Close to Washington D.C.
Tuesday, 17th May
01:47 o'clock

It was a wonderful night in the middle of spring. The dark sky with thousands upon thousands of sparkling stars covered the rural scenery just outside of Washington. In this place lush green meadows and pastures completed the picture and not concrete or blocks of glass and stone buildings. The nature was still untouched and one could admire the many different kinds of animals. The deer on the edge of the two-lane street ate grass to satisfy his hunger as a loud noise made it look up. Headlights approached at a racing speed and showered the surroundings in a bright light. An engine howled and broke through the pleasant silence with a roar. Shortly after, a sports car shot only a few centimeters from the position of the frightened animal that fled into the meadow.

Inside the car there was loud music, so that a normal conversation was barely possible. The only lighting came from the dashboard and shown the driver in an eerie light. It was a man in his mid- 40's whose hair had already turned gray, but he was nevertheless attractive. His eyes were blue and his slim, well-trained body was in an expensive suit. He focused his gaze back on the street and whistled quietly the song which blared from the radio. The fact that he would have nearly collided with the deer didn't seem to impress or rattle him.
However, the passenger clutched the leather seat in horror and had the feeling his heart would jump out of his chest any minute. He was younger than the driver, had brown hair which gleamed in the weak interior lighting and his green eyes looked fearfully at the street. In contrast to his pal he wore normal jeans and a checkered shirt whose upper buttons were open and showed an athletic chest. A silver ring in the right earlobe completed the picture.

"James, why are you driving so fast?!" he roared and closed his eyes when the car approached a curve and briefly tilted. The other man grinned broadly and turned down the volume, so that he could better talk to his friend. "Don't be such a coward, Manny ", he said and laid an affectionate hand on the thigh of the younger man. "Besides, I thought you wanted to get to the hotel as fast as I do." For one second he looked away from the street and saw that his partner had a look of desire in those beautiful eyes. A promising sparkle lay in them that sent a shiver down his back and told him that he couldn't wait much longer. The feathery touch on his leg caused all his blood to shoot into his loins and he sighed appreciatively. The fingers walked higher and lay down on his splendid piece. "If you continue that way, I don't think I can wait to get to the hotel."
James grinned and took away his hand to lay it on the steering wheel again. If he was honest, he couldn't wait much longer, either, but he didn't want to pounce on his friend in the car. The narrowness in it would hinder him and, besides, he preferred a soft bed where they could let off steam properly.

To distract himself from his erotic thoughts, Manny asked: "When are hey going to contact us?" Wednesday afternoon", came the prompt answer. "I can already smell the money that we are going to get from this sweet deal and then we can afford that nice small house in Tuscany." The thought of the villa that they had discovered a few years ago while on vacation in Italy, made them both smile. Just imagining the gratifying future prospects the younger man bent over to the driver's side and laid a wet track down James' throat with his tongue. James closed his eyes appreciatively for a moment – a big mistake.
When he had a clear view again, a deer appeared once more in the floodlights, only this time it was not on the edge of the street, but in the middle of the roadway. "Shit!" He roared and steered to the left. Because of the high speed of the car, the tires lost contact with the ground and the vehicle spun. As a result Manny was thrown against his friend. Before they both noticed what was wrong, the car slammed into a tree. Glass splintered and metal twisted. The deer had escaped when it heard the loud bang and left behind a completely destroyed car and two bloody corpses.


Washington D.C.
Tuesday, 17th May
14:56 o'clock

"You can't be serious, Jen!" roared Gibbs so loud that the windowpanes of the office nearly jangled. His face reflected more terror than fury as he tried to digest the words that had reached his ears a few seconds before. His mood sank to the deepest low there could be, which had already lain in that morning at an all time low, because he had noted that it was the anniversary of his wedding with ex-wife number two. The instructions just given to him by Madame Director made it even worse.
"Calm down, Jethro ", she said with a gentle voice. "I should calm down!?" The senior field agent bent forward and supported himself with both arms on the desk so that he could bring his face near to that of his former lover. She awaited him seemingly fearless, even if she didn't really feel that way. A lump formed in her throat and she had to swallow violently to deal with him.
"You require that two of my team members pretend to be these men!" Only with effort he reined in the volume. He tapped a forefinger on one and then the other picture. "Well, I rather thought that you would be one of two to go undercover and then you can choose…" "Forget it, Jen! Find another team to do this!" She sighed and thought of surrendering, but she had to push on with her assignment and talk Gibbs into this.

When she was informed of who the two men were who were brought to Ducky in pathology, she had known that this would not be an easy case. She had thought an undercover mission was a great idea and would save many lives, and besides this was the only possibility to find the clients and to arrest them. Jen had anticipated that Gibbs wouldn't be eager, but his extreme negative reaction surprised her.
"That's not possible", she answered and got up and went to the bar. If there was a time she needed a strong drink, it was now and it would help her survive this conversation. Why must he be so upset? Well, in a way she understood him, this wasn't an easy undercover mission, but he had worked worse cases in the past. "And why not?" asked Gibbs as he leaned against the edge of the table, looking down at the pictures of two dead men laying in a completely destroyed sports car.
"Because your team is the best and you know that as well as I do." She took the glass of whisky and drank a large gulp. The alcohol burned in her throat and warmth was spreading in her stomach. "And you guys have experience with undercover missions." The senior field agent faced the red-haired woman. "Yes, but we have no experience as homosexual gunrunners." His voice oozed with sarcasm. For a brief moment he closed his eyes and had the picture of one dead man, who had a frightening resemblance to himself, although one could ascertain clear differences by looking more closely. But it still shook him, to think of acting in such a way, as if he liked men. And above all, who would he choose? Tony was definitely a ladies man, but was a pro where undercover missions were concerned. And McGee was a probie and started to stutter if he threw a bad look at him. But then it crossed his mind that the second dead man looked a little like DiNozzo, in the size, stature and eye color. Only problem was that the thought of walking down the streets, hand in hand with his agent, made him sick.

"This is our only chance to find the clients. And just think what those weapons could do if they are sold before we can get our hands on them. They are just waiting for terrorists who murder innocent people, you know that, Jethro." Jen looked at him sharply and sat down again in her chair. Gibbs knew that Jen was right. But, could he manage to act in such a way, as if he liked men? Maybe exchange kisses? Then he thought of all the children who could die by those weapons, or their parents, thus leaving the little ones as orphans. Sighing he made a decision and turned around to face Jen "I …" he began, however, she interrupted him.
"Don't think that you are going to talk your way out of this Jethro. If you don't do this voluntarily, I will make it an order. And you know what happens if you ignore an order." "I have to look for a new job", he answered cynically. "But if you would have let me finished, you could have saved your threat." Jen closed her mouth tight and then her eyes, not trusting what was about to be said.
"What I wanted to say was that I will take the undercover mission." Surprisedly she moved her eyebrows upwards. She hadn't really expected him to say that. "I am relieved to hear it," she said and crossed her hands on the tabletop. Internally she had known that Gibbs would agree, in the end, but not that it would happen so quickly?
"If I do this I am going to do it my way, and I'm going to choose who I go undercover with." "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. And, who will you choose?" Jethro briefly closed his eyes. Certainly, he would hate himself for this later. "Agent DiNozzo. He resembles the other man almost to a tee. I'm going to have to talk to him about this first. And believe me, it won't be easy to persuade him, particularly since he is so taken with the female gender." Contentedly, Jen leaned back in her chair and smiled. "I know you will wangle this."
The senior field agent's response was to gather the photos and to leave the office slamming the door behind him. He had known that this was going to be a bad day. In comparison with the mission, his wedding anniversary with ex-wife number two was child's play. Taking big steps he hurried past Cynthia and almost ran to the stairs that would take him down to the bullpen. On the upper landing he stopped and looked at Tony who had his feet propped up on his desk and was on the telephone.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he murmured and slowly put one foot before the other. He stopped as he headed toward his team. Before he could talk to DiNozzo he needed a big cup of coffee… maybe even two. He would use the short coffee break to consider what he should say to convince his agent to play a couple with him. ‘What did I do to deserve this?' he thought and decided to lay the blame on his wedding anniversary.


To be continued...

"Now don't come to me again with such a flimsy excuse!" shouted my friend so loud into the phone that I feared my eardrum would immediately burst. Ziva, who was directly across from me, couldn't keep back a grin any more when I held the phone away from my ear.
"Calm down, Melinda", I tried to sooth the situation a little, this time she seemed really angry. I saw the young woman before me; how she paced up and down in her small apartment, her long legs squeezed in the high heel pumps, which matched the color of the short miniskirt. Her sweet round backside would wobble with every step and as she curled a strand of her long blond locks around one of her fingers, while she scolded with me with a shrill voice.
"I should calm down!?" she shrieked so loud that I winced. "We made plans for this evening one week ago and you promised me you would be there! If you don't want us to be together, then say it!" I twisted my eyes heavenward and prayed that, finally, rescue would come. "Do you need help?" asked my colleague and grinned still broader. I made a grimace in her direction and dedicated my attention once more to the problem called Melinda.
"Of course I want us to be together, baby", I answered and asked myself at the same time whether that was true. What attracted me to this woman – except her large breasts? Well, it certainly wasn't her nerve-killing voice.
"Don't call me baby while we're arguing!" Now I was really on the verge of hanging up. Actually, why was she so upset? Okay, we really had made plans one week ago to eat together this evening, but I couldn't anticipate that Gibbs would condemn us to hours of overtime, because we got a new case.
I had barely thought of the senior field agent when he stood before me and stared down at me grimly, undoubtedly because I had my feet on the desk. I swallowed the lump, which had suddenly formed in my throat and immediately sat upright. His look was once again more than deadly and I thought it would be better not to look as if I was sprawled.
"Come along, DiNozzo", ordered the senior field agent briefly and the tone in his voice allowed for no delay. Did he want to punish me now, just because I had my feet on the desk? Or had I done something wrong, even though I couldn't think of anything.
Listen, I have to go. We… " "Don't you dare hang up!" Melinda shrieked once more in my ear. "Immediately!" ordered Jethro and walked away. I knew if I didn't catch up with him before he reached his destination – wherever that might be – I would definitely receive a major head slap. "We'll talk about this later", I said and hung up without waiting for an answer. Relieved to finally be ending that conversation, I got up and hurried after Gibbs who had already disappeared around the next corner.
Astonished, I realized that he had headed for one of the interrogation rooms where he waited impatiently in the open doorway. "Today, Tony." ‘It seems he got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning', I thought and entered the meagerly furnished room. Involuntarily I remembered how I had sat here and was interrogated when I had been suspected of murder. Was I in such a situation again? If this was the reason why I was in this room, I would rather continue the discussion with Melinda. Nevertheless, I had no chance to escape, because the senior field agent closed the door with a loud crash which made me wince, while he threw both files he held in his hand, onto the table. Afterwards he drank a big gulp of coffee, breathed deeply and seemed to calm down slowly. Since he still made no move to say a word, I considered why he was in such a bad temper and suddenly remembered that today was his wedding anniversary with ex-wife number two and I had the pleasure of being alone with him in an interrogation room, without any help in site.

The silence became more and more oppressive and so I decided to start, in hope, I would keep my head. "Why do you want to talk to me?" I asked and was relieved that Gibbs didn't rush at me, but instead sat down in a chair.
"Sit down", he said unexpectedly quiet, and the feeling that I had done something wrong increased even more. "Have I committed a crime, Boss?" A small smile slid across Jethro's face and he rejoined: "What makes you ask that?" "Well, we are in an interrogation room, you have files with you and you look as if something has bitten you. It could certainly be due to ex-wife number two… " "Sit down, DiNozzo", he interrupted me and looked at me with sparkling blue eyes. The fact that my mention of his wedding anniversary didn't agitate him disturbed me a little.
Haltingly, I sat down on the other chair and was relieved to notice that I was sitting with my back to the one-way mirror, which meant, I was not here to be interrogated.

"I just had a nice discussion with Director Shepard", began Gibbs while he drank another gulp of coffee. Because I didn't know what I should say to that, I was quiet and waited for him to continue. He opened both files, took out two pictures and turned them to me, so that I could see two faces which were covered with cuts. "They were brought to Ducky today, weren't they?" I asked. At that time we had also been in pathology, because we had wanted to know the result of the autopsy of a murdered Commander.
Confused I looked to the senior field agent. "What have we to do with them? That case wasn't transferred to us." "Until now." He drank all of his coffee and put the empty cup beside him. "And what about our case?" "Another team will take it over." Well and good, but that didn't explain why he wanted to talk to me and in an interrogation room.
"The names of these men are Rafe Cooper…" Gibbs pointed at the man with the gray hair "…and Nathan Edison. As it stands in their current passports." "False identities?" I asked. "Yes. The fingerprints were checked and all together 10 names were identified. Every time they have changed their appearance and names. Both men are wanted gunrunners." "And why don't the police take over the case?" I wanted to know and looked with a frown at the pictures. "Because they smuggle military weapons, especially those which disappear from the supplies of the Navy." "How did they die?" "In a car accident earlier tonight. Apparently the car went off the road because of too much speed and crashed against a tree. Director Sheppard believes that it isn't a coincidence that they were in Washington." My face brightened and joy flowed through me. Was what I was hoping about to come about?
Gibbs seemed to anticipate why I was so pleased, because he easily shook his head and continued: "We will pretend to be Rafe Cooper and Nathan Edison to find out who the clients are." A wide grin darted over my face and I answered: "Great. I love undercover missions." Surely, this was going to be thrilling, is what I felt. But the next words brought me down to earth. "Don't halloo till you're out of the wood, DiNozzo. I haven't told you everything yet." Confused I lifted an eyebrow. What would come next?

Gibbs cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. Was I imagining things, or was he a little bit embarrassed? "The two… " he indicated the pictures "…were a couple." First I thought, I had misheard him, but the look on his face left no doubt. "You mean they were gay?" "I didn't want to put it that bluntly, but yes, they were gay." "Oh", I said and all of a sudden I became aware of what this meant. "You can't be serious." "That is what I said to Jen." I could barely keep my lower jaw from hitting the tabletop. My joy about the undercover mission had converted into terror.
"We both would…" I began, however, broke off because I couldn't say the words. I found the thought of acting like someone who likes men abnormal. Jethro leaned back in his chair and seemed to be relieved to have gotten rid of the words. "So that I understand this properly", I made a renewed attempt and my voice sounded unusually scratchy.
"Director Shepard wants us to pretend to be homosexual gunrunners? She wants us to act as though we are a couple in love?" Gibbs nodded and as a result I burst out laughing, although I didn't find the situation funny.
"Forget it, Boss. Ask McGee to play the part." "Let's face it, McGee would not fit at all with me", he answered and looked at me with his blue eyes. "In addition, he does not even remotely resemble either one of these men." "But I do?" I asked a little bit too loudly. The whole thing was the biggest joke. How could the Director think for one second, that I would take part in this mission?
"A little bit", said the senior field agent unusually soft. I snorted contemptuously. "Damn, Tony, do you think I like this? But it's our only chance to get the clients. And remember what these weapons could do if they get in the wrong hands – what they will do without a doubt." "This is not fair", I murmured. "I know, but Jen has also made me take part in this madness." Should this confession possibly change my mind? Involuntarily I saw Gibbs and me as we went hand in hand along the street and exchanged affectionate kisses every now and then. I was shaking as I ran a hand over my eyes to expel the picture from my head.

"Nevertheless, this is absurd", I said. "I can't act in that way, as if I'm gay. Doesn't Director Shepard know… I mean, it's quite clear to her that I like women, isn't it?" "Crystal clear." I shook my head and looked at the tabletop. "The whole thing is not easy for me either – particularly since you are not red-haired." Suddenly I looked up. "That's not funny, Boss." "In any case, maybe it helps you to make a decision if you know that they have reserved a suite at the Four Seasons.
My mouth opened involuntarily and I felt my resolve lesson. "At the Four Seasons? A suite?" I acted like a parrot as I repeated his words. "Yes and the NCIS will take over the costs." Involuntarily I started to grin when I remembered, how I would get served, probably by pretty waitresses and then the chambermaids. But then it occurred to me again that I should not look at them, because I would be... No, I wouldn't complete the sentence now.
I looked at Gibbs who scrutinized me expectantly. "Must we sleep in the same bed?" I asked and thought of the bedroom in the great luxurious suite. "Probably. We have to keep up appearances." I swallowed. "And what about … you already know…" I bent forward a little, because of the fear that somebody could eavesdrop on us. "…to hold hands or… cuddle a little bit?" With these words I felt more than stupid and with the thought of acting as if I loved my boss, I felt the urge to scream.
But Gibbs likewise didn't appear as though he felt too well, which calmed me a little. "Only if it is required by the situation. So, will you do it?"
I closed my eyes for a short moment. Later I would certainly hate myself for my decision. "I do expect to get a fat raise in salary for this." A smile darted over his face and he said: "That remains to be seen. So, can I inform Director Sheppard that you are on board?" I sighed and nodded. "Yes, you can tell her." He got up and I likewise rose. All at once the room seemed to be very small and I urgently needed fresh air. I hurried to the door, tore it open and stormed out into the corridor.

Tony?" Gibbs' voice caused me to pause and I turned to face him once again. He stood behind me, the empty coffee cup in one hand, the files in the other. "We meet with Abby in 20 minutes." I nodded as a sign that I had understood him and hastened away past McGee and Ziva, who looked with surprise after me as I went to the stairwell since the elevators were definitely too slow at this moment.
Over and over again the same words in my head haunted me: I, Anthony DiNozzo, would act in such a way, as if I was homosexual. This was the joke par excellence. But at least the whole mission would go off at the Four Seasons – a small compensation for the strain, which would come upon me. ‘What have I done to deserve this?' I asked myself and decided to lay the blame on my argument with Melinda.

Exactly 19 minutes after the conversation with Gibbs I entered Abbys sanctified halls, with a coffee cup in my hand. Ordinarily I drank it with hazelnut syrup, but today I needed it black and strong. I could not believe I was about to take part in this undercover mission. But Jethro was right when he stated that McGee would not fit with him. He was simply not the type from which one would buy a homosexual role and he really didn't have any resemblance to either of the dead people. Let alone the thought that both would wildly smooch in a corner, was laughable. But the thought that this could happen to me had brought me back to the facts and the result was that I filled myself up with caffeine, although I had something more highly concentrated in mind. But it would not be right if I attempted to accomplish this task completely drunk, even if it would certainly make it easier.

With the hope that I won't have to kiss Gibbs during the next days I stepped into the room and only then noted that no loud music tormented my hearing. Ordinarily a song roared from the loudspeakers but today everything was quiet. One second later I knew the reason. Ziva and McGee stood with Abby and awaited me with curious looks. The slightly stunned look on Tim's face, the small twitching around the corner of David's mouth and the full grin of expectation of the goth informed me that they already knew about the mission.
At least I was spared the need to tell them that I would be playing gay during the coming days – a fact which I couldn't accept yet, nor likely in the future.
"What?" I asked and raised an eyebrow upwards. "Do I have a black spot on my face -- why are you staring at me?" As a result McGee scrutinized his shoes and Ziva couldn't hold back her grin anymore. However, Abby came to me and took me firmly in her arms.
"This is so courageous of you, Tony", she said and pressed me against her body. "That you do something like this." "Yes, we never thought you would do it", Ziva interrupted. "It must be very difficult for you to act in such a way, as if you like men." She giggled behind a reproached hand.
"I am glad you can have a ripping good time. Fancy, if Gibbs would have accepted my suggestion and chosen McGee as his partner", I said when Abby had let me go again.
"What?" Tim suddenly lifted his head and stared at me with a startled look. "You understood me clearly, Probie. But if the Boss would have it means, that you…" Before I could bring the sentence to an end, I received a hard slap on the back of my head.
"If I had the choice, nobody would take part in this idiotic mission ", said Gibbs quietly behind me. He passed me, drank a gulp from his coffee cup and turned to Abby: "How are we doing?" Excitedly she hopped to her computer and typed something on the keyboard. "I am just about to save your fingerprints under the new pseudonyms. The passports and driver's licenses are in works." She looked at her wristwatch. "They should be ready in about three hours. And there is something else."
The young woman turned round and looked at me. I didn't like the sparkle in her eyes and thus I decided to drink a gulp of coffee that was already slightly cooled first.
"Nathan Edison or whatever his right name may be, we don't know, because he has changed his identity so often and nobody can say, how…" "Abbs!" I interrupted her in my best Gibbs manner. "Come to the point." "Sorry. What I wanted to say was that this man wears an earring. And, well …" She pulled her darkly made up mouth a little, „…you don't have one." "I am aware of this", I answered, but then it dawned on me what she wanted to say. "No, no and no. There must be another alternative." "I am sorry", Abby repeated, then typed something on her keyboard causing 10 pictures of Nathan Edison to appear on the plasma screen.

"Every time he has changed his appearance, let his hair grow or cut it, used colored contact lenses, or other such things, he has always worn this silver earring. And it would be a little conspicuous if he suddenly had no hole in his ear." I swallowed, drank up my coffee and threw the cup in the nearest garbage can.
"Are you afraid of one small stick, Tony?" Ziva asked a little bit bitchy and grinned at me. "No, I am not, Officer David. But I prefer to have no holes in my body, regardless of the form." "Don't be so childish", Abby interrupted. "It doesn't hurt that much and, besides, you can remove the earring after the mission and the little hole will become overgrown after some time. And who knows, maybe you'll like it after a few days and you'll keep the earring. I find it absolutely fits you. I mean, you are simply the type…"
"Abbs", this time she was interrupted by Gibbs and so she looked at me expectantly. "I think I should be glad that he has no ring in his eyebrow." "Are you saying that you'll do it?" "Since I already have to act in such a way, as if I am homosexual, then an earring is a lesser evil." "Great!" Abby jumped excitedly up and down bringing a smile to my lips against my will.
"Then I'll get the equipment. A friend procured this for me years ago and since that time I have made some friends some body jewelry already." "I never wanted or needed to know that", Gibbs said and drank up his coffee. Abby hurried into the other room and started rummaging in a cupboard.

"And what is our task during this mission?" asked McGee. "You will hold position here at headquarters and co-ordinate the mission." answered Jethro and threw away his cup. "And Ziva will pretend to be a chambermaid." A loud laugh slipped from my mouth when I saw her shocked face. "You can't be serious, Gibbs", she said. "Was there something confusing about my words, Officer David?" He looked at her with his sparkling blue eyes and I enjoyed for once not being the one who caused his pleasure.
"Can't McGee do this? He played the room service server perfectly the last time and…" "You will be at the Four Seasons at 18 hundred hours to search the suite, which has been reserved by Rafe Cooper and Nathan Edison, for bugs." After almost endless seconds she nodded. Then the senior field agent turned to me. "Director Shepard procured a sports car for us. Not the same model that they were driving, but a similar one." My grin became broader still, at the thought of sitting behind the steering wheel of an ultra fast car.

"At 19 hundred hours we will set off from here. Till then you can use the time to procure everything that you need during the coming days. Does anyone still have questions?" "No", answered Ziva and crossed her arms before her breasts. I saw her already, in the uniform of the chambermaid and how she replaced the used towels with new ones in the bathroom. Without another word Gibbs left the lab, undoubtedly to buy another cup of coffee.
Abby immediately came back to us, with a device in her hand that sent a cold shiver down my back. But because both my colleagues were still present, I didn't want to show how queasy I felt. The goth went to a table, took a small object and gave it to me. "Here", she said. It was a silver earring. "Is this possibly the same one which this Edison was wearing?" "Yes. But don't worry, I disinfected it." "Great". Distrustfully I looked at the ring that had been worn by a dead person.

"It would be better if you sat down." Reluctantly I sat down on a chair. "And you are sure that you know what you have to do." "Never fear, Tony, I am a pro." Abby took my right earlobe in hand and attached the murderer's instrument. Fear climbed a little up my spine, because I was afraid that it would hurt. I swallowed, closed my eyes to block out the interested looks from Ziva and McGee and waited for her to start working – which she did a few seconds later.

To be continued...

Washington D.C.
19:05 o'clock

"Do you even know how to drive a car without automatic?" I asked Gibbs, who was sitting behind the steering wheel of the red sports car, which Director Shepard had procured. My hope to drive that car hadn't accomplished, because Jethro had taken the keys from Jens hand so fast that I hadn't had the opportunity to take them.
"Get in, DiNozzo", growled Gibbs and I settled down on the passenger seat unwillingly. "Are you aware of the fact that you now have one more pedal and that the coupling…" Before I could end the sentence, he leaned over and head slapped me as quick as a flash.
"Do you want to drive?" he wanted to know and inserted the key into the ignition during I rubbed the pounding spot on my head. "Sure." "Maybe in your next life", he said with a little smile, started the motor and let it howl. The loud noise must be heard in the whole underground parking lot.
"Buckle up!" Gibbs ordered and stepped on the accelerator so that the car hurtled towards the gateway. "This is not your staff car", I said somewhat afraid and tried to grip the belt while I was pressed ruggedly into the leather seat. "It has more then 200 HP under the hood, so it would be appropriate to slow down." "Do you want to walk?" "No." „Then shut up." He threw a short look to his right and left side, before he pulled onto the road with screeching tires.

To slow down my fast going heart, I glanced at the mirror at my side and eyed my new body jewelry. Abby had been right when she had said she was a pro. She had ended her work within a few seconds and it hadn't ached in that way I had assumed it would. Now, hours later, my ear was reddened only a little bit and it wasn't so hot any more. I had to admit that the earring fitted me and had the feeling that it gave me a more casual appearance – doubtless a advantage of my new role, just as the black leather jacket which I hadn't worn for years. But I hadn't had the heart to chuck it away. My outfit was completed by a black tight-fitting jeans and a white shirt. If Melinda could see me now she would rip off my clothes.
About one hour ago I had called her again to inform her that we couldn't see each other in the next days because we would have a case in another country – she had been hopping mad about this. I had said this lie very easily and I was glad that I needn't see her in the next few days. Certainly, I wouldn't miss her voice.

I torn apart my gaze from the mirror and looked at Gibbs who was focused on the street and the evening traffic. His countenance was unreadable and I couldn't recognize what he was thinking. If he got ready for his role? The first step had been done by his clothes. I have never seen him wearing a Jeans and a loose-fitting black shirt before. Usually he wore a jacket but I found he look great in his current outfit. He didn't look so grimly and he appeared manlier.
At the thought of this I winced lightly and a lump formed in my throat. "Everything's all right?" asked Gibbs and our gazes met for a short moment. „Sure. Why not?" I answered and turned away to look out of the side window again. "You seem to be a little bit nervous." "I and nervous? No way." But Jethro was right. My nerves began already to jitter when I thought about the fact that Anthony DiNozzo would disappear in a few minutes and Nathan Edison would come to the surface instead.
Gibbs stopped the car shortly after because of a red traffic light and turned around so that he could face me. "We are at the Four Seasons in a short while." "Great." When I looked into his blue eyes, my heart began to beat faster. "Listen. We will wangle this. It won't be easy but it's manageable by all means. Okay?" I further looked at him and as I didn't answer fast enough he slapped me on the back of my head. "Okay?" I nodded. „Okay. The traffic light is green", I added a moment later. He curled his lips as he engaged the gear and drove on so fast that I was pressed into the seat again.
"I would prefer it, when we reach our aim alive", I said after a few seconds as he had overtook another car risky. "I am not keen on ending like the gunrunners." "Do you see a tree somewhere?" "No, but plentiful cars." Gibbs grinned broader but before we could get in conflict about his driving style, the facade of the Four Seasons appeared. Since the sun was almost vanished behind the horizon, the facade of the multi-level building was illuminated.

To be not so swanky, Jethro slowed down and stopped the car smoothly in front of the stairs that ushered into the building. I breathed deeply and unstrapped. "C'mon", I mumbled and watched the overzealous employee, who hurried to us and opened the door for me.
"Good evening, Sir", he said politely and bowed a little. I got out and sucked in the welcome cool night air. The young man hurried to the other side and opened the door for Gibbs. "Our baggage is in the trunk", he said, whereon the flunky man waved at a colleague who attended to it. I found the whole ado funny and I had to refrain from grinning.
"I am going to drive your car to the parking lot", he said, as the other man had unloaded our traveling bags. "When you need the car you can pick up the key at the reception." "And don't make any scratches", I meant and curled my lips to a lopsided smile. "My friend loves this car, so be exceptionally gentle." I said the first two words surprisingly easily. "I understand, Sir." I rummaged in my trouser pocket and took out a 20 dollar bill which I gave the young man - he let it disappear immediately.
"I have told you yet that you shouldn't spend money like water, Nate." Gibbs came to my side, laid his arm around my waist and led me to the entrance door which was opened by another employee. I was more than aware of Jethros bodily closeness and I had troubles not to break the contact. ‘Imagine that he is a woman", I reassured myself in thoughts and managed not to put on an afflicted mien.

We crossed the hall, which was swarmed with men who carried the baggage and with guests of the hotel, and reached the reception shortly after. "Good evening." We were welcomed by a woman with a bright smile and who were in her 30s. The black costume of the employees fitted her like a glove and I had to brace myself that I didn't wink at her or to pay her a compliment – this wouldn't be helpful for my role as a homosexual.
Gibbs released me and assumed the talk. "Rafe Cooper and Nathan Edison. We have reserved a suite." "One moment please", she said and eyeballed me before she turned towards her computer. "Pull yourself together", Jethro whispered so quietly in my ear so that I was the only one who could hear him. "I won't do anything inconsiderate", I returned just as quietly. He looked at me suspiciously for one second, but then decided to trust me.
"There we are." The woman with the name Olivia – according to her nameplate - turned to us. "Are you sure that you want the suite with only one bedroom?" "Absolutely", I said boldly." "Rafe and I, we haven't slept in separate beds for many years. When you understand what I mean." She blushed and a disappointed look slid across her face for a short moment. But she was a pro and within few seconds she recollected herself.
"Excuse the briskness of my friend", Gibbs said with a soft voice and threw a very assured affectionate look at me, which caused a shiver in me that run down my back. Since I knew him, he hadn't looked at me in such a way and I had troubles not to take a step back. He played his role perfectly, something that I couldn't assure.
"No problem", returned Olivia and broke out the key. "You have a Capital Suite in the west wing, 5th floor. Paul will carry your baggage upstairs. If you have any questions, you can address them to me. I wish you an enjoyable stay." "Thank you", Gibbs said and gave me the key. Shortly after, I felt how his right hand clasped around my left. His fingers were surprisingly warm and the grip gentle, so that I could free myself smoothly from the grasp, but I tightened the grip and managed to smile at him affectionately.

"I wish you a nice evening", I said to Olivia and let me guided unresistantly to the elevators. I could feel the gazes from the other peoples who we passed. It's obviously that they didn't see two men who are in love with each other every day. At this thought, I felt silly and all of a sudden I didn't know anymore, why I held Gibbs' hand so firmly. He seemed to notice that I became embarrassed and he squeezed encouragingly. We would be in our room in a few minutes and then I could drop the mask, which I could barely await. I asked myself how I should survive the next days, when I had such problems by now to act in such a way, as if I was gay.
The doors of the elevator opened and we entered the cabin with the man, who carried our baggage. I became aware of the closeness of Gibbs again and I had the feeling to get agoraphobia. Our fingers were still entwined and I hoped, while the elevator brought us to the 5th floor, that holding hands were the only thing, what we had to do in the next days.

Relieved that I could finally release Gibbs' hand, I unbarred the door on which the number 513 stood in golden ciphers and entered the exceeding luxury equipped living space. "Wow." The word escaped quietly from my mouth and I eyed the seating-accommodations, which invited one almost to rest. The floor was covered with a thick carpet which damped our steps. The whole furnishing was color-coordinated and the lamps spent a soft light.
"Do you like it?" Gibbs asked and smiled because of my zealous facial expression. "It's fantastic. I have known why I left the choice of the hotel to you." My joy was not even played. I forgot the undercover mission for a short moment and let affected the expensive ambient to me. It wouldn't be a problem to bear the next few days in this room and at that I needn't pay for this luxury. I gloated by now of the appalled mien of director Shepard when she received the check.

"Leave the bags by the door, we will deal with them later by ourselves", Jethro said to the young man and brought me therefore back to reality. He gazed at us puzzled and a little bit embarrassed, but did what Jethro had ordered. I rummaged in my pocket trouser again, angled another 20 dollar bill and gave it to him. "Thank you, Sir", he said, threw a hesitantly gaze at us and left within a few seconds the suite. When the door was closed, I breathed a sigh of relieve. The first barrier was managed.
"I must say, the guys have an incredibly good taste", I said and opened a huge cupboard. "That's funky!" Directly in front of my nose was a flat screen TV with a diagonal of 81 centimeters. I saw me already, sitting on the comfortable couch, guzzling chips and watching an episode of Magnum on this really amazing device.
With a wide smile, I let my eyes move around and determined that there were a DVD player and a stereo too. "If I had known this, I would have taken along a few DVDs." "We are not here to watch any films", Gibbs replied and gazed at me angrily. The affectionate expression in his eyes has vanished and the sparkle, which I knew only too well and that I liked definitely better, has returned.

"Come on, let me have some fun." He already opened his mouth, but was interrupted by a knock. I could imagine who it was and my grin became wider. I was looking forward for this moment since I had found out, which role I had at this theater. "I'm on my way", I said and was by the door with few steps and opened it. In front of me stood Ziva, appareled with a black dress and the sweet white skirt of the chambermaids. Her hairs were bound together to a ponytail and I could recognize a killing look in her eyes, which let me know that, when I should say a wrong word, I wouldn't live any longer. She stepped into the room and I had a great look at her well-formed calves.
I closed the door slowly and settled down at one of the soft chairs, as far away from Gibbs as possible. "I've searched every corner of this suite", she said. "No bugs or any wires. Just in case, I've brought my special glasses with me and have scanned the windows of the opposite buildings, but nobody keeps tabs on you." "That's good to hear", Gibbs replied and he appeared really relieved. So we didn't have to continue our game, but could speak normally with each other – if this was possible between us at all.
Ziva plugged her hands in the white skirt and fetched two cell phones. "Abby has given them to me. They are bug-proof. And I have bugged the room telephone so that we'll notice when you get a call from the clients. If they haven't already contacted the gunrunners." "I don't think so", Gibbs said and took one of the two small devices. "Otherwise they wouldn't have reserved a suite for several days. They would be miles away already." "However, I'm going now, that is to say if you needn't anything else." I bent forward and grinned at her. "Well, how about fresh towels? I always need more than one and I have seen that the screen of the television is somewhat dusty."
Ziva sparkled angrily at me. "Go on in just this way and I'll smuggle my weapon in." "Why are you so upset? You are still the chambermaid." She made a step in my direction, but Gibbs, who rose, held her up. "We'll see us tomorrow", he said. "But…" My words stuck in my throat when I felt the dangerous blue sparkle on me. By now, I would rather prefer the affectionate gaze.
My co-worker made a grimace and went to the door. "I wish you a pleasant sleep – in the same bed", she added after a second and grinned mischievously. "By the way, nice outfit!" I called after her, what brought her to slam the door with a loud bang.

With a better mood than before our arrival, I stood up and bent down to lift up my traveling bag. In the same moment, Gibbs slapped me on the back of my head. "Ouch! What was that for?" „Because you are acting as if you are in the kindergarten." He took his things and opened the glazed double door that led into the bedroom. Mumbling, I followed him and asked myself, if I hadn't slipped up to accept the mission. I had no idea how I should bear more than a few hours with this growler.
Jethro switched on the light and the lamps were illuminating the bedroom. The first thing I caught a glimpse of was the big double bed, on which a coverlet was outspread and which looked more than comfortable. The floor was covered with the same thick carpet like the living room and there were two more doors. Inquiring, I opened the first one and switched on the light immediately. "Funky!" I said enthusiastically as I recognized the walk-in closet. "I could have brought a good deal more clothes with me." Broadly grinning, I turned to Gibbs, who just settled down on the left side of the bed and began to take off his shoes.
"Boss? Would it bother you when you took the right side? I always sleep left hand." He raised his head, looked over me and continued unknotting the shoelaces. "And this means what?" "This means", he began slowly, "that you have to learn to sleep on the right side." The grin disappeared from my face and I looked at his back angrily. "That's not fair!" I replied louder than it was appropriated.
Gibbs eventually got rid of his shoes, stood up and came up to me. "No?" "No." He squinted his eyes and pushed his face, except for a few centimeters, to mine. "Well, you have to accept it." "But, you have persuaded me to take part in this mission, so it would be appropriate, if…" "So far as I remember, I am the older one and still your superior, so I decide who sleeps on which side." His voice adjusted to my volume. "And when you aren't comfortable with this, you can spend the night on the sofa." I swallowed and had to pull myself together not to retreat a step back to bring more room between us.

"That would give the impression as if we had argued with each other", I ventured a renewed attempt to convince him. "That happens in the best marriages." "With what you have certainly no experience." At these words, a rain of sparks was spraying out of his eyes. "I take the right side", I decided, only to escape this gaze. I turned over rapidly and so I didn't see his satisfied grin.
"I'll take a shower", I said and rummaged in my bag to fetch up the things that I would need. Gibbs was sitting on the left side of the bed and flipped open the new cell phone. "Uh huh", he made simply and looked frowningly at the display. Apparently, he didn't come to grips with it. Shaking my head I entered the luxurious bath, but turned around once again. "Boss?" He gazed at me. „Yeah?" "How did you manage it to look at me in that way when we were at the reception?" He raised an eyebrow and answered: "I imagined that you were redheaded." "Very funny." I closed the door and looked at me in the big mirror. I asked myself involuntarily, if he had said the truth. But why should I doubt his words? From himself he wouldn't manage to look at me so affectionate. Would he?

Gibbs was sitting on the big double bed with the extremely comfortable mattress and was looking frowningly at his new cell phone. After his fancy it had too many buttons and he didn't want to think of the entire useless functions at all. He pushed frustrated one bottom and landed expeditiously in the message menu where was listed what he was able to do now. But, how the hell should he find the phone book? Why had nobody given him an instruction? Which he could now use urgently. He hadn't liked the modern techniques never before. Jethro could be glad that he knew what a PDA was, even which handling, however, was a little cryptically to him.
Lightly annoyed he closed the small device again and laid it onto the nightstand. Certainly, Tony could explain to him how he could find the telephone numbers. The thought of his agent let him pause for a moment and his question crossed his mind again. He didn't know why he had lied, because he hadn't imagined rudimentarily DiNozzo as a redhead – this color wouldn't fit him at all, what couldn't affirm from his present outfit. The black jeans fitted like a glove just as his leather jacket and the earring which gave him a light keen appearance. Gibbs wasn't accustomed to see Tony, who wore smart suits a good many times, in such a way. On the way to the hotel he had attracted attention already that he appeared manlier, what had fairly unsettled him.
And then these green eyes which had reminded him at this evening of deep mountain lakes for the first time. Maybe this was the reason, why he had laid an arm around the waist of his colleague so naturally. His bodily closeness was more then aware to him and he had felt the muscles through the leather jacket. It had almost felt as if this body was made for his hands. This realization had shocked him exceedingly and he had had trouble not to withdraw his arm. Inwardly, he had cursed Jen additionally, who had persuaded him to this mission and the thought of the hotel bill, which he would present her, had helped him not to blurt out a loud scream.

And then the situation, which had been brought up by Tony a little while ago, had come. Gibbs really hadn't had an answer to the question, because he didn't even know it himself, why he had managed such a gaze. It simply happened – completely automatic. The red hair color had only been a white lie, because he couldn't meanly say to DiNozzo: ‘The look wasn't played.'
From the bathroom a quiet rush of water reached his ears and broke his thoughts. Jethro determined ashamedly that his hands were trembling lightly, those fingers which had enclosed Tony's not even 30 minutes ago. This decision had risen spontaneously in him and he had wanted to see how his colleague reacted. That he had responded the grip automatically had surprised him exceedingly. And now, a half hour later, Gibbs could swear that he could still feel DiNozzos warm hand.
‘That's crazy', he thought furiously and stood up from the comfortable mattress. The fact that he had act in such a way, as if he was homosexual had disequilibrated him completely. Never ever, there existed the least chance that something would develop between Tony and him. That would be as if the vanished island Atlantis would appear suddenly – thus absolutely impossible.

Sighing, he bent down, took his traveling bag and entered the walk-in closet. Funky was really the right expression for this room. A smiled curled around his lips as he imagined the face of his colleague, who had grinned like a Cheshire cat.
He stored his things rapidly and went back into the bed room, where he almost collided with Tony who just now came out of the bath. Solely, a white towel covered his nakedness. His hair was still quite wet and several water drops blazed a trail across his upper part of his body and were soaked up from the towel.
A prickle rose in Gibbs what was inexplicable to him and that unsettled him and made him angry. In front of him stood DiNozzo – his subordinate and the man who drove him crazy with his silly patterns. Why then he reacted as though he had a naked woman in front of him?
"Everything's all right, Boss?" he was taken out of his thoughts. Their gazes met and again, the green eyes reminded him of deep mountain lakes. "Sure, everything's okay", he answered and laid a gruffy tone in his voice. "So, if you want to take a shower, the bath is clear now." Yep, a shower was exactly what he needed right now – preferably ice cold, to bring him back, at last, to reality. Without a further word he walked past Tony, entered the bath room and closed the door. How should he just survive the next days?

To be continued...