Chapter 1

Friday May 19th, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada
Vittoria Stark's Office
7:30 p.m.

"Vittoria? You in here?" Nick called as he made his way into Vittoria's office. She was supposed to meet him at his place an hour ago for dinner and when she didn't show up, he decided to come looking. When she hadn't been at home and she wasn't answering her cell phone, he took a chance and tried her office, even though there was no answer when he had tried calling. It wasn't like Vittoria to not show up when she had said she would and he had been worried, his worry only increasing when he walked into her office and found her still in the same position she had been in when she got off the phone with Sara over an hour earlier. "Vittoria?" he called quietly as he knelt down next to her, his hand rubbing her back comfortingly. "Vittoria what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I'm fine," Vittoria said as she sat up and wiped away her tears.

"No Vittoria you're not, what's wrong? Does this have something to do with Sara?" he asked curiously.

"Sara?"

"Yeah, she got a phone call earlier and said she needed emergency leave because her brother had been injured. Vittoria, you and I both know Sara doesn't have a brother," Nick said.

"He's not her brother in the sense of biology, Nick," Vittoria sniffled. "There are things about Sara that are not my place to tell but Jethro married a very close friend of ours, a friend we considered like a sister to us and so when she married Jethro…"

"He became a brother to you," Nick finished wiping away the last of Vittoria's tears.

"Yeah."

"Come on, I'm taking you out to dinner to try to cheer you up," Nick said taking Vittoria by the hand and pulling her up from her desk.

"Nick…"

"No arguments Tori," Nick said, getting a look in his eyes that told Tori that arguing would be a complete waste of time and not to even bother trying.

"Alright," Vittoria agreed with a sigh as she allowed Nick to lead her from her office and out to his truck before climbing in next to her. A short while later found the couple sitting in one of the restaurants at the Venetian Hotel and Casino on the strip, enjoying dinner. Nick had managed to get Vittoria talking, if not about what had happened then at least about something that could take her mind off of what had happened.

"Vittoria, there's something I want to ask you. Something I've been wanting to ask you for quite some time now actually," Nick said.

"What is it?" asked Vittoria curiously.

"Well," Nick began taking Vittoria's hand in his across the table. "I know we've only being seeing each other this way for about six months now but Tori…" he trailed off, trying to find the words. "Tori, I'm in love with you and…and I want to marry you."

"You…what?" asked Vittoria in complete shock.

"Will you marry me?" Nick asked as he produced a simple gold band with a single diamond in the center.

"Nick, I…I don't know what to say. There are things about me, about my past that you don't know," Vittoria said.

"Tori, your past doesn't matter to me. The woman before me is all I care about," Nick reassured. "Look Tori, I realize this is coming completely out of left field and if you feel like you need time then that's okay. I understand."

"You wouldn't mind if I took time to think about it?"

"No of course not," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Vittoria simply nodded in understanding, not quite able to form the right words.

Friday May 19th, 2006
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda Naval Hospital
L. Gibbs' Room
10:23 p.m. EST

"Morning Sleepyhead," Sara smiled when she saw the familiar blue eyes open.

"Sara?" Jethro asked surprised as he looked over at her. "God, you're the first familiar person I've seen all day."

"It was all my master plan, that way I'd look all the more wonderful when you saw me," she teased.

"Brat," he chuckled harshly and she grabbed the water for him.

"How you feeling Jeth?" she asked seriously once he had enough.

"Like I got thrown off a building or something."

"More like thrown out of a boat when it exploded," she nodded. "How's the memory?"

"Is it true?" he asked quietly. "Shannon and Kelly?"

Sara choked back the lump that formed in her throat at the pleading in his eyes. "Oh Jeth, I'm so sorry," she whispered as she slipped her fingers in his.

"I should have known, you look so different, older than the girl you were just leaving behind then…"

"I'm not that old mister," she argued slightly and he smiled before it drifted away.

"They want me to remember something for their investigation…" he sighed after a few minutes of silence.

"If you do, you do. If not…well they're investigators it's their job to figure things out. That's what I'm told enough times at work…" she shrugged. "Don't worry about it, Jeth, concentrate on getting up out of this bed. Don't force the memories; it will just be harder…"

"You sticking around for a while, Brat?"

"As long as you need me."

"And Tori? She coming too?" he asked as he started to drift back to sleep.

"Don't know if she can leave her patients, but she sends hugs," Sara answered softly before sighing to herself when she noticed he was out cold. It was not going to be an easy time for any of them…

Saturday May 20th, 2006
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda Naval Hospital
L. Gibbs' Room
10:23 a.m. EST

She couldn't say exactly what it was that had made her suddenly decide to hop a plane bound for Washington. Was it Nick? Was it what he was asking of her or was it something more? She hadn't seen Jethro in more than a year. If truth be told their 'relationship' had been slowly dying for almost two years. It had started slowly at first, shortly after Kate had been kidnapped by the Moussad double agent Ari Haswari. That was when he started pushing her away. Each trip she made east he had less and less time to spend with her and over the year he just pulled further and further away and then Ari killed Kate. A sniper shot to the head shortly after she stopped a bullet meant for Jethro. She'd gone to Kate's funeral to support Jethro in his time of loss. He'd barely spoken two words to her the entire time she had been there and there had been no communication with him since. She'd tried calling him several times shortly after the funeral but he never returned her calls. She got the message loud and clear and eventually just stopped calling altogether and now…Now she found herself back in Washington to see after a man who had made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with her.

As the elevator slowly stopped, Vittoria found herself hesitating as she went to step off. Could she really do this? Could she put her heart through the ordeal she knew awaited her if she laid eyes on Jethro again after so long. Her feelings for him had never changed over the years but she knew where she stood in his life, so she chose to put them aside and try to move on with her life, to move on with Nick. But then if that was the case, what was she doing here and why hadn't she said yes to Nick earlier?

As she neared the ICU room, her steps faltered even more as she took in the image of the man on the bed before her and tried to reconcile it to the image in her mind. The image of the strong and steadfast Marine she had unwittingly fallen in love with years before.

"Tori?" Sara asked surprised when she walked up behind her friend from getting coffee.

"Sara," Vittoria said, spinning around suddenly, almost knocking the cup out of Sara's hand in the process. "Oh geez, I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry it wasn't that hot anyway," Sara waved her off. "Decide to come after all? Did you get my message?" she continued quietly.

"Message? Which message?" asked Vittoria in confusion.

"I called your cell phone last night after I got here, to let you know how he was..."

"Oh, I…I didn't realize…"

"Well, he did wake up last night after I was here. He woke up before I got here, but he doesn't remember anything since Kuwait, before Shannon and Kelly died," Sara sighed as she leaned back against the wall.

"Fifteen years? He doesn't remember the last fifteen years?" asked Vittoria in surprise.

"Not a thing," she agreed. "He knows that Shan and Kels are dead, he asked me if it was true, what they had told him when he woke up last night. His coworkers are trying to force him to remember but it's only making him more frustrated so I kinda kicked them out until further notice. He looks like hell, but there's still a spark of him under that...God he reminds me so much of how he was the first time we went through this..." Sara sighed heavily.

"The more he tries to force the memories the more they'll fight it. The walls in his mind will continue to build the longer he tries to force himself to remember," Vittoria said as she turned and walked over to the window looking into Jethro's room, her hand resting lightly on the glass. "The worst thing they can do is try to make him remember."

"I know," Sara agreed softly. "Want to come in? He should wake up sometime soon..."

"It's probably best if I don't," Vittoria said before turning and walking away from the window. "I'm probably the last person he wants to see."

"Tori, I don't know what's been going on with you two the last two years; you know I don't push..." Sara began softly. "But even if he did have the memory of the last 15 years, you are one of Shannon's dearest friends, hell you're his daughter's godmother, and beyond that, a dear friend of his own. He just nearly died; I'm pretty sure that whatever it was these past two years doesn't matter in the grand scheme..."

"It hurts to see him like this Sara," Vittoria said as she slumped into a chair.

"I know,"' Sara smiled sadly as she sat next to her. "Do you want to just go back home?"

"I don't know," Vittoria sighed. "I…I don't even know what brought me here to tell you the truth. I left the restaurant and found myself at the airport. I guess I thought…I thought…I don't know what I think anymore," she said dropping her head into her hands.

"You're thinking that Jeth, a major part of both of our lives, was in a major accident and nearly died. You're thinking that you need to see him but at the same time seeing him is harder than it would be in your mind...Tori you've seen this countless times, people react differently than they normally might in an extremely emotional situation...but he's not dying, and given time he's going to be back to the Leroy Jethro Gibbs we all love to hate...so don't feel honor bound to stay just because you came...I'm not trying to make you leave though, you know that," Sara pointed out quickly. "But we both know that there are people that need you in Vegas, and Jeth and I would understand if you want to go back."

"I feel as though I need to be here, yet at the same time it's just so hard. It hurt so much…" Vittoria swiped at an escaping tear. "He cut me out of his life, Sara. He may not remember doing it but I do and I know how I felt when he did it. And now…"

"And now you don't know if you can give him a second chance without it breaking you into a million pieces," Sara continued softly. "I don't want to be the pessimistic one here, but you've found yourself to an extent Tori, you've never been me who held on like a dog with a bone for eight years waiting for the smallest glance. Yes, I got the happy ending with Gil, but that was simply because something finally knocked him over the head thankfully...Jeth's never been able to do a relationship since Shan, I don't want to see you get hurt again...I don't trust him not to hurt you," she admitted quietly.

"Nick asked me to marry him," Vittoria said quietly.

"Do you want to?" Sara asked, not exactly surprised, she knew he was head over hells for her.

"If he'd asked me yesterday I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes but now…"

"But now you've got this news of Jeth and it's thrown you for a loop?"

"Part of me is saying I should just walk out of this hospital, get on a plane and marry Nick but another part is hoping for a second chance with Jeth. God Sara, am I crazy?"

"No, you love him," Sara shook her head, smiling softly. "Don't make my mistake though Tori, if you really think that he might not give you a chance, then don't give him one. Don't give up a chance at happiness for him, you deserve happiness. We both know it's a complete utter fluke that I've found mine, but you don't deserve anymore pain from waiting on him…and he doesn't deserve you if all he does is cause you this pain...but if you think there's a chance this time, then stay...I can't tell you what to do Tori, but I'm here either way, alright?"

Vittoria nodded as she sat back, leaning her head against the wall. "You might want to get in there."

"I'm going," Sara agreed glancing towards the room. "You gonna be okay?"

"I'm not going to do anything drastic if that's what you're worried about. I actually wouldn't mind lying down for a while to be honest. I haven't slept since leaving Vegas and that was late last night after getting your call," Vittoria said.

"Here," Sara rose and pulled the key out of her pocket. "Go ahead and use the room I got," she continued before describing where it was. "I'm not going to tell him you're here, so if you feel like just heading back after getting some rest, go for it. If not, I'll see you here okay?"

"Thanks," Vittoria said taking the key from Sara before rising and making her way towards the elevator.

Sara watched her go before heading into Jethro's room, finding him still asleep, giving her plenty of time to consider the situation they were all in.

Saturday May 20th, 2006
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Holiday Inn
Room 2205
3:11 p.m. EST

Groaning Vittoria rolled over and grabbed her incessantly ringing cell phone off the night stand and flipped it open before attempting to get it to her ear. "Dr. Vittoria Stark."

"Good afternoon Dr. Stark. My name's Anthony DiNozzo and I'm with Naval…

"You're with NCIS," Vittoria interrupted. "What can I do for you Special Agent DiNozzo?" she asked sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"How…"

"I've worked with NCIS, JAG, FBI, CIA, etc in the past. What can I do for you Agent DiNozzo?" Vittoria asked again.

"We need your assistance. A key witness needs help recovering their memories surrounding their accident. We need your help in unlocking those memories," Tony said.

"It's risky trying to force a patient to remember Agent DiNozzo, it's best to let the memories resurface on their own and help the patient put them into context. The more you push the patient the stronger the wall blocking the memories becomes…"

"I'm aware of that Dr. Stark but this is a vital witness to an incident involving national security. I'm afraid we don't have much choice in the matter," Tony said.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do but I can't guarantee I'm going to get the results you're looking for," Vittoria said.

"Whatever you can give us is greatly appreciated," Tony said. "When can you get to Bethesda Naval Hospital? I'm assuming you'll need a flight out from Las Vegas, I can arrange to have a ticket waiting for you McCarran…"

"No need Agent DiNozzo, I can be at Bethesda Naval in thirty minutes," Vittoria said cutting him off as she climbed out of bed.

"How is that possible?"

"I'm in DC already, Agent DiNozzo. I'll be there in thirty minutes. Who will be meeting me and where?"

"You'll be meeting Jenny Shepard," Vittoria nearly stumbled at hearing the name. "She's the director of NCIS. She'll meet you in the main lobby of the hospital," Tony said.

"Alright, thank you, Agent DiNozzo," Vittoria said hanging up the phone as she made her way into the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face and throw her clothes back on. She had borrowed some of Sara's so she could get some sleep, not wanting to sleep in her suit from the day before.

Saturday May 20th, 2006
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Main Lobby
3:45 p.m. EST

"Director Shepard?" Vittoria asked the nurse at the desk in the main lobby of the hospital, not knowing what the other woman actually looked like. Following the direction the nurse indicated Vittoria made her way over to where the other woman was standing. As she approached, Vittoria took in the appearance of the other woman. She was five foot eight in heels; well cut tailored black suit and short-cropped red hair. /-/Jethro's type to a T. I could never compete with someone like her,/-/ Vittoria thought sadly. "Excuse me Director Shepard?"

"I'm Jenny Shepard," Jenny said turning around and taking in the appearance of the woman before her. She was about five foot six or seven in flat shoes, red hair down to her shoulder blades and green eyes. Her clothes on the other hand left much to be desired in Jenny's opinion. Definitely not the attire she was expecting a doctor as highly renowned as Vittoria Stark to be wearing. If she had to give the attire a description, she would be hard pressed to describe it as anything but frumpy. "Dr. Stark?"

"Yes. Agent DiNozzo said you needed my help?" Vittoria said as Jenny started leading her towards the bank of elevators.

"Yes, we do. A critical witness has been severely injured and can't remember what happened. We need your help in unlocking those memories," Jenny said as she punched the button for the ICU floor.

"Well, as I told your Agent, Director, I can't guarantee to get the results that you desire. The mind is a complex organism. If the patient pushes too hard then it could ultimately end up working against you as the memories will just get buried further and further into the subconscious," Vittoria explained as they made their way out of the elevator and over towards the ICU room, Vittoria not really paying attention to which room they were entering. "I can try to help but…"

"What are you doing here?" Sara demanded harshly as she stepped out of the room, inside Jethro was being checked over by a nurse. "Tori?" she asked surprised.

"Dr. Stark is here to help Jethro regain his lost memories," Jenny said, taking note of the name Sara used to address the other woman.

"I…I had no idea," Vittoria said. "They never said the patient's name."

Sara sighed before looking back at Jenny, "You, out. I threatened it once; don't think I won't call security on you. Tori if you want go ahead and go in but there's no need to do the whole must try to make him remember deal."

Vittoria nodded. Taking a deep breath she slowly made her way over to the door leading into Jethro's room, entering it once the nurse left.

"Tori? Is that really you?" Jethro asked when he noticed Vittoria standing in the doorway.

"Yes Jethro, it's me," Vittoria said quietly, not quite meeting his eyes as she took a seat in the chair next to his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been thrown through a wall, or as Sara said, a boat," he sighed. "Frustrated that I can't get out of this room, let alone this bed. And irritated and aggravated beyond description that everyone is trying to force me to remember the events that brought me here."

"Don't try to force the memories Jeth, that will only bury them deeper," Vittoria said.

"Don't you think I know that?" Jethro snapped irritably.

"Please don't yell at me Jethro, I'm only trying to help," Vittoria pleaded quietly, almost on the verge of tears at seeing the man she loved with all her heart, so broken in front of her.

"I'm sorry Tori," Jethro apologized, the quaver in Vittoria's voice not going unnoticed by him. "Are you alright? You look as if you're in pain."

"It hurts me to see you like this Jethro," Vittoria said, still not quite meeting his gaze.

"That's not it," Jethro argued. "Come here," he said holding out his hand for Vittoria to take it.

Vittoria hesitated a moment before slowly reaching out and taking Jethro's hand and allowing him to encourage her out of her chair and to sit on the side of his bed.

Once she was seated beside him, Jethro reached up and touched her cheek gently. "Tori I…" his words trailed off as he suddenly rolled forward, curling in on himself.

"Jeth?" Vittoria called quietly in concern as he curled towards her. "Oh God Jeth, it's okay," she soothed as she wrapped her arms around him, realizing suddenly what was most likely happening. "Don't fight them Jeth, let them come," she told him quietly as she rocked him. A few minutes later she felt his arms wrap around her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I never should have treated you the way that I did."

"Jeth what are you…" Vittoria began as Jethro sat back and laid a hand on her cheek once more.

"I'm sorry," he said once more. "I don't know what I was thinking when I did that to you."

"You remember?" asked Vittoria in shock.

"I remember how I used to look forward to your visits and how after Kate was kidnapped, I started pushing you away," he said wiping away the tears that had started falling down Vittoria's cheeks.

"Oh God Jeth, it hurt so much when you pushed me away like you did. I was afraid to come see you, knowing that you didn't remember anything that happened between us in the past few years but that I did. That I would look at you and know that you saw me as I was fifteen years ago and yet knowing that…"

"Shh," Jethro soothed as he pulled Vittoria forward into his arms, switching their roles from a few minutes earlier and soothing her and holding her tight as she cried.

Meanwhile, Sara had resorted to walking to the Nurse's desk to have security called when Jenny refused to move, and she wasn't about to punch the woman like she was seriously wishing she could...while she had the chance though, Jenny slipped into the room, staying by the door when she saw the scene between Jethro and Vittoria unfold. Before they noticed her, or she had a chance to comment however, Sara had returned and promptly grabbed her arm pulling her out of the room to where security was waiting.

"What the hell are you doing?" demanded Jenny.

"Having you removed from the premises for trying to interfere in my brother's health," Sara smiled sweetly, "Gentlemen," she nodded towards the two MPs.

"Ma'am," one of them spoke to Jenny, nodding towards the exit.

"He's one of my agents Ms. Sidle. I have every right to be here," Jenny snapped ignoring the MPs for the moment. "And what the hell is going on in there? That doesn't look like a typical doctor-patient relationship."

"First, yes he's your agent but right now he has no memory of even wanting to become an NCIS agent. He can't help your investigation, drop it," Sara ticked off on her fingers. "Second, the relationship between my brother and Dr. Stark is none of your business, but you are the idiot who decided to call my niece's godmother in on a case without doing your research into if she even knew the patient. And you also neglected to inform her of the patient's name when she would have informed you that she couldn't take the case because of her previous relationship with him. So back off."

"This isn't over yet Ms. Sidle," Jenny snarled. "I will have Jethro back, in everysense. Mark my words, Ms. Sidle."

"I don't scare easily Director Shepard," Sara countered evenly. "And you do anything to harm his recovery, I'll have your ass in court for years," she added before turning and returning to the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Brat," Jethro greeted when he glanced up at hearing the door close.

"Bastard," Sara countered with a smile, "how you feeling?"

"Confused, might be the easiest way to describe it," he said.

"Oh?" Sara frowned, glancing over at Vittoria. "Did I miss something..."

"Some of my memories came back," he said as Vittoria sat back slightly.

"Really?" Sara asked with a smile, "Don't tell me you remember that 50th birthday party we did for you..."

"What fiftieth birthday party?" he asked.

Sara laughed, "Don't worry it will come back, you just can't kill us for it again."

"I make no such promises," he countered.

"Then hopefully I'll be away from you before you remember," Sara smiled. "Really though, good or bad memories?" she asked softly, looking over at Tori as well.

"Some good, some bad," he said as he brushed some hair behind Vittoria's ear. "Made me realize what I'd done to someone I consider a close friend."

"Ah okay," Sara nodded. "Well it's coming back, that's good right. So ya hungry? Either of you? I can go sneak in contraband..."

"Anything will be better than this crap they call food," he said, pushing the tray away that the nurse had left earlier. "How do you plan to get it in here past my guard detail," he said, indicating the nurse sitting at the nurse's station outside.

"Well, I'm not quite sure yet, but I'll make you a deal, another day or two maybe we'll break you out for steak..."

"No," Vittoria said suddenly. "No steak," she said returning Jethro's glare. "Jeth I know how much you detest hospital food but steak would be too much for you system right now."

"Brat, your best friend is picking on me again," he sighed dramatically as he looked at Sara.

"You think I'm gonna go against her?" Sara countered with a smirk.

"Why do I get the feeling that comment was about me," Vittoria said after watching Jethro sign something to Sara.

Sara laughed, "Probably because it was but it wasn't anything bad. Really," she added with a wink.

"I'm sorry about earlier Sara. I had no idea Jeth was the victim they were talking about. Course if I'd been anywhere near conscious when they first called I would have recognized the agent's name," Vittoria sighed.

"Relax Tori, it's no big. Should have figured they'd do something like this, at least it was someone who would listen to me rather than follow them in the end..." Sara shrugged.

"What are you talking about?" Jethro asked glancing between them.

"I arrived here early this morning and went to Sara's hotel room to crash for awhile before coming to see you since I hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours. Yes Jethro, I know, I know," Vittoria said in response to his glare about not sleeping. "While I was sleeping, my cell phone started ringing. It was an NCIS agent asking for my help with a victim who had lost their memory in an accident and they needed my help in getting the patient to remember. When I got here, I met with another agent and they brought me up here, never once mentioning your name."

"Your co-workers aren't taking the fact I told them to get lost, all that well," Sara added with a shrug.

"I can't remember what they want me to remember," Jethro said in frustration.

"Don't push it Jeth, please," Vittoria pleaded.

"She's right Jeth, don't," Sara agreed softly. "It will come when it's suppose to, they can do their jobs and such without you."

"It's just so frustrating," he snapped suddenly slamming his hand down on the bed next to him as his head fell back, causing Vittoria to jump slightly at the intensity in his voice.

"Jethro enough," Sara ordered lightly. "I know you're upset but no breaking things and scaring the crap out of others in the surrounding area."

"You sound like Shannon, you know that right?" he asked looking over at Sara. "God I miss her so much," he said rubbing his face tiredly.

"I should go," Vittoria said quietly rising from her spot on the bed and quickly making her way out of the room.

"Ugh," Sara groaned as she sat back. "I miss her too," she agreed after a moment as she watched Jethro who hadn't noticed Vittoria's leaving yet.

"Tori?" Jethro asked as he sat back up only to realize she was no longer in the room. "Where did she go?"

"Back to the hotel I think. DiNozzo did wake her up...I think she might still be tired..." /-/Emotionally if not so much physically.../-/

"Oh," he said. "I can't believe they tried to use her like that."

Sometimes people do crazy things when they care about someone, they just want you back," Sara sighed softly. "They're just a bit more impatient than the rest of us. Their problem, not ours."

"And what happens if I don't get my memory back? What then, Brat?" he snapped irritably.

"Then you get to be your regular self, learn a few things about the past and start over again," Sara countered softly. "You could always come to Vegas and beat the crap out of my boyfriend...just not too much," she added with a smile.

Jethro snorted. "You mean I'd get to give him the older brother, you hurt my sister I'll kill you spiel. Course it would be nice to be closer to you again. Tori as well of course."

Sara raised an eyebrow at the almost after thought attitude given to Vittoria, "Well of course you do, but you don't have to move to Vegas unless you want to, not just because Tori and I are there."

"You really think they're just going to let this drop? You have more faith in them then I do. I've been conscious how long? And how many attempts have they made to try to get in here and force me to remember? At least if I moved out west they wouldn't be able to hound me constantly."

"I have more faith in the fact you can tell them to fuck off if it comes down to it," Sara countered. "And that is a good point, but I'm only saying, don't pick Vegas of all the places in the country just because we're there. I'm not so sure you would like Sin City...would love to have you but I'd rather see you happy and picking Vegas for reasons other than just Tori and I being there."

"Well I have no intention of staying in Washington where…" he countered, his frustration mounting as he tried to figure out what he was trying to say, eventually resorting back to sign language.

Smiling sadly Sara nodded, signing back her response since it seemed to be a fallback for him. 'It's okay, if it comes back or doesn't...we'll deal. Don't stress Jeth, please'.

Jethro nodded before letting his head fall back on his pillow, his gaze going out the window.

"Get some rest Jeth, I'm gonna hit Starbucks, I'll bring you back a short and say it's for me okay?" Sara asked softly.

Jethro merely nodded in response, closing his eyes.

Saturday May 27th, 2006
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Holiday Inn
Julian's Restaurant
7:21 p.m. EST

It had been just over a week since Jethro's accident and a couple of days since he had been released from the hospital. His doctor only agreed to let him sign out because he was being signed out into the care of his sister, who's best friend also happened to be a doctor and would be able to provide at least basic medical care for him should the need arise. Jethro had spent the past few days of freedom with Sara and Vittoria, touring Washington and surrounding areas, hoping something might trigger a memory or two for him. He did have the odd memory flash but nothing as concrete as the first day Vittoria had visited him in the hospital.

Gil had managed to get a few days off work so he came out to spend some time with Sara, the pair of them heading up to Boston so she could visit Harvard and check in with some old college friends and professors, leaving Jethro and Vittoria to have some time alone together, which is how they ended up in the hotel restaurant, enjoying a quiet dinner together.

"Jeth…" Vittoria began.

"Vittoria," Jethro began at the same time, both of them smiling. "Why don't you go first," he suggested.

"No, it's okay, you go first. It's not important anyway," Vittoria said as she took a sip of her wine.

"Tori, I…" Jethro began taking a deep breath only to not be able to form the words he wanted to say. "I…"

"What is it Jeth?" asked Vittoria curiously.

"I…" Jethro trailed off once more. With a sigh of frustration, he gave up trying to say the words and started signing them instead, his signing getting more and more determined the longer he continued.

"Jeth…Jeth stop please," pleaded Vittoria as she put her hands over his to stop his signing. "Jeth, I don't know what you're trying to say. My signing is limited at best."

"I'm sorry Tori, I…" he trailed off in frustration once more.

"It's okay Jeth," replied Vittoria quietly. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

"Of course," he replied, standing up as Vittoria rose from her seat and made her way back through the restaurant towards the ladies room.

Once inside the ladies room, Vittoria made her way over to the sinks and turned on the cold water. When she was done splashing cold water on her face, a couple paper towels suddenly appeared in front of her. "Thank you," she said as she took the paper towels and began wiping her face only to look in the mirror and pale when she recognized the person looking at her in the mirror.

"You're welcome Vittoria, or should I call you Aliana?"

"Everything all right?" Jethro asked in concern when Vittoria returned to her seat a short while later.

"Everything's fine," replied Vittoria, her voice having an odd note to it that Jethro couldn't place. "I'm leaving," she said quietly, not once looking at him.

"Excuse me?" Jethro asked in confusion. "What do you mean you're leaving?"

"I'm leaving. I'm returning to Vegas. Tonight."

"Tori…"

"I've been away from my patients too long Jeth. I'm sorry," Vittoria said, quickly rising from her chair and making her way out of the restaurant and into the hotel lobby, making her way towards the elevators as fast as she could, hoping and praying Jethro would not follow her, only to have him follow her into the elevator.

"Tori, what's going on?" Jethro demanded, taking a hold of Vittoria's arm and turning her to face him as the elevator doors closed.

"I told you, I'm returning to Vegas, nothing more," Vittoria argued.

"No. There's more to it Tori," Jethro countered, taking a hold of Vittoria's head in his hands and forcing her to look at him. "Why are you running? What happened between the time you left the table and the time you came back? What happened to make you run?"

"Nothing happened Jethro," pleaded Vittoria, she had to make him leave her alone, for his sake. "Please you have to believe me. Nothing happened."

"I don't believe you Tori. I can see it in your eyes," Jethro countered. "Now stop lying to me…please."

"Jeth, if you care for me at all, you'll let me go," pleaded Vittoria.

"I can't. I'm sorry Tori but I can't let you go. Not like this. Not without…"

"Not without what?"

"Not without marrying you first."

"What?" asked Vittoria in confusion.

"Marry me Vittoria," Jethro said.

"But there are things about me, about my past, that you don't know. Things that could destroy me in your eyes," Vittoria argued.

"Nothing could destroy you in my eyes Vittoria," he said, hoping to reassure her. "Marry me Vittoria."

Not willing to trust her voice at this point in time, Vittoria merely nodded in agreement as Jethro leaned in and kissed her.

After accepting Jethro's marriage proposal in her hotel elevator, Vittoria found herself back in her hotel room with him; making love to the man she had dreamed of being with ever since she had first met him years before. When they were done, Vittoria laid there in Jethro's arms watching him as he drifted off to sleep.

"I love you Shannon," Jethro mumbled sleepily moments before sleep claimed him.

Vittoria gasped when she heard the name that crossed Jethro's lips. "Oh God," she cried quietly as she climbed out of bed, careful not to wake him up as she did so. It didn't take long for her to throw on her clothes from earlier and grab her purse before rushing out of the room.

Sunday May 28th, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada
5:36 a.m. (Local Time)

"Tori?" Nick asked in shock when he opened his front door, still not quite awake yet. "What are you doing here? I thought you were still in DC with Sara?"

"Is your offer still on the table?" asked Vittoria, a hint of pain, sadness and a little desperation in her voice.

"Yes. You know I told you you could take time to think about it," Nick said.

"Yes."

"Excuse me," Nick said in confusion, his sleep addled brain not quite processing what she was saying.

"My answer is yes Nick," Vittoria said.

"You're serious?" he asked, just needing final clarification to make sure he had heard her correctly.

Vittoria nodded. "Yes, I'm serious. My answer is yes."

"Come here," Nick said pulling her into the house and into his arms; Vittoria clinging to him like her life depended on it.

Sunday May 28th, 2006
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Holiday Inn
8:45 a.m. EST

"Shh," Sara hissed at Gil as they made their way down the hall, he just grinned as he wrapped his arms around her waist, signing something with his hands out in front of her. "Gil!" she hissed once more before smacking his hand. "God you're horrible," she chuckled. "Shape up, or I'm leaving you alone while I go out to breakfast with Jeth and Tori."

"Yes ma'am," he ducked his head and she rolled her eyes before knocking on Vittoria's door.

"Tori, where the hell…" Jethro started worriedly as he opened the door, only to discover Sara and Gil standing on the other side.

"Jeth?" Sara looked at him shell-shocked.

"What's going on?" Gil asked concerned.

"She's gone. Tori's missing," Jethro said as he stalked back into the room. "All of her things are still here except her purse."

Snapping back to the present Sara reached for her cell phone, "Have you tried calling?" she asked as Gil pushed her enough to get her moving so they followed into the room.

"Yes, I've tried calling her," Jethro snapped irritably. "I may not remember much of the last fifteen years Sara but I remember enough to try calling her at least and she's not answering because her phone is over on the dresser," he said pointing over to where the phone was laying before going to answer the knock on the door, hoping it was Vittoria.

"Mr. Gibbs?" asked the bellhop

"Yes?"

"Letter for you, sir," the bellhop said handing Jethro the unmarked envelope before walking away down the hall.

Turning around and closing the door, Jethro ripped into the envelope only to stumble backwards into the door before collapsing unceremoniously to the ground.

"Jethro!" Sara cried as she rushed over to him. "What is it?" she continued as she knelt next to him, looking him over for any physical signs of injury that she had missed earlier, but knowing it had more to do with whatever was in the envelope.

"I don't understand what she means," he said handing the envelope to Sara. "She was so happy. What could have…"