Watering Your Plants
Author: A'serene
Category: H/C, Romance
Rating: PG/P12
Contents: When Gibbs returns to the states to check up on his house after a few weeks in Mexico he finds a surprising house guest... Post Hiatus, Pre Shalom
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters, this idea is strictly my own.
The rain felt like steel slamming against the car. The windshield wipers were useless as were the headlights and yet she kept going. There'd been warnings of flooding and harsh wind. There were rumors of trees down and cloud to ground lightening lit up the sky as thunder roared overhead. The lights and sound were simultaneous and she knew that meant she was in the middle of it.
Jennifer Shepard was considered an intelligent woman. She was the first female Director of an Armed Federal Agency as well as one of the youngest. She should know to stay indoors during storms like this but her rational part had shut down for the evening. No one knew where she was and she didn't particularly care. She needed the space, needed to run, and she knew where she was running.
She'd almost missed the driveway but maneuvered the car fast enough to slide in. She grabbed the two small bags and quickly opened the door bolting from the car to the house. It didn't do her any good; as she slid the spare key into the lock she was already drenched. She closed the door to the storm, to the rest of the world and took a quick glance around. Everything seemed to be all right, but she was worried about the basement. She went to the familiar door and tugged it open. She could feel the dampness hit her skin but she didn't care. She carried her things down and found that even with the old dusty couch the basement was incredibly empty. She slid out of her high heels and pulled a worn sweatshirt from her bag and a bottle of bourbon. Everything faded away as she drank the glass she poured herself. She'd already finished a glass before leaving her office but she needed another. She needed to be close to him, needed his reassurance. She knew it was a weakness, but no one else had to.
"We'll always have Paris," she whispered sadly to the dark, damp, empty room. She knew it was a cliché but she clang to those Parisian days as if they were a lifeline and she poured herself another glass. The world would be waiting for her tomorrow, but tonight, she could drown in her sorrow and regret.
---
He hated rain. Perhaps it was why he'd gone to Mexico, it never rained there, or if it did it was too warm to notice. Not like this freezing, biting rain of Virginia. It was only June; it shouldn't be allowed to be this awful out. He wished he'd just stayed in Mexico but he was worried about his house, his daughter's childhood home. He needed to know it was safe.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs barely noticed the strange looks the rental car people gave him. No one could understand that he needed to be home tonight or rather this morning. He glanced at the watch he'd dug out, it was pushing on one in the morning, and he knew it would take at least two hours to get home. He'd deal with it. He spotted the coffee shop, blazing the 24/7 sign and he pulled in. The rest of the ride was spent trying to navigate broken branches and debris. He finally pulled into the driveway near three in the morning and nearly hit the car that was already there.
Gibbs was surprised to see the other car and he wasn't whom it belonged to, but he knew it had to be a friend. Maybe Tony, or Abby, Fornell would be a long shot¸ but who knows? He grabbed his sea bag and raced to the house and inside. The second he was inside he could swear he smelled perfume, his former partner's perfume to be precise, but he knew that was a figment of his imagination. He checked the top floor and the first floor not finding any evidence of the owner to the car. He opened the door the basement and found a light on. He looked over the railing and the short red hair was enough of a giveaway to make him cautious. Jennifer Shepard was not a light sleeper, but get to close and you could easily end up injured. However as Gibbs navigated the steps he noticed the half-empty bottle of bourbon and the shattered glass. He was worried at her first, she weighed little enough and she could get severely sick. He pressed two fingers to her neck and found her pulse, slow and steady with sleep.
Gibbs knelt down next to her and considered trying to wake her up and demand answers to the thousands of questions he had swimming in his brain. He sighed, he couldn't do that to her. She's probably just had a bad day, he reasoned. It solved the bourbon problem, but not necessarily the being in his house problem, which wasn't really a problem. He studied her again this time noticing her bare feet and discarded heels along with the large NCIS sweatshirt she was snuggled into. He thought the sweatshirt was a little big for her but it was obviously well worn and loved. He could have sworn he was short one but it was probably wishful thinking. He contemplated his choices again and knew she would probably freeze down there so he gently picked up her and brought her to his bedroom. He carefully tucked her in, wrapping the blankets around her and watching her for a moment.
"You'll be alright Jen." He then returned down the stairs and cleaned up the broken glass and brought her bags upstairs. He thought about hanging around and waiting till she woke up but then thought better of it. Jen had obviously not wanted anyone to know she was there. He checked on her one last time making sure her phone was set to alarm. He'd check into a hotel downtown and call Fornell later. He locked the house on his way out and got back into the car.
---
Jenny awoke to the faint beeping of what she thought was her phone. She rolled over and felt her legs tangle. She ran her hand over and around her body realizing that she must have made it up the stairs eventually. She couldn't remember it, but how else could she have gotten up the stairs? She slowly opened her eyes and felt her head throb
"Advil, lots of Advil," she muttered to herself summoning the strength to move. She glanced at the clock on her phone and realized she needed to leave soon if she was going to go home and change. She checked herself over in the bathroom mirror and noticed her red shot eyes and little baggies. Hopefully she could hide those. As she jumped into her car she turned on the weather report and heard nothing but pleasant forecasts. She knew that destroyed her excuse for being at Gibbs' house but then again, maybe no one would notice?
She certainly didn't notice the car parked just up the street and it was just as well. Gibbs wasn't entirely sure what he would have said or done. He pulled up to the house after she was gone and went in to examine it. An hour later he dialed a familiar number and heard the voice of a friend.
"Fornell."
"Tobias."
"Jethro, how are the margaritas?" The FBI agent inquired.
"Haven't had one lately, I'm in DC."
"Jenny finally talked you back," Fornell guessed sounding amused.
"I was checking on the house."
"On and so you saw Jenny…" Fornell trailed off.
"I think I just missed her," Gibbs lied.
"She said she'd check on the house last night, said it was on her way home," he explained.
"Did she?" Gibbs asked subduing his surprise; his house was not even on the long route to hers.
"Anyway, she hasn't tried to talk you back?"
"Haven't heard from her since I left NCIS, I'm retired remember?"
"Oh I remember, honestly didn't think it would last, but maybe we are getting too old."
"How's Emily?"
"She's fine, loved the card you sent her. She asked Diane the other day when she could see Uncle Gibbs."
"Bet Diane loved that," Gibbs laughed, Fornell made a grunt of agreement.
"Your team's been doing good work and they seem to have Jenny's favor. Rumor has it she's about to make a big play."
"Play?"
"Jenny's been taking her work very seriously this last month and she's been more than a little hostile towards the higher ups, think she's mad at them for not listening to you."
"Taught her well."
"Speak of the Devil," Fornell sighed.
"Jen just walk into your office?"
"No, she just went into my Boss's office, looking none too pleased. Well enjoy your margaritas and the sunshine, I'll tell Jenny you said hello."
"I wouldn't Tobias," Gibbs warned.
"Well enjoy retirement, let me know when you finish that boat." Fornell clicked off and Gibbs stared at the phone. Something tugged at his gut, maybe it was the mention of Diane, he thought driving the car back to the airport on autopilot. He had a plane to catch.