A/N - Thanks for the reviews. My desire for some Jibbs fluff seems to have grown into something slightly more - though I am trying to keep it fluffy.

Choices - part 2

It was slightly complicated to open the back door without dropping her shopping and Jen was grateful when the door yielded and she could stumble into the kitchen, depositing her parcels onto the table. She'd gone out to buy a book – how had she ended up with significantly more than that?

Inevitably, there was a pot of coffee already brewed and she leant against the counter as she poured herself a cup. She should have been calculating how late she was running, but in fact she was still thinking about that earlier conversation.

Seeing Jethro with Hollis over the months of their relationship had made her jealous at times; an emotion she may or may not have successfully kept to herself. When that relationship had started to quietly unravel, she'd only been able to stand by and watch. She hadn't been disinterested enough in the outcome to offer him support or friendship. Once it had become clear that it was over, she'd forced herself to think about what she really wanted and made the decision that she wasn't enough of a fool to let him get away again.

But that decision was only half the battle. Hollis hadn't been able to make him happy; despite having a far more balanced personality and being able to stand up to him without making it a power play. Jen wasn't sure she could say the same about her own response to their disagreements and no one who knew her would ever describe her as well balanced. Driven, relentless people did not make good partners – especially for each other.

Though it was a little late to worry about that now.

"Did you find the book?" Jethro emerged from the staircase to the basement, wiping his hands on a cloth. He hadn't changed, so either the dress code for this evening included jeans and a T-shirt or she wasn't the only one running late.

"Eventually," she decided not to mention her impromptu coffee date and instead gestured to the parcels on the table, "I picked up a couple of other things as well." When she'd left his team had been in the final stages of a case, elbow deep in paperwork. He hadn't exactly been thrilled at the idea of the party, so she'd been half expecting some urgent case to intervene and was a little surprised that he hadn't used the excuse. "Have you been back long?"

"About an hour. The report's on your desk, but I'll save you some time, we got him. He confessed when Ziva and Tony questioned him."

"Thanks – but I think I'll read the report just the same." He shrugged and they gazed at each other for a moment; she could almost feel the gears shifting as they moved from the professional to the personal.

The last three days had given them few opportunities to see each other, much less spend any time alone together. Their second attempt at a relationship was very new and they were still trying to find some separation between the varying and conflicting facets of their lives. The Director really wasn't supposed to be involved with one of her agents; so secrecy and discretion were good things. But, they also made it difficult to be open and affectionate when they didn't have to worry about anyone else seeing them.

The transition apparently made he reached for her, pulling her towards him. She went into his arms easily, tilting her head back to receive the hard little kiss he placed on her mouth. "Hi," she murmured – enjoying a moment of not being the Director.

He didn't say anything, just looked at her with a small smile before leaning down to kiss her again; a slow, lingering kiss that ended with her just a little breathless - which was probably what he'd intended.

Reaching around her he picked through the packages she'd left on the table, "what else did you buy?" He found the bottle of wine and Italian chocolates she'd brought to add to her gift and then gestured towards a small bag with lilac tissue paper peeping out of the top, raising an eyebrow when he saw the exclusive label. "Is this for Ducky as well?" Inevitably, it was the one purchase she had been hoping he wouldn't notice.

"No," she slapped his hand away, "that's for me and possibly for you – later."

"If I'm good?" He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. She looked up at him out of the corner of her eye; feeling just a little wicked.

"Or if you're bad."

"Jen," his voice was a low rumble that promised all sorts of things they didn't have time for.

"We're going to be late, I need to get changed – and so do you." And, just so he knew part of what she was going to be changing into, she picked up the bag in question and carried it upstairs with her.

The party had been Abby's idea. She'd decided that this year, whether he agreed or not, they were going to celebrate Ducky's birthday. And since it was Abby, no one, not even Ducky, had been able to refuse her. So, here they were – a small, select gathering of the agency's finest and a lot of alcohol.

Under normal circumstances the Director might have politely declined the invitation, worried about feeling out of place. But it turned out she wasn't any better at saying 'no' to Abby than anyone else and she had known Dr Mallard for a long time – longer than most of the people here in fact.

It would have been far too obvious to arrive with Jethro, especially when she had a driver and security detail she wasn't supposed to stray far from. But, now that she was here she'd sent the car away for the rest of the night and with any luck, no one would think twice about Jethro driving her home. If it turned out that the only place they drove to was his house; well, no one but the two of them – and her security detail - would know about that.

She was wearing green silk under a dark dress and boots; the dress was relaxed, casual – the lingerie anything but. It made her feel sexy and decadent, the contrast amusing her; one more thing that she was keeping secret.

"Director," she smiled as the guest of honour approached and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Happy birthday, Ducky." He shook his head – sighing in the manner of a man who wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.

"I am not certain what there is to celebrate in finding that one has become a year older."

"There's nothing wrong with taking a moment to appreciate the people around us, letting them know how important they are," she responded quietly. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure it will be business as usual tomorrow – so, enjoy the moment and the presents while you can." He nodded in acknowledgement of her point,

"About those presents – how did you find out I was looking for that particular volume?" Her gaze travelled the room – coming to rest on Abby, who was deep in conversation with Gibbs.

"A little bird might have told me about that," Ducky's chuckle told her he had identified the 'little bird' in question without difficulty.

"Well, thank you my dear, it's much appreciated."

"You're very welcome." He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially,

"And, since it is my party I have a request. Just for tonight, no hiding things?" It took her a moment, but then she realised he wasn't looking at Abby anymore and it became clear what he was referring to. He smiled, "you're among friends here." She sighed, first Hollis and now Ducky, just how secret was this secret relationship anyway?

"It's complicated Ducky."

"Jennifer," he took her hand, squeezing it with his own. He hardly ever used her first name – so she knew whatever he was going to say would be serious. "I think it's as complicated or as simple as you chose to make it."

But was it complicated or simple? She still felt guilty about the way she'd all but thrown herself at Jethro. Remembering the expression on Hollis' face she wondered if things had really been over between them, irrevocably over, when she'd intervened. Had she prevented them from working things out? But, even if she had there was no going back now. Why had she thought that finding her way back into Jethro's life would be the complicated part?

A glass of wine helped and looking up to find him watching her was a salient reminder that she wasn't in this alone; giving her that little extra confidence. Reaching his side she discretely brushed her fingertips across the back of his hand. It was meant to be just a quick touch, but before she could pull away he surprised her by threading their hands together as he carried on talking to Abby.

It took Abby all of thirty seconds to realise there was something different about them and another ten to recognise what the 'something' was. Her eyes went wide as she realised they were standing closer together than normal and when she saw their hands she practically bounced, "oh wow," she blurted out.

"Abs," Gibbs chided gently, "we're trying to keep this at least a little quiet."

"I won't say a word, I promise." She grinned at them, adding "though people might notice – you are in a room full of trained investigators."

"She has a point," Jen said, leaning just a little closer to him.

"She does." Abby had already retreated to another corner of the room, where she was talking to McGee. Ducky was surrounded by a small group of people; Tony and Ziva were squabbling or flirting – walking that narrow line. No one was really paying attention to the two of them. His lips brushed her temple, another careful, discrete touch that could, just, have been accidental.

"So," he asked, "what brought this on?" She almost pointed out that he was the one who'd taken her hand, but she was distracted by the realisation that he wouldn't have done that, unless he'd wanted Abby to know.

"Ducky told me he didn't want things to be hidden tonight."

"I think he's wrong about that," she was confused – his voice was neutral but his eyes had darkened in a way she recognised. "There are some things that definitely need to be kept hidden – at least until we're in private." She risked a glance up at him, enjoying the boost to her ego from the flicker of desire in his eyes. He trailed a finger along her spine, knowing her weaknesses very well. She considered retaliating – because he had weaknesses of his own that she was more than capable of exploiting. But there was being slightly less discrete than normal and there was being blatant.

"You should behave," she murmured.

"Are you sure?" His grin was rapid and far too smug. Remembering what she'd said earlier, about him being bad, she suddenly realised that she could be in a lot of trouble here. Or not.

TBC