Chapter 18- Dumbfounding

A/N: I apologize for taking so long to update this… I've been rather Doctor Who obsessed lately, and haven't watched much NCIS. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy! Also, did anybody notice the font change on fanfiction? It's seriously messing with my head. This is a Probie!Jen. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I haven't yet acquired the rights to NCIS, but don't worry- I'll keep you posted.

***JIBBS***

Coffee, from the shop down the street.

That was how it had started, all those years ago.

Before Paris- before everything. Back when she was just a probie and he was just her boss, and they both enjoyed nothing more than getting on each other's nerves.

***JIBBS***

It started with a Styrofoam cup on the side of her desk in the morning, from the coffee shop down the street. Coffee with cream and just a bit of sugar, the way she liked it.

She didn't have a clue who was leaving it for her, and it was driving her insane. But she would drink it anyway, because who was she to pass up free coffee?

But then, after a week or two, she began to notice the coffee getting bitterer and bitterer. And, slowly, she began to get used to it.

Until, after about a month, the coffee was black. It had started to feel wrong for her to drink it with milk or sugar, even at home.

And yet, she still didn't know who was bringing her the coffee every morning. But, if she really thought about it, she wasn't sure if she wanted to. It was something she could look forward to every morning, and put a smile on her face for the rest of the day, even when Pacci was being particularly annoying. If the mystery was revealed- what if it was just a joke? She didn't know if she could take it.

***JIBBS***

Except, one morning, Jenny got to work early. Walking out of the elevator, she rummaged through her bag. She heard the crash of something falling off a desk, and looked up.

Then looked again.

It-

It was Gibbs.

Frantically trying to clean up the cup of (black) coffee he had spilled by her desk.

She couldn't believe it.

She didn't know whether to cry, scream, or jump.

So she didn't. She got back in the elevator, hit the down button, and, when she got to the ground floor, walked outside. She found a bench, and sat.

And looked up at the sky, and tried to understand for a while.

About three minutes later, she saw Gibbs walking towards her.

He sat down on the bench next to her, and didn't talk.

She blinked, and opened her mouth.

"So. It was you."

"Yeah."

Gibbs cleared his throat.

"Is that a bad thing?"

Jenny looked away, back at the sky. "No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know."

"Well. I don't either, actually."

Jenny closed her eyes briefly. "It's just a bit dumbfounding, you know? Mr. Gruff doing something this sweet."

Gibbs looked at the sky, following the direction she had been looking. "You know, Jen? I've never heard anybody use that word in a sentence before."

Jenny smiled.

Gibbs looked at her. "And I haven't got a clue what it means."

"But what I do know, Jen, is that I was just trying to say hello."

Jenny looked at him, and smiled. She raised a hand, and waved.

"Hello."

Gibbs waved back.

"Hi."

***JIBBS***

A/N: SO that was pleasantly fluffy and rather cute. I'm a bit on the fence as to whether I like it or not. But anyway, thanks a million to everyone who read this!

Reviews are marvelous, constructive criticism is wonderful, and words for these chapters are very much needed.

Thanks! :-)