When she teased him at the start of the case about going against his Marine nature and playing nice with the army, Jenny hadn't meant take a liking to the CID officer they were forced to work with. Standing at her railing on the catwalk she watched Gibbs and Lt. Col. Hollis Mann working with the team on the latest case they'd pulled. She knew Jethro well enough to know he found Mann appealing, which was odd because she wasn't physically his type. The woman was blonde for pete's sake. But there was something there, an attraction of some sort.

Jealously and anger flared as Jenny watched. Things between her and Jethro had been good, their friendship stronger then ever, and they were thriving as parents to their daughter. Their feelings were still there, still lingering in the background, but they never really talked them. That was Jenny's fault. She didn't want to admit to Jethro that she was feeling insecure and a little overwhelmed, so she avoid talking about any romantic feeling she might have towards him. Jethro was being Jethro about it, not pushing, not pulling, just waiting, or at least she'd thought he was waiting. Waiting for her to come around, waiting for their time, as he'd put it. Clearly she'd been mistaken because she knew Jethro well enough to know when he was flirting.

Making her way down to the bullpen she demanded an update and then processed to let the team know she wanted this wrapped up sooner rather than later. She cited something about the budget, but in reality she just wanted this little team up with the army CID over and done with.

Unfortunately for Jenny, Hollis Mann kept showing up like a bad penny.

She followed him into NCIS and over to the cluster of desks used by him and his team. Since DiNozzo, Todd, and David had been with him it wasn't a surprise to see McGee sitting at his desk working his computer. What did surprise Mann was the tiny person sitting at Gibbs' desk. The child, who was somewhere between nine and twelve, had long auburn red hair which was braided down her back and pulled through the back of an NCIS cap. She couldn't see her eyes because the girl had her head down, her face obscured by the bill of the cap, focused on the notebook she was writing in.

Gibbs walked to his desk without a word. He pulled his gun form his hip, and his badge from his pocket, so he could put them away. As he pulled open his desk drawer he looked over Kennedy's shoulder. "You want to use t-o-o there not t-o." He watched as she corrected it. "You can't just use a common there. You need a connection word."

"I hate grammar." Kennedy mumbled while fixing her mistakes.

"Go play with Abby." Gibbs said as he closed the drawer.

Kennedy's face lit up as she gathered up her stuff, shoving it into her backpack, and then darting away from her dad's desk. She was almost out of sight when Gibbs called out, "One small Caf-Pow. Do not drink one of Abby's." The first time Kennedy had Caf-Pow it had been an extra one Abby had in her fridge. Abby was distracted by something odd about someone's DNA and wasn't paying attention. By the time she did Kennedy had finished off the whole super sized drink. The girl was up for hours past her bedtime, couldn't focus on anything, and buzzed around the townhouse so much her mother called Abby and made her come over to stay up with her wired ten-year-old.

Gibbs didn't give Hollis a chance to ask about the scene she'd just watch unfold or about the girl. He dove right into the case, which then kept them busy well into the next day. When they finally caught a break he sent David and Todd off to bring in the suspect before disappearing. When his agents returned the interrogation kept them busy. By the end of the night, with the murderer on her way to jail, and after watching Gibbs do his thing in interrogation Mann had forgotten about asking about the girl.

"Jethro," Mann's voice called out as she walked towards his basement. "I know it's late and you probably didn't think to stop and get something to eat so I thought I'd come over with some curry from that place in Georgetown you like."

Down in his basement Gibbs was standing behind Kennedy who was sitting on a tall stool at his workbench. He had his arms around her, his hands guiding her hands as she shaved edges off a block of wood. Her first project had been a birdhouse, which was proudly hanging from the tree in his back yard. This was going to be a jewelry box for her mom. When Hollis stepped onto the landing above them talking about food Kennedy's head snapped up and she smirked at her dad, "You forgot to feed me."

"I did not forget to feed you." Gibbs said with a roll of his eyes. "You wanted to finish this before dinner since you were full from all the clowny cakes you and Abby had earlier." He poked her in the side, making her giggle, and then he turned to a very stunned looking Hollis.

To say she was surprised, even shocked, was an understatement. "I'm sorry." Hollis said lamely. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's ok." Gibbs said, titling his head in a way that told her to come down. He watched the way she looked between him and Kennedy and then finally said, "This is Kennedy. My daughter."

Hollis couldn't hide her shock.

"Kennedy, this is Lt. Col. Mann." Gibbs continued.

Kennedy smiled as she offered the woman her sawdust-covered hand. "Hi."

Hollis blinked, still feeling a bit stunned, but then returned the smile and shook the girl's hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Kennedy." Things were really awkward for a few moments before Hollis said, "I guess it's a good thing I brought more than enough to share if your Dad's forgotten to feed you."

Gibbs smiled when Hollis held up the bag full of take-out. Looking down at his little girl he said, "Go wash up."

Once they were alone Hollis looked at Gibbs, arms crossing over her chest. "You told me you had three ex-wives, you didn't say anything about a daughter."

"I would have told you." Gibbs said simply.

"When?" Hollis asked.

"When it was time to tell you." He replied.

"When would it have been time to tell me?" Hollis demanded, though she kept her voice low and soft so it wouldn't carry.

Gibbs sighed as he looked at her and said, "When I was sure it was the right thing to do for the both of you."

She couldn't fault him for wanting to protect his daughter, but still, something like this he should have told her about sooner. She decided to let it go for now because it was hard to know when the girl would come back downstairs. She had so many questions. What else was he keeping from her? And more importantly who was Kennedy's mother? But those questions would have to wait; she could hear the girl coming. When Kennedy joined them she gave the girl a smile and asked, "Mild or hot?"

"Hot please, as long as it doesn't smell." Kennedy answered. "I think my Dad's nose is broken. He likes the smelly stuff."

Hollis laughed. "I've noticed."

While they ate, Gibbs watched them together. Introducing his girlfriend to his daughter wasn't something Gibbs had ever expected to face, but here he was watching his girlfriend and his daughter laugh and giggle in his basement as if they were old friends. He hadn't meant to hurt Hollis by not telling her about Kennedy, he just wanted to be a little more secure and sure about this thing between them. He liked Hollis, he liked her a lot, but deep down he wasn't sure what he was doing when it came to her, and where this whole thing was going. What he did know was that for the first time his feelings weren't shrouded in memories of the past. When he kissed Hollis he no longer felt like he was cheating on Shannon. That's not to say he didn't still feel a twinge of guilt when he kissed her, because he did, only for a whole different reason, a whole other person.

Several hours later he was still watching them, which is why he saw Kennedy trying to hide a yawn. "Ok, that's it time for bed."

"Aww Dad, we're almost finished! I'm winning this time!" Kennedy whined.

Hollis smiled as she took her turn on the Chinese checkers board.

Kennedy frowned. "Or not."

"Maybe next time kiddo." Hollis said with a soft chuckle.

"Next time I pick the game." Kennedy said as she tried to smother another yawn. "How are you at backgammon?"

"Better then I am at Chinese checkers." Hollis replied.

Kennedy looked doubtful. "We'll see about that. I can beat my Dad."

"Bed. Now." Gibbs repeated softly. "I'll be up in a little while."

"Fine, fine, geesh." Kennedy replied and then smiled at Hollis. "Goodnight Col. Mann."

"Goodnight Kennedy." Hollis replied. After she was sure she'd heard feet on the stairs upstairs she looked at Gibbs and smiled, "She's a very sweet kid."

"Yeap." Gibbs said proudly.

Hollis bit her lip for a moment and then asked, "Are there other things about you that you haven't told me."

"Yeah." Gibbs answered honestly while putting the game away.

"Are you ever going to tell me?" She asked.

He hesitated but then said, "Yes."

Jenny was less then thrilled when she found out about the impromptu meeting between their daughter and Jethro's new girlfriend. Kennedy told her all about it that morning over breakfast since Jenny had been at a dinner the evening before and didn't get home until Kennedy was already asleep. As soon as she got in that morning she called him, demanding he make an appearance in her office. As soon as he walked in and closed the door she demanded an explanation. He told her it just happened, that she'd stopped by, but that didn't smooth things over. "We should have discussed this first, Jethro!"

"It wasn't planned, Jen." He grumbled back.

"Just what are you playing at Jethro?" Jenny demanded. He'd come to her, told her that he didn't think they were over yet, that there could still be something between them, and then he just what? Decided to pick up G.I Barbie to play with while he waited?

"I'm not playing at anything." He argued back. He honestly hadn't expected Hollis.

Jenny's anger was about more then just Hollis meeting Kennedy. It was about Jethro and Hollis, and her and Jethro, and her not understanding what was happening in her life. Jenny liked to be in control and when she felt as if she weren't in control that pissed her off. And because she was pissed, she was picking a fight, which turned into one of those arguments that made Cynthia suddenly feel the need to find something to do elsewhere.

"Jethro?" Hollis said later that evening while they were walking back to his car from the movie theater. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine." He grumbled.

"Are you sure?" She asked. "You've been more stony silent then usual tonight."

He grumbled under his breath before saying, "Had a fight with Kennedy's mother."

"Ahh." Hollis said with an understanding nod. "Ex-wife didn't like her meeting the new girlfriend?"

"She isn't an ex-wife." Jethro replied, but then changed the subject. His tone letter her know not to push or ask questions.

The looks the other woman gave her. The only slightly veiled hostility she felt whenever she was around. If Hollis would let herself see it, admit to seeing it, she could have figured out who Kennedy's mother was and way Jethro didn't want to tell her. It was one thing to compete with a woman he shared a past with; it was something else to compete with the mother of his only child.

So she didn't push, she didn't ask. For now she let ignorance be bliss.

It couldn't last. Not if they were going to continue seeing each other. She was going to ask him, she was, but as fate would have it. She didn't have too.

Kennedy was staying with her dad while her mom was at a conference. He was working late, finishing up paperwork on the case they'd just closed, and she was sitting at Kate's desk drawing in the sketchbook Kate always left in the drawer for her. Kate would draw something, and Kennedy would try to copy it. It was Kate's way of teaching her how to sketch. Kennedy smiled when she looked up at the sound of Hollis' voice as the woman stepped off the elevator. "He forgot to feed me again."

Hollis laughed. "Then I guess it's a good thing I'm around. How does Greek sound?"

"Gyros!" Kennedy cheered as she leapt from Kate's chair and bounced over to her dad's desk.

They were just finishing up their meals, laughing and joking with each other when the elevator dinged. The office was empty, it was late, and they weren't expecting anyone so both of the soldiers stiffened, waiting to see who it was without alerting Kennedy to their sudden alertness.

It had been a full seven days since Kennedy had seen her mother and despite being eleven years old the moment Jenny stepped off the elevator the girl squealed a very happy, "Mommy!"

"Mommy?" Hollis repeated in surprise, her eye a little wider as she watched Kennedy dart off towards the waiting redhead.

Jenny grinned as she caught Kennedy in a hug. "Hi baby. What are you doing here?"

"Dad's working late, trying to get caught up on his paperwork before his mean ol' boss gets back." Kennedy said with a giggle. "You're home early!"

"Didn't feel like waiting until tomorrow to catch my flight so I got an earlier one." Jenny said, still holding tight to her little girl, and choosing to ignore the little tease about Jethro's mean old boss. "I missed you. I was on my way to Dad's to see you, but I needed to get something from my office first."

When Gibbs looked at her with a questioning look Hollis said, "I'm not really sure why I'm so surprised."

"Jethro." Jenny greeted when Kennedy pulled her over to the desks. "Good evening, Col. Mann."

"Jen." Gibbs said with a nod.

"Good evening, Director Shepard." Hollis replied.

Things were awkward and for Gibbs they only got worse. Maybe it made him a bastard but he liked the flash of jealousy he saw in Jenny's eyes every time she saw him with Hollis. He liked spending time with Hollis and maybe in another life things would have worked out differently, but there would be no commitment here and he knew that going in. Yeah, he was a bastard and he knew it. Which is why he knew he was being punished. How else could he explain why he was suddenly working a case that involved his last ex-wife?

"This isn't about you." Gibbs told her.

"It never was about me was it Jethro?" Stephanie said with a slight shake of her head. "Hell, it wasn't even about them." They both knew he meant Shannon and Kelly. "Or the job, not with us. It was about her." She spat the word her as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. "The one you let slip away."

"Stephanie." Gibbs warned.

The angry redhead just shook her head. "You whispered her name in your sleep, Jethro. Did you know that? In our bed, when you bothered to come to bed at all, you would call out for her."

Hollis watched the scene from the corner of the room. He could feel her eyes on him. Stephanie was two seconds away from saying Jenny's name when McGee showed up. He'd never been more grateful to see the probie. This case was turning into his own personal nightmare.

It had been amusing for Jenny at first. Watching Jethro squirm under her teasing banter with Col. Mann. It wasn't so much fun now that she was the one squirming. As long as Stephanie kept her complaints to Gibbs' and the case, things would be fine. Jenny was professional. She handled people every day. Of course, Stephanie wouldn't keep it professional. How could she? She was the wife who'd followed Jenny's Dear Jethro letter. She was the wife who'd lived for fourteen months in Jenny's shadow.

"She's a beautiful little girl." Stephanie said while looking at the picture of Kennedy on Jenny's desk. "She has her Daddy's eyes." At the look of surprise on Jenny's face she smiled sadly. "I would know those eyes anywhere, Director." She glanced at the picture again, her own eyes filling with sadness. "I wanted children, but he didn't, he couldn't. Not with all the guilt he was lugging around. Besides, I wasn't the one he wanted to have children with."

"Ms. Flynn." Jenny began but Stephanie cut her off.

"It won't last." The other redhead said. "Him and the blonde in fatigues, it won't last. She's just a place holder, just like the rest of us." She paused and added, "Well, not all of us. One of us is the one he's holding the place for."

There it was again. The not so carefully worded implication that she was the one Jethro was in love with, the one he was waiting for. Why did everyone seem to think she was the one that would finally make it work? How were they all so sure she wouldn't just end up another member of the You're-Not-Shannon Ex-wives club?

"We've talked." Stephanie said, suddenly bringing Jenny out of her thoughts. "His ex-wives, we've talked, about him. We've talked about the nightmares, the way he'd cried out in his sleep for Shannon, for Kelly. But he never did that with me. It wasn't her name on his lips. It wasn't Shannon he asked for when he was the most vulnerable to the truth. It was you."

Well that wasn't point blank now wasn't it? How was she supposed to respond to that?

After their dinner break Tony, Ziva and Kate were walking back to the bullpen when Tony suddenly stopped, throwing out his arms to stop his companions as well.

"What the hell Tony?" Kate asked while she smacked his hand away from being a few inches to close to a sexual harassment complaint.

Tony jerked his head towards what had caught his eye; Jenny, coming down the stairs with Stephanie, and Mann standing by the plasma with Gibbs. "It's a train wreck. I want to look away but I can't. Ex-wife number three, current girlfriend, and baby mama. Oh this is gonna be good! You can't make this stuff up!"

Once it was pointed out to them Ziva and Kate couldn't help but watch as well. Gibbs stood there surrounded, helpless and on his own. And yet, was that a smirk on his lips? Was he enjoying this? Typical male ego.

"Is that the look?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, that's the one." Jenny replied.

Mann smirked. "We all know that look well."

"Should we do something?" Kate whispered.

"Make popcorn?" Tony replied.

The standoff lasted a few more moments before someone called out, "DiNozzo."

"Yes boss, step-boss, I mean step-ma'am, I mean Ma'am, I mean Col. Mann, ma'am." Tony stammered until Kate threw her hand over his mouth to stop him.

Gibbs just shook his head. Hollis looked at the three agents oddly. Jenny was smirking.

"The wife DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.

"In interrogation Boss." DiNozzo answered once Kate moved her hand.

As they walked down the hall away from his agents and Jenny, Hollis said, "Well I guess I know whose side your people are on."

"There's no sides." Jethro replied.

"I had a feeling they didn't like me." Hollis said softly so her voice wouldn't carry.

"They like you fine." Jethro replied.

"I'm the evil step mother." Hollis told him with a look that said to just stop denying it.

Jenny sat behind her desk staring at the plasma on her wall but not paying attention to what was going on. Her mind kept going over what Stephanie had said, what Mike had said, Ducky, even Jethro himself had said it. They had all said in their own ways that Jethro loved her. That he had always loved her. If he loved her why hadn't he come after her all those years ago? He wasn't ready, she realized. He wasn't free to love her as completely as he could now. He wasn't carrying around his guilt, his loss, and his grief anymore. She could see it when she looked at him and Hollis, but she could also tell he was holding back from her, holding a part of him back from her. Was Stephanie right? Was Hollis just holding a place meant to be hers?

The knock on her door shook Jenny from her thoughts. "Come in."

"I wanted to let you know we closed the case." Hollis said as she stepped into the office. She filled Jenny in, telling her about Fred Rinnert and the off shore account, and about Abby slugging him in the nose.

Jenny beamed proudly when she heard about Abby. "That's my girl." Once Hollis finished reading her in she nodded. "Thank you Col. Mann. Well done."

"Thank you Director." Hollis replied.

Her place. Rule number five; you don't waste good. Rule number sixty-four; fight for what you love. Hollis had her hand on the doorknob when Jenny suddenly said, "I love him."

"I know." Hollis replied. "So do I."

"Then we have a problem." Jenny said, her voice low and cool.

Hollis turned to look at her. "Yes, it seems we do."

Jenny smirked. "Enjoy your evening Col. Mann."

Hollis Mann had been the kick in the ass Jenny needed. She'd been jealous of the woman for months without a clue as to what to do about it. Today it all changed. She wasn't sure if it was hearing that he whispered her name in his sleep, or if it was Tony's fumbled play on words, or that moment when the three of them were staring him down and his eyes were on her the whole time. All Jenny knew was that she loved him and that Leroy Jethro Gibbs belonged with her. Now, what was she going to do about that?