"We need to get up and go to work," Jenny protested half-heartedly as she felt Jethro's hands once again begin a slow exploration of her body.
Gibbs gave a shrug, pulling her closer into his side. "So we'll be a little late."
Jenny's head snapped up, her eyes narrowed. "Who are you? And what have you done with Jethro?"
He gave a throaty chuckle. "I can just think of better things to do today."
"So can I," Jenny laughed. "But," her hand reached up, cupping his face just as he was about to turn his attention to her collarbone, her tone turning serious, "I've taken a lot of time off in the past few days and I really do need to play catch up." She gave him a slow, easy smile. "I'll leave as early as I can though." Her fingers brushed across his chest teasingly. "But I think that I'll need to go to bed early."
"Ah," Gibbs nodded in mock seriousness. "I think I can help you with that."
"Good," Jenny declared decisively as she wiggled free of his hold and stepped out of the rumpled bed. She threw his t-shirt at him, laughing, "I want you dressed by the time I get out of the shower."
He sent her one of his rare boyish grins. "I could help scrub your back? Save you some time," he suggested.
"I think we both know that doesn't save anyone's time," Jenny called back over her shoulder.
As she stepped under the warm spray of water, she let out a confused sigh. She was happy about last night's development, she truly was, but it was so complicated now, and Jethro didn't even know just how complicated it was. Eventually she'd have to leave him, again. Or stay in the shadows of his life, watch him grow older until finally….she shook her head, she couldn't think about it, it hurt too much. But she didn't have a choice, she couldn't ask him to leave everyone else he cared about for her, it wouldn't be fair.
She scrubbed the shampoo into her hair almost viciously. She was getting ahead of herself, they'd spent one night together, she shouldn't be worrying about this, she had at least another five years left in this 'life' and they might not even make it that long-
She jumped and whirled around as she heard the shower door slide open, relaxing when she saw the man in question step inside. Pushing her gently against the wall, he lowered his mouth to her ear, whispering, "It might not save time, but maybe water?"
Laughing softly, she let go of the thoughts that were plaguing her and nodded. "Maybe."
Later that night, Gibbs found himself in the place he hadn't really expected be in for once - his basement, working on his boat. He'd fully expected to be at Jenny's house tonight, making up for lost time. However she'd had a stream of meetings and had insisted that he shouldn't wait for her, promising to phone him when she finally arrived home.
He had considered going to her house and waiting for her, but knowing that she most likely wouldn't be home for hours and that he'd get bored within about ten minutes, had decided to go home and work on his boat instead.
A creak on his stairway caused his head to snap up, his brow furrowing when he saw the shadowed figure standing there. He knew instantly that it wasn't anyone he'd ever met, but was unsure of who else it could be.
His gut tugged at him uncomfortably as he asked, "Who are you?"
"That is of little consequence," came the reply, as he stepped out of the shadows.
Gibbs stared at him for a moment, feeling a surge of anger as he realised that this man fit Hector's description of Jenny's stalker. Biting back the urge to shoot him, he asked, "Well then what are you doing here?"
"Do you love her?"
"I don't think that has anything to do with you," Gibbs replied sharply, having no need to ask who 'she' was.
The stranger gave a sad smile as he replied lightly, "It has more to do with me than you could ever imagine." He turned his intense gaze back to Gibbs. "I saw you with her last night."
Gibbs felt his fists clench at the idea that such a private moment had been overlooked. "That how you get your kicks, is it? Spying on women?"
"I wasn't spying," he replied calmly. "I came to talk to Jenny, I assure you that I left quickly when I realised the nature of your relationship."
"I really should shoot you," Gibbs snarled.
"Go right ahead, although I fear you may find the experience more frustrating then you realise."
Gibbs actually considered it for a brief moment, before instead spitting out, "You're not worth the paperwork."
Henri leaned against the basement wall, his eyes focused on Gibbs, studying him intently. Finally he spoke again, "She deserves to be happy."
"And you think that you stalking her is going to achieve that?"
His eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that you really have misunderstood the situation, although that is of course partly my fault. Jenny-"
"Director Sheppard," Gibbs quickly corrected him, uneasy with the familiarity that he was using.
"I don't think she'd appreciate me being so formal," Henri informed him. "And either way what I call her is irrelevant, and has nothing at all to do with me coming here. I want to ensure that you understand what you'd be entering into if you rekindle your relationship. I don't want her to get hurt, and that is something that you could quite easily do, even if it is unintentional.
Gibbs felt his fists clench, he really wanted to punch this guy, he had the feeling that it would give him great satisfaction. Instead he ground out, "Exactly what do you mean?"
"Think about it. I know that it will be difficult to accept as you're obviously a rational man, but how do you think I was getting in and out without being noticed? How did you think I managed to get that necklace out of a locked drawer with another person in the room?"
"It's amazing what people can accomplish when they're as screwed up as you."
Henri gave a small chuckle. "You really are going to have to open your mind, Agent Gibbs, otherwise there is little point in my being here and your relationship with Jenny wil be even more fleeting than the last time." At that Gibbs snapped, Henri had been moving closer to him as he spoke and the temptation to knock him out was just too great, he could listen to this crap in interrogation. He swung his arm back, and his eyes widened as the man disappeared, leaving his fist hurtling into thin air. Gibbs stumbled on his feet as the momentum carried him forward slightly, the face he'd been planning to smack now one. Righting himself, he whirled round blood rushing in his ears as he saw the man in question leaning casually against the other wall. He raised an almost arrogant eyebrow at him as he asked, "Are you ready to listen now? To accept that somethings are not easily explained?"
Stunned in a silence that was quite unlike him, Gibbs gave a curt nod in lieu of a reply.
"I'm not human, I won't bore you with the details as to how that came to pass, but it is the truth. All that is important know is that you accept that, because what I am is what Jenny is now. If you can't reconcile yourself with that then I think it would be better for you to end things now."
Gibbs stared at him, unblinking, his eyes hard as flint. "So you can sweep right in?"
"I will comfort her if you decide to walk away, however my happiness is not my main concern, hers is and and I will do everything within my power to ensure that she is happy." And with that he faded from view.
Gibbs stared at the empty space for a few moments, trying to understand what the hell had just taken place. Part of him wondered if he'd just hallucinated then his eyes fell onto his workbench and he saw a small curling piece of green ribbon, identical to the ones that had been wrapped around the flowers Jenny had received.
He backed away from it slowly, before turning and leaving the basement.
Smiling, Jenny made to pick up her house phone and call Jethro as promised, when a hand closed over hers, preventing the movement. Looking up, she flashed Henri a warm smile, asking, "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk with you."
Jenny sent a longing look in the direction of the phone before giving a small nod. "Of course." She motioned for him to sit down. "Do you want a drink?"
"Scotch, please" He watched her easy movements and gave a small smile as he remembered how they contrasted with her somewhat awkward movements of only a few days ago. He took the glass tumbler from her hand and asked, "I hope I haven't interrupted any of your plans for this evening?"
"I can out it back by an hour or so."
"But you would have preferred not to?" he guessed.
Jenny shrugged. "I've never been known for my patience."
"Well I am sorry for interupting. It's just that I wanted to check how you were getting on."
"I'm fine," she replied quickly, almost too quickly Henri noted.
He took a small sip of his drink. "Any questions?" he asked.
Giving a small nod, Jenny looked up and met his gaze. "How did you do it? How did you walk away from every life you'd made for yourself?"
"I didn't," he admitted candidly. "I never really settled, never really attempted to build a new life after Eloise died and I left the keep. I joined the army on and off, the sense of camaraderie helped my need for friendship. I think I have fought in every major war," he reflected, before shaking his head. "But of course I saw the men I had regarded as friends die which was difficult and of course I heard them talk of their families back home, which was worse. I began to become jealous of those who had died. It was of course utterly ridiculous but by this time I would have welcomed death. The only thought that kept me going was seeing you again." He looked up meeting Jenny's stricken gaze. "That of course does not mean you'll feel the same way. There are those of our kind who do go on and rebuild their lives, most have a mate though. So they are not entirely alone."
"There are more of us?"
"Yes, not many but I have met a few over the years."
"All couples?"
"Yes. They either changed together or met later and changed their other half."
"Oh. What about those who didn't find anyone? There must be some of them somewhere?"
Henri shrugged. "I suppose there must be, but I have yet to meet them." He levelled a gaze at Jenny. "Forever is a very long time to spend alone and -"
He was interupted by the sound of Jenny's front door opening. Jenny sent him an alarmed look when she realised he was making no effort to conceal himself. She sent him a horrified look just as Gibbs appeared in the doorway. He threw a glare in Henri's direction. "Thought I'd find you here," he snapped.
Jenny looked between them, feeling like she had missed something pretty important. "Jethro, how do you know him?"
"He came to see me earlier."
"I did," Henri confirmed earlier. He looked over at Gibbs. "I take it you've made your decision?"
"There wasn't one to make."
Henri nodded, a small, sad smile playing about his lips. "Well," he said quietly, placing his drink onto the desk. "Let's get on with it then."
And gripping both Jenny and Gibbs arms, they faded away.