CHAPTER FIVE
Gemma ended up having a panic attack while waiting for Gibbs and the team. Tiffany eventually got her to calm down and take a nap.
She wasn't sleeping long when she felt someone shake her. "Gemma wake up we have to go," Tiffany said.
"Where are we going?" She followed her.
Gemma ran through the hospital doors and straight to the receptionist, slamming her hands down. "Jimmy Palmer's room."
"And you are?" She asked.
"His twin sister Gemma Palmer. Where is he?" Gemma drummed her fingers in irritation. "What is taking so long?"
Tiffany finally caught up with her. "Chill Gem and give the poor lady a chance."
"My brother has been kidnapped and is now in a hospital and you're telling me to chill?!"
"Jimmy Palmer room 327." The lady answered.
Gemma took off to the room. "Thank you," Tiffany said politely.
Tony, Ziva, and Tim were in the room as Gemma ran in. "Jimmy!" She called out jumping onto the bed. He made a noise of pain as his sister threw her arms tightly around him.
Placing a hand on her back. "You hurting me."
"I'm just so happy you're alive." She gave her brother a teary smile.
She sat at the end of Jimmy's bed all day. She refused to leave his side for anything as everyone from work had come by to visit with him.
Gemma had gone home to shower and change with some reluctance, before going back to the hospital. On the way back she stopped off to talk to Gibbs.
She found him in the basement. "Hey, stranger." She grinned as he grumbled something incoherent. "You making this hard to thank you with you being like this."
"Blaine?" He turned to her.
Leaning on the boat. "Old news."
"You didn't tell me of him because?"
"The same reason you haven't told me about your ex-wives."
Gibbs went back to sanding his boat. "Why didn't you marry him?"
"Blaine and I got engaged a week before I found out I was pregnant. And when I did we were both happy beyond belief. A month after we found out I was pregnant I lost the child and then Blaine bailed. Leaving me alone to deal with the loss of our kid. Don't worry though, because if it wasn't for him leaving I would have been married with possibly another kid. Not standing in a basement with a very hot and sexy man, who builds boats in a basement. Which I find odd."
Moving in front of her. "Why is that odd?"
"Because I always thought serial killers and villains hide out in there basements plotting out there evil ways to take over the world. Now NCIS agents/ex-marines are on that list."
He placed a hand on either side of her. "Now I'm evil?"
"But I find that very attractive. I got to get back to Jimmy. I'll see you tomorrow." Giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Gibbs grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back to him. "You've been gone this long a few more minutes won't be that bad." Kissing her.
"I promise tomorrow you'll have me all to yourself if you let me go to see Jimmy now." He didn't let her go. "Jethro! Come on I want to see my brother." He started kissing at her neck, Gemma moaned. "Stop that." She giggled.
One of Gibbs' hands reached under her shirt. She tried pushing his hand away but it wasn't working out so well. Slapping his hand again. "I'm going." Gibbs groaned watching her walk up the stairs and out of the house.
The next morning Gibbs stopped off at the hospital. Gemma was sleeping in the empty bed next to Jimmy, Tiffany soon walked in after him. Smiling at Gibbs she went over to Gemma licked her finger and stuck it in her friend's ear.
Gemma jumped "Awe Tiff." Wiping at her ear.
"You know that was funny." Handing her a bag of food.
"Jethro." Gemma smiled when she spotted him.
Jimmy rolled his eyes when Gemma went over giving Gibbs a kiss on the cheek. "What are you doing here? Don't you have work?" Tiffany joked with Gibbs.
"Good thing about being the boss, I'll go when I can." Handing Gemma his extra coffee.
Grinning. "This is my lucky day free breakfast and free coffee."
Everyone's head turned to the door when they heard someone come in. "Blaine go away. I don't want anything to do with you." Gemma said.
Holding up the balloons. "I brought these for Jimmy." He said.
Gibbs dropped his coffee slamming Blaine against the wall. "Jethro!" Gemma yelled.
Blaine tried to pull Gibbs off of him. "What the fuck?"
"You are going to be thanking God you are in a hospital when I'm done with you," Gibbs said through gritted teeth.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
Gemma moved to there side. "He knows about us getting engaged and the baby mishap."
"What baby mishap?" Jimmy asked.
Looking over to her brother. "It's nothing."
"Gemmy…."
"Don't call me that." She interrupted.
"Gemma I am so sorry. I really am. When you lost the baby I couldn't take it. You somehow changed in my eyes. I needed to get away, clear my head." Gibbs let him go long enough to punch him. Gemma moved in front of the two to stop them.
Cupping Gibbs' face. "Look at me. Kicking his ass will help no one. All you have to remember is that you have me now and he never will. And if you leave now and be a good boy today I'll let you know why I'm going to be sticking with you for good." Gibbs just stood there.
When he didn't move Gemma pulled him out of the room. She told a passing nurse that someone needed help in the room they just exited.
They stood there in silence looking everywhere but at each other for a brief moment. "Thanks." Gemma quietly said giving him a kiss.
"I have to get back to work. See you tonight."
Tilting her head. "What's tonight?"
"You promised me I'd have you all to myself if I let you see Jimmy last night. And if I was as you said a good boy today you are telling me why you are sticking around with me for awhile." She smiled at him once more.
Heading back to Jimmy's room. "I change my mind, be a bad boy they are hotter."
"If you say so…..Gemmy."
She gasped. "Shut up I hate that name!"
Gibbs smiled heading down the hall away from her. Jimmy got out later that day, he was given the green light by the doctors to be able to go home.
Gemma helped him to his house. "What is this about a baby mishap?" Jimmy asked when they were inside his apartment.
"I miscarried and when Blaine found out he bounced and I didn't see him till a few days ago," Gemma said nonchalantly.
Jimmy would have fallen off his seat if he could. "Why didn't you tell me this?"
"Oh ya, Jimmy telling my brother I miscarried was right on the top of my list. Right next to me feeling like I've died because I just lost the baby and feeling uglier than shit because my fiancé left me."
"Everything does not have to be so sarcastic with you or snotty."
Glaring at him. "I'm leaving."
"Whatever Gemma be like." Jimmy threw at her.
Gibbs wondered where Gemma was, it was getting late. When he opened the front door he found Gemma sitting on his porch. Gibbs sat next to her without saying a word.
Gemma took Gibbs arm and wrapped it around her, she then proceeded to cry into his shoulder. He ushered her inside and to the couch.
This time it was Gibbs who found Gemma down in the basement. She was sitting under the boat, playing with one of his tools in her hand.
"I didn't love him. Not only was I going to marry someone I was going to have a child with someone I didn't love. You know how I know?" Gibbs shook his head no, leaning on the half made boat. "I dreaded seeing him, I dreaded his touch. Everything about him I dreaded."
Taking the tool away from her. "At least you know."
"Ya well, I know that now and I know that I love you." She gave him a scared child look after she said it. Gibbs' eyes shot up at her when he heard those words spill from Gemma's lips. "You don't have to say it back. But I figured you should know. I know it's like a major what the hell moment. But you are always on my freaking mind. I think about you like every five second and when I do, I smile and get butterflies in my stomach. I can barely get anything done because I'm way to busy thinking about what you are up to…"
Gibbs leaned over, shutting her up with a kiss. "You talk too much." He told her. She squealed falling backward with Gibbs, Gemma felt him smile against her lips.
Gibbs laid there under his boat with Gemma as she slept. He thought he might have to keep this boat, it's not fully made and already it's got some great memories with it.
Gemma woke up in Gibbs bed, confused for a second as she sat up. The last thing she remembered was being in the basement. Looking over at the clock it read 10. Gemma was starting to get used to waking up in an empty bed with Gibbs as she quickly dressed for work.
She fiddled around before going into work that morning. Gemma loved owning her own business, she had her own hours. And her and Tiffany had a great spot for the store, everyone came to them for music. So business was good all year around.
Gemma came through the back grabbing a box of records on her way up to the front. Dropping them on the ground by the counter she joined Tiffany behind it.
The costumer she was helping looked at Gemma. "What happened?"
Looking at him. "What?"
"The dog tags around your neck. What happened to him? He die in combat or something?" The guy questioned.
Gemma looked down at her necklace. "Holy shiz balls there Jethro's" Looking at them.
"What?" Tiffany grabbed for them.
Gemma looked at the costumer. "He loves me." And she ran from the store.
The customer looked at Tiffany. "Her boyfriend isn't dead he works at NCIS."
"What's that?" Tilting his head.
Handing him the bag of merchandise. "Navy Criminal Investigative Service."
"What about you? You seeing anyone?" He smiled up at her.
Smirking. "Sort of. It's one of her boyfriend's team members. She's dating the boss of the team, I'm for one of the other guys."
"Is everyone who works for this store required to date someone from there?"
Shrugging. "Not really. But her brother is a medical examiner for NCIS, so it was inevitable. For her at least."
"Those guys are lucky dating you two. Makes me wish I was one of them if it meant I'd be with someone like you." He winked at her before leaving the store.
Gemma paced in the elevator as it climbed the levels of the NCIS building. She bolted off it when the doors slid open. Not seeing Gibbs at his desk. "Where is he?"
"We don't know. He was here for a while then disappeared an awhile ago." Tony answered.
"Is there a problem?" Ziva asked.
Biting her bottom lip. "No problem just that I am the happiest person alive right now."
"Why is that?" Tony asked.
Making her way back to the elevator. "Can't talk but I'm sure you'll know by tomorrow. Tiff will tell Tim tonight on their date." Disappearing on the elevator.
"Who's Tiff?" Ziva asked walking over to McGee's desk.
"Just a girl," Tim answered going back to his computer.
Tony mischievously grinned. "Tiff is Tiffany Gemma's friend. She is the one who brought Jimmy that basket of goodies with the card that sang 'I'm a survivor.'"
Ziva snapped her fingers. "Ahh, she's pretty. Way to go Timothy."
Later that night Tim knocked on Tiffany's front door. His mouth went dry when she opened the door. Blushing. "You going to stand there all night or we going to have dinner?"
"Sorry, ready?" He asked.
Grinning. "For you always."
Tim was a gentleman and pulled Tiffany's chair out for her when they reached the restaurant. "Thank you. You want to know what's up with Gemma and Jethro." Smiling as Tim sat across from her.
"That thought never crossed my mind."
Tiffany giggled. "It reads all over your face. Gemma spent the night at his house and today she came to work completely unaware that at some point while she slept he put his dog tags on her. She didn't know that till someone pointed it out to her. Then she ran from the store to find him. And that was the last I heard or saw of her."
"Gibbs gave her his dog tags!" Tim was stunned.
Reaching for her glass of water that was on the table. "I figured he did it because Gem finally told Jethro she loved him."
"Really?" Tim choked on his water.
"Yes but enough about them. I hear you went to MIT. What was that like?" And from there, their date officially took off.
Gemma left NCIS and sat in her car as she thought. Gibbs wasn't picking up his phone so she went back to his place. Playing with the dog tags as she drove as fast as she could.
The front door was only open half way. Gemma popped her head around a few boxes. "Jethro." She called. "Jethro you here?"
She found him in his room by the dresser. "What is with all the boxes. You moving somewhere?"
"Making some room for some of your stuff." He answered.
Scrunching her eyebrows. "What?"
"You heard me."
Gibbs walked over to her, wrapping his arms around Gemma when he saw it dawned on her. "I am one lucky girl, your dog tags, and space in your bedroom. Makes up for you ruining my good pair of Gucci shoes."
Kissing her. "I'll just buy you new ones."
"I got them off the Gucci website offline for $585 dollars."
His arms fell to his side as he took a step back. "They were how much?"
"$585 bucks and there my favorite pair next to the ones Tiffany borrowed for her date with Tim tonight."
Going back to the bedroom. "About time but I'm not paying for your shoes."
"The price in looking hot all for you isn't cheap and you are paying for a new pair." Following him into the bathroom. "So the dog tags and getting some space in your room, it means what I think it means."
Looking at her standing in the doorway all shy and scared of what he might say that it might not be what she thinks.
He heard her take a deep breath when he spoke. "Yes."
She threw her arms around him as her kiss was firm but passionate. They both laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I hope you know that just because you did what you did today. Doesn't exclude you from replacing my Gucci shoes."
Laying on his side to her, propping herself up on his arm. "I'm not paying for those shoes."
"We will see about that." Gemma scrunched her nose with a giggle.
THE END