Work is making it hard for me to have any mental energy to write lately. I apologize if this has any mistakes or doesn't make sense or is dreadfully boring. This is a tag to "The Last Link" (16x12). Wasn't that scene between Gibbs and Jack adorable? My heart was pounding so hard. They are so flipping cute together, I can't even. I feel like the anticipation of waiting to see if they will actually happen in canon or not is going to kill me over the next few months. The show is always such a tease when it comes to potential relationships.

Gibbs approached the bullpen, inwardly groaning when he realized Jack was talking to Mr. Sydney. He heard part of their conversation, wondering just how many embarrassing stories Mr. Sydney had told her.

"So what happened when spring rolled around?" Jack asked the old man.

"He doesn't know," Gibbs bit out as he made his way to his desk and picked up his phone. It didn't matter that more than 50 years had passed, he still remembered how that crushing disappointment had felt.

"No, I-I-I wasn't around, but...I'll bet you won a few games," the other man replied as he stood up and looked at Gibbs.

Gibbs didn't reply as he stared back at him, feeling the betrayal from his childhood cut a little deeper.

"Are you ready to go?" the other man asked.

"Go?"

"Uh...John, like I said," Jack said, "Gibbs won't leave in the middle of a case."

"Well, do it for LJ. Do it for your dad. They made a promise. A mans only as good as his word."

Gibbs moved the end of the phone from his mouth, giving the other man a questioning look, about five seconds from calling him a hypocrite. If he'd kept his promise back in the day, he would have seen what happened when spring rolled around, and how far Gibbs' curve ball had come.

"Come on. Get your ass in my car."

Gibbs was thrown off by the demand, barely hearing the man bid his goodbye to Jack through the pounding that began in his ears. At least the man had learned to say some kind of goodbye before he left places now, Gibbs thought bitterly. He ended the call and put the phone back down into the receiver, sensing Jack move closer.

"Hey," she said as she reached his side, her hand brushing his elbow, giving him a small smile. "We can handle things here. He looked at her, feeling his irritation ebb away. "Torres and McGee are out retracing the lieutenant's footsteps."

He gave a sigh and looked forward, still annoyed by the circumstances, not feeling like a road trip to his old hometown with a man who had abandoned him.

"You'll be back before they're done," she reassured, and he registered the hand she had placed for a moment on his chest. He looked down as the hand left, and then looked into her face again, taking in the soft lips he took for granted, and the curls that framed her face that he loved to tangle his fingers in when he did take advantage of kissing her—and those soft, brown eyes…eyes that didn't fail to calm him during the bad times.

He felt a rush of peace, knowing that she was there, knowing that she cared enough that she wouldn't lead him astray. He knew she was right.

He also knew he was suddenly wishing they were alone in his house, wishing he could tangle his fingers in her hair and kiss those lips right now—unfortunately, they were at the office—and he could tell Jack had also just heard the rolling sound of a chair that meant Ellie had just sat back down at her desk behind him. He could feel Bishop glancing at them.

They both looked away from each other, and he made a mental note to enjoy their alone time as soon as they were able. He turned and grabbed his coat and then pushed his chair away from his desk drawer so he could retrieve his gun.

"Bishop," he said as he walked out from his desk, avoiding eye contact with both of the women, feeling almost embarrassed, "McGee's got lead." He knew if he made eye contact with Ellie he'd feel awkward wondering how much she had seen or how much she suspected. He didn't want to make eye contact with Jack because Ellie was there watching, and he knew he would give Jack some stupid grin, and perhaps even lose his senses and give her a goodbye kiss.

He made his way over to Mr. Sydney, grateful for the dose of calmness Jack had given him.

Jack lay on top of him, her face buried in his neck as she held onto him, while he brushed his hand through her hair, both of them catching their breath. He felt her shiver a little and he blindly reached out and located the duvet with his fingers, pulling it up over them.

He tilted his head and nuzzled her slightly damp hair, inhaling her scent. He placed a kiss to her head, feeling her kiss his neck in return. She adjusted a little on top of him as she moved her head to look at him, giving him a hazy smile. He grinned back, reaching out with his hand and cupping her cheek, caressing her lips with his thumb. She placed her hand over his and grabbed his palm, placing a kiss to it.

"Take it you missed me?" he asked with a smirk, thinking about how she'd shown up at his door the minute she'd found out John had left and practically attacked him.

"Hm, maybe a little," she replied, scooching up a bit to give him a slow kiss.

It dawned on him just how comfortable they were. Sometimes they could go almost a whole week without hardly seeing each other and not be bothered, because they were both busy with work and tired and understood how that went. Other times, he found himself visiting her office during work even though he really didn't need to, or she would be in his house almost more than he was.

"I think Ellie's suspicious of us now," Jack commented with a laugh. "She kept giving me these looks while you were gone."

"Probably is. Gonna happen when you grope me in the bullpen."

"I did not 'grope you'!"

He laughed while she glared at him.

"I didn't realize she was walking in," she added defensively.

"I know, I'm just teasin' ya. I didn't realize until she sat down either."

"What happened to the eyes on the back of your head?"

"Only thing my eyes were focused on was you."

He felt her stiffen for a moment before she looked into his eyes searchingly, as if she couldn't quite believe what he had said. Her lip twitched up into a smile, and the warmth radiating from her eyes sent a surge of happiness into his heart. She stroked his face and then kissed him again before burying her face back into his neck, her hand moving up and down his chest in a soothing manner.

"That was smooth," she said.

He didn't say anything. He hadn't really meant to say something that sounded like a cheesy line—it had just slipped out. She had been distracting him in the bullpen, though. The mere touch of her hand and the gentle look on her face had left him almost defenseless.

"I always wonder when Leon will actually ask," she said. "I get the sense he knows...maybe he's just waiting for one of us to say something."

Gibbs nodded in agreement.

He thought about how he'd been a little jealous when he used to see Jack and Leon interact. He had wondered at first what the history behind their relationship was, and if either of them had any romantic interest in the other one. It took him until Jack told him about her imprisonment and rescue that he finally realized the true nature of their relationship.

He found himself frequently and silently grateful to Leon these days. He knew Jack wasn't the only one who would feel eternally indebted to the man. He never thought he'd feel like he owed Leon anything, but now that Jack was in his life…

He may have been a little ticked when Leon first brought Jack on as an employee. It had been the same when Jenny had brought Ziva on without consulting him. In both situations, he had been completely wrong, and had no idea just what kind of impact those women would have on his life. Rule 51, he thought to himself, smirking lightly.

Jack readjusted, shifting off of him and cuddling up to his side, resting her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her, keeping her warmth close as he absentmindedly brushed his fingers up and down her arm. She grabbed his wrist and stroked her thumb across the empty stretch where his father's bracelet used to be, which was now in the basement with the other bracelets.

"It's so sweet—meaningful," she said.

He tilted his head to look at her and raised an eyebrow in question.

"The bracelets, the whole pact...being buried with them." He noted her voice change with emotion. "I understand it, wanting to be with your team. It's like—" she cut off, her voice catching.

He watched her eyes moisten and he tightened his arm around her, feeling like he knew what she was thinking about.

"—like the patches," she finished with a shaky voice.

She'd told him about the Wingos patches. She told him about how she had buried the box by their graves. He knew he could never fully understand the emotional and mental torment that the entire situation still had on her. He knew what it was like to be held captive and tortured...but nowhere near to the extent that she had suffered.

She took a breath, composing herself while he continued to hold her and draw soothing patterns on her skin. He pressed a kiss to her head, knowing there were no real words of comfort he could give her.

"I didn't thank you," he said, breaking the silence and changing the subject.

"For what?" she asked, looking up at him in confusion.

"For convincin' me to go with John."

"It seemed like you two had some things to sort out."

"Yeah."

"I'm glad the hours of driving and being alone together got you both to talk and sort it out," she said, a smile flickering on her face. "I know talking isn't your thing."

He chuckled.

"What happened between you two?"

He thought for a second, the hazy memories from that part of his childhood emerging in his head.

"He left...didn't say goodbye," he finally answered in a hushed tone, feeling her fingers idly play with his chest hair.

"It's amazing how long things that happened during our childhood can stick with us. How they can still affect us mentally and even influence our decisions."

He nodded and then looked down at her.

"You got things that still bother you from your childhood?" he asked.

She thought for a minute before a mischievous glint went through her eyes.

"I remember having this crush on one of my teachers when I was a little girl. He was probably a good 20 years older than me. Must have had an impact on my future taste in men, considering..." she trailed off, pulling his chest hair playfully.

"Hey," he protested, glaring at her.

"What? That should make you happy. He could be the reason we're together."

"Nope."

"No? How do you know?"

He rolled and shifted on top of her, using his arms to keep his full weight off of her.

"Not the reason," he whispered, watching her eyes darken.

"You're sure about that, huh?" she replied, reaching up and caressing his neck.

He nodded confidently.

"What, you think it's your looks or something?"

He smirked and lowered his head, nipping her ear.

"Deeper than my devilish good looks," he mumbled in her ear, feeling a shiver run through her, moving his lips down her jaw and to her neck, feeling her carotid artery beat a little faster. He moved his lips up to hers and they kissed languidly.

He nuzzled her nose with his before settling back down beside her, knowing they were both too tired for much else.

"Devilish?" she questioned with a laugh.

He shrugged, smirking again.

She rested her head on his shoulder and rubbed her hand down his chest.

"I guess that's pretty close to the truth," she said, yawning as she reached the end of the sentence. "Not just the part about your looks...it is deeper."

He looked down to see her eyes closed as she cuddled against him. He smiled, wrapping his arm around her and brushing his fingers down the ends of her hair as he closed his own eyes.

"Jack?" He whispered.

"Hm?"

"I missed you too."