A/N: Ok, work and study prevented me for uploading sooner, but don't get worried. Instead of just one chapter, I'm uploading two, so no cliff hangers. Again and forever, thank you darling for the beta-reading. Love so much.
A/N 2: To Tabitha of MoonAurora, thank you for the correction, I'll change everything as soon as possible.
Life had given Abigail Sciuto many things to be proud of. She was, above all, proud of her work as a forensic scientist; she was proud of her undeniable skill in the bowling alley; and she was proud of her gothic look. And the latter was being severely threatened.
Annoyed by the constant yanking, she turned in her chair - Who is trying to pull out my ponytails? Tony!?
- I wasn't trying to pull them out, just trying to get them out of my sight. Come on, Abby, it's like I have a palm tree sitting in front of me…
- Palm tree?! That's it, Anthony DiNozzo! I'm going to murder you and leave no trace behind! And you know I'm the only one who can do it.
- Exactly. You would be caught in a minute. No cigarette ashes near the body, no handkerchief with embroidered initials and most suspicious of all, no DNA under the victim's fingernails. That leads us to… Abigail!
- Very funny, Tony…
- Peace, my friends, peace – Ducky said from his seat in the same row.
- Why do you have to be here at all, Ducky? – Tony asked. He hadn't even noticed the doctor's presence.
- The seminar is for the entire building. Everyone has to be here.
- Unfortunately.
- Yeah, my babies are already missing me… - Abby moaned.
- It hasn't begun yet? Pity, I thought I was already late… – said Ziva, who had appeared panting a little and took the empty seat near Tony.
- No, it's only at 1400. Where's Probie? – Tony leaned a bit, looking over the other rows – What, he found a way to escape and didn't tell us?
- I'm here – McGee's voice sounded from behind – Actually, I was one of the first people to get here.
- I'm sure you were. So, the only one missing is the Boss. He did find a way to escape… wait, don't tell me he's just behind me? – Tony turned around slowly, and was relieved not to see any sign of Gibbs.
A blow to his shoulder made him turn again – No, I'm beside you this time, DiNozzo.
- Boss! No case calling for our attention?
- No.
Tony put his hands together almost like a prayer – Please, no need to get anyone murdered, but what about… a robbery? A big, notorious robbery. Naval equipment, maybe, or…
- Shut up – another blow to his other shoulder, this time coming from Ziva – The Director has arrived and I doubt you want her to hear you wishing for crimes.
- I doubt she's going to sit here, almost in the last row… Good afternoon, madam – Tony forced his brightest smile out of himself when Jenny sat at Gibbs' side. Ziva could barely hold her laughter.
- Agent DiNozzo, David – Jenny nodded.
- What, are they in armistice now? – Tony whispered to Ziva, who shrugged in reply.
Gibbs smirked, eavesdropping on his agents. Next week the agency would certainly get flooded with bets about how close he and the Director really were. DiNozzo would be behind most of it, of course. Thankfully, he didn't know how close they were about to get.
- Jethro, stop looking at me and look at the dais – Jenny muttered without even moving her eyes.
Reluctantly, he did as she asked. A short, skinny man was climbing onto the dais. After dropping a large pile of paper on the pulpit, he introduced himself as the Safety Inspector whose name Gibbs didn't even understand. Judging by the look of the man, it was going to be even more boring than last year. And he had armed himself with slides.
After as long as ten minutes he had completely lost his audience. Even McGee or Ducky often found themselves staring at some random point in the wall, rather than at the projected slides. At least it was rather discrete; many others in the room were secretly playing games on their mobile phones, or looking about to fall asleep.
Despite what she had told him, Gibbs was thinking that looking at the woman next to him was much more interesting than listening to the Safety Inspector stumble over his discourse. Besides, he hadn't had much chance to do it over the last three years, since half the time they had been arguing and the other half working. He made a mental note to tell her, later that night, how beautiful he thought she was. He wasn't even sure if he had ever told her that. About time to correct some old mistakes.
He was sorry to see that the subtle lines of her face had become harder, more pronounced. Ten years ago she had looked lighter, brighter. Her eyes still had that glow, they were also sharper. For most people, comparing the young and spontaneous agent that had been at his side in Europe with the skilled and conscious Director sitting by his side was an impossible task. But for a few, like Ducky and himself, that woman was still there.
- Penny for your thoughts – he heard her muttering.
- In a word, you.
She smiled, almost imperceptibly. Like the previous year, she hadn't been paying much attention to the Safety Inspector. But now her daydreams could focus in the present, and not in the past. She went over her preparations, ensuring that everything back at home was ready for their night together, and then forced herself to focus on the lecture. The current slide was showing something that looked like the building's blueprints, with the emergency exits marked in bright red.
- Free at last! – Tony muttered half an hour later, when the Inspector left.
- Actually, it was shorter than last year.
- If you said so, McGeek. The only thing I know is that I need a coffee to wake me up before I go back to my desk.
- I'll go with you – Ziva rose hastily from her chair.
- I want a coffee too – McGee began to follow them.
- Is anyone thinking about working at all?
- Boss, it's just coffee. We'll be back in a minute.
- Not a second more, DiNozzo.
- The nearest coffee shop is at least three minutes away – Jenny said at his side after his team left.
- I know. I'm being condescending. After this lecture, they can have their fresh air… We should do the same.
- You know I can't. By the way, I should be at MTAC by now – she rose, looking for Cynthia in a room now full of people leaving, standing up, chatting. Her assistant was nowhere to be seen.
- She's probably waiting for you at MTAC, like a faithful dog – Gibbs said.
- I hope so. Jethro, I really have to go.
- I'll go with you.
She smiled – Don't you have work to do?
- Yes, but I don't have a schedule as tight as yours. And I'm also entitled to a couple free minutes after a boring lecture.
They both headed to the door – It wasn't that boring – Jenny remarked.
- Yes, Director. Like you weren't miles away, just like we all were. You just hide it better.
She pressed the lift's button – It's part of my job – The doors opened. Gibbs, who was trying to improve his behaviour, let her go in first. She selected MTAC's floor.
The moment the doors closed, the lift jerked and she was shoved against the handrails. The lights went out.
- One of these days you're going to break down the lift – she moaned at his ear.
His finger left the emergency button and joined his other hand in caressing her body – And when that day arrives, are you going to bill me?
- You certainly deserve it – the way his body pressed against hers was making her breathe heavily.
- Shut up, Jen – he kissed her demandingly, his hands travelling from her shoulders and face to the borders of her breasts. She placed her hands on his back and pulled him even closer.
- Someone can't hold on until tonight – she muttered mischievously when their lips parted.
His right hand cupped one of her breasts, making her gasp – This is just a little preview – he answered. He grinned when he saw the effect he was having on her.
- Oh, really? – her grin was as wide as his and the back of her hand brushed his groin very lightly. His reaction was immediate - And now, who's having a hard time holding on?
He was panting as heavily as she was – I see you're still a teaser.
- So are you – she placed her other hand on the back of his head, bringing his lips back to hers.
- There's just one problem… - he breathed between the kiss.
- What?
- I have to deliver you at MTAC. Presentable – without leaving her, he pressed the emergency button again, making the lift come to life.
- Jethro! – she shoved him away and tried to compose her clothes and hair before the doors opened. She was still combing her hair with her fingers when they stopped at the last floor. Luckily, there was no one there.
- Try not to pant so much – she heard him whisper as they left.
- Bastard – she replied on the same volume, heading towards MTAC, where Cynthia was already expecting her.
- Director.
She turned – What now, Agent Gibbs?
He approached her – With your permission, I would like to leave earlier today.
She noticed that he was still grinning, although much more discretely – No problem. Just finish your report on yesterday's case.
- Don't worry. It will be on your desk before the end of the shift.
She nodded and turned away. Gibbs got inside the lift again and went down to the bullpen. His team had just arrived, judging by the coats tossed onto the chairs' backs and the smoky coffee cups on top of their desks.
With a quick glance at his watch, he sat at his desk. He tried to concentrate on the report that he had to write, making an abnormal effort to put Jenny Sheppard out of his mind.
- Director, Commander Campbell is on the line.
Jenny adjusted her headset and nodded towards the technicians' table. The coloured bars on the screen were being replaced by a man wearing a uniform and a stern expression.
- Director Sheppard.
- Commander. Is everything ready?
- On your orders, madam.
- Ok. Satellite images then.
Suddenly, the Commander was sharing the screen with a detailed picture of the Golf of Aden. The position of every team and ship was carefully marked, looking like a complex web of red dots.
One of the technicians handed her a file. She opened it and began to read.
- Sigma Team.
A voice responded through thick interference – Ready and waiting orders, madam.
- Zeta Team.
Another voice sounded through the interference – Ready and waiting orders, madam.
She went through all the teams. After checking on everyone, she closed the file. Trying not to be noticed, she darted a glance at the time flashing on the bottom-right of the screen. She truly wished that the operation would not take long.
Gibbs looked over his desk again, checking that he'd taken care of every pertinent document. Glad that he had, he took another look at the watch.
- Long weekend for everyone, guys. Go home, there's nothing more for us to do.
The entire team was looking at him, almost shocked.
- But… we already left early once last month – Ziva remarked.
- This isn't the Mossad, Ziva. You can go home early when there's nothing to do.
- No complains here, Boss – Tony was already buttoning up his coat, followed closely by McGee, who was shutting down computers as fast as he could.
- Have a good weekend. Try not to get in trouble, I need you all in one piece come Monday.
- Sure. Bye, Boss – McGee replied, while Tony just waved and Ziva nodded. In a minute, they were all disappearing inside the lift.
He gave them a couple of minutes, enough to ensure that they were already inside their cars and driving home. Grabbing his coat, badge and gun, he went over to the lift himself.
Knowing there was still plenty of time, he drove home. Inside, he went up to his room, opened his wardrobe, and stood still, uncertain. He, who never gave a damn about what to wear.
Taking some informal jeans and a black shirt he had forgotten that he owned, he went to the bathroom. A warm shower would liven him up and help him relax, something he felt he sorely needed. He still almost hoped that Jenny would tell him she had thought better of it and decided to drop this "baby" business entirely. But then, he knew how determined she was. It wasn't going to happen.
The warm water massaged his head, shoulders and back, and helped him clear his mind. After a while, he turned it off and got out the bathtub. Dressing quickly, he combed his hair and, for the first time in years, checked his appearance on the small mirror above the sink.
It was still too early. The best way to pass the time would be to go downstairs, work on the boat... but he quickly dismissed the idea. It would get him all covered in sawdust.
Not knowing how else to pass the time, he went back to the car. This time drove to her house without breaking the speed limit and parked two houses away, so she couldn't see him from out of her windows. Her security detail should be hidden somewhere, he wasn't seeing any sign of them. Since they certainly knew his car, they were probably wondering what he was doing there at all.
He switched on the radio, hoping it was still working after months of disuse. Luckily, it was, and the car was suddenly full of silly pop music. He tuned into some other random station, and got only more pop music. It would be hard to find anything else, apparently. He wondered if Kelly would like that meaningless music teenagers wrote nowadays. In another station, someone was reading out the news, but he wasn't in the mood for that tonight. Finally, he found something that didn't sound like pop music. Some sort of blues or soul. Either way, he liked it much better. He tapped his fingers lazily on the steering wheel and heard the song through. And the next one, and the one after that. The commercials were annoying but mercifully short, followed by more music.
He hadn't taken his eyes from the house, and as he watched a light came on in the ground floor, where he knew the kitchen to be. That was good. The house had been dark for so long he had started to worry Jenny might still be stuck in MTAC. Of course it could be Noemi, but he doubted she wouldn't have dismissed her housekeeper earlier. Not today.
A glance at the car's digital watch told him it was as good a time as any. He got out of the car and walked the small distance to her porch. He considered using her spare key, like he had many times before, but tonight it probably wouldn't be very polite. So he knocked, instead.
Don't forget, chapter eleven is already posted ;)