Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
AN: Thank you for the reviews/favorites/alerts! So, in this chapter, dinner for our couple and a little small talk leading up to a sort of big moment in the middle. Enjoy!
Saturday night couldn't come quick enough for him. He was excited and nervous, but he had no idea why he should be. This was just dinner with Jenny. No, this was a date with Jenny. The last time he'd been on a date with her, they were undercover. He went to shower and get ready to go pick her up.
He decided on a pair of nice jeans a light blue polo with a jacket. He ran his hand through his hair and smoothed it to his liking, noting that it was almost time for a haircut. He put some old spice on and headed out the door to pick up his date.
Across town, Jenny was having more difficulty as to what to wear. Pant suit or dress? Heels or flats? She couldn't decide which was best. After all this was a date with Jethro. She wondered if tonight would be civil or rather would it be explosive.
She decided on the green dress with sequins that she knew he liked along with black heels and silver stud earrings. She applied a fair amount of make-up, not much, but just enough to enhance her features. She decided to put a clip in her hair. She had noticed that it was growing long again and that made her happy and she knew he would love to see it long again.
One last look in the mirror and a big sigh told her she was ready. She grabbed her black clutch and headed down the stairs just as the doorbell rang. Opening it revealed a sharply yet casual dressed Jethro with a bouquet of lilacs in his hands. She smiled.
"The store was out of orchids," he said handing her the flowers. She took them and smelled them.
"They're beautiful. Come in while I go to find a vase to put them in," she said and headed to the kitchen. He came in a shut the door.
"So where are we going?" she called. He smirked.
"It's a surprise," he said. He heard her chuckle. She walked back into the foyer.
"Okay, let's go," she said. He opened the door and let her out before shutting it behind him and letting her lock it.
He led her to the car with a hand on the small of her back. He opened the door and she got in. He got in the car and made his way to the restaurant.
Jenny watched him as he drove. She saw that he was fidgeting with the steering wheel and noted that he was nervous.
"I can feel you watching me," he said looking over at her. She smiled.
"I'm wondering where you're taking me," she said.
"I told you, it's a surprise," he said with a grin.
"Yes, well, when you say that with that grin it makes me nervous," she replied, "Should I be worried?"
"About what?" he asked.
"About whether this is a trick or prank of some sort," she replied. He chuckled.
"No, it's not," he said.
"Promise?" she asked. He looked at her.
"Promise. Nothing to worry about, you're detail is following us," he said looking in the rearview mirror.
"Crap," she said and turned to look, "No their not." He snickered. She glared at him.
"That wasn't funny. I should've known better. I told them to take the night off," she said.
"Why? I thought you were scared I was taking you somewhere to leave you or something like that," he said sarcastically.
"Yes, but I knew that I'd be safe with you deep down, way deep down," she said with a grin. He gave her a mock glare and she laughed.
"Very funny," he said. She smiled.
"I do have a sense of humor," she said.
"Rare that any of us get to see it," he replied.
"Are we there yet?" she asked and winced noticing how she sounded like a child.
"Yep, just another turn," he said.
They pulled up outside a nice restaurant and the valet opened her door and he got out of the car and tipped the man. She looked around and looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"The Grille at Morrison House?" she asked with her eyebrows raised.
"Don't sound so surprised," he said, "I do know some nice restaurants."
She chuckled as he led her into the restaurant.
The maître'd checked his reservation and then showed them to their table. They ordered a nice Bordeaux and perused the menu for whatever sounded tasty.
He decided on a rib-eye crusted in bleu cheese and she wanted the Alaskan halibut. They put in their order and then were left alone.
Jenny sipped her wine and Gibbs watched her with intent.
"So, what made you decide to ask me on a date?" she asked.
"I just thought that it would be nice," he said. She looked at him curiously.
"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you are a strange man," she said. He smirked.
"So you keep telling me," he said. She smiled.
"Seriously though, why?" she asked.
He thought for a moment on how to answer. He didn't want to sound bitter or make her angry.
"I thought it was time for a change," he said.
"Hmm, normally you fight change with all you've got," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I know, but…" he sighed, "Honestly? I wanted to see if we could start over with everything."
She was taken aback. Stunned at what was said, and very unsure of whether he said it or she dreamed it.
"Y…you what?" she stammered.
"Heh, I wanted to start over," he said. She heard him clearly that time.
"Why? Why now?" she asked. He looked at the glass in front of him.
"Because I'm tired, tired of the loneliness and the pain," he said not sure if he could say more.
"What pain, Jethro?" she asked. His answered was delayed by the arrival of their meal.
"Nothing, just forget I said anything," he said. She shook her head.
"No, I can't now. What pain?" she asked again. He sighed and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and showed her.
"Is that what I think it is?" she asked. He nodded. "You carry it with you?"
"Sometimes," he replied.
"Why? To remind yourself or how I left?" she asked.
"No, because of what you said in the letter. That maybe sometime later we could try again," he said.
She dropped her fork to her plate and sat back in her chair. She hadn't thought about that, that he may want to try again. She figured he would be too angry to care and that would leave her open to hunt down La Grenouille.
"I…I…Is that what you want?" she asked.
"Yes, but slowly this time. Start out with dinner and things like that," he said.
"I can do that, and if it doesn't work?" she asked. He sighed.
"Then, I guess, that's it," he said. She nodded.
The rest of the meal is eaten in silence. Neither is really hungry for dessert, so he pays and they get up to leave. The valet pulls the car around, they get in, and he takes her back to her place.
He opens her door and helps her out of the car. He walks her to the front door. She turns to him and he looks at her.
"I had a great time tonight, Jethro," she said.
"Me too, Jen," he said. She stood a little higher and kissed his cheek.
"Good night," she said opening her door and going inside.
"Good night," he echoed as he watched her go.
He got in his car and drove home on autopilot. Once home, he dropped his keys in the designated dish and shrugged out of his jacket. He sat down on the couch and thought about the date. She had agreed to try again and this made him happy, happier than he'd been in a long time.
AN: Well, there's chapter two! Wonder what's going to happen next! Happy reading!