Disclaimer: NCIS belongs to those guys, not to me. "Even Now" is sung by Dashboard Confessional and was written by Chris Carrabba. That should take care of the legal mumbo-jumbo.

Authors Note: Okay, all done with the football nonsense. Back to stories. Since people seemed to like "Things Have Changed", I decided to try another. Not too many Gibbs/Shannon stories out there. This one is my contribution. From "Heartland", I have deduced that when Gibbs met Shannon in the train station in Stillwater he was on leave after boot camp, before going to AIT (Advanced Individual Training). This story takes place after they've married, but before Kelly. "Even Now" was played in "Legend Pt. 1". Enjoy.

Even now I can smell the clothes Freshly from the wash Still hot from the dryer…

Sergeant Leroy Jethro Gibbs USMC was methodically folding clothes. His wife Shannon was in the kitchen of their double wide making dinner. They were in a double wide because as a junior sergeant Gibbs was way down on the waiting list for base housing. His housing allowance and some of his monthly pay covered their rent and utilities. Jethro came to be in charge of laundry because his wife was a disaster with an iron. The first time she'd tried to iron one of his khaki shirts, it wound up with an iron shaped burn mark on the front. Luckily Gibbs' enlistment came at the tail end of the time when individual Marines did their own laundry. Jethro was not unfamiliar with an iron so he did his own shirts. Besides folding clothes appealed to his sense of order and it was relaxing.

Gibbs heard his wife padding up quietly behind him. She was always trying to sneak up on him, but it never worked. He heard her stop.

"Is dinner ready Shan?"

A frustrated sigh came from behind him. Gibbs grinned as he looked over his shoulder. His wife was leaning against the doorframe, her red hair in a pony tail and a frown on her face. She was wearing cut offs and a scarlet t-shirt with gold lettering that said "Camp Follower".

"Yes Gibbs, dinner is ready."

"Great, let me finish and I'll be right there."

The frown turned into an elfin grin.

"Bet ya can't guess what we're having."

Gibbs grinned back. This was another game they played. He sniffed the air.

"Meatloaf?"

Shannon laughed and clapped her hands.

"Nope, gotcha. Pork chops."

"Okay, ya got me. Go on and I'll be there as soon as I finish up."

Shannon left and Gibbs folded the last items, the smell of freshly washed clothes still warm from the dryer making him feel content.

Even now I can smell your skin To wrap you in a towel And try to love you…

Dinner was long over. A breeze blew through the partially open window in the darkened bedroom. Gibbs ran his hands over the milky white skin of his wife. It was still damp from the shower, smelling of the strawberries and champagne body wash she used.

How in God's name did I ever get this lucky?

Shannon was kissing his chest and making small mewing noises as Jethro continued his ministrations. Shannon wrapped a leg around one of his and nipped at his chest, causing him to yelp.

"Hey, what was that for?"

"Quit teasing me. I'm goin' crazy here."

"Something you want?"

Another nip, another yelp.

"You'd better put that 'gun' to work, Marine."

"As you wish, M'lady."

Even now I can feel your hand Gently over mine With almost no weight at all…

Two months later, Shannon and Jethro were sitting in an Italian restaurant in New Carteret, NC. Dinner was over and Shannon's hand rested on her husband's as he drank his coffee. She knew what was coming.

"When?"

Gibbs looked into his wife's green eyes.

"The warning order came out this morning. Sixty days."

Shannon sighed. Deployments were a part of life, but she still hated them.

"I knew I shoulda married a lumber jack."

"That's low Shan. There is some other news though, good news."

"Such as?"

The Skipper gave me the results of the promotion boards. I'm on the list. I'm gonna make Staff Sergeant. Probably after this 'float'."

Shannon grinned widely. They put off plans for a baby until Gibbs was at least a Staff Sergeant.

"When will you know definitely?"

"The Skipper said probably not until we get back to Lejuene. He also said I should be hearing about Scout/Sniper School then too."

Shannon's grin widened even further. If Gibbs got into Scout/Sniper School, then he'd need to go to Combat Diver School and the Army Basic Airborne Course.

No deployments for a while.

Shannon scratched the back of Gibbs' hand and gave him a sexy grin.

"Finish your coffee and let's go home."

Even now I can feel your face Resting on my chest Wrestling for sleep And failing at it Even now I can see you sleep I can see the dream I can see you fly And I always can find you again…

A full sea bag sat in the corner of the bedroom. On top was a helmet. Next to the sea bag was a fully packed ruck sack. Across the room Gibbs and Shannon were tangled together. Shannon's head was resting on his chest. Jethro was hoping his wife would go to sleep. In a few short hours he'd be leaving. Her fingers were tracing patterns on his chest.

"C'mon Shan, time to go to sleep."

"I don't wanna."

Gibbs chuckled.

"Okay, real mature there."

Shannon lifted her head and stuck out her tongue.

"Nyeh."

Gibbs wrapped his arms around her and laughed.

"Right. Well, I'm going to sleep."

Gibbs stilled himself and closed his eyes. Shannon stopped making lines on his chest and eventually her breathing evened out. Gibbs smiled and watched her sleep, drifting off himself….

And I always can find you again…

Gibbs' eyes snapped open. For about ten seconds he didn't know where or when he was. Then the NCIS agent realized he'd fallen asleep on his couch.

Just a dream, but a nice one for a change.

He raised his arm to look at his watch. It was 0125. Officially the day. February 28th. Gibbs contemplated calling in sick.

Nope, not gonna give in.

Jethro stood, his knees protesting.

If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'da taken better care of myself.

A hot shower and some Motrin would take care of the aches. Then work, some bourbon and a new boat to build.

A/N: So, my first attempt at a Gibbs/Shannon story. What do you all think? Hit the review button and let me know.