Author's Note: Yeah, late Thanksgiving themed fic. AU, obviously because Hollis comes back after Director Sheppard died. I'm not entirely sure what the exact timeline is, so don't shoot me if you realize the times are wrong. Let me know and I'll bow to your expertise. Sorry if the dialogue's a little repetitive and sloppy. So dear readers, read, review and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or it's characters. If I did, Hollis Mann will still be with Gibbs.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs ambled around aimlessly in his home. It was Thanksgiving, and Director Vance had given them the day off. The entire team had already left, either to spend time with families or just visit friends. Ducky had invited Jethro to have dinner with him and his mother, but he had refused, not wanting to intrude on the family occasion. So it was on the morning of Thanksgiving that he found himself alone in his empty house, devoid of the laughter and joyous giggles that once rang through the house, perhaps for far too long.

He distinctly remembered another happy time, long after Shannon and Kelly were gone. The subtle scent of the perfume she insisted she didn't wear, the little hair pins she left in his bathroom or the fatigues she sometimes hung in his closet. They came from another time when he was also happy, and later stupid. He never admitted it, not even to Ducky, not even after the Director died and he missed her more than ever, but it played on his mind more often than he'd ever liked.

And really, it still pained him to admit, even to himself that he regretted letting Hollis Mann go, and that he still loved her.

Today, more than any other day, he missed her. They had actually made plans to spend Thanksgiving with his dad in Stillwater, before she left. She had been so excited to meet him, so excited to know more about a younger Gibbs before he became the cynical, yet wonderful man he was today.

"I'm sure that your dad will be happy to share some embarrassing stories with me, Jethro. I can't wait to hear what trouble you got into as a kid!"

Guess that didn't happen, probably never will.

Gibbs was restless, he couldn't sit still without wanting to break or throw something, and as bare as his home was, there really wasn't anything he could vent his anger on. He tried working on his boat, but the actions that usually soothed and calmed him didn't help at all. If anything, it added to his frustration that he was alone, and that he needn't have been, had he not been such a major ass.

Beep!

Sighing, he got up and emptied the jar of nails which held that annoying piece of technology. Throwing the sanding block onto his work table, he answered the phone without looking at the caller I.D.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Hello Jethro."

And he nearly dropped the phone in shock. Now that was a voice he hadn't expected to hear again, maybe ever.

"Holly?"

The fond nickname just slipped out naturally, as if he hadn't not spoken to her in nearly a year.

A chuckle sounded through the phone.

"Didn't expect to hear from me, did you?"

He smiled. "Not really Hol. You did retire to Hawaii."

She laughed, a sound that even through the phone made him feel warm, and wanted. "Yeah, I did. It's good to speak to you again Jethro."

"Sure is Hol. Didn't think you wanted to talk to me again, after what I did."

"Yeah, well, people change Jethro."

And he felt strangely sad at that, even if he didn't know why.

"Yeah, they do."

Silence ensued, and Gibbs thought she'd hung up when she started speaking again.

"How's the Director, Jethro?"

Suddenly, it seemed like swallowing became the hardest thing to do in the world.

"Jenny's gone, Holly. Has been for nearly half a year now."

He could hear her sharp intake of breath, knew she was shocked.

"Oh God, Jethro. I.. I didn't know."

He leaned against the table; he couldn't even bear to see her body lying on the autopsy table, cold, unfeeling. Dead. "You couldn't have known Holly, not your fault."

He heard her sigh tiredly, "I liked her you know, as impossible as it sounded. She taught me a little about you, even if she was still a little territorial over you."

Gibbs didn't reply, not knowing what it was he was supposed to say.

"Why did you call me Holly?"

A long pause. "It's Thanksgiving, Jethro."

He smirked, "I gathered as much Hollis."

He could imagine her rolling her eyes, wherever she was. "Yes, Mr. Smartass. You still going to visit your dad, like we originally planned?"

"I don't think so Holly. Dad was really looking forward to meeting you. I don't think I can face his questions as to why you're not there too."

Strangely, he could hear a door opening over the other end.

"Still not locking your front door, Jethro?"

Ok. That was strange. "Uh, nope. Why?"

"Maybe you should turn around."

Gibbs whipped his head around to the doorway leading down the basement, and for the second time of the day, had a shock. Sure, he hadn't been really expecting anything, but he definitely wasn't prepared to see Hollis Mann standing in his house, leaning casually against the door. A mischievous smile played on her face, no doubt at having shocked the normally unflappable Gibbs.

"Surprised to see me?"

He didn't realize that he had run up the stairs until he found himself standing in front of her. He could've sworn she looked even more beautiful the last time he saw her, blonde hair tousled from the strong wind outside, dressed in that maroon sweater she always wore when visiting him.

"Holly, what are you doing here?"

Cocking her head, her eyes soft, she quipped, "What, no welcome hug?"

Before she could even finish her sentence, she was already enveloped in a tight bear hug, with Gibbs hands entwined in her hair. He murmured into her hair, "I missed you Holly."

Swallowing back her tears, Hollis hugged him back tightly, "So did I Jethro, so did I."

Finally, they pulled apart. They stood awkwardly, not knowing how to put into words the millions of things that were playing in their minds for the past year. Hollis finally broke the ice.

"Look at us, gawking like teenagers. You wouldn't have thought that one of us is an NCIS agent and the other a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel."

Grinning, Gibbs took Hollis's hand in his, tugged her down the stairs, once again into his basement. Hollis thought it a little reminiscent of the last time she was here, when they had come home from dinner and he had pulled her down with him, laughing only to find Gibbs's 3rd ex-wife down here.

Pulling out a cold beer, he popped the cap and handed it over to her. Raising it in a mock salute, she savoured the cold bite of the beer, that particular brand that was his favourite. They drank in silence for a while, basking in the comfort of their unexpected reunion.

Gibbs cleared his throat, clearly still unsettled. "So what are you doing here Hol? When you called I sure as hell wasn't expecting you to drop by."

Hollis shrugged, staring at her beer. "I don't know Jethro. I honestly don't know what I was expecting by coming here. All I knew was that it's Thanksgiving and I really wanted to see you." He remained silent, she got flustered. "You know what; I don't know what I'm doing here. I should just leave. I mean, it's not like we're still together." She stood and placed her beer on the table and turned to leave. "See you Jethro."

A firm hand tugged her back down. "Sit down Hol, you don't come here all the way from Hawaii, out of retirement just to say you don't know what you're doing here." She slowly sat back down, suddenly feeling like a child caught in a candy store. Taking her hands in his, he searched her downcast eyes. "What is it Hollis?"

She laughed softly, "You're going to think I'm just stupid."

Gibbs smiled lopsidedly and Hollis thought she'd just fallen in love with him all over again. "Not going to know if you don't speak Holly. C'mon, I don't bite."

Rolling her eyes affectionately, she retorted. "Yeah, ask DiNozzo or the criminals you investigate. I'm sure they'll say you're just a big ol' teddy bear."

He chuckled. "Don't change the subject Holly. So, why are you here?"

She looked at him, and he thought he detected a hint of desperation in those eyes of hers. "Did you ever regret, you know, leaving things the way they were? Did you ever regret letting me walk away?" She saw him starting to deny even before he processed her statement. "And don't think of just denying it Jethro. I want, no, need you to answer this."

Again, the silence. Hollis didn't think that something as insignificant as the absence of speech or sound or just anything could drive her crazy as the silence did. She was tired, and she didn't think she had it in her to be turned down again as she had been when she realized he had never let Shannon or Kelly really go. She sighed again. "If you don't feel anything at all, Jethro, just say it and I'll be gone, this time forever. But, if you admit that what we had wasn't just a replacement of Shannon and Kelly to you, that you did feel something and still do, then I'll stay. But only if you want me to."

Gibbs still didn't say a word. Guess he didn't wanted it as much as she did. But before she could leave, again, his quiet voice finally rang through the basement. "I did want you Holly, still do. There hasn't been a day gone by that I haven't told myself I'm an idiot for letting you go."

Hollis turned to face him, saw that he meant what he said, that he still wanted her, them. Hope entered her eyes, and oh she daren't say it but she just had to know. "Does that mean that… You still want this? That we would still work?"

He brushed a stray blonde hair away, "I'd like to think it will, if you let me Hol. I know I've been an idiot and don't deserve a second chance. Hell, the second B still stands for 'bastard' and that's never gonna change. But I swear to you Holly, if you let me I will make it up to you." He gripped her face lightly, "I can't promise you anything Holly, but I promise you I will try."

Hollis smiled, tears shining brightly as she wrapped her arms around Gibbs neck tightly, he holding onto her slim waist securely, not letting her go a second time. Pulling away slightly, she gently kissed him, and Gibbs felt as though he was a thirsty traveler in the dessert who had drunk from the sweet waters of the oasis, felt as though he had found what he was missing for so long now.

Breaking the kiss, Hollis whispered into his ear. "That's all I ask Jethro, nothing more."

They stayed in each other's embrace for a little while more, marveling at the second chance they both got. Then Hollis grinned, and started to pull Jethro up the stairs. "Come on Jethro! It's still not too late to get to Stillwater! You should call your dad; let him know we're still coming."

Hollis raced up the stairs, proving just how fit she stayed despite retiring. Turning back to glance at him, she shouted playfully, "Come on old man! Even McGee could move faster than you! Hurry up!" Laughing, she disappeared from the darkness of the basement, presumably to the car. Out of the dark and into the light of a new day.

Gibbs shook his head, not believing how lucky he was. As he walked slowly back up the stairs, he grinned, a silly smile on his face. It sure was Thanksgiving, and maybe things were starting to look up. Throwing on his jacket, he banged the door carelessly behind him and went to his car where Hollis was waiting. His Hollis; the one thing he'd be grateful for fervently this day and the days to come.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed.