Ellie Bishop had come to love Gibbs as a surrogate father. He was her dad here in DC, and she truly relied on him as such. She also really doted on him as such as well. She hated that he hadn't moved on or gone on any recent dates that she could recall, and although she was thankful that he was still always ready to have her over or help her with her truck or listen to her or meet her for breakfast on Sunday mornings if they didn't have a case, she wanted him to have someone who loved him romantically. Someone who would protect his heart and be around when she couldn't. So she created a plan.

After a particularly hard and long case, Ellie had asked the rest of the team if they wanted to get drinks. Gibbs had declined, which is what she had hoped he would do. But McGee and Torres were game, apparently Delilah was at her mother's for the weekend and Torres knew him gym was already closed for the night.

"I think Gibbs needs a girlfriend." Ellie stated as she took another swig from her beer bottle. Both boys instantly made faces. "I don't know. I don't think he wants us getting involved there." Tim tried to protest while Nick shook his head.

"You know he could really use someone to listen. Maybe he'd even go easier on all of us if he had someone at home." Ellie was trying hard to get them on board with helping her.

"Do you even have someone in mind? We can't just tell him to go on a date?" Tim quized in response.

"I've thought about it. Think we could set him and Sloane up together?" Ellie was determined, regardless of their protests.

"Hm, what if they already have a thing? They gotta." Nick tried to wave off.

"Nah. Let's set them up on a blind date together." She continued, "I'll get Gibbs on board, Nick, you set up Sloane. Tim, can you do something to set up a date at a park or the diner?" In that moment, the plan started to come together, the boys had agreed to her idea. Agreeing to make it happen on Thursday night at 8 pm.

"Hey Ellie, in the basement." Gibbs knew from the sound of his door opening and the light footsteps that she had arrived. Plus, he didn't have many non-coworker guests, even less so on Monday nights.

"Be right down." Ellie needed a little more courage before asking him to let her set him up on a blind date, so she had picked up more bourbon before coming to his house. Plus, it might make him more receptive that she'd brought more alcohol over.

Standing at the base of the stairs, she watched him continue working on his boat.

"You got something to talk about, Ell?" He suspected that she wouldn't bring alcohol unless she planned on drinking too.

"Um, yeah. Little nervous." She gave a half hearted smile. "It's about you actually."

"Spit it out." He watched her shiver involuntarily, she clearly was more than a little nervous. "Ellie, just say it."

"You're probably not gonna like it." She groaned, she was making this harder on both of them.

"You'll still be my kid, Ell." He would rather just hear it so he could work through whatever it was.

"I want to set you up on a blind date." She rushed through the words, hoping she wouldn't have to repeat them. Why was this plan so much easier when she planned it?

"Ellie." His voice was soft, which she hadn't expected. "I don't need a date."

"I don't want you to be alone. I want you to have someone to trust and talk to." She dropped her head in her hands.

"Have you three, and Kasie and Jimmy and Ducky." And he did have all of them for support, but he knew she meant it another way. She grumbled in response, narrowing her eyes at him. He wanted to deny her the possibility of setting him up, but seeing how much she wanted it and how little it could hurt, he decided to agree.

"Sure, go ahead. One date." It was his turn to grimace.

"Really?! Okay, but I'm driving you there. Thursday at 8, unless we get a case." Her face was back to smiling and she gave him a hug.

"You've had this planned, haven't you?" She nodded while he shook his head. "Of course you have."

After sharing a drink and talking a little about work, Ellie gave him a hug and left. As she slid into her truck, she sent a group text to McGee and Torres. He agreed. Its on!

Torres decided to talk to Sloane on Tuesday morning, before Gibbs could talk to her and let something unintentionally slip. "Hey Jack, can I talk for a minute?" He was already closign the door when she nodded.

"You don't usually come to me to talk." She eyed him suspiciously. "What are you here for?"

"Just wanted to offer some help after I've been wrong about you and Gibbs being a thing." Not totally why he was there, but he figured it would work.

"Help, huh?"Jack was glad he wasn't in here to accuse her of dating his boss, but still not totally trusting him.

"Yeah, I was going to offer to set you up with someone. Ya know, a blind date." He hoped she didn't get too suspcious. "Just a date with someone you might like. Thursday at 8 PM. I'll even drive you there."

Jack was taken aback, it wasn't normal for him to offer anything other than suspicion and attitude. "I guess. One date."

"Thanks Jack, sorry I've given you such a hard time. I'll even keep quiet about this date." For that, she would be thankful. She hoped he would shut his mouth and not even bring it up to Gibbs or the rest of the team.

"See you later Nick." She called after him as he walked out the door. Once he was out of her view, he texted the same group chat. Done. She's in.

Mid afternoon on Thursday, they had wrapped up their case and had finished paperwork early. This had all three younger agents excited and nervous. It would hopefully go well, and by the end of this process, maybe agent-dad Gibbs would be able to find happiness thereby giving them an agent-mom figure.

Ellie took time to visit Jack before she left, since Gibbs had gone to turn in reports to the director.

"Hey Jack! How are you?" Ellie was trying hard to not show her excitement about everything.

"Ellie. Heard you guys finished up your case." Ellie nodded in response. "Good. Would you mind giving me some female advice?"Jack sat down on her couch and invited Ellie to sit as well. "I have a date tonight. I'm trying to pick an outfit but I'm not sure what I should wear." Ellie was now really having to suppress her excitement. Jack showed her pictures of three different dresses and two pairs of heels and a pair of boots. Jack tried highlighting the best of each of them.

"I think you should wear either the blue dress and the boots or the peach dress with the nude heels." Ellie really hoped she would go with the blue one, since it definitely had caught Gibbs' eye when she'd worn it before. "Have fun on your date."

After Ellie had left, all Sloane could think about was how there was really only one person she wanted a date with, but there's no way Nick could've set her up on a blind date with his own boss. She decided to go with the blue dress and focus on trying to enjoy whatever this date was. She drove home and got ready, so that when Nick arrived, she could just go.

Her phone vibrated, alerting her to a text from Nick. I'm here. Ready?

Yeah. She was only more nervous as time passed. After getting to his car, she sat down quickly, "Let's get this over with."

"One more thing. Blindfold." When she groaned, he added, "Stipulation, you can't reject him before meeting him if you can't see him." She relented, pulling the bandana over her eyes. They drove for what felt like forever, but was only 25 minutes.

When Gibbs had left work, around 5, he had noticed Sloane was already gone. He wished he wasn't going on some blind date that Ellie was pushing on him, but instead seeing her. But Rule 12, and maintaining a quality friendship was stopping anything of the sort, probably for the better. He didn't want to lose that friend.

Around 6:30 PM, Ellie had driven to Gibbs' house, knowing he'd already be ready or moody, or both. "Why did I agree to this?" Gibbs' question was rhetorical, but Ellie provided him an answer anyway.

"Because I'm your favorite." She gave him a triumphant grin.

"When are we leaving? Can't believe I'm doing this. I'm too old for it." Ellie just laughed in response before shaking her head in good fun.

"I was thinking around 7:25?" Ellie knew that tonight could go really wrong, but hoped that she and the boys would be able to get agent-dad Gibbs to let his guard down and enjoy Sloane. He flirted with her all the time, and she flirted back harder, if possible. This shouldn't be so terrible, hopefully he wouldn't be too angry at them.

McGee had drawn the straw of getting food from the diner and bringing it to a nearby park. The three younger agents had decided it was neutral and not too public, and outdoors, hopefully it would feel a little more open.

"Hey Tim!" Elaine was surprised to see him alone, he never just showed up out of the blue. He usually came with the tem, and occasionally with his little family. "What can I get you this evening?"

"Hey Elaine. Um, I'm getting food for the others. I'll be taking it to go. Can I get all our usuals- Gibbs, Ellie, Nick, Jack and I? Please?" Hopefully getting food for all of them would ease any suspicion.

"Yeah, of course! I'll go get that started." She wasn't totally sure about what he was up to, Tim wasn't the usual one to make runs for the team to the diner. "Did you need coffees as well?"

"Yeah, one for Gibbs and one for Jack, the rest of us are trying to cut back on nightly caffeine."

When Tim arrived at the park and started to set up the dinner on a picnic table, he read Ellie's text. BRT. Hide when we park.

Ellie then announced to Gibbs, "So, I'm going to blindfold, no peeking. Don't want you backing out. Also, no talking until I tell you that you can." Gibbs snorted but accepted her unusual terms.

Ellie walked him to the picnic table and told him to sit and wait. He seemed only slightly annoyed, but hopefully he would enjoy this date.

Shortly after, Torres and Jack pulled up. "So you can't talk or take off the blindfold until I say so."

"I don't like that, Nick." He tried to give her a Gibbs' stare, but she was already blindfolded. "Fine." Nick copied what Bishop had done and led her to the table, sitting across from Gibbs. Tim had already set out the food for Gibbs and Jack on that table, and the food for the three younger agents was in Ellie's truck.

Since it had been Ellie's idea, the boys made her do the talking, while each boy untied a blindfold, thankful to not be the first person either older agent saw. "So, this is your blind date." Ellie awkwardly announced, "Surprise?!"

Shockingly, neither Gibbs nor Jack yelled at her. But they did look awfully awkward about the whole situation. Tim and Nick were more uncomfortable as they stood silently.

"So, you three put this together?" Jack was trying to suppress her excitement at the idea that the team liked her enough to want her with their superior who they saw as a dad.

All three nodded, before Ellie tried to explain. "You guys clearly like each other- all the lingering moments, kisses on the cheek, bringing her coffee even though you hate it. Rule 12 didn't work for some of the others, maybe it isn't for you." Gibbs' face betrayed him, his steely look broke open with a soft smile. "Please give it at least this one try?!" Ellie's puppy dog eyes would have convinced him, even if he hadn't already accepted it.

"You all are going to have extra duties." Gibbs tried to sound annoyed, but he was thankful for his kids and their antics. "Shoo, go eat your own dinners."

"They really love you." Jack commented, slightly nervous since he was quiet. "They really do. Concocted a whole plan to make you go out on a date."

"Love me or just want me to find someone else to annoy." He tried to seem casual, but damn, she looked so beautiful and the kids were right. He really liked her.

"Have they ever tried to push you to find someone before?" Jack was analyzing her situation, an easy thing to fall back to.

"Nah, Tony tried to tell me who to date a few times, but they usually stay out of it." He was thankful for the easy question.

"Have any of your girlfriends or relationships ended in them meeting your team, your kids?" She didn't even think before asking.

"Not by my choice. One of them would occasionally partner with us on investigations, but no. I don't just introduce women to my team. Boundaries." He then thought to himself, also, no way he had looked at anyone quite so warmly since she blew into town.

"Don't want the kids to witness another divorce?" She teased, but realized it was not good. "Sorry, didn't mean to bring that up." She instantly went pink, her voice rising just a bit.

"Nah, you're right. I don't want them involved in my broken relationships. Hell, I don't want to think about it."

Jack realized this would be a good time to change the topic. "How are you feeling about this?" She gestured between them and continued. "Did you really like me?"

He nodded his reply, he wasn't about to say he thought she was damn sexy and had thought so since day one in his living room, and that he hadn't been interested in anyone since they'd met.

"I guess I liked you too." She was back to teasing. He just stuck his tongue out in reply, like a child. "Why have we been dancing around this? You gave me an elephant, but we never talked about what the gift meant. We spend time together, companionable, friendly even. Why didn't we think of this?" She gestured to the picnic table and food between them. "What, Cowboy?"

"Just thinkin'. Damn foolish that I didn't ask you out myself. Now we got an audience." They both glanced at the three agents sitting at a far picnic bench, watching them. Unfortunately, they'd both let a younger agent drive them, so the likelihood of their audience leaving was quite small.

"Are they going to be in much trouble?" She pondered the likelihood of their punishment aloud.

"Depends how much I mess this up." He offered a slight grin that melted her heart. He silently hoped it would be okay. "Don't wanna lose a friend if it doesn't go well."

"Takes a little more than that, Cowboy." She tapped his hand gently. "Let's eat."

"Thanks, Jack." He sincerely appreciated that things weren't out of control. "They're going to be incorrigible after this."

"Big word for you, Gibbs. Maybe I'll ride back with Ellie, you can ride with Nick." At that thought, Gibbs shook his head again.

"Nah, maybe we can both ride with Ellie. Her idea anyway. I'm sure." They both continued to enjoy their dinner.

"Kids picked good food." She smiled in approval. "So, we gonna do this again?"

"Do you want to?" He sounded genuinely unsure, like he doubted that she'd enjoy his company again.

"Yes. Maybe next time without your kids setting it up and watching us." She laughed again. A sound he loved to hear, musical and joyful.

For another hour, they talked and enjoyed the presence of the other, every so often glancing at the younger agents who were quietly watching.

Jack, Gibbs and Ellie all climbed in Ellie's truck cab, around 9:30. Ellie had been really nervous after Jack had expressed a want to ride with her and Gibbs.

"Ellie, just drop me off with Gibbs, he can drive me home." Jack's comment surprised both Ellie and Gibbs. Gibbs wasn't so sure how to feel about it, time alone sounded much better than being supervised by his team, his family.

"Um, okay. Thanks for not killing me tonight. Knew I was pushing the line." Ellie didn't want to know anymore of what they might do. No matter how much she loved the father she saw in Gibbs, she wasn't sure she wanted any sort of information about his relationships. Even though she'd set this up.

As Ellie pulled up in front of Gibbs' house, she said her good nights, receiving a hug and a thank you from Jack, and a kiss on the forehead from Gibbs.

The three younger agents talked that night, facetiming. "Wonder how much trouble we'll be in?" Tim wondered to the group.

"I think we'll be okay, looked pretty happy when I dropped them off at his house." Ellie sure hoped that happiness lasted. Torres let out a wolf whistle in response.

"Don't wanna know what they're doing." Ellie made a face.

"Have you decided if those three kids are in trouble?" Jack tried to stay neutral, debating if he'd let her stay for a little while one on one.

Gibbs shook his head. "Did you wanna come inside? Or did you want me to drive you home now?" He looked less sure while he waited.

"I'll stay for a little while." She watched him start a fire, while she sat on his couch, watching him intently. "So what are we doing about this?" She truly wanted to understand him. She had so much she'd like to ask and do. He sat next to her, closer than he usually would. He gently rested a hand on her shoulder, which she happily leaned into. She gently slipped her hand around him, pulling him into a weird half hug.

"Hey Jack, forgot to tell you earlier. You look gorgeous." He raked his eyes over her. "Tonight, and every day." Hearing his compliment, she felt an involuntary shiver down her spine. "Good color on you."

Jack turned to him, letting her other hand stroke his cheek. "Glad you like. Knew you did. That's why I wore it."

"You didn't know you were going on a blind date with me." He stated it as a fact but also with a hint of question.

"No, but I liked you and got dressed with you in mind." She honestly had.

"I like you in your other clothes too." He wondered if he was being too cheesy, if she'd like it or hate it.

"Did you know Grace and I had talked about you?" She softly asked, as he cocked an eye brow at her.

"Figured I might've come up for annoying the hell out of ya both."

"No, told her I knew who I liked, just had to figure out how to tell him. So uh, here I am." She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He gently kissed her back, hoping not to push too far too fast.

"So, we're doing this?" He whispered as she nodded against him. "Think we should take it slow, let me do this right?" She smiled against his lips.

"Of course." She reclaimed his lips for another kiss.

"You sure? I don't want you gettin hurt." He didn't.

"I can manage."

"I push people away."

"I know, me too. Not as aggressive, but still do."

"I drink and barely communicate."

"I drink, already drink with you. Think I can make you talk too."

"I'm a pain in the ass."

"I know. Still like you. Wouldn't be here otherwise."

"As long as you're sure this won't be too much."

"I like a challenge. I like you."

"Like you too. From that first night, in this room." He brought her in closer for a snuggly hug and a gentle kiss to her temple. He didn't want to mess this up, she was worth far more and deserved so much better of him. He wanted to do it right. He already loved her. He'd tell her someday. "Am I driving you home now?"

"Could just stay here on the couch." They had continued this cuddling thing they were doing, and he placed another kiss on her lips.

About an hour in, she had fallen asleep, so while watching her sleep peacefully, snuggled against him, he whispered into her hair, "I love you Jack."

From her sleepiness, came "You too, Gibbs."

He would have to thank the kids for this later. He'd have to thank Ellie mostly, and thank Jack for letting this happen.