Thanks for the review and follows. I appreciate each one.
To Retire or Not to Retire
Chapter Two
On Thursday morning as the team and Gibbs were working at their desks, Gibbs' phone rang.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
"Agent Gibbs, this is Karen Watts, I'm the school counselor at Potomac High School. I'm calling about Emily Fornell."
"Is she alright? What's going on?" Gibbs was instantly worried for obvious reasons and because the woman on the phone sounded worried herself.
"She's not injured if that's what you mean but she's very upset this morning. I've tried her father but am unable to reach him and Emily is asking for you."
Jethro was torn. He wanted to help Emily but he didn't want to go against the fact that Tobias had told him in no uncertain terms to stay away from his daughter.
"I'm not sure that would be a good idea. Her father might not appreciate it right now."
"Emily said that might be the case. Agent Gibbs, you are the emergency contact on Emily's card so technically you are the one we are required to call. Does that help you?"
"Tell Emily I'm on my way."
As he got up to leave, Jethro told the team to keep working on finding some trail that would lead them to Sergei. He wasn't convinced their Russian "ally" was going to actually help them.
When Jethro got to the high school Emily was waiting for him in the counselor's office. She had been crying and as soon as she saw him she launched herself into his arms and burst into tears. Jethro's heart broke all over again at the realization that he was, at least in his opinion, responsible for the pain this young girl was suffering. He held her and tried to reassure her that things would be okay. That wasn't easy to do when he wasn't all that sure himself. Finally, Emily took a few shuddering breaths and pulled back from him.
"I'm sorry, Gibbs. I just needed to see you."
"It's okay, Em. Wanna tell me what's goin' on?"
The counselor gave Emily a quick pat on the arm and said she'd let them talk.
When they were alone, Emily sat down and pulled Jethro onto the small couch with her.
"It's my dad. He's probably home passed out. He's drinking all the time, Gibbs and it scares me. He's really messed up. I can't take care of him. I need you to help him."
"Not sure he'd want me to. He's pretty angry with me right now."
"I know but you have to know he still needs you for a friend. What happened to mom isn't your fault you know. You do know that right?"
Emily looked at him with her mother's eyes and Jethro was afraid to speak. He hated himself in that moment and he didn't understand why Emily didn't hate him too.
"I didn't kill her but it was about me Emily. I can't deny that. Your dad is right to be angry with me. You too."
"That's stupid! That guy Sergei killed my mom! That's who you guys should be mad at, not you. I know about what my dad said to you and I don't care. I love you Uncle Gibbs and I won't stop just because my dad wants me too. He doesn't really anyway. He's just really messed up and I need you to help him get right. Please tell me you'll go over there and make him straighten up."
"That's a pretty big job, Em. Are you sure he wants to get straightened out?"
"No but he has to anyway. He needs to help you get Sergei, Gibbs. You have to make him understand he has to take care of me now."
"He loves you Em and he'll take care of you. He just needs some time. It's hard."
"Gibbs, I know you and my mom didn't work out but she still loved you in a way. She and my dad were getting it together but it was still kinda weird you know? He's so messed up right now he can't even see straight. Will you help him?"
"Course I will. When did you get so smart young lady?"
In a very small voice Emily responded, "just a few days ago."
Jethro pulled her into a hug and had to fight back his own tears. Being with Emily was always a double edged sword of happiness and pain for Jethro. He missed his own daughter and he often wondered if he and Diane could have survived if he had been willing to have a child with her. Emily was a lot like Diane in some ways and Jethro knew that would both help and hurt her father.
Once Jethro had agreed to go see her father, Emily calmed down and said she was ready to go back to class. She headed off down the hall and Mrs. Watts walked with Jethro to the front door of the school.
"How's she doing? Besides today I mean."
"Remarkably well actually. Emily is a very bright young lady and has a strong spirit. I keep a pretty close eye on her but so far she's managing it all with a lot of grace and courage."
"I'm not surprised. Thank you for calling me."
"I'm glad you could come. Emily said you'd be here but I know sometimes things can't be done just because we want to. It was good to meet you Agent Gibbs."
"You too. Thanks for looking out for Emily."
Jethro drove to Diane's house where Fornell had been staying most of the time since he and Diane decided to try their relationship again. He wondered what he'd find when he got there. Jethro had never known Tobias to be irresponsible but the situation they were in now was certainly much different than anything they had ever encountered. He just hoped his old friend would listen to him and not punch him in the jaw again. Jethro sat in the driveway for a few minutes unsure about how to approach the situation. Instead of going in without a plan he decided to call Holly for advice. The idea that he acknowledged, even to himself that he needed and wanted her advice, was a testament to how much Jethro trusted Holly.
"Hello Jethro. Are you calling to tell me you're on your way?"
"No, sorry. I need some advice. Got a minute? Or two?"
"Of course. What's going on?"
"It's Tobias." Jethro went on to tell Holly about his being called to the school and his talk with Emily.
"I'm sitting in the driveway at the house and I'm not sure how to go about helping Emily. And her father. Got any ideas?"
Holly didn't answer for a few moments and Jethro began to wonder if he had lost the connection. He looked at his phone and saw the call was still open. Finally Holly spoke.
"Is there any way you can use his help, however minimal, to catch Sergei?"
"I'm not sure. We're working on something and I might be able to at least let him in on it." Jethro stopped short of telling her what they were planning because he knew she would be opposed to him using himself as bait.
"Here's my thought. Tobias needs to DO something. He needs to be part of whatever happens to Sergei in order to feel like he helped get justice for Diane. You understand that. Jethro, you're going to have to get him to talk to you. He needs you because you understand what he's feeling. And, of course he has to stop drinking and think about his child. I would guess that thinking about her is part of his problem. He's not sure he can do what has to be done now; raise his daughter without her mother. That is a scary proposition for any parent."
"I'm not going to tell him I talked to Emily. Not today anyway. I'll let her tell him if she wants to. If I can get him sobered up and presentable I'll take him to the office and see what Leon says."
"Jethro are you trying to trap this murderer by putting yourself out there for him?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because I know you. Because I know how you think. Just be careful. And if Tobias isn't one hundred percent please don't put your life in his hands. That's what you have a team for. Promise me."
"I won't let Tobias near this op if he's not ready, you can trust me on that. I want this guy and I want to see you in a couple of days. Thanks for your help. I better go. I love you."
"I love you, Jethro. Be safe."
When Jethro got to the front door it opened before he could knock. Tobias was standing there looking quite a bit worse for the wear. He looked even worse than Jethro had when he showed up at Holly's place. Jethro kept his distance until he was sure Tobias wasn't going to take a swing at him.
"Was wondering if you were coming in or just using the driveway as a parking lot."
"Had to take a call. You look like crap, Fornell."
"Thanks. Come on in. What are you doing here, Jethro?"
"Checking on you. Wondered if you're interested in working with us to get Sergei. Got the Russian lawyer supposedly helping us get the bastard out in the open."
"Yeah, I'm interested. By out in the open you mean coming after you? When's this happening?"
"Soon I hope. You sober?"
"I can be in short order. Emily called you didn't she?"
Jethro just looked at him. He didn't want to lie but he didn't want to cause Emily a problem.
"It's okay. I figured she would. I haven't been much good to her last little while. I woke up this morning and realized she's been taking care of me and getting herself to school and I haven't done a damn thing for her. I have to get myself together."
"Yeah you do. Emily's a strong kid. She's okay but you're right, you need to get it together for her."
"Make some coffee while I shower?"
"Sure."
Jethro started for the kitchen and Fornell for the bedroom down the hall. Before he had gone four steps he stopped and turned around.
"I don't blame you. Not really."
Fornell looked at his friend and knew he at least understood how he felt about losing Diane.
"I do. That won't help us now though so we have to put it behind us and get on with it. I should have said this sooner Tobias, I'm sorry. Sorry I didn't see it coming just a few seconds sooner."
"Wouldn't have mattered. He was watching you and would have fired as soon as you started to move. Let it go Jethro. Let's get this bastard and get on with our lives."
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
Fornell nodded and headed back to take his shower and get dressed. He had no idea of the hidden meaning behind Gibbs' words. Jethro went into the kitchen and after a long study figured out how to work the fancy coffeemaker on the counter. He had much less trouble with the frying pan, stove and toaster. By the time Fornell returned to the kitchen Jethro was serving two plates of fried eggs with bacon and toast. Tobias looked at the breakfast and realized, not for the first time, what a good friend Jethro was to him.
"I could get used to this."
"Don't", Jethro replied with a smirk.
The two men made quick work of the food and the rinsed the dishes, loaded the dishwasher and headed for the door. They had spoken very little while they ate and Tobias was anxious to hear Gibbs' plan to catch Sergei. But, he knew his friend well enough to wait until Jethro was ready to fill him in. That happened as soon as they were in the car and on the way to the Navy Yard.
"The idea is our friend the Russian will feed Sergei my location and let him know they will get him out of the country once he's finished his business. Then I, or we as it stands now, take care of him once and for all. I don't think they want anybody getting arrested and embarrassing them. I'm fine with that plan and I assume you are too."
"Definitely. Where are you supposed to be?"
"My cabin. It's isolated and very few people know it exists. We're headed there once we brief Vance and let him know you're in on this deal. You up for it?"
"Course I am."
They rode in silence to the Navy Yard and as they were getting out of the car Tobias stopped and looked at Jethro with a look on his face that said he had something to say.
"What is it?"
"Will it help if I kill the bastard?"
"Help?"
"Help me. Make it easier. Or something at least."
Jethro considered his friend and struggled to form what he thought of as the correct answer. He knew that killing the man who was responsible for his wife and child dying hadn't really made that much difference in the long run. In fact, it haunted him to the point that he sometimes wished he hadn't pulled the trigger all those years ago. He didn't think that was what Fornell wanted to hear but he knew he had to tell him the truth.
"Not really. Maybe a little but she'll still be gone. You have to think about Emily and what you're willing and able to live with."
After briefing Director Vance on Fornell's willingness to help them catch Sergei, Gibbs and Fornell headed off to Jethro's remote cabin. His team wasn't thrilled with what they knew of the plan but they trusted their boss to get the job done. They just hoped Fornell was more help than he looked like he would be. Their favorite FBI agent still looked like he wouldn't be able to take down a Boy Scout much less a stone killer like Sergei. They worried that if Fornell was covering Gibbs' six their boss was in trouble. Without even a way to monitor the cabin they were left to wait and hope their Russian "friend" came through for Gibbs.
The Russian did indeed come through for Gibbs and in turn Gibbs and Fornell took care of Sergei. Things didn't go exactly as planned but near enough. Gibbs lured Sergei into a confrontation the killer was not expecting but he was not only a skilled marksman but a very capable fighter as well. Gibbs would have several new bruises to explain to Holly when she saw him with his shirt off. He had a nasty cut on his left arm that would require the services of Ducky to be sewn up and a less nasty one on his side but Sergei had a bullet hole in his head courtesy of Fornell. The shooting was easy enough to justify since Sergei was about to stab Gibbs in the heart when Fornell took the shot.
"I was hoping you hadn't fallen asleep. What took you so long?" Jethro was out of breath, his arm and his side hurt and the arm was all but useless.
"You seemed to be holding your own. And, I knew you wanted to get in some good licks before it was all over. Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
Fornell had cut Gibbs' tee shirt off him and wrapped it around Jethro's arm. Gibb's cradled the injured arm against his chest and watched as Tobias used the satellite phone to call in some help. Their cell phones were useless because McGee was jamming the cell signal; a weapon against Sergei but it also kept them from calling for help.
By the time the team arrived with Ducky to take the body, Jethro was beginning to feel the effects of his fight with Sergei and the resulting blood loss coupled with too little sleep or decent food in recent days. He was stretched out in the passenger seat of DiNozzo's car with the seat reclined. Ducky had looked at his injuries and told him the would sew him up when they got back to the Navy Yard. When Bishop approached him he asked her what day of the week it was. She told him it was Friday evening and asked him if he knew where they were. By the look on her face, Jethro knew his question had worried her.
"I know where we are, Bishop, I just wasn't sure the day of the week. It's been a while since I paid attention to the calendar."
"Okay. Do you want me to take down your statement so you don't have to write it up? Or I could record it and then type it up for you to sign."
"That would be good. Got your recorder?"
Bishop handed him the small device, waited until he had started then went to see if Ducky or Tony needed any help.
"Ducky, Gibbs just asked me what day it is. You think he's okay?"
"Yes, my dear. He's just worried he'll miss getting to Florida tomorrow. Judging by his injuries I may suggest he wait another day."
"Yeah, he doesn't look too good."
"Well, let's get this wrapped up then so we can get back and I can get him stitched up and home to bed."
On the way back to the Navy Yard, DiNozzo thought Gibbs was asleep so when Jethro spoke to him Tony jumped in his seat.
"Geez Boss I thought you were out. Sorry, what'd you say?"
"I said your name."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"No, DiNozzo. I'm going to be gone for a while. You're in charge until I get back."
"Okay. Goin' to Florida I bet."
"Yes."
They were quiet for a while but Jethro felt like he owed his Senior Agent at least a little warning or hint that he might not be coming back. At least not for very long.
"Tony, I'm going to tell you something that only Ducky knows. I want you to keep it to yourself."
"Sure Boss."
"I'm thinking of retiring. Soon."
Tony was stunned. He knew Gibbs had his time in but he figured he'd stay around until they kicked him out. Or carried him out. Then he thought about Ms. Snow and the way Gibbs and her looked together that night Tony saw them out to dinner. And the way the Boss seemed happy and relaxed more of the time now. He wanted to argue against the idea but then he thought about all the close calls they'd had and the times Gibbs had been hurt and he stopped himself.
"Can't say I blame you, Boss. Can't say I like the idea but I get it. You think she'll want you around all the time?"
Jethro laughed. "Sure hope so, Tony. I sure hope so."
When they got to the Navy Yard, Tony went to his desk to start on the paperwork to close the case and Gibbs went down to see Ducky in autopsy. Bishop was already back and busy transcribing Gibbs' tape statement. Jethro marveled at the skills and efficiency of his young agent. McGee was well into his share of the paperwork and Jethro knew that by the time he was ready to go they would have most of what had to be done finished. He watched them for a moment then headed off to get his injuries tended to.
By the time Jethro walked through the doors of the autopsy suite what little adrenaline he had left in his system was gone. He hurt all over and getting from the door to the table took almost all the energy he had left. He more or less collapsed on the cold metal table. He balled his jacket into a makeshift pillow and stretched out with a deep sigh. All he could think about was that it was finally over.
"Jethro you really should be in a proper emergency room."
"Nah, Duck, you can fix me up just fine. Just need a few stitches is all. And maybe a couple of good, strong pain pills. Got any of those?"
"Yes, I have some. Can you sit up and get your shirt off or shall is cut it off?"
"I can do it."
"Very well, I'll just get a suture kit and some supplies and we'll get this taken care of."
Ducky stepped into the storage room to get what he would need to clean and suture Jethro's arm and side. When he stepped back into the room where Jethro was waiting the patient had not moved. In fact he was asleep. Ducky just smiled at his friend and sat down at his desk to begin his own paperwork and wait for Jethro to wake up. He sent DiNozzo a text message asking him to bring down a clean shirt for Jethro before he left the building. Ducky had decided the shirt Jethro was wearing was already ruined so he was going to cut it off him anyway. He wondered if he should go ahead and call Holly or wait until he had spoken with Jethro. He was going to insist that Jethro take at least a day to recover before he went to Florida. Whether he prevailed in that was anybody's guess. Dr. Mallard could be very persuasive but Agent Gibbs could be equally stubborn.
Jethro woke with a start about forty-five minutes after he laid down. He had slept through Tony coming and going with his shirt and Ducky brewing himself a cup of tea.
"Ah, Jethro good you're awake. I was beginning to wonder if you'd sleep the night away."
"How long was I out?"
"Only three quarters of an hour. Don't get up, just be still and I'll get you fixed up."
Jethro was happy to comply. Ducky approached with his scissors in hand and his supplies on a rolling tray. He handed Jethro two pain pills and a glass of water.
"Take these while I get started." Ducky pulled the tail of Jethro's shirt out of his pants and took aim with the scissors.
"Hey wait a minute, I like this shirt. Holly gave it to me."
"Then she will have to give you another. This one is obviously ruined. The blood for one thing and then what would you have me do about the neat cut where our Russian friend tried to stab you to death?"
Jethro, propped up on his elbows, looked at his shirt. Ducky was right, it was a goner.
"Guess you're right."
Ducky began cutting from the tail to the collar then down the sleeve so that when Jethro sat up it would come right off. He carefully cleaned the wound on Jethro's arm first. It was a deep cut and would require more than just a few stitches. Ducky prepared a deadening agent and before Jethro could react to the sight of the needle he gave him three quick injections around the wound to completely numb the area. While that took effect, Ducky turned his attention to the wound on Jethro's side.
"How's it look Duck?"
"Not as bad as the arm but bad enough. Knowing you, butterfly bandages won't do so I'll sew this up as well."
Two more shots to deaden the area and Ducky got busy with needle and thread.
"These will leave scars you know, Jethro. If you had gone to a proper hospital a plastic surgeon could have done a much neater job."
"Don't worry about it Duck. Holly thinks my scars are sexy."
"I doubt that."
"That what she told me."
"Then I'm sure she meant it." Ducky glanced down at his friend and continued, "Jethro, I want you to take at least a day before you travel. I know you are anxious to see Holly but I really feel it best if you stay home tomorrow and give yourself a chance to catch your breath so to speak."
"I'm okay Duck. I'm just going to sit on a plane and then on the beach."
"Really? Somehow I don't think that is exactly what you will be doing. Do you want to be able to enjoy your time with Holly when you get there or do you want her to have to take care of you? If you stay home for one day, eat at least two good meals and sleep a minimum of twelve hours you will be one hundred percent better than you will be if you go to Florida tomorrow. You will be stronger and clearer of mind when you get there. That is a promise."
Jethro didn't say anything for a long time. He desperately wanted to see Holly, to be with her and soak up the love that she so freely gave him. On the other hand he didn't want her to worry about him or have to take care of him. He wanted, as Ducky had said, to be able to enjoy their time together right from the start. He decided his friend was right; as usual.
"I'll stay home and eat and sleep tomorrow. I'll fly down Sunday afternoon."
"Excellent. You won't regret your decision. Would you like me to call Holly and tell her I'm keeping you here?"
"No, it'll scare her if she sees your number come up. I told her I might be a day late. I'll call her when I get home."
"Alright."
Ducky finished stitching up Jethro's wounds and covered them both with thick bandages. The patient was half asleep and Ducky left him to gather some extra bandages, antibiotic ointment and pain meds for Jethro to take with him. And a sling for his arm.
When Ducky returned, Jethro was sitting up on the table cradling his arm to his chest. Ducky showed him the sling as he approached.
"I want you to wear this for a day or two, certainly while you are traveling. It will take the pressure off the arm and make it less painful. That was a deep cut, Jethro and I want you to keep a close eye on it. If it gets red at all or continues to be painful after a couple of days you need to get it checked. I don't expect you will have any problems but be careful of it. I've packed you some extra bandages. Keep it covered for at least five days then you can go without a bandage. Keep it dry for the next day or so. There are some waterproof bandages in here for showering. You know the drill."
"Yeah, 'fraid I do Duck. Listen, I told DiNozzo I'm thinking about retiring sooner rather than later. Figured he should have a heads up. He'll keep it to himself but I wanted you to know he knows."
"So you haven't decided yet?"
"No. I want to talk to Holly first."
"Really?"
"She's a part of my life Duck and I don't want that to change. I don't want to make a decision like that without her input. I know it sounds strange for me to say that; sounds strange to me anyway."
"Not strange at all Jethro. You and Holly have been together now for longer than your last two marriages. You should definitely talk with her about what you want for your future. I applaud you for wanting her input. She's a very smart woman and she knows you very well, my friend. You do well to take advice from her."
"I agree. Now, I need to get home."
"Come on, I'll drive you. You don't have your own car here do you?"
"No."
On the way home Ducky stopped at a Five Guys and got Jethro a burger and fries. Not exactly Ducky's idea of fine dining but it was protein and hot food which he was pretty sure Jethro didn't have at home. His patient assured Ducky he had eggs and cheese and bread at home so he could at least have a decent breakfast when he woke up the next morning. When they got to the house, Jethro hesitated before getting out of the car.
"Do you want me to come in with you?"
"No, Duck I'm fine. Thank you for tonight and for all your help with this case. I appreciate your support my friend."
"You are welcome Jethro. Again, I'm very sorry about Diane. I'm glad you and Tobias are back on track."
"Me too. I guess I better go in and get to bed."
"Yes, no basement tonight. And Jethro, take your time with your decision making. Be very sure of what you want before you take this very serious step."
"I will. I'll see you in a week or so I expect. Night Duck."
"Good night Jethro. Give Holly my love."
"Will do."
Jethro got out of the car, grabbed the pack with his gun, badge and medical supplies in it and went in the house. Ducky sighed and started for home. He hoped Jethro thought long and hard about retiring. As much as he wanted his friend to be happy he feared leaving NCIS too soon and at such an emotional time might be a mistake. Then again, Ducky had lost count of the times he had sewn up his friend, visited him in the hospital or taken him home injured or recovering. Maybe it was time to call a halt to all that and enjoy his life.
Jethro grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and headed straight upstairs. He covered his bandages with a couple of Ducky's waterproof patches and stood in a hot shower for so long the water started to cool off. He washed quickly and got out feeling better but very tired. He quickly dried off and pulled on a pair of boxers before going downstairs to the couch to call Holly. They had not talked since their conversation while Jethro was in Fornell's driveway and Jethro was anxious to let her know things were okay now. He looked at the clock and saw it was just after ten o'clock. He was sure she wasn't in bed yet. He swallowed a pain ill, slipped his arm into the sling and got comfortable with his feet up and his head resting on the back of the couch. With Holly out of town he hated sleeping in his bed alone and besides, this way he could sleep more or less sitting up which seemed to make his arm hurt less.
The phone rang four times before Holly finally answered.
"Jethro? What's happening?"
"Hi, everything's over. We got him."
"Oh, thank god. Are you okay?" Fornell?"
"He's fine. He took the shot so he's feeling better. I'm a little banged up and Ducky wants me to stay home tomorrow so I'll be there Sunday afternoon."
"What exactly constitutes 'a little banged up'?
"Just a cut on my arm and my side. Ducky stitched me up and I'm fine. Really. You can call him and check if you want."
"Jethro you sound like a ten year old." Holly laughed and Jethro felt an easing in his chest. "You know, I just might call him and check up on you."
"I figured you would anyway. I promise I'm fine. He just wanted me to take a day and rest up. I think he thinks I'm going to need some energy while I'm there. Wonder why he thinks that?"
"Because he knows us. He knows you can't pace yourself when you're with me."
"Is that so?" There was a lightness and a wonderful sense of intimacy between them that Jethro had never experienced with another woman.
"Pretty sure that's right. I've missed you, babe. Can't wait to see you and get my hands on you."
"I miss you too. How'd your meetings go?"
"Great. They have a good organization here and they're planning to open a shelter much like the one we have in DC. I'll tell you all about it when you get here. Do you have a flight yet?"
She knew he didn't because he hadn't known when he could leave and besides, she always made their travel arrangements when they went somewhere together. While they had been talking Holly had her laptop out and was looking for a flight for him for Sunday.
"What do you think?"
"I think you don't but just a minute and you will have one. Tell me about Fornell. Was he upset you'd seen Emily?"
Jethro told her about his conversation with Fornell and some of what they had talked about at the cabin. He knew she was on the computer booking him a flight while they talked. He mentally chalked that up as another reason he could never let her go.
"I'm glad you two got that worked out. Emily needs her dad and she needs you too. Okay, listen you are on a two thirty flight from Reagan to Ft. Myers Sunday afternoon. I'm going to text you the info and you can check in on your phone. Do you remember how to do that?"
"You know Holly, I'm not helpless. Of course I remember how to do it."
He was trying to be cross with her but he couldn't pull it off. Holly could tell he was teasing her just as she had been teasing him.
"Okay. I'll be there to pick you up. Promise me you'll take it easy tomorrow."
"I will and I promise. I'm going to do exactly what Ducky prescribed; sleep and eat. I'll see you Sunday afternoon. I love you."
"Love you too. I'm really glad this whole thing is over. We're going to have a great week. I'll see you soon."
"Night babe."
"Good night Jethro."
Just as he has promised he would, Jethro did nothing but eat and sleep all day Saturday. When he woke up early Sunday morning he felt better than he had in weeks. His side and his arm were still a little sore; especially his arm but it was nothing a couple of aspirin couldn't handle. After coffee and breakfast, Jethro paid a couple of bills; despite Holly's urging he still did it the old fashioned way, by check and mail. He cleaned up the kitchen putting everything away and throwing out small bits of food that would spoil while he was gone. He didn't know for sure how long he and Holly would be away but at least a week for sure. He was thinking of taking an extended vacation if she could manage it with him.
As he settled into his first class seat that afternoon on the way to Florida he was anxious to see Holly but still unsure about his long term future. All he knew for sure was that he wanted to spend it with Holly Snow and he didn't want to be constantly afraid of someone coming after her because of him.
While Jethro was flying down to meet her, Holly was having a late lunch with the two people who were spearheading the women's shelter project she had come to Florida to consult about. Since her "trouble" as she and Jethro jokingly referred to her legal situation years ago, Holly had devoted her considerable influence and her time to the establishment of two domestic violence and homeless shelters in the DC area. Even though, when she left the escort business she was dealing only with very high end clients, she knew that many young women got into prostitution as the result of being victims of domestic violence or homelessness. The shelters she was involved with provided counseling, medical care and a safe place for the women to stay while they worked to change the direction of their lives. Holly was proud of the work she was doing but realized it was just the bare beginning and there was much, much more to be accomplished.
The people she had met with in Tampa called her on Saturday and asked if she could meet with them again but she told them no, she was not available for at least a week. The woman then asked if they could at least meet her for lunch and Holly said only if they could meet her in Ft. Myers. Holly was not going to let anything interfere with her picking up Jethro and spending every minute with him for the next week.
"We can come to you, Holly no problem. Would one o'clock be alright?"
Holly agreed and that was why she was sitting in a small café with Laura Bridges and Sue Thompson. Driving to the lunch meeting Holly was sure the two women had some new questions about the DC operation or wanted to get her input on some issues they had discussed earlier in the week. She was surprised they wanted to meet in person instead of talking over the phone but if they wanted to make the drive she was happy to meet with them. She would have time after lunch to do some shopping before Jethro's plane arrived and she had seen a couple of things she wanted to wear for him when she was in town earlier. Of course she wouldn't be wearing them long but that was okay with her.
What Holly certainly had not expected was for Laura and Sue to offer her a job. They wanted her to be the Executive Director of the non-profit that would be running the shelter.
"Holly, we know you would be the best person to be in charge of this project for the first year. We realize you have your life in DC but we are hoping to lure down to the Sunshine State for a year to get this shelter up and running."
Laura then spoke up. "I can see we've surprised you. We talked about this after you left on Thursday and everyone on the board agreed that you would be a real asset to us especially this first year."
"I'm very flattered and I don't really know what to say. I have commitments in DC that I can't walk away from at least not without some notice. I'm excited about what you're doing down here. You have a great team in place."
"We do have a good team but what you could bring to the table in terms of experience would help us avoid many of those first year mistakes that are inevitably made. We can't offer you a big salary but one of our board members, Paul Phelps, has a beautiful condo he is willing to donate to us for a year. So, you'd have a lovely place to live and short commute to the shelter."
"Sue's right the condo is wonderful. Will you at least give this some thought?"
"Yes, I'll definitely think about it. I have to talk it over with some people, one in particular of course. When would you see this happening?"
"We'd like you to start in about two months. By that time we'll be just about ready to open. "
"Just for a year, is that right?"
"We didn't think you'd be interested in coming here for good knowing how involved you are in DC. We were thinking of this as a one year deal with an option to renew if you're interested."
"Let me give this some serious thought. I should be able to let you know by the end of the week what my decision is."
"That would be perfect. Holly, no matter what you decide, thank you for all your help. We'll be in touch."
They finished lunch then the two women bid her goodbye and Holly was off to do her shopping. She found a wonderful men's store and splurged on some things for her favorite man. All the while she was shopping the idea of living in Florida for a year was buzzing around in her head. She didn't think she would do it simply because she couldn't imagine being away from Jethro for that long. It was a great opportunity though to do some important work. She knew she could do just as Laura had said; help them avoid costly mistakes during their first year. She wondered if Jethro would be able to visit at least once a month. If so, and if she could make long weekends a part of the deal then maybe they could see each other enough to make it through a year. It sounded doable but when Holly thought about this last week and not seeing Jethro for these last several days she was almost certain she couldn't accept the offer.
Finally it was time to go to the airport. Holly spent a few minutes in the ladies room making sure she looked her best. She had spent just enough time in the sun to give her some healthy color, her hair was sun bleached just right and she was wearing a breezy, cotton sun dress and sandals. Looking at herself in the mirror Holly realized she hadn't been this excited to see anyone, well, ever. She knew the idea of moving to Florida, even for just a year was out of the question. She was a little disappointed to make that decision but she just couldn't bear to be away from Jethro for that long no matter how many weekends they managed to steal. She had told him the truth the other night when she said she didn't sleep well without him. She knew what she wanted to do about that but she wondered if Jethro even remembered his response and if so what he had in mind.
The plane was on time and Holly was standing at the security exit anxiously waiting. She knew Jethro would be one of the first persons off the plane and that he wouldn't have anything but a small carry-on. He traveled very light.
Finally, he appeared looking just a little bit tired and with his left arm in a sling. The smile he gave her when he spotted her make her heart stop. God, she loved this man.
In seconds he was right there and she finally had her hands on him. She tried to be careful of his arm but before she knew it he had the sling off and was wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. Neither of them paid any attention to anyone around them; their world had shrunk momentarily to encompass only the two of them.
"So glad to see you babe."
"Me too. Should you be using the sling?"
"Nah. It's just a comfort thing and right now having my arms around you is more comfortable." Then he kissed her again.
They eventually made it to the car and Jethro happily slid into the passenger seat and left the driving to Holly. He couldn't stop smiling and he couldn't keep his hands to himself. He reached for her right hand and laced their fingers together.
"You can drive one-handed can't you?"
"Absolutely. But if you distract me too much we'll have to stop which will only delay us getting to where we want to be and doing what we want to be doing."
"I can sit over here and not touch you."
"Don't you dare. How was the flight?"
"Fine. Everything okay down here?"
"Yes, the condo is wonderful of course and the beach is perfect as usual."
"Let's make a deal. For the rest of the day we don't talk about my work or your work or anything but us and right now. Tomorrow we can talk about all that other stuff but for today can we just be two people on vacation?"
"Two people who love each other who are on vacation. That sounds perfect to me."
"That's who we are alright." Jethro squeezed her hand, "I do love you Holly Snow."
"And I love you. And I have missed you and I'm very glad you're here. Can you get those cuts wet or do we have to stay out of the water for a while?"
"Ducky sent a supply of waterproof bandages so we can get as wet as we want. He sends his love by the way."
They were quiet then for a while. Jethro closed his eyes and felt himself relax. The wonderful smell of being close to the water was one of his favorite scents. He loved it at the beach and could easily imagine the two of them living here. He wondered how Holly would feel about that.
When they arrived at the condo Holly grabbed her shopping bags and Jethro his duffle and they happily went inside. They had stayed in this condo several times and Jethro was always happy to be here; the place was very comfortable and the views were spectacular. There was a large patio off the living room that wrapped around two sides. The smell of the gulf air and the sound of the water lapping the beach was hypnotic.
"Hey, are you hungry?"
Jethro turned and looked at her with an expression that said he was indeed but not for a sandwich.
"Not so much. You?"
"Not really." She was walking towards him and unbuttoning her blouse at the same time.
Jethro smiled at her and pulled his polo off over his head. He silently appreciated that they were on the tenth floor and there was no one on either side of them who could see into the condo. He also appreciated the fact that once she had her top off there was just the barest of silk and lace left for him to deal with.
"Damn you look good. That new?"
"Yes. Like it?"
"Very much."
He reached out and touched her and the feel of his fingertips on her shoulders sent a tingle down her spine. Jethro watched his fingers glide across her collarbones and then down over the swell of her perfect breasts. He loved to look at her and touch her. Her skin was perfect. He smoothed his way back up the slim column of her throat and then tunneled his fingers in her hair and pulled her closer so he could kiss her again. He was barely holding onto his control but he was determined to make this last.
While they were kissing, slow and oh so sweetly, Holly ran the back of her fingers over his stomach and up his sides and she felt him shudder. Gently scraping her nails up and down his back, Holly pulled back from the kiss just enough to take a breath. Jethro's eyes were closed and he wrapped his arms around her so there was no space between them.
They stood still, holding each other for a long time. Eventually, Jethro loosened his grip, kissed her on the top of her head and led her to the bedroom. They took their time undressing each other and touching and kissing as if they were newly lovers. No matter how many times she was with Jethro, Holly never tired of the way they were when they made love. Jethro was a patient and generous lover who never seemed to put his needs first. He had taken the time to learn what she liked and what gave her the most pleasure and he never failed to give her what she wanted and needed. In turn, Holly knew exactly what got Jethro going and she was never shy about making sure he was happy in bed. Or wherever they were.
This evening was certainly no exception. They used every inch of the king size bed and enjoyed each other for a good long time. Jethro took his time reacquainting himself with the taste and feel of his favorite person and Holly did the same. As always with the two of them there was laughter, lots of non-verbal communication and eventually some pretty loud exclamations from Ms. Snow when Jethro finally brought her to a crashing climax then followed her right over the edge of the cliff. While they lay together waiting on their systems to recover, Holly snuggled into his side and said a silent prayer of thanks that he was there, safe and sound and not leaving anytime soon.
They held each other and eventually both dropped off to sleep. The nap lasted almost an hour before Jethro woke up to Holly kissing his shoulder and making random circles on his chest with her very lovely fingertips. Pretty soon her hand drifted south and then back up. She kissed him randomly, her leg was between his and her hands and mouth wandered here and there and all around. It was an exquisite torture that Jethro was more than happy to endure. He was as relaxed and happy as he had been in a long time. All the bad stuff of the past few weeks was melting away and being replaced with nothing but peace and the calmness that he only felt when he was with Holly.
After a while Jethro rolled them over and they made love again. Holly had spent so long getting him wound up that this time was more toward the hard and fast end of the spectrum than toward the slow, sweet end. Jethro knew Holly liked it either way, as did he, so that was certainly not a problem. When he settled back on his back with Holly breathing deeply beside him, Jethro decided he might ever want to leave the bedroom. Holly had other ideas. To his chagrin, Holly slipped out of bed and headed toward the bathroom.
"Why don't we share a shower then take some snacks down to the beach, take a walk and then watch the sunset."
"Sounds good. I guess I have to get out of this very comfortable bed, right?"
"Just for a little while. I promise we'll be back here."
So, they shared a quick shower and while Holly gathered some snacks and put them in a small cooler, Jethro got towels and two beach chairs so they could sit close to the water. They made the short walk from the condo to the beach and set up their little area. They were delighted to find they were almost the only people on the beach.
"It's been quiet all week. I hope it stays this way."
"Me too. Wanna walk for a while?"
"Yes."
They set off walking in the warm sand with the water barely lapping at their feet. Jethro reached for her hand and they strolled slowly, soaking in the late afternoon sun, the sand and the water. They picked up a few shells and eventually made their way back to their chairs. Jethro got out the snacks and they had a quiet evening, enjoying the sunset and the water. There was no place either one of them would have rather been.
True to their agreement they didn't talk at all about work. They didn't talk much at all really but that wasn't unusual for them. They were both lost at times in their own thoughts about their relationship and what might be coming next. Unbeknownst to each other they both had thoughts of moving the relationship along but were each unsure of where the other wanted to go. For two people who normally communicated so well, on the topic of their future together, they had not communicated much at all. That was going to change in the next twenty-four hours.
When they finally went back to the condo Jethro was tired and his arm was hurting. He hadn't realized just how serious that injury was until now. He took off the bandage to make sure it wasn't infected and between the two of them they agreed it looked fine. She put some ointment that Ducky had sent on it and rewrapped it and Jethro took three Aleve. The two of them settled on the couch to watch a movie and before Holly knew it, Jethro was sound asleep. She hated to wake him so she watched the rest of the movie before she nudged him awake just enough to guide him to the bed. As evidence that he was still more exhausted than he would admit, Jethro slept soundly until almost eight o'clock the next morning.
He woke to find the bed empty and the smell of coffee coming from the kitchen. Quickly brushing his teeth and pulling on some shorts he wandered into the kitchen in search of Holly. Instead he found a note telling him she'd gone for a walk at seven fifteen. He poured himself a mug of coffee and stepped onto the deck. Sure enough, there was Holly coming back down the beach. She was wearing shorts, a tank top and a floppy hat. Even from this distance Jethro knew she was beautiful; she always looked good and not just to him. She didn't wear a lot of makeup or spend a fortune on her hair but she always looked like a million bucks. She was blessed with perfect skin, beautiful eyes and, according to Jethro at least, a perfect mouth. Her hair was thick and wavy and no matter what she did or didn't do to it, it always looked good. In short, Holly Snow was a beautiful, well put together woman who could have any man she went after. Standing ten stories above her, watching her walk towards him, Jethro wondered for the umpteenth time why in god's name she ever gave him a second glance much less fell in love with him. He knew he would never understand it. He had learned to just accept and enjoy the idea but still, it was a puzzle.
When Holly got back to the condo they had breakfast then headed down to the beach. The condo came with two beach chairs and umbrellas and they set up camp there under the shade of the big blue umbrellas. They sprayed each other with sunblock and took a walk. Holly thought Jethro was very quiet and she wondered just how much he was still affected by the last couple of weeks. She knew he still felt guilty about Diane and he would for a long time. That was just the way he was built so she didn't worry about it or try to fix it. She knew the best thing she could do for Jethro was be patient and love him. For her, that was not at all difficult.
After their walk they settled in the shade, Holly with a trashy novel and Jethro watching the water come and go. He was reminded of all the time he'd spent on the beach in Baja during his "retirement" with Mike Franks. He missed his old friend and mentor and wished he could talk to him about a real retirement. He had to force himself to stop thinking about all the other people he missed. He glanced over at Holly and smiled to himself. She was concentrating on her book and biting her lip; must be at a good part he thought. He was getting hot and needed to pee so he got up to head for the water.
"Wanna cool off with me?"
Holly held up a finger, "Go ahead and I'll be there as soon as I finish two more pages. I'm about to figure out who's sleeping with whom."
Jethro laughed, "Okay."
He strode down to the water and straight into the warm gulf surf. He waded out until the water was waist deep then dove in and swam out past a sandbar where the water was just barely over his head. He stretched out and floated on his back knowing Holly would be there before too long. She loved the water as much as he did which made him think again that he could easily live down here if she'd move with him. Jethro had no idea if Holly would even entertain that idea. She had a lot of connections and interests in DC and was happy in her work there. He didn't even know if she wanted to live with him fulltime. That was the first thing he wanted to talk to her about when they got around to talking today or whenever.
Jethro rolled over and swam in a few feet until he could stand flat footed with the water just chest deep. A minute or two later Holly came paddling out carrying his hat and sunglasses.
"Here, you should have these on out here. I don't want you all burned up."
"Thanks."
The water was barely too deep for Holly to stand up so she wrapped her legs around Jethro's waist and her arms around his neck and he easily supported her. She leaned in and kissed him firmly on the mouth and Jethro happily responded. There were very few people in the water and no one seemed to be watching them so Jethro carried on with the kiss until Holly had to pull back to take a breath.
Holly put her hands on either side of his face and leaned back to study him.
She never got tired of looking at Jethro; even when he was unshaven, wearing a ratty old hat and sunglasses he looked handsome and sexy to her.
"You've been awfully quiet this morning. Something on your mind?"
"Couple of things actually."
"Care to share?"
Jethro closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was nervous about what he wanted to say but the answer he wanted couldn't come if he didn't ask the question. He decided to go ahead and get it over with; or started at least.
"I need to make some changes in my life, Holly."
As soon as the words left his mouth he felt her tense up. She dropped her hands to his shoulders and let go with her legs so she was standing in front of him. He moved them to shallower water and reached for her hands.
"Hey, what's the matter? It's nothing bad."
"When you say changes do you include me in that?"
Jethro heard some panic or anxiety in her voice that totally surprised him.
"Not the way you seem to think. I certainly don't want to stop seeing you or anything like that. In fact just the opposite. I want to see more of you. I want to talk about us living together fulltime not just back and forth like we've been doing."
That statement earned him a beautiful smile and a very nice kiss.
"Would you be interested in that Ms. Snow?"
"More than interested, Agent Gibbs. I'm very much in favor of it in fact. Your place or mine?"
"Well I hadn't thought that far ahead to tell you the truth. I just realized when you said the other day that you didn't sleep well when I was gone that I don't sleep much when I'm not with you either. I figure for our health if nothing else we should fix that."
"Oh definitely. I'm sure our health will improve if we're living together. Thank you for wanting to do this, Jethro. I love you."
"You seem surprised. Have you thought about this at all before now?"
"Yes, I just didn't know if you were ready or if you even thought you might ever want to. It seems I don't know you as well as I thought I did."
"You know me plenty well. I haven't given much thought to our future until very recently. Been too busy enjoying the moment. I do want us to have a future together, Holly. How do you feel about that?"
Holly looked around at the beautiful scene they were in the middle of; the clear gulf water, the white sand beaches and the gorgeous man in front of her. It was perfect. She had spent most of her adult life avoiding the entanglement of a serious relationship with a man. Her friendship with Jethro had certainly not started out in a good way and it had been a surprise to both of them when they became friends. Falling in love with him was definitely not what Holly expected. It was the most perfect, unexpected development she'd ever known.
Jethro was getting a little bit nervous because it was taking what seemed a long time for her to answer. Finally she focused her attention back on him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I can't think of anything that would make me happier than to spend my future with you, Jethro. I love you and I don't imagine I'll ever stop loving you."
"Good because I know you are the last woman I'm ever going to love. I don't want to ever let you go."
A tiny little voice was whispering in Holly's ear that Jethro hadn't mentioned marriage. She ignored the voice because she didn't need to be married. She knew she was committed to Jethro and that he would never cheat on her or leave her. Marriage was not something she had ever planned on and she didn't need marriage to make her feel secure in her life with the man she loved. Besides, Jethro was a walking, talking advertisement for the belief that an official ceremony and document were no guarantee of happily-ever-after.
After several more kisses and some splashing around, Holly announced they had had enough sun for a while so they headed back to the protection of the beach chairs and umbrellas. They shared a bottle of water and some snacks then Holly went back to her book and Jethro closed his eyes and dreamed about being retired. They stayed on the beach until just after one o'clock alternating between cooling off in the water and relaxing in the shade. Eventually, Jethro was hungry and Holly had had enough sun and water for a while. They headed back to the condo. After sharing a shower and some lunch, Jethro pulled Holly down on the couch with him, divested her of her sundress and made love to her. He took his time and made sure to pay attention to all her favorite places. When they were both worn out, Holly snuggled into him and pulled a light cover over them and they fell asleep.
The next two days followed the same pattern as the first day had. They slept as late as they wanted, spent most of their time on the beach and made love whenever the urge struck them. It was the most perfect few days either of them could remember having. They talked a lot about where to live when they moved in together. Jethro offered to move to the condo but Holly eventually convinced him they should live in his house so he could have the basement for his projects and alone time.
"You know you'll need that escape place, babe and I want you to have it."
"How about moving to a new house?"
"Is that what you want to do?"
"Not really but my house hasn't been updated in a long time, you know that. It doesn't compare favorably with the condo."
"Will you be there? Living there with me?"
"Of course, that's the whole idea."
"Then it will be perfect. How about this, we sell the condo and use some of the money to update the house."
"I can't let you do that Holly. If you sell the condo that's your money."
"Then I can do what I want with it. Seriously, we can go in together on the remodeling. If I'm going to live there I want to have a say and if I'm choosing things I should help pay for them. No way around it."
They were lying in bed having this conversation. Jethro knew that when Holly made up her mind there was very little he could do to change it. Besides, she was naked and kissing him on the chest and touching him "down there" and he was losing his ability to think about remodeling and who was going to pay for what. In fact at that precise moment, he wasn't sure of anything except where Holly's mouth seemed to be heading next. His interest in conversation was nil at this point.
The next morning, their fourth day at the condo, Holly came out of the bedroom to find Jethro sitting on the deck staring out at the water, coffee mug in hand. She watched him for a few moments then got her own coffee and joined him.
"Morning beautiful."
Holly leaned down and kissed him, "Good morning. Any dolphins this morning?"
"Not a single one. I think we just got lucky yesterday. They must get up before we do."
"Undoubtedly. How's the arm?"
"Feels fine. I checked it this morning and it looks fine. Want some breakfast?"
"Not yet."
She pulled up a chair next to him and said, "the other day you said you had a couple of things on your mind but we've only talked about moving in together. What was the other thing?"
Jethro studied her. She was getting darker despite all the sunblock and shade and her hair was getting lighter. She was fit and beautiful and he loved her so much it surprised him sometimes.
"You don't miss much do you?"
"Not where you're concerned, no. If you need to talk about something you know I can hear whatever it is. If you're not ready that's okay too."
Jethro stared out at the water. He had been turning the retirement idea over and over in his head and he simply could not make a decision. Maybe Holly could help.
"I'm thinking about retiring. Soon."
Holly was stunned. NCIS was such a huge part of Jethro's life. It defined him in many ways; it was where he belonged, at least in her mind. He had certainly never mentioned or even hinted at being ready to walk away from the job he loved and did with such passion and courage.
"Wow, that is certainly a surprise. How long have you been thinking along these lines?"
"Just since this whole case with Sergei. After Diane was killed I started thinking, again, about all the people I've lost. I counted up the people who've been killed because some wing nut wanted to hurt me or get back at me and the number is much too high. Then I thought about you and the idea that you could be added to that list someday is a huge problem for me. I don't want to lose you and I don't want to be constantly worried you're in danger because of me. So, I'm thinking about retiring. It's about time anyway. I just might want to go a little early."
Holly didn't say anything and Jethro just looked out at the seemingly endless expanse of blue-green water. Now that it was out in the open he felt better. He was almost certain he wanted to retire before the year was out. That was eight months away. He looked over at Holly but she was looking out at the water; not at him. He knew she was thinking about what he'd said and how it might impact them. He was counting on her insight to help him make up his mind once and for all.
"Jethro, I don't want you to retire because of me. You can't do that. If you are truly ready to leave NCIS behind I support that one hundred percent but if you are doing it because you're afraid someone will come after me then don't do it. "
She paused and watched him for a reaction. There wasn't one really; he just closed his eyes and sighed. Holly knew in her heart that Jethro didn't want to leave NCIS; he loved his job and he was doing important work. However, she also knew he felt a tremendous amount of guilt over the deaths of Kate and Mike and even Jenny. Now there was Diane's death still so fresh in his mind. She appreciated that he felt the need to protect her but she didn't want to be the reason he left the job that was truly his life and his love long before she came into the picture. If she was strictly honest with herself she wanted him to quit. She was afraid all the time when he was working. Not a paralyzing fear that kept her from living her life but a nagging, back-of-the-mind kind of fear that only went away when he walked in the door at night.
They sat in silence for a while and then Jethro said, "Got any other thoughts on the idea?"
"I do. As much as I love the idea of you not being in the line of fire anymore I don't want you to retire because of me. I don't want that responsibility. If you are really ready to leave your team and NCIS; really ready to stop doing the job you love, then retire. But if you are doing it because you're worried about the next wing nut, I don't think it's a good idea."
"I don't want anything to happen to you Holly."
He reached for her hand and laced their fingers together. He looked back over the water. When he spoke again his voice was thick with emotion.
"I love you. I've lost so much already and I can't risk losing you. I think it's time to step away and enjoy life with a beautiful woman who for some reason is willing to put up with me."
"Well, it sounds as if you have made up your mind. I want you to be sure, Jethro. This is such an important decision, I don't want you to make this choice with your heart; you must be sure in your head that you're ready. Have you talked to anyone else about this?"
"Just Ducky. Wanted to see what you thought before I went ahead with anything."
"Right now I think we should have breakfast, go to the beach and let the idea cook for a while. We can talk about it again later. Okay?"
"Sounds like a plan."
They spent the day on the beach then went out to dinner and then to a small place they liked where they could get a drink and dance the night away. Jethro's thoughts were torn between the woman in his arms and the idea of leaving his team and his job. Holly was right, it was a very big decision and Jethro just wasn't sure what he should do. Most if not all the major decisions in his life had been easy to make; get out of Stillwater, become a Marine, marry Shannon, join NCIS, those were all pretty clear cut. The divorces were not difficult decisions after a while and a lot of his life had been following orders. Retiring was something he had given very little thought to mainly because he never expected to live long enough to have the luxury. Now he did and he had good motivation to do so but he just wasn't really sure.
When they got back to the condo, Holly went in the bedroom to change and Jethro took a drink and sat on the patio. The stars were so much brighter than in DC and he loved sitting out at night listening to the surf coming and going. It was almost two o'clock but he wasn't tired. His mind wouldn't shut down tonight.
Holly came out to join him. She knew he had been distracted ever since their conversation that morning. The decision he was wrestling with was one he had to make on his own and despite her vested interest in the outcome she vowed to herself not to push him in either direction. There was just one more thing she wanted to say.
"You know, Jethro, if the decision is this difficult maybe you're just not ready. Is there a deadline you are up against?"
"No. My twenty has come and gone so really I can go anytime."
"Then you don't have to decide this week. I support whatever you want to do. Why don't we talk about the house. Get your mind on another subject and maybe that will help."
"Okay. Good idea."
So, they talked about remodeling ideas for the next hour or so until Holly was barely awake.
"Come on, you're almost asleep out here."
Jethro led her to the bedroom and she was asleep before he came back from the bathroom.
TBC