Disclaimer – don't own NCIS

Authors note – I am so sorry for the delay, I've had serious writer's block with this chapter which is why it is sort of a filler chapter. I've also realised I have a longer time space to fill than I thought so any suggestions are welcomed with open arms and I'll give you a shout out.

Also, this is for Tataalicat and Jenny Maria Gibbs as I hope they both stay safe!

Enjoy! xx

Washington DC, October 13th 1999, 07:45 hours

As her eyes slowly fluttered open she winced at the beam of light that had strayed through the blackout blinds. Her head felt heavy and dull. Slowly she sat up and walked over to the window pulling the blind fully shut. Multicoloured swirls spun in front of her eyes as she tried to steady herself before closing the blind. Placing her warm palm on her forehead she opened her eyes ever so slightly and once more she felt them weigh down heavily and form the previously dull ache in her head to be transformed and magnified into what felt like a herd of unruly elephant slowly stomped over her. Lucy was well aware of what was wrong; she had the joy of a migraine!

It had been nearly six weeks since she had gone undercover against Jethro's wishes to catch their killer – which she had done successfully. But since then things in her world had altered slightly and gone away from the normality she had begin to settle into and get used to. After hearing of the success she had made her night when hunting their marine killer the Director had palmed her off to various other teams so she could assist in their investigations. Most had only been for a few hours or a day at the most. But last week she had spent the entirety of it undercover. At first Jethro had been scared, and not exactly pleased with her spending all this time under false identities. That was in fact an understatement, the second time he had stormed off up to the director's office demanding it to stop. Only Lucy being Lucy had somehow managed to tame the silver fox over the past few months and so she had managed to calm him down and he left the director's office – both of them in one piece still. Slowly they had gotten into a routine. She knew he worried like a father about her and so, after she had been debriefed she would make her way over to his house and down into his basement. The majority of the time they would sit in silence, drinking bourbon or coffee which had slowly grown on Lucy. Yet last night, by the time she had been debriefed she was shattered, it was approaching 2 am and, even though she enjoyed her time in his basement, as she wanted to do was snuggle up in bed and fall asleep. So, she simply texted him:

I'm home & safe. See u work mon. – Luce xx

Of course, Gibbs being Gibbs had not replied to her text as he never did. Lucy knew that it was the stress of recent events, long and hard cases mixed with mainlining coffee and having no sleep that had brought on her migraine. She knew exactly what the best thing to do was - as she always had since she was a teenager. So, slowly she made her way into her bathroom, leaving it dark and washed her face with cool water. Loosely she tied her hair up into a messy bun before returning to her bedroom to place on a baggy NCIS hoodie over her leggings and vest top. Then, at the same slow pace as she had gone a before, Lucy made her way downstairs to the kitchen.

Whilst the kettle took its sweet time boiling, Lucy stood with her head resting against the working top listening tot the bubbles form and pop inside of the mettle. Then finally, as she heard the distinct sound of the gush of steam as it reached its favoured temperature she stood up and made herself some tea, and took it with her to her room.

The duvet was warm as she lay down, the blackout blinds doing their job well as they let no more stray light though. Lucy grabbed two ibuprofen tablets and downed them dry before lying down and closing her eyes. At intervals she drank sips of the warm tea beside her and before she realised she drifted off into slumber as the painkillers kicked in. Beside her, she'd placed her phone on silent earlier, and now the screen lit up regally with Jethro's name as he attempted to ring her multiple times. Yet they weren't on call today she far as Lucy would remember and so she hadn't needed it on loud.

Four hours later she was awoken to furious banging on her front door. The sound was loud and made her head feel just one hundred timed worse. Gently she sat up, letting her head stop spinning before she stood, and taking the mug which was still half full with now cold tea made her way downstairs. Placing the mug on the banister post she opened the door gently as she heard a yell: "Lucy open this door."

She opened the terraces' door to see Jethro stood on her front doorstep. With half closed eyes she leant against the door. "Never be unreachable! Remember that rule Lucy?"

"Jethro-"

"No, Lucy, go get dressed we've got a case."

"We're not on call." She said as he walked in and she closed the door heading into the kitchen to make more tea.

"We are now."

"Jethro, I have a migraine, quieten down."

"Burley waiting."

"Well he's gonna be waiting a helluva lot longer cause I am not working. I am ill, I have a migraine Jethro."

He looked at her and for the first time since walking in; he swallowed his pride to one side and saw the drooping eyelid, black bags and pale completion. He walked over and softly hugged her. HE knew how bad migraines could be, Shannon had gotten them a lot when she was pregnant with Kelly. So he hugged her gently as felt her relax. Softly he kissed her head. "You eaten anything?" he whispered.

"no." she replied, equally as softly.

"Go to bed, I'll bring you something up."

"You don't have to."

"You're my little girl, I'm being your father so let it be and go back to bed."

Fifteen minutes later Jethro walked into the dark room with a tray containing soup, water, and tea as well as ibuprofen tablets. Softly sitting on her bed he handed her a glass of water and two tablets. "Here." He said. "Take theses." And she did as she was ordered. Then he handed her some soup and waited whilst she ate it, not once did he turn on a light.

"What about Stan?" he asked realising he must be waiting.

"He's at the crime scene. He can manage on his own for a while." She smiled.

"You sure you want to do that? This is Stan."

"I know." He said.

Jethro stayed with Lucy whilst she finished her meal and then sat next to her as she fell asleep on his shoulder. Once he was sure she was asleep he removed her from him and placed her head on her pillow, waiting to make sure she didn't wake. Then he took the empty dishes downstairs and placed them in the dishwasher before leaving a note on the working top and going to work.

That night he returned, and found her feeling slightly better. But still concerned her made her some tea as well as something to eat and waited with her till she fell asleep like a father does. Then, with a light kiss on her forehead he crept out into the night, assuring himself he did have a family even if she weren't by blood.

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