Title: Check Yes
Author:
A'serene
Rating:
K+
Song: "Check Yes Juliet" by We The Kings
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS.
--
She was listening to the radio as the snow fell down against the house; it was about the only thing that was functioning properly. The heat was on the fritz, the surround sound speaker system wasn't hooked up properly, and she had burned the popcorn in the microwave. This was supposed to be her vacation, days she had decided that it was about time the Director of NCIS had a break. So where did she go? Home, home to fix all the little things that needed to be done around a house. Not for the first time she wondered if it wouldn't be better to just sell the townhouse and find a loft apartment, but then the memories would come to her.
This was her house, it had memories, it was a safe haven, that although it had been violated on more than one occasion she still felt good coming home there, even when she managed to get to her bedroom which hadn't happened in at least a week. The couch in the living room was sure worth the money she paid for it. She had started lots of little projects that she was determined to finish on her few days off. One being a scrap book, which probably wasn't the best way to occupy her time and the numerous paper cuts she was sporting certainly suggested it wasn't the safest. She had made one for her childhood, withheld her tears as she found one of the few pictures of her father and her mother along with her, and the dog, Sport, she thought sadly. The dog had been a Christmas present, and had been her childhood companion. The second scrap book had her college years, people she hadn't seen in years, just a card on their birthdays or a present for a wedding or new baby. The last page had had a photo of her three best friends and herself at what she thought was a Horse Race, all dressed in finery with large hats and below it a second photo, one of the girl's had gotten married and they were all in the party, in the exact same pose. The difference between the photos were extraordinary, she had already become the director by the time the second photo was taken, she no longer looked the carefree young woman she had been so many years ago.
The third scrap book, she had been a little worried to make, but in the end it probably was the best idea for her sanity. Having photos hidden all over her house of a time that she often thought back to but could not mention, was probably not the best idea and so putting them all in one place and then hiding it seemed much better, locking it in a safe sounds even better. She had searched all over the house, finding the photos and putting them in a pile. His face stared back at her and she began to place the photos in the scrap book with little annotations, when a song came on the radio that had her glancing at the device.
Check yes Juliet
are you with me
rain is falling down on the
sidewalk
I won't go until you come outside
check yes
Juliet
kill the limbo
I'll keep tossing rocks at your
window
there's no turning back for us tonight
Memories of a time where she had had few things to worry about came back to her as the lyrics filled the room. There had been a time where she had played Juliet and had gone wherever her Romeo led, those days were long gone, but every now and then it was nice to remember.
lace up your shoes
A O A O ah
here's how we do
She was sitting on the cot in the room waiting to hear if the cost was clear or not. She could not believe how stupid she had been. Of course she had been trying to prove a point and now she was stuck. Sneaking in to targets homes and then having the targets return unexpectedly was not part of the plan. She was sure Jethro must be laughing and mentally chiding her, if he wasn't worried. Which knowing her lover, either were very possible. The room she had managed to hide in seemed unoccupied and had a window that faced the street, which she thought odd for a prison room, but maybe because it a story up it didn't matter. She had been stuck in there for at least two hours as she heard the movement around the house, she seriously hoped it wouldn't be too much longer.
A noise closer to her distracted her, it sounded almost like rain along the window and as she looked out she noticed it was raining. Just great, she thought, now I get to walk home in the rain, if I ever make it out of here. Jethro was not going to be thrilled with her. Something else muffled by the rain caught her attention and she studied the window. Sure enough a black spec hit it, making a plunk against before bouncing off. She crept closer to the window careful to keep her face away from it. She glanced down and to her surprise found her lover on the street, chucking rocks.
"Jethro," she hissed from where she was trying to stay quiet and at the same time be heard over the rain. He looked up, waved slightly, and gestured for her to come down. She rolled her eyes.
"Come on Jen, there asleep just sneak down the back stairs."
"Are you nuts?"
"Come on I've got your back," he said softly. She sighed, knowing it was at least the truth. She nodded and carefully closed the window before moving back to the door. She peaked outside and took a deep breath before moving silently through the house. She slipped past the room avoiding all the creaky floor boards. She made it to the door carefully and quietly pulling it open and slipping out. She pulled it closed and felt a hand on her shoulder and tensed immediately wondering if she could reach for gun before they shot her. "Hey."
"Don't ever do that!" she scolded. "You scared the hell out of me." He took her hand and pressed a brief kiss to it.
"You scared me, let's go before they come back from the perimeter check," he said and they moved off down the street, only to spot the bad guys. They turned around a corner into another street and ran.
run baby run
don't ever look back
they'll tear us apart
if
you give them the chance
don't sell your heart
don't say we're
not meant to be
run baby run
forever will be
you and me
They had run for what seemed like hours, she remembered with a slight smile. It probably wasn't such a good idea for her to be thinking on this. That certainly hadn't been the last time they ran for their lives, but it was a bit more memorable, and when they had reached their hotel, he had told her just how worried he had been and she made it up to him in the best way imaginable.
As a flush crept into her face she banished the thoughts from her head. Defiantly shouldn't be thinking about that, she scolded herself. She glanced back down to the photo pile and found a large portrait of the two of them decked out in splendor. He was wearing his Marine Uniform, another part of another undercover operation, one she had enjoyed. Leroy Jethro Gibbs looked good at any time, but there was something about him in uniform that forced her heart to beat at unnatural speeds and her thought process to become very constricted. She was in a blue gown to match his uniform but it wasn't incredibly flashy, though if she remembered correctly he had enjoyed taking it off. Her cell phone vibrating caught her attention and she turned to it. Gibbs Cell. She sighed; it was too much to hope that he hadn't destroyed her agency in the few days she had taken off.
"Yes Jethro?" She answered the phone irritated.
"Ah Director, how is your vacation?" he inquired sounding calm.
"Jethro if there isn't a terrorist attack, I'm trying to enjoy the very few precious days I have off."
"Should have gone away."
"Not all of us can take margarita safaris when we feel like it, some of us just get to stay home."
"Yea about that, do you think you could let me in? It's a bit cold out here."
"Let you in where?"
"Your house Jen, front door is locked so is the back and its really cold," he said throwing in a bit of whine to make it believable.
"My house?" She echoed looking around, it wasn't like he didn't know where the spare key was, or could pick the lock.
"Yea I'm standing right behind you." She glanced just over her shoulder and jumped slightly as she noticed his hand tapping the window behind her.
"You're an idiot." She hung up the phone and decided it wouldn't hurt the window went almost all the way to the ground; he could get it if she opened it. He was smirking at her and she held out her hand to help him through when he tugged slightly and it was she who went stumbling closer. "Don't you dare."
"Come on Jen, you've got to see this."
"I don't have a coat!" She said even as she began to step over the ledge. "This is ridiculous."
check yes Juliet
I'll be waiting
wishing, wanting
yours
for the taking
just sneak out
and don't tell a soul
goodbye
check yes Juliet
here's the countdown
3...2...1...
now fall in my arms
now they can change the locks
don't let
them change your mind
She wasn't however prepared for the ice and sliding, straight into him. He caught her carefully, and helped her stand, handing her, her NCIS jacket from her office. He helped her into it and grabbed her hand tugging her around the house. She followed somewhat willingly her feet freezing as she realized she still on had on flats.
"See I thought of everything," he remarked as he pulled a baseball cap over her head. She gave him the Look, and he laughed. They walked for a bit and he brought her over to a setup ice rink in the middle of her street.
"What is this?"
"Well I saw it on my way over here, apparently some kid got it for Christmas or something, looks like fun right? I bribed the kid," he informed holding out two pair of skates.
lace
up your shoes
A O A O ah
here's how we do
"You're joking?"
"Nope, come on, it'll be fun. I know you can skate so don't even pull that one." They sat down on a bench and laced up the skates. He held out his hand and they walked onto the small rink. She tested it out slowly, taking a few gliding steps before getting the feel of it again. After about twenty minutes conversation became necessary.
"I feel ridiculous."
"No one's looking, and I won't tell Cynthia."
"Of course you won't, how is poor Cynthia?"
"Poor Cynthia?" Gibbs echoed seeming somewhat hurt.
"Yes poor Cynthia, how much do I owe her for being stuck with you again?"
"You know I resent that," he teased.
"And how is my agency?"
"Its fine, you aren't supposed to be thinking about work, you're on vacation remember?"
"Jethro, you'll be on desk work if the FBI isn't speaking to us again."
"Note taken," he replied.
"So why the skates?"
"Well I heard you were cooped up all day, figured you might be bored, and the road is icy, so I was kinda hoping you'd let me crash on your couch?" He inquired playfully.
"Because we're such good friends and all?"
"Right." She was almost positive there was an ulterior motive there, but she wasn't sure what. She did however notice it was getting much colder and the snow was coming down harder.
"I think it's time to go." He nodded and helped her off the rink. They sat down and put back on the street shoes.
run baby run
don't ever look back
they'll tear us apart
if
you give them the chance
don't sell your heart
don't say we're
not meant to be
run baby run
forever will be
you and me
"Race?" He asked. She judged the distance between her house and the rink noticing she could run through the snow part and she was probably faster if she put her mind to it. So she just took off. He caught her just as she was rounding her house and they went sliding on the patio as it was ice covered. Grabbing for the sturdiest thing, they both brought the other to the ground.
"Okay not the best idea," she groaned. She painfully got up as he did the same and they moved back toward the window. She slipped in and moved out of the way as he followed her and closed the window behind him. The radio was still playing as she set about trying to get the fire to start. He immediately noticed how cool it was in the house.
"Something wrong with the heat Jen?"
"Yes, and no I don't know what."
"Well how about the hot water?"
"That still works, you know where the shower is," she said as she concentrated on getting the wood to light.
"I was thinking we could share, so the hot water doesn't run out," he suggested. She looked up rather surprised. She leaned back on her heels for a second and starred at him.
"Jethro, where's your car?"
"Uh…dead, Ziva dropped me."
"And she couldn't take you home?"
"Wrong direction," he said. "Besides I do have reports to give you."
"What if I'd had guests?"
"You didn't." She couldn't argue that point, but the fact of the matter was that he would have to have known that ahead of time, and that she would even be home. She could have disappeared for a bit, she still had her car, even if it wasn't starting, Gibbs didn't know that, or did he?
"You know I could take you home," She reminded.
"You car can't drive in the snow and I haven't seen it, which means it's in the garage because you can't start it." She hated the fact he knew her that well.
"Tony would have taken you home."
"Hot date, or so he said when he bailed about seven," he paused knowing she wouldn't need that much encouragement, unless she thought he planned the whole thing. "Besides its good I came here, I can fix the heater tomorrow, most likely and in the meantime you won't freeze to death."
"I wouldn't freeze to death anyway."
"Blankets don't keep you that warm, body heat is the best." She stood to her full height as the fire finally came to life and met his eyes dead on.
"You've had better lines."
"It wasn't a line, it was a scientific fact."
"Says who…." She was cut off as the lights flickered and then went black. "Oh you can't be serious." She could still see his form in the faint fire glow but everything else was pitch black. He had turned to the window to look at the neighboring homes and lights, all of which were dark as well, suggesting it wasn't a fixable problem at the moment.
"The street's dark."
"Guess body heat is a good thing now," he teased.
"You should probably sit close to the fire so you don't catch pneumonia," she said shortly grabbing a blanket and handing him one, wrapping another around her own shivering form and scooting as close as she could to the fire.
"So what have you been up to?"
"I was enjoying my vacation," she sighed. He muttered something, she wasn't quite sure what but she did notice his attention returning to her desk that she could just make out. SHIT. She saw him reach out for the folder containing the three scrap books and pile of pictures. "That's classified," she tried.
"Your baby pictures are classified?" He questioned amused looking at the first scrap book. "Cute baby, guess you always had red hair, huh?"
"Great, fine, fantastic, can you please hand them back over." He flipped pictures again and noticed the beautiful redhead that was holding the small Jenny tightly.
"Your mother?"
"Yes." Her voice was small and Gibbs knew that he probably shouldn't push it; strangely it was one of the few things he did know about her past, her mother had died when she was little leaving her to the care of a busy father and nannies. He flipped to another picture to find a baby sitting in portrait position with both Jenny, her mother, and father. The mother didn't look that well.
"Jenny?"
"What Jethro? Find my teenage photos yet?"
"Uh…not exactly. I didn't know you had a sibling."
"I don't," she answered shortly. He flipped ahead a few pages and didn't see any more photos of her mother or the baby.
"There aren't any more photos of them."
"She died just after that, he did to." He knew that was all he would get out of her and so just simply placed his hand over one of hers in a small sign of support and comfort and continued to flip through the scrap book. He tried to find a happier image to ask about but just kept flipping till he reached one of Jenny looking a bit more like the Jenny he knew and saw her decked out in a gown fit for a princess.
"What's this?"
"Prom, Senior Year." He studied the image, no way that's her at eighteen.
"You don't have one of those flower things."
"Corsages?"
"Right."
"No, i didn't have a date."
"You didn't have a date?" He asked incredusoly.
"No I didn't, no one asked."
"Ah I get you're joking."
"No, I wasn't asked to go to prom by anyone."
"Scared of your father?" And really he could understand that, but he thought back to his teenage years, if any of the girls he dated looked like that he would have risked their father's wrath.
"No," she answered laughingly more than able to read his surprise and shock. "I just wasn't well liked."
"Whatever you say," he responded still in disbelief. He looked over her graduation picture and then moved to the second one. "Ooo College."
"Okay, you can give it back now," she ordered.
"Oh it's just getting interesting." He read the notes and observed the pictures. "Jen you weren't in a sorority were you?"
"No Jethro," she replied amused. He skipped the pictures with the other guys, rapidly and was soon at the end of that one, starring at the last page, the last photo containing a picture of the Jenny he knew.
"This wasn't taken that long ago."
"No it wasn't." She pointed out people in the photo, explained it was a wedding, he was in Mexico then, she only went to the ceremony and reception for a brief time before getting back on the plane to DC. He didn't know why he'd never considered that she had friends, of course she would, she just never mentioned them. He was slightly distracted as she made to grab both the scrap books and he tried to prevent it. She only got away with the college one. "Will you please hand me that one?"
"Why?"
"Because I asked nicely?"
"Come on Jen, I want to know what the post college Jen looks like."
"You're looking at her. Now can I have it back?"
"No."
"Please?" He ignored the protests and opened it, surprisingly himself when he recognized everyone in the first picture. It was their team right before they went to Europe.
"Ducky looks so young," he said in amazement. She rolled her eyes and made to reach for it again. But he held it out of her reach. There were individual pages for the individual people, only he didn't have one, he was slightly upset by that, but quickly realized that it was because the rest of the scrap book was them. Both of them, together, some at official events, others just taken on the streets by someone while they were working and others had to be taken by friends. He starred at them for a moment, as memories came to him from every place he hid them.
At the end he found the photo he'd left her when he went back to Mexico after helping out Ziva, as well as a photo of him in his Marine Corp Dress uniform and her in a flowing blue gown. He wouldn't deny they were a good looking couple and he vaguely remembered what it had been for; he did remember the dress not staying on very long once the doors closed. The last photo in the book he'd never seen before and he studied it in detail, it was toward the end of their relationship, but none of the fighting seemed present. They were laying out together on the beach, Ducky had been to take a walk that much he remembered, and they had taken the brief time to cuddle. Things hadn't been going well, but they were desperate for the other's attention and had curled up next to one another, Jenny resting along his side, her head on his chest, his arms wrapped around her. They were both looking up at the clouds, in a stillness he couldn't imagine them ever having.
"When was this taken?" He inquired by way of asking who had taken it.
"September, 1999," she answered. "Ducky gave it to me a year or so ago, said he was spring cleaning, thought I might want it. You were in Mexico; I have two copies if you want one." She said getting up and opening the top drawer of her barely visible study.
"Yea, that'd be nice," he replied hesitantly. "Nice snap." She handed it to him their fingers brushing sending shocks through them. He was surprised at how cold her hands were and with his free hand reached out and grabbed her hand. "Your hands are cold."
"Product of being outside so long, I think I should probably change."
"Yea," he agreed but tightened his hold on her hand. "Hey Jenny what was the name of the song that you were listening to when I came over?"
"I don't know it was just on the radio, I can look it up later, but seriously Jethro I'm cold, you can come and take a shower if you want."
"I don't have anything to change into."
"Maybe your clothes will dry in that time," she retorted already knowing what she'd just dig out of her closet. He followed her upstairs to her bedroom, her figure luring him on.
"You know how exactly are we going to take showers without the power?"
"Didn't think of that," she answered shining the flashlight on the stairs so they didn't trip. "You can at least dry off," she suggested handing him a towel. He went into the bathroom lit some candles for light and dried off. She knocked softly on the door.
"I've got a sweatshirt you can wear," she called through it and he heard her place something at the ground. He opened the door a minute later giving her time to retreat. He found a pile of clothes, sweatshirt, tee shirt and sweat pants. He looked at the size, they were too big for her, but they were his size and they were men's judging by the cut. He glanced them over finding the familiar NIS written down the side and the tee shirt, a shirt he bought in Paris. The sweatshirt was also his, but had her distinct scent. As he pulled them in, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and noticed she was pulling a shirt on, her back bare of and bra. He gulped and moved back in getting changed quickly, before knocking and telling her to be decent, he was sure he heard a mutter 'not like you haven't seen anything.'
"Jenny," he called and found her curled on her bed with extra blankets and candles far enough way to not light anything on fire and close enough to give light.
"Hm?"
"Uh nothing," he said as words fled, she was curled on her side of the bed, her eyes closed. "You okay?"
"I'm freezing!" He sat down on the opposite of the bed and watched her eyes widen slightly.
"What are you doing?"
"Move over a bit would you, and don't hog the sheets," he warned. She stayed in place. So he pushed her himself and enjoyed the squeak of surprise that came from her lips. He stretched out and closed his eyes. "Night Jen."
"Humph," he heard her muffle curse and felt her turn over away from him. She fell asleep, or at least he was pretty sure she was asleep within a half hour of silence.
After an hour she turned over, he had only been dozing by then but felt the movement and opened an eye to check on her, asleep still. He could feel that she'd curled up into her self, until her cold feet hit his legs. Even in sleep she looked puzzled and rather than wake up she took it as is and simply tried to curl her legs around his. That in turn brought her body closer to his and as if sensing the heat she curled in closer, he felt her settle again and closed his eyes. He was asleep within minutes his arm curling around her holding her closer to him, soaking up her heat as she soaked up his. Sometime early in the morning he was woken again by something against the glass of her window. He felt her stir against him, her head somehow having found its way to his chest. He felt her tense momentarily and ran a hand along her back and she relaxed being to sleepy to really care how they'd ended up in bed together.
"Hm…what's the noise?"
"It sounds like hail."
"Hate storms," she mumbled.
"I know," he whispered soothingly. She snuggled closer.
"Cold."
"Power's still out, it'll be really cold in the morning, but we've got extra blankets."
"Hm…kay," she mumbled again.
"Hey Jenny?"
"Hm?"
"I liked your scrap book."
"Thanks," she yawned still mostly asleep, he concluded.
"And I liked that song."
"Reminded me of Paris," she said her voice husky with sleep.
"Yea, remember afterwards?"
"Uh huh, Hollywood kiss," she yawned again and he was glad she was still somewhat asleep but he could feel the change in her breathing as she became more awake.
"Can I kiss you like that again?" He felt her shift positions at the one and opened his eyes to find her green ones peering back in the faded candlelight.
"Jethro are you awake?"
"Yes."
"Good," she replied and leaned down and kissed him, she pulled back just as quickly and he blinked wondering if he had dreamt that or if that had happened. Her soft smile and messed up hair was enough to convince him it was real.
"So what do you say Juliet?"
"I think you need to find some better lines Romeo," she teased softly.
"And that kiss?"
"Sure." He kissed her again and again, and a third time just to be sure. She was smiling widely by then and sleep seemed to be the furthest thing from their minds.
"One other thing .."
"What?"
"Where did you get the sweats?"
"Borrowed without returning," she teased - kissing him into silence. He didn't protest.