The Red Haired Woman

Chapter 5

The General was nothing if not a control freak. He had everything for the party completely organized and planned. The guards at the gate had the names and photographs of all attendees. He had tables set with name plates assigned, food prepared, grill was hot, drinks were on ice. Flowers on all the tables, music playing, dance floor set up, a perfect outside party.

Chanel dressed carefully, yet casually. She wore black very low cut jeans, starting two inches below her navel. She wore a backless black top that went up her neck and was sleeveless, but left her abdomen exposed. She straightened her hair like she almost never did and pulled it to the side with an emerald and diamond hair clip. She also added slave bracelets on her upper arms that were encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. And she went barefoot.

Chanel asked the steward answering the door to send Gibbs to her room when he arrived. She was drinking her favorite scotch, dancing slightly to the music in her room watching the party grow downstairs. There was a soft knock on her door and she answered the door, inviting Jethro Gibbs into her room for the first time.

He was appropriately wowed by her appearance, and more than a little concerned that things could get out of hand tonight, between him and her, and her and her Special Ops team.

"You are stunning, Chanel. I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful woman."

"Why thank you Jethro. I was hoping you would escort me downstairs to the party."

"Of course I will. But Chanel, your Special Ops team, they don't all consider themselves your brothers. They are going to be all over you dressed like that."

"Baby, if that is true than I get to kick some ass. You, Jethro, will not get involved. Let me handle it."

"You think I can't handle it?"

"I heard about the stare down that you won with Gifford. I think you can handle anything Jethro. I don't want a pissing match to go on between you, who I hope to take as my lover, and the others who protected my life for two years. Some of them may have feelings for me that I need to nip in the bud, but I can do that more effectively without damaging relationships, whereas if you get involved someone might get dead. I don't want that."

"Ok. But if I see something that isn't being dealt with, I will deal with it."

"Fair enough. Now Jethro, I think you have neglected something." She moved slowly towards him, almost stalking him. "Do you know what it is?"

"Hmm… I think I might have an idea. How should I make it up to you?" He had a slight smirk as she slid her body against his.

Chanel lifted her face to him while he brought his lips to hers. They teased each other attempting to kiss the other, but not really moving towards it very fast. They pressed themselves together tightly and then finally let their lips connect, the expected shock striking through their bodies igniting their growing passion. Soon they were making out standing up, until Gibbs finally moved them to her bed where they continued their close contact. A lot of heavy petting started until they were both very hot and very bothered, even though no clothing was removed. They both mutually rolled away from each other taking some deep cooling breaths.

"Gibbs, we have to move forward. I can't keep this up. I want you. But I want commitment too. I want both. Can you give me both?"

"I don't know. I adore you, you know that. I want you more than I could ever imagine. But do you really want to marry a man that has been married 4 times? I never would want to hurt you. I just don't know."

"Let's give it two more months to see if you can commit to me. I know you are committed in that you aren't seeing anyone else. I would never tolerate that. But you decide in the next two months. I'm ready. You get ready, or I have to move on baby. I'll continue to date you, but I will date others too." She got up feeling disappointed and suddenly tired, fixed her hair and makeup, readjusted her clothes and was ready to join the party.

"Are you coming Jethro?" she asked him as he continued lying on the bed staring at the ceiling. "Our difficulties do not need to be seen publicly, Jethro. Let's put on a really good face. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Jethro got off the bed and wrapped his arm around her, kissed her on her perfect hair and left her room and headed down the stairs.

Chanel met everyone graciously and happily, and took her position between Gibbs and the Major. They enjoyed their meal and drinks, and the music started for dancing. The General and Chanel took to the dance floor first, leading many others to the floor by getting things started. Chanel danced with all her Special Ops team, although the ones with wives she only danced with once or twice. Gibbs danced with her during many of the slow dances. Other of the single guys split her time with slow dances and some of the friskier fast dances. She had a great time, keeping in mind her conversation with Jethro earlier. While everyone was very appreciative of her outfit, no one misbehaved even with some of the dirtier dancing that went on.

By 2:00 in the morning, the party had officially wound down. There were a few stragglers like Abby who could stay up all night, but unfortunately Tim could not. A few of the Special Ops team had gotten very drunk and were awaiting cabs. Chanel stayed up with all of them seeing them off like a good hostess. A few of the drunker guys tried to tongue her when they kissed her goodbye but she was quick about politely turning them away quietly. Soon everyone was gone except Gibbs. The General retired upstairs to his room as soon as everyone else had left. Gibbs and Chanel walked hand in hand around the perimeter of the property, her bare feet enjoying the lushness of the grass below. They talked very little, both feeling a little talked out from the party.

Chanel quietly asked, not wanting to disturb the silence that wrapped around them, "You hated every moment of that party didn't you?"

Gibbs rubbed his hand over his eyes and across his stubbled cheek. "Pretty much. I enjoyed the time spent with you, but it was hard when everyone was around. I felt like all eyes were on us the whole time. I'm a private man, Chanel. I don't care for parties or people I don't know. I noticed that your Major, now Lt. Colonel Gifford seemed uncomfortable as well."

She smiled in the darkness. "Tommy Gifford is very much like you. He leads extraordinarily well, he hates crowds, operates on intuition, despises recognition of all kinds and would much prefer private affairs. He was more comfortable at this gathering because it was mostly his people, and he was sitting beside me who he prefers above all others. All eyes weren't on us the whole time, but certainly quite a bit. Everyone is just wondering how you are going to treat me. That is especially true for the guys and my father. Your number of marriages and divorces has not gone unnoticed. And the guys from Ops? There is no way they will let me get hurt. They spent two years protecting me. They aren't going to let me get my heart broken stateside, by you, by one of their own, by someone else. And a couple made it clear that if you didn't step up soon, they would."

Gibbs looked at her with a frown. "And you will let them supplant me that easily? That is not a very deep love Chanel."

"Jethro, I feel very deeply for you. I have told you I love you repeatedly. I have told you I want us to be together. But I have received none of that in return. I have yet to hear the words I love you come from your mouth. And you could not commit to Hollis, why should I believe I will be any different? I will give you time, but not an infinite amount of time. What you see is what you get, the beauty, the wealth, the danger, the parties. Take it or leave it. Our slow crawl has brought us to this point. Now I want more. I want desperately to bring you to my bed and for you to make love to me. But I cannot, I will not, until I know I am not just another weigh station through your life along with all the other women. There have been very few men for me. I have chosen carefully and chosen well. I make very few mistakes."

They walked in an uncomfortable silence until they reached the front porch. Gibbs pulled Chanel up the steps and into his lap as he sat in an oversized rocker. She was tired and disheartened and curled up in his lap, laying her head between his neck and shoulder.

"Chanel, I do love you. I want to be with you. But the political parties, the overwhelming wealth, I don't know about. I need time, but I don't expect you to wait for me. If you want to date others, I understand."

"Now who sounds like they have a not very deep love Jethro? You say you love me, and that you want to be with me, but now it's ok for us to not be exclusive? Wow. Ok. You know how I feel. You lead. Good night baby." He could hear the hurt and pain in her voice and it was overwhelming. She stood up from his lap, leaned over and gently kissed him good night and walked into the house.

He waited a few more minutes and got in his car and drove away.