Jenny sat at her kitchen table, back in comfy clothes, with her hair in a ponytail. One foot was pulled up to rest on the chair as she solemnly regarded the piece of toast in front of her. She knew she should eat, knew that two days without food and two and a half more days with barely any was a bad thing. But she didn't want to just eat and have it come back up. Throwing up would make an already not great day exponentially worse.

Before she had firmly made a decision one way or the other about her toast, she heard a key in the lock. Jenny turned her eyes to the oven, checking the time. Her eyebrows raised. Five-thirty and Jethro was home? It couldn't be anyone else. He was the only other person with a key to her house. She stood up when he came in and met him in the entry way, alarm in her eyes.

"Jethro? What's wrong?"

Gibbs lips twisted in a half-grin. "What? For once I come home at a decent hour and all of a sudden something's wrong?"

Jenny stepped closer and put her hands on her husband's chest, feeling his arms come around her waist. "I know you Jethro. You don't come home at five-thirty ever, especially on a day when you have an active investigation."

Gibbs looked at Jenny with love in his eyes. "I got back to the bullpen this afternoon only to discover that my wife was missing." He tucked an escaped piece of hair behind her ear. "I wish you hadn't left without me Jen."

Jenny raised her hands to his face. "Silly man. I thought you trusted my security detail Jethro."

"Ah, they're alright I guess. But I like me guarding you better."

He followed her back into the kitchen and eyed the lone slice of toast. "Supper Jen?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. My stomach isn't sure yet."

Gibbs looked his wife up and down. He was worried about her. She was skinny enough already, but if she kept this not eating act up, he was afraid she might get sick. He shook his head at her and opened the fridge.

"Let's see if we can't find something slightly more appetizing than toast."

Unfortunately, her fridge had about as many meal supplies as his. Still, he managed to find some leftover turkey from something Noemi had made and proceeded to make them each a sandwich. Settling down at the table with his place and sliding the other one across to Jenny, Gibbs took a bite and closed his eyes.

"Mmm. Best meal I've had all day." He opened his eyes and watched as Jenny picked up half of her sandwich and barely nibbled at it. "So, how did your shrink appointment go?"

Jenny let the sandwich fall back to her place, any appetite she might've had suddenly gone. Gibbs narrowed his eyes, wondering if she knew her body language was like reading a book.

She massaged her forehead slowly. "It was...awful," she admitted, keeping her eyes closed. "Kristyn, Dr. Renway, was nice enough, but..." she felt his hand curl around hers and opened her eyes, suddenly afraid she might cry. She shook her head. "I didn't want to talk about it Jethro but she made me go through it all again. Now," jenny looked behind her and through the doors, feeling something lurking, "I'm scared again. I don't feel safe, not even here. I don't want to dream about it again. Once was enough."

Gibbs rubbed his thumb back and forth across her hand. "What was the worst part Jenny?"

Jenny's eyes widened. "The whole thing was the worst part, everything that happened Jethro."

"No," Gibbs shook his head. "The whole thing was awful, I know. I can't and don't want to imagine what you went through. But when you think back, what makes you feel the worst about it?"

Jenny nodded slowly, understanding. "I think...how helpless I felt. That way I was tied, Jethro," she lifted troubled eyes to his, "it didn't matter what I did or how I struggled," she ran her fingers over the angry red on her wrists absently, "I couldn't get free. I had no way to defend myself, no way to stop it."

Gibbs raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, wishing he could remove the reason for the two small tears that escaped while she talked. "Thank you," he whispered.

Jen looked up. "For what?"

"For talking to me," he said simply.

Jenny's heart melted. "Jethro," she said softly, standing up for a hug.

Gibbs stood there and held her close, his hand cupping the back of her head. There was no rush. He knew the comfort that a hug could give. He would've gladly stood there all night if she wanted. When she drew back, he smiled at her.

"Come with me."

He led her into her sitting room, full of comfortable furniture and bright paintings. Flipping a switch on the wall, he set the gas fireplace ablaze. Gibbs picked the long, three seater couch and they both sat down, her at one end and him at the other.

"I was thinking," he said, trying to learn how to announce his attentions before touching her in any way, "that after a long, crappy day at work in those crazy high heels you wear," they exchanged a smile, "a foot rub might feel good."

Jenny's face lit in surprise and she nodded slowly, that teasing smile that he loved working it's way across her mouth. Gently, he picked up first one foot and then the other, until they were both resting in his lap. He took his time, pulling off her socks and running his hand across her foot and up her ankle, being careful of the bruised skin there.

Gibbs watched as Jenny closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushions. He was glad to see her relax. He started with her heel and worked his way up to the ball of her foot, brushing his fingers against the ticklish skin of her arch.

Jenny opened one eye to glare at him. "Jethro," she said in warning, "don't forget that I know where you're ticklish."

Gibbs smile grew. "Is that a challenge Jen?"

She closed her eyes again, considering. Finally she opened them. "No," she said wistfully, "not this time." They often got in tickle fights that included chasing each other all over the house, getting caught, getting away and finally collapsing somewhere soft and trying to get their breath back from laughing so hard. The problem was she was still sore all over and not up for the making out that usually came after those tickle fights.

Gibbs knew what she was thinking. He loved her, a lot, and so far every part of being married was great. Even the fights weren't so bad, because there was no storming off to separate houses and letting those feelings fester. Instead, they had to eventually work things out because they still shared the same bed at night. And making up, well, that was always the best part.

These last few days had been a whirlwind of activity and a roller coaster of emotions. From the second he stepped foot back in the garage and saw that her car was still there, he'd known something was wrong. Immediately he was on the phone, getting McGee to track her cell phone and check the security tapes. But the tapes weren't clear enough and had to go to Abby and Jen's cell signal had died off when the trace was only partially complete.

He knew why Jen hadn't slept for those forty hours, but he hadn't either. He spent half the time beating himself up for not taking better care of her and the other half chewing out his team for not getting results fast enough. Gibbs couldn't begin to describe his relief when they found her, knowing that after forty hours they were almost assuredly looking for a body. And after only seven months with her, Gibbs was not ready for that.

The next few days, the next week, the next couple months were not going to be easy. He had to fight with himself not to push her to be more comfortable with his touch, not to demand that she spill details about what that creep did to her, not to force her to face up to what had happened. He could so easily lose her by doing or saying the wrong thing. She didn't need an agent right now, she needed her husband and he was darned if he was going to fail on this, his most important mission.

So he would wait. He would let her lead, let her decide what was okay for them right now. He would hold her, comfort her, protect her and wait some more for the day when they could get back to being them. He didn't want her to spend forever living in the shadows.

Finished now with her feet, Gibbs slid Jenny's socks back on, knowing she was cold. Suddenly he had an idea. He wasn't really all about spontaneity, but once in awhile it happened.

"Hey," he said softly, causing his resting wife to open her eyes again. "You want to go out for ice cream, Jen?"

Jenny looked up at the clock, expecting to find it after ten, surprised that it was still not quite seven pm. "Ice cream? And who was it lecturing me about dessert yesterday?"

Gibbs held up his hands, innocent. "Lecture? What lecture? I was just commenting on an observation."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Sure you were." She loved this man. Folding her hands, she studied him, seriously considering his offer. "Okay," she smiled. "Let's go." If it was dark she would've had more reservations about going outside. As it was, the sun was only just getting to the point of setting.

They headed for the entryway and grabbed their coats, then Gibbs pointed the car towards Georgetown and their favourite little ice cream emporium. Half an hour later the two of them got in line, holding hands and looking like any other normal couple out on a Friday night. When it was their turn, Gibbs looked at Jenny to decide first. Her eyes skimmed over the selection.

"Rainbow sherbert please."

"Of course Ma'am," the attendant said. "And for you, Sir?

Gibbs considered trying something different, but there was no point. "Double chocolate."

"Right away."

As they waited for their order to be filled, Jenny leaned back into him. "Chocolate? Really Jethro? They have twenty flavours of ice cream and you choose chocolate?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Creature of habit."

"Thank you," Jenny said as they received their dishes and spoons. "Yes, you are. Which makes ordering for you at a restaurant relatively simple but makes it a hundred times harder to shop for your birthday because you always use the same things and you only listen to five songs. Did you know," she turned and smiled at him, "that they have put out a few new ones since the last time you bought a record?"

They took a seat at a corner table. "Ahh, I like the old stuff Jen. No need to switch it up." He looked into her eyes, "I've got everything I want right here."

Jenny smiled just for him. "One of the other reasons it's so hard to stay mad at you Jethro. You can be the most stubborn, pain in the butt sometimes, but then you also say the sweetest things that make me want to stay in your arms forever."

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Planning on going somewhere Jen?"

She leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek. "Never."