Chapter 10

Jethro walked into NCIS wanting nothing more than to be back with his wife, but he had a job to do and he wanted to make sure his time off was going to be accepted without any problem. He met with Bass' family and explained as much as he could, mostly glossing over the CIA involvement and focusing on the fact that Bass had given his life to help others. It wouldn't bring him back, but that, along with the gifts they'd received from him, would at least give them some basis for acceptance down the road.

After that, it was time to write reports, explain to Vance what had happened and that the CIA had the surviving guilty party in custody. They weren't difficult tasks, but they were time-consuming. ...time spent away from Hollis when she was the focus of all his concern. The case was over and while he was sympathetic to the losses suffered, he himself had survived this without a loss and he couldn't deny that he had a gift he didn't want to miss out on for even a second.

But no way was he going to shirk on his responsibilities. That wasn't part of his makeup.

"Hey, Boss?"

He looked up from his computer and saw Tony, Ziva and Tim arrayed around him. He raised an eyebrow in query.

"I really think you can go now," Tony said. "We know how to wrap up a case. You've already done the important stuff like talk to Vance and Bass' family. You don't need to stay here."

"Yes, Gibbs. You deserve some time off," Ziva said.

Jethro looked at Tim, wondering if he had something to say, too. It was like a serious Three Stooges. They were all nervous.

Sure enough. Tim cleared his throat and nodded in agreement.

"I was at the takedown; so my account will be enough for now...if you'll trust me to give it."

"And your friends?" Jethro asked.

Tim flushed.

"They'll be happy to hear that things worked out...and happy to know that I won't say anything about them."

"And?"

"And...they might want to ask me some questions but I know which ones I can't answer."

Jethro smiled.

"Sounds like a good idea," he said to them all.

He didn't want to stick around right now. Tony was right. They all knew what to do. He needed the time off, and Tim had seen what happened. Why was he still here? He stood up and nodded, grinning inwardly at the relief on all their faces.

"I'll be back next week," he said.

He walked around his desk and toward the elevator...but then, he stopped and looked back at his team.

"Thanks," he said. That was all.

They all smiled.

"You're welcome, Boss," Tony said, speaking for the rest of them.

Jethro gave a bit of a salute and headed home. He knew where he wanted to be.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

After the elevator door closed, Tony sighed in relief.

"I didn't think he'd go," Tim said.

"I figured he would, but I wasn't sure he wouldn't glare at us," Tony said.

Ziva laughed. "I am glad he went. He did not need to stay here and keep working right now. I am sure that Hollis would be happy to have him home."

"Definitely. And do you know what the best part of this is?" Tony asked.

"What?" Tim asked.

"I'm in charge!"

"Oh, no. Boss! Come back!" Tim said with a melodramatic gesture toward the elevator.

"Ha ha. Come on! It'll be fun! Just like...intermediate times. Not old times, but intermediate. ...and what about those friends of yours, McHacker?"

"They're just friends and they helped find Hollis. That's all I'm going to tell you, Tony. That's all I told Gibbs, too, just so you know."

Tony tsk-ed but then grinned.

"All right, Probie. I'll let you go on that. You planning on hanging out with them?"

"When I have time."

Tony grinned again. Tim wasn't giving up any information.

"I think we should get our reports done," Ziva said.

"Because?" Tony asked.

Ziva smiled. "Because the sooner we finish, the sooner we will be able to leave and celebrate."

"By sleeping?" Tim suggested. "I'm tired."

"Killjoy," Tony said.

"That's me. McKilljoy," Tim said...and yawned. "I'm going to get my report done before I fall asleep."

"You'd better take a nap now, then, Probie, because no way are you getting out of celebrating with us."

Tim smiled. "Yes, sir."

They all went back to their desks and started working. Tired but relieved that everything had gone well.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Jethro got home in record time. When he came inside, he stopped and smiled. His father was snoring on the couch. Hollis was leaning against Jason, staring at the TV and Jason was actually reading a book...with one arm protectively around Hollis.

Hollis looked up and then got up and walked over to him. She hugged him tightly.

"You're back sooner than I thought you would be."

"I got my marching orders," Jethro said. "I'm not going back until next week."

"Good. I'm glad. Can you handle that?"

"Absolutely."

Jethro was relieved to be able to be there with her at all. His arms tightened around her and for just a moment, he felt anew the potential loss. He couldn't have borne it if Hollis had been killed. It would have been too much for him, and there was a temptation to reject the connection in favor of isolating himself from the potential for loss.

At the same time, though, he couldn't give up what he had now. He had let Hollis in and he couldn't take her out of his life. He didn't want to.

"I love you, Holly," he whispered.

"I love you, too."

Jason only glanced up for a moment. He went back to his book without interrupting.

"So...what do you want to do?"

"We have a couple of days before our anniversary. What do you want to do?" Jethro asked.

"Can we just get away from here for a couple of days?" Hollis asked. "I think I need the...separation from what happened, just for a little while. That will be enough."

"Will it?" Jethro asked. "Two days?"

Hollis smiled a little.

"It'll be enough to start and I need to start."

"Okay. Where do you want to go?"

"Away," Hollis said.

"Camping?"

"I'm all right with that."

"Okay. Let's go look at where we'll go."

Hollis nodded and then looked over at Jason.

"Don't worry about me," Jason said without looking up. "I've got a book and soon I'll go and figure out when I'm going back."

Hollis walked over and hugged Jason quickly.

"Thanks for coming."

Jason hugged her back.

"I'm glad that I came for nothing."

"Me, too."

Then, Hollis went with Jethro to look at someplace they could go so that she could escape.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

They settled pretty quickly on Monongahela National Forest. It was close enough that they could easily go for a day or two and come back, but far enough away that they could be in some wilderness areas.

With that much decided, they got themselves packed as quickly as possible. Focusing on something else helped Hollis relax because her mind was occupied with something other than the abduction.

Jason found a flight that would take him home and he decided just to go, although he made Hollis promise that they'd get together later for a reunion. Jack also made himself scarce but said he'd come back anytime they wanted him to, if Hollis still wanted company after Jethro went back to work.

After all of that was done, they decided to head over to Monongahela that afternoon, even though it was late to be starting out. They hiked in a little ways before dark and then set up camp.

Out in the woods, alone, just the two of them, Hollis felt herself start to relax as she hadn't been able to in her own home. They built a fire, set up the tent, and then sat together. For a long time, neither spoke. There was no need. They just stared at the flickering light, enjoying the silence.

After perhaps an hour, Jethro broke the silence.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Me talk or both of us talk?"

"Both of us."

"Want might be too strong a word," Hollis said. "We probably should, though."

She sat up and faced him...and then, smiled slightly.

"You first," she said.

Jethro smiled as well. He reached out and took her hand.

"I would have done anything to get you back. Anything."

"I know. I'm glad you didn't have to."

There was another silence.

"Shannon and Kelly were killed when I couldn't do anything to protect them. I nearly killed myself after they died. I couldn't have dealt with it again."

Hollis squeezed Jethro's hand. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking at the fire.

"Part of me wants to hide from the possibility...just to keep it from happening again. I don't want to feel that again."

"I told you already, Jethro. If you try to divorce me because of this, I'll kill you," Hollis said, but her heart wasn't in the banter.

"I couldn't leave you," Jethro said, his voice soft. "I've been so happy with what I have, Holly. I couldn't give it up."

"Good. I don't want to give it up, either. I've waited too long for it."

Jethro was quiet again. Then, his hand tightened around hers and he closed his eyes.

"I was so afraid that I'd lose you," he said finally.

Hollis felt tears in her eyes. She knew how hard it was for Jethro to say something like that, to confess to that kind of weakness.

"People have targeted the ones I care about before, and I know it's not my fault but it always feels like it is."

"It wasn't your fault," Hollis said.

"I know."

"I was terrified," she said. "I knew I'd die if no one could find me, but I was more afraid of what else they would do. I tried to get away, but even when I tried, I knew there wasn't much of a chance. I hate feeling helpless. I hate knowing that there's I can do but wait. And that's what I had to do. Wait."

"I'm glad I could get to you in time, but when he held you there..."

"The only time I'd ever be glad to see Trent Kort," Hollis said with a bit of a chuckle.

Jethro looked at her finally.

"I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to get out of this."

Hollis shook her head instantly.

"I didn't grow up in a sheltered life, Jethro. I've seen more than my share of what people can do to each other. I've experienced it to some degree. I didn't get into this without knowing what your life was like. It's the same as my life was before I retired and I'm not going to walk out of this. Not ever. I don't want to celebrate our second anniversary with something like this, but even if I had to face it every year, I wouldn't want to leave. I don't walk away when it gets hard and I know you don't, either. You stuck it out with me. I'm in this for the long haul."

Jethro pulled her to him and kissed her.

"So am I," he said after they parted.

"Good."

They sat in front of the fire again. After a few minutes, they retreated to the tent and cuddled together and went sleep.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

The next morning, they hiked further in, making sure that they didn't walk too far that they couldn't get back in one trip. They had no destination in mind, but Jethro was familiar enough with the area that they didn't worry about getting lost. The second night, they set up camp again and stayed close together, not speaking much, just enjoying being together. When they went to bed, Jethro took hold of Hollis' left hand, holding it in his own left hand, clicking their rings together.

On the day of their anniversary, they hiked back to civilization and then in the car back to DC. As they drove, Hollis was amazed at how much more relaxed she felt coming back to DC. There was an increased tension as they were back to life, but she felt rejuvenated and ready to face dealing with what had happened. Jethro seemed more relaxed, too, after confessing his own fear. They each were aware of how it had affected the other which helped them get on the same page.

"What are we doing to celebrate?" Hollis asked.

Jethro smiled.

"The basement?" she asked.

"Of course."

"There had better be dinner involved."

"There is."

"Good."

She settled back and smiled in anticipation. She knew what they'd be doing.