NCIS SQUAD ROOM

Tony sat staring at the two photos side by side on his computer screen. He looked from one to the other and then back again. "There is no way," he muttered. "No way on earth!"

An amused voice spoke in his ear. "You training to be a stalker?"

Tony jumped in his seat and spun towards the voice. Ros smirked at his shock. She nodded at the photos on his desktop. "Gibbs is not going to be happy if he sees those."

Tony closed the file and the photos of Gibbs and Sam disappeared. Ros sat on the edge of Tony's desk and looked down at him. "You don't believe they are a couple any more than I do."

Tony leaned back in his seat and looked up at the blond. "How long has it been since Sam moved in with Gibbs?"

"About two months, give or take a few days."

"You would think that they would show some affection for each other."

Roslyn's voice was amused. "I don't think Director Vance would be too impressed if they started making out in the squad room, Tony."

"That's not what I meant. No tender glances. No secret smiles."

Ros grinned. "You been reading Mills & Boone again?"

Tony opened his mouth to protest. Ros carried on. "Both are very private people. I don't believe that if they were a couple, they would be big on public displays of affection." She paused. "The operative word here is 'if'. Neither of us truly believe they are in a romantic relationship. There is too much that feels off. Am I right?"

Tony nodded. "I can accept that Gibbs may break his own Rule 12. They're his rules after all. If he wants to break them or even wipe them from the list, that's his call. I can even accept that Gibbs could be attracted to Sam. Granted, she isn't a red head, but she is feisty enough to be one. She also has a fairly gentle personality which could bring out the protective side in Gibbs. But there are a whole host of unanswered questions. When did they start to date? How did they keep it secret? How did one of us not spot it?"

"That's what is nagging at you, isn't it? That you didn't spot anything."

"Yeah. I can't believe I didn't notice. I've worked with Gibbs longer than anyone else of the team. I've watched him with girlfriends before. There are signs. This time there weren't any."

Roslyn's voice was soft. "What if they aren't in a relationship, Tony? What if it is a cover for something else?"

"Like what?"

"Something to do with those meetings with Vance and the FBI. Something to do with Kepa Urkullu. I'm positive that Sam recognized Urkullu. That she was fleeing to safety that night."

Tony looked thoughtful. "Her room when we packed it up had no real personal items. Photos, trinket boxes. That sort of thing."

Ros nodded. "She had a photo beside her bed of her and her father. And a small carved wooden box that she kept a few pieces of jewellery in."

"There was nothing like those there when we packed up."

"Something else was missing. From her wardrobe." She smiled gently. "Even though it's too warm to wear it, she took a sweater with her. A bright red sweater with candy canes on the front. Gibbs' present to her last Christmas."

"She took the things that have sentimental value with her when she left. Sam had no intention of coming back."

Ros nodded again. "It was as if she was operating under instructions. The day after I told her I didn't believe her, that I intended to do some research on Kepa Urkullu she went off at me. Tony, she was terrified. I've never seen anyone lose color so fast."

"Have you done any checking on Urkullu?"

"I've put out some feelers. Have to do this slowly. I'm trying to set up a meeting at the weekend with someone who might know something. I would really like to know if this relationship between Gibbs and Sam is genuine or not. Just call it natural curiosity."

Tony laughed and leaned forward. "I can think of a way..."

SATURDAY MORNING

"Need to add more garlic to the list, I think. Used a fair bit this week. Maybe some extra black pepper as well. Thought I might make some Black Pepper Beef soup." When Gibbs didn't comment, Sam looked up from her grocery list. Gibbs was frowning at the rear view mirror.

"What's wrong?"

"I think we've got a tail."

"A tail? Who?"

"About two cars back. Been with us since we pulled out of our street. Never gets right behind us, but he's following us."

"Going to let him know that you know?"

"Nope. Let's just see what he wants. You got your back up piece?"

Shortly after Sam had moved in with Gibbs he had arranged for her to get a private handgun license. Sam nodded. "Yes. You told me to always have it with me, so I do."

Gibbs smiled briefly. "A woman who does what she's told."

Sam stuck her tongue out at him. Gibbs chuckled. After living under the same roof for a couple of months, their friendship was strong and comfortable.

They drove into the mall parking lot and parked close to the supermarket entrance.

Gibbs accosted the security guard. "Hey Frank, I need a favor."

"Any time Jethro. What do you need?"

"A little look into your security room."

"Come this way and I'll take you up to it."

Gibbs squeezed Sam's shoulder and strode off with Frank. Sam checked her gun and then hurried off up the aisle with a grocery cart. She was aware of everything and everyone around her.

Frank opened the door to the security room. A burly security guard was seated at a camera command center. "Paul. This is Jethro. He's a Marine buddy of mine, now with NCIS. He needs a favor."

"Any buddy of Frank's that I can help, I will. What do you need?"

"A look at your security monitors. Need to find someone in a car."

"Let's see what we can find."

Gibbs studied the bank of monitors. He pointed. "There. Can you zoom in?"

"Yup." The camera zoomed in on the car. Gibbs didn't know the car, but he knew the driver. He stared for a moment. What the hell? Then he began to laugh.

Sam noted the grin on Gibbs' face as he came to join her. She raised her eyebrows. "You know who was following us?"

"Uh huh."

"Who?"

"Tony."

"WHAT? What the heck is he playing at?"

Gibbs grin got wider. "I'd say Tony's curiosity has got the better of him."

Sam thought for a moment. "He doesn't believe the cover story and is trying to find the truth for himself."

"Yup."

"What are we going to do?"

Gibbs grinned. "How do you feel about a romantic walk in the park after this?"

LATER THAT DAY

Tony had followed Gibbs and Sam back to Gibbs' home after their grocery expedition. He had parked where he could watch the house. Ros was parked at the other end of the street. Tony slouched in his seat, his eyes on the front door. He straightened up as the front door opened and Gibbs and Sam came out. Sam held a plastic bag in one hand.

Tony blinked in surprise. Gibbs and Sam were holding hands as they walked up the street. Tony pulled out his cellphone and called Ros. "They're on the move. On foot. Holding hands. Heading your way."

"I've got them. Where could they be going?"

"There's a park just down there. Maybe that's where they're headed."

Gibbs and Sam ignored the parked car as they headed up the street. As they turned into the street the park was on, Sam noted another car glide to a halt across the road. She leaned her head onto Gibbs' shoulder. "Tony's got an assistant", she murmured, "Ros."

They headed into the park and down to the duckpond. Tony and Ros followed, keeping back amongst the trees. Sam opened the bag and began to feed bread to the ducks. Gibbs stood behind her. He slid his arms around her waist and cuddled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head for a moment. As Sam shook the last of the crumbs out of the bag, Gibbs put his lips against her ear. "Tony and Ros are in the trees behind us and to our left."

Sam turned in his embrace, snuggling close. "Well, we'd better give them something to make all this stalking worth their while". Her smile was impish.

Gibbs' mouth claimed hers. Sam wrapped her arms around his waist, then slid her hands down.

Amongst the trees, Tony stifled a gasp. "Please tell me I didn't just see Sam grab Gibbs' ass."

Ros was staring. There is no way the Sam I know would do that. Not unless she really is involved with Gibbs.

Gibbs looked down at Sam, his eyebrows raised. She grinned at him. "Tony and Ros aren't Palmer. They're not going to be fooled by one little kiss."

Gibbs laughed and kissed her again. Then, arms around each others waists, they headed towards the ice cream kiosk.

"Do you think our cover held?" Sam asked.

Gibbs chuckled. "Yup. Tony looks like someone hit him with a brick."

"There have been times when I have been tempted to do exactly that!"

Tony and Ros watched them go. Ros sank down to sit on the grass. She drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. "Sam is something of a prude where sex is concerned. There is no way she would do what she just did if her and Gibbs weren't a couple."

Tony dropped down to sit beside her. His expression was thoughtful. "Maybe it started out as a cover. Then changed."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it Ros. They have been living under the same roof for months. At some point the pretense may very well have become real. Spending their evenings together all warm and cozy in that dim, dark basement of his. Sharing a little bourbon. Who knows what may have happened in that basement."

Ros frowned. "It's possible. Sam did say once that she is more comfortable being friends first. Or something like that." She got to her feet. We'll know more by Monday. I have a meeting tomorrow night with my contact. Hopefully I will get something useful on Kepa Urkullu."

"Want backup?"

Ros shook her head. "Thanks Tony, but it's not necessary. We're meeting in a public place. What could possibly go wrong?"