Author's note:

I thought Gibbs became quite defensive in Judgement Day when Mike Franks said "I hear Decker had a thing for the ladies" and "Decker knew something you didn't."

This story seeks to explore that a little bit.

Russia is a federation made up of 83 subjects. Of these, 46 are provinces known as oblasts.

Petrov was mentioned in Legend (Season Six) as someone who had worked regularly with Gibbs and Callen in Russia. It is unclear when Gibbs saved his life, but I've decided that it wouldn't hurt to have him make an appearance in this story. No first name was ever given – so I've chosen one I like.

Valentina Tereshkova was a Russian cosmonaut, and the first woman in space. She was born in a village in the Yaroslavl Oblast.

Swallows – beautiful women recruited by the KGB, and trained as female spies to seduce men.

Naples Headquarters, Italy

August 30th, 1998

People shifted uncomfortably behind their desks as smatterings of the argument travelled out from behind closed doors. Callen hovered outside the conference room; not foolish enough to interrupt even though he'd been sent to get coffee. Moments later William Decker stormed out of the room, practically knocking the beverage out of his hands. The young agent made his way warily inside, and wasn't surprised to discover that his mentor looked about as happy as Decker.

Gibbs took the proferred coffee without looking up.

"Pack your bags," he grunted. "We're leaving for Russia."

"I'll tell Jenny," Callen said with a nod.

"It's just you and me." Gibbs' expression was thunderous but he didn't offer any more information. Instead he took a long draw from the cup, found the contents distasteful, and trashed it with enough force to spill it everywhere. When Callen didn't move, he added, "still here?"

The young agent beat a hasty retreat.

"Tell Ducky I want to see him," Gibbs called as he reached the door.

"He's looking Jenny over."

Gibbs nodded and pushed back on his chair, trying to stifle his irritation.

In another part of the building ...

Ducky patted Jen on the shoulder.

"I recommend drinking lots of water and taking it easy for a while. I take it you have a few days reprieve?"

"She does."

They both looked up to find Decker standing there.

"Can you give us a moment, Dr. Mallard?" he said pointedly.

Ducky wanted to say that this was his space, but something about the hostility in Decker's tone made him nod and leave the room without a word.

"The team's going to Russia," Decker said as soon as he was gone. "Without you," he added as she started to get to her feet.

"On what grounds?"

"That you don't speak Russian," he spat. "And just for the record, it wasn't my decision."

"No, it was mine."

Decker flinched slightly at the sound of Gibbs' voice.

"Agent Shepard, a word .." Gibbs said as he stood aside, waiting for Decker to leave.

"We'll catch up later, Jenny," Decker said before turning away. "I need to go over a few things with you."

The door closed and Jenny raised an eyebrow.

"Come to tell me the real reason I'm not going to Russia?"

Her mind swung between the most likely explanations – none of them good.

Either he was concerned following her reaction to his killing Bessie or he was creating distance between them after what had happened in Marseille.

"What'd Ducky say?" he asked instead, breaking into her thoughts.

"Mild heat exhaustion," she said almost inaudibly. "Why are you avoiding my question?"

"Decker already told you why. Bessie had a KGB background. I need agents who can speak Russian. Callen does, you don't."

She searched his face for signs that he was dissembling, and found none.

"How soon are you leaving?"

"As soon as transport becomes available."

With nothing left to say, the awkwardness between them became palpable. Other than his gesture of support in the car there'd been no physical contact between them. She wasn't sure whether it had been the lack of opportunity or something he'd determined to be necessary, but it felt as though they were at an impasse.

So she looked at him and waited.

If this was an excuse he'd be leaving any moment now.

But he didn't go.

Instead he reached for her face.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said as he leaned in to kiss her.

Dispelling all notions that he was uncomfortable with what they'd started.

The kiss caught fire almost before it started, and until the reality of the situation asserted itself they rekindled the passion from that first night in Marseille.

But they were in Ducky's office with a door that had no lock. Hardly the place to get intimate. So Jen placed a kiss against his jaw and disengaged herself.

"You'd better go," she said as she pushed him slightly towards the door.

"I'll call you if I can," he said as he placed one last kiss to her forehead.

"That's what they all say," she said with a laugh.

Earning herself a wide smile in response.

But as he turned away she felt a huge need to say something more meaningful.

"Jethro .." she said, savouring the way the consonants rolled off her tongue.

"Yeah?"

He turned back with a slight smirk. Clearly not distressed she'd chosen this moment to use his first name.

"Take care. Come back safe."

The smile faded as he got sucked back into nineteen ninety-one. To the moment he'd said goodbye to Shannon and Kelly. Unaware that it would be the last time he ever saw them.

He was conscious that he was looking right through her, but had no control over himself.

Jen touched him lightly on the arm a few moments later, and drew him back into the present.

"Jethro?"

Confusion and guilt swirled in his brain. It wasn't Jenny's fault that she'd sparked the memory, but he wasn't ready to talk about this particular part of his past.

He made the effort to keep it separate and touched her face again - even though it was hard.

"See you in a few days."