Title: It was a Dark and Stormy Night

Author: TheBreakfastGenie

Rating: K+

"See, Jen, if we were at my house we'd have a basement to hide in if there was a tornado." Jenny rolled her eyes. The thunderstorm outside was getting pretty bad, but there was no cause for alarm. Although the golf ball-sized hail couldn't be good for her roof.

"I doubt we're likely to get one of those on the east coast unless there's a hurricane first. And Jethro, if you think I'm willing to crouch down in that dusty old basement of yours waiting for a tornado then you've got another thing coming."

"What, you'd rather die than breathe on a little sawdust?" he answered in mock offense.

"In a word, yes. Your basement is disgusting." Gibbs glared at her.

"I don't insult your house."

"That's because I keep it clean."

"Noemi does all your cleaning for you, Jen."

"She's also a fantastic cook." Gibbs smirked. Jenny had handed him the perfect opportunity to get back at her for the digs at his house.

"Fortunately for us." His plan was working.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Special Agent Gibbs?"

"It means that I'm glad I know how to grill a steak because I sure wouldn't want you doing it for me." Jenny's eyes narrowed to slits. Gibbs gulped. Maybe provoking her wasn't such a good idea after all.

"And what if I decided to cook a steak especially for you, hmmm?" Gibbs was finding it hard to concentrate with her face so close to his.

"Then we'd have a cooked mammal in the ceiling," he joked. Jenny pulled back, startled.

"Jethro, that was very mean. You owe me an apology," she pouted.

"Too bad I don't believe in them."

"Seriously, Jethro, I know I'm no five-star chef…"

"Understatement of the century," he muttered. Jenny shot him a glare.

"…but," she continued, "I have never propelled a dish into the ceiling. And I'll have you know that Noemi has an excellent recipe for marinade."

"Yeah, and if you made it Jen you'd probably end up with rocket fuel." Gibbs grinned smugly. He was on a roll.

"Then I'll cook for you next time we're at your house so your dinner's eight foot fall will be cushioned by the pile of dirty socks." It was Jethro's turn to be taken aback.

"The socks aren't dirty, Jen," he complained.

"You know damn well I can't tell the difference between your dirty laundry and your clean laundry. At least my clothes don't live in the floor."

"Yeah, because they're too expensive."

"Watch it, Jethro. Some of my most expensive outfits are also your, ah, favorites."

"Then you're getting ripped off, Jen. More money for less material? Doesn't make much sense to me."

"Jethro—" she began, but she never got a chance to finish, because she was interrupted by a particularly loud clap of thunder. A moment later they were plunged into darkness.

"Well crap," Gibbs muttered. "There goes the power."

"Oh, and I'd nearly forgotten why you're my best agent," Jenny replied sarcastically. "Your powers of observation are absolutely astounding. I never would have figured that out without you." Gibbs shot her a glare but it wasn't much use in the total darkness that now consumed them. When a burst of lighting illuminated her face a moment later Jethro could see that she was smiling sweetly.

"I'm gonna go find a flashlight or something," he muttered.

"Jethro, this is my house, don't you think I'd be able to find them better?"

"You volunteering, Jen?" he asked.

"No," she replied. Gibbs sighed and picked his way gingerly towards the door.

Jenny didn't look the time but she guessed it had been at least half an hour when Jethro returned carrying a lit candle.

"What happened to a flashlight?" she asked, amused.

"Figured this was more romantic," he said, adding a signature grin. Jenny's heart started melting. It was so hard to stay mad at this man.

"Just for that, you're getting laid tonight after all." Deciding he looked a little too pleased with himself, Jenny decided to knock his ego down a notch. "And, you know the power probably won't be back on any time soon and there really isn't much else to do."

"Like Serbia all over again, huh?"

"Except this time I'm very concerned with staying on the bed seeing as I won't be able to see what I might be knocking over if I screw you on the floor." Gibbs shook his head.

"You lead the way, then," he proclaimed, offering her the candle. He followed her up the stairs and into the bedroom where he almost ran into when she suddenly came to a stop.

"Jethro…" she asked suspiciously, "how the hell did all these socks get on my bed?" Her bedspread was completely covered in a layer of assorted socks of all colors and sizes. It was hard to see in the flickering candlelight but Jenny was fairly certain it was a mixture of her socks and his.

"Not a clue, Jen," he answered with a straight face. Jenny blew out the candle and pulled Jethro onto the bed with her.

"Just so you know, Jethro, these damn well better be clean." He began to answer but was cut off by Jenny's lips crashing into his. Deciding it wasn't worth it, he flipped her onto her back and wondered if she'd even care by the time they were finished.