A/N: Here is short chapter and another one to follow soon. Thanks for your reviews and alerts.

Long Enough Alone?

Chapter 7 -- First Kiss, Sort of

Jethro spent the next three days concentrating on getting his strength and stamina back. He took long walks each day, moved the wood pile to a better spot and did the preliminary ground work for the new porch. He drowned several worms each afternoon and tried not to think about Jenny Sheppard. He wondered about the wedding ring and about the tingling feeling he got when she was standing so close to him that day. He knew he could ask Martha whatever he wanted to know and she would be more than happy to enlighten him but he told himself it didn't really matter. He lived in DC and she lived here. He had to admit he was attracted to her; she was beautiful and he found himself wishing he could see her again. Then he had to admit that he wasn't sure he had the energy or even the desire to start a serious relationship with anyone. And it would have to be serious with Jen because of Sophie. He wouldn't get into a relationship with her to any extent that got Sophie involved and might confuse her or god forbid, hurt her. He told himself that if Jen wanted a relationship it needed to be with a man who could be the daddy that Sophie needed. He was old enough to be her grandfather after all. Then again, that sure didn't made her mother any less beautiful or interesting.

On Wednesday morning Jethro packed his duffle bag, locked up the cabin and started for home. He stopped at the store to tell Martha he was leaving and let her see that he was in better shape than when he arrived a week ago.

"Good morning handsome, you sure look better than you did the last time I saw you. Are you heading home?'

"Yes, gotta get back to work. Thanks for worrying about me and sending Ms. Sheppard to check up on me. I appreciate you, my friend." Jethro kissed her on the cheek and gave her a heartfelt hug. "Can I get a cup of your special coffee for the drive?"

"You bet. How about a brownie? Made them this morning."

"You know I won't turn that down. Thanks."

"Sophie has told me about her fishing adventure three times. She's quite taken with you Jethro." Martha gave him a knowing smile and wondered how he had dealt with the memories she knew Sophie must have evoked in him.

"She's a sweet little girl. Good fisherman too. I better get going. I'm hoping to be back in a month or so."

"Be careful driving and take care of yourself, Jethro. I love you and I sure don't want to hear about you getting yourself shot again."

"I hear you and I'll definitely try not to let that happen. Bye."

Jethro picked up his coffee and brownie and headed to the truck. As he opened the truck door he heard a familiar little voice call his name and he turned around to find Sophie running straight for him. He barely had time to put his coffee down before she crashed into his legs hugging him tightly. He bent down and picked her up.

"Hi, Sophie. How are you?"

"Hi Gibbs. I'm fine. Where are you going?"

Gibbs looked over at Jen who was just walking up to the truck. "I have to go home and go back to work."

"But we didn't get to go fishing again."

"I know. We can go when I come back next time. Or your mom can take you." He looked at Jen and grinned at the way she was rapidly shaking her head, emphatically signaling that wasn't going to happen.

"Mommy doesn't know how to fish."

"Oh. Well I'll be back next month and you can come over and fish. Okay? Can I get a kiss bye?"

Sophie kissed Jethro on the cheek and he set her down on the sidewalk. "Bye, Gibbs."

"Sophie, go in the store and wait for me please." Jen directed the child to the store and watched her go in knowing Martha would give her something to drink and a treat while she talked to Jethro.

Jethro waved goodbye to Sophie and then turned his attention back to her lovely mother. "Good morning, Jen."

"Good morning. On your way home?"

"Yeah, gotta go back to work. So, you don't know how to fish huh?"

"According to my daughter you, Special Agent Gibbs, are the only person she can fish with. Let's just say I'm happy to let her hold onto that belief."

Jethro was leaning against the door of his truck and Jen was standing in front of him. Right in front of him. He could smell her perfume and god how he wanted to get his hands in that hair. All the talking he had been doing to himself the past few days about not getting close to her was forgotten when she smiled at him and poked her finger in his chest to emphasize her statement about Sophie's preference in fishing partners.

That brief contact broke his resolve and he caught her wrist as she pulled her hand back. He brushed his thumb over her wrist and was very aware of the catch in her breath when he touched her. He looked her in the eye and tried to convey his interest without saying anything. Jen responded by taking his other hand in hers and leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. She stepped back and smiled at him and said, "I have patients waiting. Have a safe trip Jethro and we hope to see you when you come back."

"You will. Count on it." Then he kissed her back and reluctantly let go of her hand. He watched her walk away and sighed heavily before getting in his truck and starting home.

TBC