Gibbs walked into his house that night, glad they hadn't gotten a call. The day seemed twice as long with the therapist session added in, not to mention the effort it took just to cooperate with Dr. Renway. The house was dark and chilly. Gibbs decided to start a fire, he wanted the house warm when Jenny came home. Glancing towards the kitchen, he tried to think what was in his fridge and cupboards that he might be able to make for supper. The thought of supper suddenly reminded him.
Walking to the phone, Gibbs picked it up and dialed a very familiar number. When the female voice answered, he said with a smile, "Hello Noemi, it's Gibbs."
The call didn't take long and when he hung up, Gibbs smiled to himself. Supper, taken care of. Now to take some time to process everything Kristyn had said and Jenny had shared. He clomped down the basement stairs, his feet loud on the wooden steps. The boat looked back at him passively, as if awaiting his ministrations. Gibbs shook his head, not tonight. Tonight he needed something that would focus him more than a job he'd done a hundred times.
Looking around his basement, Gibb' eyes fell on a pile of discard wood that had all been either the wrong size, length, or shape. Digging through it, he finally came upon the piece he was looking for. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew that Abby and McGee were right to have broken Rule 12. Some things just can't be contained, love was one of those. Gibbs knew that sometime in the next year he would likely be walking a beautiful, black haired girl down the aisle to give her away to the man who loved her as much as life itself. And when that day came, he would need a wedding present to give them. Smiling just a little, Gibbs sat down at his workbench and picked up a chisel. Tonight he would do some carving.
NCIS
Tony glanced at McGee's empty desk. The probie had been gone a long time. He and Ziva were just finishing up their reports from Friday's case, then Gibbs had announced they were free to go home. Tony had been thrilled, getting out of work early meant more fun for him. But something was nagging at him. His conscience didn't come to life very often, but when it did, it tended to ruin all his fun.
Glancing over at Ziva, Tony broached a question. "Do you think we were too hard on Probie today?"
Surprised, Ziva looked up. "Feeling bad Tony?" she asked incredulously. There was something that just didn't happen.
Tony shook his head. "Nah, not really. I mean, he sort of deserved it for not telling us. And for breaking Rule 12. But..." he hedged, "the kid did seem kinda down when he left."
Ziva rested her chin on her hand and considered this. "We never really said congratulations. I suppose that is what I would like to hear from my friends if I started...dating someone."
Raising his eyebrows, Tony grinned. "Planning on starting to date someone anytime soon Ziva?"
"That is not what I said Tony," she glared at him and redirected the subject back to his original question. "I guess we did give him a hard time." She looked at her computer screen. "I am almost finished here. We can go down to the lab and offer to take McGee and Abby out to celebrate. What do you think?"
"I think that whenever you suggest going to the bar, I am in. Remember what happened last time?" he said with a smirk.
The look Ziva shot Tony warned him to be careful. "You do not have to worry about a repeat Tony. It will not happen again."
"Not even if I'm drunk?"
"I am quite sure McGee can drive you home."
"Oh, but it's so much more fun when you play escort Ziva," he teased. When a balled up piece of paper hit him in the side of the head, Tony knew two things. One, he probably deserved it and two, he was really glad it hadn't been her stapler. "Fine," he grumbled. "I won't get drunk." He shut down his computer. "Let's go find probie and his girl. I can't imagine Abby saying no to a night out at the bar." He smiled wickedly. "Unless those two have other plans tonight."
Ziva Gibbslapped him and he turned to her, a shocked look on his face. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Come on Tony! McGee is your friend. Get your mind out of the sewer."
"We've been over this one already Ziva, it's gutter! Gut-ter."
She waved her hand. "Whatever. It's not a very clean place."
They entered the elevator together and watched the numbers count down to the floor Abby's lab was on, one below Autopsy. When the elevator doors opened, they saw something neither were prepared for. Standing just outside the doorway to her lab, were Abby and McGee, arms wrapped around each other, fully involved in making out. Tony and Ziva exchanged glances, and it was barely a second before they decided staying was much more fun that leaving quietly.
Tony cleared his throat. "Well hey there guys," he said in a loud voice, "gee, hope we're not interrupting something."
McGee and Abby broke apart quickly, both wiping their lips. McGee blushed. "Uh...what are you guys doing here? I-I thought you'd be gone home by now."
"And miss this?" Tony smiled. "Not a chance."
Abby was looking back and forth between all of them. "So the reason you're haunting my lab when you could be out on a date is...?" Tony and Ziva shared a shocked glance and Abby laughed. "Oh, I don't mean out on a date with each other. Although..." she smiled slowly, "that does have intriguing possibilities. I just mean out on a date in general."
"Because seeing the looks on your faces," Ziva pointed to them, "is much more fun. Especially for Tony."
Tony shrugged. "We just came down here to offer you guys our personal congratulations on your announcement. But it seems like you were having your own celebration." Confusion passed over his face. "Why are you making out in the hallway when Abby's lab door can be locked? You know, for privacy." The way he said it meant more than just not having someone catch them kissing, but both Abby and McGee ignored it. Some things were too dangerous to touch. It was like playing with fire.
Abby shrugged. "Gibbs said no making out in the lab. This," she gestured to the hallway, "is not the lab. See? We don't break all the rules."
"No, just the really big ones," Tony pointed out.
Ziva decided it was time to get to the reason they'd come down. "Tony and I would like to take you and McGee out for drinks, to celebrate."
Abby elbowed McGee, as if to say 'I told you so'. She looked at him questioningly and he took her hand.
"Sure," McGee smiled. "Sounds like fun. Thanks." He was kind of surprised, but kind of glad at the same time. It was nice to have others excited for them, even if Tony would spent half the night trying to find some way to make a joke out of their relationship.
"But, could you keep the, you know, couple stuff," he gestured to their linked hands, "to a minimum? I have a very delicate gag reflex."
Abby punched him in the arm. "I think you'll live DiNozzo. Let's go."
The four of them stepped into the elevator, all smiles. This was going to be a very interesting evening out and they were all looking forward to it.
NCIS
At seven o'clock that night, a very tired Jenny Gibbs began packing her things away and getting ready to go home. Because of her rushed doctor's appointment, Jenny had driven her own car this morning and her security detail just followed her around. As she slipped her coat on, Jenny felt a ripple of fear run through her at the thought of facing the dark parking garage alone. Yet it felt like weakness to call her security detail and ask for an escort. Struggling with herself, Jenny turned out the lights and locked the door. A knock on the outer office door startled her since she wasn't expecting anyone. A moment later, Agent Cooper from her security detail poked his head in the door.
"Good evening Director," he smiled. "I'm here to see you to your car."
Surprised, Jenny smiled. "Spying on me Harrison?"
"No Ma'am, just thought you'd like to be heading home about this time."
Jenny followed him out the door. "Thank you." That saved her a lot of self-debate.
After a quiet ride down in the elevator, Jenny stayed close to Agent Cooper all the way to her car. The black SUV that housed her security detail was parked directly beside her. Opening the door for her, the agent moved to let her slip into her car.
"We'll follow you home Director. Special Agents Schae and Jackson should be waiting for us there." He paused. "Umm...which home tonight Ma'am?"
Jenny couldn't help but smile. "My husband's house. Thank you Harrison."
"My pleasure Director." He closed the door and joined his partner in the next vehicle.
Only after the agent left did Jenny notice that there was something unexpected in her car. On the seat beside her sat a bouquet of white roses, wrapped in florist plastic, just waiting for her. She reached out tentatively and caressed one of the blooms. Jethro. It couldn't be anyone else. Even after everything this weekend, he was still talking to her, still telling her he loved in her so many more ways than one. I miss you too, she thought, feeling a sudden urge to hug the flowers. But instead she decided to go home, and see if maybe they would get far enough tonight with each other that she could get a hug from her husband.
NCIS
When Jenny opened the door to Gibb' house, she was happy to see that he'd started a fire. There were few things that Jenny loved more than the warmth from a wood fire. Closing the door and taking off her coat, Jenny began looking for her husband.
"Hello!" she called. "Jethro, I'm home."
The basement door opened and Gibbs came out. He looked at her for a moment and she didn't know how to interpret what she saw in his eyes. "Hi."
"Hi yourself," he said.
They stood there awkwardly for a moment until Jenny finally spoke. "I think I'll go get changed." She headed for the stairs.
"Okay," he nodded. "Dinner's ready when you get down."
She turned back and looked at him with arched eyebrows. "Dinner?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Noemi brought it over."
Jenny smiled. "We are so spoiled."
"Eh," Gibbs said, "sometimes it's a good thing."
Upstairs, Jenny changed into a light blue jogging outfit. She kept them around because of comfort and not because she was an avid jogger. In truth, she usually hated running and only did it as a stress reliever on a really bad day. In the bathroom she pulled the pins from her hair and shook it loose. She picked up her brush and ran it through her long hair to remove the tangles. Finally she smiled nervously at herself in the mirror and headed downstairs to join Jethro in the kitchen.
He was standing with his back to her when she walked in the room, spooning supper onto plates. Jenny took a deep breath.
"Mmm, it smells great. What did Noemi make us?"
"Something simple," he replied. "Chicken, vegetables and rice, with that special sauce you love."
Jenny wasn't sure what else to say and felt the brave smile she'd put on slipping. Gibbs turned around when she fell silent. The look on her face made him want to hold her. She seemed so alone and he didn't want her to stay that way. But things were still uncomfortable with them, how did they make it right?
Walking over to the other side of the kitchen, Jenny switched the radio on to cover some of the silence. It was tuned to a classical station and the soft strains soothed some of the tension in the room. Watching Jenny, Gibbs suddenly knew of a way to get close to her. He crossed the kitchen and stood beside her, turning her to face him.
Leaning down, Gibbs whispered into her ear. "Dance with me Jen."
The eyes she looked up at him with were still so uncertain, so he took the lead, putting his hands around her waist and pulling her close. Jenny hesitated a moment, before lifting her arms to put around his neck. Without really looking at each other, they began to sway softly in time with the instrumental music. Step for step she followed him, the action as natural as breathing. They had so often danced together, it was another wordless language they used to communicate. Around and around in slow circles, they danced. When Gibbs pulled away from her at the end of the first song and took her hand, to spin her slowly around, he could feel the walls coming down.
During the second song Jenny held his eyes, wanting to read in them the love he was showing. Gibbs kept eye contact with her, seeing so many things in the green depths that she might not be able to say. When the song ended, they both stilled but did not move away from each other.
Jenny reached up to touch his face. "Thank you for the flowers."
He turned and kissed her hand. "I miss you Jen. It was so hard this weekend, to be here but not be with you."
"Me too," she said softly. "I hate when we fight. I'm sorry."
"Never apologize..." he started but she shushed him with a finger to his lips.
"It's a stupid rule when someone has actually done something that needs to be apologized for," she said.
"Let's not do that again," Gibbs said slowly, holding her tighter.
Jenny laughed. "What? Be together?"
But Gibbs was very serious. "Get so far away."
Jenny sighed and stood on her tiptoes to lightly kiss him. It was a moment before he kissed her back and the kiss spoke for them, everything else they needed to say.
"I love you," she whispered, laying her head on his chest.
Gibbs throat felt tight and he pulled her into a hug. "Me too," he choked out. He'd never been so grateful to hold her.
That night as they lay in bed, facing each other, still keeping to their own sides, Gibbs reached out and found Jenny's hand, holding it gently. There were no other words needed. He wasn't going anywhere and Jenny knew it. And as she felt him trace a finger around the scars on her wrist, Jenny also knew that she didn't want to lose anymore time with him by pushing too hard. That was how they stayed all night, tethered by their hands and content for now, in the knowledge that they loved each other and that would be enough to get them through whatever may come.