Written as a Hangman prize for IMSLES over at NFA Community.
The New Neighbor
When he had spotted the moving truck he had not really paid much attention to it. When he had seen the men that carried furniture into the house next to his he had not cared too much. He wasn't too interested to know who his new neighbor would be and had hoped that that person or persons would keep to themselves. He knew at some point he might have to introduce himself or be introduced too. He could do that as long as it didn't become a regular thing to hang out and talk.
These had just been some of the thoughts that had been going through his mind when he first had realized that he was getting a new neighbor. Those seemed rather foolish now. Now he wanted to get to know his new neighbor. He had first seen her or rather she had almost knocked him to the ground when she had chased after a child. She had loudly apologized after her as she continued to hurry after the girl. He remembered seeing long dark brown hair flowing behind her like a cape. That was about it. The first time he had gotten a glimpse of the people next door.
The second time was when he had come home early one evening and as he was about to open his front door he had heard a small voice behind him.
"Hi."
He turned and saw a girl looking shyly at him. She seemed familiar and he realized pretty quickly that it was the same girl that had caused that brunette to almost knock into him. He took a step closer to the little girl who seemed to study him carefully. "Hello there."
"Do you live here?"
He smiled at the girl who couldn't be more than four or five year's old with blue eyes and light brown hair. "Yes, I do."
"I live over there."
She had pointed to the house next door. "Then you are my neighbor." He told her and she nodded her small head at him.
"Lisa!"
Gibbs looked up and felt his breath get caught in his throat. Walking towards him was the woman with the long brown hair. She was beautiful with porcelain skin with freckles over her nose and cheeks along with a pair of piercing blue eyes. She had on a tight sweater with pants that really showed of her hour glass figure. Gibbs tried not to stare as the woman kneeled down to the child.
"What have I said about running when my back is turned?"
The child, Lisa was her name, bowed her head in shame.
"What have I said about talking to strangers?"
This time the little girl looked up. "But you said we should introduce ourselves."
Gibbs couldn't help but to smile at that while the woman scooped the girl up. Soon those blue eyes were looking at him.
"She is right. I did say that. We are your new neighbors. This is my daughter, Lisa and I'm Josephine but everyone calls me Jo ."
She extended her hand and he shook it. "Jethro Gibbs but everyone calls me Gibbs." There was a bright smile that almost blended him in response.
"It's nice to meet you. I meant to apologize for running into to you the other day. My little explorer tends to keep me on my toes."
He shook his head trying not to get lost in those pools that were her eyes." Don't worry about it."
"Well I got to get back." She looked at her daughter. "Say goodbye to the nice man Lisa."
The little girl waved her hand. "Bye."
Gibbs found he waved back to her. She was adorable. "Bye." Another smile was given to him as his new neighbor walked off carrying her daughter.
That was their first 'real' meeting. Gibbs smiled at the memory. He had not seen Jo or Lisa for a while and he wondered if that was why he kept looking out the window. Was he hoping to see them? Was he hoping to see her? He could deny it but that would be a lie. He looked at his watch and realized it was time to head to work.
As he got ready he again pondered if he should have gone over to the next house and see if the needed any help. It's not like it was something he usually did but it had crossed his mind this time. He grabbed his keys and headed out the door. It was then he saw Jo in her garden and when she saw him she waved at him. He waved back and although he wanted to talk to her he knew he should really go to work.
"Gibbs?"
"Yes?" He smiled at her.
"I don't want to be a bother but do you have a hammer I could borrow? I can't find mine."
Damn she was gorgeous the way she smiled, making her eyes shine brightly. "Sure."
She watched as he turned quickly and walked away. She sighed as she watched him disappear into the house. He seemed like a nice man and she hoped she would get a chance to know him a little better. She shook her head as she started to drag out some of the dead flowers hoping she would think of something else.
With hammer in hand he left the house again and locked the door. He walked over to the fence and noticed she had not even seen him approach. He took a moment to study her as she worked. He smirked a bit and tried to focus. "You needed a hammer?"
She had been so preoccupied that hearing his voice made her jerk a bit. She stood up, smiled and accepted it from him. "Thank You."
"Anything else you need you just let me know."
He seemed real nice. Nice, helpful and handsome too. That's was a good start. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." She watched as he walked away and she gathered her tools to head back inside herself.
As he opened his car door he caught sight of her walking back into her house. This neighbor he definitely wanted to get to know.
Hours later, he had come home pretty early and had taken a quick look over to the house next to his. He didn't see any sign of Jo or her daughter. Now as he was sitting in the living room just glancing in a newspaper he couldn't help but to think about the brunette next door. There was a part of him that wanted to go over there but he didn't want to give the wrong impression. Then he heard the knock at the front door and he figured if it was anyone from NCIS they would have just gone on in. He got up and walked over to the door. As he opened it he saw that it was the same brunette that had occupied his mind pretty much all day.
Jo handed him the hammer. "Thanks for the loan."
He smiled at her as he took it. "Anytime."
Lisa couldn't wait anymore. "Can I see your house?"
His eyes looked at the girl who stood next to her mother and was now beaming at him.
Jo couldn't believe what she had just heard. She looked at her daughter. "Lisa!"
"It's ok." Gibbs said. "Come on in." He waved as he stepped aside for them both to enter.
Having an invitation Lisa now ran inside and Gibbs chuckled at the sight. When Jo didn't move Gibbs turned to face her. "Don't want to come in?"
"I feel like I'm intruding." She replied honestly.
He shook his head as he once again gestured for her to come inside.
She smiled at him as she passed. Still she didn't feel it was quite right to be invited into his house this way.
Soon after he had shown them around and basically told them about each room they were now sitting in the living room. He had been in the kitchen getting some coffee for Jo and milk for Lisa when he noticed that the girl seemed to insist on something. "What's going on?"
Jo kept a hand on her daughter's back while watching her with warning eyes. "Nothing."
Lisa slumped back in the sofa and pouted a little. "I was just wondering."
"Wondering what?" Gibbs asked as he handed Jo her coffee and put the milk down in front of Lisa. When neither of them said anything he tried again. "Come on, what are you curious about?"
Lisa immediately sat up straight. "Why does one room have a locked door?"
Gibbs watched Jo who seemed to look apologetic at him before he turned back his attention to Lisa. "That.. was my daughter's room. When she died I locked the door and I haven't been in there since." He saw the girl's eyes become huge and for a moment he thought she looked real sad.
Jo blinked not sure what to say. What could she say?
Lisa's eyes travelled down to the floor. "I'm sorry." She felt bad.
"It's ok." He drank some of his coffee wondering what had made him tell them the truth.
Lisa looked back up at the man who seemed to be very sad. She did not like that. "What was her name?"
Before Jo could say anything Gibbs answered her daughter. "Kelly."
"Lisa, I think that's enough." Jo said in a firm but kind voice. Lisa nodded back to her and took her glass of milk in her hands.
Jo felt uncomfortable. She fidgeted with her pants as she thought of something to say. However nothing came to mind.
Gibbs knew he was being stared at so he turned towards Jo and smiled at her. "Don't worry about it." He told her.
She nodded at him but still felt uncomfortable. Why couldn't she think of something to say?
No one spoke and the only sound that could be heard was from Lisa as she drank her milk.
Gibbs knew he should say something. What had he expected when he had invited them in? Of course the girl would be curious about the locked room. Why hadn't he simply just lied to them about it? He could have said anything but he didn't. He was brought back to reality as Lisa sat down the now empty glass on the table.
Jo had to get out of there. "We should go." She took Lisa's hand and stood up as she noticed that Gibbs did the same.
He didn't want them to leave. "You don't…" He tried to say but Jo held up a hand and shook her head effectively silencing him.
"No, we have had a long day and we're tired. Thanks for showing us your house. Goodnight Gibbs." She didn't wait for an answer as she started to move away while Lisa waved at him.
Gibbs watched them walk away. He stood there until he heard the front door open and close. He sighed deeply as he sat down. She had not even touched her coffee. He couldn't really blame Jo for wanting to leave. Some impression he must have made on her now. He looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. "Goodnight." He whispered to no one.