Title : Where Do We Go From Here… (at last, Part III of the Trilogy!)

Author : Jaggie 107

Disclaimer : JAG and NCIS characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I remembered to add NCIS to the Disclaimer – missed it for a few chapters. Sorry!)

Rating : T (I think!)

Thanks for the reviews to : jtbwriter; Radiorox; DD2; Nikki; froggy0319; anna7; Jbird7986; beegirl; JAGFANWI; Abigaile; Judy; roxy; KJFlygirl87; mayaresi; alicia; starryeyes10; skyefire; jnp; JAGJenni; laura carr; AnniGH4ever; Arian04; aserene; rosan; achaon; martini1988; Sarah; wheels04; BlueJay; chawkchic; Manda; BrittanyLS; jaggurl; DushiNoSushi; prymtns; Mey80; kchs123; Sariana of Wind; daisymh; TV Angel 711; Michelle UK; pm; dawnfaer; Mommie

To all of the readers – mentioned above, and anonymous – thank you for sticking with the story, and for those who gave me a push to get on with it! In particular – pm, dawnfaer and Mommie. I've let real life take over for a bit too long, and now I've managed to drag myself back! I don't guarantee I'll be posting every day (lol) but I will try my hardest not to let time get away from me again!

prymtns

Hello, and thanks for your lovely review. Bobby's storyline seems to be working well, so there'll be a little more of his anguish for a chapter or two in the story. I'm having fun adding DiNozzo, so I've got to make it last a while! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please keep reading!

TV Angel 711

Hello, and thanks for your lovely review! I'm afraid there's not much H&M in this chapter but I hope you enjoy it, and please keep reading!

starryeyes10

Thanks for your review! I hope you like this next chapter, and please keep reading!

jtbwriter

Hiya! The proverbial bad penny is back again! Thanks as always for your wonderful review, and it's fun adding DiNozzo – he's just the right character to stir things up a little! I hope you like this chapter and will keep reading, now I'm back! How's the driving going, and work? Both sounded good in your last missive. Pinky luck as always.

BrittanyLS

Hello again! Thanks for your lovely review. Bobby has no concept of Harm and Mac's relationship, which is why he's been such a dork. Adding DiNozzo to the mix is fun! I hope you like this chapter, and I hope you're still hooked!

froggy0319

Hello! I know, it's been a (long) while! I hope you haven't forgotten me! Thanks for your lovely review. Harm and Mac will be around in the next chapter. I just needed to get this out first. Hope you like it, and you know the rest!

Michelle UK

Hello! I know, not updated soon enough, but better late than never! Bobby still has some anguish to deal with. Thanks for your lovely review, and I hope you'll keep reading!

MiDushiNoSushi

Jealousy is terrible! I must admit I don't know where this 'green streak' is heading, but it's doing okay so far! Thanks for your wonderful review, and please keep reading!

pm

Welcome to the story, and thank you for the 'nudge'! Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and please keep reading!

dawnfaer

Welcome to the story, and thank you for the 'nudge'! Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and please keep reading!

Mommie

Welcome to the story, and thank you for the 'nudge'! Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it, and please keep reading!

NCIS Headquarters – Saturday Morning, 0900 Hours Local

Jennifer had been right. When she and Harm entered the conference room at NCIS Headquarters they found folders in place around the table. Taking seats next to each other, with Gibbs at the head of the table, DiNozzo sat beside him, opposite Harm. Arriving a few moments later, Sue took a seat next to Jennifer, with Jack opposite to her, so that she could read his lips when necessary.

"Thanks for coming in, Petty Officer. It's appreciated, given you had the bulk of the assignment last night." Gibbs had spoken directly to Jennifer first.

"Not a problem, sir," Jennifer answered quietly, and gave both Gibbs and DiNozzo a tired smile. "I'll play catch up on my sleep later." Gibbs glanced at Jennifer once more, and she noticed the slight tilt to his lips before he spoke to them all.

"There's a transcript of last night's meeting with Torrance. Read through it, and if there are any discrepancies, let me know. Once we're agreed, we'll proceed to the next stage."

All four visitors opened their folders and quickly scanned the words on the pages. While Harm nodded his acceptance, Jennifer remained quiet. As neither Jack nor Sue had been present, they relied on Harm and Jennifer to confirm the transcript, and remained silent also. Gibbs focused on Jennifer.

"Petty Officer? Is there a problem?"

"I…no, sir… no problem." Jennifer glanced up from her folder and looked straight at Tony. He gave her a smile and she turned her attention on Gibbs. "The transcript is fine, sir. Thank you."

"Okay, then we'll proceed with the meeting." Over the next two hours the details of the previous night's events were processed and evaluated, with Harm and Jennifer giving the words life as they went over their interaction. At the end of the discussions the general agreement was that they would give Torrance a couple of days to contact Jennifer himself, and if not, she would go back to the bar, as she had said she would. If Torrance did contact her in the meantime, she was to alert a member of the team immediately. Gibbs gave Harm a nod before looking straight at Jennifer once more.

"I mean it, Jennifer. If Torrance contacts you at any time between now and when you return to the bar, we need to know. For your safety." Jennifer was about to say that she could take care of herself, but then she caught the look Harm gave her; it mirrored the one that Gibbs was also giving her. They were concerned, for her, and it showed. From Harm it was no less than she would expect, given her involvement with him and his family, but from Gibbs it came as a surprise. A pleasant surprise.

"Yes, sir. If I do hear from Torrance, I'll be sure to let someone know…" she amended, and Harm reached to give her hand a squeeze. Across the table DiNozzo was also watching her, and Jennifer gave him a ghost of her usual bright smile.

"Okay, I'd say we're done here for now." Gibbs got to his feet and as the others rose along with him he glanced at DiNozzo. "Tony will see you all out." DiNozzo gave Gibbs a puzzled look, and then nodded at the unspoken message.

"Follow me, ladies and gentlemen," he murmured, and led the way out of the conference room and back to the elevators. The five then rode down in silence to the main entrance.

Outside NCIS Headquarters

Jennifer was about to follow Harm out to the parking lot when she asked to have a word with DiNozzo. Jack paused also, wanting a word with Jennifer himself. Deciding he could talk to her before she left, he followed Sue and Harm out to their respective vehicles. As Jennifer watched her friends walk away, giving her some privacy, she turned to look at DiNozzo.

"Tony?"

"Um…yeah?"

"Thanks, for what you did up there. It was good of you to leave out the last part," Jennifer acknowledged the fact that her reaction to Bobby Manning's surprise appearance, and his words, had been left out of the report. "Does Gibbs know?" DiNozzo nodded, and gave Jennifer his usual grin then.

"It was actually Gibbs' idea. I told him, briefly, what had happened when he queried the tape. He felt that Manning's appearance had nothing to do with the case, so he asked me to transcribe everything up to that point, then erase the tape."

"You erased the tape?" Jennifer was surprised, knowing full well that the wire she had been wearing was evidence in the case. DiNozzo shook his head.

"Only from the part where you were leaving the bar. I've taped over the end, effectively erasing it. There's no reason for anyone to question the tape, as we have the transcript. If there are any comebacks, Gibbs will deal with them. It's sorted, Jennifer."

"I don't know what to say…except, thanks again, I guess." Jennifer gave DiNozzo a searching look, as if wondering why this man – practically a stranger to her – should do something like this. Not just him, either. Gibbs had authorized DiNozzo to erase the tape.

"Our pleasure."

"I…I'd better go join the others…" Jennifer looked out at the parking lot and then back at DiNozzo. Shaking hands seemed so…formal, so she resorted to the same tactic she had used on Harm. Reaching up, she touched her lips gently to DiNozzo's cheek before turning away and moving quickly to the group waiting for her. If any of them had seen her actions they didn't say anything. Jennifer gave them all a wide smile, and waited while Harm opened the passenger door, which he did with a smile of his own. Just as she was climbing up into the SUV, Jack spoke up.

"Jennifer?"

"Yes?"

"Would you…give me a call later? It's about…Bobby." Jack knew that he sounded unsure, and he hated that. Jennifer looked across at Harm, and then back at Jack and Sue.

"It's okay. Harm knows Bobby was at the bar last night. You can tell me now."

"Bobby came round to my apartment early this morning."

"Very early," Sue added, with a rueful grin, and Harm laughed at the attempt to lighten what was effectively a serious situation. Jennifer grinned at the older woman and then turned back to Jack.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing that is my place to say. I just wanted you to know that he's…broken up, about what he's said and done lately."

"I…need to concentrate on the case right now, Jack. Bobby…needs to understand that I can't deal with his…guilt trip. Not just now." Jack nodded as Jennifer pulled the passenger door closed and fastened her seat belt. As he turned to leave with Sue, Jennifer called out to him. "It's something we're going to have to work out, Jack. Tell him that, when you see him."

"I will." Jack watched as Sue hugged Harm and then the pair of them returned to their own vehicle. As Harm climbed in beside Jennifer he glanced across at her.

"You okay?"

"I will be," Jennifer acknowledged, and Harm nodded once in acknowledgement before starting up the SUV and leaving the parking lot.

Same Time…

DiNozzo, still standing outside the building, had observed the interaction between the Naval officers and the FBI agents, even though he couldn't tell what was being said. As he watched the two vehicles depart he turned and walked back into the building, running a finger quickly across his cheek where the memory of Jennifer's gentle kiss lingered.

To be continued