A/N: I needed more closure when Gibbs stayed in Alaska than the show writers gave us. This is my version of what happened when Gibbs decided to go home. Story is complete so new chapters will be posted daily. Hope you enjoy.
Life After NCIS
Chapter 1
Jethro Gibbs has been in Alaska for just over 9 months and now he is beginning his last week in the northernmost state in the United States. Even though Jethro needed to be away from his life in DC and Virginia when he sent McGee home alone, he is now ready to go home. He has found the peace he had been unknowingly seeking for over 20 years and now he feels like he can face his past back home and finally have some kind of future there.
It's Monday morning of his last week in Alaska and Jethro is getting ready to catch a ride to Anchorage. As usual, he's up early and with a cup of coffee in hand, he heads outside with his new best friend, a 6-month-old Rottweiler puppy named Mike. Mike makes his usual round of the area stopping frequently to water the plants and trees and finally stops in his favorite spot to do his more serious business. Mike is only rarely on a leash as he is already well trained and Jethro knows he won't run off. After cleaning up after his dog, Jethro slaps his thigh, signaling Mike to join him and they head back inside. With a small duffle packed for himself and a bag containing Mike's food, Jethro and Mike head back outside where their ride is waiting.
"Morning Lucy. Thanks again for taking us this morning."
Lucy Mills is a young woman who lives down the street from where Jethro has lived for the past 8 months. Her mom and dad befriended Jethro when he first moved in and Jethro has helped her dad with several projects around his house over the months. Lucy attends school in Anchorage and was happy to give Jethro and Mike a lift when he asked last week.
Lucy gave Mike a head scratch and smiled at Jethro. "I'm happy to give you a lift but I'm not happy you're leaving."
"I know. I'm going to miss you guys. But, it's time for me to go home. I promise though, I'll be back to visit."
"You better be. I'm graduating in 2 years and I want you to come back and celebrate with us."
"I'll be here. Mike might have to stay home but I'll be back."
"Okay, let's get going."
It's an almost 3-hour drive from the small town of Kenai where Jethro has been living to Anchorage. With Mike settled in the back seat of the truck, Lucy and Jethro spend the time visiting and listening to the radio.
"So, you're going to pick up your new truck today, right?"
"Yep. Supposed to be ready today or tomorrow. Either way, I have some other stuff to do before I leave. I'll spend the night and then head back tomorrow."
"When are you leaving for good?"
"Early Friday morning, I hope. Not in a hurry really but I do need to get back pretty quick. A friend is having a baby probably next week and I promised I'd be there if I could."
"Must be a really good friend. It's sort of a long drive from here to Virginia just for a new baby!"
"Ha, no kidding. Yes, she is a very good friend. She and her husband both used to work for me."
Jethro and Lucy arrived in Anchorage just before noon and Lucy dropped him and Mike at the truck dealership.
Lucy hugged man and dog and kissed Jethro goodbye.
"Have a safe trip. Let my folks know when you get home, okay!"
"I will. Keep up the good work in school. Be a good girl!"
"Ha, of course. Bye Jethro."
"Bye Lucy."
Jethro picked up his bags and snapped a short lead on Mike's collar. Just in case. He stepped inside the dealership and was quickly greeted by the manager, Carl.
"Hey, Jethro. Good to see you. The truck will be ready late this afternoon. Just to be safe can we schedule the turn over to you first thing in the morning?"
"Sure, that will work. Did they get everything I wanted?"
"Yes, the only delay was getting the locking bed cover you requested. They're delivering it this afternoon and we'll get it installed before closing today. I promise you'll be ready to go by nine tomorrow."
"That'll be fine. I was hoping you might have a demo or rental I could use today. I have some business in town and of course I'm spending the night."
"Oh yeah, no problem. You want a truck or an SUV?"
"Either one is fine. I really appreciate all your help with this Carl."
"I'm happy to do it Jethro. I don't get many cash customers these days and I appreciate your business. Let me get the keys for the loaner for you and you can get on your way."
Twenty minutes later, Jethro and Mike were on their way. Jethro went to the bank to get some cash for the trip. Next, he went through a drive-thru and got some lunch then drove to a park where Mike could run around while he ate his burger in peace; it was too hard to eat in the truck with a 6-month-old puppy begging for a bite! Lunch over, Jethro drove to a bookstore for something to read on the road and an up-to-date road atlas for the trip. Then Jethro went to the AT&T store for a new phone. Once he had that taken care of, he found a Target and purchased several heavy-duty storage bins with lids, some snacks and a couple of chew toys for Mike for the trip. Jethro loaded his purchases in the truck and told Mike they were through shopping for the day.
"Let's go to the hotel and relax for a while. Okay?"
Mike just cocked his head and yawned. Jethro took that as agreement and they headed to the hotel. Jethro got them checked in and after a quick walk around the parking area, they headed inside. Mike sniffed every single inch of the room before curling up on one of Jethro's old shirts and going right to sleep. Jethro stretched out on the bed, read one chapter of his new book and fell asleep himself.
Mike woke up first and as was his habit, he woke his master by jumping on the bed and licking him in the face. Jethro grabbed the pup and wrestled with him for a few minutes before getting up and shooing Mike off the bed.
"Okay buddy, I'm gonna take a shower then we'll go outside. You guard the door."
Mike sat on the bed and watched his master move around the room then he focused all his attention on the door. When Jethro emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, Mike was still watching the door. Jethro gave him a hug and was rewarded with another sloppy kiss. Five minutes later the two left the room with Mike on a short lead since they were in unfamiliar territory. As Jethro stepped off the elevator and they headed through the lobby, he noticed a young couple coming in the door. Jethro thought the young woman looked familiar but he couldn't place her. As they passed, he smiled at her and young woman stopped.
"Agent Gibbs?"
Jethro stopped and looked at her and suddenly the years melted away and before him stood a scared teenager all grown up into a beautiful young woman.
"Megan? Oh my gosh, you're all grown up."
Megan Porter stepped closer and Jethro wrapped her in a happy hug. He stepped back holding her by the arms and gave her a good looking over.
"It's so great to see you, Gibbs. What in the world are you doing here?"
"I've been living in Alaska for a while now. Temporarily. What about you?"
Megan suddenly realized she was ignoring the person with her. She wrapped her arms around the arm of the young man with her and pulled him close.
"Gibbs, this is my husband, David. He's a Coast Guard chopper pilot and we're stationed in Kodiak. David, this is NCIS Agent Gibbs. He's the one who saved me when I was kidnapped."
David put out his hand, "Very nice to meet you, Agent Gibbs. I'm sure glad you found my girl back then."
"Good to meet you, David. It's just Gibbs these days." Jethro turned his attention back to Megan. "Husband? Are you even old enough to be married?"
Megan laughed. "Well, not according to my mother but yes, I am. I'm 22 now, Gibbs. It's been 6 years. So, you're not with NCIS anymore? Retired?"
"Yes, a few months ago. How long have you been married and living here?"
The three of them and Mike moved to a sitting area.
"We've been married for just 3 months. David has been stationed here for a year now. I've been here since we got married."
Mike started to pull at the lead and whine and Jethro realized he needed to take him outside. "I better let this one go outside. Can I buy you guys dinner tonight?"
"We would love to have dinner with you. That is if you don't mind one more person. My mom's here visiting."
"Really? That would be fine if she's okay with it. How about I meet you down here at 6:00?"
"Perfect. I'm so glad we ran into you, Gibbs. You look great by the way."
"Thanks. I'm happy to see you, Megan. And to meet you, David. See you guys later."
Jethro took Mike across the street to a small park and let him run around. Seeing Megan Porter took Jethro back a lot of years to that scary time when he and Fornell managed to get Megan back from some very dangerous kidnappers. Jethro thought back to the night he brought Megan home to her mother and how relieved and grateful the Secretary of the Navy had been. And he thought about the next day when he went by the house and spoke with Sarah Porter alone in her kitchen. He remembered how Sarah had talked about quitting and how scared she still was for her daughter. He also remembered the strong urge he'd had that morning to kiss the Secretary of the Navy. Something he never in a million years he would have ever imagined wanting to do. Not until he met the first female Secretary of the Navy that is. Jethro also remembered several elevator rides they'd taken together. The urge to kiss Sarah Porter never went away but since he didn't see her that often, Jethro managed to put that particular urge way in the back of his mind and leave it there.
Mike nudged his master's leg and Jethro realized he'd been daydreaming and had no idea how long Mike had been running loose. Luckily, Mike was very well behaved and didn't like to be away from Jethro for very long. Jethro gave his friend a treat then pulled a ball out of his pocket and threw it about 10 feet away. Mike retrieved the ball and the game was on. Twenty minutes later Jethro snapped the lead on Mike and they went back to the hotel. Back in their room, Jethro got out his address book and spent some time putting phone numbers in his new phone. He checked the time and decided to give Ziva and Tony a call.
"Hello Jethro."
"Hey, Ziver. How are you?"
"Pregnant. No, let me restate that. VERY pregnant."
Jethro laughed. "Any idea when you might get some relief from that?"
"I saw the doctor today and she said about 2 weeks probably. Are you coming home anytime soon?"
"I'm leaving here Friday morning. It's a 70-hour drive so I hope to be home by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest."
"You are driving by yourself, yes?"
"I am. How's dad holding up?"
"Tony is very excited. He has been begging to know the sex of the baby but we do not know. I wanted to be surprised. He said he did too but lately he has changed his mind."
"What do you think?"
"I am almost certain this one is a boy. But of course, we do not really care. How are you Jethro?"
"I'm good, Ziver. Don't worry about me. I'm good really. I am anxious to be home and see you guys and Ducky and McGee. Give Tony a little headslap for me. I'll see you guys in a week or so."
"I will do that. Please be careful, Jethro. Good bye."
"I will. Bye."
Jethro fed Mike and put on a clean shirt. He told Mike to guard the room and that he would be back pretty soon. Mike jumped up on the bed, turned in a circle 3 times then laid down on Jethro's old shirt with a big sigh. Jethro patted him on the head and left the room. On the way to the lobby, Jethro tried to identify the feeling in his gut. He hadn't seen Sarah Porter in a long time and he had no idea what she knew about his situation. He imagined she knew quite a bit about it and he wondered how she felt about the way he'd left things. He told himself they were just having a nice dinner mostly for Megan and David and he didn't need to worry about what the SecNav thought anymore.
Since Jethro lived by the maxim that if you were on time, you were late, he was the first one in the lobby. He took a seat where he could see the elevators and waited. Just at 6:00, Megan and her mother stepped off the elevator followed by David. Jethro stood up to greet them taking note that the SecNav was just as beautiful as he remembered. He also noted there was no security around her which he thought was a little bit strange. He chalked it up to her being on an off duty visit with her daughter but it was still a little bit unusual.
"Good evening, Madame Secretary. Nice to see you."
"Hello Gibbs. It's just Sarah these days. And I understand you are simply Gibbs now."
"Right. But you can't be retired yet."
"Not retired. Resigned. It's a bit of a long story. Sort of like your retirement I suppose."
"Ha. I doubt it's that bad. Anyway, it's great to see you." Putting his arm around Megan's shoulders he said, "I can't believe this one is all grown up. And married."
"I know. We have a lot to catch up on."
Megan spoke up and said, "There's a nice little Italian place a couple of blocks away if that's okay with everyone. David and I have eaten there before and it's really good."
"Sounds good. Why don't guys lead the way and Gibbs and I will follow."
Dinner was a very pleasant event. The food was delicious and the service was very good. Jethro enjoyed listening to Megan and David describe their live in Kodiak. He could tell they were very much in love and very happy. Megan told Jethro she was working as a nurse at the Air Station where David was serving as a chopper pilot. Sarah was obviously very proud of her daughter and happy for the life she was making as an adult. Conversation flowed easily among them and Jethro enjoyed the evening. After dinner the "kids" suggested they go to a bar for drinks but Jethro said he needed to get back. Sarah also begged off so the two of them walked back to the hotel while Megan and David continued their evening out.
When they got back to the hotel Jethro realized he didn't want to go to his room alone just yet. He took a deep breath and asked Sarah if she'd like to join him in the hotel bar for a drink or coffee.
"Yes, I'd like that. I'm not ready to call it a night but I wanted the kids to have their own time. I'm not up for a noisy bar scene."
"Agreed."
They settled in a booth at the back of the bar. Jethro ordered a bourbon neat and Sarah had a glass of wine. When their drinks arrived, Sarah toasted them.
"Here's to not working."
Jethro clinked his glass with hers and said, "Cheers."
Hoping to keep the conversation light, Jethro asked her how long she would be visiting.
"I'm flying home Friday afternoon. The kids go back to work on Monday so I wanted them to have time to go home and get settled over the weekend. I've been here for a week. Well, in Anchorage for just a couple of days. Megan wanted to do some furniture shopping so we came up here to do that mostly. This is my first visit of course since Megan came up here."
"She seems to be very happy."
"Oh, she is. She and David are very well matched and very much in love. They met at David's best friend's wedding of all things. Megan was a guest of the bride. Sort of a fate thing I think because Megan didn't really want to go to the wedding without a date but decided to go at the last minute. They dated for almost a year before they got engaged. And the rest as they say is history."
"They have a good story to tell their kids. Have you done anything fun here? I mean besides visiting your daughter."
"We've done some sightseeing and a little hiking. I was really hoping to do some fly fishing while I was here but we haven't been able to work that in."
"Really? You fly fish?"
"My dad taught me when I was barely old enough to hold the rod. We used to go to a cabin in the mountains in North Carolina every year. It's been a while of course but I think I still have the touch."
"Well, if you're open to a trip with me I can take you fishing. I live about 3 hours south of here in a small town right on the Cook Inlet. I fish most every day."
"Really? But I thought you were leaving to go home on Friday."
"I am. I could take you down with me tomorrow and bring you back Friday morning."
"Jethro, I would love to go with you and go fishing but that's too much back and forth for you. I couldn't ask you to delay your trip. And, Megan and I have an appointment at a spa in the morning for some mother-daughter fun."
Jethro didn't say anything for a long few moments. He was enjoying this time with Sarah and something was stirring him that he wasn't sure about. Sarah was looking at him, expecting some sort of reply and he realized he needed to say something.
"I'm not a schedule exactly. I'd be glad to bring you back if you're up for a couple of days fishing with me."
Sarah just smiled at him and said, "I think I could stand that. Are you sure you want do that much driving?"
Jethro laughed. "What's another few hours? I don't mind."
"If you're really sure you don't mind, I'm game. Are you sure you're okay leaving tomorrow afternoon instead of in the morning?"
"Absolutely. Maybe David and I can take the truck out for a road test while you and Megan are doing girl stuff."
"I'm sure he'd love that. He's probably had enough mother-in-law time to last him a long time."
Jethro laughed with her. He looked at his watch and realized how late it was.
"Oh, I need to get Mike and take him outside. Sorry."
"How about I wait and go with you? That way I can meet Mike. I mean, if he doesn't like me, you may be without your passenger after all."
"That won't happen. Let me go get him and I'll be right back. Meet me at the front door?"
"Yes, I'll be there."
Sarah sat back in the booth and thought about what she'd just agreed to do. Spending three days AND three nights with Jethro Gibbs was just about the last thing she could have imagined doing just a few hours ago. She had to admit she'd always felt an attraction to Jethro but of course never acted on that feeling during her time as the Secretary of the Navy. Even though they were both single she knew it would be inappropriate due to their respective positions. Plus, there was that string of women that Jethro was known to have been involved with. Sarah had no desire to become another name on that list. Now though things were different; he was retired, she was no longer the SecNav and they were single adults a long way from home. Maybe it was a crazy idea but certainly not a bad one Sarah concluded. She left the bar and met Jethro and Mike at the front door.
In the elevator, Jethro realized that he was pleasantly excited about taking Sarah to Kenai to fish. It had been a long nine months since he talked to anyone from home but that wasn't the only reason he was looking forward to the next few days. He had to admit, at least to himself, that he had always been intrigued with Sarah Porter. He had never done anything about that feeling but now that the opportunity had presented itself, he was happy to take advantage of it. It was just a few days of fishing after all; nothing to worry about.
Mike was more than ready to go outside but he took a few minutes to thoroughly sniff Sarah when she met them at the door. Sarah squatted down and gave Mike some love which he happily returned with a few sloppy kisses. Jethro eventually slapped his thigh and Mike let Sarah breathe.
"Jethro, he is wonderful. How old is he."
They were walking to the park across the street with Mike on his short lead.
"He's almost seven months. I helped some friends remodel their kitchen and Mike was my payment."
"That sounds like a good deal for everyone. He looks like a purebred and they are really expensive."
"I know. He was the runt of the litter and just happened to still be available when the kitchen was finished. They needed to get him out of the house or their kids weren't going to let him go. I was happy to take him."
"And you named him after Mike Franks, right?"
She was laughing at him and Jethro laughed along with her. He was impressed she remembered Mike's name.
"Yeah, I did." Jethro's voice sobered and he went on, "Franks saved me a long time ago when I was in a dark place and this pup did the same for me a few months ago."
Sarah heard the seriousness in his voice and noticed he was looking off into the night so she decided not to go any further along that path. Not right now anyway. She simply put her hand on his back and rubbed in a circle. Jethro exhaled and she felt him relax under her hand. Mike came running back to them and the moment passed. They both felt something had passed between them and they both liked the feeling.
Jethro and Mike accompanied Sarah to her room and Jethro said he'd see her in the morning for breakfast.
"I had a good time tonight, Jethro. I'm so excited to go to Kenai tomorrow and do some fishing. Thank you in advance."
"It's gonna be fun. I'm happy you told me you wanted to go fishing and I can make it happen. I'll see you in the morning."
The next morning the four of them had breakfast together before Sarah and Megan left to their mother-daughter spa time and Jethro, Mike and David headed out to pick up the new truck. This was the first new truck Jethro had had in over 20 years and needless to say it had a lot of gadgets and tech that his old truck did not have. Luckily for him, David was familiar with all the electronics. He helped Jethro get his phone synched with the truck's Bluetooth so he could use the hands-free option for dialing and talking on the phone. He also showed him how to use the navigation system. They drove around the city for a while then got out on the highway so Jethro could get up to highway speed.
"This is a really nice truck, Gibbs. It will make the drive back pretty comfortable."
"Sure beats my old one. I've been driving a '89 Ford since I was in the Corps. This is a whole other creature that's for sure."
"I'm sure. But I bet you can work on that old one. You won't even be able to change the oil on this thing yourself."
"True. I've overhauled that old truck I don't know how many times. Can't say I'm gonna miss that though. What made you get into the Coast Guard?"
"My dad was a pilot in the Navy. I always knew I wanted to fly but I wanted to be closer to home. My dad was gone a lot of course and I just figured with things being the way they are I'd rather be here, helping closer to home."
"Good man. You've in a tough place to fly choppers I imagine."
"Yeah, it can be challenging. Lots of rough weather. But at least I'm in the chopper; not jumping out the door into the water."
"Oh yeah. You and Megan seem like a great match. I hope you have a long career and a long life together."
"Thank you. Megan is a great partner. She's so supportive of what I'm doing and I know we're going to be happy for a long time. She's a great nurse; really connects with her patients. I'm a lucky man. I think it's cool that Sarah is going with you do some fishing. Seems like a lot of extra driving for you though."
"Like I told her, I'm not on a strict schedule. I'll have her back here at the airport in time for her to catch her plane. She said you guys were going home on Friday."
"Yes, I don't know if we'll stay and see her before she leaves or not. We can catch a hop to Kodiak late Friday morning so we might do that."
"Don't worry about Sarah. I'll be sure she gets back in time for her flight. If you two want to get home you should go ahead. Do you think it's okay with Megan that her mom is cutting her visit short to go fishing?"
"Oh sure. They've had a good visit. To be honest with you, Gibbs, Megan is happy her mom is going with you. Not that she wants to be away from her but she saw how excited her mom was talking about it. She wants her mom to have some fun. I won't go into it too much but the last few months have been pretty tough for Sarah. She deserves to have some fun and it sounds like you can make that happen."
"Good to know. I can relate to a tough few months. If she loves fly fishing like she said she does, she'll have fun, I can promise you that."
When Jethro was satisfied with the test drive, they headed back to the hotel to meet the ladies for lunch. After they had eaten, Sarah went to her room to get her bags and Megan went across the street with Jethro and Mike.
"Megan, I feel sort of bad taking your mom away the last few days of her visit with you."
"Don't. I'm very happy she's going with you. She needs to have some real, relaxing fun. We've had a great time together but I think she needs this more."
"I don't want to pry and I'll ask her, but did something happen that forced her to resign?"
"No, nothing really in particular. She wasn't forced out at all. It was all her decision. You know how much stress there is in that kind of job. I think she just got tired of all of it. I'm glad she's out of it and maybe she can enjoy life a little bit."
"Okay, I'll be sure she enjoys the next few days for sure. And, I'll get her back here in time to fly home."
"Thank you. Do you believe in fate, Gibbs?"
"You mean like you deciding to go to your friend's wedding alone at the last minute and meeting David?"
"Exactly. Do you believe in that kind of thing?"
"Well, I guess it'd be hard to say no when I look at the two of you. Why?"
"I think it was fate that we ran into you yesterday and mom brought up fly fishing and you live on the sound and go fishing all the time. That's a lot of coincidence don't you think?"
Jethro laughed. "I don't believe in coincidence, Megan. Fate, maybe so. What do you think?"
Megan watched Mike chase the ball and finally turned to Jethro and said, "I think you and my mom are here together for a reason. The idea of us meeting you in these circumstances for no particular reason beyond a fishing trip is pretty hard to believe. I just think you and my mom should keep open minds about each other. Now, I've embarrassed myself and probably you, enough. Let's get back so you guys can get going."
When she turned to walk away, Jethro reached for her arm and stopped her.
"Megan, I don't know about fate but I don't think you're wrong. I'm looking forward to spending time with your mom and I promise you, my mind is open to whatever happens. Or doesn't happen."
Megan smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Gibbs. Have the best time with my mom."
After loading all the bags and the dog in the truck, Jethro shook hands with David and hugged Megan goodbye. He got in the truck and let Sarah have a few minutes to tell her daughter and son-in-law goodbye. There were a few tears between them and lots of hugs but finally, Sarah got in the truck and smiled at him.
"I understand. She's a long way from home."
"Yes, she is. But she's so very happy I can't be too sad to leave her here."
They waved goodbye and took off for Kanai just before 2:00. Sarah was quiet for a while and Jethro was happy to let her have the time to settle her mind. Mike was snoring in the back seat and eventually, Sarah gathered herself and reached back to pat him on the head.
"This is a really nice truck. It suits you, Jethro."
"Thanks. Definitely an upgrade from my old truck back home. I sure wouldn't want to drive across the country in that old boy."
Sarah knew Jethro well enough to know he wasn't much of a talker. She was comfortable with silence though so she wasn't worried about a 3-hour drive.
"David showed me the phone and nav systems but we didn't set up the radio. There's satellite radio if you want to find some music or something."
"Okay. Any requests?"
"Anything but news. Country is good if it's older stuff. Sixties stuff is good."
"Perfect. I know where those things are. I have the same stations saved on my radio. I agree with the no news idea."
"Too depressing these days."
"Yes."
Sarah found them some music and a weather channel for Jethro to use on his cross-country drive. They made easy conversation about the scenery and Sarah told him about Megan and David's place in Kodiak. In just under 3 hours, they arrived in Kenai and Jethro gave her a quick tour of the town. They arrived at the diner where Jethro lived in the upstairs apartment about 5:30. Jethro parked and Mike came to attention when the truck stopped. Sarah started to get out but Jethro didn't move.
"Something wrong?"
"It just occurred to me I live in a one-bedroom apartment." He looked over at Sarah with his patented smirk in place.
"Oh. You have a couch, don't you?"
"I do. But…"
"I can surely sleep on a couch, Jethro. Unless you're uncomfortable with me being in the apartment. Is there a hotel or B & B nearby?"
"I'm not uncomfortable with you being here. There is a small hotel in town but if you're okay here I'll take the couch. I sleep there a lot anyway. You take the bedroom. Not negotiable."
Sarah laughed at his seriousness. "That's fine. Maybe we'll make it a contest after tonight. Biggest fish caught gets the bed."
"Ha, we'll see how it goes but I like your confidence."
Mike put an end to the conversation when he barked and nudged Jethro in the shoulder. Jethro let him out to run around then he and Sarah unloaded the truck. The stairs to the apartment were a bit steep and Jethro cautioned Sarah to be careful. They all made it inside safely and Jethro took Sarah's bag to the bedroom. She showed her the bathroom and small kitchen and the tour of the apartment was over.
"This is a nice, cozy space. How'd you find it?"
"I built it. Or, finished it at least. The owners of the diner downstairs needed an income property but weren't able to do the work. I did the work and lived here for free while I was working on it. After that I paid a minimal rent."
"It's really well done, Jethro. I had no idea you were so talented. How do you manage the stairs in the winter though?"
"There's in inside staircase in the back of the diner I use in bad weather."
"I'd love to stretch my legs after the drive. Could we take a walk?"
"Sure, good idea. Mike needs to run around. Why don't you get organized in the bedroom then we can walk down to the water."
Sarah unpacked her toiletries, used the bathroom then three of them walked down three blocks to the water and Jethro showed Sarah the shallows where he usually fished. Mike ran back and forth along the water barking at the water as it lapped the shore. He picked up a thick stick and brought it to Jethro dropping at his feet. Jethro obliged him throwing the stick way down the shore. Mike was back shortly and the game continued as Jethro and Sarah made their way slowly along the coastline.
"It's so beautiful here. I can see why you like it and why it might be hard to leave. It's very peaceful."
"Yes, it is. I've enjoyed my time here and it's been good for me but I'm ready to go home."
Again, Sarah heard an undertone of sadness in Jethro's voice but she didn't press for more from him. She didn't know if she would later but now didn't seem to be the time. Eventually, Mike was ready to quit and they made their way back to the apartment. Jethro fed Mike and suggested he and Sarah go downstairs for a drink and some supper. The diner was originally a bar that served some food but now was more of a diner that served drinks. The atmosphere was casual and friendly. Jethro ate most of his meals there. He and Sarah took seats at the counter and were quickly greeted by the owner, Gabrielle.
"Hey Gibbs, I saw that new truck outside. Pretty cool."
"It is. Gabby, this is my friend Sarah. She's going to be staying with me for a couple of days to do some fly fishing. Sarah, this is Gabby. She and her husband, Phil own the place."
Gabby extended her hand. "Good to meet you, Sarah. Any friend of Gibbs' is welcome here. Have you been fly fishing before?"
"Nice to meet you, Gabby. Yes, I haven't been in a while but I used to go all the time when I was a kid."
"It's like riding a bike; you never forget that rhythm. Can I get you guys something to drink?"
Jethro ordered a beer and Sarah asked for ice tea. Gabby returned with the drinks and asked Sarah if she had waders.
"No, you know I never thought of that."
"We can get some at the marina tomorrow."
"No, let me bring you mine. They're better than the rental ones. I have a rod you can use as well unless Jethro has extra."
"I have a rod she can use. Thanks for waders though."
"Yes, thank you. I hope they're lucky; Jethro and I have a bet of sorts going. Whoever catches the biggest fish gets the bed and the loser gets the couch."
Gabby laughed and poked a finger at Jethro. "Sounds like you're on the couch my friend."
"What? You think she can outfish me?"
"Jethro, no woman would make that deal unless she was darned confident she was going to win. You're in trouble buddy."
Sarah just smiled at him and tipped her glass to Gabby. Jethro shook his head and gave Sarah a mild version of the famous Gibbs Glare.
"We'll see," was all he said.
"Keep me posted, Sarah. Now, do you two want some supper?"
"We do. What's on the menu?"
"Frank brought in some nice salmon this morning. Or, you can have halibut that Phil caught last night."
Sarah ordered the salmon and Jethro the halibut. He knew both were fresh and would be perfectly cooked and served. While they waited for their food, Jethro explained to Sarah how he'd come to be living upstairs.
"I stayed in a hotel in town for a couple of weeks when I first got here. I found this place and wound up eating here most every day. Phil and I got to talking and he said they had plans to finish the upstairs into an apartment to rent but he didn't have the time to do it. I offered to take a look and once I'd seen all the plumbing and wiring was already done, I offered to do the rest. I moved out of the hotel and moved upstairs the next day. I bought an old couch at a thrift store and slept on it while I did the work."
"How long did it take you"
"About a month or so I guess. I didn't have any tools of course so Phil introduced me to an old guy in town who used to do a lot of woodworking. Arthur had lost most of his sight so he couldn't do much in the shop anymore. He had the best woodworking shop I've ever seen. I mean he had every tool you would need, all kinds of saws and well, just everything I'd ever want in the way of woodworking tools. I was like a kid in a candy shop."
"So, he loaned you his tools? Pretty nice of him."
"Oh yeah. He wanted to see what I was doing so I brought him over here and he could still see well enough to get the layout so we talked about how to make the most of the space. He gave me some really helpful ideas. His wife brought him over every few days so he could check up on my progress. We had a good time together."
"Sounds like a nice couple. You've made some good friends here, Jethro."
"I have. Makes it a little hard to leave."
"Yes, but you have some longtime friends waiting for you at home."
"I do. And I'm anxious to see them. I'll be back here though."
The food arrived and conversation was halted. After they had eaten and enjoyed a shared dessert, Jethro and Sarah headed for the apartment.
"I need to take Mike out so I'll be back in a little while."
"Okay, I think I'll take a shower so I'll be ready to go first thing in the morning."
Jethro let Mike run around a bit longer than usual to give Sarah time in the bathroom and to give himself time to think about Sarah being in his bathroom. Part of him wanted to give himself a headslap for bringing her here but the other, larger part, was pleased to have her staying with him. Sarah was easy to be with. She listened like she really was interested in him and she didn't ask a lot of questions. He figured she had a lot of questions in that pretty head of hers but she was kind enough not to ask them. He appreciated that more than she would ever know. Jethro stood listening to the night sounds and thought about the fact that a very attractive, single woman was going to be sleeping in his bed for the next three nights while he occupied the couch. It had been a long time since he'd been with a woman and he hoped he would be able to remain a gentleman for the next few days. And nights. 'What have you gotten yourself into?' he asked himself as he and Mike climbed the stairs to the apartment.
While Jethro was questioning his judgement, Sarah was doing much the same. Standing in Jethro's shower, she couldn't help but realize she was spending the next 3 nights with a man for whom she had a pretty strong attraction. Since her divorce she had dated occasionally but she hadn't been in anything approaching a serious relationship. She had been busy with a career and a daughter to raise. In recent years her position as the Secretary of the Navy dictated a certain level of discretion and Sarah had been happy to live under those expectations. Now she found herself in a situation that was as unfamiliar as it was exciting. 'How did I get myself into this?' she asked herself as she stepped out of the shower.
The rest of the evening went smoothly even though there were two adults in the apartment both of whom felt like nervous teenagers. Jethro gathered a pillow and a blanket from the bedroom while Sarah played on the floor with Mike. He was pulling fiercely on the end of a chew toy while Sarah did her best to hold onto the other end.
"Careful, he'll pull your arm out of socket."
"Ha, he is pretty strong for such a young dog. I can't imagine what he'll be like when he'd full grown."
"He'll probably frighten most people he encounters but he won't ever hurt anyone unless I tell him to. I doubt I'll win many tug-of-war contestants with him when he's grown that's for sure."
"Well, he's a sweet boy. I think I'll turn in and read for a while. What time do you want to get out of here tomorrow?"
"Why don't we plan to go down for breakfast around 8:00. That's plenty early I think."
"Sounds good. Good night, Jethro. And thanks for bringing me."
"Night. You're welcome."
Both Sarah and Jethro were surprised they fell asleep almost immediately and slept through the night. When Mike started licking Jethro's face it was 7:30 and he could hear Sarah in the bathroom. Jethro got up, put on some pants and went to the kitchen to start the coffee. Even though they were going downstairs for breakfast, Jethro needed at least one cup of coffee before he left the apartment.
They made it downstairs just after 8:00 and Gabby had their breakfast ready in minutes. Before they left, she gave Sarah her waders and also one of her fishing rods.
"I thought this might suit you better than Jethro's. It's a bit lighter and, it's my lucky rod. He won't stand a chance with you using this one."
"Hey, whose side are you on anyway?", Jethro asked with a laugh.
"We women have to stick together my friend. You guys have fun and bring me some good fish."
"Thank you, Gabby. I feel very lucky this morning."
"Right. Okay, come on Ms. Lucky, let's go see what you've got."
They headed off to the water and Jethro took them to his favorite spot. Before long they were geared up and standing knee-deep in cool water. Jethro watched Sarah for a while and in no time he realized he might be on the couch for a few nights. She was good. Jethro turned away and concentrated on what he was doing instead of concentrating on Sarah. The morning was splendid; cool and sunny with very little wind. Jethro had enjoyed many, many mornings like this in the months he spent in Kenai and he knew he would miss this. He decided he would be spending a lot more time at his cabin in the woods when he got home.
They fished all morning and sure enough Sarah had the biggest salmon.
"Jethro, this has been the best morning I have had in years. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Why don't we take these up to Gabby and have some lunch. Are you up for a short hike this afternoon?"
"I'll be able to answer that after I sit down for a while and have some food."
After lunch, Jethro got Mike and they all drove a short way to the entrance of the National Park outside town. Jethro led the way to a hiking trail he and Mike had explored many times. He let Mike run and he and Sarah followed. They hiked for about two hours then made their way back to the parking lot and headed to the apartment.
"Jethro, are you sure you'll be able to live in the city after being out here?"
"No."
When Sarah didn't respond Jethro went on, "I have a cabin in the mountains in West Virginia. I expect I'll spend a lot of time there once I get back. There's no fly fishing there but there is a nice trout stream and lots of good hiking."
"Okay, that sounds good. I think you'll survive."
That night after another wonderful fish dinner, they sat on the couch and talked about the day. Jethro wanted to know why she'd resigned and he didn't expect to have another opportunity to ask so he finally broached the subject.
"Do you mind if I ask why you resigned?"
"No, I don't mind. Are you asking?"
"Yeah."
"It's not really much of a story. I simply got tired of the politics involved. I know you understand that. I wasn't happy with how the military brass were becoming politicized. It wasn't just the Navy. All the top brass are too involved in politics in my opinion. Anyway, I butted heads with one too many high-ranking officers and finally I saw the writing on the wall so I left. I needed a break anyway."
"Well, it's the Navy's loss in my opinion. You were doing a great job from what I could see. I guess this gives you more time to visit with Megan whenever you want to. And take fly fishing trips with retired agents."
"Yes, those are two of the best outcomes of the whole thing."
"So, you want to do the whole thing again tomorrow?"
"Absolutely. But I need to get some sleep first. Good night, Jethro. Thank you for a great day."
"You're welcome. See you in the morning."
TBC