Hollis was enjoying the wine and the conversation when the doors opened and the rest of the party trooped out.

"This calls for a celebration" called Carla, as someone passed her a bottle of champagne. "We are happy to welcome NCIS to the boudoir."

The air literally crackled, and Hollis looked at Jen over Zeffa's head. Smiling widely when the former winked at her. It was amusing to watch all the women mill round and offer her their own brand of welcome into the group. Some were less obvious than others, but it was very clear that they all wanted a bit of her. Even if it was just for a few seconds. For a moment the strong surge of admiration she felt for Jen took her by surprise – but she didn't get to question it, because the way Anna Elliot was looking between the two of them left no doubt in her mind that she was being challenged.

She wasn't sure what it was that made her cross the room with the rapidity that she did – she only knew that a fierce sense of indignation rippled through her the moment the Deputy Director of State's mouth lingered on Jen's longer than she felt was reasonable. And there was only one way to put a stop to it.

--

He'd been worried about the predatory look on the face of the Deputy Secretary of State as she circled Jen. If he'd been undercover with her he would certainly have found a way to intervene – might even have chosen this particular intervention.

Which didn't make it any easier to watch.

Watching a woman suspected of, he couldn't even remember what, seduce his lover had been one of the worst moments of his undercover career. He'd hated what it had done to him, what he'd done to Jen as a consequence. Hated how much it had turned him on to watch the two women together. And here it was - happening again before his eyes - and it was no more palatable this time around.

He saw the slight assertiveness in the way Hollis pulled Jen to her, the way Jen zeroed in on her – to the exclusion of everyone else in the room. Their lips met gently first, almost as though they weren't kissing at all and then the intensity of the moment caught them up and drew them to each other.

All around him in MTAC there was a sort of shocked silence as the screen was filled with the kiss – everything about the two women's posture screaming relaxed intimacy. His stomach twisted, acid burning in his throat as he watched along with everyone else, knowing he couldn't look away.

Hollis' eyes had slid shut and with grim humour he wondered if her breath would catch; if she'd make the same sounds for Jen that she'd made when he'd kissed her.

He wasn't ready to look at Jen.

Instead he concentrated on peripheral details. The look of irritation on Anna's face, Valerie Sheffield's quick smile of amusement, the other women blatantly watching the embrace. The way Jen's hand curled into Hollis' hair.

And surely they'd been kissing for long enough?

Hollis's hands were at Jen's waist; her thumb stroking back and forth in a movement that he hoped was unconscious. And still he couldn't look at Jen – didn't want to see if she was blushing, if they were going to get a close up of the way the pulse at the base of her throat was racing.

But he was fighting a losing battle.

Steeling himself he made himself look at the two women, his hand gripping the arm rest in an effort to stay still, to fake the calm that eluded him. The urge to snatch Jen away from the embrace and press her against a wall, claim her for himself was almost unbearable.

For a moment his vision swam and he wasn't watching this scene any longer but a different one, from years before. A scene that had left him burning with a rage that had obliterated everything else – a rage that had turned into lust and desire. And then afterwards there had been pain and anger. Anger at himself, for not taking better care of her, for putting her in a position where she'd had no choice. And anger at her for being convincing, for enjoying it.

But that was then. He had no claim on her now and this mission hadn't been his idea. And the rage, simmering beneath the surface couldn't be allowed to control his actions.

If he'd said or done something about his feelings weeks ago – when he'd first allowed himself to see them for what they were, then Jen might not have allowed herself to be drawn into this mission.

His damn silence had done this.

--

The thing about undercover operations, as Jenny Shepard had once learnt at her cost, was that if you started something you had to follow through, or risk blowing your cover.

It was why she'd always been very careful when running operations, or undercover herself, when it came to intimacy and violence. She walked the line carefully, always knowing it was there and calculating her exposure and that of her colleagues. And what had happened to Tony when she'd sent him undercover was a salient reminder that she didn't always get things right.

But Hollis couldn't know any of that and having initiated a kiss, Jen knew there was no way it could be allowed to progress in anything other than a convincing way. She felt her partner's body language change as she realised it too – when she worked out that one of them would have to take the kiss further and distantly admired the nerve it took for the other woman to pull her closer and part her lips.

She coaxed Hollis into relaxing as she kissed her back with a tenderness she hoped the women, who were undoubtedly watching, would recognise. Hoping it would be enough to persuade them to back off and let them have their private moment.

She caught the tinge of anger in the kiss – knew that her partner was pushing up

against boundaries here. She wished Hollis was just a little more comfortable with this aspect of her sexuality – even remotely curious, as it would have made things easier for both of them.

She knew herself well enough to recognise that she was a little aroused – it was a very good kiss after all. But she wasn't interested in Hollis. The flood of sensations came with being caressed and held - making her realise how much she missed such intimacy.

Slowly she eased them out of the kiss – stroking her fingertips over Hollis' cheek as they caught their breath. She had to get them out of there, because she didn't like the shocked look in Hollis' eyes or the way her hands were starting to tremble.

"I think we need a little time on our own," she said, just loud enough to be overheard and starting for the door. Her gaze travelled past Anna, whose angry expression didn't bode well for the future. For a moment her eyes met Valerie Sheffield's and the older woman nodded once – making Jen wonder what she was thinking. But she knew her priority had to be Hollis.

She didn't even try to make it back to their room, instead finding a small sitting room a couple of doors down that she hoped was clear of listening devices. Pushing Hollis down into the first chair Jen poured her a brandy. "This will help," she said offering the drink, not exactly flattered by the extreme reaction.

"Sorry," Hollis murmured after she'd taken a sip and a couple of calming breaths.

"It's OK – no harm done."

She was sure the women they'd left behind had their own ideas about what they were doing right now – and this wasn't even close.

"I just thought if I didn't respond to the way she was looking at you and at me, our cover would be blown."

She had been holding her head in her hands, but now she looked up, her eyes shrewd.

"I'ts fine."

"You could have handled her?"

Jen shrugged – not wanting to say that perhaps Hollis had over-reacted. But the other woman read it in her expression anyway.

"Damn," she said softly.

"Listen – our cover wasn't blown, I've been accepted into the group." She wasn't sure they were any closer to finding out what had happened to Commander Coleman, though this probably wasn't the best time to say so.

"How was the meeting?"

"Interesting."

She thought back to the time she'd spent with the other group members.

"I don't like it – there's an atmosphere. You're meant to think it's benevolent – supportive even – but it's not. It's been corrupted, manipulated." She frowned – not sure that it was wise to share her fanciful musings, especially when she had no evidence to back up what her instincts were telling her. "To be honest I'll be glad to get out of here tomorrow."

From Hollis' expression she gathered that the sentiment was shared.

"Do you think we were on camera?" Hollis asked suddenly; and Jen winced – she'd been carefully not thinking that the kiss might have been fed back to MTAC.

"It's possible."

"I think I need to talk to Jethro."

Jen hadn't been expecting that – but perhaps she should have been. She felt the sharp twist of pain at the words, knew that her expression had probably given her away – if just for a moment. She remembered his concern – the quiet way he'd asked if Hollis was all right. Obviously they were on the way to rekindling their relationship. And this mission was getting in the way.

"Might be a good idea," she agreed – knowing that it wasn't up to her to give him comfort, and hoping that Hollis could.