Clones

Art Of Persuasion

JJ taps on Jethro's shoulder and speaks, "I like boats..."

Gibbs turns around and looks at him. At that moment, he knew these were his children. He chuckles and answers, "I like boats too." The 4 of them spend the rest of the night (until 8:30, half an hour past bedtime) together. Jethro learns so much from his kids and is torn to pieces when the door shuts. That night was the first night in a while where he couldn't sleep because he was too happy. Normally he can't sleep due to anxiety and bad memories crawling back at the end of the night, but not this night.

Weeks pass by quickly. Jethro spends almost every night after work with his children. He even showed JJ his boat in the basement. While all this was happening Tony and Ziva have been picking up on some hot and heavy feelings between Jenny and Jethro. Tony and Ziva work together. For a month they met up after work every weekday. They created a master plan for Jen and Jethro to get together.

Ziva reiterates the plan back to Tony to make sure she understands it, "I will be persuading Jenny to go out with a young fellow, let's say his name is Arthur Decker, at 2100. Meanwhile, you will be convincing Jethro to go out with one of your lady friends at 2130, you chose this not me, I'd like that on the record, Scarlett Foxx, which might be the hardest task to do of this whole plan."

Tony asks her, "How am I making him go on this date?"

Ziva responds, "You are guilting him by saying you already set the date up."

Tony exclaims, "Correct!" Tony asks, "Why are they not meeting at the same time at the same restaurant?"

"Because then they would be suspicious and leave. And Gibbs has no patience so that is why he is scheduled later," Ziva answers.

Tony exclaims, "Booyah!"

"Then when they see each other Gibbs will walk over to Jen and start questioning her. He will think nothing of it because of the times. Then when he realizes he has been stood up it will be around the same time as Jen, so he will go over to her table and offer to pay for her meal. That's a start! Booyah!" exclaims Ziva. She asks, "Did I use that right?"

"Perfect!" Tony gives her a thumbs up.

The next morning, they both nod at each other signaling them to get up and start the convincing process. Tony walks over to Gibbs' desk, "Yo, boss man!"

"Try again," Jethro doesn't look up.

Tony turns around, walks back to his desk, then walks back to Gibbs' desk, "Excuse me, Agent Gibbs?"

Gibbs looks up, "That's better."

Tony gets right into it, "I was wondering if you wanted to go for some dinner with this lady friend of mine."

Jethro remarks, "Any lady friend of yours is not a friend of mine."

"Well that's upsetting, she was really looking forward to seeing you tonight at 2130," Tony mentions some unknown information.

Jethro looks mad, "You already set me up? How stupid are you DiNozzo? Really?"

Tony shrugs and starts to slowly make his way to his desk, "It's alright. She'll just be disappointed. Nothing she hasn't felt before, poor girl."

"Fine!" Jethro blurts. He continues on his thought, "If it's already set up I'll be there. But you owe me. Where am I going and what's her name?"

Tony answers, "Maggiano's and Scarlett Foxx."

Jethro huffs, "Goddammit, DiNozzo! You had to choose the most expensive place in town?"

While this is going down in the bullpen, Ziva knocks on Jen's office door. She looks up from her stack of papers and signals her in, "Ziva, what's going on?"

"I'm just going to cut to the chase. I found someone who is interested in you and would like to see you tonight at 2100," Ziva blurts.

Jenny looks up from her papers slowly, considering her options, "Officer David, do you have anything work-related?"

Ignoring what Jen has said, Ziva continues, "His name is Arthur Decker. He will be at Maggiano's at 2100 waiting for you. Should I say you'll be there?"

Jen takes a breath and plays along. She smiles, "You know what, Ziva? I'll be there. You said 2100?" Ziva nods in confirmation. Jen then says, "If that's all, I'd like to continue my paperwork. Ziva understands and waltzes out of her office. She then walks casually to the water cooler where it just so happens Tony is standing after his conversation with Gibbs. She asks him, "Are we a go?"

"We are. What about you?" Tony asks.

"All clear," Ziva starts filling up a cup after DiNozzo is done with his.

Tony walks back to his desk when McGee asks, "What's with the scuttlebutt?"

Ziva asks innocently, "What's 'scuttlebutt'?"

Tony talks over McGee, "Scuttlebutt is watercooler talk but in the Navy. Capeesh?

"Huh?" Ziva is confused at the last word of his sentence.

McGee speaks over Tony this time, "Capeesh means something like 'Do you understand this?" Ziva nods along, understanding more and more of the English language every day. Soon enough the day ends and separately Jen and Jethro get ready.