Washington DC, August 16th 1999, 16:47

Six weeks had passed now since the day when Lucy had been pushed to and so nearly beyond her breaking point. Her wounds had healed faster than the doctors had anticipated, so she'd been cleared as healthy - physically. Yet it was not the end of the whole ordeal, whilst Lucy was desperate to get back to at least some sort of state of normality – whatever that now would be - she was still in counselling for her mental state - even if she had put up a fight about it when she had first been told she it was mandatory by the Director. But on the brighter side, she'd just finished her first full week at work, which had been as mad and hectic as usual, yet for once she was not moaning about the early mornings and Stan's crude jokes, she was just thankful to be out in the real world once more. Now Friday had finally rolled around. Outside the summer's sun shone brightly, yet the air held a chill to it that would usually not be felt until late September. For the residents of DC it seemed as though summer had been and gone in a flash, even if the calendars did still protest. Inside Lucy sat at her desk in the bull pen. She'd been refined to desk duty until she had finished her counselling in two weeks time. Yet for once she was not moaning, she was just glad to be out of the house. For the first few weeks out of hospital she had been staying at Gibbs' place. Yet once she had begun to feel as though she was well and truly on her way to recovery she'd started looking for a new flat or house, after all, her old place had too many bad memories housed inside. So, with a new chapter of her life brought s new house. She'd told her landlord she was moving out and with Gibbs and Burley as her muscle men she had moved her things out and into Gibbs' house. Last week thought she had gotten the keys to her new house. It was only a two up two down terrace but it was completely her. As soon as she had got the keys she had requested the land lord's permission and paid Burly $60 to paint the master bedroom and the lounge. She'd also gotten him to move in all of her stuff after playing her injury card. Although he had acted as though he was not impressed he'd actually just been happy to find she was back to her old self.

Now she sat at her desk which was for once immaculate as whilst the rest of the team had been out in the field she'd had little else to do. Now she was wearing a pair of light tan chinos with a cream cotton blouse with gold buttons, she had cream heels on with tan ribbon and a bow. Lucy had her long blond hair with its natural slight curl to it tied up in a high ponytail, but she'd also had a full fringe put in with feathered edges that framed her face. Around her neck hung a gold cross that she had worn since she had been let out of hospital. Her makeup was light and natural, she had pale lipstick and gold studs in her ears.

Lucy was currently busy typing up a case file, the bull pen was empty as all agents not on active cases had gone home and Gibbs' team were soon to be joining them. Burly walked into the Bull pen with a smirk on his face. "You can go home Lucy." He said.

"I'll wait until I hear it from the boss' lips."

"There was a time not so long ago Luce, when I said: 'jump' and you said: 'how high?'"

"Yeah, and look where that got me: death glares and one or two headaches to last a week, not to mention the amount of rubbish jobs you all dumped on me!" She said with a smirk, he just rolled his eyes.

"Go home!" said Gibbs as he came barging into the bull pen in a fashion that had become iconic to him. Stan just smirked at Lucy as she began to grab her stuff to go home.

"Hey boss, Luce, you two fancy going for a drink? Meet at 6ish? The usual place?" questioned Stan.

"Sure see ya then." Said Lucy as she walked away leaving for the night.

"Boss?" questioned Stan.

"No tonight Burley." He replied.

"Come on boss, if not for me then for Lucy. She's been through hell and high water recently; it's time she let her hair down if only for the night. She's off her pain meds so she can have a drink. You two are close, I know that."

"Fine, I'll think about it." Responded Gibbs and Stan walked out with a smug smile on his face.

Washington DC, August 16th 1999, 15:37

Music played softly through the room. The master bedroom had been painted in a light turquoise colour with darker turquoise wallpaper on one wall. Her bedding was white and the accessories were perfectly fitting. She sat in front of the small whitewashed dressing table she'd had for years doing her makeup. She finished her lipstick before sliding her feet into stilettos and looking at her reflection in the full length mirror. Lucy was wearing a emerald green dress with a crew neck line and a scooped back. It had full length arms and fitted her perfectly, the hem just an inch above her knee. She had on opaque black tights and on her feet were black stilettos. Around her neck hung a gold cross as per usual whilst on her wrist was a delicate charm bracelet her grandmother had bought her. With her fingers she fixed her hair which was lose with natural curls. Her eye makeup was dark, yet her foundation had grown a little lighter over the past few weeks as she finally learnt she had nothing to hide. She smiled at her reflection. It may seem slightly dressed up for the bar but on a Friday night everyone in there was a little bit more dressed up. Grabbing her leather jacket she left the house, big hand bag over her shoulder.

Twenty minutes later she arrived at their usual place. It was a small bar just outside of the Navy yard which often attracted a lot of military personnel who wanted to get away from superior officers in the yard. She could feel a few eyes on her as she walked in, but soon spotted Gibbs sat over I the corner, his silver hair making him stand out a mile away. She walked over and sat down with a smile. She sat Burly over at the bar and smirked as she saw him attempting to chat up a girl. "Go tease him." Said Gibbs who could see her longing. So she did. Walking over she swayed her hip, then, placing her hands on his shoulders and her head on his shoulder. Then whispering she said: "Darling I'll have a white wine spritzer when you are quite ready." Yet she also made it loud enough for the other woman to hear. Then she smiled as the other woman looked in disgust at Stan and walked away. Laughing she tapped his shoulder. "Good one Stan." He just sighed.

"Hey, Luce!" he said when he noticed her attire.

"Yeah?" she replied before she sat down.

"You look good."

And with that they began their evening. They laughed and joked and for just one night, Lucy felt like the last six months had not happened. She had the people around her who loved her, made her smile and were her real family. That evening she felt as though all she needed was those two people, Jethro was like her father and Burley her pain in the ass brother. This was her life, and it was time to make the most of it.