Disclaimer on chapter one.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! It means a lot to me. Here is chapter two enjoy --dark rolling sea
Chapter Two
Jeb stretched in the early morning heat. It was only five in the morning and all ready he could feel the heat of the day coming. When he was done stretching and warming up his muscles he set out on his daily morning job of six miles. He had left Hunter with Kylie and left his worries behind him.
He started at a slow pace working his muscles loose and bringing his heart rate up. He could feel the blood pumping through his body now. He felt good. He started to push himself into a faster pace after the first half mile. Soon he was up to a six-minute mile pace. He used to be able to hold this pace to the end of his run, but lately he had been feeling light headed and nauseous during his run and had to back down to finish.
He was four miles into his run when the headache started. He felt it start at his temple and then slowly creep its way behind his eyes and then down the back of his skull. It was an intense one, stronger than the one the day before. He slowed his pace and tried to regulate his breathing in an effort to control the pain, but it still bore through him. His eyesight started to jump on him. He was seeing what looked like a million tiny bugs all in straight vertical lines about an inch apart crawling forever towards the sky. He felt a little dizzy with the motion and felt his stomach clench. He felt his body sway to the side and corrected it but then the dizziness made him sway the other way. He slowed his jog to a fast walk and breathed in deeply trying to clear his head. The black bugs turned into dotted lines and started to move at a faster pace. He shook his head in an effort to shake the lines away, but they stayed.
He felt his heart rate spike to over a hundred and he looked down at his watch to take his pulse. He was right it was racing at 120 beats a minute. He felt short of breath but knew it was just because of his heart moving so fast. He figured he was still getting close to one hundred percent oxygen. He sat down on the curb and put his head between his knees. His left arm began to tremor and he fought to control it. He felt the panic well inside him and he struggled to maintain control.
He sat for twenty minutes while his body continued to react to whatever was wrong with him. He finally felt his heart rate slow a little and the tremor in his arm subside. He also noticed the black lines and movement fade from his eyesight. The headache stayed but that he could deal with. He stood up and again felt dizzy but fought it and won. He decided to take it easy on the way home. He walked the remaining two miles and finally made it home thirty minutes after he should have.
Kylie came out of the house and watched him come up the drive slowly. She had a look of concern on her face. He knew she was worried that he had taken an extra half hour this morning. He thought about lying to her and telling her he just did an extra mile, but he didn't think she would buy it. None of them would, they knew why he ran those six miles every morning.
He smiled at her and walked into the house pulling his shirt off as he did. She just watched him and didn't say anything. He knew she was waiting for him to explain. He wasn't quite ready to yet. He still wasn't sure what had happened and to say it out loud would mean he had lost control. He wasn't ready for that yet. He instead walked silently back to the bathroom and turned the shower on. He took out three extra strength aspirins and swallowed them with a glass of tap water then stripped down and showered. The hot water felt good and calmed his body.
He came out and got dressed and made his way to the living room. Hunter was sitting at the table eating breakfast. He smiled at Jeb and then continued to eat his cereal. Jeb sat down on the couch and put on his shoes. He had thirty minutes before he had to be at work. Kylie slid into the seat next to him.
"Jeb, you ok?" she asked quietly so Hunter wouldn't hear. He looked up at her and saw the concern in her eyes. He took a deep breath and looked over at Hunter.
"Yeah, look, its ok. It's just a bug. It'll pass," Jeb replied with a smile. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She sighed and then patted his hand.
"Your mom is really worried," she said. Jeb looked away. He knew this was coming; he then looked back at her.
"I have an appointment with Dr. Nash soon. I'll tell him about it. It's ok. Trust me."
"Ok," she said. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She slipped her hand in his and he squeezed.
Kate walked into the bullpen and went to her desk. Gibbs was already at his desk. Tony and McGee hadn't arrived yet. She could tell Gibbs was thinking about something. She walked to his desk and leaned over on it. He looked up at her and smiled.
"What's on your mind, Jethro?" Kate asked. Gibbs smiled up at her and reached across for her hand. She took his.
"Just thinking," Gibbs replied.
"About what?"
"Something Ann said. Don't worry about it. It's nothing," Gibbs said with a small smile. Kate studied his eyes for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked a hint of concern in her voice. Gibbs let out a breath then squeezed her hand.
"It's nothing really, Kate, don't worry," he replied softly. Kate came around his desk and put her hands on his shoulders. He sighed and leaned back. He closed his eyes. He knew she wouldn't stop pestering him until he told her what he had on his mind. He felt her hands start to move. "Ok, ok, Kate."
"It's not good to hold it in, Jethro."
"Kate, why can't you let things go?"
"Because what worries you worries me, Jethro," she said with a smile. Gibbs smiled and closed his eyes again. He took a deep breath and then looked up at Kate.
"I'm just concerned about Jeb."
"How come?"
"Ann said he was having headaches. I don't know just the way she said it got me concerned. I've also noticed Jeb is more reserved when talking to me lately. He doesn't get too deep into any subject, like he's avoiding me about something. I don't know. Maybe I just miss him and Hunter too much and I'm worrying for now reason."
"It's ok to be worried, Jethro, that's what fathers do," she said with a smile and bent down and kissed the top of his head. He nodded slightly.
"Maybe," Gibbs replied softly.
"Take a vacation. Go out there and visit with them. It'll do you all some good."
"Maybe," Gibbs said with a sigh. Kate walked around the side of him and squatted down next to his chair. He looked down into her eyes and smiled. She still took his breath away. She studied him a moment and then put a gentle hand on his thigh. He locked eyes with her.
"Jethro, if you are truly concerned go on out to California. I know you miss them; hell I miss them. I think its time you saw them anyway, its been almost six months since they last visited."
"Yeah it was just after Christmas."
"You got some time on the books. Tony, McGee and I can hold this place together for a while. Go out there. Spend time with your son and grandson," Kate said with a smile. Gibbs looked down at her a moment then nodded slightly. She was right. He did miss them. He missed them more than he could describe. Kate stood up and went back to her desk. She rummaged through some papers and started to write on something. After a few minutes Tony came in.
"Morning, Kate," Tony said. Kate looked up and gave a little wave before returning her attention to the paper. McGee walked in a moment later and slung his backpack down on his desk.
"Morning, Boss," Tony continued. Gibbs just nodded and continued to stare at his desk. "Probie," Tony continued.
"Good morning, Tony," McGee replied. Kate finished with what she was doing and then walked back to Gibbs desk. She laid the paper neatly in front of him and then held out her pen. He looked up at her with confusion on his face.
"Sign," Kate said gently and then pushed the pen into his hand. Gibbs took the pen and then looked down at the paper she had put in front of him. He read it quickly and then looked up at her.
"Kate," he said strongly.
"No. There is no negotiation on this one. Sign it," Kate replied. Her tone shocked Tony and McGee. They both stopped what they were doing and watched. They had gotten used to the idea that Gibbs and Kate were in a serious relationship but sometimes it still took them by surprise at work.
:"Kate, I don't have time for a vacation," Gibbs growled.
"Damn it, Jethro, sign the stupid paper and go," Kate said. Gibbs glared at her for a moment, but only a moment before his eyes softened and he smiled at her. She smiled back. He signed his name on the line and then looked at the dates she had filled in. He was to leave in a few days. She had also given him seven days off. With any luck he could spend almost six of them in California.
"Thank you, Kate," he replied softly then stood up and took the request for time off up to the director's office. McGee and Tony exchanged glances and both shrugged. Kate smiled and then went back to her desk to start the day.
TBC...