I like the idea of having a family

Gibbs watched as Rory and Jenny finished making cookies and he was in the kitchen clearing up their mess while Jen tucked Rory in. Jenny sat down beside him and handed him a glass of bourbon; they were both going to need it to get through this conversation. Jethro hadn't said much since Jenny let him in, just a good night to Rory when Jenny took her up the stairs to put her to bed.

An overwhelming sense of anxiety washed over Jenny and went to the study to grab some Bourbon for both of them. "What happened?" she asked quietly, she gulped down her glass of bourbon

"She phoned NCIS switch board asking for me, when thy said I wasn't working she looked up your address," he paused and drank his bourbon. "She drove over here and well you saw the rest." Jenny looked him, she wanted to know what happened after.

"I got home and she came in after, she was pissed Jen, yelling and then she started to cry, because it hurt her so much that she saw us like that," he paused for a moment "she wished shed caught us in bed, would've been easier than seeing us play happy families." Jenny nodded, she felt sick because she was in the wrong, she felt scared because she didn't know what to do.

"What happens now?" She asked, just like she did on the way back from Baltimore.

He put his hand on top of hers and began to stroke her skin. It was getting late and it was a Sunday, they had work tomorrow, Rory had school tomorrow. She slipped her fingers into his and held his hand tightly, parting her lips

"Are you only here because she kicked you put?" she asked, because she needed to know why. Was he here for comfort, for sex or because he really had nowhere else to go?

"I don't know," he answered under his breath

"You don't know?" she repeated, her voice cracked, she was going to cry. "You better figure it out Jethro!" He just stared at her. "This is not an easy situation Jethro, you have to know why you are here, because my 7 year old up the stairs deserves to know!" she hissed at him. "I need to know" she started "if you are here because you want to be, or because you have nowhere else to go," she paused "because I have Rory to think of, and this," she threw her arms out "I, I have to put her first Jethro."

"I could've gone to a hotel Jen," he answered gruffly. "Could've gone to Stans he owes me," he paused trying to read her face "I still can, if it's easier, for Rory." He added and Jenny shook her head, he could stay. Jenny stood up and turned her back to him, her head hung low.

"Are you okay?" he asked he was wary of the fact she had turned away from him. "Jen are you okay?" he asked again

"Please god just shut up for a minute," she snapped, bringing her arms around and holding herself, she didn't feel good right now. He got up out of his seat when he saw her body moving, she was crying quietly. He spun her towards him and put his arms round her

"Jen, please don't cry," he whispered into her hair." It's all going to be okay; I promise you." She nodded into his chest and swallowed her tears.

When Rory Shepard came down the stairs the next morning she was very surprised to see Jet sitting in her kitchen, she heard the shower in mommy's room, so mommy must be in the shower. Jet never sat in the kitchen in the mornings, he always snuck out before she got up and then would come back in after picking up donuts and pretended he was never there, but Rory was clever, and the grownups silly behaviour didn't get past her.

She sized him up for a minute before opening her mouth "You had a sleepover." Gibbs wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement, but he just nodded. "Is it because you had a falling out with Mrs Gibbs?" Rory asked.

"Think your mom will have a chat with you later Rory, buT uh," he stopped and scratched his head, he didn't want to over step "I might be staying here for a bit, if that's okay with you." He added and Rory sized him up for a moment.

"Sure, are you still coming to my camp day on Saturday?" she asked, and Gibbs nodded, Rory went and got herself some orange juice, content with that answer and headed upstairs to get ready for school.

30 minutes later Jenny knocked on Rory's door and watched for a moment s she fussed about trying to do her own braids, "Want some help with that Rory?" she asked amused, looking defeated Rory nodded. Jenny started on her braids taking a deep breath, "So I need to talk to you about something,"

"I know mommy I saw Jet in the kitchen," Jenny nodded continuing to do Rory's braids.

"Well you see, I think Jethro might be staying with us for a wee while um him and Dian are well," Jenny trailed off focusing on the braids "well they're going to get a divorce." Rory looked into the mirror and tilted her head at her mother.

"What does that mean?" Rory asked

"Well when a husband and wife decide they no longer want-" Rory cut Jenny off

"I know what divorce is mommy," Rory said rolling her eyes "What does this mean for us, will he be living here forever? Will you get married?" Rory asked and Jenny shut her eyes as she applied the last bobble to Rory's hair.

"I'm not going to marry him Rory," Jenny said, "Nothing is going to change except, well Jethro is going to stay here."

"So, it's just like your boyfriend moved in." Jenny pursed her lips; well I suppose that was one way of looking at it.

"Yeah babe I suppose it's just like that," jenny paused, unable to read her expression. "Are you okay with this Rory?" She asked, "Because he has other places to go."

"Na I want him to stay," Rory said picking up her back pack, "I like the idea of having a family."

With that Rory took her back pack and went downstairs and jenny closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling, because a part of her believed that this situation wasn't going to give her daughter the family she had evidently been dreaming of.