A/N: Thank you so much for all of the reviews - they really do inspire me. Keep 'em coming. Hope you like this one!
***JIBBS***JIBBS***JIBBS***
Gibbs and his team were dragging, exhausted from the previous night. He was proud of them, the way they wanted to do whatever they could to help out Jenny. He had worried about Tony, knowing how the younger agent had reacted after her 'death' and the guilt he'd felt, but DiNozzo had also grown a lot over the past year. Abby of course was over the moon. Ziva felt taken advantage of by Gibbs, but of course she would do anything for her friend. McGee was eager to help as well. All in all, the special agent was grateful. He knew Jenny would be as well.
Unfortunately, they caught a case. While they were at the crime scene, Abby worked on tracing the origin of the bug. She also took advantage of the time to send out another tweet, one she now knew would be seen with interest.
Regretted not telling Mommy she was a snappy dresser. Hope it makes her smile. I couldn't stop smiling last night. Everyone feels lighter.
Jenny couldn't stop smiling either at the Goth's communication. She looked at her watch; it was almost time to head home.
The phone call with the team had gotten her adrenaline pumping, so falling asleep after had proven nearly impossible. Of course, she knew her first night without Jethro lying beside her in their bed would be difficult regardless. She had gotten used to having him there to hold her as she fell asleep and the special way he would wake her each morning.
The more contact she had with the outside world, her world, the better she felt. She could only imagine what their faces must have looked like when they heard her voice. She hoped Jethro had been able to convey her regret about how it all went down. She never wanted to hurt Tony, Ziva or anyone else for that matter.
With the remaining time of her shift, Jenny sat down at a computer and typed out a Facebook message that she hoped Jethro would receive later that night. She then gathered her things and headed back to the house. It didn't feel right to call it home, not when the man she loved was away from it.
"What'cha got for me, Abs?"
Gibbs was back at NCIS and in Abby's lab, hoping she had something for him - on either case. Of course she did.
Abby motioned for him to follow her into the back, where she locked the door behind him. "I made sure to sweep the whole lab, so we're fine."
"The bug?"
"Yes. Standard issue CIA. I'm guessing Kort's doing?"
Gibbs nodded darkly. "Good guess."
Abby sighed. "I got to thinking about it, Gibbs. I hope we didn't screw anything up by taking it."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Meaning?"
"Well, do you think it's going to make his people curious as to why you were sweeping your place for bugs? Should we have left it in place and maybe fed it misinformation?"
He pulled her into a hug. "I do like the way you think, Abs. Glad you're on my side."
She pulled back, all smiles. "Do you want me to return it to the place we found it?"
"Nah. I think it's okay. Got anything for me on our case?"
Jenny was relaxing on her couch, reading a book when she heard the doorbell ring. Not expecting anyone, she reached into in purse for her Beretta, putting it in the small of her back. She then looked outside. Upon seeing her visitor, she muttered, "I'm going to kill him."
She swung open the door. Both she and her visitor exclaimed at the same time, "What the hell?"
Gibbs saw the time and smiled to himself. He knew he would be getting a call shortly, so he told the team they could head home for the night. McGee and Tony quickly headed out but Ziva stayed behind to walk out with Gibbs. In the elevator, she flipped the switch.
"Something on your mind, Ziva?"
She looked at Gibbs, not saying anything for a few seconds, just staring him down. When he looked like he was starting to get angry, she broke into a smile and said, "You two are back together, yes?"
He wasn't planning on telling anyone that part. He eyed Ziva carefully, debating what to do.
Ziva smirked. "I thought so."
"I didn't say anything."
Ziva flipped the switch and laughed. "Yes, you did."
He rolled his eyes. "Say anything and I'll -"
"Kill me, yes, understood."
He tried not to smile.
"I am happy for you both."
Gibbs shook his head as he watched the Israeli head off. He wondered when he became so easy to read.
Jenny eyed her guest suspiciously. "I can't believe he called you. What'd he say?"
"He said there was a package he needed me to sit on."
"Package?" Jenny was getting angry. "Sit on? I'm going to kill him. I don't suppose you have a phone?"
The man nodded. "Made me get it before coming here."
Jenny was quickly losing patience. "I wasn't just asking for my health. Hand it to me!"
Gibbs had just walked in his house when his cell phone rang. "Yes, dear."
Jenny was fuming. "Don't 'yes dear' me. What were you thinking, Jethro? I mean, honestly? You sent a chain smoker who stares at my ass to 'sit on me'? What the hell?"
"I'm over your ass, Director." Jenny shot Mike Franks a Gibbs-patented glare.
"Hey, he has a phone. Thought you'd like that," Gibbs said, trying to show her the bright side of his arguably questionable plan.
Jenny took a deep breath. She sat down in the kitchen. "How long do you expect him to stay?" She saw Franks looking at her things. "Hey, don't touch that!"
Gibbs turned serious. "I want him there until I can come back. I don't care if you call me a chauvinist or think I'm being over protective - he's the one guy I trust to keep you both safe. Let him stay. It'll make me feel better."
"What makes you think I want to make you feel better?"
She could feel his shock through the phone. She whispered, "I don't want you to feel better about being away. If you feel better, you won't feel the need to hurry back."
"Come on. You know that isn't true."
"Fine," she sighed. "I get the impression he didn't know what he was getting himself into."
Gibbs shrugged. "Yeah, probably not. Just tell him he's not allowed to go out for water without arming the alarm."
"Cute, Jethro. This conversation isn't over, but I'll talk with him, and we'll figure it out. I know you're just worried. You couldn't run this by me first?"
"Rule 18."
"I haven't heard you ask."
"Forgive me?"
"I'll think about it," she said.
Gibbs could almost hear the smile in her voice. "I love you. Do I have a message waiting for me?"
Jenny rolled her eyes. "Written long before this happened, so take it with a grain of salt, you Neanderthal."
"You two talk and then tell Mike to call me tomorrow, okay?"
"I will. I love you too," she said.
"Oh dear God, you and Probie finally got it together? Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
"Tell Mike I said to shut up," laughed Gibbs.
Jenny glared at Mike, before she said firmly to Gibbs. "Got it covered."
Gibbs shook his head as he hung up the phone. He retrieved the iPad and logged into his Facebook account, finding the message Jenny had sent him.
I'm getting ready to leave work but I almost dread going back to the house. You aren't there. This morning I could still make out your scent on your pillow but it's fading, making the last two weeks feel like it must have been a dream. But then I remember the part of you that you left behind, and it gives me strength. We're waiting for you, Jethro. Everything.
He sighed. "God, I miss you."
