Tony looked at his watch after the bosses left. "Alright," he grinned, "1700 and no new calls. As your temporarily reinstated team leader, I am declaring now to be home time." He grabbed his jacket and bag from his desk. "I've got some partying to catch up on. See ya!"
Ziva rolled her eyes and began slowly packing up her things. McGee was still sitting and working on his computer. She walked over to his desk, and he looked up, smiling at her.
"Thanks for coming with me today Ziva, it was nice to have company." McGee shrugged. "Too bad we didn't see anything we liked."
Ziva perched on the edge of Tim's desk. "I know this Jewish man who owns a shop in Silver Springs. He can custom make anything you want. It is something to think about. Abby is a unique woman McGee, perhaps a ring you design would have more meaning for her, yes?" She handed him a piece of paper with the jeweler's phone number and the address of his store. "Tell Abram that Leah sent you." At Tim's questioning look, Ziva grinned. "Old contact from an undercover Mossad mission. He will know who you mean."
McGee's eyes widened. Ziva was using her contacts to help him out with Abby's ring? "Wow, thank you," he said. "I really appreciate this Ziva."
She nodded. "I knew you would." Before heading out, Ziva looked at him curiously. "Are you staying McGee?"
He smiled. "Just killing time while I wait for Abby. I'm taking her out to dinner tonight."
"Have a good time," Ziva said as she walked to the elevator.
"See you Monday Ziva," McGee responded and went back to his game. He was looking forward to a night out and possibly a weekend in, spending time with his beautiful girlfriend.
NCIS
Gibbs and Jenny were headed out of town. Jenny was so ready for this, to try to get them back, to them in a place away from the familiar, with no distractions and no anything else to get in the way of them being able to focus entirely on each other. At a red light she leaned over and turned Gibbs' face towards her, kissing him slowly. When she pulled back, his eyes were still closed. Jenny glanced out the windshield, loving that it only took one kiss for her husband to lose his focus, and several seconds for him to get it back.
"Jethro," she grinned, "the light is green."
Gibbs gave her a dirty look as he sped up. "That was totally unfair Jen. Now I have to think about that for the next hour, knowing I can't get another one until we get there."
Jenny lifted one eyebrow. "We could always pull over somewhere," she suggested. "You know, just so you don't forget you're driving."
Gibbs shook his head. "No can do, as tempting and high school as that sounds. We have dinner reservations at 7:30 pm tonight."
"Oh we do, do we?" Jenny batted her eyes at him. "It's a good thing I brought something more fancy than my work suit then."
"You look good in anything Jen," he responded quickly, thinking about the many different ways he'd seen her over the years.
She shoved his arm lightly. "I think your opinion is slightly biased Jethro."
Gibbs raised Jenny's hand to his lips. "Not a chance."
Jenny smiled at him. A moment later though, she was back to being curious. "Dinner reservations where exactly?"
He shook his head. "No way Jenny. You wouldn't trade Christmas present secrets for the answer, so now you have to wait."
Jenny raked her fingers gently through his short silver hair, feeling him relax into her touch. "If I told you now what your Christmas present was, you wouldn't have anything to be surprised about on December 25th."
Gibbs glanced at her. "I could act surprised."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "You never act surprised."
He shrugged. "Doesn't happen too often."
"We'll have to see about that," Jenny smiled, leaving the thought hanging.
Just over an hour later, after long stretches of nothing but road and sky, they finally made it to their destination, a much smaller city with a slower pace some sixty miles outside DC. Gibbs slowed the car as they joined the traffic heading down Main St. After a couple of turns they pulled up in front of a quaint, Victorian style house on a quiet street.
"A bed and breakfast, Jethro?" Jenny asked, her eyes lighting up.
He grinned. "I thought you'd like it."
"I do." Jenny got out of the car slowly and looked up at the wooden sign hanging out from the front of the house. Bluebird Hollow, it even sounds peaceful, she mused, before joining her husband at the trunk.
Even though she tried, Gibbs refused to let her help with their luggage. Jenny crossed her arms.
"I can carry my own bag Jethro," she informed him.
Gibbs shook his head. "Let me take care of you this weekend Jen."
Relenting easily, Jenny followed her husband up the front steps and into the foyer. At the little, antique reception desk, Gibbs nodded to the older woman sitting there.
"Reservation for Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs," he announced.
"Yes, of course," the woman said, smiling. "Welcome to Bluebird Hollow. I'm Mrs. Skye but everyone around here calls me Holly. Right this way please." She led them to a lovely oak staircase and looked at them apologetically. "I'm afraid it's four flights up." Her eyes met Jenny's. "Your husband reserved our best suite."
Jenny mouthed the words at Gibbs as they followed Holly, and she told them some of the history of the place during their walk upstairs. The more she heard, the more Jenny was beginning to think her husband deserved a big hug and kiss when they were alone. The house was huge and beautiful, she loved it already.
They turned left down the hallway at the top of the stairs and Holly unlocked the door, handing Gibbs the key. "Here it is!" she said with a flourish. "If you need anything just press 1 on the phone, it connects right to my desk." Holly checked the clock. "The first sitting for supper is actually right now, but I believe you requested the second, more formal sitting at 7:30 pm. Is that right?" Gibbs nodded and the older lady looked pleased. "Good. We'll see you then. Enjoy your stay." With that, and a swish of her skirt, the woman was gone.
Jenny turned around slowly. "I love the room," she told Gibbs.
It was painted yellow and the light coming in through the big window on the far wall made the whole place feel open and airy. On the left was a little kitchenette and breakfast nook area with a small table and two chairs. There was open floor space in the middle of the room and to the right, a queen sized bed and ensuite bathroom.
When she looked back to Gibbs, he was suddenly right in front of her, holding a barely opened orange rose. He brushed it softly down her cheek and Jenny closed her eyes for a moment. Gibbs took the opportunity to close the distance between them, putting his lips on Jenny's.
"So what is this for Jethro?" she asked when he wasn't quite so close.
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at his wife. "What? You don't know the meaning of this one?"
Jenny's eyes darkened and the look she gave him was anything but innocent. "I know exactly what it stands for. I'm asking what you want it to mean."
He was only inches away, staring straight into her eyes. "Jen," he said her name like a caress and it was all Jenny could do not to get lost in everything about her husband while he was standing so close. Gibbs closed his eyes for a second. "You heard Kristyn today. We've been waiting a long time for this, to be together again, but I don't want you feel any pressure. I just want you to know what I'm hoping for."
Jenny breathed in the scent of the flower that meant desire, wanting it to bloom for both of them this weekend. She was finally ready to be with her husband, to love him with her body, her mind, and her heart.
"Jethro," she said softly, meeting his eyes, her hand resting slightly on his cheek, "it's what I'm hoping for too."
The next instant Jenny was crushed to Gibbs' chest and she welcomed his kiss, the way his strong hands cradling her face and neck, and how his body felt warm and solid against hers surrounding her with safety. It was how she always felt with him. It was several minutes before the passion and desire clouding their minds was overridden by an ounce of practicality. Gibbs broke the kiss and took a couple deep breaths.
"We have reservations at 7:30," he reminded Jenny.
She looked just as reluctant as he was to stop what they were doing. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Gibbs grinned. "Yes. Can you be ready?"
Jenny sighed dramatically. "I guess I don't have much choice." She moved towards her bag, taking the whole thing with her into the bathroom.
"Secret?" Gibbs asked, amused.
Jenny shook her head and winked at him. "Surprise," she said and closed the door, leaving him to wonder.
NCIS
Twenty-eight minutes later Gibbs was standing by the bed in a dark, checkered dress shirt and black pants, checking his watch.
"Jenny, come on," he called. "We're going to be late!" Shaking his head, he wondered what could possibly be taking so long. Not that he'd never experienced this phenomena before. First with Shannon and then with Jenny, he'd learned that no matter how much time they were given, women were never out of the bathroom until five minutes after they needed to leave to go wherever they were going. Still, he usually appreciated the end result enough to forget his annoyance at waiting and being late to leave.
The bathroom door opened and Gibbs turned to face his wife, scrambling to keep his mouth from falling open. With her shining red hair done up in a fancy French twist, gold spirals dangling from her ears, and a necklace he remembered from Paris gracing her slender neck, Jenny looked amazing. She stood there in the same sparkly, pale green dress with matching jacket and bag, that she'd worn to his basement one night shortly after she'd become Director, when a little boy whose dad was missing was helping him with the boat. Gibbs had loved the dress then and he loved it on her now. In all the time they'd been married, he hadn't seen the dress again until tonight.
He whistled softly.
Jenny smiled, her words an echo of that other night. "I'd prefer if you just said you liked my dress Jethro."
Gibbs looked her up and down lazily, twirling his finger in the air for her to spin around slowly. He shrugged nonchalantly, but his grin gave him away.
"Haven't decided yet," he finally answered, stepping closer for a kiss.
"Liar," she whispered, leaning into his touch.
Gibbs tucked her hand into his elbow. "Shall we?"
Jenny nodded, promise shining in her eyes.
NCIS
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, a man dressed in a suit was waiting for them.
"This way please," he said, leading them into the formal dining room.
Eight round tables were scattered around the spacious room, each set for two people. So far six couples had already claimed their places. Gibbs and Jenny were led to a seventh table in the corner, near a darkened window. A candle glowed in the center of their table, the white table cloth and fabric napkins lending an air of class to their old-time surroundings.
Gibbs waved off the man and pulled Jenny's chair out himself, before taking his own seat.
"First course will be served in ten minutes," their host, Nathan, explained. "Giselle will bring your water in a moment."
They thanked the man and only a moment later a young, blonde girl came up to their table with a tray, setting a glass of water in front of each of them.
"Hi there," she smiled. "I'm Giselle, Holly's granddaughter. Nathan is my dad. We're kind of a family operation around here. Just sit tight, the soup will be out shortly. I hope you enjoy your meal."
Jenny smiled at the girl but Gibbs only had eyes for his wife. He had been waiting since this morning, when Abby had slipped him the poem on her way up to Jenny's office, for the moment he got to give it to her. Now seemed just right.
"Jen?"
She looked back at him, a contented expression on her face. "Yes?"
Gibbs pulled the rolled up piece of paper from his pocket, and held it a moment before handing it to her. She raised her eyebrow at the black ribbon encircling it and he shrugged. "Abby's idea," he explained.
Jenny nodded and pulled at one end. The ribbon fell away and she slowly uncurled the sheet, taking in the old-fashioned calligraphy writing, and the artistic additions to the border that had to be Abby's personal touches. It was a poem entitled, "For You, My Love." As her eyes skimmed down the page, Jenny found herself remembering each moment he'd chosen, and looked up at her husband, tears shimmering in her eyes.
For You, My Love
I love you unconditionally,
I admire your courage,
I want you to know you can trust me,
that I love you and I always will, no matter what.
I believe in your innocence and the purity of your heart,
it makes me happy that we got to share a secret love.
We are together in this, as we are in all things.
I will be patient, there is no rush. I'm sorry, I was trying to care but didn't know how.
I want to be the leader, the one who fights for us, and your strength.
You promised you won't leave this time and I don't want either of us to be alone.
An anchor, my gift for today, to keep you here with me when the memories want to take you back.
Even when things aren't right, I love you.
When we don't talk, I miss you.
I want you to have hope to hold onto,
that there will be life after what happened,
and someday everything really will be okay.
Your favourite flower, a symbol of our love.
I want you to know that every day I will find you even more beautiful.
Admiration is only one of the many things I feel for you.
You reminded me of our memories and to hope for many more wonderful ones in the years to come.
Thank you for our promise - always have, always will.
Everything I have given you has been left with love.
My hope is that this desire will bloom for us both while we are away.
Jenny, my beloved wife and best friend, I will love you forever.
She'd barely finished reading it before Gibbs slid a long back box across the table towards her. "This is yours too."
Feeling slightly overwhelmed, she knew Jethro could be romantic but this was more than she'd ever experienced, Jenny slowly picked up the box and opened it. On the velvet backing was a delicate gold bracelet with a series of flat gold hearts linked by gently curing gold lines. Gibbs took it from her and pulled the bracelet from where it was held. She held out her wrist and he clasped it on for her, admiring the way the candlelight caught the gold and made it shine.
He saw the question in her eyes. "Because you already have my heart Jen, so you might as well wear it."
Jenny melted at his words, wishing they were somewhere more private so she could use more than words to express her feelings in this moment. "It's beautiful Jethro, thank you." She fingered the poem. "I didn't know you wrote poetry."
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "You're the only one I'd do that for Jen."
She put her hand over his and leaned forward. "I'm honoured Jethro." She shrugged helplessly. "This all seems like too much."
He shook his head firmly. "Nothing is too much for you Jen."
Jenny looked around them and laughed quietly. "I feel so spoiled tonight."
Gibbs gave her one of his, 'ya think?' looks. "That's kind of the idea."
Then Giselle came back with their soup and they spent the hour pretending to focus on supper, when all they were thinking about was each other, and their hope for the weekend to come.