A/N: I have been severely reprimanded for apologising about fluff, so I shall no longer apologise if the chapter turns to goo, as my stories so often do.

I am terribly sorry for the long update- it's the last week before holidays (2 WHOLE WEEKS PEOPLE!!!!!!) so my teachers are digging up all those last minute pieces of work for us… makes for little fic-writing time.

As always, a huge big thank you to my reviewers- I read every one, and I am so thankful for the feedback- it really makes my day…

Jibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbsjibbs

After a month, Jen was pulling her hair out. Her days consisted of eating, doing a couple of hours of exercises for her injuries and, occasionally, answering any questions Leon had about NCIS administration. Beyond that, she was immobile, her social life consisting of a few visits from her physical therapist and her beloved colleagues. She couldn't go for a morning run to burn off her energy because her doctor had forbidden any strenuous activity (despite her insistence that she had suffered worse, in worse heat, and had been running two days later).

However, possibly the worst punishment was the forbidden fruit who shared her bed. Or, more accurately, whose bed she was sharing. And by sharing, she meant sleeping. And by sleeping she meant actually sleeping.

Apparently any of 'those' activities were also strenuous activities.

But now, after a month and a week off duty, she was finally ready to go back to work part time. She had worked out a schedule with Cynthia and Leon, which ensured she was there for the important administration things, while they dealt with the day-to-day stuff.

Jen couldn't have been happier to be entering the Navy Yard.

She took the elevator to her floor and greeted Cynthia with a grin.

"Good morning, Director" she said warmly.

"Good morning Cynthia. What have you got for me?"

"SecNav will be online in about an hour. MTAC will call. Assistant Director Vance had some transfer forms he needed your signature for. I put them on your desk. I have cleared the afternoon, so you can have an early first day, and Agent Gibbs said, and I quote, 'Don't go out for lunch, I'll bring you something'. That's all I got so far"

Jen was very proud of her assistant for being so organised.

"Thank you Cynthia" she said with a smile, unsure of what else she could possibly say.

Cynthia gave a respectful nod before going back to her computer screen.

Jen entered her office, closed the door, and sat contently in her chair. She had worked very hard to earn her chair, and as much as she despised herself for hurting Jethro to get it, she couldn't deny the swell of satisfaction in her belly. This was her office. She had worked harder than most, she had put in the time and effort, and she had constantly outdone even the men, proving herself worthy of this office. That was something to be proud of.

Breaking out of her moment, she opened her draw, got out her pen and opened the first manila folder on her desk that was waiting for the signature of the Director of NCIS.

As usual, just as she was about to touch the nib to the page, her door opened without warning.

She sighed, and gave a half smile to herself, placing the pen down and finally looking up.

"Jethro" she said, a hint of a question in her tone.

"Jen" he nodded.

They hadn't seen each other that morning. He had been called in early, and she was starting late, so their paths had not crossed.

"How may I help you?" she asked with a grin "Is this a personal visit, or do I have to be the Director for this conversation?"

"Both"

She sat back in her chair as he continued straight on.

"I need your go ahead to monitor Petty Officer Andrews' cell and home phone"

"I thought you already were" she asked, eyebrows slightly furrowed, aware that McGee would have run a few traces without her consent.

"I need the full deal this time"

"You can't trace him?" she asked, pleased to see he didn't even try to deny the unauthorised traces.

"McGee had some trouble pinpointing a location with his cell. Some sought of encryption. I need access to his home number and I need recordings of all his conversations"

"Which means you need some equipment" she finished.

He gave a slight nod.

"So you can't just go do your own thing this time" she added, smirking at him.

He shook his head with a grin, shuffling his feat as he so often did.

She looked down to her papers. "Okay"

She looked up.

"Do it. I will inform the tech department that McGee will be relieving them of however many supplies he needs"

He moved to walk out.

"Jethro?"

He turned back.

"What was the personal message?" she asked with a grin.

He gave that wide-eyed, innocent expression for a beat.

"Good morning"

And then he was gone, the door shut quietly behind him, the beginnings of a smile on his face. She gave a half laugh in the direction of the door. He hadn't given his usual sentiments to her that morning, choosing to leave her sleeping.

She picked up the phone and dialled the tech department, immediately informing them of the situation and assuring them that Agent McGee would take very god care of their equipment.

Just over an hour later…

Jen walked out of MTAC with authority, her head held high. SecNav had been quite adamant that her office would remain hers for as long as she wanted it. She would never admit it, but since her illness had become public knowledge, she had been worried about the security of her position. Although she was a natural leader and a perfectly capable Director, if news of her condition became public knowledge, her credibility could potentially be shot down by those who wanted her big, fluffy chair.

Plus, she was worried her boss would see her as a liability. A dying Director? That made for great publicity for NCIS.

But Jen wasn't worried. SecNav hadn't even really mentioned it, choosing to focus on business and her present injuries. But in the brief look he gave, her fears subsided.

For now, as long as she was physically sound, the job would remain hers.

Walking along the balcony overlooking the bullpen, she noticed Gibbs' team working hard at their desks, but their leader was suspiciously absent. Looking up she noticed the elevator opening and, lo and behold, he stepped out, a white take-away bag in his hand. He gestured with his head towards her office and she gave an imperceptible nod.

And she was just starting to notice her hunger, too.

Sitting in their usual position on her couches, they dishes out the food, moving around each other easily.

"Found Andrews" he said.

"Yeah?"

He chewed for a moment. "In a dumpster"

She tried to cover a snort. It was clear that Gibbs wasn't too cut up about the man's death.

"What happened?" she asked with a vague smile, reaching her hand out to try and steal a snow pea sitting on top of his dish. He whacked her cutlery away with his own and stabbed it, taking a small bit before dumping it on her plate. She gave him a look. Sometimes she was amazed that the hard-ass interrogator could be such a child.

"Turns out his squad-mate was running drugs from offshore"

"You knew that already"

"Well, yeah… but we didn't know Andrews was the one who started it"

"Andrews was the leader? I thought he was the one who squealed"

"He did- after his friend was killed"

"Did he do it? Because his friend was taking some off the top?"

"Nope- friend got caught in the middle. Killer thought the friend was Andrews"

"So Andrews was the intended victim?"

"Yep. Looks like the pissed off customer found the right guy this time though"

"Same guy?"

"Yep"

Jen nodded. They'd find the guy. Angry drug addicts didn't stay under the radar for long. They continued to eat for a while.

"So…" started Gibbs, finishing his mouthful. "How's your first day back?"

"Good so far. Leon's kept things together for me"

He nodded.

"SecNav assured me the job was still mine"

"Good" he said. Like her, he knew the cost of her getting to the top, but he also knew her very well. She was proud of her position, and the job was important to her. He was glad she was still there.

Suddenly Tony came bursting through the open door.

"Jen…- Sorry boss, I didn't know you… I should... uh…"

"DiNozzo, spit it out" he said, pretending to be annoyed. Jen could see he wasn't. Tony, too, seemed unaffected by his tone, years of experience behind him.

"We got the guy- the killer. He's downstairs"

"Good"

When Gibbs made no move to get up, Tony looked between them, realising the domestic scene he had interrupted.

"You gonna come… and… you know…"

He gestured vaguely, comically, downstairs expecting Gibbs would want to interrogate.

"You do it" he said dismissively.

"Me?"

"Yes, DiNozzo, you"

"By myself?"

"Well, if you don't want to, get McGee to do it"

"No… that's fine. I'll do it. Uh… thanks?"

Tony left before Gibbs could change his mind, confused to say the least. Rarely did Gibbs let them fly solo. Excited, Tony decided to leave the questions about their lunch date for later.

"That was very nice of you", said Jen with a smirk.

"I'm a nice guy", replied Gibbs with a grin and a shrug of his shoulder.

Jen gave a huff of amusement and went back to her lunch.

One month later…

"Yes. I understand… No, thank you doctor… I'm sure he will. Thanks, bye"

Hanging up the phone Jen all but punched the air in victory. Finally her doctor had given her the go-ahead to start running again, convinced that her injuries were sufficiently healed and the regular exercise would be good for her.

Which meant that, finally, she could engage in other activities that had been forbidden until now.

Forcing herself to concentrate on work, Jen thought of all the ways she could seduce Gibbs that night, her day suddenly brighter than it had been ten minutes ago.

JIBBSJIBBSJIBBS

I know… very work-related. Don't worry. The next one will be… much less about work.