Chapter Two

"You're building a boat by hand… with no power tools?" Jess asked, watching Gibbs as he sanded wood with his bare hands. Jess picked up her beer, taking a swig.

"Yep," Jethro said. Jess watched as his muscles rippled with each push of the sand. Jess crossed her legs, taking another drink of her beer.

"That… is really sexy Jethro," Jess said. Jethro craned his neck back, smiling at Jess.

"You look nice in my clothing," Jethro said, standing in front of Jess. She smiled and uncrossed her legs.

"They're pretty comfortable too," His phone rang and Jess groaned, jumping down from the table. Jethro crossed the room and answered his phone.

"Yeah. Gibbs,"

"She does look nice… she looks really good in your clothes," an anonymous voice said.

"Who is this?" Gibbs said. They were in the basement, no windows or anyway for anyone to see them.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'm in charge here, Agent Gibbs,"

"No I am," Gibbs said and hung up. "Come on Jess. Grab my gun from the kitchen,"

"Where are we going Jethro?" Jess asked, running up the stairs as Jethro followed. He shut off the light then slammed the door behind them.

"NCIS, Jess. I'm getting my car. Move fast," Jethro said, walking towards the door. Jess reached for Gibbs gun. Shivers ran up her back and she shook her head. She signed and then ran outside to Gibbs' car. She hadn't bothered to put her shoes on.

When she got in the car, Gibbs had just shut his phone.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"DiNozzo is getting McGee and Abby to the lab," Jethro said, revving that engine.

"Why are you bringing them in?" Jess asked, pulling her legs up to her chest.

"Abby is the best at finding any evidence on any surface and McGee might be able to trace that call,"

Jethro slammed on the pedal, causing Jess to grab her seat in shock. Jess had been slightly aware of Jethro's…fast…scary driving but had never been in the car when it happened.

"Jethro! Going fast enough?" Jess yelled.

"I'm not taking any chances on you, Jess" He said, quickly and briefly glancing at Jess. He quickly turned his eyes back to the road, to make sure they don't die.

"Jethro…"

"What?" he said.

"I don't think I have ever been more happy then right now to have you by my side," As soon as she said it, she laughed. "That's so goddamn cheesy I could shoot myself,"

"Don't even joke about dying. I like you too much to lose you right now," said Gibbs, taking one hand off the wheel to hold Jess' hand.

"I like you too, Jethro," She smiled and squeezed his hand, biting her lips to hold back tears as he pulled into the NCIS parking lot.

He opened his door, slamming it so hard it shook the car. He walked over to Jess' door and opened, getting on one knee to hold her hand. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, Jess,"

"I know, Jethro… it's still scary to know someone wants to… hurt me…" Jess said, shaking her head, looking down at Jethro and her hand.

"We don't know what they want yet, Jess," he said, leaning up to place his forehead on hers.

"They want me, Jethro. They made it clear in their note," Jess whispered.

Jess could feel Jethro's hot unsteady breath on her lips, could feel his chest moving.

"Gibbs! I can't believe someone would want to hurt you!" Someone yelled from behind them. Jethro turned his head around to look at Goth Scientist Abby Sciuto. Jess felt a pang in her stomach, like someone had punched her.

When Jethro talked about Abby, it was with a sense of adoration and pride, but Jethro had failed to mention how beautiful she was.

"Hey Abby," he said, getting up to hug Abby. "Thanks for coming so quick. I hope I didn't interrupt anything important," Abby looked at Jess with shock.

"No, Gibbs. My job is the most important thing to me," Abby pulled away from Gibbs. "Hi, I'm Abby," she said to Jess, who was slowly climbing out of the car.

"I'm Jess Warner, Jethro's girlfriend, and who the crazies want," Jess said nervously. She held her hand out to Abby, who laughed and pushed it away before hugging her. "Oh… hi?"

"Abby, please don't scare her away," Jethro said. Abby pulled away, smiling.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"Can we go inside? I'm freezing," Jess mumbled. Jethro nodded and put his arm around Jess, pulling her close to give her some warmth.

Abby looked down at Jess' attire; Jethro's shirt and boxers. Raising her eyebrow, Abby wondered how long they had been together.

Jethro got her a pass badge and led her to the squad room, where Special Agent Timothy McGee was working.

"McGee, got anything for me?" Jethro said, leading Jess to his desk.

"Yeah, boss. I was able to trace the phone call, but you're not going to like where it came from," McGee said. He clicked a few buttons on his keyboard and brought the results up on the plasma. Gibbs turned on his own computer and got out a blanket for Jess before looking up at the plasma.

"No," Gibbs whispered, staring at the address.