November 4th, 1999. Paris.
She awoke to the sound of his breathing and his head on her chest. She ran a hand through his still sweaty hair, taking in how peaceful he looked. She let a smile grace her lips for a quarter of a second, before she remembered what she was about to do.
What she had to do.
"Jethro," she whispered. "Wake up,"
He instead just rolled off her chest and onto his side of the bed, not waking up at all. She sighed and looked at him, deciding that she might as well get ready now before waking him up. Her luggage and bags were already packed almost two days ago – they were hidden behind the make-up table so Jethro wouldn't see them.
Her flight was in three hours, which meant she had two hours to get ready – it took an hour just to get to the airport.
An hour passed, and she was done getting ready. She looked at the sleeping figure on the bed and wondered how she could ever leave him. She got up and walked over to the man, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Before she hesitantly shook him awake, she briefly considered the option of writing a Dear John letter instead – it would be much, much easier to end things like that. But she remembered everything he did for her, and all the things they shared together.
She couldn't.
He deserved more than that – and she knew it.
"Jethro," her tender whisper said softly. "Honey, wake up."
Jethro's eyes fluttered opened to reveal an astonishing blue colour. His face mirrored confusion as he took in his surroundings. His confusion heightened considerably as he saw the bags that were now by the hotel door, the way she was dressed and the way she was looking at him.
He looked at her for an answer.
"I'm leaving," she managed to whisper, holding tears back.
She looked down apologetically, refusing to meet his eyes.
"What?" he asked, now fully awake. He sat up.
"Morrow offered me a position in Cairo. I took it." She explained softly
"How long are you gone for?" he asked, taking her hand and pulling her down onto the bed, caressing her cheek.
"I don't know, it might take years." She closed her eyes, trying to will the tears to go away. She failed though, because a few moments later, a tear slid down her left cheek.
She knew it wasn't fair for her to suddenly spring this on him, but what choice did she have? She wanted to go far in life. She didn't want to stay as Leroy Jethro Gibbs' partner forever.
"I'm so sorry for telling you this at the last minute, Jethro." she said softly, looking down into her lap. "I just really need to tell you that I love you and I treasure you and all the memories we made this past year."
"Can't I convince you to stay?" he asked, holding her hand and looking into her glassy green eyes filled with tears.
She swallowed and closed her eyes, making another tear slide down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," she said again.
Fifteen minutes had passed. Forty-five minutes more till she had to leave.
"You'll come back, right?" he hugged her tight and kissed her hair.
"Only if you want to wait."
"I'll wait any amount of time you want me to."
At this, she closed her eyes tightly and wound her arms tighter around his neck.
"Jethro – you don't understand – I could be gone for a decade without contact." She whispered miserably.
"I'll wait a whole century if it meant I'd have you," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers.
He held her hand tightly because they were shaking so much.
She let out a shaky breath. Why did he have to make leaving so hard?
"This – this promotion – once you come back, you'll stay, right?" he asked her, afraid of the answer.
"Yeah," she nodded, and he relaxed noticeably. "Yeah, I'll stay,"
"I'll be waiting for you. Remember that." He said, kissing her passionately. "Always remember that."
"I love you so much, Jethro." She whispered, kissing him.
She had never received an answer before – and she understood that he had demons that prevented him from doing that, and she was fine with that, because from the kisses he gave her, the way he looked at her, and the way they made love – it was obvious that the sentiments were returned. She didn't mind that he had never actually said those words to her before.
"I love you too, Jen." He said for the first time, in between kisses.
She smiled softly and kissed him passionately, never wanting to let go.
She left soon after, and even though they were both heartbroken, she knew he would be waiting for her when she came back. They hadn't broken up, but instead just taken a long break from their relationship. She had left him with hope.
They had no idea that the break was exactly what they needed from their relationship, though neither wanted it.
Until six years later, when she came back as Jennifer Shepard, Director of NCIS.
So... tell me what you think! Like it? Hate it? Should I continue? Please leave a review!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
- Natalia.