Hey there! Quick note: it's been forever since I've written anything. This pairing is new to me as I can see it is to everyone else too (There's no Gibbs/Rachel pairing on FFN) so please let me know what you think! I was watching reruns of NCIS with Rachel Cranston (played by the beautiful Wendy Makkena) aka "Dr. Kate's Sister" when I noticed some cute little chemistry between Rachel and Gibbs and I thought, 'well, why not?' So here's to them, I think they would be adorable together! Please review with any comments, constructive criticism or ideas. I'm open to new ideas esp since, as I said, this pairing is completely new to me!
'How the hell did I end up at another wedding?' Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs wondered as he sat alone at the decorated table, slowly moving the over-priced salmon around his plate. Around him people were laughing, dancing, drinking and celebrating the beginning of the young couples life together. After 4 weddings of his own and countless weddings of his friends, he certainly didn't want to be there. But he had made a promise. Thankfully, it was not his own wedding, but the wedding of his late daughter's best friend, Maddie Tyler. When the young woman had come to Gibbs several years ago for closure and protection, they had formed a mutual friendship and bond. So when she had sent him an invitation, he accepted. Unfortunately, he did not have a plus one, so he sat and dined alone. Maddie had come over and introduced her new husband to him and he forced a smile for the camera as she insisted on a picture. But now she was celebrating which he actually preferred, because small talk was not his favorite thing in the world.
Sighing, he stood and made his way through the crowded room to the open bar.
"Double shot of bourbon, straight up." He made his order at the bar and turned to survey the room. 'How long did he have to be here to be socially acceptable?' he thought to himself. He didn't want to be rude to the bride and groom, but he certainly didn't want to be social. His eyes scanned the room and he was about to turn back to his table when a woman caught his eye. A slender brunette woman maybe in her 40's was leaning over the balcony outside. The outdoor lanterns caught her hair as she turned slightly. For a fleeting moment, Gibbs sucked in his breath. 'Kate...? That's impossible, she's dead.' he reminded himself. He squinted and waited for her to turn some more. A man approached her and offered her a glass of champagne. The woman turned a bit more and Gibbs recognized the lady immediately. It was Dr. Rachel Cranston, Kate Todd's sister and the team's psychiatrist. He had never seen her outside of work and was surprised to find her even more beautiful than he had imagined. And he had certainly spent more time than he cared to admit thinking about the beautiful doctor. She was wearing a turquoise and gold dress, the straps showed off the smooth skin of her shoulders and chest, the dress dipped low enough to catch a teasing glimpse of cleavage but modest enough to preserve her dignity. A simple gold necklace caught his eye. It was Kate's cross necklace she wore. Her thick, chestnut mane hung in gentle curls around her shoulders and down her back.
Gibbs sipped his drink and watched her make small talk with the man who brought her champagne. She looked bored out of her mind, her smile and laugh were forced. When he couldn't take it anymore, he turned back to the bartender.
"Another. And a vodka cranberry." he took the two drinks and weaved his way through the crowd once more.
"Ah, Rachel!" he called out cheerfully, playing a part. "It is so good to see you here, sweetheart! The last time we met up, you left without saying goodbye. Also, you left your red lace panties at my place," he joked as he smiled and winked. Rachel blushed and looked frantically at the other man. Gibbs cleared his throat and stared at him, giving him a clear hint to leave them. The man took the hint and excused himself.
Gibbs smiled to himself and turned to see Rachel glaring at him. He had seen that same look on Kate many times. "Gibbs! Really? You couldn't have come up with something else?!" she scolded him.
"What?" he played innocent.
"My red lace panties? Seriously?" she lifted an eyebrow.
"Rule 7: Always be specific when you lie." he said simply as he handed her the vodka cranberry. Rachel sighed but accepted the drink. "So, what are you doing here? Do you know the bride or groom?" he asked her.
Rachel swallowed before speaking. "The groom. He's the son of a friend, and also I'm his doctor."
"Really? Anything I should warn Maddie of?" he joked. Rachel was not amused.
"Doctor - Patient Confidentiality. Nice try, though."
"Ahh, yes. I always forget about that." he said before taking a sip.
"What about you? Bride or groom?"
"Bride. She was Kelly's best friend." he said quietly. Rachel nodded but didn't say anything. She knew of course about Gibbs' deceased wife and child. The man and his story were a legend among anyone who works with military and law enforcement.
"Well, thank you for the drink. I needed one after talking to that guy." Rachel whispered, hoping not to offend anyone around them. Gibbs smiled.
"I could tell. C'mon, I need some fresh air." Gibbs took Rachel by the hand and led her outside.
Rachel smiled to herself. There was something oddly thrilling about holding hands with Special Agent Gibbs. They made their way back to the balcony outside. As soon as they stepped out, the cool autumn air surrounded them.
"So, are you here with anyone? A date?" Gibbs asked her. He certainly hoped not. The thought of having Rachel all to himself sounded appealing. He shook his head slightly, getting the ideas out of his head. Rachel was their team psychiatrist and Kate's sister. She was off limits.
"Nope. It's a Sunday night, school night for my date."
Gibbs frowned. "School night? How young do you like them, Doc?"
Rachel's eyes twinkled as she fought to keep a straight face. His obvious jealousy amused her. But he had no reason to be jealous. "He's 10. My son, Josh, would have been my plus one."
"You have a son? How did I not know this?" Gibbs was genuinely surprised.
"His records are classified. That way, even if someone runs a background check on me, he won't show up. I don't want my clients or his father finding him."
"His father?" Gibbs was discovering there was a lot more to Rachel than he even knew. A sense of protectiveness was starting to build up in him. Was she in trouble? Why was she keeping her son safe from his father?
"Jeff is in jail. He's done some awful things." she said quietly. Noticing a change in Rachel's demeanor, he decided it was time to switch the subject.
"Well, regardless of your date having a curfew, I hope you're enjoying yourself. A wedding is supposed to be a celebration. You looked bored out of your mind."
"I don't really know anyone here except the groom... and now you." Rachel swirled the last sip of her drink, not making eye contact with Gibbs. Her lack of social life was a bit embarrassing but with her demanding job and her son, socializing was not high on her list of priorities. Gibbs nodded.
"It's okay. I understand. Most of my nights are spent alone with my boat and a bottle of bourbon." he confessed. Rachel smiled.
"Josh loves boats. You have a boat?"
"I'm making one. In my basement." he told her as if it was completely normal to be building a boat from scratch in your home. Rachel laughed.
"You're kidding right? You're making a boat IN your basement? How are you going to get it out?"
Gibbs laughed and set down his drink. He took the now empty glass from Rachel and took her by the hand. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the way the lights danced in her hair making her look radiant. All he knew is he really wanted to dance with her all of a sudden. He gently tugged her closer, her hand resting comfortably in his and his arm wrapped securely around her waist. Rachel gasped at the sudden closeness. "I guess you'll just have to stick around to find out." he whispered in her ear.
"I guess I'll just have to." she murmured, Gibbs' body suddenly so close to hers was making it hard for her to think clearly. She had never really thought much of men especially Gibbs. The surly Marine wasn't exactly 'dating material' but the thought of being with him filled her mind and she blushed as she shooed the thoughts away. Gibbs watched Rachel's face and was pleased to see her as affected by him as he was by her. She fit perfectly in his arms, her soft skin felt amazing under his rough, calloused hands. They danced slowly, getting used to the closeness between them. Gibbs rested his hand on the small of her back. Rachel could feel the muscles of his shoulders under her hand as they moved slowly around the deserted balcony. After a minute, he slowly took her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
"We shouldn't." Rachel finally came to her senses. She was their team's doctor and getting involved with Gibbs would not only be unprofessional but not the best of ideas. No matter how good his body felt against hers. No matter how she longed to stay dancing with him; it's been a very long time since a man made her weak at the knees.
"Why not?" he argued. He refused to let her go that easy. Having Rachel in his arms seemed to awake a long lost longing in him that hadn't been there in many many years. He hadn't wanted to be with a woman so badly since Paris with Jennifer Shepherd. Rule 12 crossed his mind: Never date a coworker. But he argued that Rachel wasn't technically his coworker.
"You know why." she said simply. She pulled herself out of his arms and frowned. She wanted him but every logical sense in her told her to run. And run fast. She didn't have time for men. Her son was her priority. Dancing with Gibbs was fun while it lasted but it could never amount to anything. They were too different and yet too much alike.
"Rachel, wait." Gibbs didn't know what had come over him. This was so out of character for him. He never wanted someone like he wanted her. The last person that made him like this was Shannon. Rachel was a mystery to him, there was so much more to her than he ever imagined. She was witty and smart. She challenged him on a professional level and also now outside of work, she was honest with him and wasn't afraid to back down. And yet she was sweet and feminine and he wanted nothing more than to protect her. Her son and dangerous ex husband intrigued him and he wanted to know more. She was a drop dead gorgeous mystery and Gibbs found that insanely attractive.
"Gibbs! I can't do this. I need to go home. My son needs me!" Rachel fought him. Before Gibbs could grab her, she had turned and snatched up her hand bag and phone. She was afraid of the feelings she felt for the Special Agent. It had been too long since she felt the desire she felt for Gibbs. She rushed through the doors and pushed her way through the crowds. She knew he was following her. Rachel made it outside and quickly hailed a taxi. Gibbs caught up to her while she was forced to wait for the taxi to stop. Just as she was about to open the door, his hand pushed it shut.
"What are you afraid of?" he gripped her arm pulling her back to him.
"Gibbs..." she whispered, her soft brown eyes pleading to let her go.
Gibbs watched the desire slowly boil in her eyes and knew she felt something for him too. Taking an out of character chance, he bowed his head till his lips were only centimeters from hers. He was still a gentleman and would never take anything from her that she wasn't willing to give. But Rachel's head was swimming as Gibbs' being filled her senses, her thoughts, her mind. Everything screamed at her to turn away but her rapidly beating heart was thumping loudly and before she knew it, she had moved the last couple centimeters to press her lips to his. Rachel gasped at the sensation. He tasted like bourbon and smelled of sawdust. And she found it incredibly sexy. Her knees went weak and she went limp in his arms. But the strong arms held her tightly and he kissed her back. He wanted to ravage her lips but he wanted to make sure he made an impression. He nipped gently on her lips and dipped his tongue to touch hers. Their kiss was fire to their bones, awakening something in them. The passion was heated in the chilly night. They clung to each other, sucking the breath from the other. Gibbs tangled a hand in her thick hair, pushing her head even closer still. Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. She moaned and Gibbs swore he had died and gone to heaven. He felt a sense of pride that he had made the doctor moan from his kiss. He pushed her up against the taxi, the forcefulness made her shiver with excitement. She ran her hand down his abs and was surprised to find them hard. Even at his older age, Gibbs was in incredible shape. He growled and was about to caress her round bottom when the taxi honked very loudly, interrupting them. They jumped apart, panting trying to catch their breath. Gibbs took in her disheveled hair and smudged lipstick and thought she never looked better.
"I have to go." Rachel whispered. She turned and got in the cab.
"Rachel...!" He tried to call after her but the taxi started moving. Still in a haze from their make out session, he just stood there watching Rachel Cranston drive away.
When he had caught his breath and realized what had just happened, he looked down to see her gold sequined scarf at his feet. Did she leave it on purpose? Or an accident? Whatever the reason, he knew it was his ticket to see her again. He picked it up and ran the silk through his fingers, thinking of the doctor. This was going to get complicated. She was supposed to be off limits. But the newly awoken fire inside of Gibbs knew he had to see her again.
Later that night, Rachel Cranston was laying in bed after putting Josh to sleep. Her mind was still on Gibbs and their random burst of passion. What was that? Were they just caught up in the moment or was there something real there? Was it just the alcohol and celebrations or was there always some underlying attraction between the two? She knew too much about Gibbs, from his file and from Kate. 'Well, next time I have to work with is team, I'll just be professional and forget that this ever happened.' she decided. She didn't have time for the complications of men and relationships.
Gibbs lay on his boat thinking about Rachel. He held her scarf in his hand as he tried to decide his next move. She was a psychiatrist, the sister of Kate Todd and a mother... a mother? He sat up as a thought came to mind. She would never date a man who was not approved of by her son. If her son liked him, she would have to accept him. Josh would be his ticket to her. Gibbs felt slightly guilty about using a child to win favor with Rachel but all is fair in love and war, right? He smiled to himself and he settled back down. Kids liked him. He had nothing to worry about.
If she wanted him to chase her, he would chase her to the ends of the earth. After all, Leroy Jethro Gibbs never backed down from a challenge. Especially one as sweet as Rachel Cranston.
