Author: MoiraShipper

Summary: In her first vacation as director of NCIS, Jenny Shepard accepts Gibbs's invitation to travel with him in his boat to Mexico and the two realize they still had time to put aside the 'no off the job' and rediscover the passion that they still felt for each other.

The only time is our time

Chapter 1

Jenny Shepard was sitting in her office, putting in order the paperwork and reports in a Friday evening. The redhead knew that being the director of a federal agency was difficult, but didn't expect to be so tired after only six months at the NCIS. But, after these months, she would be able to take her first vacation after long cases that the agency had helped to solve and that eased her.

It wasn't just the pressure of being the first female director, the harassment of reporters and other directors and the decisions to be taken that exhausted her. It was also because of special agent Gibbs and the relationship of love and hate between them.

Jenny was sure she regretted for telling him 'no off the job', because in her heart she knew that she still loved him as much as six years ago when the two had been lovers in Europe and the whole time she would see Gibbs coming with a redhead, she felt angry and then her heart ached knowing that she would never be loved or feel things like Gibbs had made her feel.

But her position as director, the letter and what she had said to Gibbs had made things difficult, because she knew she had hurt him bad by the glint in his blue eyes, even though at that time it had seemed right to leave him in Paris.

At each passing day, Jenny and Gibbs would see each other in the hallways of NCIS, exchanging discret looks and the way their bodies seemed to be on fire near the other only showed that all their feelings were still there.

Jenny ran a hand over her tired face, massaging her forehead as she placed the reports inside her briefcase and sat on the couch, taking off one side of her black high heel because her foot was hurting, when the door opened and she raised her head, seeing Gibbs coming towards her desk with a manila envelope in hand and an amused smile for seeing her angry. The two loved to let the other angry or pissed off.

"Agent Gibbs, how many times do I have to tell you to not to enter without being announced?" Jenny asked, going to the other foot in high heel.

Her green eyes followed Gibbs putting his report on the desk and he turned to her, watching Jenny's delicate hands in her lowering he ziper of her high heel and he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, finding her action very sexy.

"It wouldn't be so funny, ma'am."

He continued watching her take off her high heel and Jenny rolled her eyes, massaging her sore foot when Gibbs walked over to her and sat beside her on the couch, putting her legs on his lap and Jenny jumped in her seat, surprised with his action.

"What are you doing?" She asked, narrowing her eyes and wanting to take her legs off his lap, but he held them firmly with his hands.

The two stared at each other and Gibbs's eyes were shining mysteriously and Jenny felt her heart race with the intensity of his look on her before relaxing, feeling his big and calloused hands massaging her foot, pulling delicately her toe and then going to the others and she leaned her head on the couch, feeling the pain go away.

"Why do you insist on wearing these shoes, Jen?" Gibbs asked, in a mixture of curiosity and concern, seeing a callus on her foot as he ran to the other side, watching her delicacy and painted white nails, trying to ease her pain and remembering the time when Jenny would wrap her legs around his waist as they made love.

If she hadn't told him 'no off job', they would be going home together and he admitted that he still loved her and missed her, but Jenny was too stubborn to budge.

"Because they value my legs."

"I always liked your legs." He reminded her, raising an eyebrow and Jenny felt her face flush as she recalled the two together in Marseille and then she pulled her legs gently off his lap and stared at him.

"Jethro, what are you doing here?"

She was intrigued by him being there in her office instead of being at home, working on his boat and noted that he looked tired, but satisfied, as he turned to her on the couch.

"I finished my boat. 'Kelly'." He said, his blue eyes shining indecipherable and Jenny was curious.

"You finished her?" He nodded, his eyes shining even more when she referred to the boat as 'she' and Jenny said: "It's the same boat that you were building when I visited you in the basement this year?"

"It is." Gibbs then took a deep breath, wanting to reveal the reason for him being there after work and Jenny's curiosity increased because she thought he had already destroyed the boat and started another one. "Jenny, what do you think of us traveling together to Mexico?"

For months he had been working without rest in his boat, and when 'Kelly' was finally finished, he was satisfied with the work. The boat was big enough for two people to travel comfortably for weeks and he wanted to try one last time to see if Jenny would still keep the 'no off the job' or she would admit that she still loved him. That journey could be like their time in Europe.

Jenny opened and closed her mouth twice, as she didn't believe the proposal, her green eyes shining. Traveling with Gibbs would be a dream, almost like Marseille and Paris again, and she was very fond of places aith beaches. But then she shook her head, refusing with a sad smile.

"Jethro... We can't travel together and you know very well. I'm the director and you're my agent."

Gibbs sighed tired, but he could see that Jenny was balanced with the proposal, because for seconds he had seen the glow of happiness on her face and he realized that Jenny still had feelings for him, but was afraid to surrender, so he was willing to take her on that trip.

"Jen, I'm not asking you to run away with me and get married." He told her, looking at her seriously and for a moment, Jenny seemed disappointed.

Of course he would like to be able to call her his wife, but now he needed to slow down if he wanted to prove that the two still loved each other and that she was different from his ex wives, Shannon's substitutes.

"I want us to travel and relax a bit..." He rested an arm on the back of the couch, putting his hand up to her face and brushing away a long lock of red hair, saying sincerely: "I miss us."

"Oh Jethro, I miss us too…" She admitted softly, mentally saying I love you, looking deep into his eyes and saying the words that she ignored when he had spoken to her on her first day at NCIS, making him give her a small smile and she smiled back.

Jenny wanted to surrender, but didn't know if Gibbs was just feeling nostalgic, regarding their time in Europe and the fact that she had abandoned him and Jenny didn't want to risk losing her position as director, but wanted to at least be able to travel with him as friends.

"If you go in vacation with me, who will lead your team?" She asked, considering the proposal and raising an eyebrow at him and Gibbs rolled his eyes, but satisfied with her statement.

"DiNozzo can take my place for a month, he is capable."

Tony had been working for him for a few years and it would be good for him to practice for when he retired. Jenny bit her lip, frowning and looking at Gibbs and then she smiled, giving in.

"I accept to travel with you, Jethro." Gibbs released his breath that he didn't know he was holding. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'll pick you at your house."

And Gibbs stood up, kissing her forehead and leaving with a small smile, thinking that in less than 12 hours the two were going to travel together by the sea and he would slowly show her how much he loved her.

Jenny, still surprised by his kiss, got up and put on her shoes, unable to hide the smile that appeared on her face at the thought of the two alone and traveling. Maybe it wasn't yet late for them and she could retire the words 'no off the job'.

Who can say where the road goes

Where the day flows?

Only time