A/N: Just a quick and kinda short update to keep all you faithful readers in touch with the story. More by the weekend-I hope. Thanks again for all the alerts and especially the reviews.

Long Enough Alone?

Chapter 25- Making a Place for Sophie

Jen and Sophie left about 4:00 so they could get home before it was too late. Jen promised to call when they got there. Jethro stood on the porch for a long time after they left wishing they were still there. The house was now much too quiet for his taste and he missed Jen long before she got to the highway. He was growing very comfortable with her in the house and he missed being able to touch her, hold her hand or just sit with her in the same room. He was already counting the days until next Friday when she would be back.

Working on the boat didn't seem like what he needed so Jethro went upstairs to what had been Kelly's room so long ago. He rarely went in this room in recent years using it only for storage and never seeming to need anything he had stored in there. He had decided it would be Sophie's room and now he needed to see what was there to be saved or thrown away. He had not kept any of Kelly or Shannon's clothes after the first year and the few precious items that he couldn't bear to part with were in a box in his closet. It wasn't that the bedroom was a shrine to his dead child it was just an empty room now but he could still remember what is used to be.

He could very clearly see his baby girl standing up in her baby bed for the first time grinning at him and putting her little arms up to be lifted out. He could remember sitting on the floor with her as she dressed all her dolls and lined them up for his inspection. And he recalled lying on her bed, holding her when she was sick. And reading stories and listening to her dreams and having a tea party and on and on. Jethro stood in the middle of the room and closed his eyes but the memories were all there no matter what he did to block them out. Then he realized he didn't want to block them anymore. He wanted to see them all and be able to store them away so he could have room to make new memories with Sophie. Kelly would have liked Sophie. She would have loved being a big sister. Now is finally the right time to let another little girl grow up in this room.

When his phone rang Jethro was surprised so much time had passed. Jen was safely home and he had cleared everything out of Kelly's room to either the attic for storage or the back yard to be given to the Goodwill. He and Jen talked for a while about their coming week and what they would do next weekend. Finally, Jethro could tell she was tired so he told Jen goodnight and went back to his task. He worked in the bedroom doing all the necessary prep work until after midnight. He hoped they had an easy week at work so he could get the room ready for Sophie by the time she returned on Friday night.

The team did have a rather slow week with no major cases coming their way. They managed to catch up on their paperwork and even work on a couple of cold cases. Jen was as busy as ever and continued to field calls from doctors and other nurse practitioners inquiring about her practice. She was anxious to get something settled on that front but she was determined to find the right person to take her place. The doctor who was filling in for her on weekends had decided he couldn't move to the area full time but was willing to continue to do weekends until the end of the year if necessary. Jen was not too disappointed as he did not seem to be the right fit for the area anyway. He was fine for filling in but not for a full time doctor.

Jethro worked every night on Sophie's room and by Friday at 1:00 am he was finally finished. He had sanded and refinished the floor, painted the walls and woodwork and hung the blinds as well as a new ceiling fan with a light. There were clean sheets on the bed and plenty of drawer and shelf space for Sophie to begin filling up with her clothes and books and toys. He decided to wait on the wall border so Sophie could help with it on the weekend. He was very pleased with the results of his efforts and he hoped Jen and Sophie would be too.

When his two favorite females arrived at 8:00 on Friday night Jethro finally felt like his house was a home again. He was amazed at what a difference these two redheads had made in his life in a few short months. As soon as Jen walked in the door he relaxed and his mood elevated at least five notches. Sophie was tired from the long car ride but as soon as she saw him she brightened and ran to him for a hug.

"I have a surprise for you!" Sophie exclaimed as Jethro swung her into his arms.

"You do? That's a coincidence because I have a surprise for you too."

Jen was standing behind Sophie watching them interact. It made her so happy to see Sophie with Jethro; she obviously adored him and trusted him completely. She could see in his eyes that Jethro loved Sophie. Every night when she went to bed, Jen thanked God for bringing Jethro into their lives. Her daughter had blossomed in the few months they had known him and she knew he would be a wonderful father to her.

"Can I be first?"

"Sure. Do you need to get down first?"

"No. Are you ready?"

Jethro glanced over Sophie's shoulder to see Jen smiling at them. "I guess so. Yes, I'm ready."

Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and looked Jethro right in the eyes. Then she smiled her mother's smile and said, "I love you. Jethro."

Without warning tears appeared in his eyes and he hugged Sophie tightly against this chest.

"I love you too Sophie. You've been practicing and you did great. Thank you for wanting to say my name. You are a very special little girl, did you know that?"

"Yes, my mommy says so. You really like how I said your name?"

"Of course, it was perfect. It never sounded better. Now, would you like to see your surprise?"

"Is it a puppy?"

Jethro and Jen both laughed. "No, it's not a puppy. But I hope you'll like it anyway. Come on, it's upstairs."

Jethro put Sophie down and finally got to kiss Jen hello. "Welcome home."

"Oh, Jethro you have now idea how much it means to me to hear you say that. I'm going to cry."

"Oh no you don't. Come on and see Sophie's room."

Sophie was already at the top of the stairs when her mom and Jethro started up but she waited for them to get there. Jethro motioned for Jen to go ahead and she took Sophie by the hand and led her to her new room. The door was closed so Jen suggested she close her eyes. Then Jethro opened the door and Jen told Sophie she could look. Her squeal of delight told them she really liked the room.

"Is this my room now? For always?"

"Yes, for always. Do you like it?"

"I like it. Where is the flower thing we got?"

"I saved that because I thought you could help me put it up tomorrow."

"I can help?"

"Sure, you and mom can both help. Then maybe we can go shopping and get some stuff to put on your shelves until you move. Okay?"

"Yeah. When can I bring my other stuff?"

"In a few weeks." Jen looked at Jethro hopefully and he just smiled back.

The weekend went by much too quickly and soon it was Sunday evening and Jen was getting ready to leave. They had spent Saturday morning putting the border up in Sophie's room and the afternoon shopping for some books and other things she could leave at the house in DC. On Saturday night they went out to dinner and Sophie fell asleep on the way home. Jethro carried her to her new room and thankfully she slept through the night.

Jen and Jethro were of course, very happy to be back together and they made the most of the short time they had together. True to his previous statement, Jethro made love to Jen as often as humanely possible that weekend. Sometimes they went slowly and savored each touch and each whispered word. Other times it was hard and fast and the intensity threatened to overwhelm them. Very early Sunday morning, in the shower, Jethro told Jen she was going to be the death of him.

"Who needs to learn to pace themselves now?"

"Oh, that's so not fair Jen. Am I not meeting your expectations in some way, Ms. Sheppard?"

"Special Agent Gibbs, you exceed my expectations in every way." She ran her fingers through his hair and framed his handsome face with her hands. "I do love you so, Jethro. I feel very lucky to have you in my life. Don't ever doubt that I will always love you."

Jethro leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the mouth as he pushed her up against the cool tile of the shower. When she wrapped her legs around his waist and he entered her he whispered in her ear, "I love you Jenny. You are the best thing that has happened to me in very long time. I will always love you and take care of you."

On Sunday evening Jethro read Sophie one last story while Jen packed her bag and put it in the car. As usual she was reluctant to leave but knew they needed to get moving so it wouldn't be too late when they got home. Jen stood in the doorway of the living room listening to Sophie and Jethro.

"When are you coming back to my house?"

"How about I come on Friday instead of you coming here? Would you like that?"

"Yes. Can we go fishing?"

"Is that the only reason you ever want me to come?"

"No, but we didn't go fishing for a long time. I like it when you come 'cos I don't have to be in the car."

Jethro laughed and said he understood that. "I'll be there next Friday night and we can go fishing on Saturday if the weather is okay. Now, you better go potty so you and mommy can get on the way home."

Sophie jumped off the couch and went off to the bathroom. Jethro stood up and found Jen leaning against the doorframe.

"You're coming up next weekend?"

"Yeah, I thought you could use a break on driving and we're not on call so I'll drive up Friday night after work. Unless something happens of course. Maybe I can bring some things back for you too."

"That sounds wonderful. We'll keep our fingers crossed no Marines or Sailors get killed or robbed or disappear. Oh, that sounds terrible. I can't believe I said that."

Jethro pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her. "Don't worry about it. We joke about it all the time." Then he kissed her again, deepening the kiss when she opened her mouth to him. Sure enough when they broke to catch their breath, there was Sophie watching them.

Jethro was the first to find his voice, "You ready to go sweet pea?"

"I guess. Can you carry me?"

"Sure. You okay?

Jen looked at her daughter with concern. This was the second time Sophie had walked in on them kissing and she wondered if it bothered her.

"Sophie, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to go. I want to stay here."

Jen took Sophie by the hand and led her to the couch. Jethro followed and sat next to Jen who had Sophie on her lap.

"I know you do. You have a pretty new room here and it's nice to be here with Jethro isn't it?"

"Yes, why can't we just stay here?"

"Because mommy has to go back to work. Listen Sophie, I want to stay here too but right now we have to just go back and forth. In a few more months we won't have to do that, we will be able to stay here all the time. But we can't do that yet. I need you to be patient and let mommy and Jethro get it all worked out. Can you do that for me?"

"I guess so."

"Thank you. Now, give Jethro a big hug and kiss and we have to get going."

Sophie crawled into Jethro's lap and buried her head in his neck. She hugged him as tightly as she could and kissed him. "Bye, Jethro. Thank you for my room. I love you."

"I love you too little one. I'm glad you like your room. Come on now let's get you and mommy in the car."

Jethro carried Sophie to the car and secured her in her seat. He kissed her goodbye and said he'd see her on Friday. Then he went around to the driver's side and kissed Jen goodbye.

"Drive carefully and call me when you get home. I love you."

"I love you and I'll call. See you Friday."

TBC