AN: I don't own any of the NCIS Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

2. History

Kate and Tony were in the waiting room at the clinic when Gibbs and Lucy came down the corridor in deep conversation, both laughing. They joined Kate & Tony.

"Glad someone's having fun boss." Tony started. Gibbs stared at him hard then asked what they found out, just as Lucy's pager beeped, she checked it on her way to the door."

"It's Dean, I'll fill you in as soon as I can." She told Gibbs as she left. A while later Petty Officer Dandridge entered.

"Captain Hammond has asked me to escort you to lunch, she's going to be delayed a bit longer." He told them.

"Any news on Chief Petty Officer Dean?" Asked Gibbs.

"I'm afraid not, she's taken him back to surgery, she could be a while." Was the answer.

"Kate, Tony you go, after you can talk to the MPs again to see if there's any news from the searches for Philips. I'll wait for news on Dean." Gibbs instructed.

Tony and Kate agreed and left with Dandridge.

Gibbs was alone in the waiting room when Lucy entered with 2 cups of coffee. "I heard you'd waited." She told him as she handed him a cup of coffee. "Thought you could use this"

"How is he?" Gibbs asked looking at her and knowing the answer.

She shook her head. "We couldn't stop the bleeding." She sat down next to him. He looked her over, she was tired. Hardly surprising as she admitted to being on duty the night before, and having performed surgery twice in less than 12 hours. He sipped the coffee.

"Perfect." He said taking a sip of the coffee.

"You don't change." She answered.

"Neither do you." He responded and they watched each other uneasily for a minute.

"I'd like our ME to do the autopsy." He announced.

"I'll need the Commander's go ahead, but as we don't have the facilities I don't see a problem ... who will do it?" She asked.

"Ducky"

"He still with NCIS? ... Tell him I said hello." She responded a little surprised.

"I will ... tell me about Jessie." He asked.

"She misses having a father figure around, but she's ok. She stays with Dan's parents when school's out if I'm not home. We try and talk everynight. How are you?" She told him.

"NCIS keeps me busy." He answered, realising that he was staring at her again. He put down his now empty coffee cup.

"Let's go get some lunch, I've got the MPs on guard over the body. I'll arrange for it to be sent to Ducky this afternoon." She told him. Standing up she wobbled as a dizzy spell washed over her. Gibbs caught her and steadied her. She looked up into his eyes, mesmerised.

"You ok?" He asked concerned.

"Fine, just a dizzy spell, I've been up all night and haven't eaten properly" She admitted weakly. Gibbs forcibly sat her down.

"Luce ... that's not good." He told her sternly.

"Don't fuss, Jet I'm Ok." She saw his eyes flicker. "Really". A nurse came in and he let her go.

"Captain, Commander Barrett is expecting you and Special Agent Gibbs to join him for lunch and provide a sit rep." She told Lucy.

"Thanks Mandy." Lucy looked at Gibbs as she stood up again. "I'll get my report". Lucy left the room. The nurse looked at Gibbs.

"Special Agent Gibbs, please make sure she eats." She told him.

"Oh, I will." He confirmed as they shared a look of understanding before she left. Gibbs pulled out his phone and dialled the ME.

"Ducky, we'll be sending you a package this afternoon, a British Chief Petty Officer, look after him."

"I will, British you say?" Ducky confirmed.

"Yeah, there's a joint op going on with the guys in Norfolk." He answered.

"You alright, you sound out of sorts?" Ducky asked concern edging into his voice.

"I'm fine ... just ran into an old friend of ours ... she said to say hello." Gibbs admitted.

"There's only one old friend who can shake you like that ... Lucy Hammond?"

"She hasn't changed Duck" Gibbs sighed.

"Neither have you Jethro, neither have you" Ducky informed him.

Lucy returned and beckoned to Gibbs from the door. He finished the call and joined her as they left the clinic. Gibbs asked if she had quarters on the ship. She told him she was there for the duration of the visit programme, about 3 months, so she had a house on the base as several ships would be calling in during the period, it also gave her a place for when Jessie came to visit. After their lunch with the Commander Lucy and Gibbs returned to the clinic. She went to do her rounds of the patients and he went to the conference room, where Tony and Kate were sorting through boxes of paperwork. Gibbs sat at one end of the table staring at a piece of paper.

"Boss where do you want this?" Tony asked holding up a box. Gibbs didn't look up.

"You sort it Dinozzo!" he snapped back. Tony turned to Kate and whispered. "He's got it bad."

A knock on the door caught their attention and Lucy entered with more files. Tony took them and Gibbs looked up when she started speaking.

"Thanks Tony, this is a copy of my report for Chief Petty Officer Dean. A copy is going with his body to Dr Mallard. Jethro, I've spoken to the MPs they're ready to leave."

"Good, I'll let him know." Gibbs replied. "Any news from the search parties?"

"I just got a call, someone fitting Petty Officer Philips description has just been found along the shore, he's unconscious. They're bringing him in now, I should know more in an hour." Lucy told them.

"We'll need to talk to him as soon as we can." Gibbs advised.

"I know." She left the room.

Tony was watching the interaction. Gibbs was particularly prickly, he had been ever since they'd met Lucy Hammond that morning. It was obvious they had history because of the way they interacted and kept watching each other, and he was gutted the boss wouldn't share, but then the boss never did discuss his personal life. Tony thought about Lucy, she had this officious demeanour, he wondered what she'd be like out of uniform, he thought she would look quite pretty.

Gibbs watched his team go back to work. He knew he was being short with them – more so than usual. It was because of Lucy. This was the last place- well to be honest he never thought he would see her again, their lives drifted apart after he returned to DC and Lucy had been posted a few times they lost touch about 5 years ago. His mind drifted back to the last time they were together in Portsmouth, England. He'd carried a sleeping Jessica into the house after taking her out for the day while Lucy was working. Later Lucy had just come in from a long stint after an accident at the port and had fallen asleep beside him. It had all felt so good, but at the same time he knew their lives were about to change, he was about to return home. That had been 8 years ago. His daydream was interrupted by his cell phone ringing.

"Gibbs!" He snapped as he answered his phone.

"Jethro? Snap out of it, there'll be time later, you need to focus." Ducky calmed him, bringing him back.

"Sure, Duck." Gibbs sighed.

"The Chief Petty Officer's body has just arrived, his personal effects have gone to Abby for forensics." Ducky told him.

"Thanks, keep me posted." He answered.

He put the cell in his pocket gulped his coffee and left the room. Kate & Tony stared after him.

Thanks for the reviews.