Disclaimer: The usual. That's all I'm sayin'!

Authors Note: I worked late Tuesday/early Wednesday, 0100 to 0800. I brought my writin' gear along 'cause I know I would be bored. I was looking through my 'idea book' when I came across a page headed 'Gibbs/Faith Coleman'. It was the only thing on the page. Sometime over the last year, I guess I had a thought about writing a story about 'em. Sooo, as I was working I let that thought stew in the back of my mind. Next day I decided to look in the archive to see how many stories there were about them. There were three. Two by Fictionnaire and one by iwannagibbs. Kinda thin. Now I really want to do this story. I've wanted to step away from Mike Franks a bit. This is what came out. It will probably be a two-shot. Hope you like it.

Spoilers: Ti-ti ones for "Meltdown" and "UnSEALed". A bit bigger for "Call of Silence". By the way if you've never seen "Call of Silence", you really have to. Probably the best NCIS episode ever.

Gibbs' basement, 2230hrs

It was quiet in the basement. Just the sound of the plane working over the planking of the bottom of the boat. The last seventy two hours had been intense, but worth it. Ernie Yost got to keep his Medal of Honor. He also got some peace of mind, finally realizing that he hadn't murdered his buddy, Wade Kean on Iwo Jima in '45. After the dust settled, Leroy Jethro Gibbs and the old Marine went to dinner, drinking more sake than was probably good for either one. But that too was worth it.

Gibbs took Ernie home, making sure the old guy got to bed safely. Then Jethro went home, fired up his coffee maker and started working on the boat. After several hours of work and just as many cups of coffee, Gibbs felt he could switch to bourbon. He walked over to the workbench, getting down a dusty bottle of Jim Beam Black Label. Drinking the last of the coffee in his mug, he recharged it with bourbon. Jethro leaned against the bench sipping the whiskey and contemplating his work.

Pretty soon I'm gonna hafta get some neighborhood kids in here to help me flip her over so I can start work on the cabin and deck.

Picking up the plane, Gibbs prepared to resume smoothing the hull. Upstairs he heard his front door open and then close. Light footsteps came through the living room. Jethro did not recognize the gait. He moved back to the workbench. Under the bench near the left front corner was a holster with a .44 snub nose. As Gibbs' hand slid under the bench, a voice came from the hallway near the basement door.

"Gibbs?"

Recognizing the voice, Jethro brought his hand from under the bench.

"Down here Commander."

Gibbs looked up in time to see Lt. Commander Faith Coleman come through the door and start down the steps. Instead of Service Dress Blues, Faith Coleman was wearing Levi's, a white cotton long sleeved blouse and New Balance running shoes. Her hair was in a ponytail.

"Do you know your front door is unlocked?"

"Uh huh. It usually is."

"Isn't that kind of unsafe?"

"Only for people who don't belong here."

"Okaay"

"What can I do for you Commander?"
"Well, I was wondering how Corporal Yost was."
Gibbs chuckled.
"Last I saw him, he was feeling no pain. But did your concern warrant a visit to my house? You could have called me in the morning at my office."

Faith's face started to color.

"I guess that's true, but I was in the neighborhood and…"
Jethro's face got that 'are you kidding me' look on it.

"And you knew this was my neighborhood how?"

Now Faith's face was officially red.

"I asked Dr. Mallard where you lived."

Gibbs smirked.

"Why Ducky?"

Faith started to regain some control of her face.

"Could you imagine me asking DiNozzo? Or Agent Todd?"

"No I guess not. Oh, I'm forgetting my manners. Drink?"

Jethro gestured at the bottle of Jim Beam on the workbench. Coleman nodded.

"Sure."

Gibbs grabbed a jar holding various screws and washers, dumping them out. He took a rag and wiped the inside and outside. Just as he was about to pour a slug into the jar, he noticed the look on Faith's face.

Forgot. Neat freak.

Jethro stopped mid motion and put down the bottle. After checking a couple of drawers, he found a wrapped plastic cup from one of the major motel chains. Gibbs tore the wrapper off and poured a couple of fingers into the cup. Handing her the cup, Jethro picked up his mug.

"Absent friends."
"Absent friends" echoed Faith.

Gibbs slid a barstool to Faith. She sat. Gibbs sipped his whiskey.

"So Commander, why are you really here?"

Faith looked abashed. This really was not going the way she thought it would.

"Not buying the whole 'concerned for Corporal Yost thing?"

Gibbs laughed.

"No ma'am. Try pulling the other one."

Faith Coleman sighed.

"You're a very irritating individual Gibbs. Last year it was Petty Officer Curtin and now Corporal Yost. I just want…"

Faith throws up her free hand and takes a large sip of her bourbon. She starts to stand.

"I think I made a mistake coming here. Sorry I bothered you."

Gibbs raises a hand.

"Hold on Faith."

The use of her first name stops Coleman. Gibbs lowers his hand.

"Look, in both of those cases, the men involved acted contrary to what was known about them. That's what gets my 'gut' churning. So I try to go the opposite way. In Ernie's case, he wasn't trying to kill his buddy, just knock him out to keep him quiet. Due to stress, adrenaline or whatever, he hit him too hard. Over the years, he convinced himself he killed Kean. If I left it to the forensics and what Ernie remembered, the outcome would've been a lot different. But I 'know' Ernie didn't intentionally kill Kean. All I had to do was make him remember."

"That's why the matches, the video and the 'Lieutenant'?"

Gibbs nodded.

Faith sighed.

"You make it sound like it was a foregone conclusion that Yost wasn't guilty. Nine out of ten people would have sworn he was."

Jethro smirked.

"Well, that's why I get paid the big bucks Commander. I don't follow the group."
"Trying to say you 'don't play well with others'?"

"I've been told that a lot over the years."
"I'll bet."
Faith Coleman stood again.

"And now I really do need to get going. Thanks for the drink."

"You're welcome. I'll walk you out."

The two walked out to Faith's vehicle which was parked in Gibbs' driveway. Faith started the SUV and rolled down the window.

"Night Gibbs."

"G'Night Faith. Feel free to stop by anytime."

Now it was Faith's turn to give a little smirk.

"I might just take you up on that Gunny. Careful what you wish for."
With that the commander backed her SUV into the street and drove off. Gibbs watched the taillights disappear.

"This could get interesting."

A/N: As I said above, I'm thinking two-shot. I hope they bring Faith back. If Gibbs has to go out with a lawyer, I'd rather it was Faith than M. Allison Hart. Just my opinion. Speaking of opinions, how about a review, that's an opinion.