A/N: Looks like Gibbs may have screwed-up his love-life once again. Will the poor man ever learn. Thanks for your interest. Don't forget, R&R is always appreciated. Disclaimer: I own nothing, no profit or gain.


A New Set of Rules

Chapter 5

Gibbs had truly driven like a maniac, frantically trying to reach the air base to catch EJ before she walked out of his life.

She was right. He had hidden behind his rules, using them as a rouse to keep from getting hurt, never believing he would find someone he could love, or who could love him, like the love he and Shannon had shared. But those rules, no matter how essential for his identity as a Marine or NCIS Agent, didn't hold water any longer.

Ducky was right as well. He needed a new set of rules, rules to guide the rest of his life, to guide him as a man with love to share. He needed to learn to risk. Not risk his life, that was easy, he could do that in a heart-beat. No, he needed to learn to risk his feelings, to trust that someone cared enough to have his back when he bared his soul and dropped his defenses.

He was different now. And life was shorter now. Yes, he needed a new set of rules. And he wanted to write those new rules with Erica Jane Barrett.

Gibbs parked his car and ran to the fenced civilian waiting area on the tarmac outside the main terminal. He clenched his jaw as he checked the time on his watch. It was 1455 hours. He knew the C-130's cargo hold was already buttoned-up and fueling had finished. He could see passengers exiting onto the tarmac from the terminal 50 yards to his left walking the path bordered by bright yellow lines toward the cargo ramp at the rear of the plane. He knew no more than 15 passengers would be on the transport and his gaze was intense as he searched the group for her.

His breath hitched for an instant when his eyes found her walking toward the plane. Still dressed in her gray suit, the wind from the prop-wash blew her short, blond hair into her face. He screamed at her, yelling her name frantically through the chain-linked fence until his throat was raw. It was useless. She couldn't hear him over the deafening drone of the plane's propellers.

Gibbs glanced over to the edge of the waiting area, noticing the guard posted at the corner of the fence by the locked gate which led onto the tarmac. He ran over and caught the soldier's attention.

"I need to talk to the woman in the gray suit getting on that plane," he shouted at the guard over the noise of the engines. "Her," he pointed at EJ, "the one with the blond hair."

"Sorry sir, no can do," the sentry shouted back, his voice flat and emotionless.

Gibbs sputtered, "but she's an NCIS agent and I'm a … I used to be with NCIS. I need to talk to her, now! It's a matter of life or death!"

"Sorry sir," the sentry repeated.

"But you don't understand. You've got to let me out there," Gibbs pleaded.

"Sir," the sentry's training snapped into place, "step away from the gate, now!"

Gibbs felt his stomach drop. He knew before he had started it would be useless to persist. The sentry was a Marine and even the most poorly trained Marine would never let him through the gate onto the tarmac.

As the seconds ticked away he watched EJ pace off the remaining steps to the transport. He agonized as each step brought her closer to the plane's cargo ramp, gaping open like a cold, cavernous maw ready to swallow her whole.

Gibbs' body fell slack, his tension and energy draining out in defeat. His mouth was dry, his eyes burned, ears ached. He cursed himself as he witnessed the consequence of years of fear and insecurity, of living by rules that no longer mattered - the woman he loved was walking out of his life, forever.

"Open the gate!" the shouted command came from behind him, rising above the thrum of the plane's engines. Gibbs' head shot up and he willed his tired body to turn and look at the intruder. Standing just behind him was Jerome Craig, badge and ID in hand, held up for the sentry's inspection.

"Sir?" the sentry shouted back, his voice confused.

"Marine!"

"Yes sir?"

"Do you see this ID, Marine?" Craig's voice was impatient, irritated.

"Yes sir!" the sentry snapped to attention.

"Good. Now open the gate!" Craig ordered.

"But sir, this man is a civilian, he's not allowed on the Tarmac," the sentry said, aware of his duty.

"Marine!" Craig shouted even louder this time. "This man is on special assignment for NCIS under my direct authority and supervision. His mission is to escort NCIS Special Agent EJ Barrett. Agent Barrett is about to board that plane without her escort. Do you have any more questions, Marine?" Craig sounded more serious than Gibbs could remember. But his sly smile and side long glance told Gibbs he was enjoying the intimidation of this young soldier immensely.

"No sir!" the sentry shouted and opened the gate.

Gibbs turned toward Craig, nodded and shouted over the engine roar, "Thanks Jerome, for having my back." Craig nodded and flicked his head toward the plane, directing Gibbs to move. But Gibbs had already turned, bolting out of the gate and running full-tilt toward EJ who had reached the cargo ramp.

Stepping onto the cargo ramp EJ caught a flicker of movement and turned her attention to the man running toward her. For a moment she didn't recognize him, but as he drew closer she gasped.

In the few seconds it took Gibbs to cover the remaining distance EJ stepped down from the ramp onto the tarmac. As he drew closer the crescendo of her pulse pounded in her ears. The tightness in her stomach radiated out to her arms and legs, making her light-headed for a moment. But her head cleared as Gibbs slowed his approach and finally stopped before her, an arm's length apart. She froze, unable to speak, unable to move, her eyes melting into his.

Time stopped. Her heart stilled. Sound dulled and disappeared. Movement ceased and light dimmed while everything around her faded. Her vision tunneled to a pinpoint where nothing else existed except his eyes. She gazed into them, piercing through them, exposing his soul. They reached out and embraced her, letting her in, surrounding her with the love and desire she craved. Every thought of him, every turning point, every decision that lead to this moment became crystal clear. Suddenly the possibility of happiness - of which life had granted her only a cruel glimpse - seemed within her grasp. He was here. The man she loved. He had come for her.

EJ's awareness battled back to real time and space. Of its own accord her body gave one violent shudder, sucking in a deep breath. Light seeped into her consciousness and the onslaught of the plane's engines slowly grew in her ears until they rang with pain once more. As her vision expanded she took in his entire face.

"Don't go," he shouted above the plane's roar, his eyes pleading, "I need you."

At his words her hopes suddenly dimmed and sadness gripped her heart. Her voice choked with the tears she was desperately trying to hold back, "That's not enough, Jethro. Not for me. Not for you."

He stepped forward, closing the gap between them, his face close to hers, his warm breath brushing her lips.

"I'm sorry, EJ", his voice was hoarse and shaking.

Stunned at his words, she hesitated. This was Gibbs - and he had just told her he was sorry. Apologized! Breaking the most sacred of his treasured rules.

"I need your help," he said, "to write a new set of rules."

She gazed at him in disbelief.

"But I can't do it by myself, EJ. I could never do it by myself."

She saw the wetness brimming in his eyes, felt the tenseness in his body.

And in that moment she understood what he was saying - what he was doing - and she was breathless at his courage. He was tearing down his rules - his walls. No, not just tearing them down, he was obliterating them, pulverizing them to dust. And he was doing it for her … for them. The hope and love inside her flared again.

"I've already started," he said, pausing, waiting for her response.

"How's that going?" her voice was tentative and shaking.

"I've finished the first one - Rule Number 1." He gently moved his palm to her cheek, his thumb caressing her chin.

"What's Rule Number 1, Jethro?," she asked, barely audible above the plane's engines.

"Hold on to the people that love you and never let them go."

At those words her tears finally found their release, washing away years of longing and heartache. They were tears of joy.

"I love you Erica. I always have. I need you, way more than you need me." A lone tear escaped his eye.

She closed the remaining inches between them, falling into his arms, burying her head in his chest, releasing the sobs held inside. Her emotions were no longer jumbled or confused. Her journey, no longer in question. She breathed in his scent, felt his strong arms around her and for the first time in her life she felt content.

As the minutes passed, wrapped in the protection of his embrace, her sobs subsided, her breath slowed and her mind calmed. Eventually she pulled back, looking up into his face. He smiled down at her, his love for her mirrored in his eyes.

She smiled back, finding it hard to look away. Finally she turned her attention to their surroundings. "I think they're waiting for us to get on board, get out of the way, or get a room!" she laughed.

Startled, Gibbs pulled his attention from the woman in his arms and surveyed the ground crew hovering in the background waiting patiently and looking slightly embarrassed. He chuckled. Turning away from the plane he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they began walking slowly back toward the terminal.

"You know," she sighed, her arms around his waist as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, "this is kind of surreal. If Tony were here he'd say this was just like some cheesy ending in one of his movies."

Gibbs rolled his eyes and snorted. "Screw DiNozzo," he chuckled.

EJ looked up at him, her smile demure. She stretched up and placed a lingering kiss on his lips, then moved her mouth to his ear. "Actually," she whispered, "I have someone else in mind for that!"

### END ###

A/N: Maybe Gibbs has finally got it together. We'll see. More Gibbs and Barrett to come. Stay tuned.