This chapter follows on from the Season 3 episode Jeopardy. It is from Gibbs point of view.

The panic that set in immediately after Dempsey made his demands regarding his dead brother was unfamiliar and completely unwanted. I didn't like the fact that this guy that I didn't know, had never met, knew just how to get me to co-operate. I knew Jen could look after herself but I still worried. When we had got her back, it took all of my strength not to pull her into my arms and smooth her hair; I never did tell her that I liked it short.

"You ever going to say anything?" She asked, the irritation clear in her voice. I couldn't risk spilling the thoughts that were currently rolling around in my head so I held out my coffee.

"Have a drink." I said and she rewarded me with a faint smile. I knew how frustrated getting held at gun point made her so when she caught up with me later, just as I was getting into my car and asked for a ride home, I hesitated for a second. I wasn't prepared for the frosty atmosphere that I knew would be surrounding her. Of course I eventually agreed and steered her towards my car. She sat still in the car, staring straight ahead.

"You ever going to say anything?" I copied her question from earlier and she let out a small laugh.

"Let's have a drink." She said, and I laughed at her use of my earlier demand. I pulled into her driveway and she sat still in the car for a few seconds before she turned to me and placed her hand tentatively on my arm.

"Thank you Jethro." She said in a small voice.

"For what?" I asked, and she rolled her eyes at me.

"For saving me." She said, I looked at her blankly.

"It never even occurred to me not to Jen." I said and got out of the car. I waited at her front door for her. She opened the lock and turned to look at me once again. She placed her hand on my face and smiled gently at me and swung the door open. I stood bewildered for a second and followed her into her study where she was already pouring two generous measures of bourbon. She handed a glass to me, lifted her in a silent toast and drained it. She sat down on her couch and motioned for me to join her. I sat down on the other end, even though I wanted to sit next to her a draw her into my lap. I nearly lost her today, and even though I had lost her before, I wanted to feel her, I wanted to make sure she was still there. She stared into the empty fireplace, a shadow crossed over her face and she shook her head slightly as if to rid herself of a memory.

"Jethro?" Her voice was so quiet I had to strain to hear her.

"Hmmm?"

"Will you…will you stay…for a while?" She asked hesitantly still not looking at me.

"Sure Jenny." I replied and her shoulders visibly relaxed and she leant back into the couch and turned her head to look at me. I don't know why, but she had been shaken even more than usual by this case and I longed to hold her, although I knew she would push me away, and I couldn't risk her running again.

"I need a shower." She said suddenly and I jumped slightly. She glanced at me. "Don't go before I get out ok?" She said and I dumbly nodded. She turned around as she was halfway out of the door. "You know where everything is Jethro, make yourself at home." Home, I liked the sound of that, making myself at home with Jen.

I scanned the bookshelf that Jen is so proud of and smiled as I picked up "Pride and Prejudice", a book that always reminded me of her, she had so much pride in her, too much pride that never her let too close to anyone. An envelope fluttered to the floor, the investigator in me bent down and picked it up. The friend and ex lover in me wanted to put it back and ignore it but I was burning to open. I guess the investigator won out because so I slid the folded paper out. It was a letter written in Jens elegant handwriting. My curiosity piqued and, against my better judgment, I unfolded it.

My Darling,

I am sitting here without you and I am aching to be near you. It has been far too long and I can't wait until I am back in your arms where I belong.

I don't know what possessed me to carry on reading, it was obviously a private letter that Jen had written to someone, but what made me read on was the fact that that someone was not me. I had always known that Jen had never really loved me, but the anger I felt at reading that first line was enough to make me disregard her privacy.

I have missed you, far more than I ever thought that I would. I guess what I am trying to say is that I love you.

My hands clenched around the paper.

You taught me so much, and I want to thank you because I never did. I never told you how proud I am that you were mine, if only for a while, you were mine.

I frowned in confusion. What does she mean by "were"? Who the hell was this bastard that had let her go?

I can't wait for the day when I can say that you are mine again. I don't know when that will be, but I prayer every night that it will be soon.

It wouldn't be soon if I had anything to do with it, it would be never. I scanned the rest of the letter, reading words of love, missed opportunities, but it was the closing lines that made my blood boil.

You have my heart, always,

Jen.

I calmly folded the letter and returned it to the pages of the book. I was out of the door and back into my car before I even registered what I was doing. I knew Jen would be mad that I left without saying goodbye, but the thought of her with someone else was driving me crazy. If it was the last thing that I did, I was going to find out who this man was, and kill him.

Jen sighed and leant her head against the door frame. She stared at the empty couch. Gibbs had just left without saying goodbye. She ignored the prickling behind her eyelids as tears welled up. She hated being this needy, but there was something about being held at gun point which made her want Gibbs around. She poured another bourbon and sat down at her desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out a pile on envelopes. She had been writing these letters for a long time, but had never worked up the courage to send any of them; they were all dotted around her house in numerous places. She lifted her pen to her lips for a second to think and put pen to paper.

My Darling…

To be continued…

V!

xox