A/N: I know I should want to be a day ahead, but since I hated the last chapter so much, I didn't want to end the day on that. HOPEFULLY another one will still go up tomorrow but I'm not swearing to it. Thanks for the reviews - good or bad, keep 'em coming. They help to motivate and keep me on schedule.

***JIBBS***JIBBS***JIBBS***

Jenny had a feeling she knew what Gibbs was thinking. "You want to read in the team, don't you?"

Gibbs ran his hand over his face and sighed. "What are your thoughts on it?"

"I have two. One, I probably wouldn't have to wait for Kort to kill me - Mary would. Along with the entire U.S. Marshal service, FBI, CIA, etc."

Gibbs grimaced, knowing she was right about that.

"The other being that I know how good they all are at what they do. And I know I'd be lucky to have their help. But Jethro, widening the circle scares the hell out of me."

He held her close. "I know. Me too."

Jenny saw the worry etched on his face. She had a feeling it mirrored her own. "I suppose we have time yet to think about this."

"What if you were still Director, and this was brought to you about someone else? What would your instincts be telling you to do?"

"I could ask you the same thing. What's your gut telling you?"

Gibbs sighed. "You know my answer."

"You always trust your team."

Gibbs nodded. "But I've never had to with something so precious to me." He kissed the top of her head. "You didn't answer."

"And I'm betting you know my answer."

He looked at her. "You would trust the team to get the job done too. In this case though, you fear putting their lives at risk - because of you."

She nodded and took a deep breath. "Jethro, if anything happened to you or them because of me, I'd never get over it," she said quietly, deeply affected by even the thought of such a thing happening. "Listen, I'm going to grab a shower. I'll be back down in a little bit. Thanks again. I love it."

Jenny grabbed his empty mug and took it inside with her before Gibbs could even protest. He was a little disappointed he hadn't been invited to join her, but he had a feeling their conversation had hit a very sensitive nerve. It was probably best to give Jenny her space to deal with it. But he did get an idea.

He went inside and waited until he heard the water running. He then found Jenny's cell phone and dialed Mary.

"The world had better be on fire to justify calling me this early on a Saturday."

Gibbs looked at his watch and frowned. "It's not that early anymore, Mary."

"Who is this?"

"Gibbs."

Mary rolled her eyes. "You? You I can yell at."

"You could, but don't."

"What do you want?" she growled.

"I need to get a package. Can I have it sent to you, and can you keep it between us?"

"Is it something that's allowed to be mailed across state lines?"

Gibbs looked at the phone, incredulous. "Yes. What do you think it is? A machine gun?"

"Wouldn't put it past you. Speaking of which, we need to talk. What day is this thing arriving?"

"I don't know yet."

"Regardless, I want you in my office Tuesday."

Gibbs was definitely not looking forward to it. "Fine. I need your address for mailing."

"Oh right."

She gave him the address and then promptly hung up on him.

Gibbs then picked up the landline and dialed the operator. "Washington, D.C.," he said when prompted. Then he added, "Hanson's Jewelers."

Gibbs spoke with Richard, an old contact of his. He was able to help Gibbs figure out the perfect ring and agreed to FedEx it to Mary as soon as it was ready, mailing the bill to Gibbs' house. He knew the NCIS special agent was good for it.

Pleased with the progress he'd made on that errand, Gibbs decided to go for broke. There was another project he needed to get underway.

He picked up the landline again and dialed a number.

"McGee."

"Trace this number, and I will kill you."

"I know, I know, Boss. We got the message to leave you alone."

Gibbs smiled, happy that Ziva did such a good job enforcing his threat. "I need your help with a project. This is what I need you to do and it has to be done before I fly back next Sunday."

Gibbs relayed what he needed from Tim and then quickly hung up, knowing his order/request would be carried out. Pleased to have two big projects off his plate, he ran upstairs to check on Jenny. The shower had stopped, so he knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"George Clooney," he said, looking at her like she was crazy. "Who'd you think was at the door?"

"George Clooney," she teased, smiling.

He was grateful that she seemed to be in a better mood. He leaned against the bathroom wall and watched as she toweled off.

"So did you need anything or did you just feel like staring?"

"I'm fine with just staring. I could do this all day."

"Well then you'd miss what I have planned for us."

"Oh?"

She smiled. "There's a place nearby to ride horses. How's that work for you, cowboy?"

"Oh I'm ready to be taken for a ride," he said, swooping her up in his arms.

Jenny burst out laughing. "Jethro!"