"How's Suzanne, Boss?" Tim asked.

Jethro looked forward to learning everything about his wife-to-be. She spent a month away from MTAC in physical therapy. Susan stayed for two weeks. She was recently cleared to return but on light duty. Suzanne spent two weeks at Gibbs' residence, continuing to recuperate. Gibbs suggested living together; Suzanne said no. The pay increase was an incentive, with a salary that allowed her to do some cosmetic changes to her town home and place finishing touches on her car. She finally had an opportunity to drive her baby, the 1967 Karmann Ghia, Cherry Red to work.

"Boss? How's Suzanne?" Tony asked.

It was a legitimate question. She worked in the building 5 years; her presence was welcomed by all, missed by the team members. It was common knowledge Suzanne and Gibbs planned to marry.

"She's fine. She's reassigned at legal until the end of the year." Gibbs smiled, sipped his coffee. He groaned at its taste, throwing it to the trash. To maintain the relationship, she remained in the legal department during hours and met with Gibbs only after hours. Gibbs promised the same.

"She's coming to drop off some paperwork, and I hope she brings coffee."

"Well, we haven't really seen her since the accident." Tony mentioned. "She's not our coffee chick anymore."

"I miss having her pop in." Tim said. "You know, she would make a great field agent."

"She would, but she will not." Gibbs finished, "Let her stay and push papers in a cozy office."

The elevator dinged and Suzanne walked towards the cubicles. She looked different. The braids were removed, and instead, she wore her own flowing shoulder-length curly brown hair. She wore dress trouser with complimentary blouse and matching jacket. Her vision was decent enough for walking, so the glasses remained in her jacket pocket. Suzanne wore high heeled shoes. The remnants from the accident—a limp—remained. In her left hand was a 4 pack coffee container that she balanced in her left hand. It was the same Suzanne whose personality was succinctly described as "one of the guys." She was a girl—Gibbs' girl.

"I stopped Leslie and brought up coffee, just like old times."

"Hello, Miss McNamara." Vance greeted. Suzanne waved, acknowledged his greeting. "Or should I call you Madame Counselor?"

"Not yet, Director." She responded, chuckling. "I'm still Suzanne, just a legal aide."

"Suzanne, you look…" Tim began.

"I look like Career Girl Christie—Barbie's Black best friend..." Suzanne groaned, setting the beverage carry on Gibbs' desk. "Guess I had to grow up sometime." She distributed the coffee to Tim, Tony and Director Vance. Then, she handed Jethro a beverage.

"Thank you, Sugar." Gibbs whispered.

"Hi, Sweetie." She kissed Gibbs on the cheek. At first, he gave a disapproving look, then he smiled.

"Is that the file?" Gibbs asked, sipping the coffee.

"All of the information you requested and some additional notations." She moved forward, reaching for her glasses and showing Gibbs the highlighted text. "I'm going to see Dr. Mallard and Abby; they may want copies."

"Thanks for the coffee, Suzanne." Tony said.

"Anytime, gentlemen." She began towards the morgue. "I like leaving the cubicle and computer often as I can. I'll see you all later."

"Hey, Suz?" Gibbs called. She stopped, turned in mid-stride.

"7 o'clock? I'll cook."

"Sounds good." Suzanne responded. She smiled and resumed her direction.

Vance, Tim and Tony looked at Gibbs in amazement.

"What?! We take turns cooking dinner. There's nothing wrong cooking for your lady."

"What's next, Boss? A cooking apron?" DiNozzo chuckled.

"Suzanne's still in physical therapy for her leg...because of what she did for us." Gibbs reminded the agents.

Jethro wondered if his upcoming life with Suzanne would further distract his career with NCIS. She worked in the building—a major obstacle to separate work from home. Soon, her education would place her in a larger salary bracket, not to mention more career opportunities. The snickers and snide remarks fueled Gibbs' uncertainty, questioning his own masculine traits. Rules were in place for both professional and personal focus. The lines merged together. The question remained: could Suzanne and Gibbs remain a couple?

"You're late, Susie."

Suzanne arrived at Gibbs' home after 7. She kicked off her shoes, dropped off her backpack at the front door before walking into the kitchen.

"Hi." Suzanne kissed Gibbs on the cheek. "I had another file to finish."

"You could've called."

"I should've." She wrapped her arms around Gibbs' waist. "I'm sorry, honey. Will you forgive me?"

"This time." Gibbs smiled. He kissed her briefly. "Dinner's ready."

The two sat at the dinner table. Gibbs kept the radio on for relaxation purposes. He cooked lasagna—one of his two specialties. He could also make very good spaghetti.

"I made it from scratch." Gibbs commented.

"It smells good, Sweetie. This is better than a bag nasty." Suzanne grinned.

If you stay-ay-ay darling (stay in my corner)
You make me so proud, stay darling

"Special Agent Lange called..."

Gibbs remained quiet.

"I'm thinking about taking the job." Suzanne sighed once she noticed Jethro's tightened jaw.

"I'm a distraction in your life." She reached for his hand.

"You are a wonderful distraction in my life." Gibbs smiled.

To the world I'd cry my love
How I love you
Honey I love you, I really love you

"Having me around…distracts you." Suzanne said. "You're not the ornery bastard that everyone knows and loves at MTAC. I kind of miss that." Gibbs chuckled.

"You think I'm soft?"

"I think…maybe we're taking this way too fast." Suzanne whispered.

"What's wrong with wanting to spend our lives with one another?" Gibbs asked.

Honey I love you, I really love you
Please, please, please stay darling
And I will never never let you down

"Nothing, if you want to cook dinner most nights, if you wait for your lawyer wife to come home, and become the punch line of a DiNozzo joke about wearing the pants in the relationship."

"I know that I want you." Gibbs spoke from his heart. "I know I dreamed about you and you are real."

They listened to the classic love song from the Dells, quietly eating their dinner.

Just say you'll stay
Stay in my corner
Cause I'll need you always around
To tell me you love me
Honey love me, so darling stay

There'll be times when I may fail
I'll need your love to comfort me

"Suzanne, I love you." Gibbs said with confidence, without hesitance. "I want you to stay."

He reached to kiss Suzanne with passion, with intensity with precision at the lyric:

But just a kiss from you
Will make things sweet
MMM stay, ohhhhh stay
One more time baby
But just a kiss from you
Will make things sweet

"I love you too, Gibbs." She smiled.

The two continued kissing, touching each other's face and gazing into one another's eyes.

Honey I love you (stay)

I love you (stay)
I love you (stay)

Don't you know, baby? (stay)

Don't you know, baby? (stay)

I love you! (stay)

I love you! (stay)