Gibbs settled into a back seat in MTAC beside the Director.

"Leon?"

Leon Vance shifted in his seat for a moment before signalling a tech to start running a slide show.

"What am I lookin' at?" Gibbs asked as photos of foreign dignitaries flashed across the screen.

"There's going to be a naval summit" Vance said.

"Where?"

"As yet undisclosed" the Director replied. "Three day event. Representatives of nine nations – including us. Focusing on co-operation. Among other things."

The slide show ran on.

"We can no longer ignore the recent rise in crime, Jethro. Smuggling. Narcotics, arms and weapons. There's piracy. Robbery ... "

Gibbs nodded.

"The perpetrators of these crimes are well-organized and well-funded transnational crime syndicates who take full advantage of the vastness of the oceans" Vance continued. "But ... as you are aware ... it is critical to ensure that whatever we plan and do, flows from a broad consensus. With political backing, maritime commitment, naval resolve ..."

"And all that other good stuff" Gibbs said as he rolled his eyes.

"It's a critical military crisis" the other man said. "There's the need for synergy among navies to keep the oceans free of pirates and gun-runners."

"How does NCIS figure in all this?" Gibbs asked.

"The USS Ronald Reagan will be representing the US. Joining other naval carriers at the location for the duration of the summit. The navy will be hosting a few sessions on board."

"Threats?" Gibbs cut in.

"A few" Vance replied. "To be expected. As Agent Afloat on board the Reagan, Agent Di Nozzo will be responsible for co-ordinating security. But our concern at the moment is the sessions the navy is chairing aboard other carriers. Specifically those of the Deputy National Security Advisor. A Dr. Carlisle."

"Don't know 'im."

Vance tugged at his tie before continiung.

"Close personal friend of SecNav."

"Doesn't he come with his own detail?"

"SecNav wants to cover all bases, Jethro. To put it plainly he's paranoid about something happening on our watch. Wants our best man out there overseeing security for the Chair. And that would be you."

"Babysitting" said Gibbs in disgust.

"I'm sorry Jethro. It's not a request."

Gibbs nodded.

"There is just one little problem" Vance ventured.

Gibbs looked at him in the semi-darkness.

"Just one?"

"The good doctor's not terribly fond of having a detail. So you'll have your hands full."

"You tell him the second b stands for bastard" Gibbs replied with a sardonic smile.

"Already have" Vance said, standing up with a smile.

He walked down the few steps to the front and addressed someone sitting there.

"He's your problem now, ma'am" he said. "Meet Special Agent Gibbs."

"Hello Jethro" a familiar voice said.

For a moment Gibbs felt as though he'd been sucker-punched. In his mind's eye he got sucked back to the night he'd spent in her arms, and he froze. The recall was so intense that he could could feel her fingers digging into his shoulders as he moved within her. Breathy moans filled his ears – urging him on. Driving him insane. He caught a whiff of her perfume in the room; the same she'd been wearing that night, he was sure of it. It brought more memories. Her scent filled his nostrils. He remembered the feel of her slick skin against his. Felt the heat emanating from her body as she breathed his name and broke underneath him. His thoughts ran unbidden to the second time they'd made love – and the actual thought that his brain had referenced it that way shook him even more than the visuals. His eyes widened a bit as he pushed the image away. He couldn't bear to think of how he'd felt that second time.

Vance looked between the two of them for a moment and then decided he didn't want to know.

"Dr Carlisle, Gibbs .." he said before turning to go.

"Actually it's Dr Shepard as of tomorrow morning" she said with a graceful smile, never taking her eyes off Gibbs.

"Dr. Shepard ..." Gibbs said slowly, trying to come to terms with the fact that the woman he'd been trying to put out of his head for months was standing right in front of him.

"I don't bite, Agent Gibbs" she said with a smile as she picked up on his hesitation. "Any problem taking orders from me?"

"As Dr Shepard or as a woman?" he asked, the words slipping out before he was aware of what he'd said.

"Either."

Gibbs shook his head slightly.

"That was six months ago. The past won't be a problem."

Jen smiled at him and the rush that ran through him immediately alerted him that no matter how much he wanted to pretend that it wasn't going to be, the past was very much going to be a problem.

"Jethro .." she said as she inclined her head. And from that he concluded that she had somewhere else she needed to be.

"Ma'am" he said, stepping aside to let her precede him out of the assessment centre.

She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. She heard the respect in his tone and although her heart was racing she was fairly certain that she wasn't giving anything away. He was obviously going to let her take the lead on this one. He wasn't going to press his advantage; and for that she was grateful.

Gibbs escorted her down the stairs to the bullpen, ignoring the looks that followed them. As they reached the elevator two men materialised.

"We'll take it from here, Agent ... Gibbs" one of them said as he peered at his name tag.

Gibbs nodded and stepped away. Still not quite able to draw his eyes from her.

As the elevator doors started to slide towards each other she placed a hand out and stopped them. Two steps forward and she stood close to him.

"It's good to see you again, Jethro" she said gently.

Gibbs felt something in him loosen a bit, but he couldn't find a suitable response. None of the things that ran through his head were even remotely appropriate.

"I'll see you in a few days" was all he said.

She kept him in her sights as the elevator doors slid closed.

Gibbs ran a hand across his face and then walked to his desk

His new team stared at him.

"Has no-one got any work to do?" he said. And the snarl in his voice took even him aback.

"Good God, Jethro" Ducky said as he walked towards him. " Whatever's the matter. You look as though you've just seen a ghost."