NCIS: Best Shots

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Precious Time

I don't want to argue about who is the victim

'Cause maybe we both got burned

I don't want to talk about who is the traitor

'Cause both of our loyalties turned

I don't want to fight about who is the liar

'Cause there's too many ways to lie

I don't want to hear about who is the winner

'Cause we both know it's a tie

Jennifer Sheppard, the director of NCIS, stood facing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs with her hands on her hips. Currently, the two of them were in another argument and, frankly, Jenny was sick of it. She didn't want to argue about who was the victim, because both she and Gibbs had been burned—maybe. Nor did she want to talk about which of them was the traitor, 'cause both of their personal loyalties had turned. Jen also didn't want to fight about who was the liar: there were simply too many ways to lie. Gibbs had a rule about that, but right now the redheaded lady director didn't care. She also didn't want to hear about who was the winner in their latest clash of wills 'cause they both knew it was a tie.

Cut it out, drop it

Count me out, Baby, stop it

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Why couldn't Gibbs drop it? Count me out, Jen thought, Baby, stop it.

Life was too short, so why were they wasting precious time by constantly bickering?

You were on a liquid diet, you were sure you had to try it

And you lost all your pounds

The doctor's on vacation, so you took the medication

And wound up in lost and found

So we took that trip to Paris'cause you swore that it would scare us out of our swift decline

All that I remember 'bout those days in that September is the merci and the wine

Recently, the team leader had been on a liquid diet. He'd been so sure he had to try it, and he lost all his pounds. The doctor was on vacation, so Jethro took the medication. He'd wound up in lost and found.

Years ago, the two of them had taken that trip toParispartly because of the op, but also because Gibbs swore that it would scare them out of their swift decline. All that Jenny remembered 'bout those days in that September was the merci, the wine, and, of course, making love whenever they could.

Cut it out, drop it

Count me out, Baby, stop it

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Precious Time, Precious Time, oh Precious Time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Why couldn't they just drop things that would be better forgotten? For that matter, why waste precious time when life was too short? Director Sheppard had no idea, and she was pretty sure Gibbs didn't either.

The redhead hated to admit it, but he had a way of cutting it out when she wanted him too—as long as it was on his own terms.

Gibbs glared at his ex-lover. "Can I go now?"

"Sure. You do what you want anyway."

You talk on the telephone

Long distance to New York or Rome

Some would say you got it made

Your home is like a fortress

No one comes in but the florist

The gardener, and the maid

You call me on the telephone

You say you feel so alone

Too tired to get dressed and get out

First you're happy, then you're sad

Somehow you always hang up mad

Excuse me if I shout

Later, Director Sheppard was at home, relaxing, and on a long distance phone call to her people inNew York. Some would say she had it made, seeing as her house was like a fortress (as was Gibbs's). No one came in but the florist, the gardener, and the maid.

Finishing up her phone call, Jenny was about to put the phone back when it rang again. She hesitated before answering, "Yes?"

"Hello, Jen," Jethro said over the phone.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"Any chance you could come over?"

"Let me guess: you're too tired to get dressed and get out."

"Actually, yes. We've had a tough day, as you know very well." He sounded sad for some odd reason.

"I'm sorry, Jethro, but I can't."

"Why not, Director?" he asked sarcastically. Now he was starting to become mad.

The redhead exploded. "Excuse me if I shout, but I don't seem to recall my life revolving around you and vice versa!" she shouted.

He hung up, obviously still mad. Somehow, he always did after talking to her.

Cut it out, drop it

Count me out, Baby, stop it

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time

Precious Time, Precious Time, Precious Time

Life is too short, so why waste precious time