Unexpected Friday by Ardin
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from the actual show. I don't own any of the songs. The idea and execution are mine and that's it.
Spoilers: General show knowledge
A/N: Okay so it's been done before (at least it has in other fandoms), but I got the idea and it stuck. The only way to get it to go away was to write it out. Originally I had planned on it being a short one-shot, but, well, it got away from me. So this is the first chapter in what will hopefully be a decently recieved fic. I don't have a beta who is available after midnight so all the mistakes are mine.
For anyone who's interested, it is entirely possible to sing the second song while playing the drums for it. And I spent a few minutes in Music Hall today just to make sure.
Warning: This is a song fic. If you don't like that kind of thing then I'm sorry, but that's what happens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Okay so explain to me why Gibbs isn't in this meeting." Tony's raised voice echoed off the walls of Director Morrow's office. "I mean if it's so important for us to attend this thing, why aren't you ordering him to go as well."
Morrow glared briefly at Tony and was about to speak when Kate chimed in. "Tony give the bitching a rest. It's a charity event for kids. Even you can not be so self-centered that you aren't willing to help some kids. Besides it will be fun to go out together." Kate smiled to herself; it would be fun to spend a Friday night at a live concert, even if the band was no one she'd ever heard of. Plus, she was looking forward to the surprise that Morrow had planned with her for the evening. However, she was just as interested as Tony as to why Gibbs had been left out of this, but Morrow quickly answered her unasked question.
"Special Agent Gibbs has already been informed of the event and has already agreed to be there to support the Children's Hospital." Both McGee and Kate looked stunned at the news. Surely Gibbs would have yelled loud enough for them to hear down in the bullpen at the idea of being forced to socialize. Tony opened his mouth to yet again argue against giving up his Friday, but a very Gibbsish glare shut it again. "The three of you will be at the club at 1800 sharp day after tomorrow. I understand that you might have had plans, but this is an order, Tony, so if it will get you there you can bring a date. Now all of you get out." Morrow had planned on keeping his temper during this meeting, but had failed miserably and as three-fourths of his top team shuffled out he dug through his drawers for some aspirin.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Down Beat was packed. The trendy club sat just outside of the District proper and regularly did a good business, but even the owner was stunned at the turnout the evening had produced. Even with all the door fees going to the hospital, the money spent on drinks would create more than average profit. At first he'd been wary about closing the club for a private event on the busiest day of the week, but now…
More than a hundred military personnel and professionals filled the space. Every stool at the bar was filled, as were the majority of the tables and the dance floor boasted a large crowd dancing energetically to the music that pumped from the DJ stand in the corner. Everyone was having a great time and the live band hadn't even gone on yet. The owner smiled as he took one last look around and headed into the back room, shaking his head as he passed a small table that had six people crammed around it.
"May I say Caitlyn that you are looking very beautiful tonight." Kate beamed at Ducky and nodded her head in a thank you before giving him a peck on the cheek and turning back to her drink. She had to admit that despite the fact that they were being forced into interacting with Tony's newest bimbo blonde, they all seemed to be having a good time. Despite the club atmosphere, both Ducky and McGee had chosen to stick with their jackets and ties from the office. Abby's only change of clothing when work ended was to remove the lab coat and Tony had merely opted to ditch his tie and roll up his sleeves. Kate released a light sigh, she had spent three hours picking out the right outfit and doing her make-up just so. When she'd first agreed to do this she had been excited, now all she felt was nervous and more than a little disappointed that Gibbs hadn't turned up yet. She shook herself out of her trance and focused once again on the conversation.
"So has anybody here actually heard of this band that's going to play?" Tony was almost shouting as he strained to be heard over the music and people. Kate shook her head, as did McGee and Ducky, but Abby chimed in.
"I did some asking around and all I've got is that they're a bunch of Marines and that for at least one song they've got some chick singing with them. They don't even have a name." Kate's breath caught in her throat for a second, no one was supposed to know that she was doing a song. Even the band wasn't being told who they were playing for until the last minute. Fortunately Abby stopped there; apparently she didn't have anything else.
"Where's Gibbs?"
"Yeah, where is the boss? The Director said he was going to be here. I knew he'd chicken out. He'd never…" Tony's voice trailed off as he noticed the expressions of barely contained laughter on his coworkers faces. "He's behind me isn't he?" The question was barely out of his mouth when the expected head slap landed. "Hi, boss." Opposite Kate, Abby and McGee squished together a little bit more to allow for another chair to be pulled up to the table. Instead, Gibbs just stood in the open space.
"I'm not going to sit down. Director needs me to do something in a minute so there wouldn't be much point." Kate did her best to pay attention to what he was saying, but was infinitely distracted by the man himself. A pair of mildly tight blue jeans, a marine T-shirt pulled over a long sleeve, and the unusual grin on his face gave Kate a very nice view from where she was, but it wasn't doing much for her concentration. With a shake of her head she'd tried to find something else to do before he noticed her staring. She rose gracefully.
"Anybody want anything more to drink, I'll run to the bar real quick." She looked over her colleagues and therefore didn't notice the way Gibbs' grin faltered slightly or the sudden gulp he took of the beer he held. She'd looked great sitting down, just like he was sure she would doing almost anything, her top a shade of dark red that perfectly highlighted her lipstick. Standing, however, gave him the whole picture and he couldn't help but allow his gaze to sweep over her, from the black heels that accentuated gorgeous legs, past the black skirt that hung flirtatiously at just knee height, over the shirt that gave just a hint of cleavage, to the way her hair hung loose around her shoulders.
He met her eyes and was surprised to find an expectant look on her face. Had he missed something? He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"I asked if you wanted another beer." She smiled lightly at him, her face portraying vividly her confusion. No one else had wanted anything more to drink yet and when she'd turned back to him, it was to find him off in his own little world. She almost laughed when he shook his head no and tried to take another drink only to find his beer empty.
"I shouldn't. I'm not sure exactly when the Director is going to need me." He shrugged off his discomfort and set the now empty bottle on the table in front of him. With nothing to do now that everyone had said no, Kate sat back down and continued to do her best not to blatantly stare at her boss.
A few minutes later, Ducky had just launched into a history of Greek theater when the music suddenly cut off. Glancing around, their gazes settled on the low stage where a spotlight had illuminated Director Morrow, who stood, with a microphone in hand, waiting for relative silence. He got it quickly.
"I'd like to start by welcoming all of you and thanking you for coming out to support this great cause. I can already see that you've been enjoying the drinks and music." A loud shout erupted to prove just that and again Morrow waited for quiet. "But now it's time for the main attraction. This band normally doesn't have a name, they play for fun and generally play in a garage, but tonight, for introductions sake, they're calling themselves 'Semper Fi,'" Isolated cheers rose from the Marines throughout the audience, though Kate took note of the fact that Gibbs just stood silent, the grin still firmly in place. "So without further ado can I please have the band members on stage?" Another cheer as individuals from around the club made their way through the crowd toward the stage.
Gibbs leaned down over the table so he didn't have to shout over the noise. "I guess that's my cue." And with one final grin at their astonished faces he climbed the stairs onto the stage and settled himself behind the drum set. A burly man slightly shorter than Gibbs took up the microphone and began speaking, but no one at the NCIS table was paying any attention.
"Did anyone here know that Gibbs could play? Or that he was in a band?" Tony asked, incredulous. The others shook there heads, but Kate was too busy panicking to pay any attention. Oh my God. I can't do this. It was all well and good when it was singing in front of him, but now? I can't do this. There is no way that I can get on that stage with the man that I have a thing for and sing. No way. The argument continued to play in her head until it came down to a very sharp truth: I can't back out; the Director would just order me to do it. She sighed. At least this way he's behind me, so I don't have to see him while this happens. The argument would likely have repeated itself had the notes of the first song not started up. Kate recognized the guitar strains, but couldn't place or name the song. It was a few seconds before the drums came in and Kate found herself immersed in watching Gibbs play.
I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind
I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time
I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon
I feel theirs nothing I can do
Yeah...
The basic drum beat didn't seem complicated, in fact it was rather repetitive, but Kate could see the joy that Gibbs took in playing. The rare grin that had been on his face since he appeared that evening was now even bigger. He threw himself whole heartedly into the music, head moving in time to his steady beats.
I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon
After I all knew it had to be something to do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then,
As long as you'll be my friend at the end.
Kate gasped out loud when he opened his mouth to join the vocals for the chorus and she was quite sure that two years of working with him and a year of, well, more than liking him, made it possible for her to pick out his voice from the rest of the band.
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman You call me strong, you call me weak but still your secrets I will keep
If I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my super human might...
Kryptonite
You took for granted all the times I never let you down
You stumbled in and bumped your head if not for me then you'd be dead
I picked you up and put you back on solid ground
Gibbs had been watching the other members of the band during the beginning of the song, but as they all seemed to get more into the swing of it and as the dance floor began to fill with people enjoying the sound, he glanced over at the table where his friends had been earlier. McGee, Tony, his girl of the week, and Abby had all left the table and Gibbs scanned the audience quickly to ascertain that they were still there. Sure enough they were right in the middle of the crowd. Content that they hadn't deserted him, he turned his attention back to the table.
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my super human might...
Kryptonite
Ducky had pulled Director Morrow over to the table and the two men were now engrossed in a conversation that appeared to require a rather large quantity of gesturing to be understood over the music, though a break in the vocals did seem to be making it slightly easier. Gibbs' breath caught and he came close to losing the rhythm as his gaze fell on Kate.
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my super human might... Kryptonite
Yeah
Her eyes seemed to be glued on him, and Gibbs wasn't even sure that she was actually hearing the music. Not allowing himself the pleasure of being distracted by her, he gave her a wink and a nod before turning his attention wholly to the more difficult playing that ended the song.
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my super human might... Kryptonite
The sheer volume of the crowd's approval surprised Gibbs. It was only a cover after all and not even one of their better ones, but he would take whatever. When Morrow had first suggested this insanity, he'd been firm set against it. But the other members of the band had lain on a collective blanket of "It's for the kids" guilt and he'd been unable to get out of it. Now he was glad he hadn't, it was kind of fun being a rock star for the evening, and it seemed that the whole thing had put him squarely in the middle of Kate's attention, which he wasn't going to argue with.
The next twenty minutes were a blur of old and new rock. The band had spent days coming up with a mixed play list of everything from Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" to the Barenaked Ladies "One Week" (which had taken Mike nearly the entire three weeks they had to get the vocals right on). Now they were at the last song of their first set. After almost an hour long argument they had agreed to end the first with a slow song to make the transition to the DJ. Everything was going down well with the audience and Gibbs didn't even hesitate as the band launched into the Calling's "Wherever You Will Go" and he hesitated for only a second before he began to sing while beating out the smooth rhythm.
So lately, I've been wonderin'
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own
When the band had started playing this song a year ago, Gibbs had argued long and hard against him doing the singing. It wasn't that he felt he had a bad voice, he just hadn't wanted to sing these lyrics.
If I could, then I would And maybe, I'll find out
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
The way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you
The song reminded him far too strongly of Kate and of the growing feelings that he had convinced himself he wasn't supposed to have. He'd eventually gone along with it and had been surprised to discover that it was actually rather cathartic. Now, with Kate watching he was more than glad to have lost that battle. The surprise and delight on her face when he'd begun the song had been more than enough to shove this song at the top of his list.
Runaway with my heart I know now, just quite how If I could turn back time
Runaway with my hope
Runaway with my love
My life and love might still go on
In your heart and your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
The last notes of the song were drowned out by the cheering of the crowd. The band stood and took a short bow as the DJ announced that they would be back in twenty minutes or so. The band members moved off the stage as a fast pop number came streaming out of the speakers. Gibbs made his way over to the table in the corner. Kate hadn't moved the entire set, she had been too focused on Gibbs to care about much else. Ducky had disappeared to the bar, but Abby, Tony and McGee had come back to sit down with Gibbs.
"That was great Gibbs!" Abby practically screamed as she gave him a big hug. He chuckled lightly and hugged her back before grabbing the chair next to Kate and sitting.
The conversation for the next few minutes was solely about Gibbs and his music. He explained that he'd been playing since high school and that it was just for fun, to relax. The discussion would have been more enjoyable if it hadn't been for the large number of people who seemed hell bent on interrupting to inform Gibbs that they enjoyed it. Despite the slight waves of jealousy that coursed through her at each incident, Kate was quite enjoying watching Gibbs discomfort as three women kept trying to buy him a beer.
After the fourth attempt he snapped. "That's it, I'm going back stage, I can't handle this. Besides someone needs to meet our guest singer," he scanned the club to locate his fellow band members only to discover that they were loving the attention being thrown at them, "and I doubt any of the guys are going to be useful. See you guys after the show, remember we're grabbing a late dinner with the Director." With that and a last smile at Kate he moved through the crowd, pushing rather forcefully past his adoring fans.
Kate swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as she realized that she would in fact have to tell him in just minutes that she was the guest singer. But the nervousness that had prevailed earlier was no longer there. Her flirtatious and slightly dangerous side had suddenly made an appearance and she couldn't wait to see his reaction.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Let me know what you think. If no one likes it I can just not post the next chapters, when I get around to writing them. I would have written them already but I have to be up for work in just a few hours so it ain't happening tonight.