Disclaimer: Nope, not gonna do it. We've all been around here long enough to know the deal. 'Nuff said.

Authors Note: Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody who read "Driving Miss Jenny". It sparked the biggest one day reader load of any of my stories to date. I wish I could figure out why and do it again! This story was inspired by a comment that BAMACRUSH made in her review of "Driving Miss Jenny". The story takes place after the episode "South by Southwest". It involves Gibbs and an OC I created for my story "El Viejo". Ellie Foster AKA "the nice nursie" is her name. If you're unfamiliar with her you could read the chapter "DIY" from "El Viejo". Also the story "The Blues Brothers". Thanks for stopping in. Enjoy the story.

Spoilers: Um, do I really have to write something here?

'Life's like a road that you travel on One day here and the next day gone Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand Sometimes you turn your back to the wind'- Chris LeDoux, "Life is a Highway" , 1999

Maricopa Medical Center, Surgical Waiting Room, Phoenix Arizona 1530hrs

Senior Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs was bored. He was waiting for a chance to talk to Sheriff Clay Boyd. Boyd had been shot in the leg while helping Gibbs and Special Agent Tony DiNozzo protect Dina Risi. Ms. Risi stumbled into a conspiracy being perpetrated by a mining company. This caused the death of an NCIS Special Agent. It also caused Gibbs to shoot down a helicopter using a Winchester rifle belonging to Sheriff Boyd. Once Gibbs talked to Sheriff Boyd, he'd rejoin DiNozzo. Tony was currently with Dina Risi. They were at a local motel awaiting the arrival of the US Marshalls who would take over the protection detail for Ms. Risi.

Normally Gibbs would be able to wait with no problem. For some reason, this afternoon he was antsy. He'd already read two magazines and was currently trying to further occupy himself. The only other thing to read was a hospital promotional brochure. Jethro absently leafed through the brochure.

Stats, bullshit, bullshit. Ah, staff pictures.

Gibbs flipped thru the pictures section, stopping on the second page.

NAH can't be.

But it was. The hair was a little gray, but the eyes were still the same, bright and lively. Gibbs' gaze went to the caption under the picture.

Ellie Foster, Director of Nursing

"Agent Gibbs?"

Jethro looked up. A nurse in green scrubs was standing in the doorway.

"Yes."

"You can see Sheriff Boyd now."

"Thanks."

Gibbs dropped the brochure and rose to his feet. He followed the nurse down the hallway to a private room. Inside Clay Boyd was sitting up in bed.

"Agent Gibbs."

"Sheriff. How's the leg?"

"Hurts like a bitch."

Gibbs chuckled.

"Least it was a through and through. 'Coulda been worse."

"True. By the way that was a great shot you made to bring down that chopper. Nice to be lucky."

Jethro shrugged.

"Luck had nothing to do with it. Used to do it for a living. Marine sniper."

Now it was Boyd's turn to chuckle.

"I'll be go to hell. Well, bad luck for the dirtbags. How's your witness?"

"DiNozzo's sittin' on her waiting for the Marshalls to show up."

Sheriff Boyd made a 'get out of here' gesture'.

"Well, what are ya waitin' for? I'm good thanks to you. Get goin'. Pleasure to have worked with ya. Take care of yourself."

Gibbs moved forward and shook hands with Boyd.

"See ya around Sheriff."

Office of the Director of Nursing, 1550hrs

After leaving Sheriff Boyd's room, Gibbs stopped at the Nursing Station for the floor. He asked the nurse on duty how to get to the Director of Nursing's office.

Now he was standing looking thru the glass door at a secretary fielding phone calls and typing on a computer. Gibbs' normal decisiveness seemed to have taken the afternoon off. He walked past the door and leaned against the hallway wall.

He remembered the last time he and Ellie went out. Ellie just heard she'd gotten the job as head trauma nurse. Gibbs told her they'd celebrate. Not that he felt like celebrating. Regardless, Ellie picked a nice restaurant. She wore the ubiquitous 'little black dress' and Jethro wore his 'court suit'. They'd been having a good time until Gibbs' pager went off. Gibbs excused himself and made a call. When he came back he told Ellie that he and Mike Franks would be leaving for Washington in the morning. There was some type of flap on. They cut dinner short and went back to Ellie's. The next morning Gibbs woke her with a kiss and told her he'd try and get back before she left for Arizona. It didn't happen. There'd been a few months of cross country phone calls, but schedules interfered on both ends. It ended with a whimper rather than a bang.

C'mon Leroy, this ain't high school. Go on in there and say hello.

Gibbs pushed off the wall and walked into the outer office. The secretary looked up from her computer.

"Can I help you sir?"

Gibbs decided the semi-official way would cut through the 'gate keeping'. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his credentials, flipping them open. The secretary's eyes widened.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. Is Ms. Foster in?"

"Yes Sir. Should I…"

The secretary reached for the intercom.

"Not necessary, miss. I'm an old friend from California. Just point me to her office."

"Second door on the right. It should be open."

Gibbs gave the girl a reassuring smile.

"Thanks. There really is no problem. I was in the area and realized Ms. Foster worked here. Just gonna say hello."

Jethro turned down a short hallway and stopped at the second door on the right. Ellie Foster was sitting at her desk typing on her computer. She was still the same. Totally focused. Unless you spoke or touched her, she'd never know you were there. Ellie looked good. Dressed in business casual, her hair was still shoulder length and still as curly as it was back in the day. Her dark eyes were squinting slightly. As she typed, a bracelet on her right wrist jangled. Dolphins chased each other around her wrist. Gibbs smiled.

She's still wearin' it. Damn.

"Excuse me, but can you tell me where a guy could get a Band-Aid around here?"

The clicking of keys stopped immediately. A pair of dark eyes looked up meeting a familiar pair of piercing blue.

"Gibbs?"

"Hey Ellie."

"Oh my God. What are you doing here?"

"Had a case outside of Scottsdale. The Sheriff I was workin' with got wounded and wound up here. Saw your picture in the hospital brochure. Here I am."

Ellie got up and came around the desk standing in front of Gibbs. She grasped his hands looking intently into his face.

"You know, I should be really pissed at you. No word for God knows how long and now you just appear in my office."

Jethro looked a little sheepish.

"Well, would it help if I told you that between my job and three ex-wives I've been a little busy?"

"Three ex-wives?"

Gibbs smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I'm a serial offender. Cured now though."

Ellie couldn't help but grin.

"Well, that explains the gray hair. So, do we have time to catch up or do you have to rush off?"

"Let me make a call and I'll tell you."

Gibbs flipped open his phone and hit a speed dial button. Two rings and an answer.

"Yes Boss."

"Did the Marshalls get there yet DiNozzo?"

"Uh-huh. Just left. They'll be in touch.

"Okay. Can I trust you on your own for a couple of hours? I ran into an old friend and I'd like to catch up some."

"Boss, I'm hurt. You know I'm the soul of caution. I'll be fine."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I'll meet you back at our hotel later."

"Okay Boss."

Gibbs flipped his phone shut.

"Looks like I've got some time to kill. How does dinner sound?"

Ellie went back behind her desk, saved her work and shut down her computer. She picked up her purse. As she came back around the desk she stuck her arm thru Jethro's.

"Lead on kindly light."

A/N: I was shooting for one chapter with this. As usual there's too much story in my head for one chapter (sigh). Looks like it's gonna be at least two. The balloon beckons. Heed the balloon.