Primetime Love

Chapter Eleven: Gibbs

The next morning, Gibbs was awake long before Lia. He suspected this was due to all the bourbon the night before. Figuring she'd need it when she awoke, he brewed the strongest pot of coffee that he was capable of brewing before going and finding a bottle of Excedrin in the medicine cabinet. He set the Excedrin on the bedside table before making himself a cup of coffee and going out to sit on the back porch steps.

It was almost noon when Lia finally wandered into the back yard where Gibbs was just finishing mowing the lawn. She was dressed in black yoga pants, a baggy white t-shirt, had her hair piled up on top of her head in a messy bun and was clutching a cup of coffee like it was a lifeline. She looked so rough it was cute.

"Mornin', sweetheart," he abandoned his lawnmower next to the porch and jogged up the steps to give her a quick kiss. "How ya feeling?"

"Like I drank too much, spent all night dreaming about being chased by Jackie Gleason except this time he was driving the firebird and was acting like his Honeymooners character, and finally woke up feeling like Woody Woodpecker is pecking at my brain and the Titanic is sinking in my stomach." She said all of that with that special monotone voice that only comes with a hangover.

Gibbs chuckled. "I'm sorry," he kissed her cheek before sitting down in one of the wooden patio chairs. "I left some Excedrin on the bedside table for you."

"I found it." She took a seat on his lap, not seeming to care that he was sweaty and smelled like grass. "I took three before I came out here." She brought her mug to her lips and gulped about half it's contents. "Thanks, babe." She leaned her head back against his shoulder.

Gibbs was cognizant of the fact that she had just used a pet name for him for the first time. "No problem, sweetheart." He kissed her temple. "Is there anything that you want to do today?"

"I want to go to the farmer's market in Georgetown," Lia lifted her head and turned to look at him. "I want to make you dinner tonight."

"Lia, you don't have to if you're not feeling up to it," he nuzzled her cheek.

"I'll be fine," she assured him with a kiss. "I just need to take a shower while I wait for the pills to kick in." She drained the rest of her coffee and set her mug on the wooden table beside them. "I may be a lightweight but I did spend half of my childhood in Hollywood and I went to college. I know how to cure a hangover."

Gibbs laughed. "If you want to go, we'll go, sweetheart, though I should probably shower too." The arm that wasn't around her gestured to his grass and sweat-stained jeans and t-shirt. "Why don't you go first? I'll put the lawnmower away and take one after you."

"Counteroffer," Lia smirked mischievously. "I'll wait while you put the lawnmower away and then we can shower together."

Gibbs was speechless for a moment before he found his voice. "Are you sure, Lia?" He was not accepting the offer if she wasn't. The last time she had suggested something like this she had only done it because she was trying to please him.

"100% positive," she teasingly kissed his chin. "Please?"

Gibbs smirked. "Give me two minutes to put away the lawnmower," he kissed her quickly and pushed her to stand from his lap.