-1Gibbs point of view

"And I'm in, so totally wrapped up

Emotionally attracted

So physically acting

So recklessly I need you

So desperately sure as the sky is blue

Baby I love you"

Martina McBride - I Love You

"Baby try some of mine, it tastes good," Holly spoon fed me some of her desert. Dinner had been great. And we even did some dancing. Something that I never usually do. She brings out a different side to me.

"That's good Hol, not as good as mine, but good." I smiled at her. Watching her eat the last piece of my apple pie, I reflected on how open I have been with her today. I am not usually this unguarded. This vulnerable. But I trust Holly. I trust her with my life. She has even saved it on the odd occasion.

"Do you want to go for a walk Jethro?" I nodded my head and took her hand and we walked outside. The moon was so big tonight. And the stars were all out. Such a beautiful evening. I put my left arm around Holly's shoulders and she put her right arm around my back and her left arm around my stomach. I haven't felt this good in so long.

"How does a girl like you manage to stay single for so long?" Holly lets go of me and crosses her arms.

"I don't want to talk about it." It was more of a warning than a statement. She walked ahead of me and my arm fell off her shoulder. I felt the atmosphere change. She suddenly sped up.

"Ok. Hol, slow down. I didn't mean to start anything." I walked a little faster and caught up to her. I took her hand in mine. I took it as a good sign when she interlocked her fingers with mine.

"I no you didn't Jethro, it's just it was very painful when it happened, when it ended." I felt her tighten her grip on my hand.

"I'm here… I'm here for you, you know that. If you want to talk I'll listen." After a brief pause Holly began to open up to me.

"His name is David. He was a doctor. And with me being in the Army and with him being on call all the time, you know, but I never expected it," she let out a low sigh and stopped talking.

"Expected what?" We were still walking but all I could focus on was Hollis's fingers fidgeting with mine.

"Her name is Christina. She was my best friend," things started to become a little clearer. "I came home from a six month tour a few days early to find her.. And David in my bed. In my apartment, in the middle of something that I wish I hadn't seen." I now know why she didn't want to talk about it.

"I'm sorry Hol," we stopped walking and I pulled her in for a hug. Why would anyone hurt her. I felt this need to protect her. I know she doesn't't really need my protection and I can't stop bad things from happening to her but I made a decision right then and there to do my best to try.

She pulled out of my embrace and held my hand and we kept walking.

"It's ok Jethro it was two years ago. I don't talk to either of them anymore. They got engaged six months after I left. They got married a year ago. The funny thing is we were together for seven years and he was having an affair with her for five of those years and I had absolutely no idea."

"Hol," I wasn't really sure what to say. I stopped walking when Hollis did.

"You don't have to say anything Jethro. Just don't do what he did and we'll be fine." Holly put her arms around my neck and I stared into her eyes.

"I promise you Holly, that I will never do anything like that." She has such a beautiful smile. It lights up her whole face.

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you found out a lot about me this weekend and I think it's only fair that I know something else about you. I already know that you like watching me sleep and you're secretly a good dancer," her lips touched mine," tell me something I don't know about you." I guess it was only fair to share something with her. I wanted to lighten the mood a little.

"When I was fifteen a friend dared me to skateboard down a stair railing," she took my hand and we kept walking," and I got to about where the sixth last step would have been and I fell and broke my wrist and the bone split through the skin." The look on her face was priceless.

"Eww Jethro. Why? How many stairs was it?"

"About twenty. I was dared to that's why I did it."

"You're telling me you risked breaking your neck because someone dared you to?" As silly as it sounds now, back then I would do any dare asked of me.

"Yep." Holly rolled her eyes at me. We continued walking back to our room and made mindless small talk. Just before we got back to our room Holly stopped walking and leaned up against the door.

"You still have a promise from last night to keep,' I had always intended to keep that promise.

"I know, " before I could finish what I was going to say Holly had pulled me inside by the bottom of my shirt and slammed the door shut.