She absentmindedly brushed her fingertips over her lips as Gibbs played with Leena, smiling just slightly at the scene before her. There hadn't been any men in her daughter's life besides her uncle, really – and Jen had been content with that. The opposite sex tended to distract her from her surroundings, if the burnt cake in the oven was any indication; so she typically avoided them all together. Jen dropped her hand back to her lap and clasped it with the other, biting her lip just slightly. Inwardly, she wondered how Gibbs was so natural, so versed in occupying a child; though she thought better of asking. She seemed to sense that there was a part of him shielded from everyone, including herself, and she didn't want to ruin whatever sort of relationship they were playing at by prodding him.
Jenny slipped to the floor and crawled as a tigress towards Leena, a sly smirk splayed across her face. When Gibbs' gaze shifted to her, his eyebrow lifted, she paused and placed a finger to her lips. Leena, however, followed her new-found-friend's eyes and squealed at her mother, scrambling backwards, hissing. Jenny laughed softly and continued to advance on the child until Leena pounced on her, knocking her back, biting at her shoulder and hands. Jenny yelped and then scowled, flipping them over effortlessly and pinning Leena down with a harmless amount of force.
But of course the child would be a drama queen about it.
"Mommy, stoppit! You're hurtin' me! I'm gonna.. gonna get Gibbs to bite you!" she squealed, looking pleadingly at the man in question. Jen looked back at him with a curious expression.
"You're gonna get Gibbs to bite me, eh?"
He crawled over to them and knelt behind Jen, snapping his teeth close to her ear, smirking. "I'd listen to the girl, Jen," he whispered conspiratorially. She rolled her eyes and let Leena up, oofing softly when she pushed her back, leaving her sprawled out over an unexpected Gibbs. The little girl grinned and then crawled on top of her mother, bouncing.
She heard Gibbs groan, and she inwardly prayed that he was in pain.
"Leena.. Lee.. Leena! You're killing me, kid," she choked, gripping her sides gingerly and lifting her off her stomach. She attempted to roll off Gibbs but he growled and held her firmly in place, tense.
Apparently, that hadn't been a groan of pain.
Oh she wanted to laugh so badly.
"Sit up with me," she murmured and did just so, attempting to keep pressure off his groin. She did laugh when he dropped his head to her shoulder and grumbled murderously. His head snapped up and he glared at her fiercely, but she could hardly take him seriously. Jen giggled again and patted his cheek patronizingly. "It's okay to be frustrated Gibbs."
He snorted at her but didn't move, instead taking a keen interest in her necklace. She stiffened minutely and pushed his hand away, standing abruptly.
Maybe Jennifer Shepard did have things to hide.
Once Jenny was out of the room, Leena wandered over to him and patted the top of his head sympathetically. She picked up his hand and kissed the top of it gingerly, just as Jenny would've done for her if she had an owie. "I sorry, Gibbs. Mommy no like it when peoples touch her necklace."
Gibbs tilted his head curiously, eyebrows mildly furrowed. He paid no attention to the fact that the little girl had taken his bracelet off and was now passing it between her palms, easily distracted. Perhaps he could get an answer from her..
"Why not, Leena?"
She didn't look up at him. "'Cuz Daddy give it to her. That what she told me, anyways. I no know my Daddy," She shrugged and put his bracelet back on deftly, kissing his forehead and then putting her finger to her lips. "No tell Mommy, Gibbs."
He nodded and put his finger to his lips as well, watching after her thoughtfully as she ran off after her mother. Okay, so the baby-daddy was a touchy subject – he'd file that away for future reference. He listened to the playful banter coming from the foyer and stood up, wincing as his knees protested, and leaned against the door frame to watch the struggle to get a stubborn four year old to bed. It brought him back to times when Kelly had been younger, to Shannon, and with those thoughts came silent sadness. He caught Jenny's eye once and she paused, scanning him.
It felt like she saw right through him.
When she had successfully put Leena to bed, she wearily stumbled down the stairs, smiling just a little at him. He couldn't help but wonder where the pissed-off Jen from half an hour before had gone off to. She stopped in front of him and he let his eyes travel over her appreciatively, raising an eyebrow at her blush. He brushed a kiss to her forehead.
"No nightcap?" she murmured, following him to the door. He opened it and stepped out, turning back to her on the porch, shaking his head with a shrug.
"You're not ready for that."
"Such a gentleman," she teased, smiling minutely. He could see that it didn't quite reach her eyes this time. She paused and pulled him closer to her by the shirt, standing on her tip-toes to kiss him lightly on the lips. She pulled away only a fraction of an inch before she hesitated and looked into his eyes, pressing her lips to his a little harder this time.
Gibbs hadn't expected their first real kiss to leave him breathless.
She pulled back again and bit her lip, smiling shyly. "Sorry; got carried away."
He shook his head and caressed her face gently, thrilled to see that she was leaning into him now. Like she was more at ease with the kiss out of the way.
"Goodnight, Gibbs," she said softly when he pulled away, clearly battling something inwardly.
"It's Jethro," he corrected, and she smiled, leaning against the door frame far too provocatively for her own good.
The sad thing was, he didn't even think she meant to look sexy.
"Goodnight, Jethro. Call me tomorrow around noon. I have to go shopping and then take Leena to her friend's birthday party. If you want to come get me, I'm free all day after that."
"We're getting good at this whole date thing," he teased lightly, smiling.
She rolled here eyes at him. "We are. So you better get some sleep, it's after eleven."
"Motherly instincts kicking in?"
"Stop stalling, Jethro. Goodnight."
He kissed her cheek lightly, sweetly. "Night, Jenny." He turned and walked to his car, his expression the absolute definition of pleased.
Tomorrow at noon, he'd have to get her to talk to him. He needed answers before he got more emotionally involved than he already was.