Disclaimer NCIS is not mine

Authors note My apologies for the delay, i've broken up for the summer now though so hopefully those story will begin to move forward again.

Six Weeks

'You're my air, when I feel I can't breathe.
Catching me, when I'm tripping over my feet.
We'll get through this together.
You're my smile, when I just want to cry.
Make it all better as you kiss my sad eyes.
I'm giving you my forever.'
-He is We, Forever & Ever

Time came and went in Washington DC. Things carried on and cases came and went. Victims were given justice and criminals were given what they deserved. Gibbs and Stephanie tried to make their marriage work, Burley and Decker were still trying to get a girl, and Jenny was happy in the bliss of her relationship.

Gibbs and Stephanie continued to try, and to anyone looking in it looked as though this time it might last. As though they'd finally managed to deal with everything and do what they needed to. But there was a certain spark that was absent. They'd sit and eat dinner, talking about their day. They'd sit and watch TV or in his basement, and it was peaceful. But there was never anything lustful anymore. Gibbs wondered if it was just their relationship taking its natural course. Perhaps they were just simply out of the honeymoon phase now. Stephanie, however, she knew it wasn't going to work. Yet even though that was firmly set in her mind she never said anything, she carried on – hoping that she was wrong.

Meanwhile Jenny and Mark had managed to accept his 6 week deployment, and were slowly taking steps forward in their relationship. So much so that Jenny went out with Mark when he met up with the guys from his crew when they went out for drinks. She'd laugh at the old stories and watch as they all played darts or Pool, desperate to beet one another. Then he would join her on the odd Friday night after a tough case when the team all went out for drinks at the local bar. Sometimes – rarely – Gibbs and Stephanie would join them, but Stan and Will were always there along with Ducky. In that scenario it was Marks turn to smile and laugh at the stories and watch as his girlfriend beet everyone at Pool and he admired her ass.

As time passed in DC, Jenny and Mark said their goodbyes. She drove him to the airport and kissed him senseless, reminding him who he was coming home to. He hugged her, and she buried her head in his shoulder, closing her eyes and convincing herself – or attempting to – that he would come home safe. That soon they would be taking yet another step forward together.

At the airport she watched him walk away through security, in his uniform along with all of his other crew members. All of them were laughing and joking as they tried to forget what they were about to walk into. Jenny had stood there, alone; all the other wives and girlfriends knew each other. They were all crying as soon as the men were out of sight, but Jenny wasn't.

The red head stared at where he had walked for another minute before running her hand through her hair and closing her eyes, only to have her phone ring and to be told there was a dead Marine who needed her attention. So, she'd left, left all those crying women and left all her fears in that airport and headed off to the Marine base to try and give justice to another family.

The house was a small bungalow on a typical residential street. Each house had its lawn mowed, flowers planted and curtains drawn in respect. There were no children to be seen, but their bikes and scooters were visible. They'd most likely been brought inside when the police turned up. The red head pulled up behind the NCIS van which would transport the body back to HQ.

Her eyes cast over to the sight of Ducky walking into the building – his hat firmly on his head and dressed in his blue NCIS issue coveralls. There were base police stood there talking to Gibbs, and the yellow tape was wrapped around the nearest lamppost stopping anyone from getting into the crime scene. The whole scene was nothing new; it was like it always was. Like every scene she approached. But today the redhead noticed everything a little bit more.

Pulling down her sun visor she looked at her appearance in the mirror and sighed. She had very little make up on – she and Mark had gotten distracted that morning meaning she didn't have as much time as usual to get ready. That was why she had simply pulled on her blue oversized floaty blouse, leggings and a pair of heeled black boots. The red head closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Then she reached across and grabbed her lipstick out of the glove compartment, hoping if she had on her red lipstick then no one would notice she was preoccupied.

Once her lipstick was on she swapped her leather jacket for the black NCIS issue one and stepped out of the car, ready to get to work.

"What have we got?" She asked Gibbs as she approached him, tying her hair back as she walked so that it didn't contaminate the crime scene. The silver haired man turned to look at her. He knew what day it was, knew what was happening today. He'd not expected her to turn up, he hadn't wanted her here. He knew from personal experience that it was hard, but he guessed that one of the goons he worked with told her.

The silver haired agent turned and nodded to the base officer, telling him they were done before returning his gaze to his partner. "You don't have to be here-"

"Shut up and tell me about the case Gibbs." She said, not wanting to be smothered in a blanket for the next six weeks. The only way she was going to cope was if she was allowed to work and act normally. If everyone tried to walk on eggshells and protect her then she knew all too well that she would end up screaming – then she wouldn't cope, then she'd break down.

Gibbs only paused momentarily before answering, but it was long enough to look at her, and see the worry in her eyes. They'd managed to carry on getting along even better recently, and in that moment he promised her – silently – that he would watch out for her, or maybe he promised Mark? "Marine was found dead on the living room floor, his ex-wife arrived to find him that way. Ducky says it looks like her was beaten over the head with a blunt instrument, can't confirm. Burley and Decker are sketching, bagging tagging, and photographing. Talk to the ex-wife, see why she was here. Get her statement and prints."

"On it." She said, smiling and walking over to where a brunette was stood looking shook up.

As it turned out, the ex-wife had done the deed. She'd been under the understanding they were trying again, but he'd been with someone else. Having her heart broken by the same person twice had caused her to snap. When she'd realised what she had done, she'd panicked and called the police who then called NCIS. The case had taken less than a day to solve – something that Jenny had found irritating. Simply because she then had to go home – alone.

But the weeks went by, the days passed, and with each on that did she knew that she was a day closer to Mark returning. After a couple of weeks Gibbs became less protective, allowing her to do her job fully. Each Friday she went out with Stan, Will and Ducky. She sat there watching as the two agents tried chatting up every woman in the bar – and occasionally won. Men would try and chat her up too, but each and every time she turned them down, instead preferring to return to their table. When the two agents failed to achieve their goal for the evening; Jenny would take them both back to her place, dump them on her sofa and place a bucket by the side of them.

Both knew it was only while Mark was away, and as much as they both knew she was doing it for their health, they also knew it was helping her. One morning though, they repaid her. Will woke Stan up earlier and dragged him out of the back door. Both walked down to the local bakery and brought back a tonne of pancakes and waffles for breakfast.

It was safe to say that the smell of the sweet confectionary had woken a surprised and grateful Jenny. So whilst the boys emptied the food she had brewed coffee. That was the final Saturday before Mark's return. There was a change in Jenny that day – both knew it. There was a twinkle in her eyes. There was a shine and a hope – none of which had been there for the last six weeks.

The knowledge that by the end of Tuesday he would be back in her bed and by her side was enough to remind her how much she wanted him home. And when that day came, she was over the moon. Morrow had given her the day off. So she woke up at nine, showered and stood in her wardrobe glancing over the numerous outfits as she decided what to wear.

There was a smile on her face, one that she could honestly not deny to anyone.

Her hands grazed across the material. It was spring outside, not warm, but not cold either. And as she pulled out a shirt dress which hit below mid thigh and was floaty, along with her favourite cardigan, she knew that she didn't have to make an effort, but she did.

The airport was busy, and even in her high heels she was only small. Standing on her tip toes she looked through heads. The first few men in uniform had arrived, and Jenny smiled at the sight of children hugging their fathers. Then there were women, smiling broadly at their spouses and children. And then she saw him, Marks eyes were scanning the crowd for her.

A smile fell across his face when he saw her, one matched on hers too. Unlike all the other women, she let him walk to her. But as soon as the Naval officer had placed his things down on the ground she was hugging him tight. Mark buried his head in her curls, letting the scent of her familiar shampoo wash over her. Letting himself be reminded that Jenny was really there, that it wasn't just another dream.

They pulled back only enough to kiss one another passionately. Then, once they had managed to compose themselves they walked out of the airport hand in hand.

It was that evening that what was probably the greatest step forward in their relationship happened. They were laid in bed; she was dozy, half asleep and curled into his chest when he stood up. Without him there she grumbled, pulling his t-shirt up to her nose. "Jenny." She mumbled something inaudible. "Jenny!" She opened her eyes a little, and was about to moan at him for a) leaving the bed, and b) stopping her sleeping.

Then she saw him.

In only his boxers staring at her.

In his hand was a velvet box.

Mark was on one knee.

In a flash she was awake, sat up straight and looking at him. She wasn't crying like the cliché, but she had her mouth open, catching flies. Jenny was now alert. Mark would have laughed at her face if he wasn't so nervous about her answer. "Jennifer Shepard, you are the most amazing woman. You are funny, strong, passionate, smart, and damn gorgeous, and I am head over heels in love with you." He'd been in war zones, fights, but the Navy was a walk in the park compared to this. "Will you marry me?"

It was like Jenny was watching herself. She slowly began to nod her head, more and more as the situation dawned on her. Mark smiled, and he let out a breath he hadn't even realised that he had been holding in. "Yes." She spoke, but it was barely more than a whisper.

Jenny got out of the bed and leapt onto him, kissing him senseless, and when they parted, numerous kisses later, both just laughed. She placed her head on his shoulder as she got her breath back. Then she felt the cold metal on her finger – the ring. She had completely forgotten about that. Moving her head she looked down at the ring in amazement. It was beautiful. A gold band, with two small diamonds and a slightly larger one set in the middle, and a pattern on either side engraved into the gold.

"Do you like it?" He asked, but all he got in response was a kiss.

"Almost as much as I like you." She said winking. Both of them just laughed. "When did you get it?"

"We had a day's leave in the middle of the 6 weeks, the offer of a flight to one of the local cities. I went and when I saw it I realised that now was the right time. I don't know what is coming; I can't tell you if I'll get another shipment. But I want to know you're here for me."

"Of course I am."

That night she lay in bed, Mark asleep and curled up into his side. The moonlight shone in through the window and she looked at the ring on her finger, smiling as it glittered. Jennifer Shepard was happier than she had been in a long time. Lying there she realised that. But at the same time, she was terrified about what Gibbs' reception of the news would be.

He had been her world for so long, and if he didn't approve . . .

As cliche as it sounded, she felt different when she exited the metal lift the next day. The beautiful gold rig sitting on her finger still did not seem quite real. It's presence against her pale skin still almost alien. She couldn't remember falling asleep, maybe it had come somewhere between thoughts of Gibbs response and her wedding-

-that still sounded alien. She'd yet to speak those words yet, but her mind had said them over and over last night. Her wedding. 'My wedding'. Jenny and mark hadn't spoken about it, being able to call him her fiancé was enough of a development for one night in her eyes. But the time would soon come when the planning would begin. The red head had realised last night whilst gazing at the ring that she was yet to even meet his parents. The only thing she knew about them was that they lived in Ireland, hat they'd moved there when Marks father had retired. She still didn't know from what.

There was not hong she'd decided the night before; that she didn't want a massive wedding. Jenny wanted the white dress, the bouquet and the cake. The sunny and warm honeymoon. But the crowds of people she barely even knew - those she didn't want. Agents she had worked beside for one case, people her parents had know who would simply tell her how much she had grown up-

-Considering she was only a child last time she saw them that was no surprise.

Of course Mark would have his own ideas, but something in the way he acted told her that he wouldn't mind too much. Surely a wedding was about those getting married as oppose the ceremony?

Gibbs, Burley and Decker were already in when she arrived. Although the two younger agents looked only just to have arrived as they were stood up emptying their things ready for the day. Gibbs cast a glance over, nodding in greeting. Stan and Will were in conversation as she moved to the other side of her desk, removing the leather jacket that she wore on top of her long floaty teal blouse and leggings.

"Alright Red!" Stan greeted, making her smile in response. He'd only ever be the one person she allowed to use that nickname. Stan and Will's conversation had carried on before she could say anything else. So the red head sat down at her desk and set about writing up one of the long line of waiting case reports that needed doing.

As she wrote, her eyes kept flicking to the sparkling object on her left ring finger. It is said that the left ring finger is where a wedding and engagement ring goes, because there is a crime which runs there straight from the heart. Whilst she sat there looking at it she couldn't help but think about that fact, and part of her wondered if it was Ducky who had told her that. Determinedly she flicked her eyes back to the paper and continues to write, filling the NCIS official paper with her cursive script. The incidents of the case filtering back into her mind and she scribed them, marking their day in history.

The morning went on, and little new happened, but the feeling of the ring on her finger made her constantly think of how and when she should tell them all. But that was a decision which was soon made for her when the sound of William Decker's world whistle reached her ears. "Now that is some piece of jewellery Shep." Jenny didn't know how to respond instantly, she just lifted her head, her face flushed. Gibbs' eyes were on her, and she instantly felt regret that it would never be her who told him. He had told her about his engagement to Stephanie, and she knew it should have been the se way around for her engagement too.

But it was done now.

"Isn't the left finger for a special ring boss? You've handed a few of them out after all." The comment Will made received a deadly cold stone glare in response. A glare that even an agent who was used to the wrath of Leroy Jethro Gibbs would be intimidated by.

"I erm..." The red head stammered, unable to form words for some reason. "Mark, he proposed last night." She informed them, purposefully not looking at Gibbs until she had finished. When she met his eyes though she was surprised. Jenny couldn't put a finger on what she had expected to see, couldn't quite describe it. But what she saw wasn't whatever it was. His cobalt irises were filled with a whole mixture of emotions, pleasure that she was happy, and pride. But more than that was sadness, love, and maybe just a little regret. However the other two agents were soon congratulating her in their Micky taking way; causing her to tear her eyes away from her partners for a while.

Stan and Will made Jenny stand up and both hugged her, she could tell they were both happy for her, could tell that they were sincere. "Congratulations Jen." He said, not moving from his seat. But the salt and pepper haired marine didn't need to. He would never need to say anything else apart from that nickname; 'Jen', the same nickname that recently meant an awful lot more than just a name. One that was loaded with everything that had once been and had once had the chance to be.

"If we are giving news and Jenny doesn't mind me stealing her lime light-" Will began, only to be cut off by the red head in question.

"Good god; don't tell me you finally managed to get a lady!"

"Hey! I've had plenty of women in the past thank you very much. It's just been a bit of a dry patch recently that's all." The agent said, flushing a little before coughing and changing the subject back to where he had originally intended for it to go. "I've been offered a promotion; my own team in LA. I've accepted."

"Well done Will, you deserve it." Jenny said pleasantly, softly hugging the man. The thing about team Gibbs was that yes, they all joked incessantly. They all took the mick and picked on one another. But that was just how they supported each other. However sometimes, they really could be serious. When the time called for it they knew when to draw the line. And this was one of those times.

"You deserve it." Gibbs corners, getting up and patting the agent on his back.

"Who the hell am I gonna pick up women with now Deck? Gibbs?!" Stan questioned making them all laugh. "Well done man." He added when the noise had all died down.

That was the day that everything slowly began to change. The day that team Gibbs slowly began to move forward; Will was leaving and Jenny was starting a new chapter. Gibbs sat at his desk, and he saw the team he had raised begin to grow up. Part of him new that within six months everything would be different again; that in a year Stan would probably have moved on and up the ranks as well. Then there was Jenny, and as much as he had always thought that she would always be his partner, he knew all too well that if Mark got re-stationed somewhere further away she would go with him. The agent couldn't deny her that right.

He just wished that the things he was beginning to feel now had raised their heads at a more appropriate time – when she wasn't happily engaged.

Reviews are highly appreciated and really do make me write