NCIS imagines

Gibbs snapping at you a little while after getting shot in the shoulder by Ari

"Jethro, you can't keep beating yourself up over this. We'll get him," I cried, watching the special agent repeatedly watch the last footage captured of the terrorist from a couple weeks ago, as the database ran pictures against the still we had gotten.

"And how do you know that, Mae?" He questioned angrily, turning to me with a stormy expression on his face. "He got away. He's a terrorist. He can hide, avoid us."

I was stunned. Jethro had never turned on me like that before, and I never wanted it to happen again. Tight lipped, I got up from my seat in MTAC, and sulked out, the anxiety starting to chew at me from the inside. I wanted him to follow me, but I knew if that happened I would completely break down over what just happened.

I got to my desk just as Tony and McGee got back from field work. Grabbing my gun, I pushed the holster clip onto my belt, and picked up my backpack. No use hanging around if I couldn't do anything to help. I strode to the elevator and slammed the button for the lower levels.

"Mae, what's up?" DiNozzo asked as I walked off.

I ignored the questions as I stepped into the elevator and pressed the close door button.

*Jethro's POV*

I don't know why I snapped at Mae like that. I guess I'm just stressed out too much over this case. My shoulder ached where he shot me, and I sat down with a sigh in MTAC, pressing the spot to help with the pain.

This was the first time I've actually loved a woman like this, and I didn't want to ruin it. I was afraid that she wouldn't forgive me for this, that she would want to leave me. I couldn't leave it like this.

Back in the bullpen, I found the team. "I'm heading off for a couple hours, keep working on the case."

"Got it, boss," McGee shot back.

"Mae seemed pretty upset when she left a little while ago," DiNozzo called after me.

"I know, DiNozzo, it's my fault. Now get back to work!"

*Mae's POV*

I wanted so much to make the hurt and anxiety go away. I wanted to feel normal again, to go back to when I was younger and not have these feelings.

Pulling over, about halfway home, I couldn't keep the tears back any longer. With my hazards on, I leaned over the steering wheel and let the sobs roll out of my body in waves.

A few minutes later there was a knock on the driver's side window. Without looking up, I knew who it was. Jethro. I reached down to the key fob and unlocked the car. He pulled the door open and I managed to push myself out of the seat.

"I'm so sorry, please forgive me," he pleaded, pulling me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist, glad he found me. I just kept crying into his shirt, shoulders shaking.

"Please, don't do that again, Jethro. It's been eating at me since that night you got shot. I don't want this to drive you to something you'll regret," I cried, a hand sliding gently to his right shoulder, over the injury. His hand covered mine, gripping tight.

Looking into his eyes, I realized something. He was trying to protect me, and by doing that, he hurt me, and he wanted to fix that. He wanted to fix the pain he just caused. And thinking, I realized something else. He never felt this way about any of his ex wives, except maybe Shannon. He still missed her.

"I have food. Let's go home and eat, and then maybe go back to the Navy Yard. Are you ok to drive?"

I nodded, getting a soft kiss before I got back behind the wheel.