Damn it, Jack. He knew she was a special agent, trained and strong as hell. He knew she was Army, but damn it, he wanted to protect her. He knew she was right, to use herself as bait to save Vance, but he didn't like the possibility of her being hurt, or worse.

He knew she could endure so much, but that wasn't his way. He didn't want her in danger if he could help it.

He wasn't totally fine with Operation Cuckoo's Nest, but he was proud of her for being the one to lead the way to rescuing Vance, and herself, in some weird twist of fate.

He wanted her to be safe, to feel safe. He hated Nigel Hakim. He hated that after all he had done to Sloane and her team from PsyOps, he wanted to dish more pain out on her.

Gibbs wasn't ready to explore what other feelings he had, regarding the situation. Not the fear, frustration, concern, or sensitivity. He channeled his feelings into focusing on getting both Jack and Vance out safely. He couldn't breathe normally until she, no, they, were safe.

When they had burst through the door, and he saw that both Jack and Vance were safe, he felt a little better. He just wanted to make sure that she was truly going to be okay.

Jack was nervous, not only because she was going to let herself be caught and returned to a previous captor and abuser, but also because she worried about how Gibbs team would handle getting everyone out safely.

When she had chosen to laugh in the face of danger and share that she had been tracked, she wasn't sure if Hakin would kill them on the spot or let them live long enough to be saved. She hoped that since he enjoyed torturing people, that she would live to be rescued, but she didn't have to wait. Just moments later, as a team barreled through the door, they were saved. Seeing Gibbs made her feel safer, considering the circumstances.

When she finally made it back to the office, she was grateful to see the team but realized how much she needed to go home and rest. As she began to collect her stuff from her desk, a knock on the door frame surprised her. Gibbs.

"Hey, Jack." His coarse voice and blue eyes distracted her from her attempt to leave. "Today's been hard enough, I'll drive you home." It didn't sound like a question, but it also didn't seem like he would push it.

"Well, Cowboy, I guess it wouldn't hurt. Thanks for the offer." She hastily slipped the last couple things into her purse. "So uh, meet you at your truck?" In return, he offered her a slight nod and left her office, back down to his team.

After leaving her office, she coincidentally said night to the team just as Gibbs was walking away. And coincidentally got in the elevator and went down at the same time as Gibbs.

As they reached his truck, he got the door for her. "Chivalry, my ass." He chuckled, "You've had a day." Jack was pretty sure that it was actually an act of chivalry, but whatever.

Gibbs was hyper aware of every movement she made while sitting in his passenger seat. At one point, he even reached out and sat his hand atop hers. She knew he wasn't much for words, and even less, when they involved emotions. When he felt her hand begin to move beneath his, he slid his hand back to his side. That hadn't been her goal, but it was a little awkward to backstep, so she left it at that. "Jack, glad your plan worked." He glanced over at her, knowing they were getting close to her place.

"Thanks for going with it, and ya know, rescuing us." She wasn't quite ready to end the night, it had been a hard day, but times like this didn't come up often in her life. "Why don't you come in, I was going to order dinner." She smiles softly, not sure what to say if he says no.

"You sure, Jack? Do you want me to go pick you up somethin?" He offered, he wasn't sure what her initial offer was- could be dinner, could be more, but he wanted to make sure he didn't overstep a boundary or push her too much.

"Nah, was just going to order pizza." She pushed for eye contact, nudged his shoulder. "Come on, you'll survive a slice or two." Gibbs nodded at that, just as they parked in front of her apartment.

As she unlocked the door and turned on the light in her living room, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a half hug. She excused herself to call for pizza, telling him to make himself comfortable on her couch. When she came back, she was wearing an old army hoodie and dark leggings. He was impressed, and glad to see she was comfortable with him.

"Want to watch a movie?" She was already finding one before she finished her sentence. Her selection being The Wizard of Oz, the one in black and white. "It's a good movie. Don't question me." Her tone playful yet showing signs of her exhaustion from the day.

Just after they started the movie, the pizza arrived, after three slices each, they were pretty much done, and he was considering how best to go home since it was already 10 at night, but she started to lean into him, content sighs occasionally escaping her lips, and man, he was glued to the spot. He wouldn't dare disrupt her peace.

She quickly fell asleep, head resting on Gibbs' chest as her body curled closer to him, but the movie wasn't quite over, and he couldn't well pause it without stirring her. His thoughts and attention were all on the sleeping woman next to him, her legs outstretched away from them, peeking out from her blanket, her hair cascading across her shoulders and hiding her face from him. She's so damn stubborn, so beautiful, so amazing. He wouldn't dare admire her like this if she were awake. Her hair really shines, even under the office lights and here in the soft glow of the tv. She still looks so put together, even in a hoodie and leggings. Ugh. He needed to find a way to stop these feelings, push them away, he couldn't hurt her or put her in a position like that. This is why Rule 12 exists. Just keep remembering that. She could have died, just be her friend.

While watching her sleep, he too began to drift off. A faint smile on his lips, and his mind focused still on her.