True Love's Kiss
Author: A'serene
Category: Romance
Rating: PG (this is Disney folks)
Contents: Almost believing this was not pretend...
Disclaimer: "So Close" From Disney's Enchanted sung by James Marsden, I don't own NCIS either.
Gibbs had searched pretty much the whole building at least once when he finally made his way back to the catwalk with MTAC. He was looking for his former partner/current boss and he couldn't find her. Which was unusual because she sure had been in a mood and chances were his little fight with the FBI was the cause. He'd been to her office, to MTAC, to Abby's lab, to Autopsy, checked the garage twice, he wasn't sure where else to look and finally went back to her office determined to wait her out. He knew she hadn't left the building, he'd found her security detail was still around. They just didn't know where she was. Mainly due to the fact that she refused to have them follow her when she was in the building. As he was reaching her office he noticed Cynthia was back from wherever she'd been working on some papers.
"She in?" he inquired attempting to play nice.
"She's downstairs."
"Where?"
"The Child care center," Cynthia answered hesitantly. She knew it seemed like an odd spot for the Director of NCIS to be, but she wasn't about to reveal why. Gibbs thought it was a bit odd, but he didn't say anything and instead wandered down to the childcare center. Usually he would have expected to hear laughing and giggling and noise that children are incapable of not making and yet he heard the beginning chimes of a song and soft girly sighs. He entered the room nodding to the usual caretaker and it didn't take him long to spot what was wrong with the picture. The Director of NCIS was leaning against the back wall, eyes focused like all the children at the large TV playing some movie, with a dancing couple.
You're in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive
He had no idea what the movie was about, but it didn't take a DiNozzo to figure out that the couple now dancing was the star-crossed lovers. He watched them slowly move to the dance floor in the ballroom decked out in some sort of masquerade style and then turned his attention back to what he'd been looking for. Jennifer Shepard was leaning against the wall, her eyes transfixed on the dance, and yet to him it looked as if she were a thousand miles away. She had a faint smile on her face that he could almost place in a memory of another country but it wasn't quite the same. This one held a tinge of melancholy to it and he wasn't quite sure why. Of course he wasn't quite sure why she was standing in the childcare center watching a movie he was pretty sure was produced by Disney.
A life goes by
Romantic dreams will stop
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you
And now forever I know
All that I wanted to hold you
So close
He watched the couple on screen began to hesitantly dance and he wondered why the moves seemed so familiar. He glanced over at Jen again, who still hadn't noticed he was there, and he could see something in her eye, like she was perhaps dancing the steps in her mind or something. He listened carefully to lyrics and thought that they had a rather moving sound to them, a love song naturally, but it was a different kind of love song. A song about past love, love that was never allowed the chance to continue, or was being forced aside by something else and all they had were small bits and pieces of well pretend, he thought sadly. The thought of going up to her and asking her to dance seemed rather ironic at that point but it didn't stop his feet. He found himself alongside the wall just about two feet from her. She glanced up in surprise but quickly focused back on the movie. He assumed that meant if he was staying he could, but no disruptions. So stay he would.
So close to reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
And now you're beside me and look how far we've come
So far we are so close
He sighed at the predictability of some Disney movies, the couple dancing like they were the only two in the world as the music carried on. He glanced over at Jenny and found she had shut her eyes as if she were reliving some distant memory or dreaming some fantastical waltz up in her head. He had always thought that no matter how tough she became and how much she looked away she would always have daydreams to keep her sane. He was starting to think he was right. Yet it didn't stop him from wondering what those daydreams contained. As the crescendo in the music winded down he could see her open her eyes in what he guessed was passing disappointment and then a flash of sadness as some other character cut in on the dancing couple. No doubt the ones they're ‘supposed' to be with, he thought sadly. Sure it was a movie, but he'd have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to notice the love between the couple that had been dancing. Just as the coupling changed, he caught Jenny's movement out of the corner of her. Her hand was suspiciously close to her face and then as if sensing his eyes on her she turned away and left heading out toward the hall. He glanced back at the movie momentarily to watch the sadness watch over the one character's face and knew he'd seen that look before.
How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
He went into the hallway and found her leaning against the wall just outside the door and he was almost positive the tiny little black mark was from her mascara running. He of course had no death wish and so wouldn't even mention it.
"I've been looking all over the building for you," he said idly.
"Oh?" She questioned. "I uh…" she looked like she was trying to think up a really good excuse for being down there, and he watched her internal struggle. "I was down here talking with Chelle. She was a little short-staffed and I didn't have any major work to do." He was looking at her confused or so she interpreted and so just pushed straight. "So what did you want?"
"What movie are they watching?" She raised an eyebrow at that question.
"Enchanted, it's a new Disney movie," She answered. "It's almost over."
"Did you not want to miss the end?" he knew that drove her nuts.
"Oh ah no, I mean its not like I don't know what's going to happen."
"You've already seen it?"
Jethro it's a Disney movie, they're very predictable."
"Really?" he questioned. "How so?"
"Incredibly fantastical endings that could never have happened in the real world," she replied.
"That was a bit of a cynical description of Disney, I think," he remarked teasingly.
"Well it's true," she huffed straightening, her Director façade falling expertly into place.
"Jen…" he paused not really sure, but feeling like he should somehow challenge it, but he knew he was looking at the Director and not Jen. Cynthia's voice calling for Jenny from down the hallway cut into his thoughts.
"Director, you're dress has arrived."
"Thank you Cynthia," Jenny answered.
"Dress?"
"Gala tonight, you're team is doing security, remember?" She said. He nodded. He remembered, he had been debating whether he was going to be on the floor or not and he had been looking for her to determine whether he should even go, it was after hosted by the FBI.
"Yea, yea I know. So who's your escort?" He questioned.
"For security purposes?" She clarified.
"Well yea, because if they're not someone you know they're not getting within fifty feet of you."
"Don't have an escort," she answered turning to follow Cynthia back toward the stairs. He caught her subtle glance toward the movie screen and the brief smile that flashed across her face. No escort huh…that can be arranged.
We're so close
To reaching that famous happy end
And almost believing this was not pretend
Let's go on dreaming for we know we are
So close
He was watching her, following her every step and tilt of her head. She hadn't dance a single dance and there had been offers. He knew she thought he had sent just his team and not come himself, which was sort of true, because he wanted her security to be taken care of, so he could plan. And planning he was, well it wasn't so much planning as trying to figure out if he could actually waltz. Which he knew he couldn't, so it was a problem if he was going to ask her to dance. Sadly he couldn't even fake it, and what was worse, she knew he couldn't dance, but what she didn't know was that he was a very quick study. So it might be rough, but he might be able to spin her around a few times. It was just as he gaining courage that he heard a familiar chime and the beginning of a soft melody. Perfect. Except when he'd looked around, his vision in burnt rose had vanished. He glanced around again and noticed Ziva standing just inside the room next to the balcony doors. Tony and McGee were on the other side of the room, so he figured Ziva had to be with Jenny and that Jenny was probably the only one she would let out of her sight for a minute if she felt her friend needed a break. He approached slowly and methodically swiping two glasses of bourbon on the way.
"Take a break Ziva," he said quietly. Ziva nodded seeming somewhat hesitant but deciding that it couldn't hurt. He watched her leave and stepped outside and swore he stepped into a fairytale. Jenny was leaning against the railing watching the stars, but he saw her tense slightly as his foot made contact with the stone. He placed the glass in front of her and she had the good notion to not look surprised.
"I didn't think you were here."
"Staying away from Fornell and the Director of the FBI," he replied. He was half listening and half listening to the music as it slowly approached the crescendo again.
"Good idea."
"I've had a few," he remarked his tone cautious and she turned to meet his eyes curious as to what he was hedging at. "You're feet hurt?"
"Not really no."
"So you wouldn't mind a dance?" He inquired and she raised an eyebrow.
"Are you asking me to dance Jethro?" She questioned half surprised, half amused.
"Well seeing as no one else has," he drifted off. "Wouldn't want you to be a…what's the word?"
"Wall flower?"
"Right wall flower."
"You never danced with me before."
"
"Uh huh," she retorted.
"Okay, so I'm not as good at dancing as shooting targets."
"That's more like it, don't worry about it, dancing isn't everything."
"But you might have fun," he pointed out. He held out his hand for hers and he could see her internal struggle.
"Don't step on my feet," she warned taking his hand. He'd figured out the basic positions and just tried to remember what he'd picked up from the other room. He was rather impressed as he spun her around, so far so good. She was a good dance partner, following expertly as he slowly waltzed her around the patio. He tried to keep on pace with the music, slowing when it did and he could immediately feel her tense but she stayed till the very last note, when she pulled back slightly. "Thank you Jethro."
She turned on her heel and walked back into the ballroom, her shoulders squaring the moment she passed through the doorway. He glanced at the two glasses sitting on the railing, for some reason, he felt the same way he had when he realized she'd gotten off the plane.
So close
And still so far