We all must go through it sometimes,
You are not the first, you know.
( Erik Hassle )
Lips touched hers.
A smile graced those same lips. Fingertips caressed the smooth skin of a cheek.
Fingers brushed back farther to tuck hair behind an ear. A slightly shy laugh echoed throughout the bullpen.
Not her own laugh. Agent Gibbs did not touch her any longer. Didn't care to.
She absolutely hated him for doing this. For showing off, for boasting and strutting about before her very eyes.
It wasn't Hollis Mann's fault. She had lay awake many nights convincing herself of just that.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs had a charm about him that any sane woman would run from. She hadn't possessed the strength to choose that option.
She recalled lusting after his calloused fingertips, the very ones that had just touched the Colonel; she had wanted them to explore the expanse of her skin. To map it out, to memorize ever scar and imperfection. Still longed for that, loathed as she was to admit it.
He was not hers any longer. He had moved on long ago.
She wasn't worth more than a sparing match every few weeks. Not to him.
She refused to allow the familiar hurt to engulf her entire existence again. It was far too early to be drunk, and she hated to be hungover on a date.
Date. Sex. Relief.
Let him have his dim-witted, blonde bimbo. Let him go home to her warm bed, or have her come to his. She didn't want commitment. Commitment brought unnecessary complications, such as emotions.
She couldn't afford to let herself engross her life into someone again. Losing Jethro – and facing him every day in the aftermath – hurt enough for her to have learned that lesson.
Jenny caught his eye briefly from the catwalk. Saw the flash of triumph cross his face before it was gone, and his attention was once again captivated by Hollis.
She nearly choked aloud. What had she done to cause him to be so sadistic towards her?
Oh, right.
She turned away from the railing almost violently and walked purposefully into her office, slamming the door behind her.
Dialed the phone. Spoke to the Senator.
Forget the date, skip straight to what both knew would inevitably result.
She wasn't hungry anymore anyway. Her mind reeled still from the expression on Jethro's face.
Not Jethro. No, Agent Gibbs. Get it straight.
So easy to love, something else entirely to let go.
A/N: Thanks to those who've alerted me/added me to their authors list and whatnot. =) I'm going to go ahead and post some of my other stories too.. Also, this is timed somewhere during season 4, in case you couldn't tell.