Title: The Way You Look Tonight

Author: VerityFrancesB

--

She paced her study, a glass of red wine in her hand. She had been ordered, more or less, by Gibbs to take the weekend off and he had confiscated her phone so she couldn't answer or make any calls. She was irritated, irritated at the fact that she was irritated. She should be enjoying her precious solitude, something that she rarely got nowadays. Instead, she was pacing, the snow falling softly outside her window doing nothing to calm her. She glanced out of the window, for a second wishing that she was a child so she could go and make snow angels and catch snowflakes on her tongue.

She sipped at the wine, feeling the warming dark red liquid sooth some of her irritation. She had to admit that she had been working too hard recently, and the weekend off would do her the world of good. She placed one of her favorite CD's into the player and pressed play, letting the gentle sounds of the piano and the wine calm her. She sat on the couch and picked up the photo album that lay on the coffee table. They were all old photos of more carefree times, but enjoyed looking back over them; they bought her a sense of achievement at how far she had come. They also made her slightly wistful, wishing for less pressure and sense of duty than she had now.

Her fingers stroked a photo in the album, her stomach doing a small flip at the sight of it. It was of Jethro, dressed in a Marine uniform, her brow wrinkled in thought as she tried to remember why he had been dressed like the. She smiled at the memories of him spinning her around a dance floor, pulling her to him possessively, looking every bit the Marine and his wife that they were pretending to be. In the photo he was looking down at her as she smiled into the camera. She started slightly at the look on his face, his expressions were usually so guarded, but he was gazing at her with what could only be described as longing. He hadn't looked at her like that for a long time and she had to admit that she missed it.

--

"I love a man in uniform." She cocked her head to the side giving him an appreciative stare. He returned her stare with his glare and she smirked.

"It's not funny Jenny, I thought I was done wearing this." He tugged at the collar of the jacket as if it was constricting his breathing.

"Come on Jethro, it's for a good cause." She smoothed the fabric on his shoulders and straightened his collar. He reached for her hands and placed a kiss on one of her palms.

"It would be for a good cause if we actually were the people we are pretending to be, but we're not, so my idea of a good cause right now would be staying here and you taking advantage of your love of uniform." He waggled his eyebrows and she playfully hit him.

"It's not just the uniform; it's the man in the uniform. Anyway, we're going, so quit stalling." She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the door of the hotel room.

The ballroom of the hotel had been decked out in the most extravagant decorations. She grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Gibbs.

"You are dancing with me later." She threatened as he took the glass.

She broke away from him to talk to some man that was making eyes at her, though he couldn't really blame him. The green silk dress that was barely held up by tiny straps, perfectly complimented her eyes, and her cleavage. She practically twirled around the room, making all the men stare at her, Gibbs was trapped between loving the fact that she was going home with him tonight and hating the fact that everyone was looking at her. She made her way back to his side as the gentle sounds of a piano rose through the room. She looked up at him, her eyes bright with mischief.

"You're dancing with me." She said.

"Now?" He asked.

"Now." She grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor as the first lines of the song started, the smooth voice of Tony Bennett echoed around as people paired off onto the dance floor.

Someday, when I'm awfully low

When the world is cold

I will feel a glow just thinking of you

And the way you look tonight

His hand rested on her lower back and pulled her to him whilst hers rested on his shoulder. She looked up at him and he smiled easily.

"Let's show them how it's done." He said, as he started gently moving with the music.

Oh but you're lovely, with your smile so warm

And your cheek so soft

There is nothing for me but to love you

Just the way you look tonight

He spun her out and pulled her tightly back to him, reveling in the way her body fit neatly next to his.

With each word, your tenderness grows

Tearing my fear apart

And that laugh that wrinkles your nose

Touches my foolish heart

She let out a carefree laugh as he dipped her low, leaning down to cover her mouth with his, cutting of the light laughter with his lips.

Lovely, never, never change

Keep that breathless charm

Won't you please arrange it?

He pulled away and she smiled up at him, he lifted her back up and spun her into one last twirl, mesmerized by her dress spinning out around her, her hair catching the light.

Cause I love you

Just the way you look tonight

Just the way you look tonight

"It's rude to stare." She whispered, slightly breathless, as he pulled her back in.

"I can't help it." He replied and he leant down and kissed her gently.

--

The knocking on the front door didn't register for a while. It was only when the shouting started that she realized that someone was trying to get in.

"Christ Jen, would you let me in? It's freezing out here." She wrenched the door open to a cold yet amused looking Jethro, snow in his hair and on his shoulders. She resisted the urge to kiss the flakes off his cheeks and stood aside to let him in.

"You know, you should really think about leaving your door unlocked, its so much easier…you ok?" He asked, "You look distracted."

"I am under forced house arrest Jethro, of course I am distracted…you took my phone." He just smirked at her and pulled the photo out of her hands.

"Distracted by this?" He asked, amusement coloring his tone. She glared at him as he studied the photo. "Aaah, the charity benefit, what a good cause." He grinned at her over the top of the photo and dodged her playful slap. "I seem to remember you didn't get to take advantage of the uniform."

"That's because we were working."

"Oh…well I am sure I have got something back at home that would suffice, I can go and get it if you want?" He grinned at her, she rolled her eyes. She cocked her head to the side, giving him the same look she gave him all those years ago and slowly walked towards him, winding her arms around his neck.

"I never needed the uniform, Jethro."