When the new Starbucks located next to NCIS was first finished, I was one of the first to apply for a job. Still in college, I was desperate for money and hoped to gain some serious tips from the soon to be regulars of the federal department. The owner hired me on the spot since no one had applied yet…then again the signs weren't even up …which shows I have determination, perfect for a start of an interview.

A flood of NCIS agents came in on the first day but it was the third day that I meet him. My first impression was a bulky no nonsense sort of man with his odd silver haircut and worn hands. As he came closer, I realized he was much older up close and had cold blue eyes. The other worker in the shop, Walter, began to work on his order while I took the order of a short Asian female, a lawyer, I saw from her ID.

Obviously I wasn't paying attention to what Walter was doing but as soon as I had finished and was telling the lawyer the price, I heard a rough male voice start yelling. Turning my head, I saw that the man Walter had been serving was screaming at him over the counter. I was so shocked I didn't even catch the words.

I felt a bill being pushed into my hand and turned back to my customer, giving her the change. She leaned forward as I handed it to her. "You'd better take care of him. That guy yelling over, Gibbs? He's like that every day."

I gave a little nod and gulped as she walked out. Looking back at the memory, the other agents in line had been just as frozen as me, some horrified, others fascinated as if staring at a T-Rex in battle.

"Walter, why don't you take care of the line?" A typical spineless high school junior, he jumped at the chance to escape. I walked tentatively over to the left side of the counter where Gibbs stood fuming.

"How may I help you, Mr. Gibbs?" He didn't seem surprised that I knew his name. "A grande blend with very little sugar, no milk, strong, not weak like that boy just made me." He was more than just a bit cranky.

I nodded and made a fresh batch making it what I considered to be strong. But as soon as he tasted it (before buying) he spat out the words too weak. Very calmly, I put the batch back ignoring his grunts of anger and started on another one making it twice as strong. I let him taste that one from a different cup. He paused. "A bit more sugar." The coffee had calmed him down some.

I brought the sugar jar forward and handed him a clean spoon (our Starbucks didn't have a milk and sugar island, the owner was committed to real service and we were to memorize regulars favorites). I watched and took note of the small portion of the spoon he filled with sugar and placed the jar back as he tasted it. Using this time to look at Walter's progress I saw that he had gotten through several people as I was struggling with one.

When I turned back to Gibbs he gave me a nod and I felt triumphant. "Will you be needing anything else sir?"

"No," he said, better tempered now that he had his coffee. He glanced at my nametag. "Sophie."

"Yep that's me. That'll be-"

But before I could finish, he handed me a ten and walked off. I put the change in the tip box.

When he came the next day, Walter literally shoved me to him and that was the only time I saw a flicker of a smile on his face. Soon the routine every morning was for Walter and the other people that were soon hired to call me down as soon as they saw him. Sometimes he would even ask for me if a person started serving him by accident. He would give his order which was nearly always the same though sometimes he'd ask for more sugar or buy three more regular (or extremely weak to him) coffees. I would brew; he would taste then make me do it over until he liked it. After getting the one he wanted he would mellow out and perhaps wish me a good morning while paying. I even remember him saying with a chuckle one rare morning that we should start selling Caf Pow.

It was a gloomy morning in the city after a pouring of rain the other night and I was the first one to come to work early that day. Seeing a few people standing outside the door I opened up shop and served them by myself. Soon I had finished and no one else seemed to be coming when Gibbs walked in.

But he looked different. His hair was not as tamed as it usually was, his walk was slow and tired, his eyes sad and as he approached, I saw the slight shake in his hands. "The regular and three, no two other coffees." The word two seemed to cut through him which scared me because he always seemed so in control.

"Umm sir perhaps you would like to sit down."

Not saying anything, he sat over by the glass wall and looked outside in deep thought. I completed the order and then made a coffee for myself. By this time I had mastered his coffee so I could get it right on the first try. I hesitated but then grabbed the cookie that I had packed for lunch.

He didn't notice as I walked over to his table and sat down in front of him.

"Mr. Gibbs?"

He turned slowly to me and my heart ached as I looked into his pained eyes. His constant ordering at the shop had given me not only a raise but new found confidence and courage and I pitied him for surely something had upset him.

"Your order." I pushed the three coffee cups in the tray toward him and took a drink from my coffee. I waited for him to take a sip of his own before breaking my cookie in half and offering him a piece. His expression remained the same as he took it from me. He nodded after tasting and murmured the work homemade. I nodded back. The silence that followed was somewhat normal. After all, he wasn't much of a talker.

I finished my coffee and boldly asked if he was alright.

Looking away from the window wall he glanced at me but said nothing for the longest time. "Fine," he finally said, sounding hoarse.

I nodded. "Well," I muttered, getting up from my seat, "I hope you have a good day."

He nodded, his eyes looking at me for real this time. He stood up as well and handed the money for the coffee. I didn't bother to mention that he had automatically paid for one extra coffee. I was heading back to the cash register when he stopped me by grabbing my left elbow. It was the first time he had touched me but I had been so accustomed to his presence it hadn't shocked me.

"Do you need something else?"

"No, but thank you Sophie." I blushed. He had never thanked me before. My eyes widened what he placed a fifty in my hand and said, "For all those tips I never gave."

"Sir, I couldn't possibly-"

'Call me Gibbs. And yes you will take it." Using both of his hands, he closed the bill into my hand.

"That's very generous of you Gibbs but I-"

He leaned forward and kissed my right cheek rendering me speechless.

Without another word, he took his coffees and left.

After that day I refused to take any more personal tips from him but he always thanked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek after ordering his coffee.

AN: In case, you were wondering, the first kiss on her cheek was supposed to be during the episode right after Kate's death. Kind of like he was starting to value the people in his life more and act a bit nicer just like in the episode when he asked the guys if they wanted coffee. I'm considering making this a series of one shots or maybe just making another one shot to go with this (maybe with Abby!)