What Rule 12?

Chapter 1

*Nick POV*
I wake up and look at my phone seeing that it's 8 AM. I'm suppose to be at work right now. I quickly hop out of bed, throw some clothes on, grab my bag, and run out the door. I get in my car and drive to the naval yard. Yes you heard right. Naval yard. I am NCIS special agent Nick Torres. I get to work and look at my phone again. 8:20. Ooh am I going to get ridiculed. If not by Gibbs then definitely Bishop, but Bishop ridiculing me is better than Gibbs any day. I grab my stuff and race towards the doors. I go in and take the elevator up to the proper floor. I go in and Gibbs is the only one at his desk. Crap. I walk to my desk and put my stuff down.
"Yo Gibbs where's Bishop and McGee" I ask
"They're at their houses" he says
"Why" I ask
"McGee is with his twins and Bishop is sick." He says
"Ok so do we have a case today" I ask
"No" he says
"Can I go home" I ask
"No" he says
"Then what am I supposed to do" I ask
"Paperwork. You have your paperwork to do and then I also need you to do Bishops. McGee is doing his, but I told Bishop not to worry about hers and to just get better" he says
"Yes sir" I say
I sit down at my desk and pull my phone out of my pocket.
N-hey I heard you're sick. You okay
E-yeah
N-you sure
E-yes Nick I'm fine
N-okay
I put my phone down and start working on my paper work. I finish mine around lunch, but instead of taking a break I just dive right into Ellie's work. As I'm working on it I start thinking about her. She's so outgoing but yet so shy. She has a cute smile and when she smiles so do her eyes. I keep thinking until my thoughts are interrupted with a loud bang. I look up and see Gibbs at my desk.
"You done the paperwork" he asks
I look down and see that I'm on the last thing. I quickly do it and then nod.
"Alright. Go home then. Don't worry about coming in tomorrow unless you get a message" he says
"Yes boss" I say
I bid him goodbye then grab my stuff and leave. I go to my car and drive to Ellie's house. I get out and go to her door. I find her spare key and unlock it. I go in and don't see her anywhere. I go to the kitchen and work on making some soup. I then go to her room and knock on the door.
"Ellie, it's me Nick" I say
"Come in" I hear
I open the door and go in. Bishop is laying in bed with her covers overtop of her and she has her tv on.
"What are you doing here Nick" she asks
"I wanted to come check on you" I say
"I'm fine. Like I said in the text" she says
"You don't look fine, but you also don't look sick" I say
"I'm sick Nick and I'm fine" she says almost on the verge of tears
I leave the room and quickly go to the kitchen. I turn the stove off and then go back to her room. I go over to her bed and sit on the edge.
"What's going on Bishop" I ask
"Nothing Torres. Just leave. I'm fine" she says
"Do you really think I'm going to believe that" I ask
"You will if I ask you too" she says
"Alright fine. Goodbye Ellie. See you later" I say
I leave and get in my car and then call McGee.
M-hey Torres what's up
N-do you know what's wrong with Bishop
M-Gibbs said she's sick
N-I just went and saw her and she doesn't seem sick
M-well I don't know what to tell you
N-can you think of what it might be?
M-oh crap
N-what
M-today marks one year since Qasim died
N-shoot why didn't I think of that. I should go talk with her
M-I don't think so Nick. I know you want to be there for her but just give her space
N-McGee
M-Nick leave her alone. Go home and you can talk with her tomorrow. We don't have work tomorrow. Remember?
N-yeah okay. Bye McGee
M-bye Nick
I hang up with Tim and drive home. I go into my apartment and drop my stuff by the door and then sit down in the living room and turn on the tv just to give me something to do.
*Ellie POV*
Nick just left my house and I turn the tv off. I pick up my phone and go back to scrolling through the pictures on my phone and crying. Qasim was the first and last guy I've truly loved since I divorced my ex-husband who cheated on me for quite some time. It was hard for me to love again after the divorce and now it's going to be even harder. I'm eventually all cried out and get out of the photos. I go to the bathroom and take a shower and then get dressed. I go to my car and drive to the naval yard. I go up in the elevator to the floor I work on and go to my desk. I sit down and see a sticky note on my desk.
~hey Ellie,
Gibbs said you were home sick. Hope you're feeling better. I guess you are if you're reading this. I just want to say work isn't the same without you around for me to bother.
Love, Nick~
I smile to myself and then put the note in one of my drawers.
"Bishop what are you doing here" I hear
I look up and see Gibbs standing on the stairs.
"I needed to get out of the house Gibbs" I say
He comes down the stairs and over to my desk.
"You okay" he asks
"No, but I'm tired of crying" I say
I stand up from my chair and he gives me a hug.
"Its okay to cry Bishop. I know he meant everything to you. He was someone your brothers actually were actually very fond of" he says
"Yeah" I say
"Do you wanna talk with Jack? She's still here. Or I can call Dr. Grace and she'll be more than happy to listen to you" Gibbs says
"Um no. I think I'll be okay. Is Ducky here still? He always knows what to say" I say
"He left already" he says
"Oh" I say
"Come on let's go" he says
"Where are we going" I ask
"Just follow me in your truck" he says
We leave the building and I get in my truck. I start it up and follow Gibbs. We end up going to his house. I get out and follow him in his house and down to the basement. He hands me sandpaper and I start sanding the wood of the boat he's working on while he starts doing other stuff.
"How do you know it's okay to start dating again" I ask
"You sort of just know. If it's the right person you will know" he says
"I-I've been feeling it but I don't know if it's the right feeling because of who it is" I say
"You're still worried aren't you" he asks
"I've had my heart crushed twice Gibbs. I can't handle much more" I say
"Bishop I'm telling you, if it's the right person you will know" he says
We continue talking about work and other stuff for a few more hours then I decide to head out. I then text McGee and Torres.
B-hey I need to decompress some. You two want to meet up for a drink
M-yeah sure. Give me twenty minutes to help get the twins in bed
B-sure. Nick you in
T-yeah I'm in
B-great. At our place in twenty minutes. I'll save us all a booth
I put my phone away and drive to our favorite restaurant. I go in and to a booth. I then also order for us all. Twenty minutes later the boys show up.
"I have Casey on standby just in case we need someone to give us a ride home" Tim says
"Okay. Thanks Tim." I say
They both sit down across from me and take a sip from their bottles.
"You holding up okay Ellie" Tim asks
"Well I asked you guys to come for a drink so what do you think" I ask
"I think you're holding up better than you could be" he says
"Yeah. I guess" I say
"Hey let's stop talking about this, drink our beers, and talk about something else" Nick says
"Yeah." I say
"So Nick how was work" McGee asks
"Boring. I had no one to criticize and no one to criticize me" he says
"I don't criticize you" I say
"Yes you do. But it's okay. I don't mind it" he says
"Oh yeah thanks for doing my paper work Nick" I say
"No problem" he says
We go on talking and laughing and drinking beers. Around 1 in the morning we call it a night and call Casey to pick us up. She arrives and she drops off McGee and then goes to Nick's house.
"See ya later Bishop" he says
"Bye Nick" I say
He goes inside and Casey drives off.
"You know he likes you" she says
"No he doesn't. Plus I'm not looking to date anyone" I say
"I know you like him back though" she says
"No I don't Casey." I say
"Whatever. Just be prepared to hear I told you so soon" she says
She arrives at my house and I get out. I thank her and then go inside. I get ready for bed then drift off to sleep exhausted from today.