Don't Dream It's Over
Summary: Jenny/Gibbs. An unexpected visitor turns up to find Jethro Gibbs in Mexico. Can she help to rebuild his past and, more importantly, help him to build a future? Pre-Season Four. Jibbs
Please review! This is my first full length Jibbs fic and I love your feedback and any ideas you have! xXx.
Chapter One:
NCIS Director Jennifer Shepard threw down her pen and notebook onto her bed. It fell onto the only space that was taken up with piles of her clean clothes and the large suitcase she had managed to locate in the attic. Her list was complete and all the items had been ticked off, now all she needed to do was actually pack. Although her heart was aching for him and she was longing to see him, Jenny went downstairs and made herself a cup of tea and a cheese sandwich before she could face the arduous task of packing her bags. Once again her conflicting emotions kicked in and Jenny began to wonder if she was doing the right thing in chasing Leroy Jethro Gibbs across the country. In her heart there was no doubt at all that she was doing the right thing but her head was telling her otherwise. She was the Director of NCIS and couldn't afford to be flighty but matters of the heart had always been Jenny's weakness, especially when a certain Special Agent Gibbs was involved.
She sighed as she swallowed the dregs of her cup of tea. She supposed the worst punishment they could give her would be to demote her back down to the rank of Special Agent. That might mean working with Gibbs again, if he ever came back, and that didn't seem like such a bad prospect after all. Knowing that she couldn't put it off any longer Jenny headed back upstairs to her bedroom and started to pack up her suitcase. Most of the contents were made up of summer clothes; shorts, vests, bikinis, sundresses and the like. The weather in Mexico would be scorching right now and her businesslike suits would be totally out of place. The temperature in Virginia was still fairly low so Jenny dressed in jeans, a white cotton blouse and a jacket. Her case was finally packed and her ticket, passport, wallet, sunglasses and paperback romance novel were in her hand luggage. With one last wistful look around her home and one last feeling of self-doubt, Jennifer Shepard began her journey to Mexico and the love of her life.
Jethro Gibbs' fourth day in Mexico dawned as beautifully as the previous ones had. As he stretched out in bed that morning, he lay peacefully, listening to the soft lap of the ocean outside and the birds circling overhead. This style of life was so different to what he was used to back in the bustling city where there was work to be done. Gibbs was sure he could get used to this pace of life but for now he was taking one day at time.
After a few minutes of reflection, Gibbs climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash and dress for the day. He had nothing more exciting than a few beers and doing some work on a boat planned for that day but this suited him perfectly. There was something so soothing about the rhythm of working on a boat but it made him miss his pride and joy at home in his basement. His memory was slowing coming back to him but some things were harder to recall than others. He still thought about Shannon and Kelly all the time, there was no escaping that but he was slowly learning to let go and let them rest in peace. There was another woman occupying his mind as well though, a certain Jennifer Shepard. Gibbs was finding himself thinking about her more often than was probably good for him. He couldn't help it though and although his memory might not be up to scratch he could still remember every moment they had shared together, intimate or otherwise.
After a leisurely breakfast Gibbs had headed out onto the beach, the sand was already scorching hot and the clear sky promised another roasting day. He selected a beer bottle from the cooler and began to work on the boat, pausing every now and then to take a sip of the refreshing liquid. The morning passed quickly and Gibbs found himself wishing that time would go more slowly. He knew at some point he would have to return to the real world but for now he was happy here. Gibbs was just debating whether or not it was time for lunch when he heard footsteps approaching him from behind. He turned to address who ever it was but it was not and could not be who he was expecting.
"Jen?" Gibbs asked, trying to mask his surprise as he watched the redhead move nearer to him. She was dressed for the weather in a pair of navy shorts and a white vest top with her glasses resting on top of her head. Not for the first time Gibbs was knocked for six by her appearance.
"Thought I'd find you here." She smiled, showing how well she really did know him.
"I'm still that predictable, am I?" He replied, his response a mix of banter and flirtation.
"Wouldn't have you any other way." Jen replied, taking the nearly empty beer bottle from his left hand and taking a swig. Gibbs watched in a mixture of surprise and appreciation. "Shall we go and get lunch somewhere?"
Over a meal of seafood and fine wine Gibbs was finally able to ask Jenny the question he had been wanting to ask ever since he had set eyes on her that day.
"Jen," He began, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin. "What are you really doing here?"
Jenny went an uncomfortable shade of pink that had nothing to do with the heat of the day. She had been hoping that Gibbs would just be pleased to see her and wouldn't ask any further question, but she knew him better than to expect this from him. She paused before responding.
"Jethro, when you walked out it just didn't feel right…" She paused, trying to search for the right words to no avail.
"So you've come out here to bring me back?" He guessed.
Jen shrugged. "I know you well enough to never try to make you do anything Jethro. I just worried about you and thought that maybe, you could do with some company?"
Gibbs smiled at her across the table. "Well, I can't say it was an unwelcome surprise." Jen smiled back, her eyes lighting up as she stared into his. "But I'm not ready to come home, not yet, and I don't know when I ever will be."
He took Jenny's hands in his across the tabletop and squeezed them. For now, being together right here was good enough.