Tuesday was all about the little things. Waking up to a smile and a 'good morning' from the other. Gibbs meeting Jenny with a cup of coffee when she was done in the shower. Jen making scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, Noemi again being given the early morning off. It was Gibbs opening the car door for Jenny, something he always did, but today somehow he was more purposeful about it. It was holding hands in the elevator and a kiss on the cheek before the doors opened.

Later in the morning the team got called out on a case. A military vehicle carrying explosives had been hijacked, leaving two marines dead and more lives in jeopardy. When they got back from the crime scene, there was a note on Gibbs desk. My office, when you have a minute. J. Gibbs had to smile. He liked this new thing with the notes. Even at work they could still keep things private, just between the two of them.

Because he was in a good mood, Gibbs decided to be nice to Jenny's assistant.

"Afternoon Cynthia. The Director in?"

Cynthia stared at him dumbly, unable to believe her eyes and ears. Since she couldn't form a sentence, she simply nodded.

"Thank you."

She frowned. Special Agent Gibbs must be sick, the assistant decided, or he has amnesia again. This was not normal and that was never a good thing.

Gibbs walked in Jenny's office door, flicking the lock out of habit. "Hey Jen."

Barely looking up from the report she was reading, Jenny pushed a cup of coffee towards him. Gratefully Gibbs picked up the cup and took a long swallow.

"Ahh...just what I needed. Thanks Jenny."

Jenny finished the last paragraph and put it down, removing her glasses and smiling at him. "Can you get away for lunch today?" she asked.

Gibbs looked surprised, this was something new. He made an apologetic face. "Wish I could Jen, but this case is top priority. I'm stuck here until we find that truck."

Jenny leaned back in her chair, fiddling with her glasses. "Okay, just thought I'd offer."

"Can I take a raincheck?" he asked, hoping.

She nodded.

Gibbs appreciated the effort Jenny was making. "How's your day been?"

She smiled wryly. "Paperwork, phone calls, meetings..." she sighed. "A Director's work is never done. I get to supervise an op in MTAC this afternoon though," she brightened.

"Is that your favourite place?" he asked, taking another drink of coffee.

"Dark room, comfy chairs, people who hang on my every word...what's not to like?" Jenny asked, smiling sweetly. "Plus, it's a good place to talk when you're waiting for something to happen. And only so many people have clearance to get in there."

Lifting one eyebrow, Gibbs scrutinized Jenny's face. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that sounded like an invitation."

Jenny shrugged innocently. "It's open for interpretation Agent Gibbs."

"Uh oh, back to 'Agent Gibbs' huh? Am I in trouble again?"

"Should you be?" Jenny asked. "Done something in the last couple hours that I need to know about Jethro?"

He held up his right hand. "I swear that so far this morning I have not ticked off the FBI, tangled with any reporters, or even slightly bent the rules that govern this organization."

Jenny burst out laughing. "Well...if only I could hold you to that oath every day. My life would include a lot less smoothing out of agency related wrinkles."

"I think you'd be bored if you didn't have to unruffle FBI feathers or give a polished statement to the newspapers regarding your rogue lead agent once in awhile."

She rolled her eyes. "You'd be surprised. There are actually other things to do around here."

Gibbs phone chirped and he grabbed it. "Gibbs." He listened briefly. "Okay Duck, on my way." Glancing back at Jenny, he gave her one of his half-grins. "Sorry Boss, gotta go. Ducky found something."

Jenny watched him from her chair for a moment before getting up and coming to stand in front of her desk, the two of them separated now by only a couple feet. "Be careful chasing the bad guys."

He reached out and rubbed his thumb on her cheek. "Don't worry Jen. I'll see you later."

Then he was gone and Jenny wondering how long it would be before she would be kissing him goodbye again.

NCIS

Later that day, while the team was still busy following leads and trying to track down where the truck might've been taken, Jenny walked out of MTAC. Having nothing urgent that required her to immediately rush back to her office, she stood for a moment at the railing of the upper floor and watched the activity below in the bullpen. McGee was typing on his computer, tracking something. Tony was on the phone and Ziva stood with her arms crossed, in front of Gibbs' desk, gesturing to something on the plasma and talking with Gibbs.

Still holding her folder, Jenny leaned on the railing, her eyes only seeking to follow one person. Because of her viewpoint, she saw the moment he noticed her there. It showed in his stillness, how he stopped what he was doing and ever so slowly looked up. Jenny smiled at her husband, loving that no matter what was going on, he knew she was watching. She could see how he tried to stop the grin from spreading over his face, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away.

Seconds later he excused himself from the group and started up the stairs towards her. Jenny thought that either the team had been warned against spying, or the case really was absorbing them fully, because not a head turned in their direction when Gibbs left. At the top of the stairs, he turned, taking the last steps to reach her slowly.

Jenny couldn't help as her own smile widened. "Jethro."

"Hey Jen." He looked at her for a moment. "What, you got nothing better to do than spy on me?"

She shrugged. "Just enjoying the view."

Gibbs face registered surprise. Jenny was practically flirting with him.

She stared back. "I noticed my invitation went unaccepted."

He inched closer. "Not for lack of interest," Gibbs felt compelled to mention. "The case."

Jenny nodded. They seemed to have run out of things to say, but both were comfortable with silence, having used it both as a shield and a comfort over the years. Finally Jenny straightened and moved to walk by him back to her office, but Gibbs caught her hand as she passed and Jenny looked at him questioningly.

"Can I cash that lunch raincheck in for a supper date?"

"A date?" she raised her eyebrows. "I don't know. Management kind of frowns on fraternization between co-workers."

"Is that so?" Gibbs asked, teasing. "And how do they feel about kissing?"

Jenny tried to bite back her smile. "I guess it depends on the kind of kissing. Now, making out on the catwalk, that would be unprofessional. But a kiss on the cheek?" she held her hands up. "That might be allowed."

Gibbs leaned closer, his face hovering beside hers for a moment before he pressed his lips to her soft cheek. "Well, we wouldn't want to be breaking any rules now, would we?"

Jenny shook her head at him and started backing away but Gibbs was still holding her hand.

"I'll come get you when I'm ready to go, how's that?"

"Works for me," she smiled, "there's always plenty to keep me busy around here." She tugged on her hand and when he didn't let go she arched her eyebrows at him. "Do I get it back?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Oh yes, dinner. Will this be a formal event?"

Gibbs made a face. "I was thinking something more like Chinese take out in front of the fire."

That was bribery, two of her favourite things, well 3 really - Gibbs, Chinese, and fire warmth. "Deal." She looked down at his agents busy at their work. "I guess you have to get back to work."

He sighed. "I guess. Bad guy to find. Later Jen."

"Okay," she smiled, watching as he descended the staircase to re-join his team.

NCIS

Hours later, with the bad guy in custody, the stolen truck and it's contents found unharmed, and the paperwork completed, Jethro Gibbs sat on a couch in his wife's livingroom, hungrily devouring oriental food with chopsticks.

Jenny laughed. "It's not going anywhere Jethro."

He slowed down and offered an apologetic expression. "Sorry. Missed lunch."

She didn't bother adding, 'me too', he would only worry. Picking through her chow mein, Jenny focused on removing the bean sprouts one by one.

Comfortable silence surrounded them while they ate. When Jenny finally set her takeout container aside, unable to eat anymore, she looked at her husband. "Did you want coffee? I could make some."

She was about to get up when he caught her hand. "It's a nice night out. Care to go for a walk with me?"

Jenny followed his gaze out the window. The sun had long since set, twilight had come and gone. She bit her lip. "It's dark out now."

"It's peaceful at night," Gibbs commented, wondering if her apprehension about the dark was going to be a large obstacle to overcome.

Struggling with herself, Jenny desperately searched for another excuse. Finding none, she sighed and told him what she was really thinking, her eyes focused on a loose thread in her jeans. "Bad things happen at night."

Gibbs tipped her chin up, seeing the fear in her eyes. "Good things can happen at night too."

"I don't know..." Jenny hedged.

"Do you trust me?"

"For what?" she looked back at him and he found it interesting that she had qualifiers for trust. Something to think about later.

"To be there. To keep you safe. To not let anything bad happen."

Jenny hated that she had to think about that question. Before she was kidnapped, the answer would have been an unequivocal 'yes'. Now there was a huge disconnect between the truth she knew and the truth she could make herself believe.

"I'll try," she whispered, wishing she could give him more than that.

Gibbs smiled. "I can work with that." He stood up, pulling her with him. "Come on Jen, I bet the stars are beautiful tonight."

He held her coat for her to put on and locked the door securely behind them. Jenny reached for his arm immediately and he kept it tucked close to his body, wanting her to feel the strength there. No one was going to hurt his Jenny tonight, or ever again, not if he could help it. They started off heading west, Gibbs only planning to take Jenny around the block. He could feel the tension in her body as she walked close beside him. She wanted to walk faster than they were going, to get it over with. But once they'd gone about a block, she was beginning to relax.

By the second block, their pace had slowed to a wander and they enjoyed the peacefulness of their neighbourhood at night. On the third block there was a darker section in the middle, in front of a small park. Gibbs steered Jenny towards the bench there. She wasn't terribly happy about more darkness, but with Gibbs right beside her it was hard to think of something going wrong.

Sitting down, he put his arm along the back of the bench, and invited her to join him. Jenny plastered herself to his side and he held her close, wanting to reassure. Looking up at the sky, he began to point out the various constellations.

"There's the Big Dipper, right there, and just to the left, the Little Dipper. See those three bright stars in a line? That's Orion's Belt. The Hunter - I like him. And there's Pegasus. I bet you wanted one of those when you were a little girl."

Jenny smiled faintly. "I had one once. Mom was the one who indulged my love of fantasy creatures. Daddy always bought me teddy bears, dogs, horses - anything that was real."

Reaching into his pocket, Gibbs pulled out the present he'd been waiting all day to give her. He'd wanted to give it to her on the weekend, but for obvious reasons it hadn't worked out.

"Jenny?"

"Hmm?" she said, her eyes straining into the darkness, looking for other patterns in the stars.

He dangled the delicate silver chain from his fingers. "For you."

She looked at him curiously. "Jethro? What's this for?"

"Just because."

She laid the pretty little butterfly in the center of her palm. "It's beautiful."

"It's the symbol for hope," he explained. "I thought maybe you could use some of that about now."

Jenny had several necklaces that she liked to wear, all collected from different memories. But she hadn't worn one since her kidnapping and she smiled at her husband, holding up her hair.

Gibbs took the cue and carefully fastened the chain around her neck. Jenny touched the pendant, which sat just on her breastbone.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You are getting very good at surprises."

He pulled her closer, so her back was leaning against his chest. "You're worth it," he said softly into her hair.

Jenny decided right then with the stars above them and her husband's solid warmth at her back that maybe, just maybe, the darkness wasn't quite so scary anymore. After all, what could happen with Leroy Jethro Gibbs watching her back?