Disclaimer: I still don't own NCIS. You know I wouldn't kill her if I did.
There were only two times that he told her that he loves her.
The first was the time that he woke up in his basement. He lifted his eyelids and saw her white coat beside his toolbox. It was only then when he felt the crumpled paper in his fist. He threw it at the coat and cursed. Within a few seconds, he picked it up again and read it. He slammed his fist on the table. He winced through the pain. He whispered his words of love for her.
He regretted that she never heard those words from him before she left him in that airplane.
The second was the time when he was reading the case file. He drank two bottles of bourbon and his eyesight was already blurred. He cannot read the words anymore but the pictures of her were still recognizable. He pulled out the letters in his pocket. He read the first then stared at the second which only bore the words 'Dear Jethro'. He voiced out her name in a deep audible tone and murmured his words of love.
He regretted that she never heard those words from him after she came back for him.
There were only two times that he told her that he loves her. But he never thought that she will never have the chance to hear it from his lips. If he did, he wished he told her that from the very beginning of her comeback… instead of 'I miss you'.
FIN.
