I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

A/N I want to thank all those who have kindly reviewed. It makes my day! Hope you continue to enjoy this story. As always any advice is appreciated!

The end of this chapter includes the recap of Heartland's end scene. It's been a long journey…

Chapter 25

Jethro learned everything he needed to know to take care of the pistol properly. How to clean it, load it and store it. He got a lock box to keep it in when he wasn't using it. It took some doing to find a place to practice shooting it, but he did. An abandoned warehouse provided a secluded area, until one afternoon in August a deputy happened by and heard the shots.

He received an escort home and a warning to stay off the property. Jack was displeased, "What did you think you were doing?"

"I was just practicing. There was no one around to get hurt," Jethro defended.

"It's private property, even it if it is abandoned. You know that. You're not a child!"

Figuring there was no use in arguing and not wanting to upset his dad further hoping he hadn't already blown his chance to keep the cherished pistol, Jethro said, "I'm sorry." He thought to himself how much he hated that phrase. It made him feel like a he was a child.

"We'll find a place you can practice, legally," Jack promised. "Now go put it away. The storeroom could use a good cleaning."

Rolling his eyes, Jethro headed for his room to put the gun away. While cleaning the storeroom he heard his dad talking to Arlene. She and Jack had maintained a friendship, so it wasn't unusual for her to be in the store. He happened to hear her talking about a new girl in town that she hired to work in the shop. He wondered how old she was and if he'd meet her when school started in a few weeks.

He came out to let Jack know he was done and heard Arlene saying, "She's going to be starting at the high school. She's nervous, but pretty outgoing. I'm sure she'll make friends fast." Seeing Jethro she greeted him, 'Hi there. I was just telling your father about Shannon Reilly who is working in my shop."

"That's nice," Jethro nodded a greeting. "I'm done Jack. I'll go start on dinner. Nice to see you again."

"Wouldn't you like to meet Shannon?" Arlene asked.

"Later, maybe," Jethro answered already walking out of the store.

Jack shook his head. "Sorry, he's just not very sociable."

Arlene smiled knowingly. "No problem. I think he would like her though. I should be headed back. We'll talk soon. Bye, Jack."

"See ya, Arlene."

With the school year soon to start, Jethro met up with Sgt. Michaels inquiring about ROTC availability. There was a group, albeit a small one, that was forming at his school. Jethro asked for help in getting registered with them. It took a few phone calls, but he got in. Jethro wanted to get a taste of what Marine life would be like, before he moved away from home to immerse himself in it.

It took some getting used to the rigid schedule and even more time to accept taking orders, but it was easier to follow them when they weren't coming from his dad.

Jethro found he really enjoyed the routine. Jack wondered how Leroy could last even one day being ordered around, but didn't deny he thought it would do his son a world of good. Still not willing to see him run off to be a Marine, he knew if his work to make a man out of the boy fell short, the service would shape him up in no time.

While adjusting to his new routine as school, Jethro didn't fail to notice the new girl with the long red hair and green eyes, Shannon Reilly. He certainly found her to be very attractive, as did most of the boys at school. Among the admirers was Chuck.

Chuck wasted no time in introducing himself to Shannon and letting her know who his father was. She didn't seem overly impressed, but was kind enough to sit and talk with him. Seeing them together irked Jethro, but wrote it off as another injustice in his world. Besides there was no way she would want to be with a loner like him.

He worked hard at his studies; a stipulation with the ROTC was to maintain a high grade point average. His commander in the program made sure to point out all his strong points and those that he needed to concentrate on to improve.

With spring approaching he was looking forward to using some of the skills he trained with on his camping trips. One afternoon as he was packing up his truck, he overheard Chuck and Eddie talking. "Shannon is hot! I think I'm going to invite her over to my house. My parents are going to be out for the evening," Chuck was plotting.

Jethro didn't like the sound of that at all, but wasn't sure what he could do about it. As it turned out Shannon had to work that evening and couldn't go. This he found out through Arlene's conversation with Jack. Knowing Chuck wouldn't give up all together, Jethro tried to keep an ear out for his next attempt.

This came after graduation, so it was only by chance he got word of it. He was heading home from the recruiting off, his papers in hand. He was going to be packing up the essentials and nothing more, when Eddie started laughing loudly causing Jethro to turn and see what was up.

"What you looking at, Leroy?" Eddie taunted.

"Not much, apparently," Jethro replied.

"That so?"

"Yep," Jethro rolled his eyes and kept walking.

"Let him go. I was telling you about my date for tonight with Shannon," Chuck slapped at Eddie. "We're going out to dinner and then home for dessert," he implied that dessert was more than a slice of pie by elbowing Eddie in the ribs.

"Oh, yeah!" Eddie clapped Chuck on the back.

Jethro couldn't stop himself from turning and glaring at Chuck.

"Got a problem, LEE-ROY?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact I do." He thought about throwing a punch at Chuck but changed his mind and turned to walk away. No sooner did he turn his back then Chuck hit him between the shoulders. Jethro turned and soon had Chuck on the ground landing punches solidly. Eddie joined in and pulled him off. Some of the training he endured helped him to fend them off, but soon Eddie had his arms pinned and Chuck was throwing punches. It would've been an interesting fight to see if Jethro could take them both, but a shot rang out breaking up the fight. Looking around Jethro noticed Shannon watching looking worried.

'Jack,' Jethro swore in his head. Chuck threw him toward the ground, but Jethro maintained his balance and rolling his shoulder walked back home.

He showed his dad his papers and went to pack. As far as he was concerned he couldn't get out soon enough. Even though he nearly a month, that bag was ready.

That month passed fairly quickly. Jethro began to notice Shannon more and more. She even stopped by the store more often picking up random items, usually on the nights that Jethro was in charge. They exchanged pleasantries, without really introducing themselves. When she smiled he could feel his heart grow.

A couple of days before he was leaving another argument broke out between him and his father.

"I wish you would reconsider, Leroy. You should try college first. Continue with the ROTC there and then you could enlist."

"No, Jack," Jethro stated with finality. "I'm going. My ticket for the train is in two days and I'm outta here." He took his bag from his closet and dropped it at the foot of his bed, ready to grab and go.

"I think you're making a mistake, son," Jack nearly pleaded.

"Well I don't!" he retorted. "It's my life and I'll do what I want with no interference from you."

As Jethro stormed out the door Jack yelled, "Leroy. Leroy, don't do anything stupid."

Jethro walked down the middle of the road until he spotted Shannon in the window at the dress shop. She turned to look at him and smiled. Soon all the anger and frustration with his father was gone. He continued on to the recruiting office to get his uniform from Sgt. Michaels. He couldn't wait to see himself in his official Marine uniform.

Ticket and bag in hand, Jethro said goodbye to Jack, even gracing him with a one-armed hug, "Bye, Jack."

"Goodbye, Leroy. I'm going to miss you, son; hard as that is to believe," he half smiled. Jethro smirked in return, nodding. "Good luck," Jack offered squeezing his sons shoulder. "You make quite an impression in that uniform. Do us all proud."

"I will," Jethro promised and turned to head out the door to make the walk to the station. As he approached the platform he recognized a familiar red head sitting on a bench. He positioned himself to sit on the bench behind hers. She recognized him instantly and gave him a smile.

She asked him about the fight, but he claimed not to remember. He'd rather not know if she ever did go out with Chuck that night or not. He had his suspicions that it didn't happen. He never saw the two of them together.

He asked if she was waiting on the train, too, which seemed rather obvious and she simply nodded. "We could sit together," he offered.

"I don't know. It's a long ride," she thought it over. Then she mentioned something about having a rule about not dating lumberjacks.

"Do you have a rule for everything?" he asked.

"Working on it," she said casually. "Everyone needs a code they can live by."

He nodded thinking that made sense.

"What's your name?" she asked.

He looked at his hands in his lap and swallowed he softly answered, "Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Then he looked at her.

"I'm just going to call you Gibbs," she stated.

"You can call me whatever you want."

"I'm Shannon," she smiled. He smiled in return.

THE END (to his beginning)