Gibbs came around the corner carrying a fresh cup of coffee. Glancing at his watch, he decided that now would be a good time to call the hospital to check on Leah's condition before knocking off another stack of files. He was just about to sit down at his desk when he spied the unfamiliar envelope in the center.

"Front desk just dropped that off for you, Gibbs," Kate said, without taking her eyes off her computer screen. "Said some woman brought it in about fifteen minutes ago."

Suddenly, something didn't feel right. He quickly set the cup down and snatched up the envelope, tearing it open. His stomach did a flip when he saw the familiar handwriting.

> > > > >

She paid the cab driver, exited the vehicle and maneuvered through the airport. Since she had her ticket, she headed straight for security and waited in line with her small bag at the checkpoint.

> > > > >

Dear Jeth,

Please, hear me out before you get angry with me. When I left DC fifteen years ago, I felt like I had failed everyone. It wasn't easy to leave, but I honestly thought that it was best for everyone.


His heart twisted as he read her words, and he sank into his chair. Was she really going to leave again? Could she not even bear to see him and say goodbye?

> > > > >

She stepped through the metal detector and retrieved her shoes, bag and jacket from the conveyor belt, and put herself back together. Then she walked over and checked the Departures Screen for her flight number.

> > > > >

When I came back east five years ago, I was terrified of seeing you again. I loved you the day I left and I never got over you. Finally, last spring I couldn't wait any longer, I had to know what I would feel when I looked in your eyes. I wasn't prepared for the tidal wave of emotions.

'Oh God,' he thought. 'I lost her once, am I going to lose her again?' He rose slowly from his chair and read faster, trying to understand why he was holding a letter and not her.

> > > > >

She made her way through the airport to the correct concourse and finally to the desk at the gate. As she presented her ticket, the agent smiled, checked her ID and printed up her boarding pass.

> > > > >

While I was gone I learned a lot. I learned that you can make a career out of running and hiding. I learned that if you're good at it, staying just one step ahead of danger can be almost as addicting as any other drug.

I learned that that spending so much time hiding behind other identities, you tend to lose your own.

Kate and Tony stared at the lost and puzzled look on their boss' face. Kate stood slowly and walked toward Gibbs, but he backed away, growing angry as he recognized her intent.

"I'm fine!" he growled ferociously before turning back to the letter. He was unaware that he was crumpling the edges in his hands as he held it, or that the naked pain in his eyes was clearly visible to his teammates.

> > > > >

"Leah Hecht?"

Her head shot up to regard two gentlemen dressed in standard "Fed" wear. "Which branch wants to know? I have a plane to catch." She didn't bother to hide the irritation in her voice.

"Ma'am, we'd rather not discuss that here. We just want to talk to you for a few minutes."

She grinned. "Gotta do better than that to get me to move."

> > > > >

Jeth, I don't know where we go from here. There are three words in the sentence: I love you. I'm certain I know what two of them mean, there's only one I need to work on.

I don't know who I am these days, other than some tired, bitchy, suspicious cop who sees conspiracy everywhere. I watched your young pups -- Tony, Kate, Abby and Tim -- and I wondered when I got so damned old. I may not be a kid anymore, but I know I'm not who I woke up to this morning either.

Gibbs stared at the words and willed himself not to shake. She was saying goodbye. She was running again. How long ago had she dropped this off? Could he get to her in time? He started to head for the elevator, crumpling the letter angrily along the way. He wasn't going to let her go again. Not this time.

> > > > >

The younger of the two leaned down and spoke quietly in her ear. "How about, we're CIA, you've impressed the hell out of us over the last several years and we'd like to offer you a job." He straightened back up and smiled faintly at the shocked look on her face.

The other man spoke again. "No obligation, just come hear us out. If you're not interested, then we'll fly you to Denver ourselves."

Leah shook her head and blew out a breath. A job offer from the spooks. Not exactly what she was looking for to find herself. But then again...

"Okay. I'll let you make your pitch. But I'm not making any promises at all." She stood up and followed them out.

> > > > >

As he stood waiting for the elevator, he realized he hadn't finished the balled-up letter. He gently peeled it open, reading the last few paragraphs.

You probably know what's coming, and you probably want to hate me right now. Please don't. Try not to, at least. I need some time to just be Leah. Not IA, not NCIS, not Jeth's girl, just plain old Leah. The Leah I was before Trainor and Ketterer stole a part of my soul.

I'm not running. I have a job, something I've been thinking about for a long time. My lawyer, who I met during the whole stalking nightmare, has been begging me to work for him as his investigator for some time. I'm taking him up on the offer and moving back west for a while. I'll stay in touch; I'll e-mail and I may even phone. But I need some space to get back to me.

The next time I see you, Jeth, I want to look in your eyes and say I love you and know that I truly mean every single word. Until then, know that you have my heart, whoever I am...

Leah

He stepped blindly through the open doors and let them slide shut, isolating him. Out of all the words she wrote, four echoed in his soul.

You have my heart.

Slowly, he smoothed out the crumpled paper and folded it carefully, placing it in the breast pocket of his jacket, next to his own heart. He loved her, and he knew she loved him. He would wait for her, for as long as it took her to realize they belonged together.

Leaning back against the cold steel wall of the elevator car, he shook his head. Waiting for her to realize where she belonged and waiting for her to actually come back were two different things.

'Face it, you old fool. She's a runner. She's tried to show you the back of her more times than you can count this week alone. And after you finally break down the barriers to find out she loves you as much as you love her, you're going to stand here and let her go. Again. Without so much as a goodbye kiss.' He sighed and closed his eyes. 'Maybe I am an idiot. But this is different, she'll come back, I can feel it my heart.'

He reached out and pressed a button, the doors sliding open to reveal the bullpen again. He walked briskly to his desk, ignoring Kate's questioning glance as he heard DiNozzo telling yet another joke from his e-mail correspondent.

"And the bum said, 'But I've already got rotten cabbage.'" Gibbs swung around to see an earnest expression on the younger man's face, waiting for someone to laugh.

"Tony, that's horrible. That's nowhere near funny. You should do the world a favor and send this guy a computer virus," Kate sighed and started filing the papers on her desk.

"Kate's got a point, DiNozzo." Gibbs picked up the coffee cup he'd left sitting on his desk and took a long swallow. Then as he walked off he tossed over his shoulder, "This guy's gotta hold some kind of bad joke record. Better call Ripley's Believe It or Not."