Chapter 7-Decretum¹
I belong with you, you belong with me
You're my sweetheart
Ho Hey -The Lumineers
That night, Gibbs was working on his boat, still thinking about the pictures. He didn't believe in coincidences, but it was strange to think that the 6 women from the photos had visited him the in the same day, in different ways. Although it still hurt to think about the losses, he felt lighter, as if had erased his past mistakes with the women.
While sawing the wood, he heard someone knock on the door and he frowned as everyone who knew him knew that his door was always unlocked, so he ignored it, going back to work. But the knocks continued and Gibbs wiped his hands on his pants and put his SIG in his waistband. He climbed the stairs and went to the door, peering through the hole. Seeing who it was, he remembered the conversation he'd had with her earlier and sighed, rubbing his face and then opening the door.
"Diane, what are you doing here?" He growled, looking her up and down.
The redhead wore a coat over her silk blouse and trousers and at her side there was a small suitcase. She bit her lip, raising an eyebrow at him, as if unsure what to say. Gibbs put a hand on the doorway, staring at her and waiting for a response.
"Diane?"
"The water in my house was cut, so I came to take a shower here." She replied and Gibbs frowned, not believing in the women.
He stared at the suitcase and her tousled hair and wondered if things between her and Fornell had ended.
"Why don't you take a shower in Fornell's? Or at a hotel?" He asked slowly, not knowing what would be her reaction.
Diane dropped the bag, crossing her arms and rolling her blue eyes. Gibbs looked worried.
"Okay, Fornell and I came to the conclusion that we don't love each other anymore and so I left." She poured at once, and then looked away from Gibbs, who didn't understand why she decided to come to his house if she could pay for a hotel.
"And where's Emily?"
"She's at a friend's house." She replied and then asked in a tired and irritated voice. "Will you let me in?"
Gibbs, even knowing it was going to be a long night, shook his head and grabbed her suitcase, making room for her in and going to the living room. She followed him, stopping in front of him and saying frankly:
"Leroy, I just don't want to be alone today." She kept staring at her arms crossed and Gibbs approached her with serious eyes.
"But why here?"
She laughed without humor, and he lifted her chin, making her stare his serious and worried eyes and she felt herself melt into his touch, though not showing it.
"Diane?"
"You're the only person I trust." She said softly, staring at Gibbs, who felt his heart skip a beat as she hugged him with shining eyes.
Gibbs remained without action, surprised and then wrapped his arms around her, and Diane slowly closed her eyes, feeling the weight of all that had been happening in her life and trying to get lost in his scent of coffee, sawdust and something that was unique Gibbs, burying her nose on his neck and snuggling.
Gibbs remembered when they had been together, in the beginning of their relationship, and how much he'd liked her, despite the pain of losing Shannon and their fights. He stroked her back, circling and feeling her tremble in his touch and leaning his head on her soft hair for a while, until she felt relaxed. Gibbs slowly pulled away from her, turning his back and saying:
"Go take a shower Diane, I will prepare something for us to eat."
Diane nodded, looking at him gratefully and then grabbed her suitcase and went into the guest room and Gibbs went to the kitchen trying to organize his thoughts.
When Chinese food arrived Diane came downstairs wearing a silk robe over her pajamas and her spicy scent reached Gibbs, who was on the couch with his plate, making him remember the times they had been together.
"Chinese?" She asked, smiling. He raised an eyebrow and she said: "Great idea, but I'm not hungry."
"Eat." Gibbs said seriously and she sighed, picking up her plate and sitting beside him.
As they ate, Gibbs was silent as Diane spoke about Fornell, although Gibbs had said he didn't want to know. Diane nudged his knee with her foot and Gibbs squinted toward her, but she just giggled, turning to her food, still talking and Gibbs stayed on the couch, not finding it so bad to be with her there, while letting her left foot rest on his lap.
When they finished, Gibbs grabbed her plate, making mention of getting up, when she grabbed his hand, stopping him. Gibbs put the dishes on the table and stared at her inquisitively
"Stay here a little longer." She asked with a soft voice, trying not to show how much she wanted to stay beside him.
"Diane..." He warned, sitting down again, and she turned to him. "Go to sleep."
"Will you make me?" She asked and Gibbs put a hand to his forehead and leaned his head on the couch, feeling tired. "It wasn't easy to swallow my pride and come here."
"Diane, you're not only here because of Fornell." He confirmed and she leaned her head on the couch, staring at him.
"No." She was approaching her face, staying inches from his face and she felt his hot breath hit her face and with that closeness, she felt at home.
"Diane, what are you doing?" He asked quietly, trying not to close the distance between them, seeing how much he still cared about her and had feelings, despite not wanting to show it.
"Leroy, it's been a decade, we're mature..." She said, lifting a hand to his hair and brushing away some hair and he shivered slightly, feeling her fingers in his hair. "Why can't we try again?"
"Diane, you are confused, you just broke up with Fornell." He argued and Diane shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"You haven't paid attention to what I was saying. Fornell and I aren't together anymore because I'm still in love with you, Leroy." She said, stressed, her face red. "If something is making me confused is the fact that I want to be with you again!"
"Diane, don't." He said firmly, holding the hand that was in his hair.
She frowned, staring at him with shining eyes.
"Why not? Don't you feel at least a little bit attracted to me?"
Gibbs closed his eyes thinking of all that Saturday's events. He was still attracted to her, he liked her and she had red hair and was beautiful, had matured, but also there was a very complicated past between them, with the end of their disastrous marriage, then her other two marriages and Emily. He knew she was serious, but didn't know how things would be between them if they tried a new relationship, although he stopped looking for Shannon in the women.
"Leroy? Answer me, damn it!" She said, getting annoyed with his silence and Gibbs opened his eyes, which shone intense.
"I still feel something for you." He said, still holding her hand away from his hair and she felt her heart speed up. "But it doesn't mean that things will work out between us Diane."
"Leroy, we're both responsible, adults." She said tiredly. "It doesn't cost us anything to try again and if it doesn't work, patience."
Gibbs rolled his head to the side, finding her blue eyes and breathed deeply, taking a decision.
"We can try again Diane. But we'll have to talk later."
"I know. Is that a yes?" She asked anxiously, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." He replied, shaking his head and opening a small smile and she smirked.
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers and staring her blue eyes that shone with expectations and then he pulled her to him and kissed her. Diane kissed him back, bringing her other hand to his hair as he held her by the waist, pulling her toward his chest.
When the two parted, panting, Gibbs leaned his forehead on her shoulder and ran a hand down the side of her body, feeling her curves and squeezing her lightly while Diane scratched his thigh over his pants and he turned to look at her, signaling upstairs and she smiled, as he took her by the hand, kissing her again, passionately, as they left a trail of clothes towards the bedroom, both feeling that it could work.
End
Decision¹
And then, what did you think? I wish Jen was alive, because she and Gibbs were cute together, but in this story I decided to join him with Diane, don't kill me, but after Jen, she is fine with him, with all that history of 'you are my Shannon'. Reviews are good.
