Disclaimer – I do not own NCIS
Authors note – I hope that you all enjoy this. Sorry though for the delay.
'I can't keep my eyes off you, Something about you now, That I can't quite figure out, Everything she does is beautiful, Everything she does is right.' – You and Me, by lighthouse.
Please review
-A Life Behind Bars-
Sunday, 12pm
Gibbs spent the rest of that night with the team, going back to the bar frequently though. He felt so much happier than he had in a long time. And when the time came for him to leave Jenny walked him out the back and kissed him goodbye. He promised her he'd be there the next day at half twelve to take her out for lunch. That made her smile, because it was a long time since a man had been as kind as Gibbs was. The way he hadn't forced her into the kiss, the way he acted as though he was always thinking about her feelings. That was one of the main things that attracted her to him, aside from his extremely attractive features and body.
Tony also left with a promise that he would drop by the following day at around 2pm to arrange going out for dinner with Ali. They'd been texting each other since he'd given her his number, and for once he was attracted to a woman for more than just her features and body. She made him laugh, she was smart and of course attractive too.
And so, even when their case had less than a desirable about of activity on it, when Gibbs was seriously feeling the result of caffeine deficiency and so in a worse mood then he usually was on a Sunday, there was still an air of calmness. Gibbs walked with a lighter step whilst Tony however was a little less discrete as he walked around with a smile on his face that told the whole world what he was feeling as it stretched from one ear across to the other.
When mid day came around and their case was still going nowhere fast. Gibbs left the bullpen without another word to anyone. Abby however knew exactly where he was going after he had hacked into her silver foxes phone records and text messages to see just what had put a spring in his step and make him bring her down a caf-pow before she even had any results to give to him. And so Gibbs made his way to the bar. He walked for once, through the cool air that hit his skin; he held a coffee for himself in one hand and another for Jenny in his other. Even as he walked through the Navy Yard which was grey and dark at this time of year things seemed lighter.
Jethro arrived outside o the Bar and smiled as he got there at the same time as Jenny walked out of the door. He walked over and she waited for him smiling. She had on an emerald green dress that hit just above her knees with a pair of black tights, boots and a black bomber Jacket. Her hair was down and loose in natural curls. Gibbs smiled at her – she looked stunning. "You look amazing." He said honestly, his eyes sparking with a happiness that matched hers.
"Well, I don't get out that often. And you don't look so bad yourself." She said with a smile. He then handed her a cup of coffee which she took with a slightly amused smile playing on her lips. She then leant up and kissed him, to which he responded by placing his free arm around her waist and pulling her in tight. Then they parted both had slightly pink flushed faces and large smiles plastered across their faces. Smiles that would compete with the one on Tonys face all day. "Thank you." Jenny said, he softly pecked her lips.
"You mind if we walk?" He questioned.
"I'd love to walk." She replied before the stepped into sync next to each other, his arm resting around her waist. Neither of them spoke, there was something about each other that made neither of them feel the need to speak. They sipped their coffee as they went. "Jethro, how did you know what coffee I drank?" She questioned looking up. Even though she was wearing heels he was still much taller than her.
"Lucky guess." He stated. But she saw the smirk on his lips and new it was but. He'd most likely bribed Ali into telling him.
"Where are we heading?" She questioned as they entered a small side street that she didn't recognise.
"For lunch." HE replied, Jenny just laughed and decided to trust him as he led her away. They approached a small terrace house and he led her inside. It was small but light. The outside was nothing special, but well kept with just a small sign above saying: Terrace Place Café on it in swirly back writing.
Inside Gibbs nodded at the waitress and they made their way up the stairs. He then led her to a tan brown leather couch which faced the window and had a small coffee table in front of it. "I've never noticed this place before." She said looking around curiously.
"The owner's husband is a marine, he was kidnapped a few years ago, I saved him. Been coming here since very now and again – they do good coffee." Jenny laughed and smiled at him.
"Do you think of anything but coffee?"
"I think of you." He replied and she smiled, leaning across the small distance between them to kiss him softly. A woman then made her way over. She was slightly older than Jenny, had dark brown hair died at the roots which were tied up in a bun behind her, she wore a black blouse and skirt with a white half apron. She smiled a warm smile.
"Hello Jethro, it's good to see you're not alone for once." Gibbs just laughed.
"Marie this is Jenny, Jenny this is Marie." He stated as the two women said their greetings politely. Jenny had quickly grabbed a menu, forgetting they were here for lunch for a moment.
"What can I get you guys then?" she questioned. Gibbs looked to Jenny who smiled.
"Can I have a cheese and ham baguette please?" she asked.
"Of cause, would you like it cold or toasted?"
"Toasted."
"Okay and Jethro?"
"My usual."
"Okay, so one cheese and ham –toasted, and one sausage –toasted with onions. What can I get you to drink?"
Jenny and Gibbs looked at each other with a smirk. "Two of my coffee's please." The woman – Marie – smiled and walked away. Jenny moved over closer to Jethro and he pulled her in. They were acting as though they had known each other for years when it had only been days. There was something comfortable about the way they were with one another.
"How did you end up at NCIS?" Jenny questioned softly. Gibbs looked down at her, usually he avoided that question, but there was something comforting about Jenny.
"My first wife and daughter: Kelly was killed whilst I was deployed. NCIS handled the investigation, when I left it was the right thing to do." She looked up at him.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"Don't be." He replied. "Why the PD?"
"My father was in the army. He . . . he was suspected of taking a bribe and supposedly killed himself. I always believed he was murdered. I decided to find his killer, but when I was in high school one of my friends was murdered. I realised I could do more good helping the living than avenging the dead." She said. HE kissed her forehead. They'd both learnt about demons, both learnt there were things lurking beneath the surface yet somehow neither one of them really minded, because after all things never were straight forward in life.
They ate their sandwiches in silence, only the occasional question. Once they had finished both decided to take a walk. So, they left the warmth of the small café and made their way out. They walked close together, both warm and full. They walked through small streets with smiles on their faces, and slowly made their way back to the bar. As they walked Jethro's hand wound its way around Jenny's waist. He pulled her close and both smiled.
-A Life Behind Bars-
Ali was stood at the bar wiping down the wooden surface. Her long red hair was down and straightened harshly. She had black eyeliner ringing her eyes and tailing off in flicks symmetrically at the corners. Her lips were coated in a pale pink colour – 'moonshine' – which was gentle and suited her. She wore a pair of bleached denim shorts with black patterned tights underneath, on her top she wore a black vest top with the words 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' printed across in a bright red – now faded – type face. On her feet was a pair of black heeled ankle boots. She worked away humming along to the soft country music played gently in the background. Hearing the door open she turned to see an unfamiliar figure standing there. She straightened up and whilst tightening one of the bracelets on her wrist she stated: "We don't open until four on a Sunday love, come back later." And with a warm smile she returned to her work. Only he didn't move. Assuming he had not heard her she turned to him once more. "We're not open until four pm. Come back then."
"I know." He replied his gruff sharp and yet gravely with a cocky tone to it.
"Then would you mind paying attention, only I don't like wasting me breath love." She replied.
"Where is it?" HE questioned, walking forward towards where she stood.
"Sorry darlin', I really don't know what you're talkin' about." She replied, feeling slightly venerable as he walked forward.
"The gear. That two timer john never paid me, now it can only be here."
"John? He's dead, and I really have not a clue what 'gear' you're talking about."
"The coke you dumb slag!" He stated angrily before pulling out a knife and pulling out a knife and pointing it at her. "Where. Is .It?"
"I do not know! Anything in his locker was taken by the feds!"
"Like some trumped up little bar maid would give away a four grand's worth of coke!" He stated, his voice growing In anger as he continued moving forward until he was on the same side of the bar as she was. "Now I'll ask you one more time. Where is MY coke?"
As Jenny and Gibbs walked through the door the bar they were laughing at some slightly work related story. Their eyes were sparkling and both felt much happier than they had in a very long time. Yet as they walked into the bar both were now familiar with, what they had expected to see, and what was in front of their eyes were two worlds apart. They saw a tall man dressed in dark clothes. He was muscular and holding a knife to Ali. In that moment Gibbs slipped into his agent mode, ready to defend him. Also beside him Jenny slipped back into her cop mode. Even when you haven't actively been serving for years, there is still that shell there ready to slip into her level headed self.
Hearing voices, Ali's eyes snapped over to see her aunt and Gibbs stood there. Him with his hand on his gun, and ready to take action mode. But his eyes did too. Seeing them both he moved behind her, gabbing Ali by the neck momentarily causing her to hold her breath because of shock and fear. He pulled her and before she knew it there was the cold sharp tip on a knife presses to her neck, just hard enough to pierce the skin and cause a warm drop of blood to fall down her skin.
"Don't even think of moving or I'll slit her neck!" he said, anger causing adrenalin to fill his limb and make his hand shake. "Give me my coke and no one gets hurt!" He shouted.
Gibbs was studying his features, and noticed the exact type of knife it was he had held to Ali's neck. It was a knife that he himself owned, and that was when he began to join to dots together - who he was. "Okay, okay, calm down. Dane, Dane Goldsman. David's daughter right?"
"What is it to you? Just get me my god damn coke!"
"I knew him Dane, he was a good man."
"Shut up about my father!" He shouted as he made another mark on Ali's neck.
"Dane? You're father was a marine right? Kuwait I'm guessing from the knife. You must be proud." Said Jenny making her way forward. "What's happened Dane? Why don't you put the knife down and we sort this all out?"
"Shut up! This is too late to sort out."
"I wouldn't bet on it." She said slowly moving forward.
"Stay back!" He shouted once more. She stopped moving.
"Okay, okay I'll stay here. So, the way I see it is that it either ends the bad way where one of us dies, or you put the knife down and we all stay safe."
"It's too late you stupid cow!"
"It's never too late. Come on, put it down." By now Jenny was moving forward once more and Gibbs had his gun aimed. The young man was looking between Jenny who was talking softly and Gibbs who was glaring daggers into him was a gun pointed. His hand trembled and his other was tight around Ali's neck. She watched praying to god her aunt and Gibbs would manage to sort this out.
At that moment the door burst open and in bounced a certain Anthony DiNozzo. His smile reached from ear to ear and in his hand he held a paper bag. "Hey Ali I brought donuts!" He said smiling. Then he attuned to his surrounding and his eyes fell on the scene in front of him. There she was, the woman he could feel himself slowly falling for with a knife at her neck. The donuts were long forgotten about as he dropped them on the floor and walked forward drawing his gun and fighting the urge to blow the piece of scum's head off. "Drop in now!" He instructed.
Now with two guns aimed at him Dane did the only thing he could think too. He tightened his hold and walked backwards towards the door before dropping Ali and the knife then running. He ran fast and it took a few seconds for them all to react. Armed Tony and Gibbs went after Dane whilst Jenny ran over to her niece. Ali was sat leaning against the inside of the bar, eyes closed and breathing slowly whilst Jenny wiped away the blood. They'd called an ambulance and when they can they gave her a few precautionary injections to prevent disease then left.
Gibbs had called McGee who had handcuffed their man and taken him back to the Navy Yard. Now Gibbs sat inside with Jenny who was calming down. "You were good." He said in a soft tone he only used with those who truly mattered to him.
"Sometimes it's like just another part of you that comes out." She said looking up at him. He leant down and kissed her forehead.
Outside, much to her aunt's displeasure, Ali stood against the wall with a cigarette in her hand. He head rested against the cold brick wall. Tony walked over and stood by her. He looked down at the glowing cigarette in her hand and smirked. It didn't bother him that she smoked; he knew it was just another part of her he was yet to learn about. "After all this and you have one of them." She looked up at him and smiled a warm smile. It made her happy that instead of moaning at her for smoking he just accepted it. He pulled her into him and stubbed the burning ember out with her shoe. HE hugged her as she fought not to cry. Once she had taken numerous deep breath tony looked at her and brushed a piece of hair away from her face. He looked in her eyes and supped her face as he leant down and softly kissed her. It was a different kiss to most Tony experienced, instead of being filled with pure lust I was soft and gentle, filled with care. And when they parted she rested her head on his shoulder and smiled.
Twenty minutes later they returned into the bar. They sat along with Gibbs and Jenny, Ali and Tony holding hands the whole time. Gibbs looked at the younger girl and smiled. "You okay?" He questioned.
"Yeah, bit shook up, but other than that I'm okay."
"Good." He answered with a small smile. "Tony, take the rest of the day to look after her. He's in custody now you're safe."
"Good." She replied. "Look, erm, I may as well tell you Gibbs and Tony, I'm off down to California for a few weeks. I'm opening a new bar down near camp Pendleton, Diego's Duchess, so yeah. Thought I should you know, maybe say something"
Gibbs smiled and nodded, Jenny passed her a warm smile that said just how proud she was, and Tony hugged her. "Okay, I've gotta go." Said Gibbs and Jenny walked him out. When they got outside Jenny looked up at him and softly kissed him.
"Thank you." She said. "You got him."
"I said I would, I'm just sorry that Ali got hurt in the process."
Jenny kissed him softly, and that was all he needed to say. "Dinner, tomorrow night?" He questioned.
"Yeah, yeah I'd love that, I think Ali owes me some times off." She said before kissing him softly.
"I'll pick you up at yours at seven."
"Sounds perfect." And with that she watched as he walked off. His strong shoulders and Marine posture. The way he walked so strong and looked as good even just as a silhouette. Jenny smiled, she'd only known him a few nights and yet they fitted together so well, like two pieces of the same puzzle. Jenny sighed, looked up at the blue sky. "Please." She whispered. "Please just let this work lord." And with that she made her way inside of the bar ready to get to work.