Decided to be nice and give you a quick update :)

The early morning sun began to creep into the room through the gaps in the curtains, the rays of light danced across the room making particles of dust appear to glitter and sparkle. Gibbs looked at the woman sprawled out in the bed next to him, the light catching her hair making it gleam gold, reaching out he wrapped a strand loosely around his finger. The movement caused her to smile in her sleep and move closer into him, he stared at the strand of hair and for a moment found himself wishing he was lying next to a certain red head instead. He let the bit of hair go, telling himself to stop it, that wasn't going to happen, he was marrying Hollis. Pushing himself up from the bed he headed into the bathroom and stood underneath the almost blisteringly hot spray of his shower. He still didn't know what had prompted him to propose, whether he had just said it because he knew it would stop the conversation in it's track and marriage no longer meant a great deal to him, it hadn't for some time, so proposing hadn't really been a big deal, maybe this time things would work after all Hollis made him…..content, maybe that would be enough this time. She was more restrained than his ex-wives and she knew and understood his job, so when he became fixated on a case she wouldn't take it as personally as the others had.

Sighing he leant against the cold tiles letting the water wash over him, if Shannon could see him know she would most likely head slap him and demand to know what he thought he was doing, taking marriage so lightly. It had been different with Shannon though, not only had he loved her unquestionably but he had been a completely different person when she was alive. Gibbs was well aware he had closed himself off after losing her and Kelly, let himself fall into the shadows. He wondered if he should tell Hollis about them, he had never told his other wives about them, they had always stumbled across it by accident which in turn sparked a massive argument about his need to keep everything to himself, they always wondered why couldn't he open up to them.

As Gibbs stood and reflected, he realised that he had never actually told anyone about his family, not even Jenny, although he had came close with her, he had wanted to tell her but had stopped short. Why it had been different with Jenny he didn't know, maybe it was because she made him happy, really happy, made him see through the darkness, gave him hope. Or maybe it was because he could see in her the same despair he knew was apparent in him, could see she was hiding secrets of her own, secrets that while they had been together had caused her to occasionally fall silent, her thoughts drifting away, now though whatever she was hiding was destroying her. Part of him wanted to step in and help her, the other part didn't want to get involved after all she had made it clear on countless occasions that she neither needed or even wanted his help or concern. Gibbs wanted to yell in frustration as he realised that he had let his mind drift back to that infernal woman once again, it was like she haunted him, she was another ghost in his past, a past that sometimes he wanted nothing more than to forget.

After a while he could hear Hollis padding around his bedroom and decided he should get out of the shower and head back into the real world. Wrapping a towel around his waist Gibbs walked into the bedroom, on seeing him Hollis smiled and sat on the bed, beckoning him over, he did as he was asked. Hollis leaned forward on her knees so she was almost level with him and wrapped her arms around him, her mouth exploring where his neck and shoulder met. He let her continue her exploration, let her pull the towel from his waist and as he eventually gave into her pull and lay her back onto the bed covering her body with his own, he couldn't help his mind from drifting back to the red head who was now almost constantly occupying his thoughts.

The team gathered in Abby's lab, awaiting the a fingerprint match to a suspect they had in custody to a baseball bat that was used to kill a Petty Officer who had got caught up in a fight while he was on leave. The suspect they had was as guilty as sin but was insisting despite having been caught on camera that he had been elsewhere that night, so before they charged him they had decided to wait on a match. Unfortunately the systems had overheated and Abby had been forced to reboot her computers, this however gave the team an opportunity to speculate on Gibbs and Colonel Mann. As usual it was Tony who was provided the bulk of the conversation,

'He'll marry her, I'm telling you that now, she is destined to be ex-wife number 4'

Abby shook her head, 'No I'm sorry but I think Gibbs has more sense than that, they're not right for each other', the Goth scrunched up her nose in near disgust, 'After all she's a blonde'

Ziva laughed, 'I don't think he picks them solely on hair colour, at least I would hope not', she raised an eyebrow, 'Although if that's the only criteria I can understand why none of his marriages have worked'

'It's not just that she's blonde, she's so cold, she's like a human iceberg', Abby shuddered, 'Has anyone seen her smile and I mean a proper smile, one that reaches her eyes', she turned and looked expectantly at McGee to back her up.

The man coughed nervously, 'Well no I suppose not'

Tony scoffed at the young man's nervous answer 'Oh come on Probie, grow a pair and be a real man', he turned to Abby, 'Anyway it's not like Gibbs is a happy go lucky person'

'He's more cheerful than that sour faced cow'

'ABBY!', All three gasped at the venom in the young woman's voice.

'What, you all know I'm right, they are not meant to be together'

'Fine!', Tony threw his hands up in mock despair, 'Since you are such an expert who is Gibbs meant to be with?'

'Jenny', She replied simply and took in the narrowed eyes of her friends, 'I know you are all still annoyed at her, although I still don't get why….'

Ziva interrupted her, 'She almost killed Tony!'

'That wasn't her fault! She is Director, she has to make difficult decisions, it's not like she planted the car bomb herself', Abby turned to face Tony, 'And you can't blame her for Jeanne, she didn't know that you would fall for her, also you look me in the eye and tell me that she didn't offer you the chance to pull out'

Tony growled mutinously, 'She should never have put me in that position in the first place'

'Oh grow up you lot! Stop blaming her for your problems', Abby sighed as the group just continued to glare, 'Oh forget it'

Gibbs wandered into the lab, 'Forget what Ab's?'

'Nothing Gibb', she beamed at him, 'Did you bring me a Caf Pow?'

'Did you get my match?'

'Computer will be up in five'

'I suppose you can have it just now then', he handed her over the cup and Abby squealed in delight. Her happiness was cut short though when Hollis walked into the lab.

The blonde gave the group her usual false smile, before focusing her attention on Gibbs, 'Are you almost done?'

'Won't be long'

Abby couldn't help herself, she had to ask, 'Where are you going?'

Hollis linked her arm through Gibbs's arm almost possessively, 'Ring shopping', she raised her eyebrow at Abby almost daring her to say anything to the next words that came out her mouth, she knew the young woman didn't like her, she made it clear but Hollis was not going to let her ruin everything, 'Jethro proposed last night'

Gibbs was pretty sure that this was the quietest his team had ever been, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop, they all looked at him questionably, he just nodded his agreement to Hollis's announcement.

It was Tony who recovered first, he grinned thinking about the pool he started the week before, 'Congratulations you two, you never know fourth time luck……', He trailed off at the sight of Gibbs's glare and thankfully Ziva and McGee jumped in with their congratulations and saved him.

Abby however stood in silence, her eyes narrowed, Gibbs looked up at her, 'Well Abs, what do you think?'

Abby dropped her Caf Pow into the bin and said pointedly, 'Your result's through, it's a match so you can go charge Mr. Spencer', she folded her arms and leaned against the counter scowling.

It was as fate would have it, at that very moment that Jenny walked into the lab, she took in the tense atmosphere and the presence of Colonel Mann and asked, 'Is everything ok?'

Hollis turned and smiled at the red head, 'Everything's perfect, the team were just congratulating Jethro and I on our engagement'

The entire room watched with bated breath for Jenny's reaction, it never came, she merely inclined her head at the couple telling them, 'My congratulations to you both', She then turned her attention back to Abby, 'I just came to let you know I managed to get the funding for that new machine you wanted'

Abby gave her a smile, she wanted nothing more than to hug the red head, she knew she had to be hurting right now, instead she smiled and clapped her hands together, 'Oh thank you, it means I can stop begging and borrowing from others'

Jenny simply nodded and left the lab without another word, Gibbs looked at Abby who narrowed her eyes again, 'I thought you were going to charge your suspect with murder'

Gibbs wasn't sure what to say, he knew Abby wasn't fond of Hollis but he hadn't expected this from her, he felt it was probably best to leave her to sulk, she would come round to the idea, he was sure of it. So he just nodded and left the room, yelling back when his team didn't follow him.

Left alone together Hollis shot a triumphant grin at Abby before walking out of the room. Abby sighed and shook her head, she loved Gibbs but he had no common sense when it came to choosing his wives.

Jenny slumped in her chair and tried to stop herself from sobbing, he was marrying her, that blonde bitch. She wasn't even that surprised, she knew all the gossip that had been going around but the reality was very different from the thought. The reality hurt like hell, she was going to have to watch him marry her and know that he would go home to her every night, that she would get to wake up with him every morning. Jenny cursed herself, why did she have to care about him when he obviously didn't care about her, she took a deep steadying breath and buried her pain with the rest of her regrets, she had to stay completely composed, she would not falter and she would not show weakness.

Like I said it is a slow burn this story but I hope I can keep your interests.

Please review :)

xxxxx