When the Heart is Full - written by Talldi

Chapter 1

Gibbs pulled into the PX on Quantico Marine base. He had to come down here today to have lunch with an old friend from the Corps. He came once or twice a year to replace Joe Stafford in close combat skills class for a week at a time. The past 2 years he had been asked to assist in other areas as well by the training officer. They had just set the schedule over took his family on vacation at these times. Because of his success in training activities Gibbs found himself officially "un-retired" by the Corps and was now a Master gunnery sergeant on "detached service" to NCIS. Although he continued to be paid through the NCIS, he had privileges on base for active duty, thus the PX. Cheaper is cheaper he got out and decided it was a much nicer day than earlier, and left his trench coat in the car. On the way in he held the door for a harassed mother of 3 little ones. He headed straight for the produce section. His mood was mellow and he had decided to get a steak and some fresh fruit while stopped to talk with another Marine he knew then went down the aisle toward the apples. A stray ray of June sunshine found it's way down the aisle and found a graceful, slender arm and hand reaching for the seasons first strawberries. Gibbs stood unnoticed slightly off to the side watching her. She was a marine in uniform, cover on the seat of her basket. She opened the strawberries with a smile of hopefulness. The sun revealed she had dark red hair, so dark it was almost chestnut in color. It was drawn up off her face and neck in a loose chignon held by a clip. She was in such a state of enjoyment she was unaware of his gaze. She opened the container and took out a large strawberry and took a slow, deep bite. Her eyes were closed and she was so happy that Gibbs found himself smiling too, as was an older woman across the display. A small drop of juice was quickly caught by a finger and licked off.

" I hope you're planning on buying that box. I'd hate to have to arrest you on such a nice day." he said it with a grin and reached to his waist to flash his badge.

She looked startled and opened her eyes turning to meet his gaze, still holding the other section of fruit. Her eyes scanned him, saw the badge and widened. Gibbs was stunned to immobility as he saw her eyes. They were a brilliant emerald green with sooty long lashes and brows, despite the dark red hair. Suddenly she moved in 2 quick steps up to him and pressed the fruit into his mouth. " There, now you can arrest yourself too!" Her head fell back and her laughter was so joyous, so real and unaffected that people were smiling at them.

Jethro was instantly smitten. She had a long neck which he could picture himself kissing and nuzzling. She was already moving away from him. He couldn't let that happen. He called out.

"Wait! Please! " he followed, " You can't just feed me and run away..." He was smiling with his head tilted just a little in question.

She looked up at him, her cheeks were flushed a bit and she looked quickly down." I'm sorry, I really am not in the habit of doing things like that..."

" I don't remember complaining. I thought it was great. I'm Jethro Gibbs. I can see your a Staff sergeant Ms?" Jethro was smiling.

" Elaine Douglas-Preston. But every one calls me Lainy." She shook Jethro's outstretched hand and blushed further.

" Could I interest you in a cup of coffee Lainy?" She was still looking down and away from him. Her body language showed nervousness that he couldn't fathom. He found himself eager to reassure her. "Are you married? I don't want to cause a problem."

"Oh no!" she looked into his eyes. " I mean I'm a widow. My husband died in Desert Storm."

" I'm sorry." Jethro said sincerely. " I served there too"

"So did I. " Lainy said, her eyes looked far away. Suddenly she smiled radiantly up at him. She had a full mouth and her smile made her face seem luminous.

" I feel it's OK. Yes definitely it's OK." she said. Jethro looked at her feeling a bit uncertain but decidedly eager." After all", she said," Life is what you make it. Let's take a chance on each other. I take coffee black and wherever I can get it. After all I'm a Marine! . How 'bout you?"

Jethro grinned and walked with her toward the checkout, stopping only to get 2 steaks and some more was indeed a really good day. He was really looking forward to the rest of the day and maybe even more.================================================================4 Weeks laterJethro stood up and grabbed his overcoat. It was a little before noon. He drank the last of his coffee and tossed the cup to the trash. "I'm calling lunch." he said. " Make sure you have those case reports ready for me to see before the director does. That includes you DiNozzo." This was over his shoulder on the way to the elevator.

"Damn!" DiNozzo said. "I want to know where he goes everyday!"

"Why do you need to know Tony?" Ziva said with a toss of her head. "Is it not enough that he seems in a good mood?"

"That's just it! The Boss is never in a good mood. At least not at work. I don't really know about the rest of the time of course but one simply assumes... A man who builds boats in his basement then takes them apart has to have a lot of unhappiness somewhere inside!" Tony was looking puzzled and tapping a pen on his chin..

" You have no idea what he does with those boats Tony. We know he gave at least one of them to Franks." Ziva said while typing on her computer.

" Yeah and I want to know how that got down there to Mexico too. He never took any time off. It's been weeks! " Tony was irritated now. He sat down and said out loud " I should follow him tomorrow at lunch."

"Do you have a death wish DiNozzo?" said McGee as he came back to his desk from MTAC. "The Boss would see you within a block."

" Oh long before that!" Ziva said smiling. " I would and Gibbs is at least as good as I am, perhaps better."

"Well he's older.." Tony reasoned " No one's noticed he's in a better mood lately?" He had stood up and was holding his hands in the air to everyone.

" I think so! He let me hold the door for him yesterday." A young probie from Donahue's team called over to Tony.

"See!" Tony cried pumping his fist.

"Forget it DiNozzo." Sam Donahue said. " His arms were full. Didn't mean a thing." He was smiling and getting his coat on too.

"Wait! Don't go! Full of what? You can't just tease like that and run! Sam!" Tony hurried around his desk toward Sam.

" Not a chance in Hell DiNozzio. I haven't survived the last decade in the same office with Gibbs only to cut my throat now. See you later. Go home probie." he tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the elevator.

" Wilson," Tony said moving swiftly to stand in front of the younger agent. " Just what did Agent Gibbs have in his arms the other day?"

" Well, it was in a box Agent DiNozzo" The younger man looked up to Tony who was hovering.

" A big box? A brown box? A box of papers? Of items? Wrapped, unwrapped square, round, triangular?" Tony was intent on the smaller blond agent.

" A brown box. Definitely a brown cardboard box and it was full of ..of.. LP's maybe? I couldn't swear to it in court. But I think so. My mother has a bunch. "

Tony turned away and thoughtfully went back towards his desk. He sat down and put his feet up steepling his fingers.

" A box of LP's. Now what could they be for? The Boss is into music? Since when? My head is spinning with possibilities."

" The obvious argument is your head is always spinning Tony" Ziva said as she turned off her computer and stood up. "I am going to lunch. Are you coming McGee? "

" Oh yes, I can't take much more of the Sherlock Holmes act." McGee strode forward. " And no we're not bringing you back anything Tony. Give it a rest."

" I will find this out!" Tony stood up and grabbed his jacket. -

Jethro walked over to the wall above the riverside park. He was carrying 2 large cups of coffee. Perched on the wall was a female marine in uniform. She turned as Jethro approached and smiled at him.

" I see you have the essential ingredient as always." She said as he stepped over the wall and sat down beside her.

" Well, it's gonna cost ya. " he said with an answering smile. He leaned in to her and they kissed lightly. Then pausing to gently nuzzle they then kissed more deeply. "What's for lunch?"

" I made home made chicken salad, carrot salad and yogurt, vanilla." She unzipped the carrier and took out sliced home made bread. Jethro pulled out the containers and balanced them on the wall.

" Leftovers from last night? I love leftovers." Jethro unwrapped the silverware. " I'd be happy to buy you lunch you know."

" I know and I told you I'd rather be outside in the sun and it's cheaper too." She gently tapped Jethro's fingers as he tried to open the yogurt.

"I like your home made yogurt too!" Jethro said. He sat back smiling and waited for her to finish setting up. They then prepared their sandwiches and ate while rowers went by on the river.

"I like June weather." Lainy said. "You can feel July coming though now that it's the end of the month. I'm going to have to open the pool soon, Liz is beginning to nag me."

" I can help you with that this weekend. It's our team's weekend off." Jethro swallowed some of his coffee.

" Well that would make Lizzie happy. She'd have you and the pool all weekend." Lainy sighed and took another bite.

"She's a good kid. Her biggest problem is that she's a teenager." Jethro was smiling.

" No that seems to be MY big problem. That and the fact that I seem to be suffering from brain rot or some other stupidity problem. I miss the girl I thought I knew."

" You're not stupid Lainy. And she's going to come around. She's getting older every day." Jethro covered her hand with his.

" Well, you haven't cut and run yet. I give you credit." Lainy said with a gentle squeeze to his hand and a smile.

" Not a chance. I'm a Marine. We don't run and we don't leave our men or women behind." Jethro leaned in for another kiss. Lainy obliged. They began to talk about other things and enjoyed their hour together.

Jethro walked Lainy back to her car. They stood and kissed for awhile. When they let each other go Lainy asked Jethro " See you this evening? "

"Yup. Want me to bring anything? " He met her eyes in a straightforward gaze.

Lainy looked back up toward him loving his blue eyes then stood on tip toe and kissed his nose. " Yes. Pick up some Guinness for me and something for yourself. Try to avoid that cheap stuff it's not good for you!"

Jethro grinned. "See you after work." He turned and headed toward his car.

Lainy smiled after him and got into her car to head back to the Admiralty building. She had been right, he was indeed a worthwhile chance. They had been together almost every chance they had since they met. Lunch during day, dinner in the evenings when he was free. Her step daughter/adoptive daughter Liz adored him from the first. After testing Jethro for intentions, patience, and tolerance the first dinner they met, Liz found out Jethro was a Marine. She was extremely proud of her mother and father and showed Jethro pictures on the hall wall. Jethro saw a Marine in dress uniform with multiple service ribbons. He could see the native american features and Liz's cheek bones and eye shape. "Have you been in combat L.J.?" Liz said with a hard stare.

Jethro looked quietly down at her as they stood in the hallway. His face was gentle. He decided to be direct. " Yes. Several times."

" In Desert Storm?" Jethro tipped his head slightly and said "Yes."

" What was it like? Were you hurt?" Liz stepped forward toward him. She looked at him with unblinking dark eyes.

" It was war. And yes I was. I think we should go back to help your mom with the dishes." Jethro gestured to her to proceed him.

" My mother was in the hospital for over a month after she came home from Kuwait. My grandmother had to come and stay with me. Mom didn't even want me to see her right away. She was afraid I would be scared of her."

Jethro digested this information and moved to the kitchen where Lainy was putting dishes in the machine. Jethro began rinsing the dishes and handing them to her. Lainy looked at him sideways with some anxiety.

"Everything OK?"

"Of course. Any reason it wouldn't be?" Jethro was half smiling.

"Liz can be demanding." she offered softly.

"She like that with all your dates?" Jethro turned toward her now still smiling. But Lainy was not looking and her body language again said she was nervous.

"What's wrong Lainy?" He reached out and touched her shoulder turning her back to him.

" No. Because I haven't dated."

She was looking down. Jethro frowned and reached out to lift her chin so he could see her eyes. He saw this was the truth. He didn't do what she expected. He didn't ask why. Instead he turned back to the last of the dishes and said

" I'm glad you changed your mind."So was she.