Realised I have forgotten my disclaimer, so here it goes I do not own NCIS or any of it's characters, I am just borrowing them.

Now moving on, I know that some of you are going to want to lynch me after this chapter but I am asking you to resist that urge lol. Also I have introduced an original character, I just can't help myself, who will play a bigger part later on in the story. She was originally going to be in my story Forget Me Not but I changed my mind at the last moment, something I tend to do a lot. I have the feeling this is going to be a tough story to write mainly because it will not have the fluff that is present in my other stories, yes I am aware that not all my stories are fluffy but this one will be darker in a way that try as I might I just can't explain. Oh plus it is set in 2008, just in case anyone wondered. Sorry for rambling but my insomnia has kicked in, it is 5am and I can't sleep and despite feeling tired my mind is wide awake and refusing to give me peace it is not good. I promise much shorter authors notes from now on and longer chapters as way of an apology, well if you even want more chapters.

Jenny's chin rested on her chest after she had fallen asleep at her desk again after having decided to take some paperwork home with her and it was only the insistent knocking on her front door that roused her. Her head jolted up causing her to moan, the stiff muscles in her neck screaming out in protest at the sudden movement. The knocking continued, the harsh sound making her near constant headache grow in intensity, she slowly got up from her chair and made her way to the door. Looking through her peep hole she let out a groan at who was currently camped out on her doorstep and almost reluctantly let the door swing open so she could stare into the glaring eyes of her aunt, Rebecca Mason.

The older woman stood and for a moment just took in her niece's appearance, her normally sparkling eyes were tired and her face was a lot paler than usual, she sighed, 'You look terrible Jennifer', before brushing past her and heading into the study.

Quickly composing herself Jenny followed her aunt telling her, 'Thanks, you know just how to cheer someone up don't you?'

'I'm being honest with you', Rebecca turned to face her, frowning, 'Did you fall asleep at your desk?'

'I had work to do. Why are you here?'

Rebecca sat down on the sofa, patting the seat beside her to indicate that Jenny should sit beside her, when she didn't Rebecca let out an exasperated sigh but answered her regardless, 'Well I have been leaving you messages for almost three weeks now and you haven't answered any of them, I was worried and from the look of you I have good reason to be'

Jenny crossed her arms across her chest defensively, 'First of all if something had happened to me you would automatically be alerted as you are down as next of kin. Secondly the fact that I haven't had a chance to answer your many, many phone calls does not give you cause to drive all the way from Baltimore and lastly I am fine, tired but fine'

Clasping her hands on her elegantly crossed knees Rebecca resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'You are not just tired, you are pale and you have lost weight, are you eating?'

'Of course I am eating! And I am always pale'

'You are practically transparent young lady and not only that but anytime you have called us you have been distant, you are not happy Jennifer, that much is obvious'

'I've just been busy that's all'

Rebecca surveyed the girl who was like a daughter to her and shook her head sadly, 'Oh Jenny we've talked about this, you have to lay your father's ghost to rest'

Jenny instantly bristled, 'My dad has nothing to do with this!'

'Ever since he died you have closed yourself off and let's be honest for a minute, the only reason you joined NCIS was because of what happened'

'Sometimes people need a push, something that makes them realise exactly what they want to do with their life'

'Yes but you have put your career ahead of everything else. The Jennifer of twelve years ago would never have let that happen'

'Very few people stay the same person over a period of twelve years'

'Oh for pity's sake Jennifer! You have closed yourself off! You are living like a hermit!' Rebecca lowered her voice slightly and stood up moving so she was standing in front of her niece, 'You were always such a happy person, you were always surrounded by friends and by adoring men', she sighed, 'When were you last happy Jenny, truly happy?'

Jenny swallowed compulsively, she hated being called out by her aunt, the woman had practically raised her and couldn't be fobbed off by the usual lines she would spin, 'I got where I wanted to be, why wouldn't I be happy?'

'That isn't what I asked you', she wiped away a small tear that had broken free and was running down Jenny's cheek, 'I'm worried about you, everybody needs at least one person they can talk to, one person they can confide in, people are not meant to be completely alone. Now you tell me if you have that?'

Jenny stayed silent for a moment, her aunt was right she didn't have anyone, but she was damned if she was going to admit that, she stuck her chin out defiantly, her voice strong and steady as she answered, 'I am fine, I am happy with my life and with the decisions I have made, you don't need to worry about me'

Rebecca shook her head, she wanted her niece to open up, but her walls were built up a lot higher than she had anticipated and it would take an earthquake for them to come tumbling down, or at least a lot more chipping away, it was a good job she had a lot of free time, 'Fine have it your way', she kissed her cheek, 'If you say you're fine then I will believe you', she walked towards the front door, Jenny following her, 'But I expect to see you on Sunday for dinner and don't even think about using work as an excuse, you haven't came to visit for months, we're beginning to forget what you look like. Therefore I am more than willing to drive back here and drag you kicking and screaming by your hair if I have to, do I make myself clear?'

'Yes you do', Jenny managed a genuine smile, 'I promise you that I will be there, it will be nice to see everyone again'

'Good' she opened the door before turning to kiss Jenny's cheek, 'I will see you then'

Jenny watched as her aunt moved down the driveway with a speed and grace that beguiled her seventy five years. Once the car had disappeared around the corner Jenny gently shut the door, locking it behind her, leaning against it she stared into the empty almost mocking hallway. She moved through to her study and picked up a photo frame from her shelf, it was one of her with her father, she had been about ten when it had been taken and he had been home on leave for once. For a moment she just stared at it, letting all her regrets flow through her, not being able to clear him was the failure that haunted her, sighing she placed it back onto the shelf. Once again she turned around and looked around the empty room, she was alone as usual, while at one point she had found time alone soothing, now she found it almost suffocating, mainly because she was now never anything but alone.

'Tonight was a nice change'

'Uh huh'

'The food was good even if you still managed to take me to a Chinese restaurant', Hollis let out a small laugh, 'Still at least I got to eat it off a plate rather than out of it's container'

'Yeah'

Hollis looked at Jethro, his mind was obviously elsewhere and he just wasn't listening to her, 'Jethro is everything ok?'

Finally he looked at her, he had spent most of the evening thinking about that flash he had seen in Jen's eyes, he still had no idea what that was, or why it was haunting him. He was well aware he had been ignoring Hollis for most of the night, he supposed he should at least attempt to make it up to her. 'Sorry I'm still thinking about that case'

'We got the guy, you can relax now'

'I know', he gave her a brief kiss, 'You coming in?'

She grinned at him, 'Absolutely, although we do need to talk'

Gibbs resisted the urge to groan, why did woman always want to sit down and talk? They could never just sit in a comfortable silence with their own thoughts. In fact the only woman he had ever known who didn't insist on talking to him 24/7 was Jen, he shook himself, he was not going to think about her right now, he was focusing on Hollis. 'What do you want to talk about?'

He switched on his basement light and headed down the stairs, aware that she was following.

'Us'

Throwing his keys on the work bench he poured himself a large bourbon, he didn't have glasses so he poured it into a jar, turning he offered the makeshift glass to Hollis who pulled a face and shook her head. Gibbs took a large slug of the burning liquid before asking, 'Enlighten me, why do we need to talk about us?'

Hollis ran a hand through her flowing blonde hair, 'You know why, I've put things on hold for you, for us and I want to know where we're going'

'Why can't we just see how we go?', he really didn't want to make her any promises but at the same time their relationship was comfortable so he didn't see why it had to end.

'Because my original plan was to retire to Hawaii and I was planning to do so before the end of the tax year, it is now March and I want to know, because if we don't have a future and I mean a proper future, then I don't see the point in hanging around, I would much rather go'

Gibbs took another gulp of his bourbon as he tried to decide what he should do, he didn't want her to leave but to accomplish that he was going to have to offer her something. Without even really thinking about it he blurted out, 'Well then we'll get married'

'What?', Hollis looked at him, her eyes were wide but she couldn't hide the beginning of the smile that was tugging at the corners of her mouth, 'Jethro do you mean that'

He shrugged, 'Yeah why not? We're good together'

'Not the most romantic of proposals'

'It is my fourth, no offence but it kind of loses meaning'

'You don't say', she studied him, 'Look I know that this is not an all consuming love but I think we can make each other happy the only thing is I need to know that you mean it, I may not be an old fashioned romantic but I would like to think that my husband wanted to marry me and not just to stop me from leaving him'

Gibbs forced himself to smile, 'Of course I want to marry you'

Grinning Hollis wrapped her arms around his neck, 'Well in that case I accept', she kissed him firmly on the mouth.

He pulled away, 'So what about your job?'

'I'll keep it for now, maybe one day we can sail off into the sunset on your boat'

'Maybe', Gibbs went back to kissing her, trying to block out the screaming voice in his head that was telling him he was making yet another massive mistake.

Review, you know you want to ;)

xxxxx