also." She stood there with her fingers crossed.

He did not want to sound too eager but he was ready to yell yes. "You really don't have to." He had to at least appear a little hard to get.

"Please come. It really is no trouble. It is already cooked in my crock pot and I always have chips and green sauce. Just a little bit of home I guess."

"What do you mean?"

"I was born in eastern New Mexico and spent a lot of my life in west Texas. So Texas chili is just comfort food." She informed him.

"Well I spent about four months in Mexico so your chili sounds wonderful. I think that would be much better than take out. You sure I am not causing you any extra work."

"No, chili is cooking and the green sauce dip is already made. So can I expect you at 7:30?"

"Sure but only if I can bring dessert," he said. "Would ice cream hit the spot?"

"It sure would sometimes my chili is a little spicy. Thank you."

"Ok I will see you at 7:30. Oh I will need your address."

"Of course. Can I just text it to you?"

"Not into the texting side of my phone yet. But I can get one of my team to find it for me."

"That will be great. I really have to go now. Kids are coming back from Music so I have to get back to work. I will see you at 7:30 then."

"Absolutely. Hope you have a good afternoon."

"You too. My phone number will be on the text in case you get a case and can't make it."

"Hopefully we won't. See you then. Bye Samantha."

"Good-bye Jethro"

He has a big smile on his face when he hung up the phone. A couple of seconds later he got a sound he had never heard before on his phone. He hoped that it was Samantha's text. Forget lunch for now. He would need to go down to Abby and get the address and phone number.

He took the elevator down to Abby's lab. He could hear her music even before the elevator doors opened. "Hey Abbs" he said walking into the lab.

She grabbed the remote and lowered the volume on the music. "What do you need my silver haired fox? I have no evidence for you. I am just working on boring paperwork," she said giving him a big Abby hug.

"Someone sent me a text thingy and I don't know how to get it of this silly phone." He handed her the phone.

"Gibbs you really must join the 21st century and learn how to text. Who would send you a text anyway? Most of your friends are like you. Technology disabled." Abby laughed as she retrieved the text message from his phone. "Looks like an address and phone number from Sam."

"Yeah I was expecting that." He looked at the phone but without his glasses he could not read it. Abby grabbed the phone from him and wrote down the address and phone number. "Abbs, could put that number in my phone on speed dial or something?"

"Sure Gibbs. Who is Sam? I don't remember anyone named Sam in you short list of friends"

"None of you business Abbs," he said kissing her on the forehead. He smiled and headed for the elevator. Abby's curiosity was aroused. She would call McGee and see if he knew anything.

He looked at the address and realized she was just three blocks from his place. Wow that close and I have never seen her. He was a little excited about this evening. She really was a special lady as far as he could see.

He went out and got lunch still thinking about their conversation and how sweet it was for her to go out and buy Kelly a new dress.

Gibbs spent the rest of the day doing paperwork and listening to his team act like children. Fussing, playing silly word games and getting paperwork done. Luckily 5:00 arrived with no new case. He sent them home since they have spent most of the night working on a case.

"Night Boss" said Tony, "We are going out for pizza. Do you want to join us?

"Don't think so tonight DiNozzo. Got something to do."

"Yep" mumbled Tony under his breath " And it involves a bottle of Jack and that stupid boat." Then is his regular voice he remarked " Ok Boss see you tomorrow."

Gibbs smiled and headed up to the director's office to turn in some paperwork. Wouldn't you like to know Tony? He thought in his head.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs went home tonight by way of the grocery store for ice cream and the flower shop. He was not going there empty handed. He wanted her to know he was interested in more that just her chili.

He took a shower and put on his kaki pants and blue polo shirt. He looked at the clock and it was 7:15. Guess he could be a little early.

He got into his truck and drove the short distance to her place. Parked his truck next to a sporty red Chevy pickup with a Marine bumper sticker . He then walked the two flights up to her apartment. Apartment 3B had a wreath hanging on the door decorated with Dallas Cowboy ornaments. He could hear country music playing inside and he could hear the occupant singing along to the music. He was tempted to look in the window but decided against it and rang the bell.

The door opened wide and in the light stood the most beautiful woman he had seen since Shannon. She took his breath away. "Hi" she said out of breath. It was obvious she had been dancing to the music. Her hair was in a pony tail with a ribbon handing on both sides to match her Dallas Cowboy t-shirt. She had on a pair of jeans with no shoes. Her toe nails were painted with blue and silver nail polish. "Good to see you Jethro" He smiled and accepted her invitation to come in. For the first time in a long time he felt ready to take a chance on a relationship. He hoped that she was interested too.