AUTHOR'S NOTE - Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. It's Me! :D
As you probably already know, MarciaRebafan, Psycho Maddy and yours truly are starting a collab - drabbles/one-shots based on Murphy's Laws (if you don't know, then quickly go read their wonderful updates!). Each one of us will update once a week and we'll do our best to stick to that schedule.
It might be a fair warning to you that at any time this can turn into a complete OOC Crak!Fic charade. You have been warned!
Not beta'd and I'm still prete to know English.

DISCLAIMER - I do not own NCIS nor any of its characters. I don't feel the need to point it out again, so this goes to all the chapters. I do, however, own my life which is endless inspiration, but you don't need to know that.

ENJOY!

1. LEFT TO THEMSELVES, THINGS TEND TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

"Shit!"

It escaped her before she could stop it.

Jenny Shepard grabbed on the nearest hard surface her arms could reach, already feeling the throbbing pain spreading from her left ankle to the rest of her body.

"You okay?" - Gibbs asked, appearing soundlessly on the bedroom door.

"Yeah," - she smiled, putting on a brave face.

The last thing she needed right now was his worry. She was already late, as it was.

"You sure?"

"Yes, Jethro, I'm fine. I just hit my knee on the bed."

He gave her a critical once-over before going back to the adjoined bathroom. She thanked God he didn't notice the death grip she had on the curtain behind her, quickly changing the shoes to more comfortable ones. Kissing him goodbye, she sucked up the pain to the exit door, every step becoming more and more uncomfortable.

God, it hurts like hell, she thought at the end of the day as she made her way back to her office, trying not to pay any attention to the hole Gibbs's stare was burning in her back.

She barely made it through the busy day; what with the constant walks to and from MTAC, what with Gibbs's scrutinising stare.

When she finally made it home, successfully avoiding her lover wherever she could, she took of her shoes and trousers, staring annoyed at now very obvious swelling that used to be her ankle. She didn't have time for this.

She sighed and, deciding to keep on ignoring her injury, put on her grey sweatpants and black tank top. She hobbled down the stairs and sat in her study just in time to, once again, avoid her partner.

He sat in the armchair opposite her desk after he had changed, not taking his eyes off of her for a second.

"Jethro, seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Don't you have anything better to do than to stare at me?"

"I enjoy looking at you, Jen," - he smirked, thought his eyes still shone with concern.

Jenny rolled her eyes and continued with her work, but Gibbs's constant stare made her feel very uncomfortable, as if he could see through the desk and her sweatpants and somehow know she was in pain. Well, she wouldn't put it past him.

Eventually, she couldn't take it any more, so she carefully got up with a casual "I'm going to bed." and, determined to make it to the stairs without letting on to her condition, walked out of the study.

Halfway up, however, a sudden pain shot through her body. She gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white, biting her lower lip, so as not to let out a groan and more than a few choice words. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, she could feel a thin layer of sweat covering her. She barely made it the rest of the way, leaning on to the wall next to her bed and closing her eyes.

"Sit," - Gibbs's stern voice filled the room.

Jenny opened her eyes and mouth, but protest died on her lips when she saw his no-bullshit stare.

She sat on the bed as he disappeared into the bathroom, reappearing only seconds later with a tube of Deep Relief gel in one and a bandage roll in the other hand.

He crouched in front of her, taking her left foot into his hands, mindful of her injury. She knew better than to question him.

After thoroughly, but gently, massaging the cool gel into Jenny's skin, Gibbs expertly covered the ankle with a white gauze. He didn't have to say anything, his silence was reprimanding enough and she felt like a child who has done something naughty.

Upon finishing his task, Gibbs softly kissed her bandage-covered skin and then met her eyes with his.

"Thank you," - she whispered, his actions surprisingly arousing to her.

He kissed her lips gently and then motioned for her to lay on the bed, while he went to wash his hands.

Jenny smiled into her pillow, thinking that while, yes, left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse, she'd always have him to make it better for her.

- THE END -

I don't know if you have Deep Relief in US, I couldn't find it on-line. Forgive me if you don't.

M. xx