Disclaimer; I own nothing

Ch 4

As the day of the ceremony approached Jenny decides to enlist the help of Gibbs team to ensure he shows up to accept his award. She waits until Gibbs was at an anti terrorist conference out of the office and then calls his team including Abby and Ducky for a meeting.

The Director calls everyone to order, 'I've called you here because although Jethro has agreed to turn up to his award ceremony next week I want to make sure he doesn't have a change of heart. We need to make sure he turns up on time and does not disappear a few hours before he is to receive his medal.'

The team all nod their agreement, but it is Ducky who asks the question, 'How do we achieve this Director?'

'I was hoping you could come up with some ideas.'

Abby speaks first 'How about you tie him to the bed in the morning make mad passionate love to him all day and only untie him when he has to go to the ceremony.'

McGee looks a little embarrassed at Abby's suggestion and he turns to the Director and says, 'Surely the Boss will turn up, after all this award is being given by the SecNav.'

'This is Gibbs we are talking about,' Tony interrupts, 'We could get Fornell to arrest him and hold him until the evening and then release him direct into the SecNav's offices.'

'Or I could get some of my colleagues to kidnap him.' Ziva adds.

'I need some workable ideas,' Jenny is wondering about the wisdom of asking Gibbs team to help. She looks over to Ducky.

'I think we can only keep an eye on Jethro for the 24 hours prior to the ceremony, we must ensure that he is never out of sight of at least one of us,' Ducky says.

The team are quiet for a moment. 'I suppose it could work, but it won't take long for Jethro to realise what we're doing.' Jenny adds.

'That's a chance we'll have to take,' Ducky advises.

'OK, I'll work out a time table and we'll all keep an eye on him, I will need someone to go running with him in the morning – he goes out for around 45 minutes at about 5.30am.' Jenny is looking at Ziva and Tony.

'Tony pipes up 'I vote for Ziva to go she's always saying she is fitter than any of us – this is her chance to prove it.'

'I never said I was fitter than everyone I said I was fitter than you Tony.' Ziva turns to Jenny, 'I don't mind going out with Gibbs, I can be at your house by 5.30am, I will think of an excuse as to why I want to run with him.'

'Good', Jenny replies, 'I can keep an eye on him during the evening before the ceremony; Ziva can pick him up in the morning. I'll let try and produce a workable timetable for the rest of the day, I intend for him to attend this presentation.

The evening before the award ceremony Jenny and Jethro leave the office together, Jethro has agreed to go running with Ziva although he's not sure why she wants to train with him.

As soon as they enter the house, he makes his way upstairs to have a shower Jenny joins him; she intends to keep him in her sight until tomorrow morning when Ziva picks him up.

'Jethro, why don't you help me with dinner tonight instead of going down to the basement? We've hardly seen each other today.'

Jethro raises an eyebrow at her but replies, 'OK'

They enter the kitchen and Jenny immediately sets Jethro to work preparing the vegetables.

Jenny is talking about names for the twins,

'I really don't know what we should call them I like so many names, if they're girls I like Daisy, Lily, Sarah, Deborah….'

Jethro interrupts, 'No, not Deborah I don't like that name.

All right what about boys names 'Do you have any preferences'

'I haven't really thought about it. Why don't we wait until they're born then we can give them a name that fits them.'

Jenny hugs Jethro her bump is beginning to impede her a little but he loves it, he returns her hug giving her a kiss at the same time.

The rest of the evening Jenny ensures they spend together, they clear up together; she follows him down to the basement and sits reading her book while he works. When he's finished they go upstairs together, as soon as they are in bed Jethro can't help but ask

'Why are you following me around Jen, you afraid I'm going to disappear?'

'No, I just like your company', Jen realises this is a lame excuse but she can't think of anything else to say.

'Hmm' Jethro is not convinced but lets the matter rest as he has other things on his mind as he feels Jenny gently caress his chest and push him back to straddle his hips, he is definitely not going to disappear any time in the next few minutes.

Jenny wakes the next morning to hear Jethro getting dressed,

'Is Ziva here?' she mumbles.

'I'm not waiting for her' Jethro replies, but at that moment the door bell rings, 'that'll be her, see you in a while.'

Jethro runs down stairs and opens the door to find Ziva on the step in her running gear, 'Ready?' he asks,

'Yes, Gibbs.'

'Wait a moment,' Gibbs goes down to the basement and returns with two back packs, he hands one to Ziva, 'We'll be running with these on.'

'Oh,' Ziva hesitates the backpack is quite heavy, 'I wasn't expecting..'

'You wanted to experience my training regime this is it' Gibbs replies shouldering his pack.

'Right' , Ziva puts her pack on as well.

They begin the run and Ziva is pleased that Gibbs has set a pace that she is comfortable with; they are about three quarters through when Gibbs starts to quicken the pace. She is soon struggling to keep up.

'You know the way back?' Gibbs asks

'Yes,' she gasps

With that Gibbs quickens his pace again and disappears from Ziva's view.

When Jethro arrives home he dumps his pack down in the basement and does a quick warm down.

Jenny has heard him come in 'Where's Ziva?'

'She'll be here soon.' Jethro replies with a small smile.

'Jethro, what did you do?' Jenny asks suspiciously.

'Nothing, like I said she'll…'

Before Jethro can finish speaking, they hear a noise outside and Ziva is at the door looking a little worse for wear.

'You can use the downstairs shower', Jethro tells her as he goes upstairs to his own shower.

Jenny follows Jethro into the bathroom 'I thought you were going to run with her.'

'Well she couldn't keep up, no harm done she knew the way back.'

Jenny could not say anymore but she has a feeling that the day is going to be a long one, Jethro has probably realised already that she'll want to know exactly where he is throughout the day. Which means he'll disappear at regular intervals. She sighed,

'Remember where we're going tonight Jethro.'

'I can hardly forget, you and the team have reminded me every opportunity you have that you expect me there and on time' Jethro is rather short with Jenny.

Jenny is now worried, the day has not begun well, she knows Jethro is annoyed and that means he will be more likely to vanish some time during the day.

Ziva is waiting for them downstairs, she's now looking a little better.

'I'll go to work now' she says as she gathers her bag and makes to leave, when she opens the door she notices a car parked outside the house and adds 'your driver is waiting for you.'

Jenny has decided that they'll use her allocated car today, although the award ceremony with the SecNav will be attended by around 50 people, she has organised a small dinner afterwards with Gibbs team. Jenny has sorted her and Jethro's clothes for the evening, she's looking forward to seeing him in a suit again as far as she's concerned he doesn't wear suits often enough, if he looks handsome normally he looks unbelievable in a suit.

Jethro carries everything to the car and the working day begins. Jenny has called a team leaders meeting for the morning, at least she can keep an eye on him for a couple of hours. She's organised another conference immediately afterwards not for her but for Gibbs who should be holed up in MTAC until lunchtime.

Jethro cannot be more bored, it's now noon and as the conference in MTAC ends he storms from the room and enters the bullpen, he can hear Tony trying to bait Ziva.

'So Ziva why won't you tell me what happened when you went running with the Boss today.'

'Because it's between me and Gibbs.'

'I promise to keep it a secret.'

'Tony you e-mailed the whole floor that McGee is afraid of heights, you are always spreading rumours.'

'OK, just tell me who won you or Gibbs.'

'It was not a race he was my running partner.'

'Well as it happens I know what happened because the Directors driver saw you return to Gibbs house well after Gibbs had arrived, I think that's one up to the men of this team.' Tony sniggers.

'Well Tony I can take on both you and McGee anytime and let's see who is the winner then!'

Tony shuts up when he spots Gibbs coming down the stairs. Gibbs gets to his desk and tells his team he is going for coffee. Tony is gesticulating at McGee to go with him.

'Uuh boss can I have a word please,' McGee stutters.

'It'll have to wait.'

'I can come with you' McGee has got up and is following Gibbs out, Gibbs turns and stares at him. McGee looks back nervously he can see the Director out of the corner of his eye peering over the balcony.

'It's important.' McGee stammers out.

Gibbs continues walking and McGee follows him. McGee starts to talk to him about computers, and how he can upgrade the team's systems at very little cost to NCIS, but he uses technical language that Gibbs cannot understand.

In the coffee shop Gibbs has had enough.

'Shut up McGee.'

'Yes, Boss'

Gibbs walks back to the office with a silent McGee and as they enter the elevator, just before the doors shut he quickly exits leaving McGee frantically pushing the buttons, by the time the doors open Gibbs has gone.

McGee immediately rings Abby.

'I've lost Gibbs'

'What … don't panic I'll track him using the GPS in his phone.'

Abby performed her magic with the computer and a few moments later came up with the location of Gibbs phone.

'McGee, his phone is here in the building are you sure he's not upstairs.'

McGee rings Tony 'Is the Boss with you?

'No, he should be with you' Tony is silent for a moment. 'You've lost him haven't you, the Director is not going to be pleased.'

'Tony I need your help we've got to find him the Director will kill me if we don't find him soon', McGee is sounding desperate, he does not want to have to tell the Director Gibbs vanished while he was meant to be watching him.

'Well McFrantic where do you suggest we look he could be anywhere'.

McGee keeps quiet he does not want to go up to the bullpen alone but can think of nothing else to do. He decides to go back up and as he walks slowly to his desk he is wondering whether to go to see the Director immediately or wait a while. He sits at his desk with Tony and Ziva standing over him demanding to know what happened, when the elevator doors open and out strides Gibbs. Gibbs goes to sit down at his desk, his team are staring at him, Gibbs looks up.

'What?', he says with a smirk on his face.

Just then Gibbs phones rings, he listens to the caller. 'OK' he answers into the phone and gets up from his desk. All three of his team jump up immediately, Tony moves so quickly his chair falls over. Gibbs looks over at them 'I'm having lunch with the Director'. He is up the stairs before Tony has picked up his chair.

'I think we should have gone with Abby's idea of handcuffing him to his bed,' Tony is not sure if they'll be able to keep him in sight until they leave for the SecNav's offices at five o'clock.

Jenny manages to keep Jethro in her office until around one thirty, Tony and Ducky with help from Abby are now responsible for him up until they get ready to leave later that afternoon. After lunch Jethro sits at his desk completing paperwork, Ducky has arranged to see him and Tony in autopsy later to discuss the results of a post mortem.

Ducky is his usual self and wanders from the point several times while giving Jethro and Tony the results, he is in the middle of a story about playing the Eton Wall game when Jethro interrupts,

'Duck, we've got all we need, we'll go to see Abby now.'

Abby turns round and gives Jethro a big hug as he and Tony enter her lab, 'I'm so excited about this evening, you're receiving a medal from the SecNav and I'm going to be there watching.'

Gibbs grunts 'What do you have for me Abbs.'

'Lot's Gibbs' Abby runs through everything she has pointing him to her microscope, the physical evidence and her plasma screen.

She ends by showing a video that has been taken from a surveillance camera, it has been enhanced although the pictures it shows are still not 100 clear. As she is running through it Tony starts talking

'I don't think this'll make my top ten movies Abby I can' t see a thing.'

'What movies are in your top ten' Abby replies

'Hmm that's a hard one, I guess Raging Bull, Fight Club…

Abby looks round, 'Tony where's Gibbs..'

'Shit, not here..'

Tony rushes out of the lab and soon the whole team is on a Gibbs alert. After half an hour they realise he's not in the building.

Tony speaks up, 'The Director will be out of MTAC in a few minutes Probie, when she comes out go and tell her that we've lost Gibbs.'

'WE'VE lost Gibbs?' McGee questions, 'You lost him Tony, you're the senior field agent as you keep telling us, you tell the Director'

Ziva joins in, 'I have to agree with McGee, Tony, you should tell the director,'

'Tell me what,' the three agents look up as Jenny joins them in the bullpen.

She has noticed Gibbs desk is empty and waits for the agents to speak but there is a deafening silence.

'Well…' she looks at Tony.

'Well the thing is Director… I was in the lab with Abby and Boss..we were looking at this video… and well…' Tony grinds to a halt

'I see'. Jenny can see only too well Jethro has got the better of all of them. She returns to her office and has a quick look in her wardrobe, Jethro's suit has gone she hopes that this means he'll turn up.

'Cynthia, has Agent Gibbs been in my office this afternoon.'

'No Director, I haven't seen him since lunch time.'

Jenny nods, he must have sneaked in when Cynthia was away from her desk.

Jenny rings down to Tony and tells him Jethro will be making his own way to the SecNav's offices and she expects everyone to arrive in time for the ceremony. She is secretly worried that he'll turn up late after the SecNav has had to leave. She tries Gibbs cell phone but it goes straight to voicemail so she leaves a message, 'Leroy Jethro Gibbs, your ass better be on the way to the SecNav's offices right now or when you get into the office again there will be so much paperwork on your desk it will take you the rest of your working life to clear it.' Jenny slams the phone down and takes a couple of deep breaths before getting up to dress for the ceremony. If that man does not turn up his life will not be worth living for a very long time.

The team including Abby, Ducky and Palmer are in the bullpen. Ducky is going to give Palmer a lift in his Morgan, the rest of the team are travelling together.

They meet Jenny at the entrance of the SecNav's offices, she has travelled with her own driver and she is looking far from pleased. Ducky mumbles to Palmer as they walk in, 'I really hope Jethro is here.'

They walk into the reception rooms and immediately spot Jethro standing to one side with two interns, two very pretty female interns one of whom has very red hair. If looks could kill, Jenny would be arrested for murder. Her eyes are flashing green as she takes in this small scene. To be fair Jethro does not look like he is enjoying himself and Jenny knows that a man who is not only brave but also handsome is exceedingly attractive to the opposite sex. He wouldn't have had to do anything to have these two young women begin flirting with him.

Well girls you can look but you can't touch he is all mine Jenny thinks as she stalks towards her husband. Jethro looks up and sees Jenny walking towards him, he smiles at her but does not receive an answering smile, in fact Jenny is hardly looking at him at all, her eyes are weighing up the two young women at his side. Jethro had picked up Jen's earlier voicemail message and was well aware that he had pissed her off but he justified his actions because she obviously had not trusted him to get here on time. Before Jen can reach him he moves away from the interns and walks towards his wife, he takes her hands in his and leans down to kiss her on the cheek and whispers in her ear, 'am I forgiven'. She looks into his eyes, 'Maybe'. Jethro nods and turns his attention to the rest of the team.

The SecNav soon joins them and makes his speech before giving Gibbs his medal.

'I know we've all been a little worried that Special Agent Gibbs would not be here to receive this award but I'm glad to see him here, I think this is the first time I've actually seen him at an award ceremony.

Special Agent Gibbs has served his country all his adult life and during that time he has put his life in danger to protect others and to protect this country many times. He sometimes uses unorthodox methods to solve crimes but I know that he has helped make this country a safer place in which to live. Giving him this medal is our way of saying thank you, of saying we appreciate what he has done. The SecNav turns to Gibbs, 'I hope you will continue to serve the United States of America for a long time.'

As the SecNav pins the medal on Gibbs and shakes his hand he asks him if he would like to say a few words. Gibbs steps up to the microphone and says one word -'Thanks'. He walks off the platform to stand with his wife.

Jenny has still not fully forgiven Gibbs his little tricks through the day, he is standing close to her and she decides to get her revenge as they circulate during the cocktail party. The SecNav is talking to Gibbs and she has one hand lightly caressing Gibbs butt under his jacket. She knows exactly which buttons to push to get Jethro aroused and she intends to push them all tonight. Jenny looks at Gibbs as he tries to answer the SecNav's question, he is trying to move away from her caress but she keeps her hand exactly where she wants it.

After an hour the cocktail party comes to an end, Jethro is looking a little flushed, Jenny has caressed him surreptitiously at times throughout the evening. Her hand has been touching some part of his body continuously and he realises that with the dinner that's about to come it's going to be a long evening.

Jethro and Jenny travel in Jenny's car to a restaurant a short distance away, they will be joined there by Gibbs team. In the car Jethro turns to his wife,

'You're killing me Jen.'

'Don't tell me you don't like it Jethro', Jenny replies as she gently caresses the back of his neck pulling his face towards hers.

Jethro smirks as Jen kisses him slowly and softly when she pulls away Jethro is breathing a little heavily, 'let's go straight home,' he whispers in her ear.

'No, your team have been looking forward to this and so have I.' Jenny knows that Jethro is unlikely to argue with her, since she's been pregnant she's got her way in most things. She smiles to herself perhaps she should have done this years ago.

Jethro looks at her 'OK but you've got to stop touching me.'

'I though you liked me touching you'. Jenny says as she teasingly runs her fingers up and down is thigh.

'Jen, please….' Jethro grabs her hand and gently squeezes it as he brings it to his lips.

The car pulls up outside the restaurant a few moments later, Jethro gets out the car first and then helps Jenny out. They walk in to meet the rest of their team.

Before they enter the restaurant Jenny turns to her husband 'I am married to the best and bravest of men, I am pregnant with his children, I am the happiest I have ever been, I love you Jethro.'

Jethro's response is to give his wife a small smile and to squeeze her hand to his side as she takes his arm, he feels ten feet tall when he walks toward his table and this has nothing to do with the medal he has on his chest, it is because he loves a very special woman who loves him passionately in return . They will both soon be fulfilling a shared dream of becoming parents, life could not be better.