A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews of this story. Here is an epilogue as requested by Aserene.

A Friend in Need

EPILOGUE

Six Weeks Later

Director Shepard walked from the conference room to her office and glanced down at the bullpen where Agent Gibbs' team was at work. Sort of. Not much work was being done but they were all present and accounted for. When she reached her office she picked up the phone and called her home. It was almost 5:00 and she wanted to let Jethro know she would be home by 7:00.

"Shepard residence."

"Noemi, would you put Agent Gibbs on the phone please."

"Agent Gibbs is not here, ma'am."

"Not there? Do you know where he is?" Jethro had been staying at Jen's house since he got out of the hospital six weeks ago. With both arms in a casts and his right leg in a knee brace he couldn't really manage on his own for several weeks. By now his left hand was out of the cast, his right arm in a soft splint and he could walk without crutches. But…he wasn't supposed to drive and since he wasn't working he didn't have anyplace he was supposed to be except at home.

"No, ma'am. He left with Agent DiNozzo right after lunch."

"Thank you Noemi."

Jen smiled and shook her head. She should have known this would happen sooner or later. Actually she was surprised Jethro hadn't shown up here days ago. She wondered briefly if he was down in autopsy talking to Ducky. Taking the stairs down she was soon standing in front of Tony DiNozzo's desk. As Gibbs' senior field agent Tony was in charge while the Boss was on medical leave. He was completely loyal to Jethro and Jen knew if Jethro had asked Tony for something the young man had done it.

"Agent DiNozzo, where is Agent Gibbs?"

"I believe he is at home, ma'am." Tony looked at his Director only briefly before letting his eyes wander around the room obviously uncomfortable.

"Can you be more specific, Agent DiNozzo."

"Yes, ma'am. Agent Gibbs is at his personal residence, in his basement, with his boat. Ma'am."

"And just how did he get there?"

"I took him, ma'am."

"Thank you, Agent DiNozzo." Jen turned to leave; not really upset but Tony didn't need to know that.

"Uhh, Director?"

"Yes?"

"May I make a personal observation?"

"Of course."

"The Boss, he sure looked happy when I left him. Just thought you might want to know."

Jen gifted Tony with one of her best smiles. "Thank you Tony."

Jen returned to her office and gathered her papers together. She called Noemi and made arrangements for dinner to be delivered. Finally she picked up the report that Tobias Fornell had left with her earlier in the afternoon. She went to the parking garage where her driver was waiting. She gave him instructions on where she wanted to go and they left the Navy Yard. Jen couldn't see the knowing smile on Melvin's face as he drove to the address he knew to be Agent Gibbs' home.

When Jen arrived at Jethro's house Noemi was there waiting. She took the pans from her, thanked her and told Melvin he could go home for the night. Then she went in the house and deposited Noemi's pans in the kitchen, the beer in the fridge and her bag on the table. Taking two Corona's with her she started down the stairs to the basement.

Jen stopped halfway down the wooden staircase to soak in the scene before her. Jethro was lying on his back under the framework of his latest boat. He was shirtless and his chest and arms were covered in a fine layer of sanding dust. The knee brace was lying discarded on the old couch. Jethro was obviously sound asleep. Jen smiled, she couldn't remember seeing him so relaxed and at peace in a long time. She knew that as much as he loved her, he loved this damned boat almost as much and he had been away from her for much too long.

Stepping down the remaining stairs Jen crossed the floor and sat down next to Jethro. She leaned down and kissed him softly on the mouth. She was sorely tempted to hold the cold beer bottle to his chest but decided she didn't want to risk it getting spilled if she surprised him too much. Instead she settled for more light kisses around his mouth and jaw until he opened his eyes and smiled up at her. He sat up and scrubbed his hand over his face.

"Hi. How'd you know I was here?"

"DiNozzo."

"I couldn't stand it any longer, Jen. I had to get back down here and when Dr. Ryan gave me the all clear on the knee and the arm I had Tony bring me here instead of taking me back to your house."

Jen handed him a beer and scooted closer to him. "I understand. You look like you've had a good afternoon. It's been a long time since you smelled like sawdust. I think I've missed it. So, what exactly did our friend Dr. Ryan tell you?"

"He said the knee is looking very good. I need to continue some therapy but it's stuff I can do at the gym at work. The arm is fine. I just need to keep working to get the strength back. He said I'm cleared to go back to work. So, how about it Director, when can I come back?"

"How about Monday?"

"Perfect." Jethro pulled her into his side and kissed her temple. "It sure feels good to be down here and it's even better with you here. How was your day anyway?"

"I had a good day. Fornell brought his report over this afternoon. You wanna read it or shall I give you the highlights?"

Jethro took a long pull on the beer and said, "you go ahead. I'll read it all later."

"Basically the report says Faith acted in self defense and saved the life of a Federal Agent as well as her own. Apparently Russell had rented the farmhouse several months ago so it seems he had been planning something for a long time. The report also said they found cameras and pictures at his apartment indicating he had been following Faith for a very long time. There were several more pictures of the two of you. Seems that Mr. Russell was more than one brick shy of a load."

"Well, he got what he deserved. I'm not sorry Faith killed him either. Probably best she did it instead of me. That way she knows she took care of her own problem. Hey, you didn't come with any food did you?"

"As a matter of fact I did. Noemi made chicken enchiladas for you today. She met me here and supper is in the kitchen."

"God, I love that woman." Jethro grinned at Jen and kissed her quickly before standing up and pulling her up with him. "I need a quick shower first. Care to join me?"

"Try and keep me out."

Two flights of stairs was more than Jethro had done on his reconstructed knee but he wasn't about to miss a chance to share the shower with Jen. They took their time and stoked the fire with some passionate kisses on the way upstairs. If it hadn't been for the sanding dust that covered him and now a good deal of Jen as well they might have skipped the shower and gone straight to the bed. Instead, Jethro got the water going and turned back around to find Jen stepping out of her skirt. Her blouse was already on the floor when she reached for him.

Jethro wrapped her in his arms and kissed her thoroughly. "Do you have any idea how much I love you, Jen?"

"As much as I love you. I know this has been a rough six weeks but you've made it and I'm very proud of how hard you've worked Jethro. And of what a good patient you've been."

"You know I couldn't have done it without you." Jethro unhooked her bra and pushed her panties off then stepped out of his shorts and pulled her into the shower with him. There was a lot of laughing, and kissing and touching for the next thirty minutes followed by about three minutes of actual bathing.

After supper they sat on the couch and neither of them spoke for a long time. They just enjoyed being together and savored the good news of Jethro's recovery and his return to work.

"Is Melvin coming back for you?" Jethro was running his fingers through her hair and leaving little kisses on her neck.

"No, I told him he was off for the night. I was planning to stay here if that's alright with you. I know you've missed being at home." Jen turned to face him and saw his eyes light up with love and what she suspected was happy anticipation of a night in his own bed.

"It's more than alright. I have missed being here. Will you think about staying here at least part of the time?"

"Yes. I'd like that." Jen leaned in and began a serious exploration of his mouth with hers. Her hands found their way under his tee shirt and she felt his fingers stroking up and down her back. Their kiss deepened and Jethro pulled her in closer until there was nothing between them but their clothes. When breathing became a necessity, Jen pulled back and just looked at him.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

They had never talked about "that day". They had not talked about their argument or about what happened to him and Faith except that night at the hospital. Jen had decided to help Jethro focus all his energy on getting well and getting back in shape to return to work. They had been together at her house these past six weeks and everything between them was fine. Still, she wanted to put the whole incident behind them and for her at least that meant she needed to talk about what happened.

"I want us to talk about that day, Jethro. I need to tell you how sorry I am for all the things I said in my office."

"Jen, you don't…"

"No, Jethro, let me finish. After you left that day I knew you had told me the truth but I let my anger overrule my heart. I said some very cruel things to you and I want you to know I have regretted them almost since the moment they left my mouth. I know you would never cheat on me. When I saw you lying in that emergency room I realized how close I came to losing you. If you had died thinking I didn't trust you I don't know how I would ever live with that. No matter what ever happens to us you have to know I love you with all my heart and soul and I trust you completely."

Jethro reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Baby, I know you love me. I should have told you what was happening. You were all I could think about on the way to the hospital. When I heard you r voice on the phone I almost started crying right then. And when I saw you I suddenly knew everything would be alright. All I needed was to have you beside me and I could put up with anything. You are all I ever need, Jen. I know sometimes I don't show it but I know you are the one who keeps me together. We belong together and I don't ever want us to be apart."

Nothing else needed to be said at that point. Jen stood up and reached down for Jethro's hand. "Maybe we should go up and see if your bed still makes that squeaky sound when we…"

The rest of her suggestion was muffled by Jethro's mouth covering her. When he let her breathe again they made their way upstairs and sure enough about twenty minutes later that old bed was squeaking just like old times.

END (really)