When Gibbs got back upstairs, McGee had disappeared and there was a single folder sitting on his desk. Opening the folder, Gibbs discovered the list he'd requested. Not only did the multi-page document have a listing of every flower he had ever heard of, plus several he'd never known existed, but there were pictures right beside the names and a short explanation of what the meaning of the flower was. Perfect! The meanings were in alphabetical order and Gibbs slid his finger down to the top of the last page and found what he was looking for.

Pulling out his phone he dialed the number of Jenny's favourite flower shop.

"Hello, Just Blossoms, this is Melissa, how can I help you?"

"Hi Melissa. I would like to order something special for my wife. Does your shop deliver?"

The first phone call concluded, Gibbs called Jenny's office and asked Cynthia to patch him through to the security team stationed at Jenny's house. He heard her heavy sigh, could imagine her trying to come up with a reason why that wasn't a good idea. But then she also knew he might have valid security information to pass along and therefore she couldn't technically refuse his request.

"Of course Agent Gibbs. One moment."

"Special Agent Gregory," the clipped voice answered seconds later.

"Agent Gregory, this is Agent Gibbs."

"Jethro," the man said, always glad to hear from the former marine. Since Gibbs marriage to Jenny, he'd become familiar with all of her security personnel because he was around so much. "What can I do for you?"

"There's going to be a delivery made sometime in the next hour or so, from a flower company called Just Blossoms. Their company van is blue and the driver's name is Eddie Haskins. Please escort him to the front door and let...Director Sheppard know that he's alright."

"Affirmative. Will do sir."

"Appreciate it Greg," Gibbs said, hanging up. A smile spread over his face as he imagined his wife's reaction to his gift. He just hoped she got the message.

It was eleven o'clock in the morning and Jenny Gibbs was bored. She'd gone back to sleep for a little while after Jethro left this morning, basking in the memory of their first kiss in days. Then she'd spent a leisurely morning pampering herself with an extra long shower, a special hairstyle and a low key manicure. She'd even eaten breakfast this morning. Okay, well, it was just a piece of toast, but that was progress, right?

But now she was out of things to do and itching to get back to the office. While she knew NCIS was in perfectly capable hands with Cynthia and all of the agents that worked so hard to keep everything running smoothly, she really wanted to check on her agency and make sure.

In that moment she decided it was time to go back to work. The next half hour was a flurry of activity as she did her make up, dressed for her part as director and packed everything she needed in her briefcase. At 11:30, just before she was ready to go, the doorbell rang and Jenny froze.

She wasn't expecting any visitors, her security detail would likely call first, and Jethro would use his key. Jenny had a fleeting moment of panic, wondering if the man who had attacked her had escaped from custody and tracked her down. But she knew Gibbs would kill him before he let that man near her again. And anyhow, he wasn't as likely to knock as he was to break in.

Taking a deep breath and reaching for the gun she kept in the hall closet, Jenny headed for the door, the doorbell chimes going off once again. Looking through the peephole she saw a man in uniform and then a man she recognized.

"Agent Gregory?" she called.

"Yes Ma'am. I'm just escorting a delivery man Director, I didn't want you to worry."

Jenny quickly shoved the gun back into the closet and unlocked the door. "Delivery?"

"Yes Ma'am," the delivery man said, holding in front of him an enormous bouquet of red roses, already set in a clear glass vase.

"Oh my!" Jenny stepped back to let the man in and motioned for him to deposit his cargo on the hall table.

"If that's all, Director Sheppard," Agent Gregory said, seeing the man out.

"Hmm?" Jenny looked up. "Oh, of course. Thank you. I'll be out in a few minutes to leave for NCIS."

"Very good Ma'am." Hard as she tried, Jenny couldn't break him of the habit of politeness and respect for rank, so now she just accepted it.

When the door shut behind the agent, Jenny reached out a hand and tentatively caressed one of the fragrant blooms. Leaning down, she inhaled one of her favourite scents. Roses had been one of her mother's favourite flowers and Jenny had never minded receiving them either. They had to be from Jethro, she thought, there was no one else in her life that would do something like that. But why today, of all days? And why such a large amount of them? Not that she was complaining, but it was a little out of Gibbs' style to send her something like this.

Seeing a little card tucked in the middle, Jenny plucked it out and turned it over. There was no signature, just four little words, The Language of Flowers. For a moment Jenny just stared at the card and then she turned her eyes back to the bouquet as understanding dawned on her. Jethro was speaking to her through flowers, the language her mother had taught her. He remembered, she thought, absolutely dumfounded that a little story she'd told him over six years ago in Paris about her mom had stuck in his mind and inspired this gift.

A tear escaped and she quickly dabbed at it with a tissue, not wanting to ruin her make up. But her heart felt ready to burst at her husband's gesture. Fifty red roses meant unconditional love.

The phone and Gibbs desk rang and he picked it up automatically. "Yeah, Gibbs."

"Agent Gibbs?" it was Cynthia's voice and he was instantly on alert. "The Director would like to see you in her office."

Jenny was here? He must've been away from his desk when she arrived, surely he would've noticed her as she came in. Moving away from his desk immediately and taking the steps at a jog, Gibbs wasted no time in getting upstairs. He swept in the outer office door and brushed past Cynthia, just as she was saying, "Go right in."

He'd barely had time to close and lock the door when suddenly Jenny was in his arms, kissing him. A nice surprise and for the first couple minutes, he didn't question it. When she pulled back so they both could breathe, he gave her a teasing grin.

"Call me up here just so we could make out in your office Director?" Not that they hadn't done it a hundred times before, but still, it was fun to flirt with her.

"Are you complaining Special Agent Gibbs?"

He loved the look on Jenny's face, full of love and playfulness just now, with very few of the shadows left from last week. "Not at all Madame Director."

"Jethro," her voice was a warning and he chuckled. He knew how much she hated the title he'd coined for her on day one.

"So, what's with the welcome?" he asked, brushing back her hair. "Do I maybe guess that you liked my surprise?"

Jenny's smile grew. "I loved your surprise Jethro. The roses are amazing. I can't believe you remembered!"

"Oh, I remember a lot of things that might surprise you Jen."

The look in his eyes was not comforting and she raised her eyebrows at him. "Is that so? Sounds like I might have to drag those memories out of you one day."

"I could think of a few ways I could be persuaded," Gibbs said, before thinking.

Jenny's eyes clouded a bit. It was so fun to tease and flirt with him and pretend everything was okay, but all it took was something little to jar her memory and then she would remember why everything wasn't fine. Her smile was still in place but a little more plastic now and Gibbs didn't like the change.

"Jen," he started but she shook her head.

"I know Jethro." She looked up at him, "It's not your fault." She cleared her throat, "Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you." Jenny shuffled some papers on her desk, hoping he would take the hint and leave her alone for awhile. But he just moved closer and closer until he was definitely invading her personal space.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Would a hug help Jen?"

She looked up, relieved to find understanding rather than condemnation in his eyes. "Yes," she said simply and allowed his arms to envelop her in a comforting embrace. After a few moments she could feel her body relaxing and she pulled back, a real smile gracing her lips this time. She leaned forward and gently touched his lips with hers.

"I have to go back to being Director now," she said, "but thank you Jethro." And he knew she was talking about more than just the flowers.