FAITH

CHAPTER FOUR

Jethro spent Thursday night working on his boat and thinking about asking Faith to marry him. Sipping his bourbon he thought about why he had decided on the date. After all, it was a Wednesday and that seemed like a strange day to pick for a proposal. But after looking at his calendar Jethro had known it had to be this coming Wednesday because that was the two year anniversary of the night he first made love to Faith. He really couldn't believe he actually remembered that but he did because they had closed a very strange case that night. He had come across the case notes last week while cleaning out Kate's desk. They had been investigating a Jane Doe who was buried alive in Rock Creek Park. Kate became quite attached to the Jane Doe but in the end the woman had blown up herself and her boss and almost Kate, Tony and himself in the process. Jethro closed his eyes and thought back to that night.

He had taken Kate home and made sure she was okay and then he had called Faith and asked her if he could see her. It was really late but she said yes and ten minutes later he was knocking on her door. Jethro hadn't realized what a mess he was until he caught a glimpse of himself in the hallway mirror when Faith let him in.

"Jethro, what the hell happened to you? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I guess I look a mess though. There was an explosion at an office where we were working on the Jane Doe case. Could I clean up a little bit?"

"Of course, go ahead while I make us some coffee."

Jethro stepped into the bathroom and washed his face and hands and brushed off his clothes as best he could before he returned to Faith in the living room. She had coffee and a sandwich for him on the coffee table.

"How do you always know when I'm hungry?"

"I know you don't remember to eat when you're working. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, we were lucky thanks mostly to Kate. She realized the woman was about to blow herself up in time for us to take some cover. She was actually closest to the blast but she's okay; pretty shook up but not injured. Thanks for the sandwich."

"Did you taste it? That was roast beef by the way."

"Very funny, of course I tasted it. I enjoyed it very much."

Jethro let his head fall back on the couch cushion, finally relaxed and feeling much better. He felt Faith slide over next to him and place a soft kiss on his cheek. When she didn't move away he turned his head and found her looking him right in the eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay." Her voice was soft and kinda raspy and her hand was moving lightly over his chest.

"Me too." That was all he got out before their lips met and he pulled Faith onto his lap kissing her fervently until there was no breath left between them. When they pulled back to breathe something between them had changed. They had certainly kissed before, often very passionately but that was as far as they had gone in the time they had moved from being 'just friends' to dating. Looking at her now, Jethro knew friends were about to become lovers. Faith stood up and held out her hand to him. He took it and silently followed her to the bedroom.

They didn't speak for a long time while they undressed each other, touching and tasting each other as clothes began piling up on the floor. Her touch was gentle and arousing at the same time and he couldn't get enough of her. When she stood against him, naked and oh so beautiful, Jethro sensed his life had taken a very positive turn. When she took him by the hand and led him away from the bed to the shower he knew for sure he was going to have a very good night. As a matter of fact, Jethro decided he had never enjoyed a shower quite so much as he did that one. Faith's hands were magic; caressing his sore muscles, arousing him, calming him, all while making sure every single inch of him was soaped and rinsed and lovingly touched.

After their shower, Jethro took Faith to the bed and began his own exploration of the body he had been imagining for so long. He kissed and touched and tasted every single inch of her. When he finally entered her and she whispered his name against his lips he felt like he was finally whole again. Their first time was slow and heated and seemed to last forever. They couldn't get enough of each other that night. Maybe it was because they knew each other so well or because they trusted each other but that night was the best experience of sex Jethro had had since he was with Shannon.

Jethro shook himself out of his reverie and returned to sanding the boat. He decided thinking anymore about that night would just make his being home alone all that much harder to bear. As he was smoothing the latest plank to be added to the boat Jethro tried to imagine what Faith would say when he asked her to marry him. He suspected she would be very surprised and he figured her first reaction was going to be to ask why he had decided he wanted to get married. Again. He had to admit he was asking himself that same thing. After all, they spent plenty of time together now, they had a wonderful sex life, they didn't get in each other's way and they had the freedom to come and go as they pleased. So, he asked himself, why do you want to get married? It wasn't like a piece of paper was any guarantee the relationship would last. He was living proof of that. Faith had already let him know she had no desire to see other men and had no intention of leaving him. Why bother with marriage? Jethro put down the sanding block and took another sip of bourbon. Why indeed? As he made his way upstairs to shower and go to bed Jethro realized he better come up with an answer that made sense before he proposed.

Friday morning was quiet in the office; too quiet really. They were all missing Kate and when they were stuck at their desks it was even worse. Jethro never thought he would miss listening to DiNozzo and Kate bicker but he certainly did. Today he couldn't escape the quiet by going to see Ducky; he wasn't at work. Even Abby was gone to a seminar at the FBI headquarters. Finally about 11:30 Jethro sent the boys to lunch and he went home for a few minutes. Going straight to the basement he retrieved the engagement ring and left the house barely two minutes after entering. He had decided he would have the ring polished just in case; he wanted it to look perfect when he gave it to Faith on Wednesday. Of course it hadn't been out of the case in months but that didn't matter. It had to be perfect. Hence the trip to the jewelers.

As he entered the upscale jewelry story he was greeted by the owner, "My god, Jethro Gibbs. I thought you had sworn off this place after Stephanie. It's good to see you."

"Hello Mark. Yeah I thought I was through but, well, you know even I can be surprised. I need a favor if you don't mind."

"Sure buddy. You've certainly spent your share in here over the years. What can I do for you?"

Jethro took the ring box out of his pocket and hesitated. "I didn't buy this here. Of course you know that. The woman I'm with picked this out in New York last year and that's where I bought it. I wonder if you could just shine it up for me. I need it to be absolutely perfect when I give it to her next week." Jethro was uncharacteristically nervous, shifting from one foot to another.

The store owner just laughed. "Don't worry about it my friend. Let me see what you've done."

Jethro handed over the ring and was silently pleased when Mark whistled upon opening the box.

"My goodness, Jethro, you did very well. This is a beauty. Tiffany's of course. She must be very special."

"She is."

"It looks fine now but just give me a minute and I'll have it polished up for you. You know, I can get you the wedding bands that go with this ring. You want me to go ahead and order them or do you need to wait and see what the lady says?"

"Very funny. But you know, I think I will wait. I don't want to jinx the deal. Who knows she might come to her senses and turn me down."

"Something tells me that won't happen. Who's the lucky lady anyway."

"Her name's Faith. She's a Navy Commander in the JAG Corps."

Mark almost dropped the ring. "Are you kidding me? You're going to marry a lawyer? I can't believe what I'm hearing Jethro."

"Well, I'm hoping to marry a lawyer," Jethro laughed.

The afternoon didn't pass much faster than the morning but at least Faith called and let him know she was home. Jethro called Ducky and told him they would be eating at Faith's instead of his house. He thought Ducky sounded very tired and sad so he was glad he had invited him to dinner. At 4:30, after enduring all he could of DiNozzo harassing McGee he sent them home.

"You two go have a good weekend. I'll see you on Monday."

"Hey, boss, you think we're going to get a new person anytime soon?"

Jethro looked at Kate's desk and then at Tony and Tim. They looked like a couple of little boys to him at that moment. Two boys whose best friend had moved across the country in the middle of the school year. "I don't know. I'll talk to the Director about it next week."

Their mumbled okays and see ya boss matched the way they shuffled off to the elevator. Jethro wondered for the umpteenth time how they were ever going to replace Kate on their team. He sat at his desk and pondered that for a long time. Finally, 5:00 rolled around and he decided he'd been there long enough. He reached in the drawer for his gun and badge then unlocked his other desk drawer and withdrew the ring box sliding it into his coat pocket as he stood up to leave. Then the desk phone rang.

"Gibbs."

"Agent Gibbs the director would like to see you."

"On my way."

Jethro cringed as he started up the stairs to Director Morrow's office. In his experience, being summoned to the Director's office at 5:00 on a Friday night wasn't usually a good thing. Whatever it was, Jethro hoped it wouldn't interfere with his dinner plans. The Director's secretary motioned for him to go in so Jethro let himself in the office.

"Good evening Jethro. I'm glad I caught you before you left. How are DiNozzo and McGee holding up since Agent Todd's death?"

"They're okay. They asked today about a replacement. We're managing but being one short can be a problem sometimes. Any idea who you want to give me?"

Director Morrow came out from behind his desk and motioned for Jethro to join him at the conference table. "I can't really answer that. I have some news Jethro and I wanted you to hear this from me. I've been offered a job at Homeland Security so I'm leaving NCIS. You will have a new boss beginning Monday morning."

Jethro was shocked. He had worked for Tom Morrow for a long time and they worked very well together. "I'm surprised, sir. You'll be missed here."

"Thank you Jethro. You and I have been around a long time. Caught a lot of bad guys together. I appreciate all the hard work you've done for me over the years. I've asked the new director to join us for a few minutes if you have the time."

"Of course." Jethro thought he saw a flicker of something, he wasn't sure what, pass over the Director's face as he heard a knock on the door.

Director Morrow stepped over to open the door and allow his replacement to enter the office. Then he stepped out. Jethro didn't even notice the man was gone. His focus was entirely on the person in the doorway.

TBC