Watering Your Plants
- Part 5: Plants to Water -

The sun was shining through the curtains when Gibbs awoke again. He could still feel the warmth beside him and knew Jenny had not woken up yet. He glanced over at her and found she had wormed her way under his arm and was snuggled quite close to him. He didn't mind, he'd missed her and her presences was revealing memories of their past. He was not to fuzzy on her but these new memories only heightened his awareness and forced him to realize that he'd never really stopped caring about her. He felt her stir again and knew he should get up. She would probably want a minute to herself to regroup and yet he knew that that might be enough time for he to fortify herself. He simply moved to the other side of the bed, she turned toward him instinctively and her eyelids fluttered open. Her green eyes cleared from their sleep haze and focused an intense stare on him.

"You're really here?" Her voice was small and surprised and sounded relieved.

"Really here, Jen."

"I thought it was a dream," she sighed. He nodded knowing that eventually he would have to come clean about her other ‘dream' of him.

"How's your arm?"

"Hurts...I didn't break it did I?" She inquired sounding confused. He shook his head no.

"When you fell your arm broke the fall, I could take you to the hospital later if you're worried."

"No, no I'm sure its fine," she replied. She looked around the room and sucked in a deep breath. "Uh...last night did I..."

"You were your usual self."

"Right, drop the sarcasm."

"You were pretty far gone, more than half the bottle gone."

"I didn't drink it all last night," she lied.

"That's why the receipt says you bough the bottle yesterday evening," he responded. She closed her eyes taking in another deep breath.

"It was a one time thing."

"Jen, four weeks ago during that storm I came to check on the house, you were drinking then too," he told her. She seemed puzzled trying to recount the memory.

"I wasn't..."

"Jen," he warned and he felt her eyes search his face. She could remember the night now, but was still surprised and hurt that he hadn't stayed.

"You didn't say a word."

"I thought you were having a bad day, I didn't know it was this bad."

"Well I had a bad day yesterday," she shot back.

"Jen I don't buy it, just talk to me," he pleaded.

"What do you want to hear?" She questioned. "That the team is great? That everyone's fine? They're not Jethro," she answered. "You abandoned them. Tony is not you and they're trying to heal but it's becoming irritating.

"It's DiNozzo's problem."

"It's my problem, because I care about them," She snapped. He leaned closer to her.

"I care about them, Jen."

"Then talk to them," she countered. "Call them every now and then!"

"Jen they can..."

"They can't!" She protested. "They need to know you're alright and at least somewhat happy. That you miss them," She explained. He was silent having a feeling that she was venting not just the team's emotions but hers as well. "You don't bother calling your team, but you'll talk to Fornell."

"What makes you think that?"

"Fornell can't keep his mouth shut," she told him. "He gave in way to easily when I offered to check on the house."

"You said it was on your way home," he reminded. "You want some coffee?" She raised an eyebrow at the switch in topics.

"I think I'll just go home," she replied.

"Yea, nice try," Gibbs responded. He offered her a hand up and she ignored it, standing on her own and stumbling. Gibbs caught her and held her upright. She knew protest was futile and let him help her down to the kitchen. She sat at the table and shielded her eyes from the faint sun that was coming in. He placed a cup in front of her and sat down across from her.

"How's Mexico?" She asked trying to ignore the pain in her head.

"Fine." She sighed knowing that would be the end of that conversation. Gibbs watched her drink the coffee, she appeared as she always did, just thinner, paler, exhausted. Her eyes were still a little blood shot and he could tell her arm was in pain.

"You gonna say anything?"

"You remember rule number four?" He inquired.

"Best way to keep a secret," she answered.

"There a reason why Tony would be quoting it?"

"So you have talked to him," she assumed.

"Maybe, or maybe you could tell me why you're worried about him."

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Need to know."

"So this has something to do with your little mission," he put out.

"Fornell does keep you informed," she remarked. "You quit remember?"

"Retired and Fornell has a limited vocabulary and when he mentions NCIS and CIA in the same sentence I can't help but notice."

"I'm not running an op with the CIA."

"No, they're interested in one of yours." She had the classic look of annoyance that he knew oh so well.

"You quit."

"Jen, you asked me about," he informed. She looked up at him in shock, just what did we talk about? "Pull Tony out, or at least tell me so he can have some backup."

"You quit."

"Retired," he corrected for the second time. "And I've been rather enjoying it."

"Well go enjoy it, we'll be just fine," she retorted her patience finally wearing out.

"You are not fine."

"Not like you care," she mumbled.

"I do Jenny," he replied. "I wouldn't be worried about you if I didn't."

"I can take care of myself."

"I know that, but let me do it for a while," his voice had acquired a unique almost pleading tone as he noticed the faint scars on her wrist. He grabbed them before she could move away. "Jen, what happened to your wrists?"

"Had a fall."

"Into glass," he guessed. He looked over her injured arm, lightly running a hand over it, he felt her wince. "I think..."

"No hospitals please, I can't..." her voice was a whisper, but it betrayed the pain and sadness she felt.

"I call Ducky, he could probably fix it." She listened as he made the call, she could hear his old demanding tone coming back. As much as she may not want to admit it, she was glad he was there, helping her. She didn't feel nearly as lonely and she wondered if it would last when he left again, as he was going to do. He sat down next to her, placing an ice pack on the injured arm.

"Jethro," she began, glancing over. "Thank you." He nodded slightly running his thumb over her good hand.

"I wish I'd noticed earlier."

"It's not your fault, God knows I've made stupid decisions before, this is just another." He placed his hand on her good arm and felt her wince.

"Jen...does this arm hurt?"

"No." Her tone was clipped and he saw her ‘tell.' He pushed up her long sleeve and saw the yellowish-purple hand mark. He felt his heart constrict. He had never hurt her before, he even refused to play fight her because he was afraid of this.

"Jen...I didn't think I'd grabbed you so hard. I'm..."

"Don't say it!" She argued. "It wasn't you, I know it could never be you." Her words filtered through his brain and finally registered easing some of his guilt and replacing it with anger. He would leave ten marks for everyone he found on her, no, make it twenty.

"Who?"

"No one."

"Jen, a ghost did not just come and bruise your arm!"

"It's already been dealt with Jethro," she said softly.

"Who did it?" he demanded his anger rising with the mystery man, why did she look so ashamed? She never mentioned another else and...or did she? I just...but there was that Bob guy.

"It's over Jethro, let it go."

"No...he drive you to this?"

"No Jethro, I did this all on my own, no one to blame but myself."

"I can blame him, so give me a name?"

"You going to beat him up?" He gave her a Gibbs' stare that suggested he would probably make sure the beating was fatal. "He's not worth your breath, he's been dealt with, non stop with the death looks, and my head kills."

"I'm not going to beat him up, just have a friendly discussion with him."

"It was a poor call on my part, let it go," she warned.

"Jen," his voice was strangely tired and yet seeping emotion. He didn't say anything else, just stood up, pulling her to her feet and carefully wrapping his arms around her. She went willingly, letting his smell surround her and comfort her. She stayed there, snuggling slightly closer. She needed this. It was better then any drink that have ever graced her lips.

"Jethro." He raised his hand to caress her cheek and she tilted into it. A fleeting smile graced his features and he pulled her closer.

"I would never...I promise Jen," he swore. She placed her good hand over his and held it to her cheek.

"I know Jethro, I know." She tucked her head under his chin and felt one hand trail up and down her back in soothing motions. They stayed that way until Jenny finally summoned the courage to trust him. "I never used to drink bourbon without you, it just never seemed right, but then you were gone and...the bourbon was a reminder. I came to check on the house and then it just became a habit, I told Fornell I was watering your plants.

"I don't have plants."

"I know," she replied. "It just eased the pain and then all this other stuff... and I know it's going to get worse and I know I can't stop it."

"You can Jen."

"I owe it to him, I can't let it go," she protested.

"Who?"

"My father," she explained. "He...I lost him."

"Jenny..."

"No he...he's at peace but I won't be, not till I catch his killer."

"Are you sure you're going after the right person?" He inquired.

"I want to be," she whispered. "I have to be, and even if he didn't pull the trigger he's still responsible."

"How so?"

"He caused it, was the reason behind it and if he wasn't so damned good I'd have killed him years ago."

"Okay." He could recognize revenge and he knew her relentless nature well enough to know that come hell or high water she was going to get this guy.

"Okay?" She echoed.

"You're not going anywhere without backup, I'm not leaving you alone."

"Jethro..." she trailed off surprised. "You retired."

"Mexico will be there in a few years," he assured.

"A few? Jethro you're good at this, the best even. When you're that good, you just don't quit," she said softly. She knew he had had to leave, but she had never thought it would be permanent.

"You going to assign me to DiNozzo, Director," He joked.

"Assign you? Much as I may thoroughly enjoy watching that I think I'll just give you back your team," she laughed lightly. He looked at her curiously and she smirked. "You wouldn't happen to know where my bag is?"

"Yea." He went and retrieved it, even opening it. She rummaged through with her good hand before pulling out a folder.

"Your retirement package, I accidentally put in for your leave time. I should fix it but since you want to come back..." she smiled innocently at him and he blinked before the corners of his lips turned up. Taught her too well.

"Well then, Madame Director."

"Agent Gibbs," she responded handing him the folder. "Your badge and gun are locked in a safe, along with a uh...award."

"Another one?"

"From...before. I used my Director's position, they didn't think..." She faded off collecting her thoughts. "Suffice to say you saved my life, you did everything you could to save that ship and they just wouldn't listen to you. They wish they had though, apparently my reputation now precedes me."

"Jen..."

"I know you'll put it with the others. It wasn't like DiNozzo came up with that idea first," she sighed remembering a drawer she had had with his awards. Gibbs smirked briefly at that, Tony was convinced no one else knew about the award stash. "You'll at least take this one from me?" He nodded, which meant he'd take the box and handed it to DiNozzo first chance he got, but he was not above using that idea.

"You know in the military they have a tradition."

"Uh huh?"

"When you get an award you get a kiss?"

"A kiss?" She echoed, to easy.

"Yep."

"Abby will do it," she responded. His smirk faded, bluff called, guess she's sober now.

"Speaking of Abby, she called you last night, I talked to her."

"I'm surprised she even wanted to talk to me."

"She said that she and Ziva got into a fight that brought you out of MTAC."

"They were angry, Tony had lost control siding with neither, McGee made the mistake of saying they were both right, I settled it."

"How?" She shook her head.

"A secret."

"Jen..."

"I fought and won, apparently the fight was about me anyway." He could only imagine what the specific subject was.

"Abby left that part out."

"Don't worry about it, they seemed alright when I left and with you back they'll be fine. I may actually get peace and quiet," she assured. He let her go as he heard a knock at the door and went to answer. He returned moments later with Ducky in tow.

"Director, Cynthia said you were ill, not that you were injured," Ducky informed showing no reaction as to finding his boss with Gibbs.

"And just what did Cynthia say I was sick with?"

"She didn't specify." Jenny watched Gibbs face and noticed the spark of humor in his eyes. She could only imagine. "Now let me see this arm, you and Jethro get into a fight?"

"I fell Gibbs was just a surprise. I was watering the plants for him," she told Ducky.

"Good thing you were here Jethro," Ducky commented studying the arm. "Not broken completely, just keep it immobilized. Take aspirin, drink some Scotch."

"She doesn't drink Scotch," Gibbs announced.

"Bourbon then." Jenny nodded and caught Gibbs look. "You should probably not be left alone..."

"I'll see to it Ducky," Gibbs answered. Ducky sighed, children.

"Jethro make sure she gets lots of sleep," Ducky warned and Jenny let out a low chuckle, only Ducky.

"Of course, later Ducky." Gibbs saw him out and returned back with a bad Ducky had retrieved from the car. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," she replied. He placed the bag in front of her.

"He said it was work."

"I suppose I should do something," she replied.

"You're the Director." She opened the bag carefully and rummaged through it. Her hand grasped something sleek and smooth. She noticed an envelope and dropped the object reading the note. She handed it to Gibbs along with her glasses.

"Guess they thought I could convince you." She pulled out a bottle and Gibbs took it from her. "You keep it, its good stuff."

"You've had enough."

"Hence you keeping it." She grasped the smooth object again. "Well I guess Ducky wanted you to have this." She held out his gun and badge. "Welcome back Jethro."

"You kept both of them."

"Like I'd trust DiNozzo," she exclaimed. She had on more thing in the bag, which she carefully took out.

"What's this?"

"Probably the only award you'll actually take from me," she replied handing it to him. He studied the award for a moment. He never really enjoyed them, thought they were pompous, but maybe this one was different. She had gotten the higher ups to agree for saving her life, but she had turned it into a way for everyone to know what he'd tried to do. It was her statement, her silent protest, and he was surprised at how far she had gone.

"Jen..." He didn't know what to tell her. She waved him off and her green eyes met his blue ones. The red had faded from them and the circles underneath seemed to have vanished.

"And see as Abby isn't here," she said and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "The tradition followed." He went still as memories flooded him, he thought he'd remembered most things about them, but he was so wrong. He tried to make sense of all of them but couldn't. She had felt him fall still and was worried. She glanced up to find his eyes clenched shut. "Jethro?"

"Memories, it happens," he sighed.

"Memories of Ke...of other times?"

"You actually."

"Me? I can't imagine they were all good," she replied. She knew just how bad some of them were.

"They seemed to be good," he answered and she pulled away. It was only a matter of time before he remembered the bad ones. His arm looped around her waist preventing her from moving to far away.

"They won't all be good."

"I know that, but there were a lot of good ones."

"Yes there were," she agreed remembering her own favorites. He knew what she was thinking; she had the knowing secret smile he so rarely saw anymore.

"When was the last time you ate something?" He inquired pulling her from her thoughts.

"Yesterday morning, I was busy," she defended. He just shook his head in exasperation.

"You need to eat, your too thin," she scolded. She quirked an eyebrow.

"Too thin?" She echoed. He was searching the drawer for a phone number.

"Yea."

"You're a strange man Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

"Me? Ha!" He retorted finally locating the pamphlet for the bakery. She laughed as he dialed the number and ordered what sounded like a feast; he even got them to deliver.

Jenny was feeling steadier on her feet and she moved toward the basement. She leaned over the railing on the top landing and gazed at the empty space below her. She could picture the boat and the two of them working on it. She looked down at her arm pined to her side and her smile faded. Her other arm hurt where the bruise was and she knew eventually she would end up giving Jethro the details.

"There you are," he said sounding slightly worried and stepping next to her. "Jen it's freezing in here."

"It's not so bad, maybe you're just used to being on a beach," she quipped.

"I'm not the one shivering," he pointed out wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her back to the kitchen. He watched her flex her arm a little and noticed the bruise again. "You should put an ice pack on that."

"It's old."

"Not that old," he countered. "Where were your body guards when this happened?"

"They're security, which I don't need in my own house or have for that matter."

"You break his nose at the very least?"

"He spent a week in jail, and I haven't heard from him since."

"How'd you manage that?"

"Called Fornell."

"He knows about this?"

"Not all of it, I told him to do what you would," she replied.

"You didn't press charges or do anything else."

"I have enough on him to destroy his career."

"Career? Must be important, like Senator Sommer maybe?" She froze at that and held perfectly still. "Take that as a yes." He slid his arms gently around her waist and held her close. She relaxed slowly and gave into the comfort and warmth. She turned to face him, hugging him.

"So you're going to help me on this op?"

"Whatever you need," he promised. She nodded, resting a hand over his heart.

"I missed you Jethro," she whispered. He held her tighter as his heart accelerated just a few paces. He'd waited for months to hear her say that.

"Missed you to, Jen." She tilted her head up to meet his blue eyes and they sparked with some new emotion. The background faded and they were standing in the streets of Paris all over again and they both knew how that ended. They leaned in simultaneously and the first touch was a butterfly kiss. They each deepened the kiss sharing their breath as breathing became unnecessary. She wrapped her good arm around his neck and his two hands cupped her face running his hands through her shortened hair. She felt herself sway as oxygen became necessary and his hand slid down her curves to hold her waist. He slowly eased up on the kiss as his own lungs screamed for relief. They pulled apart only enough to breathe and bumped noses affectionately, resting their foreheads against each other. The doorbell rang throwing the world back at them and they separated slowly. She sat down in the chair to catch her breath and he went to get the food and his other surprise. She looked up as he sat the bag on the counter followed by the large plant.

"A plant?" She questioned.

"Now you can have a plant to water," he said simply.

"When you're not home?"

"Like I'd remember to do it when I am home," he responded.

"Then I should take it to my house."

"Better sunlight here," he assured. She nodded going to the cabinet for a large plastic cup. She filled it with water and carefully poured it over the green thing. "It needs water everyday."

"Every other," she corrected and at his curious look shrugged her shoulders. "I may have read a couple of gardening books."

"Glad one of us has," he replied. He opened the food boxes and she found all sorts of croissants and Danishes. She grabbed a chocolate croissant and he snatched it away.

"Hey!"

"We split it, there's only one chocolate one."

"Liar," she coughed spotting another on and grabbing it. "Besides you wanted to fatten me up."

"Uh hm." He was watching her take small nibbles out of the croissant trying to make it last as long as possible. She had the smallest bit of chocolate on her lips as she set the pastry down to take a sip of coffee. He took the coffee mug from her and kissed the chocolate off her lips, somehow it tasted even better. He could feel her blush and smiled slightly, it was good to know he could still make her blush. She felt him pull away and quickly chased his lips pulling them back into a long kiss. He tasted like coffee and like coffee she was addicted all over again. He ran his hand down her neck carefully tracing little designs. He could feel her pulse jack hammering under his hand and knew his was the same. His fingers slid under the collar of her shirt and he felt her deepen the kiss. She broke off suddenly but didn't pull out of his reach.

"Breakfast first." He nodded still tracing patterns on her hidden flesh. She tilted her head catching his hand and stopping it.

"Breakfast first," he agreed.

-END-