It's been a two days since Gibbs was discharge from the hospital. But he was not allowed to go back to his job. He was on his sick leaves. And Gibbs was not happy with this idea. He was getting frustrated. He just wants to go back on the field and wanted to catch the bad guys. He wanted to get himself busy in some cases and desperately wanted to go back to his normal life.

But it's not that simple. He is still having nightmares about losing Jack or he was being forced to watch her die. Gibbs has didn't tell about these nightmares to anyone not even Jack. But she knows something is wrong with him. She decides to talk with Gibbs about it. Because whenever Gibbs fell asleep, he started screaming and yelling and then he violently woke up.

In the evening

Gibbs was reading a book and then he fell asleep on the couch. He was sleeping peacefully. But suddenly he started struggling against something. He started screaming and yelling. His face was covered with sweat. And then he heard someone is calling his name.

"Hey, Gibbs! Wake up. It's okay. It's just a dream. Wake up. GIBBS!" Sloane shook his shoulders gently and tried to wake him up.

"NO... JACK!" Gibbs yelled and woke up violently. He was sweating. His heart was beating so fast in his chest.

"Easy... easy, Gibbs. It was just a bad dream. Relax and tell me about it." Jack said as she gave him a glass of water.

Gibbs took the glass and started drinking water. His hands were shaking. Sloane had noticed that and that was very Un-Gibbs thing.

"Okay, tell me what happened?" She asked.

"What?" Gibbs replied like nothing happened.

"In your nightmare. You are having a nightmares Gibbs, since after our rescue. You need to talk to Grace." Sloane started worried about Gibbs.

"Nah... it was just a nightmare Jack. Everyone have nightmares. It's a normal thing." Gibbs said as he put the empty glass on the table.

"GIBBS YOU WERE SHIVERING. AND IT'S NOT A NORMAL THING!" Sloane shouted at him.

"I wasn't." Gibbs replied.

"Yes, you were Gibbs! You have to talk with Grace otherwise I will call her and tell her to come here to check on you. Or I will tell Vance so he could make an order to visit Dr. Grace for you." Sloane stood up from the couch and fold her hands and arguing with Gibbs like typical mother who's yelling at her stubborn kid.

"Are you threatening me, Agent Sloane?" Gibbs said as he slowly stood up and looking directly into her eyes.

"No, but you are feeling it like that way then you should go to visit Dr. Grace, Agent Gibbs!" She's not going to give up easily. And Gibbs know that.

"Look, I am not the only one who's having a nightmare here, JACK! You are also having a trouble in sleeping. So... why aren't you going to visit Dr. Grace? Or should I make a direct order for you, because I am the team leader and you are work for me, so I don't need to involve Vance in this." Gibbs said as he take one step closer to her.

"I work for Vance so I didn't have to follow all yours order Gibbs!" She also takes one step toward him.

"I like arguing with you. You're very challenging person Jack. But still I'm not going anywhere." Gibbs smirk and started walking toward the kitchen.

"Gibbs you have to talk with Grace. Actually you NEED to talk with her. Let us help you Gibbs. Don't..." Sloane follow him to the kitchen. And before she complete her sentence Gibbs stopped her.

"Jack, I don't need anybody's help. I'm fine." Gibbs makes a fresh pot of coffee for himself and for Sloane.

"It's seems like you both need help."

Gibbs and Sloane looked at each other in confusion and look toward the door and found Dr. Grace was standing in the living room.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Gibbs and Sloane both said together.

"Aah... it's good to see you too." Grace said with big smile.

"You called her, Jack?" Gibbs asked her.

"No. I was going to but I didn't call her. Hey, Grace! Sorry about that. We were just..." Sloane said as she walk toward Grace.

"Fighting." Grace complete the sentence.

"No. We are having a very healthy conversation Doc." Gibbs said as he entered in the living room.

"I think your definition of 'Healthy conversation' is quite similar to my definition of 'fighting' Popeye!" Grace said and accept the cup of coffee that Gibbs has offered to her.

"Who called you Doc?" Gibbs asked as he take a sit on the couch next to Sloane.

"Don't look at me Gibbs! Like I said I didn't called Grace." Sloane said in defense.

"Aah... Leon." Gibbs said as he take a long sip from his coffee.

"Yes and No. I was requested to visit you and Jack." Grace replied.

"By whom?" Again Gibbs and Sloane asked together.

"I like your synchronization with Jack, Popeye. And that Dr. Strange asked Leon and Leon requested me to visit you. BOTH OF YOU!" Grace said with smile.

"Oh... C'mon doc, I don't need..." Gibbs tried to defend himself.

"You can't continue your job without counseling Gibbs. So who is coming first? Hm-mm." Grace said firmly as she lean back on the couch.

"She." "He." Again they said together. And both exchange their look.

"Look I'm going downstairs. See you later. Good luck Jack." Gibbs stood up and started walking toward basement door.

"Not so fast Popeye! You first and then I will talk with Jack. Now take a seat." Grace said.

"What! Then why did you even asked?" Gibbs said. He was started getting frustrated by her mind game.

"I just wanted to see who will tried to blow me off first, so I will start with that person. And like I expected you did that Popeye. So let's begin." Grace said.

"Oh... C'mon, really doc!" Gibbs shook his head and sit down on the couch.

"I'm going to get some beer from the store. Be back in hour. Is that okay, Doc?" Jack said as she rubbed her hand on Gibbs's back.

"Don't try to blow me off Jack!" Grace warned her.

"I won't Doc." And she left.

"So..."

"So... what, Doc?" Gibbs was feeling trapped.

"Look Gibbs, I can't help you if won't tell me why you are still having a nightmares! I know you don't like this but now it's not just only about you Gibbs. It's about Jack too. Vance told me about what you and Jack had been through in past few days.

Fornell is talking with me too, about what you did to save him and Jack. He is feeling guilty for what happened to you." Grace noticed tensed look on his face.

"Okay, so tell me why did you lied to save Fornell's life? He told me you didn't even know about his undercover Op."

"Because he's stupid enough to go after Merriweather on his own. I did that to save his ass. He has daughter. If something happened him I would not able to face her in my life again."

"You know that you have people too who cares about you. Gibbs you put your life in danger to save your friend's life. But by putting yourself in danger that affects others people too. Because you thinks that you have nobody left behind you. But your team they see you as father figure. And for Jack you are everything.

I don't know what you feels about her but her feelings for you is more than just a friend. You know what I'm saying, right Gibbs?" Grace said.

"Yeah, but how did you know? She talk with you about me? What else she said?" Gibbs asked anxiously.

"I can't share everything about her, Popeye. You know our policy."

"C'mon Doc. It's about me. She has been talking about me with you! I've right to know." Gibbs desperately wants to know what Sloane said about him.

"Sorry Gibbs. I can't. Tell me what you see in your nightmares?"

"Who said I'm having nightmares?" Gibbs said.

"I heard your 'Healthy Conversation' with Jack. So now tell me what you see in your dreams."

"I..." Gibbs started but Grace interrupt him.

"And DON'T try to lie to me." Gibbs looked at her and narrowed his eyes. She's not giving him a single chance to escape.

"Fine." Gibbs said as he took a deep breath and started telling her about his nightmares.

"Look... I... every time I try to sleep. I... I saw that... that I am back there in the warehouse. And I...am being... I'm being forced to watch her die." Gibbs said hesitantly.

"By HER you mean JACK?" Grace asked.

In reply Gibbs just simply nodded.

"Okay, what do you see?"

"I don't know... every time I try to sleep I found myself in that warehouse. She's always there... with me. And I was... I was... was... tide up to the chair or badly beaten and laying on the floor and... forced to watch her..." Gibbs voice chocked and he stop for a moment. He cleared his throat and continued.

"Die. It happened often in every single nightmare. If she is not end up dead in the dream then... they hurt her. Repeatedly and badly. And I was... forced to watch her being hurt helplessly." Gibbs stops again. After long pause he shouted.

"SHE MADE A MISTAKE. I TOLD HER TO GO WITH FORNELL. BUT CAME BACK."

"So you are thinking that coming back to help you was her MISTAKE! Why? Just because she cares too much about you. She had a chance if she wanted to go with Tobias. But she came back to help you. She decides to come back because she LOVES you Gibbs."

"AND THAT'S MAKES ME SCARED. I... I...I didn't want... her to end up dead like the others. Every time I let someone to get in my life, they ended up dead. And that... that..."

"Scares you." Grace completed his sentence.

"Yeah, and what happened with my wife daughter and ex-wife, coworkers, fiancee just because I let them too much close in my life. And I don't want to... I... I don't want to..."

"Lose her!" Again she completes his sentence.

"Look, I respect your feelings Gibbs, but you are still living in your past. And that fear of losing people kept you prisoner in the cell build-up by your fear. You have to stop living in your past, Gibbs."

Gibbs didn't say anything. He was not even looking at her. His eyes were looking at the floor.

"Once I had watched a movie. Animated movie actually. And there's a very beautiful quote in the film.

It says

YESTERDAY WAS A HISTORY. TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY. BUT TODAY IS A GIFT. THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT PRESENT." Grace said with smile.

"Yeah, that's a deep quote." Gibbs replied with smile.

"So start living in the present Popeye. Otherwise you will lose the people you love just because what happened in your past. And don't afraid about what happened. And let the people enter in your life because they care for you too, the same way you do for them.

And tell Jack what you feels for her. She deserves to know. And you stop keeping yourself in the cage that you called basement." Gibbs scoffed and nodded in reply.

"I will try my best Doc. Thanks." Gibbs said

"You have to. And we are done for now." She said as she looked at her watch.

"I hope I'm not late Doc." Sloane said as she entered stormed through the door.

"Right on the time Jack. C'mon have a sit." Grace said as she smiled at Gibbs.

"If you don't mind can I stay here while you are counseling her, Doc?" Gibbs asked.

"Well that's upto Jack. If she is okay with that then I don't mind. What do you say Jack?" Grace know that Gibbs wants to know what Sloane thinks about him. That's why she didn't denied.

Grace and Gibbs both were looking at Sloane. They were waiting for her reply, especially Gibbs. When Sloane looked at him, he made childish face at her. And Sloane gave up there.

"Nah... I don't mind. It's okay, Doc." She said and she noticed smile on Gibbs's face. She would do anything to make him happy.

"Okay, then let's start." Grace said.

"Sure..." Jack takes a seat next to Gibbs.

"So tell me how you feel after you both were rescued?" Grace asked.

"I'm feeling glad that we both make it out of alive."

"That's good. What makes you to change your decision and why you get back to help Gibbs?" Grace asked.

"Look I know Gibbs would do this kind of heroic thing. But I just can't left him behind. I decide to go back to save him. And I was so scared at that time and I...I was hoping that it wasn't too late.

I just can't let him die. I respect his stupid decision but he is...my... he is... I just can't left him behind."

"That's it. You didn't wanted to left him behind that's all!" Grace asked.

"I believe in somethings better left unsaid." Sloane said hesitantly.

"But sometimes it is necessary to say about how you feel." Grace said.

Gibbs was sitting like he is not there. He knows Grace was punishing her buttons. That's why he didn't react when Sloane hesitate.

"Okay, we will talk about it later. Tell me how you feel when you have be a witness of Gibbs' torture?"

This time they both couldn't help and exchange their look. Gibbs can clearly see guilt on her face. He was thinking in his mind that It was his decision to stay behind it wasn't her fault.

"I was worried about him. I couldn't see him but I can hear his voice. I can hear that he was being waterboard. I can hear Merriweather's voice. He was taunting Gibbs and trying to get the information from him THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. I never met someone who is as stupid as Gibbs.

How can be someone so selfless! He never think about himself EVER! He did same that day. He put his life in danger so I and Fornell can ran away. That's why I decide to go back. He didn't know what Fornell was doing while he was undercover. But still he said that Fornell was working for NCIS.

Every time when I think about that moment I am feeling glad that I take a right decision at that time. It was really hard for me to just sit there and waiting for the right moment while he was being beaten and tortured in the other room." Jack wiped her tears and looked at Gibbs. His eyes were also filled with tears. But he was smiling.

"And I am happy that he is fine." Sloane said as she took Gibbs's hand in her hand.

"So you are happy for Gibbs that he is fine. Why? I mean you took a bullet for him. Why did YOU risk your life to save his?" Grace was now pushing her buttons harder.

"BECAUSE I LOVE HIM. AND I JUST CAN'T LET THAT BASTARD TO KILL THE PERSON WHOM I LOVE MOST." Suddenly she realized that she confessed her feeling right in front of Gibbs. Then Gibbs spoke in soft voice.

"THAT'S WHY I PUT MYSELF IN DANGER SO YOU CAN ESCAPE WITH FORNELL. I GUESS OUR FEELINGS ARE MUTUAL JACK." Gibbs said and hugged her.

"Okay... so we are done. For now. I will call you for our next session." Grace was happy that Sloane has confessed her feeling. And she's glad that Gibbs was there too. And Gibbs confessed his feelings too.

"Okay, Popeye..." Grace stood up and was ready to leave. But Gibbs stop her and hugs her.

"Thank you Doc." Gibbs whispered in her ear.

"You are most welcome Popeye." She said and tapped her hand on Gibbs's back. And then she left.

Then Gibbs turned around and stared at Jack. She was sitting on the couch and looking directly into his eyes. They both were smiling. Then she stood up and started walking toward Gibbs. Then she put her both arms around his neck and pulled him close to her.

"So feelings are mutual Agent Gibbs!" Sloane said.

"You heard correct Agent Sloane." Gibbs replied and then they kissed.

"I was thinking about what you told me in the hospital." Gibbs said.

"I have told you so many things. Which one you are thinking about?" Sloane asked.

"I owe you a drink remember!"

"Yeah, and I was agreed with you on steak and bourbon."

"C'mon, let's make a dinner together." Gibbs said as he and Jack walked toward kitchen.

After having a dinner they were having a drink together. And they were sitting together on the couch and watching an old black and white movie. Suddenly fireworks started and then they both looked at each other with big smile on their faces.

"Happy New Year Cowboy."

"Happy New Year Jack"

They kissed each other and forget everything about what they have been through and they both were just lost in each other. They were feeling happy after so long time.

But they both were not aware about that someone was keeping an eye on them. They are being watched. And that person was waiting for the right moment to strike.

And Gibbs and Sloane they both are not aware about it. They are both holding each other in their arms and still kissing. They broke the kiss and smile.

Finally they both confessed their feelings and thanks to Dr. Grace. They both were celebrating the New Year night together!But who's that person?

And why is he/she keeping an eye on them?

What he/she wants?

BUT HERE IS THE TASK FOR YOU.

THE MOVIE QUOTE I USED IN THIS CHAPTER, GUESS THE NAME OF THAT MOVIE AND TELL ME IN THE COMMENT SECTION.STAY TUNED TO FIND OUTDON'T FORGET TO GIVE YOUR REVIEWS.

THANK YOU...