Jimmy had been squirming all day, feeling like his back was red-hot.

The henna tattoo on his back had probably been a bad idea, but he didn't want to let down or worry Ducky by letting standards slip.

As Ducky left for the day after asking Jimmy to clean and tidy the autopsy suite, a few words were spoken by him to another member of the team, without Jimmy's knowledge.

Jimmy hurried through the cleaning, then dimmed the lights and rushed to his locker for the tub of calamine cream. Slipping off his shirt and vest, he sighed as the cool air floated across his inflamed back.
The watcher in the shadows crumpled his empty coffee cup in his fist and breathed in deeply.

The pain from the tattoo had Jimmy so consumed that he didn't hear the autopsy suite doors whoosh open. Carefully stretching and twisting he managed to drip cream over his shoulder but struggled to apply it further.
Then a strong warm hand gripped one shoulder as another hand carefully smoothed cream across Jimmy's back, soothing the peeling itchy skin.

Jimmy jumped at the first touch, then sighed and wilted in relief. Half-turning, he caught sight of the owner of the hands, and stammered in shock.

"Oh, uh, thanks, b-b-but I can take it from here... " Jimmy's voice trailed off as Gibbs leant in close to him.
"Relax, Jimmy. You look like you're allergic to henna."

Gibbs carefully coated Jimmy's back with the soothing calamine, and draped the shirt around his shoulders.
"You're going to have to do that several times tonight, & it'll be difficult to get to the middle of your back. You might as well come home with me, make sure that you don't get it infected."

Jimmy could detect no emotion in Gibbs' voice, but felt sure that Gibbs disapproved of the tattoo. He meekly gathered his bag and coat and followed Gibbs to the parking garage.

Silence reigned on the journey to Gibbs' house; Gibbs because he felt no need to talk, and Jimmy because he was unsure of Gibbs' motives.

Although Jimmy was not so terrified of Gibbs now as when he joined the team, Gibbs was the only person who could set his knees knocking. A large dose of fear and hero-worship made Jimmy very nervous around Gibbs, especially when his mouth chattered on its own.

As they entered Gibbs' house, Jimmy's stomach grumbled, causing a blush to rise to his cheeks and a stammered apology. Gibbs merely smiled as he walked away from Jimmy into the kitchen.
"Steaks do you?" He called over his shoulder, fishing two beers from the icebox. Snagging the steaks, he rose and headed to the grill, tossing one beer to Jimmy en route.

After the simple meal of steaks and salad has been washed down with more beer, Gibbs gently applied more cream to Jimmy's back.