[ NCIS ] Quinn and Torres | What Would It Be?

Chapter 1: a secret to tell

Quinn and Torres found themselves entangled in a secret relationship, teetering on the edge of exposure. McGee and Bishop had come close to discovering their hidden connection, but Quinn and Torres managed to convince them that there was nothing going on, despite the truth of their involvement. However, as time passed, they knew they couldn't keep their secret hidden for much longer. McGee and Bishop's curiosity continued to grow, driving them to dig deeper into Quinn and Torres's past.

At the bullpen, Quinn arrived first, settling in at her desk. Moments later, Torres entered the office and made his way straight to Quinn's desk.

"Morning," Torres greeted her.

"What are you doing?" Quinn asked, puzzled.

"Trying to make ya' happy," he replied, playfully.

They exchanged brief banter before Torres retreated to his own desk. Sensing the weight of their situation, Quinn broached the subject with Torres.

"Hey, I was thinking that we should tell Gibbs," she suggested.

Torres contemplated the idea. "What about the others?" he questioned.

Quinn's tone turned serious. "We talk to Gibbs first, and then we tell the others."

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, they fell silent when McGee overheard them and inquired, "What's so serious?"

Startled, both Quinn and Torres simultaneously replied, "Nothing."

McGee dismissed their odd behavior, commenting, "You guys are weird."

Sharing a glance, Quinn and Torres sighed with apprehension. Once McGee settled at his desk, they began conversing in hushed whispers.

"We're not done yet," Quinn whispered in a low tone.

"Yeah, whatever," Torres responded.

Interrupting their private exchange, McGee interjected, "Anyway, do you know where Bishop is?"

"She has to visit her mom, but she'll come," Gibbs answered.

Gibbs passed by Quinn and Torres's desk but then paused, retracing his steps to stand in front of them.

"Quinn, conference room," Gibbs commanded.

"I'll be right behind you," Quinn acknowledged, feeling a sense of relief as Gibbs walked away.

Worried and filled with trepidation, Quinn turned to Torres, whispering, "Do you think he knows?"

Torres urged her to remain calm and to tell Gibbs the truth.

As Quinn approached the conference room, Gibbs stood by the chair, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"Take a seat," Gibbs offered.

"No, thanks," Quinn declined.

"Please," Gibbs insisted.

Reluctantly, she complied, her fear mounting as she wondered if Gibbs would be angry and potentially punish one or both of them for breaking his rules. Quinn watched as Gibbs prepared two cups of coffee.

"Drink," Gibbs instructed.

She obediently sipped the coffee, preparing herself for the conversation that would follow.

"So, how long?" Gibbs inquired.

Feeling hopeless, Quinn had to change her approach. She was concerned about the potential consequences and decided to take a different route.

"What?" she responded, feigning confusion.

Closing her eyes briefly, she recalled Torres's advice, "Quinn, just calm down and tell him everything."

"So, have you changed your mind?" Gibbs pressed.

"Oh, God. I'm guessing you've found out," Quinn admitted, realizing she couldn't avoid the truth any longer.

"How long?" Gibbs persisted.

"Since I was at the FLETC," Quinn confessed.

Gibbs paused, disappointment evident in his expression. "Here's the thing, Quinn. In my rules, you can't date a co-worker."

"Yeah, I know," Quinn acknowledged.

"Do you?" Gibbs questioned sharply, his tone carrying an unfamiliar edge that caught Quinn off guard.

Struggling to understand, Quinn ventured, "What about other people? Like Tony and Ziva, or Bishop and Qasim. Is that even fair?"

"We were talking about you and Torres. Don't bring my people into this conversation," Gibbs admonished.

Sighing, Quinn uttered, "I don't even know you anymore."

Filled with anger, disappointment, and sadness, Quinn stormed out of the room, making her way downstairs to her desk. She gathered her belongings, preparing to leave. As she headed for the elevator, Bishop intercepted her, blocking her path.

"Step aside," Quinn demanded.

"I won't," Bishop responded defiantly.

"Why won't you?" Quinn asked, her frustration evident.

"Because I needed to know what happened," Bishop confessed.

"There's nothing to tell," Quinn dismissed, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sadness.

Bishop reluctantly released her, allowing Quinn to continue on her way, all eyes in the office drawn to their interaction. Torres, understanding the gravity of the situation, observed Gibbs from the stairs, a look of deep disappointment etched across his face. In a desperate attempt, Torres raced down the stairs, hoping to reach Quinn in the lobby before she disappeared.