I don't own NCIS

I hope this Is ok, I've had this idea in my mind for ages and it is new territory for me not to do a soley shipping fic. There will be romance at the end but not between Gibbs and Lucy – they're simply friends.

I hope you will all read and bear with me, I'm not a great writer, nor any good at spelling or grammar, but my story lines are usually strong.

I hope you enjoy and please spare a moment to tell me what you think

Thanks xx

Washington DC, November 21st 1998, 23:00 hours

"The stars they shine for you my darling." She whispered into the silent night as she stood at front window of her flat looking down onto the street below. The rain pattered on the window – a sound she'd always loved – but tonight, it was the only sound and had a feel of loneliness to it. It left its perfectly circular markings on the window, carelessly dotted around. The wind blew gently outside, and the drops began to roll, forced to follow the wind on its journey is only for a little while. "You're in my heart baby girl – forever and a day." If she'd have been outside in the rain at that moment then the lone tear making its path down her face would have been disguised. But here, in the flat it was the only evidence that inside she was not the floorless person her appearance suggested she was.

The silence was broken by the ringing of her mobile on the coffee table beside her. Brushing the tear away almost as if the person on the other end would be able to see it she answered the phone. Her eyes remained closed to stabilise her voice and to keep up the lie of flawlessness – for now at leat. "Dead marine at the Navy Yard." Was all he said. But she knew what to do, 'anticipate' he'd told her, told everyone apparently. So she knew what Gibbs meant was get to the Navy yard we have a case. And as she always did, she texted Stan Burly, her co-worker and passed on the message to him.

With one last sad glance out of the window she ran upstairs to change out of the joggers and hoodie she'd changed into only a few hours before when she'd returned from work. As she put on a pair of kick flare black trousers and a pale blue blouse she was pleased she hadn't yet removed her make up as all she had to do was touch it up. Within ten minutes she was ready to go and putting on a pair of heeled black leather boots and a black leather jacket. She brushed her hair and tied the long straightened blonde locks into a neat ponytail before holstering her gun and badge, grabbing her bag and heading out into the dreary night.

She arrived first on scene and was glad to find the rain had not yet reached the Navy yard. So she took down all the information she knew she needed to get, ordered the local Leo's they would take the case and got on with bagging and tagging, scotching and photographing evidence as she knew the rain was fast approaching. Ducky arrived and she walked over. "Lucy my dear, what do we have?" questioned the older Scotsman.

"Male Petty officer, one bullet to the front of his head, gun beside him. Looks like a suicide as far as I can tell but we won't know for sure as you know." She answered reading from her note pad. "Looking at him I would say he died no more than four hours ago?" she asked hesitantly checking her calculations.

"And you would be right my dear." Replied the older man, still amazed after 9 months at her abilities. "Where may I ask are your two companions?"

"You're guess is as good as mine Doc'." She replied in her English accent. The two got on well, often sharing tales of times spent in the UK where they had both grown up.

Lucy returned to work and when Gibbs arrived not 10 minutes later he found the majority of evidence already in the truck. "You're meant to get statements whilst Steve does that." Stated Gibbs.

"His name is Stan Gibbs, and as I figured the rain was on its way and Burly is not here I thought it best to deal with evidence first."

"And whiteness's?"

"Well I persuaded the Leo's to talk to them before disappearing!" she replied before getting back to work. Jethro watched her and smirked. When she'd arrived she had been quiet, always work orientated but simply waited for his instructions. Now thought she thought for herself. The only thing was that there was a part of herself she kept guarded. A part she let no one in. The way when they'd had to talk to a mother and newborn child her eyes had avoided the child at all costs and on the drive back she had stared out of the window. As if if she dared talk she'd break. But Jethro didn't push. It was nearly a year ago that Jenny had left him in Paris now and the ache was still strong. She'd noticed, so had Stan. Gibbs was pretty sure he'd filled her in on what he thought had happened and even when he'd muttered her name at the sight of a red head she hadn't asked like most would. Even if he didn't show it he had warmed to Lucy James.

"Where is Steve-"

"Stan!"

"Whatever! Where is he?" questioned Gibbs.

"Why does everyone think I always know where he is? I'm not the man's keeper!"

"No, you're his co-worker!"

"And I'm your partner, doesn't mean I know much about you!" she fired back before walking over to the truck to place a load more evidence. It was true though, she was his partner. And he could always rely on her having his back – that was for certain.

As the rain came down both Jenny and Gibbs photographed what they could before running to the van, closing the doors and getting in. When they sat down she laughed as she looked in her mirror. Jethro looked over to see her wet fringe plastered to her face and black make up under her eyes. Some women, most women would panic and stress, but instead the van was filled with a magical laugh, one from the heart that he had never heard before. As she looked at him it increased and as he glanced in the rear-view mirror he understood why. His hair lie her fringe was plastered to his face and he resembles a wet dog. For the first time in what felt like ages he laughed, not a lot but enough. As they drove back she was still giggling. He turned to her and smirked. "You planning on calming down any time soon?"

"I look like Alice Cooper!" she said looking back at him.

"Who?"

"You know, Alice Cooper…70's rock…?"

"Nope."

"Gibbs you need to get out more." She said with a sigh. He just turned to her and laughed.

Neither of them knew in that moment but that was how their relationship would become. Full of laughs and jokes. In a way like father and daughter, brother and sister and in the eyes of some – especially when they argued which they did frequently – an old married couple. For Tom Marrow who would watch them both change, become happier and best friends, he realised how yet again Jethro had made a great agent. But this one was different, between these two, in the months and years that would follow would become a bond, a bond of not just trust, and respect but more than anything else, a bond of loyalty. One which would not be broken.

Washington DC, November 22nd 1998, 21:09 hours

The case ran into the next day, and none of them got any sleep. When Stan emerged in the early hours of the morning he was head slapped by Gibbs and given the worst tasks as per usual. As it turned out, Lucy's suspicion that it was suicide had been proved correct. Thankfully her quick gathering of evidence had led to his prints being found on the weapon and a suicide note. Added t the collapse of his marriage and his now ex-wife being given sole custody of their child he'd killed himself.

The team completed their case reports and by half eight they were all on their way home. Stan to wherever he had been previously, and Lucy and Jethro home. Lucy knew that she owed her partner an explanation for a lot, and decided now was the time. So after going home and changing into a pair of skinny jeans, and a black tank top with a baggy red hoodie and trainers she made her way to his house.

It wasn't the first time she'd called in, so she knew where to find him, and surely enough there he was in his basement sanding the boat. She didn't say anything at first, but then neither id he. She poured herself a glass of bourbon before coughing at the taste as it burnt her throat. "It's an acquired taste." He said attempting to hide a smirk.

"That's one way of putting it." She replied. She just sat there, on a old wooden stool leaning against the wall. "I've been thinking, we're partners and that mean we have to trust one another. I already trust you will my life Gibbs. But…I think there are some bits of me you need to know." He placed his sander down, and turned to look at her. Lucy sat with her head against the wall eyes closed. "Before NCIS, I was student in England. I had a boy friend, but it was more than those stupid early twenties mad relationships. It…I dunno, in some ways it is the only relationship I will ever keep in my heart so strongly. I got pregnant and as much as it scared the living daylights out of us both it…it was perfect. I was seven months pregnant when I got these terrible pains. He thought it was labour, but." She swallowed trying to keep her composure. "I knew it wasn't, call it a gut feeling, women's intuition whatever you want. Yesterday was the year anniversary of that day, the day my little girl died before ever even seeing anything. I held her you know? Her small, perfect hands and fingers, all rounded and perfect." Gibbs looked at her as she looked at the floor, his heart instantly broke for her. "We tried to make it work, but every time I looked at him or him at me we saw what we'd lost. So I left. It was the hardest day of my life, but I knew I had to." Gibbs walked over and held her, she didn't cry much, he guessed she'd cried all the tears she could.

When time had passed and both had sat on the floor she looked at him. "I know about Jenny. That she left you for the Job. Ducky told me, don't blame him, he just thought I needed to know."

"I know."

Then silence fell, a sort of silence that lets you think things over in your mind. "Not many people know that about me Gibbs, I'd like it to stay that way." He didn't reply, but it was a silent promise, the ones not said out loud can't then be broken.

"My first wife, not Ginger or Diane, but my first wife witnessed a murder. She was going to testify whilst I was deployed. She was murdered; along with our daughter Kelly, she was eight. I tried to get myself blown up after I found out, tried to end it all. It never did work."

She didn't tell him he was sorry, she knew all too well there was no comfort in those words. "None of us are perfect." And that statement was one which would forever bind them together. Because both of them seemed flawless on the outside, but inside they had more stories to tell than breaths to take. That kind of loyalty will last a lifetime.

Please let me know what you think, this is going to be Lucy and Gibbs story about how time and work will alter their friendship xx

Thanks

Fashiongirl97