A/N: Semi-Fluffiness ahead, you have been warned.

A Marine's Return

5

A New Start . . . Maybe?

Jethro sat down on the couch inside Jen's office and thought about his next move. He could leave her there, bring her over to the couch, wake her up and see what she wanted to do, or he could pick her up and bring her home. He knew that if he woke her up she would be a bear; she always was. So he would bring her to the couch and stay with her so her detail could go home. But first maybe he should wake Cynthia up and get her home first.

He stood back up and left the office. Rounding Cynthia's desk until he was by her chair he kneeled down to where his face was level with hers he gently shook her shoulders. Blinking her eyes rapidly Cynthia woke up.

"Agent Gibbs."

"Please Cynthia you can drop the 'Agent' now; it's just Gibbs."

"Ok Gibbs, where is the Director?"

"Asleep at her desk. Has her protection detail left for the night?"

"No, they are told to wait for me or the Director the tell them to leave."

"Okay. Does the Director keep an overnight bag in her office?"

"Yes it has a change of clothes for the next day, stuff for her to use in the shower and other toiletries."

"Nothing to sleep in?"

"No."

"Ok. Here is what I want you to do: call her detail and tell them to go home. Then I want you to grab her overnight bag. Then go home."

"Ok, I'll call her detail first. But you might want to get her to the couch otherwise she'll have a killer back ache from sleeping at her desk all night."

"Got it. Let's hope she isn't too heavy or I am going to screw up my knee." He mutters to himself as he stands up and makes his way back into Jen's office as Cynthia calls Jen's detail. Walking over to Jen's desk; he kneeled down by her chair and cradled her head and shifted it to his shoulder. He then wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other under her knees and stood. He carefully made his way over to the couch and gently set her down. Just as he had stood back up Cynthia came in with a medium black tote and handed it to him. Rumaging through it he found a toothbrush, a hair brush, some travel size shampoo, conditioner and body wash, and a razor. The clothes in the tote were a casual pair of dark wash jeans and a jade green button-up is blouse. Sighing he turned toward Cynthia who was making sure Jen's computer was shut down. She stood up and made her way out of the office. Jethro followed her and paused as she grabbed her coat and purse. She stood up and faced him.

"Thank you for waking me Gibbs. I hope your year in Iraq ends with you returning stateside in one piece."

"Thank you Cynthia. Allow me to walk you to your car. I have some spare clothes that Jen can sleep in; in my car. I think that might be better than waking up in what she is wearing currently."

"You're probably right. And thank you." They made their way down to the parking garage in silence. Jethro allowed her to step out the elevator first and followed her to where her car was parked. He watched her get in and drive away before walking over to his car and grabbing the bag out of the backseat.

He placed the bag on the roof of his car and shut the door. He looked through the bag and saw that he had all of his bathroom supplies, a pair of jeans, a white tank top, a plain white undershirt and a simple black button-up shirt as well as a pair of shorts to wear to bed. Zipping the bag back up; he carries it back over to the elevator and hits the button for Jen's office. Once he got out of the elevator he crosses back into the office and sees that Jen is still sleeping on the couch. He crosses over to her and removes her heels. He then takes off her outer layer of clothes; he slips his undershirt on and then removes her bra. He then removes her nylons and slides his sleep shorts over her legs. Finally he reaches up and undoes her hair from its bun. He stands back up and grabs the clothing he removed from her and places it in her bathroom.

He returns to the main office and wanders over to her liquor cabinet and grabs the blankets and pillow stashed beneath it. Walking back over to where she was sleeping he draped one of the blankets around her and placed the other pillow on the floor before laying down and wrapping the second blanket around him.

Sometime in the middle of the night

A weird noise awoke him from his slumber; opening his eyes he saw that he was not at his house but on the floor in Jen's office. He remembered why he was here, but what was the noise that woken him? He heard the noise again and looking to his side saw Jen thrashing on the couch. Sitting up he found himself trying to wake her up. He started stroking her cheek with his fingertips. She seemed to calm down and settle; her trashing stopped. Going to lie back down to sleep some more her another noise; a different sound this time. Crying sobs. Looking back at Jen he saw tears pouring down her face as sobs racked her small frame. Sitting back up he tried stroking her cheek again; it didn't work this time. She started thrashing this time. Quiet mumbling could be heard. Suddenly it got louder and Jethro could hear that it was on word. Jethro. His name repeated over and over again; with a tone that said agony. She was having a nightmare where something bad happened to him.

He stood up and moved over to the couch bending down he scooped Jen up into his arms and cradled her into his chest. He sat down on the couch still holding Jen in his arms. He started placing kisses to her forehead and cheeks; waking her up from the nightmare in a similar manner to how she woke him up whenever he had a nightmare in Europe. She calmed down and snuggled deeper into his chest. He needed to wake her up, he needed to know what the nightmare was about, and he needed to see her eyes. Leaning down to whisper in her ear he whispered.

"Wake up Jen, come on wake up." Very slowly she woke up; her eyelids fluttering then staying open. Her emerald irises were cloudy with sleep and confusion. But deep in her eyes Jethro could see the terror left over from her nightmare.

"Jethro. . . What are you doing here? Why aren't you in Iraq?"

"Jen we just told the team today. I was bringing up my reports and wanted to give my final SitRep. But I found you and Cynthia sleeping on your desks. I already sent her home and your detail knows that you are spending the night here."

"Thank you Jethro." She was trying to put her walls back up and trying to distance herself from him; he wasn't having any of it.

"Stop Jen, just let me in. Tell me about the nightmare."

"I think that it is none of your business Agent Gibbs."

"A. No longer an agent Jen. And B. You whimpered my name."

"Did not." Her right eye twitches.

"Liar; your eye twitched. Now tell me otherwise I am not leaving your side until I leave."

"It started out in Positano when you were shot, but this time you died. You died before I could tell you that I loved you. The scene changed to Paris on the day that I left; I was sitting on the plane to London when I saw you running at the plane to stop me. My heart lifted at the thought that you would try and stop me then one of the vehicles that loaded luggage onto the plane came out of nowhere and hit you, I watched you die from afar. Then I was on the catwalk telling you no off the job, and I had to relive that pain of seeing your eyes when I said that. Next scene was Ziva telling me that Ari had shot you before she could shot him. So I had to go to your funeral and Kate's. Abby was inconsolable and quit NCIS as did Ducky. The next scene was worse; I watched you tortured and killed at the hands of Iraqi insurgents from MTAC without being able to help you."

"Jen I am still here. Can you feel me? Can you feel my arms around you? Can you feel my heart beating? I am still here Jen."

"Yes you are Jethro, but soon you will be leaving; I know that I said that I would let you do this because you said you needed it. But please come back alive. I was wrong to leave you in Paris, I was wrong to tell you no off the Job, I was wrong. I regret it every Damn day Jethro. Please come back so we can give us another shot, one last chance."

"OK Jen, but first you need to sleep. So you can either stay here or come home with me; I mean you're already wearing my clothes; so you might as well sleep in my bed."

"Why am I wearing you gym shorts and t-shirt?"

"I thought that it was more comfortable than your business suit."

"Take me home Jethro."

"Yours or mine?"

"Yours. I plan on spending every night until you leave at your place with you. I also plan on taking you to the airport at the end of the month."

"Let's go then Jen." He pulls on his shoes then picks her up in his arms. Grabbing her purse and pulling out her keys he leaves the office; locking the doors behind them. She was still in his arms and for once was not fighting him on it; she needed to feel close to him and he needed to remember that this was real. Jethro holding Jen in his arms made his way to the garage and home. He went home with his heart for the first time in almost a decade.

At the end of the Month. . . Dulles International Airport.

Jen stood by Jethro's side as he waited in line for the security check; she kept some form of contact with him. Wrapping both hand around his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder, lacing their fingers together. When Jethro was next in line she turned to him and framing his face in her hands kissed him. He responded to the kiss. They kept it short and sweet; he broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I love you Jethro. Remember to come back to me."

"Like I can forget Jen. I will take care and I will return. I love you to. See you in a year." With that Jethro kissed her swiftly once more then turned around and walked through airport security.

Jen watched him until he was out of sight; than looking up at the ceiling said to no one in particular. "Please bring him back to me?"

Then she turned and walked out of the airport. Already missing him. I was going to be a long year.