This is my response to Season 3's episode "Bait," which I finally watched last night. I own n-o-t-h-i-n-g. And I borrowed the very first line, Jenny's line, from the episode, which was written by awesome people who get paid lots of money to write awesome things. Reviews are always treasured. This will be a one shot. I have to say that I do like Jibbs—Jenny & Gibbs are fascinating together, although I still love the Kibbs. You can read this as a reference to Kate & Gibbs as a couple or as purely professional.
"Glad to know I can still surprise you."
Gibbs turns to the woman beside him, his face almost impassive—almost—before glancing through the doors into the director's office to see the family reunion taking place. Several replies spring to mind—Nokidding, is the first. And yathink? Follows it. But he doesn't say a word.
The first time Jenny Shepard surprised him was the first day of their first investigation as partners. When he had tried to explain the difference between rank and rate, she had glanced at the witness and asked if he was going to make the Petty Office First Class wait through the explanation or not—since she was pretty sure he knew his own rank and rate. He quickly learned she was a Navy brat. He realized that she would never cease to surprise him when he discovered their former director was long gone, only to see her petite form stand and face him in the middle of MTAC.
Right now, however, she is so lost in the sentimental family moment that she is seeing the reactions that she wants to see. This picture in front of him, the loving family lost in reunion, feels all wrong. Of course, Gibbs isn't going to begrudge this kid his perfect ending.
The hostage situation was fully resolved. They have their bad guys and plenty of evidence to make charges stick. There are no bodies, no casualties except a few traumatize kids, who will be okay in time. His team made it out intact, and DiNozzo proved to their director and the team that he could handle it. In time Gibbs knows the younger man will take a team of his own. He's paid his dues.
But this ending is too neatly wrapped, the bow a little too perfect.
"I want to let you know Special Agent Caitlin Todd is out looking for your mom."
He was glad that Kody wasn't looking at him when the words came through the door. It had been like taking a rifle butt to his gut. Gibbs knew that his second had no other way to get the message to him, but he wished that it had been anyone else they had lost. Anyone but Katie.
He tries not to dwell on the what-ifs. But it's hard to ignore them when they are shoved in his face. Dead doesn't always mean dead. Then again, he saw the body, he was standing fractions of an inch from her when she was shot, their boots coated with her blood. Caitlin Todd would never be coming back.
Gibbs can taste the bitterness in the back of his throat, the childish feeling that it's unfair. Beside him, Jenny is practically bouncing with excitement, still utterly lost in the tidy conclusion to the day. He turns, leaving her to savor it. It's not often they get it so right, and he's not going to rob her of the moment.
"Jethro," she calls, slender fingers catching his wrist. Her gaze meets his, eyes sparkling. "You did good today."
"Tell that to DiNozzo," he corrects, gently pulling back his hand and slipping from her office. Someday, maybe, he can escape these demons. Forgive himself. In the meantime, he needs to do some penance. Kate's mother offered him a rosary, which he insisted she should keep. His articles of faith are sanding blocks, bourbon his communion.
Someday he will find his own denouement.