Jethro Gibbs stood at the top of his basement stairs and smirked. Doctor Rachel Cranston was lying on his basement floor, where Ari was killed.
"This floor is strangely comfortable, Agent Gibbs." She said as she cocked her head to look at him. He smirked again and walked down the stairs.
"Glad you like. What can I do for you, Dr. Cranston?" He asked. He set down the food on the work counter. He ordered her favorites because he knew she'd be there after the day she had.
"I know this is going to sound desperate, but I just didn't want to be alone tonight. I just want someone to talk. You don't mind do you?" She said. He helped her up. "I was scared, Jethro." She whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"I don't mind, Rachel. You wanna help me with the boat again?" He said. She nodded and took off her coat. Rachel sat on the work bench and sighed. He joined her and draped his arm over her shoulders.
"I'm sorry for just barging in here like this." She said. He smirked and passed her some food and a beer.
"You're always welcome, Rachel, you know that." He said. They ate in silence for a while. Then he stood up and cleared the table. She stood up and tried to help. He put his hand over hers. "I got it, Rache." He said. I'll be right down." He said. She smiled and watched him walk up the stairs. She picked up a piece of sandpaper and gently started to sand with the grain of the wood. After a few minutes she felt two strong arms circle her. He let his hands land on top of hers. "You're too gentle." He said. She subconsciously shifted closer to him.
"Yeah well I didn't really know what I was doing." She said. He smiled and moved away from her. As he stepped away he slipped on some sawdust. He landed on his back and Rachel gasped.
"Shit." He groaned as he rolled over to his stomach. Rachel bent down next to him.
"Oh my god! Gibbs, are you okay?" She asked. He sat up and leaned against the boat and winced.
"I'll be fine." He said.
"Turn around and let me check your back." She said. She moved behind him. "Take off your shirt." She said. He furrowed his brows. "I just want to check your back to make sure that nothing is injured." She said. He smirked and she rolled her eyes as he removed his shirt. She looked at his back and gently traced his spine. He tensed at first. "Relax Jethro." She said. She liked how his spine felt under her fingers.
"How's the back, Doc?" He asked. Her hands on his back were slowly diminishing his will power. She smiled.
"It's fine. No damage old man." She teased. She stood up and stepped in front of him, which she regretted. She had no idea that a man his age could look that good. She bit her lip and extended her hands to him.
"Old man, huh?" He asked. He grabbed her hands and stood up. He picked up his shirt and headed for the stairs. "I'm going to grab a beer. Do you want one?" he asked. She avoided looking at his chest.
"Sure. I'll just sand some more." She said. She turned back to the boat. After a few minutes she heard him walk down the stairs and place two beers down. She didn't turn around, but she felt his arms around her again.
"You're still too gentle." He whispered in her ear. His hands slipped on top of hers. He guided her hands and put a little more pressure on the sandpaper.
"This feels better." He murmured. Gibbs took a chance and kissed her neck. He didn't know what it was about her but he couldn't deny his complete attraction to one Dr. Rachel Lynn Cranston. Rachel gasped and leaned against him. "Much better." She groaned. Jethro continued to gently kiss her neck.
"I agree doctor." He murmured. She turned around and came face-to-face with a shirtless Leroy Jethro Gibbs. She let her eyes roam his chest, which was incredible.
"Still think I'm an old man, Rachel?" He asked as let his lips trail path from her neck to her lips. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Are you going to kiss me or are you just a tease?" She said. He smirked and let his lips crash onto hers. She let her hands roam his chest and settle at the base of his neck. His hands threaded through her auburn hair. He backed her up against the boat and let his hands roam her back. She moved her hands to his fine chest and gently pushed him back a bit.
"Something wrong?" He asked slightly breathless. She smiled and moved her hands back to play with the hair on the base of his neck.
"Nothing's wrong. What are we doing, Jethro?" She asked. He gave her hips a gentle squeeze.
"I think the kids call it making-out." He said with a smirk. She rolled her eyes.
"I'm being serious." She said. He knew where this conversation was going. He knew that someone like Rachel deserved everything she wanted and he knew that she didn't deserve a jaded bastard like him.
"I don't know, Rachel. You're the one that came here tonight." He said. He wanted her but he didn't deserve her. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her. He cared for so much that it hurt him. She shook her head. She was too old for one night stands or to be anyone's sex buddy.
"I'll just leave. I know my way out." She said. She gathered her coat and purse.
"What do you want from me, Rache?" He asked she looked back at him and then continued up the stairs. "I'm not good enough for you and I'm not what you want." He told as she reached the basement door.
"If that's what you think then you don't know me at all." She said and she was gone. "I'll see you around, Agent Gibbs." She said as she exited his basement. Gibbs hung his head. He threw on his shirt and bolted up the stairs. She was opening his front door.
"Rachel wait!" He said as he closed the gap between them.
"No Gibbs. It's fine." She said.
"Why did you come here tonight?" He asked as he gently closed the door. He turned her to face him.
"I came because I'm tired. I'm tired of being alone. I'm tired of pretending that I don't feel something for you. We've been having or coffee for weeks and I just thought…" She started to say. "Just forget it." She said.
"You scare me." He said. She just stared at him.