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.

5. Dinner and a boat

Lucy returned to the conference room in civilian clothes and her hair loose about her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of fitted jeans with a close fitting sweater and cowboy type boots. She looked more refreshed. Lt Briggs saluted her as she entered.

"Ease off Lieutenant. I'm off duty. ... J- Special Agent Gibbs that transport is leaving if you want a ride." She announced.

"Thanks" He answered and turned to Tony. "I'll call you when I've seen Ducky." He picked up a bag and threw a set of keys at Tony. "I'll see you here at 10am tomorrow unless they find the Petty Officer first." He finished. Then walked to the door with Lucy.

"Boss?" Tony asked, but Gibbs ignored him and left the room. Lucy said good night and followed.

Once off the base, Lucy was driving the SUV she'd been assigned.

"Luce-" Gibbs broke the silence.

"Not yet ... I'm not ready" she cut him off and they resumed their silence.

Gibbs watched her, her eyes hidden by her sunglasses. He thought he knew how she was feeling, the same as he was, but something was holding her back. He wondered if it was the case. She was focused on the road, poised and stiff.

"Luce ... pull over ... let me drive ... you're exhausted" he suggested.

She nodded and pulled over. While Gibbs got out she rested her head on her hands on the steering wheel. The next thing she remembered was the car stopping – she looked up, it was dark and she was in the passenger seat in a parking lot. The driver's door slammed. Then her door opened. Gibbs looked in.

"Where are we?" She asked looking around.

"HQ ... want to come see Ducky?" he asked holding out his hand to help her out of the car.

"Sure" She rubbed her hands over her face and took Gibbs hand as she got out. "what time is it?"

"About 7 ... we wont be long then I'm taking you to dinner. Here these should keep you going until then" He handed her a couple of sweets. She smiled at him and popped them in her mouth as he put an arm around her waist to guide her into the building. They walked into autopsy as Ducky closed a cabinet. "Hey Duck"

"Jethro" he turned around and saw Gibbs companion "Lucy! What a sight for sore eyes ... how are you?"

"Fine, Ducky you look good ... Commander Barrett sends his regards" She answered as they hugged each other.

"My two favourite people, apart from you of course Jethro. What a surprise." He told her.

"Ducky ... I hate interrupting reunions, but you said you had something" Gibbs prompted.

"Still not sure what it is, Abigail should have the results by now." He began.

After a moment they went up to find Abby. She saw them come into the lab, music blaring in the background.

"Hey Gibbs! I was just about to call you, thought you were still at Norfolk" She greeted him.

"I'm here Abs what have you got?" He asked as he hit the button on the stereo and killed the music.

"Gibbs! I was listening to that!" She whined then saw Lucy. "Hi, I'm Abby" she introduced her self holding out her hand.

"Abs meet Captain Lucy Hammond from HMS York" Gibbs introduced her.

Lucy shook hands with Abby. "Lucy? .. Gibbs? the Lucy? ... Wow that is so great, did you know she was on board?" Abby ranted as she grabbed Lucy and hugged her, then she hugged Gibbs, who carefully extracted himself.

"Abby, What do you need us for?" Gibbs asked.

Abby gave Gibbs and Lucy a run down on the evidence and they left about 30 minutes later and he drove them back to his house. As they pulled up Lucy looked at the place and smiled.

"You're still here? I thought you would have moved years ago." She said.

"Nah, can't face the thought" he smirked, half remembering all the things that had happened in the house.

"I guess I don't need to ask what's in the basement" She teased.

"Rebuilt it about 4 times since then." He told her.

Lucy smiled, He hadn't changed. They went inside. Gibbs dropped their bags by the door and headed for the kitchen. Lucy looked around then followed him. He'd started pulling things out of the fridge and asked her what she wanted to eat. She let him decide.

She walked around the room and stopped at the stereo and flipped the on switch, gentle music floated into the air. Gibbs handed her a glass of wine.

"I never thought you would be the one turning up to our investigation" She told him.

"I never expected to find you either" He smiled, his eyes soft as he looked at her for a moment before continuing to cook. Lucy was sat on a stool watching him, music wafting around them.

They ate in relative silence making furtive glances at each other. When they had cleaned up she asked to see his boat. Which is where they now found themselves.

"Can I do anything?" she asked starting to run her hand along the planed wood. It brought back more memories. Before Portsmouth she had been in town on business she had met Gibbs at a conference. When they first got together after Dan. She remembered staying on after and being here working on the boat with him. The first night they had slept on the couch, having sat down to admire their work.

"Not tonight" he answered watching how she touched the wood. It was obvious she had remembered what he taught her. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his other on hers along the boat. She leaned against him, feeling his breath on her neck sending tingles down her spine. She shivered. He held her tighter.

"Luce ... can we make it work?" he whispered in her ear.

"I don't know .. its been a long time" She sighed.

"What would Jessica think?" he asked.

"I think she'll be ok. She still sees you as an adopted father. ... you know she still has that photo of you two at the open day. ... she's been asking if I tried to contact you since I arrived? " She told him. He gently turned her around to face him, his hands on her waist.

"Has there been anyone since ... Dan?" he asked cautiously.

"Just this guy who served in the Marines with him and now works for NCIS." She looked up at him and smiled. "What about you?"

"I married 3 times, all for the wrong reasons ... divorced 3 times too." He admitted.

"You're team don't know about Shannon & Kelly do they?" She asked.

".. Its not their business." He answered slowly.

"They're smart Jet, they know you've got history. Dinozzo's intrigued by us ... they'll work it out" She told him.

"Only if we tell them." He said watching the look on her face. She grinned at him.

"I won't if you don't want to, but one day it will come out, when you least expect it. Wouldn't you rather it was on your own terms?"

"Maybe" He gently pulled her closer and wrapped his arms round her. She rested her head on his chest. "You're still wearing the same perfume." He whispered.

"You remembered." She murmured. "You bought it for me, I keep it for special occasions"

After a few minutes of silence they left the basement.