The office smelled faintly of paperwork and the faint tang of coffee, Vance’s voice filling the silence, outlining the new offer. “You’d be a great fit for the team,” Vance said, his tone professional but encouraging. “I think you’d bring exactly what we need.” You were leaning against the chair in front of his desk, nodding at his words.

The door burst open before you even realized it, and there he was: Gibbs. Hair just a little more salt than last time you’d seen him, eyes narrowed, shoulders broad in that unmistakable stance of authority. He strode in without a knock — of course, he never knocked, that never changes.

His gaze landed squarely on you, then flicked to Vance, and back to you. Surprise flashed across his face, subtle but unmistakable, as he took in the scene: you, calmly discussing a serious opportunity with Vance.

“Gibbs,” Vance said, glancing between you two, slightly amused. “Everything okay?” Gibbs’s jaw tightened, not in anger, just in that controlled, alert way he always had when caught off-guard. He cleared his throat, voice low and clipped. "I wasn’t expecting to see her here.” You straightened, meeting his gaze. The tension between you two was immediate — all the history, all the things left unsaid, simmering just beneath the surface. "It's been a while" you replied, careful, measured.

He nodded, eyes flicking briefly to Vance, then back to you, sharp and assessing. “Yeah...long time,” he said finally, voice steady but a fraction tighter than usual.