Thursday and Friday were, thankfully, a hell of a lot calmer, Jethro dismissing his team and getting home by 1700 both evenings. That was great for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which was his being able to make it to dinner with Kelly that Friday.

Texting and occasionally talking on the phone with his daughter throughout the week just was not the same as physically seeing the young woman. So, Jethro had really been looking forward to their dinner plans and getting to spend some time with Kelly.

Finding out that his daughter and her buddy Michael had started dating, though, was certainly interesting. Jethro didn't overly mind the kid, Michael always being polite and respectful the handful of times that they'd met, but he was planning on having a little chat with the young man the next time he saw Michael, nonetheless.

Waking up that Saturday morning, Jethro and Shannon got up and hung out around the house for a couple of hours before deciding on heading to Lubber Run Park with Bailey for a bit. It was 72 degrees out, which he was honestly glad for. With the nicer weather, he was able to be outside more and do a lot of the things he liked.

Bailey was used to the leash by now, so immediately started wagging her little tail as she realized they were going for a walk.

He and Shannon walked around the park with the pup for a bit and then headed back to their house, putting her in her kennel, and hopping into Jethro'a pickup and going to do some running around. They still needed to buy a couple of things for their trip to the cabin that following weekend.

The pair then grabbed Bailey and headed to Mac's to have lunch with him and give the older man a hand with a few things around the house that Shannon hadn't been able to get to the last time that she was over at her father's place.

Bailey, of course, was thrilled to have yet another yard to run around, off of her leash, and quickly suckered Mac into giving her some treats.

He was putting the tools back away in Mac's shed when his father-in-law walked up.

Mac eyed him. "So, Shannon mentioned that you guys are going away for a few days?"

"Yeah," Jethro confirmed. He turned around, facing the older man. "Not a typical year. Think we could use the break. Get away for a little bit. Especially with how much I've been workin' lately."

"Nature of the beast," his father-in-law commented without missing a beat. "This past year's certainly been quite the whirlwind. For everyone."

Jethro dipped his head slightly. "It has, but I'm not about to complain." How could he? Having Shannon and Kelly back in his life was a dream come true. Inexplicably.

Mac gave a little chuckle at that. "Oh, certainly not. How's Kelly doing?"

"Kel's doing well," he said. "She's got a boyfriend now. A longtime friend from school. Work's going well too. She just got a raise, actually. Still loving living with Maddie."

His father-in-law gave Jethro a warm smile. "It certainly didn't take long for those two girls to become as thick as thieves again."

"No," he agreed with a soft chuckle. "No, it didn't." Something that I couldn't possibly be more pleased about. Walking out of the shed, he closed the door behind him.

"Where exactly is this cabin of yours?" Mac asked.

"Blue Ridge Mountains," he said. "Cabin's not that far out, but it's still rather secluded. Great spot for fishing too."

Mac nodded, the man having always been big on fishing as well. "Nice."

Just then Bailey ran over, jumping up on Jethro, panting happily as he did so.

He eyed the pup and spoke gently yet firmly. "Down."

She quickly sat down, looking up at Jethro expectantly, so he bent down to pet her, before picking up one of her toys throwing it for her to fetch.

Once he'd thrown the dog toy several times for Bailey, the puppy starting to noticeably slow down, Jethro started to make his way back across the yard and to the house, the dog immediately by Jethro's side, his father-in-law following close behind him.

"What were you two boys getting up to out there?" Shannon inquired in jest.

Mac gave Shannon a quick peck on the cheek. "Nothing, Sweetie. It's all him."

Shannon shook her head in amusement. "Now why don't I believe that?"

"Ha!" he exclaimed, smirking at his father-in-law.

Mac rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks, Pumpkin."

He and Shannon hung out at Mac's for another half-an-hour before taking Bailey home and heading to Potomac Lanes Bowling Centre in Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling with the Ericksons. It really wasn't something that Jethro was big on, but his wife liked bowling and Stacy and Wayne had issued them the invitation.

"Glad you guys could make it," Stacy said.

"Yeah," Wayne commented. "With Jethro's work schedule we were both half-expecting him to get called away on a case."

"Someone's got to keep the wolves away from the door," he replied.

"Ain't that the truth," Wayne agreed.

"Well," Shannon said with a smile, "we're both glad we could make it as well."

He nodded. "Thanks for the invite."

Paying and getting their shoes, they headed to one of the far lanes and started to play, the girls going first.

It'd been going really well, everyone enjoying themselves, Jethro and Wayne had both walked over to Spinz Snack Bar on the other side of the room to grab everyone a bite to eat after Stacy won the first round.

As he and Wayne made their way back towards their wives, Jethro noted a guy talking to Shannon who looked really uncomfortable. Stacy was a few feet away from her on the phone, not exactly uncommon as she was a regional manager for her company.

He put the food down and turned to Shannon. "What's with him?"

"He's a pig," Shannon scoffed.

He immediately tensed. "What did he do?"

Shannon eyed Jethro. "Besides getting all handsy? After I pointed out the quite visible ring on my right hand, by the way. Said that his name's Richard Welch or something like that, I think."

Wayne and Stacy were both visibly concerned as well, Wayne shaking his head in utter disgust at the man's actions.

"That disgusting..." Not even bothering to finish his sentence, he started walking with purpose towards the Welch guy.

His wife eyed Stacy and Wayne. "I almost feel sorry for the guy."

Wayne gave a snort. "I don't. Hope the gunny rips the creep a new one."

Jethro was beyond pissed that the sorry excuse for a man had not only NOT taken no for an answer but had actually had the audacity to lay a hand on Shannon.

"Hey!" he barked.

The guy turned around to face him. "Can I help you?"

Jethro glared at the man, not even trying to hide his irritation. "Yeah. By staying away from my wife."

Welch's gazed momentarily flickered behind him to Shannon and then landed back on Jethro. "Ah, she's your girl. Well, I'm sorry, but all I did was chat with her."

His glare deepened. "Oh, I really doubt that."

"Hey," Welch said, "I didn't do nothing."

Jethro turned to Welch and, using his 6"1 solid frame, brought himself to full height. He could be damn intimidating when he had to be and he wanted to drive this point home. "That's a load of b.s and you know it. You are damn lucky we're surrounded by people right now or I'd be mopping the floor with your ass." The man gulped. "Now get out of here before I give you a lesson you won't soon forget."

Welch gulped again. "Yes, sir."

Jethro eyed the man's friend, funnily enough, someone who'd been a witness in a case of his maybe a year back. "And as for you, Corporal... I would go with your buddy and counsel him on how to behave because if I see him lay a hand on another woman and you just standing by, you will not like the conversation I have with you and your CO."

The man's eyes started to widen, in part from the threats and in part because of just who Jethro was clicking into place. "Understood, Agent Gibbs, sir."

"Good," he hissed before turning around and walking back to Shannon and the others.

Sitting down at one of the brown tables, the four of them started chatting in between bites of the pizza, wings, and fries, deciding to put the incident out of their minds for the time being and just enjoy the rest of their evening.