I sincerely hope you will enjoy this short chapter, that is basically just an introduction to the next one!

Mella

Reunited

"Jethro!", her sultry voice echoing in the dark house. First, he rubbed his eyes again and silently repeated: ''This is not a dream.''

He jumped out of his bed to turn the light on, his breath heavy and uneven. He felt her move away from the doors and still didn't mouth a word.

"When did you start locking the door?", she had asked. He swore he could hear the fear and tremor in her voice. She wanted to say something, she wanted to make this uneasy situation less silent, but this is all she could come up with.

"Jen?", he called her name softly as if he was waiting for her to confirm that he wasn't in a dream.
His hand was covering the light switch, but he didn't dare to push it.
Her soft steps approaching in the rhythm towards him. She was also lost for words, but she had a few days to clear her mind.

"I am sorry!", she somehow managed to bring herself to mouth those words.
He was angry, at her, at everyone that had put her in that situation. He was so angry and confused. But, he also felt like at least one of his prayers has been answered.
He made a step towards her voice and as much as he wanted to yell, he wanted to feel her. He wanted to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating.

"Never say you are sorry. Sign of weakness.", his whisper touching her ears as the tears started to pile up in her eyes.
He lifted his hand off the light switch and reached to touch her face. Like a blind person, he softly pressed his fingertips to her skin, savoring the silky feel of it. He trailed his fingers down her cheeks and instinctively wiped the tears he felt.

"Jethro.", she repeated his name, and he didn't want her to stop saying it ever again.

"Shhh!", Gibbs pulled her into his chest. She enveloped his shoulders and buried her face into him.

"I understand.", he whispered.

They didn't need words, they never did. It was something instinctive, natural. There is no handbook on how to react when you find out someone you love isn't dead like you believed. No directions. The only guide is pure instinct and emotions.

They stood there, in the dark, embraced, for what felt like a whole eternity. Jenny took a deep breath before pushing herself off him. Gibbs grabbed her wrist gently and led her to the sofa.

As she sat down, the street lights coming from the window behind them had shined her figure. He turned his head and took a moment to savor her. Gibbs reached to her and slowly stroked her hair.

"You haven't changed.", he said softly.

Indeed, she hasn't changed a lot. Her hair was longer than the last time he saw her. Years served her well, her face was still smooth and shiny. The light perfectly reflected the emerald green of her eyes. And, he could still smell the ever-recognizable strawberry sense.
Jenny reciprocally scanned over him and her lips twirled at the sight before her. Her heart was screaming from the pure excitement that she was near him again. There was also a very pronounced sense of relief that the truth is finally out.

"Your hair is longer.", she chuckled.

"Yeah.", he smiled at her.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, he spoke again.

"I'm a dad.", he said.

She nodded her head in response before taking a deep breath.

"I wanted to tell you when I found out, but they wouldn't let me...", she started to explain. But, he understood very well, and after he had processed all of the information, he rationally concluded it wasn't her fault. None of it!
He put his hand on her knee and reassuringly smiled.

"I know.", he had responded.

"I was put on that op, I didn't even want to be a part of it...", she leaned back on the sofa.

"I thought I was just doing my job. Time went by, life moved on and the op was paused...", Jenny shook her head and exhaled frustratingly.

"I continued to work and the next thing I know I became a director, which fit in my five-point plan...", she turned her head to him. He waited a while before speaking.

"What are their names?", he asked.

"Jasper and Anna.", she smiled.

"When I couldn't tell you, I told them. They know everything about you. I remind them every day who their father is!", he listened to her words with care and curiosity. It was all so surreal to him-he is a father.

"Are they safe?", he asked.

"Yes."

She explained that she called into NCIS before coming to him. Director Vance sent an army of agents, and they were taken to the designated safe house.

They talked for a few hours before she fell asleep in his arms.

Something was right with the universe again-she was where she belonged!