A/N: Thanks again to everyone that reviewed, you really made my day. And once more, this chapter is dedicated to whom I love.
Jenny tried to concentrate on the reports. She never fully understood why the Director of N.C.I.S. had to read so many papers. Nothing of what was there was new to her. She followed every investigation, certainly not in the field but at the MTAC or simply by talking to the cases' supervisor.
The letters in front of her were breaking off, not forming words anymore. She was probably just tired. She tilted her head a little bit and checked the time in the clock. 2200. The pile in front of her left her only two options: or she would either take it to home and read in her bed until she felt asleep, which certainly wouldn't take much longer, or she could stay there in her office, reading, sleeping a few hours in the couch and sneaking into the gym's showers early in the morning, rid herself of all the sweat and stress of the long day and night and change into the spare clothes she always kept in her desk drawer. All of that before anyone arrived at the building, of course.
None of the options really appealed to her. All she wanted now was to drive home, get into bed and sleep free of alarm clocks. But that luxury had been gone for a long time. So she adjusted her glasses and kept on reading.
A knock at the door awoke her from her near doze – Yes? – wasn't the building supposed to be empty?
- Jen, it's me.
- You're actually knocking? Alright Jethro, come in.
- Earlier today you mentioned the doorknob was working properly, so I decided to give it a try. – Gibbs said from the doorway.
- I was talking about the way you always fling yourself at the doors. I swear, someday I'll have to get the door replaced. But I never expected you to knock.
- It's not fair. I've done it before.
- Have you? I can't remember. But come in, don't just stay there.
Gibbs approached her large desk and sat on a chair – Planning on staying here all night?
- I guess I'm not the only one. What are you still doing here?
He showed her two plastic bags he'd kept hidden – Feeding you.
- What?
- Dinner. You never remember that you have to eat when you work late.
Jenny took off her glasses, looking at him rather incredulously – Wait a minute. Why are you being so nice to me now, after a long and trying day in which you've managed to piss off the entire agency?
- Well, I realised I've been a pain in the ass.
- Who are you and what did you do with Leroy Jethro Gibbs? The Jethro I know would never admit to such a thing.
He shrugged, but grinned a little – It depends. Are you still the Director's Doppelganger?
She let out a small laugh – I can't believe you finally looked that up.
- Hum, not really. I had McGee look it up in one of his online dictionaries. Does it count?
- Never mind. What do you have there?
- Italian food.
- Italian? Not Chinese?
- No. Pasta.
- I still don't recognise you…
Gibbs reclined in his chair, his eyes not leaving hers – Alright Jen, I know I haven't been an easy person today so just let me make it up to you, ok?
- Fine. So, hand me the pasta.
He passed her one of the plastic bags – Tagliatelle alla Carbonara, your favourite if I remember correctly.
- How did you know?
- Positano.
- Of course – there was that brief moment of silence which usually followed any mention of past times. She was the first to break it – So, you're having… what was it, Fettucine alla Bolognese?
- Right. Your Italian sounds terrible – he mocked while she was searching for the plastic knife and fork.
- Do you think yours is better? Let's leave the matter with DiNozzo.
- He's right down there in the bar, if you want to ask him – Gibbs opened his food plate.
- Is he? Oh, of course, I heard something about your team meeting tonight. So, why aren't you there as well?
- The case isn't completely solved yet, I've nothing to commemorate and they shouldn't either.
- But we have him in custody, all that's left now is just plain bureaucracy. Oh, and the girl's testimony, that's not bureaucracy.
- I've sent Abby the prints from Tyson's bike tires. I hope she can find a match by tomorrow, despite it being the same model as the one from the couple who found the little girl.
- You really want to build a strong case.
- Of course I do. That stupid little bastard took the life of a child. I don't care if it was an accident.
- Why didn't you ever tell me?
This time it was Gibbs looking at her doubtfully – Tell you what?
- About Kelly, Shannon…
- Why are we going this way?
- Because it's always… it was always painful for me to remember that I only knew about it when you were in a coma. I feel like… you never trusted me enough to talk about it.
- I had nothing to talk about.
- Hadn't you? It still haunts you.
- Jen, do we really need to go that way?
- Fine, I'll shut up.
Both returned their attention to the food.
- So, are you going to sleep here one more time or do you miss your bed? – Gibbs asked when she put her empty plate on the desk.
- I really miss my bed. Much softer than that couch.
- Dismiss the security detail. I'll take you home.
- I've already dismissed them.
- What? Jenny, you are way too careless with your own safety!
- You, of all people, should know that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
- Yeah, you are. But even so, you were kidnapped, remember?
- My driver was being threatened, I couldn't just start shooting.
- Have you made your choice? Stay here or go home?
- Jethro – she pointed towards the pile of reports – See this? If I go home, I will fall fast asleep and I won't read anything.
- I never understood why you don't just sign the dotted line.
- That would be irresponsible. But I'm going to accept your offer after all. My eyes are tired – Jenny rose from the chair and grabbed her coat while Gibbs was getting rid of the dinner's garbage – Ready?
- Yeah. Let's go.
- Are you sure you don't want to meet your team? – she asked while they were descending in the lift.
- If I go into that bar it will only be to kick their asses out of there, it's too late for them to be there. If anyone comes in late tomorrow they will have to deal with me.
Jenny laughed – Pappa Gibbs.
- What?
- You and your team are like a family. That's… nice to see.
- You're family too, Jenny.
She leaned against the lift wall – No, I'm not.
- You are. More than you think.
- I was never this familiar with my teams when I was supervisor.
The lift stopped in the ground floor.
- You were a supervisor? – Jethro let her pass first through the open doors.
- Of course I was. Not here in D.C. And not for a very long time, since I was always being sent to undercover missions. Jethro, I trailed the entire path to the Director position. I didn't sleep around as many people like to say.
- I never thought you did.
She smiled but decided it was best to change the subject – Where's your car?
- Right here.
She was going to open the passenger's door when he prevented her – I'm atoning, remember? Let me be the almost perfect gentleman – Gibbs opened the door himself.
- Sorry, I'm not accustomed to you that way.
He got into the driver's seat and started the car. The park and the streets were practically empty at that hour. Gibbs even looked around for any member of his team but saw no one.
- Jenny, do you think… - he began to say but noticed she was sleeping, her head leaning against the window. He smiled lightly and accelerated. It wasn't too long before he was parking in front of her house.
- Wake up, Jenny – he gently shook her shoulder – We're here.
- Hum… what? – she muttered, trying to open her eyes.
- We arrived at your door.
- Did we? – she managed to look around, recognising the place.
- You've been working too much lately.
- Talk about the bat leading the blind – she finally felt awake - Do you want to go inside for some coffee?
- Better not.
- Come on, Jethro.
- It's late, Jenny.
- A bourbon, perhaps?
- I'd rather not.
Her face hardened - What's the problem, Jethro?
- Nothing. I should just go home.
- For what? – her voice was now tinged with irritation - Oh right, you didn't sand your boat this night, you must catch up with the work – she reached for the doorhandle but he grabbed her hand.
- Now I'm asking you. What's the problem, Jenny?
She looked at him in defiance - It's all my fault, isn't it, Jethro? I was the one who said there'd be no "off the job". And I was the one who left in the first place. Fine, I'm probably a bitch – she managed to free her hand and opened the car's door – Goodnight Jethro and thanks for the lift – Jenny slammed the door and walked in a fast pace to her door, not looking behind.
He punched the steering wheel – Damn! – he waited until she got in safely and only then drove off, the car's tires squealing in protest with the speed.