A/N Well I had more story alert requests after I finished this story, than I had while I was doing it. However, it turned out, thanks to last seasons NCIS, that there was one more chapter that needed to be written.

Thanks for all your continued interest in this story.

There was nothing left to do. The investigation was complete, her killers had been killed, the coverup was in place, even the reports were written. There was nothing left to distract him. He didn’t want to think, to feel, but he could tell that his grace period was coming to an end.

The ringing from his phone startled him back to awareness, back to the bullpen where he had been glaring at nothing, and his team, tired and disturbed as they were, were working hard on their reports.

“Go.” His tone was harsh, but he didn’t want to talk to anyone so whoever was calling could just get over it or leave him alone.

“15 minutes should be enough for you to shut down for the night. I’ll be waiting at the coffee shop. Don’t be late.”

“But ...”

“No buts. Be there.”

“And if I don’t.”

“You know what I am capable of. Do you really want to put me to the test?”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise.”

As he shut the phone he heard the light giggle.

He ignored the looks his team were giving him, poised to follow him when he said the word, shut his computer down and grabbed his coat.

“Reports on my desk, then you can go. And I don’t want you back in the building till Monday.”

Confused looks followed him as he headed for the elevator. Clearly unsure as to whether they should be following him or following orders. Erring on the side of caution, but not wanting to face his anger if they were wrong , they settled for getting a fix on his mobile and watching his movements, hoping they would give some clue as to whether there was danger or not.

He strode quickly down the sidewalk, not entirely sure this was the wisest idea he had had all day. A quick scan of the coffee shop identified his target and he hid a grin at the large coffee waiting for him.

“Trying to keep me sweet.”

“Can’t be done, but I do know the importance of keeping you caffeinated.”

“So what would you have done if I hadn’t turned up.”

A wicked grin.

“Whatever I had to.” Fingering the white stone that was the last resort if all other tactics had failed.

He took a long sip of the coffee, ordered exactly the way he liked it.

“Thank you.”

“Walk with me.”

They both grabbed their coffee and left, Gibbs allowing himself to be led as they headed towards the river. As they crossed the road, an arm was tucked into his, and when they reached the river they turned to walk alongside it. Suddenly his coffee cup was plucked from his hand and placed on a wall nearby and he was pulled into an embrace.

“Missed you.”

He relaxed and pulled her closer, allowing the comfort she offered.

“Mmm, me too.”

“I’m so sorry LJ, I came as soon as I heard.”

He couldn’t answer, just hugged her a little tighter to acknowledge that he had heard her. After a long moment, they started walking again, arm in arm. Mostly they continued in silence, taking in the sights and enjoying one another’s company, occasionally making a remark or asking a question.

As the evening air cooled around them and darkness fell, she lead them back to the Naval Yard and then on to his house. It wasn’t long before they were down in his basement. She shucked off her leather jacket and picked up a sanding block and together they worked on his latest boat, stopping only for the Chinese that gets delivered and to top up their bourbon.

“You loved her.”

The comment seems to come out of nowhere, but he knows her and he has been waiting for something like this. She always was good at seeing too much. He makes a noise that could be agreement and continues working. But she knows him too, and she waits. He is a trained interrogator and he knows what she is doing, but he finds himself falling for the silence.

“I didn’t think I could, not again, not after ... so I settled for a spark and caring for someone, but you know what that got me. She was different though, she was ... she was Jen.” He shrugged. “She just walked right into my heart and made herself a home. Never could get rid of her after that.”

“And she loved you.”

“She did, but I didn’t have a place in her plans. She moved on.”

“I don’t think she ever stopped. Whatever happened, I know she was in love with you when I met her.”

They continued in silence for a long time after that. Until suddenly, the anger got too much.

“She was dying. She was sick, she knew she was dying and the only person she told was Ducky.”

“You loved her, if it had been you, what would you have done? Would you have told her?”

“No.”

“Why not? Wouldn’t she have deserved to know? Couldn’t she have been a comfort to you?”

“Why would I hurt her like that?”

“Exactly.”

“I would have preferred to know. I would have been there for her. She didn’t have to face this alone.”

“I know.”

“Didn’t she trust me?”

“I don’t think it was ever about trust. I think it was about protecting you.”

She laid a hand on his shoulder as she spoke, and waited until his muscles relaxed just a little, before pulling him into her arms and holding him for a long time, whispering in his ear.

“She really loved you. Head over heels, completely lost, no-one else existed but you, in love with you. Just keep remembering that, and that whatever she did, was never about hurting you, it was only and always because she loved you.”

“Maybe we should call him.”

“OK. You call him.”

“Scared?”

“Too right I am scared. This is Gibbs we are talking about.”

“He’s at home, are we really even sure there is something wrong?”

With a deep sigh, Ziva glared at the other two and picked up her cell.

“Gibbs. The reports are on your desk.”

Tony rolled his eyes at her, and shook his head.

“Spit it out Ziva.”

“Are you sure you don’t need us for anything else? There are no problems?”

“Everything is fine. Go on home, and tell those two to go home as well.” He hung up on her, but smiled at Sam.

“I think you worried them.”

A giggle was his only answer.

Cam was waiting when Daniel and Vala returned through the gate.

They were in the commissary after their checkup when Daniel asked.

“Sam actually left the base this weekend? I didn’t think Cassie was in town.”

“I don’t think she is.” Cam sounded a little concerned. “Sam lit out of here on Friday like Anubis was after her, but she would only say that she wouldn’t be back till Monday.”

“Ooh, where do you think she has gone? Do you think something has happened?”

Daniel tuned out their speculation as the headlines scrolling along the screen on the wall nearby caught his attention.

“She is in Washington.”

“What? Did you get some kind of psychic memo? How can you possibly know that?”

“She has gone to visit a friend.”

“She has gone to see the General? But why? And why wouldn’t she have said anything to us?”

“Not the General.” He packed his dishes onto their tray, and stood. “Don’t worry about her, she’ll be back when she said.” With that he walked out, leaving Cam and Vala to stare at his back, before looking at each other.

“How did he do that?”

“I don’t know, but he seemed sure.”

With a shrug they turned back to their meals.

The headlines continued to scroll under the news. “Funeral of Jennifer Shepherd, Director of Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who died in a fire last week, will be held on ....”