Tell me what you think please

Alone in his basement he thought about how much he hated to see her hurt like this. It was killing him but he was unsure what to do about it. He wasn't the best person to talk to. He tried hard with her but he knew it probably wasn't enough. He could only offer her quiet and his shoulder to lean onto, and he hoped desperately that it made some difference.

When he heard the door open and close above him, he put his tools away, watching her as she climbed down the stairs with take-out in her hands. This was their usual routine. He would wait for her with the bourbon and she would bring the food and they would eat in silence, needing nothing put the presence of the other.

When they finished eating he poured out some of the bourbon for both of them. Smiling he saw her grimace at the taste of the amber liquid like she always did. It was adorable.

After another ten minutes she finally broke the silence between them.

"I am going to see Luca in two weeks. I will tell him. I just don't know how yet."

"What about Kyle? Will you tell him too?"

"I just don't know Gibbs."

"He seems ok, you know."

"How would you know?" she asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"Checked him out. Ran him through every database I could think of." He stated with a shrug.

"Of course you did"

She couldn't help but smile at his matter of fact statement. She knew he meant well and was only trying to protect her so she told herself not to be too annoyed with him.

"So?" he pushed.

"I really don't know."

Sensing her exhaustion he let the subject drop, giving her sanding paper and showing her his latest project. They both worked for a while content until he saw her trying to hide a yawn.

"Tired?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Wan't me to take you home?" He asked unsure of what to do. He didn't want her to leave, but couldn't think of an excuse to make her stay.

"You mind if I stay?" she answered as if reading his mind. "I just don't feel like being alone" she tried to explain as she saw a fleeting sign of surprise cross his face.

"I'd like that" he said smiling at her one of those rare unguarded smiles she loved so much. A smile that made her knees feel weak and her head spin a little. Silently chiding herself she turned around to lead the way upstairs.

They separated in the hallway in front of the guestroom, each wishing the other a good night. It was late but sleep wouldn't come for either of them. Both were lost in thoughts about the other.

She tried to tell herself that everything would be alright, in time. Thinking about how her family was breaking apart in front of her. She couldn't help but think that her other family would vanish too if she wasn't careful. At the same time she tried to still the longing to be with the man who was so close but whom she couldn't touch. The only thing she wanted to do was climb in his bed and snuggle up against him.

At the same time his head was spinning with thoughts about the day. He desperately wanted her close to tell her everything would be ok. He wanted her to hold on to him, like she had the night before, and he knew it was wrong to even think like that. But earlier he could have sworn he saw her look at him in a way she hadn't for years.