Prologue

When Jen came in to work this morning, she was in a very good mood. She stepped into the elevator to go up to her office, when she heard someone call for her to hold the door, she did and Gibbs hurried in.

"Good morning Jethro" she greeted him and smiled. He looked surprised at the happiness in her voice.

"Someone's in a good mood this morning" he just said, without returning the greeting.

"Someone's grumpy today" was her answer, still with a smile playing on her lips. He looked at her as she held her purse with her left hand. He suddenly realized something on her finger, something that hadn't been there before. Jen noticed the shocked expression on his face, which he was even aware of that he wore.

"Jethro? What is it?" she asked, and unaware of what it was he had seen, she absentmindedly played with the ring on her left hand.

"Jen, are you getting married?" he wondered, trying to sound casual. But on the inside, he dreaded to hear the answer.

"Yes, I am" she said softly, gave him a weak smile and walked away when the doors opened, leaving him shocked and extremely confused. He watched for a second as she wandered off, he realized he was just letting her go without further questions, and shouted her name. Jen turned around and he caught up with her.

"You're what?" he hadn't meant to say that, it just slipped out. Just when she was about to reply, he cut her off and continued "I mean, that's great, congratulations, Jen" he tried hard to make the words sound sincere, but he could hear how false they sounded.

"Is that bothering you in any way, special agent Gibbs?" she asked, and for some reason that he couldn't quite figure out at the moment, he didn't like the tone in her voice with which she spoke. It was somewhat cold, and it told him he had nothing to do with it.

"No, just…I didn't know you were seeing someone" he admitted, and she eyed him suspiciously.

"Why would it matter to you if I was dating some?" she questioned, and he realized he was screwed. He also chose not to answer. He excused himself and turned to leave, but was brought back by her calling his name, his first name, not being so informal, but more personal.

"Yes, Jen?"

"The wedding's in two months, I would like to invite you, as my friend" she waited for him to nod in agreement before she turned from him and hurried into her office before he had a chance to speak.

Gibbs sighed. Why did this bother him so much? Why had it hurt so much when she had said he was only her friend? During this whole time she had been Director, he had considered them friends. But…was that really all he wanted from her? Had this mysterious and sudden proposal made him realize there were some other feelings hiding in the depth of his heart? Were there? And just what might those feelings be, maybe romantic feelings? Had he, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, really fallen in love with Jenny Shepard, again?

To be continued...