Ch. 2

The next morning found Tim back at the coffee shop, as he had arranged with Beth. He even managed to get the same booth they had been sitting at the previous morning and had their coffee by the time she arrived.

He saw her come into the building, slightly out of breath. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and she was wearing her jogging clothes. She bent over slightly, catching her breath, glancing around before she spotted him. Her face brightened considerably. She made her way through the crowd and sat down at the table across from Tim.

"Morning Tim. Is that for me?" she asked, pointing to the extra cup of coffee on the table. He nodded and pushed the cup toward her.

"Morning to you too. I'm glad you came, but I didn't realize that you were going to jog here," he said smiling as she brushed a small section of hair off her forehead.

"I decided last night that I would jog so I could get my exercise in while I got my morning coffee," she replied, smiling. She took her first sip of coffee, and sighed. "Now that was worth the run."

"I bet. Sorry I had to run off yesterday. Work called," Tim said, sipping his coffee.

"I understand. Its like being at the firehouse. We never know when that next call is going to come in. When it does, we have to go. Was it bad?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Its always bad when we have to step in. But it wasn't as bad as it could be. But that's all I can tell you about it for now."

"That's okay, details not needed," she replied, grinning. "Okay, enough shop talk. I was thinking last night that we must be really close in age. I was born in '78, December 15. What about you?"

" I was born in '78 too, but I was born on September 13."

"So your only a few months older than me. Cool! Where were you born?"

"In Australia, believe it or not. My dad is an admiral in the Navy. But when I was born he was a commander and we moved a lot. My sister Sara was born in Hawaii when I was ten years old. We lived in San Diego for a little while before he was appointed as an admiral, then my parents settled down in McLean, Virginia. They still live there. I live here in DC. How about you?" Tim asked, studying Beth's face as she took another sip of her coffee.

"I was born in Florida; that was where my dad grew up. My brother was also born there, fifteen and a half months after me. So we are closer in age than you and your sister are. But then when I was seven, we moved to the Atlanta area and lived there until I was a teenager. Then we moved again, when I was fourteen. We moved to West Virginia."

"That seems like an odd place to move," Tim replied, looking perplexed.

Beth smiled as she responded, "My mom's family is from West Virginia. And my parents wanted to get me and my brother out of the city. So we moved to a little town. But when I was eighteen, I decided I wanted to move to DC because I had been here and loved it. So I sent an application to the fire department here and was accepted. When I graduated, I moved into a small apartment here in DC near my station. And here I am. What made you want to be a NCIS agent?"

He glanced down into his coffee, carefully formulating his next words. "I, uh, originally wanted to be a specialist with a company like Microsoft or Apple. But when I was a kid, my dad had other plans. He wanted me to join the Navy and move up the ranks like he did, and my grandfather before him and my great-grandfather before him as well. Needless to say, it was not what I wanted to do. Then I heard about NCIS and realized that my computer skills could be used. I graduated early and started college at MIT to prepare me for NCIS. My dad never supported my decision. We haven't talked in about seven years. My mom, grandmother and sister all talk to me."

Beth took Tim's hand before saying, "I am so sorry Tim. I'm glad you have family that does believe in you. It goes a long way in helping to reach your dreams. Your dad was wrong to not support you and be proud of you. You've accomplished a lot. I too wish my parents were supportive. Both of them were livid when I moved to DC and joined the fire department. Its not what they wanted their little girl to do. Dad always thought I would go into Graphic Design or Computer Graphics because I loved to draw when I was a kid. They really wanted me to go to college and get a degree in something. But when I told them I wanted to be a firefighter, well, lets just say they were less than thrilled. Only my brother supported me."

"Well, we do have a few things in common," Tim said, looking her in the eyes.

She smiled and looked down into her coffee cup. "I'm glad we do," she replied shyly. She finished drinking her coffee and looked up into Tim's green eyes. "I hate to say it, but I have to go. I have to be at work in about an hour or so."

Both got up and walked outside. The two stood, unsure of what to do or say next. Tim decided to fling all caution into the wind and leaned over, kissing Beth on the lips, gently and sweetly. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment, his Abercrombie cologne enticing. He closed his eyes as well, her lips soft and her touch delicate.

A moment later they pulled apart, both taking a deep breath, still holding hands. "That was....amazing," Beth said, her voice low for only the two of them to hear.

"I know," Tim replied just as soft. Beth was the first to pull away. "I have to go, or I'm going to be really late for work."

"Me too. Here," he handed her one of his business cards, "I know you have to work today, but would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

She took his card, blushing, before she answered, "I would like that Tim."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," he said, watching as she jogged away. He watched appreciatively before turning and heading to his car.

What he didn't know was that he was being watched, the person's sinister smile playing on their face. After he watched Tim leave, he turned the other direction and left, not wanting to be seen.

NCIS*NCIS*NCIS*NCIS* NCIS*NCIS* NCIS*NCIS* NCIS*NCIS* NCIS

McGee entered the bullpen, a smile playing on his lips as he walked over to his desk. He set his bag down on the floor and put his gun and badge in the middle drawer of his desk. He then turned his lamp and computer on. He had just logged on when he felt a wad of paper hit him on the side of his head.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, glancing over. It was then he noticed Tony was sitting at his desk, a Cheshire grin on his face as he began balling another piece of paper up. Ziva was watching with a bemused look on her face as Tony launched the second wad of paper.

"Okay, could you quit now?" McGee asked, as the second ball landed on his desk. He threw both of the paper projectiles away.

"Not until you tell us why you had that smile on your face and ignored us when you came in," Tony replied, beginning to wad a third ball up. A resounding smack was heard as Gibbs head slapped Tony on his way to his desk. "Why don't you tell me why our dead petty officer was killed in the middle of the Anacostia Park, DiNozzo?"

"On it Boss," Tony replied, throwing the paper in the trash before nodding over at Tim, who hit a key on his keyboard, turning the big screen monitor on.

"Petty Officer Carter was last seen at Zaytinya's, the Greek restaurant on 9th Street. According to his best friends, our dead petty officer went out with a young woman he had met at a coffee shop. This is her Boss, Sophia Sattler, a bank teller for SunTrust Bank. Credit card receipt shows that they left sometime after 10:30pm."

"Bring her in," Gibbs said, motioning for him and Ziva to go, as he headed for Abby's lab.

"On it Boss!" Tony replied, as he and Ziva grabbed their gear and started to leave. Tim turned to his computer, beginning to look through the dead petty officer's financial records. Another wad of paper hit him, this time in the forehead.

"Hey!" Tim exclaimed, looking up to see both Tony and Ziva smirking. "Will you stop that Tony?!"

"Never, McGeek, not until I find out what you are hiding," Tony replied as he and Ziva got on the elevator.

Tim watched them leave then went back to his computer screen. He knew he had to keep Beth a secret for a little longer, before Tony got wind of it and tormented him more.