The car wove through the early evening traffic and Senator Shepard gazed out of the window at the busy streets, the people going about their lives, and felt more than a little detached from what she saw.

Peg and Rob had apparently decided to leave her alone with her thoughts, and if either they or Melvin had been surprised by the destination she had given Stanley they were wise enough not to comment. On second thoughts she suspected that her aides were just a little awed at what had just happened. For all it had been the subject of discussion and speculation since her first post election meeting with the President-elect, there was something different about the reality; a something that had sobered the youthful energy of her staff. It was a feeling she understood only too well.

She hadn't felt like this before – her election victories had been adrenaline fuelled affairs, the prize clear, the result a simple case of win or lose. She had always known then what she was supposed to feel. But now it had suddenly become a mystery. Snippets of conversations drifted back to her from long days spent trying to navigate the Senate's lofty corridors. The vision of renewal and hope that had emerged during the election campaign was one she supported and she knew that her support had been valuable, especially in those early days. This was more than a reward for what she had contributed though; she was being asked to help make that vision a reality – to serve country and President.

She hadn't hesitated to accept.

Tomorrow her nomination would be announced and after that the process of confirmation would begin. She glanced over at her aides and smiled at the sight of them; heads bent together, talking quietly. Rob was already scribbling into his note pad and she knew that some of the phrases he was writing would find their way into her remarks at the press conference.

Jenny knew she ought to be making phone calls, preparing for the announcement – but she wasn't ready for that yet. She wanted to snatch a few more hours to herself before the circus caught up with her. She thought about the loneliness that had hit her earlier in the airport and how the magic of Abby's unguarded affection and the pull of a pair of blue eyes had sent it away. Even for a few hours she had felt that she belonged to a family – an eccentric one – but a family nevertheless.

And then there was the moment with Jethro, when everything had seemed to fade away and all she had been aware of was this man she had only just met. Her mind was normally filled with meetings and legislative details, of the history and stories of people who wanted something from her, of deals, negotiations and compromises. But he had stopped all of that noise simply by touching her and her body had felt as though it was waking from a long sleep. She looked down at her hand and for a second she could once again feel his hand brushing over hers. The ghost of warm, slightly callused fingertips ran over her knuckles, then her palm. She clenched her hand into a fist, missing the opportunity to trace the same touch on his skin – wondering what he would have done if Peg had not arrived.

Glancing up she recognised her surroundings and realised that they were almost back at the hospital. She looked at the bag Melvin had surreptitiously placed at her feet and wondered how much of a fight he would put up when she told him she wanted to stop somewhere to buy a couple of cups of decent coffee.

"You only have about forty minutes, ma'am" Peg pointed out after the detour had taken place and the coffee had been acquired, "if you want to meet Fabian and get changed before dinner."

Jen considered for a moment before looking at her watch. She was due to meet Jeremiah Modine in just under two hours.

"Are you sure it's Fabian they're sending?"

"Yes. I'm meeting him in about fifteen minutes to start looking at possibles for tomorrow, and you're scehduled to meet him in an hour."

"What's on the cards for tonight?" she asked.

"It's a toss up between Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana. As a side note, I've secured the shoes and the bag from Prada for tomorrow. The idea is to pair them with a suit from .."

"I want to wear Marc Jacobs" Jen interrupted.

Her eyebrows rose into her hairline when Peg's mouth opened. The mouth closed as fast as it had opened, though, and her aide nodded.

"What about tomorrow night?"

"Van Cleef & Arpels are sending someone round in the early afternoon, and we're thinking ...." she hesitated "vintage Armani?"

Jen nodded, but couldn't quite conceal a shudder. Just the thought of needing to rely on someone to pick out her clothes every time she appeared in public from now on was enough to make her head spin.

The car drew up to the kerb.

"Have Stanley drive you to the hotel and then come back here for me. I'll be there in time to meet with Fabian. And Peg ... nothing gaudy. The operative word is understated. No floral prints, no brocade, no gauze, no bright colours."

"Yes ma'am."

Peg handed her the bag containing two items as she made to step out of the car.

"I will see you later" Jen said just before she walked towards the building.

Once inside the elevator she looked over at Melvin, who stood by her side with two cups in his hands.

"Thank you for getting those" she said before she pressed the button.

Melvin smiled.

"Hold the elevator."

She looked up just as an elderly man slipped in beside her, and smiled when he tipped his hat at her.

"Senator" he said - gracing her with a smile of his own.

"Where to?" she asked, her fingers hovering over the buttons.

"Same place you're going it seems" he said, looking over at the one that was already illuminated.

They rode in silence, but she could feel his eyes on her. Although she was used to people looking at her she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she was missing. But there was no time to figure it out. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

"After you" the man said as he stepped aside and let Jen precede him out.

"Well ... it was nice to meet you ..."

"Donald Mallard" he said, his eyes twinkling as he fell into step beside her, "although my friends call me Ducky. And the pleasure's all mine."

She was surprised when he stopped at Abby's door with her.

"I do believe young Abigail will be very happy to see that you've returned" he said, as he opened the door. "And I'll warrant Jethro too."

She opened her mouth to inquire about the mysterious little smile that illuminated his face at the mention of Gibbs, but her attention was drawn inside by another male voice.

"So we're sitting at dinner and she puts this plate in front of me. Pesto."

"I looooove pesto" Abby said from the bed, licking her lips. "Spaghetti or linguine?"

"Spaghetti .. but .."

"What's wrong with pesto?" McGee wanted to know as he took in the distasteful look on Di Nozzo's face.

"What's wrong with pesto, McGee, is that she didn't blend the pine nuts when she blended the basil."

"So?"

"So? SO?" Tony's voice rose a notch. "They were swimming in the sauce. Have you ever looked closely at pine nuts, probie? They look like frickin' maggots! I investigate crime scenes for a living. I loved pesto. Now I'm never going to be able to eat it again."

"Did she do it on purpose, Tony?" Ziva asked, her eyes twinkling.

Tony looking affronted for a second.

"Why would she?" he huffed.

"Maybe you have been ignoring her."

"Maybe we need to expand the list of people who hate you" McGee said with a grin.

"Hate me? Nobody hates me!"

"I can think of quite a few people" offered Ziva. "Maybe she's a friend of Ronald Sachs and you didn't know it."

"Don't go there! People like me. I'm a nice guy!"

"What about the woman that posted your picture on the herpes-alert website?" Tim asked after a moment's thought.

The sound of Ducky clearing his voice had them all looking round.

"I'm quite sure we don't want to scare the good Senator off by airing our dirty laundry in front of her" he said, with amusement in his voice as he inclined his head gently towards her.

Silence reigned for a few seconds.

"Close your mouth" Ziva whispered at Tony as she nudged him to stop him staring.

"Jenny!" Abby squealed from the bed. "You came back!"

Jen took a step closer to the bed and all of a sudden the team moved as one.

"Can I take your coat, Senator?" McGee asked with a warm smile – which grew wider when she surrendered it to him.

Tony drew a chair up to the bed and indicated that she should sit on it. The appreciation in his eyes hadn't diminished but the brazenness was gone.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Ziva asked.

"No. Thank you. Actually ..."

As she looked round Melvin stepped forward and handed her her coffee. She took it and looked round at the team, a question in her eye.

"He's .. uh ... taking a call" Tony said, as his eyes fell on the second cup of coffee. "From the big boss" he qualified, to be sure it couldn't be interpreted as anything different.

The others smiled, and Jen lowered her head, almost sure she was blushing. She wasn't used to being this transparent. Although she was also sure it didn't matter with these people. She savoured the fact that she could feel their eyes on her but that there was no ulterior motive for a change. Even though they'd just fawned over her, the effect had been charming, not cloying. They'd made her feel welcome with minimal effort, and she appreciated that.

"I brought you a gift" she said, snapping out of her musing when the silence stretched too long.

Abby's eyes lit up as she took in the sleek black satin packaging and the contrasting silver ribbon.

"Should I put it under my tree or should I open it now?"

Jenny smiled. For some reason she'd been expecting the goth to tear into the packaging apart to get to the gift. The reverence with which she turned it over and over took her a little bit by surprise.

"I want to save it for Christmas, but I also want to open it now. But I don't want to rip the paper."

"Use this."

Even if he hadn't spoken just then, Jenny would have known that Gibbs had entered the room – because the atmosphere around her shifted ever so slightly. And it wasn't just the team. It was the air. She was aware of the dark-haired woman moving away from her side and of Gibbs coming to stand in her stead. He handed a knife over to Abby and waited till she sliced open the packaging and handed it back to him.

"Carrying concealed weapons, Agent Gibbs?" she said with a smile as he returned it to his waistband.

He looked at her and smirked, but didn't reply because Abby squealed again from the bed as she held matching collars aloft for all to admire.

Jenny smiled broadly.

"I thought Bert might like one too."

"Oh Jenny they're .... gah ... they're amazing."

Whatever Jenny was expecting it wasn't being engulfed in a hug that took her breath away.

"Okay okay Abs" Gibbs said after a while, prying her from Jen. "She's turning blue."

Abby pulled back and grinned when she saw McGee standing on the other side of the bed already holding Bert up.

As they moved to the back of the room so that the others could crowd round and get a good look at the collars, Jen looked up at a quick look over her shoulder to make sure none of the other were listening, she held up the second item she'd had Stanley purchase.

"Wouldn't have pegged you for a crime reader" he said, when he saw what it was.

"LJ Tibbs?" she asked, barely able to contain laughter as she rattled off some of the content from the book's front flap. "An outcast in his own world, he drinks to alleviate the burden of his Messianic complex. Please tell me this is fiction."

Gibbs smiled.

"You lookin' for an autograph?"

"Yes" she said, tapping him on the chest with the novel. "But not from you. My aide, Peg, has a bit of a crush on your Agent .."

"McGee."

"Agent McGee. Thank you. I just thought it would make a nice Christmas prsent. Do you think he'll mind?"

Gibbs stared at her for a moment, having a hard time believing that she was checking with him first. Or that she had doubts about how her request would be received.

"I wasn't sure how you felt about all this" she said. "Didn't want to step on any toes."

As she looked at him it was the sincerity in her eyes that stunned him most of all. It wasn't the politician speaking, it was the woman.

"McGee!" he called instead of answering.

"Yes, Boss?"

The young agent detached himself from the group and approached. When his eyes fell on his novel his eyes widened.

"Senator Shepard needs you to write pretty words."

"Um ... of .. of course" McGee stuttered as he took the book from her. "Who should I make it out to?"

"Peg" Jen said as she leaned forward and whispered, "apparently allmy staff are huge fans. But she ... is your biggest one."

McGee snapped the book shut and held it to his jacket.

"Well, um, in that case, do you think she would appreciate a first edition, or a piece of the original manuscript? I freewrite .. to overcome writer's block. Most of it doesn't make it into the final version, but if you think she'd like that ..."

"Like deleted scenes on a DVD" Jen said, her eyes lighting up.

"Exactly" McGee replied.

"That would be wonderful, Agent McGee."

"Tim, please. And I will make sure it gets to your aide before Christmas" he said, looking at Gibbs for approval. When Gibbs nodded, he smiled and said "I'll giftwrap and put this in with it then."

"Thank you Tim. I know that will mean a great deal to her."

"It's good to see you appreciate your staff" he started, and then his eyes cut to Gibbs. "Not that you don't appreciate us Boss. I mean, you do, and ..."

Gibbs rolled his eyes and held the door open for him, gesticulating for him to be on his way. When he had closed it behind him, he turned back to Jen.

"So collar for the hippo, book for the aide. Don't suppose you brought me anything ..." he said, eyeing her coffee.

"Why would I do that?" she replied with a smile – the tiniest inclination of her head all that it took for Melvin to step forward with the second cup of coffee. As she took it from him and handed it to Gibbs their fingers brushed together again.

She almost dropped the cup.

The hush that fell in the room alerted them after a while that the silent communication going on between them had attracted the attention of the rest of the team. Gibbs looked away from her in time to see Tony nudge Ducky, who looked over at them and smiled.

"Thanks for the coffee" he said as he lifted the cup to his lips and took a long swallow.

"You're welcome" she said, as she turned away to admire the way the collars she'd brought looked on the recipients.

"They're perfect" she said, well pleased.

Abby smiled contentedly and pressed Bert twice in quick succession.

"That means thank you."

"I think I'll pass on the you're welcome this time" Jen replied, causing Abby to snort.

"Jenny?"

"Yes?"

"You look ... different."

"I'm wearing different clothes, Abby."

"No, that's not it. Ohhhhh .."

Abby sat up a little straighter.

Jen smiled but didn't repsond – which only served the purpose of stoking the fire.

"I'm not supposed to ask, need to know, secret?" Abby rattled off.

Jen smiled again.

"Something like that" she said, but she turned her head to look at Gibbs, and when he lowered his eyes and didn't look at her she knew that he'd put two and two together. She was sure that they all had, but that didn't change anything. Until the announcement was formally made she couldn't talk about it.

She was still thinking about a diplomatic way to veer the conversation elsewhere when someone did it for her. Ducky took Bert from Abby and winked at Jen before launching into narrative.

"Now this collar reminds me of a time ..."

Jenny smiled and settled back into the chair - mesmerised by his tone, and very conscious of the fact that Gibbs was standing right behind her, his hand resting discreetly on her right shoulder. The slight pressure he applied to it told her that he was congratulating her. She risked one look up at him, and the pride she saw in his eyes blew her away.

As Ducky regaled them with stories from his past a sense of warmth seeped into her. She was surprised by how easily she had relaxed in their company, and wished for a moment that she had nowhere to be. A look around her told her that everyone was comfortable with her presence as well; that there was no artifice here. She found herself envying her closeness as they laughed around her, but before she had time to dwell on it the door opened and Dr. Sommers walked in.

"Good news. Your last bloodwork came back totally clean. You can go home, Abby. I've just signed your discharge papers. Well don't everybody thank me at once" she said with a smile as silence fell in a room that had been cacophonous till a few moments before.

"But this is so nice" Abby said sadly, looking around the room – putting into words what everyone else was feeling.

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears as she looked over at Jen, and Jen felt her heart constrict a little. The feel of Gibbs' hand on hers as she gripped the edge of her seat didn't help much either.

"I'll probably never see you again, huh?"

Jen smiled gently.

"Oh I don't know. I was told you wouldn't hold my line of work against me."

Abby's face lit up.

"So I'll see you again? Not just on television?"

"I certainly hope so" Jen said, as she moved to hug her.

"That's good" Abby said, returning the hug fiercely "because I'm proud to have met you. I'd hate to lose you. And I'm sure it's not just me either."

___________________________________________________

Gibbs appreciated Melvin's attempts to be unobtrusive as they lingered outside the hospital room, finally moving slowly towards the elevator.

It was difficult to remember that he'd known Jenny for so short of time, that but for a random moment in an airport lounge and an inept poisoner he'd never have met her at all. Federal agents and Senators did not cross paths very often, they certainly didn't move in the same circles and that was without factoring in his dislike for all those involved in politics.

But, through a fluke of fate he had met her and she had challenged all of his prejudices and stereotypes. Now, a more significant position awaited her, one that would keep bringing national if not international prominence. He should be regretfully backing away, but instead he was soaking up every second of his time with her and enjoying the fact that she was as reluctant as he was to say goodbye.

When they stepped into the elevator she stood facing him, her back to Melvin, as he told her about a few more of Abby's adventures. They were so close he could feel the heat of her body, see the fine gold chain at her throat and smell the delicate floral scent she was wearing. When the elevator doors opened his hand fell to the small of her back as though he'd been walking by her side for years. She was so used to having Rob and Peg racing along in her wake and her security detail surrounding her that she had forgotten how it felt to walk close to a man and have him guide her with a gentle, careful touch. It made her feel as though she was someone who mattered to him – and not because of what she could do for him.

"So," he asked, "I guess you have a busy few days?"

There were two or three events scheduled for the rest of the evening and a press conference and more events. The truth was her calendar was filled with functions – some more meaningless than others. She told herself they were necessary and that was probably true for a few of them, but she'd got used to filling her time; to having no reason not to go.

"You could say that."

"Senator Modine going to get his dinner after all?"

He'd been quietly wondering about the motives of the persistent and very solicitous Senator, because all those calls while they'd been waiting for news about Abby and the rearranged dinner didn't seem like a purely professional interest to him.

His tone had been tinged with just an edge of jealousy – which is what gave her the nerve to stop walking and turn to look at him.

"I have dinner with Jeremiah and a meeting before that to discuss the arrangements for tomorrow. At some point tonight I need to sit with Peg and Rob and go over my remarks for the press conference. But I'll cancel everything if you'll have dinner with me."

He shouldn't have been surprised by how forward she was. A smile tugged at his lips as he acknowledged just how much he liked that she had taken the initiative.

"I'm not much for fancy restaurants," he warned her

"I don't care where we have dinner, Jethro."

He could have said something in response, but he was too busy looking at her, taking in the slight insecurity that the composure and confidence of her professional persona didn't quite mask and then there was the flash of impatience that was all red head.

"You turning me down after all that?"

"Nah," he drew the word out – enjoying the way the smile curved over her lips and her eyes softened. As he'd done hours earlier he lifted his hand to her face, but this time there was no pretence about a hair out of place. His hand framed her face as he leaned in to kiss her, and her eyes fluttered shut as her hand curled around his arm, pulling him close.

The first flash had him whirling away from her, with Melvin a step behind. The cameras were closer now, the flashes of their cameras almost blinding as the hospital foyer was suddenly full of people hurling questions at them.

"Federal Agent," he growled with more than a hint of menace in his tone. "Don't come any closer."

He was absolutely determined that they weren't getting any closer and he hoped that Melvin was doing his job and covering Jenny.

"I said no closer."

He pushed against the crowd surrounding them.

"I don't care," he snapped in response to a comment from one of the cameraman about how they had a right to ask the Senator what she was doing here. "You have no right to right to ask about that. She isn't here in her professional capacity."

There was a bustle to his right and he realised that Melvin had called for reinforcements. It was exactly what he would have done, but as Jen was rushed away without as much as a backward glance it became all too obvious that the reporters had realised that they'd stumbled onto something. They'd come because speculation about her appointment was rife, but they'd found a goldmine. And they weren't about to back down. With a sickening feeling in his stomach Gibbs realised that there was nothing left for him to do but to shield his face from the cameras and back away.