AUTHOR'S NOTE - There we go, drabble two.
Oh, and just to let you know, scene one for chapter five of All Good Things... is written. In case anyone cares any more.

DISCLAIMER - Nada.

MISSING

- January 1996

Sun was long since set when Jenny Shepard finally tipped the taxi driver and, grabbing her bag, exited the car. It had been a week since she last slept in her bed; since she last saw her partner. Since she last saw her baby girl. And to say that she was missing them would be an understatement of the century. It was the first time she had to go away since she had the baby and she never imagined she would be missing the seven-month old's crying so much. It terrified her to no end that this would soon become a very regular occurrence.

Quietly, she unlocked the front door and, locking up again and disposing of her coat and scarf, tiptoed to the study. She sighed as the warmth of the recently put out fire greeted her and a smile spread across her face when she laid her eyes on the baby picture in the frame on the desk. She had to laugh at the change the infant brought to her life – she couldn't even recognise herself any more. More frighteningly – she had hard time recognising her partner. Once tough-as-nails Marine was now wrapped around a finger of an auburn-haired, green-eyed baby girl. God, she didn't even want to think what would happen in the upcoming years.

With a soft smile on her face, Jenny made her way up the stairs and to the nursery. She approached the cot and looked at her sleeping child for a moment or two, before kissing her forehead softly and moving out of the room and towards the main bedroom.

In complete darkness of the room, she could barely make out a still shape in the bed. But the moment she laid her eyes on him, the bed looked so inviting, she had a hard time going to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Soon enough, though, she was crawling in the bed, dressed only in her knickers and his T-shirt she conveniently found on the bathroom counter.

He shifted to allow her to lay her head on his chest, planting a soft kiss on her head.

"Mmmm," – she murmured contently.

"Welcome home," – he whispered and she moved her head to kiss him on the lips before putting it back on his chest, his heartbeat lulling her to sleep.

It was a little over an hour later that the soft whimpers filled the otherwise quiet room. Jenny tried to bury her head dipper in the pillow, only to realise she wasn't sleeping on one. She groaned quietly, opening her eyes and blinking a few times to clear her sight.

Of course, almost two – her usual time. She moved from Gibbs's chest, falling on the pillow behind her and sighing. How could she have ever missed this?

Just as she reached for the covers, his hand covered hers.

"I'll go."

And before she could thank him, he was out of the bed – monitor turned off – and walking towards the door.

Jenny smiled into her pillow mumbling her thanks to no one in particular, before the sleep claimed her again.

Gibbs entered the nursery after retrieving a baby bottle from the kitchen, and approached his crying daughter, picking her up immediately. He offered her the bottle and the infant grabbed it immediately, her whimpers quieting completely.

He sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, looking at the baby in his arms, hoping she would fall asleep soon. All he could think about was going back to the bed and holding Jenny. God, he missed her far more than he felt comfortable with admitting to himself. How they would work out this new arrangement was beyond him.

Shaking his head slightly, he willed the thoughts away. They would talk about it tomorrow. Now all he needed was sleep.

Unfortunately, Charlotte had other plans. After finishing her formula, she started whimpering again. Gibbs frowned, not knowing why this sudden change of pace.

He stood up, walking around the room, rocking his daughter and humming her quietly to sleep. But the whimpers only grew louder and more agitated.

Suddenly, it hit him. He was not the only one who had been missing Jenny. Charlotte must have felt her mother was back.

"She's not gonna be too happy, Alex."

As if on purpose, Charlotte sobbed loudly in that moment, big tears rolling from her eyes.

Well, there was only so much Leroy Jethro Gibbs could take.

"Okay, you win," – he whispered, holding her closer to him and walking towards the bedroom.

"Jenny," – he said sitting next to her on the bed. "Hey."

He ran his hand down her back. She turned around, opening her eyes; sleep so heavy in them, Gibbs couldn't help but feel the pang of guilt for waking her up.

He smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead.

"What?" – Jenny asked, not at all happy about being woken up. Again.

Gibbs moved Charlotte closer to her and Jenny couldn't help but smile.

"I think someone here has been missing you even more than me."

Jenny reached for the baby, hugging her close to her and placing a kiss on her head. Charlotte quieted instantly.

"Oh, I missed you too, baby girl. So, so much," – she whispered.

Gibbs let out an indignant sound and Jenny slapped him on the arm before smiling at him sweetly.

"Don't worry. I missed you, too. Sort of."

He snorted, before getting up and walking to his side of the bed.

Jenny lay down, placing Charlotte so that the baby's head rested over her heart. Gibbs moved his arm behind Jenny's head and she rested close to his chest, sighing happily.

Turning slightly, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I've missed you," – she whispered before closing her eyes, content with everything at that very moment.

"Missed you, too," – he murmured back, face buried in her hair.