AN: This is a very short one-shot I've been chewing on since "Devil's Triangle." I'm feeling saddened by all the "Shannon was the only one" references since I firmly believe Jenny was the other "only one," and so this exists. (To those of you reading my story Too Much, don't be angry with me for posting a one-shot during a cliffhanger. This has been written for weeks.) I'm not usually a fan of the present tense so lend me your thoughts.
Disclaimer: The very existence of "Judgment Day" proves that I am not in charge of NCIS.
Still A Chance
"You're my Shannon, Leroy." She turns to leave, but he doesn't want her to go. Not yet.
"You'll find someone, Diane." The words are hoarse, and he's not sure they're the right ones. But he knows if he lets her leave now he'll probably never talk to her again, never get a chance to set her right. Diane smiles sadly again, the way she did when she was talking just a moment ago.
"Don't bother lying, Leroy." And that's when he realizes she doesn't believe him, because she doesn't know. He always thought she did, but, he thinks, sometimes you're wrong.
"I did." He didn't want to tell Diane about her. He doesn't like to talk about her at all. But now Diane is looking at him and he knows he's not going get away with just that.
"Her name was Jenny."
"The Jenny?" Of course, Diane met her. That was why he thought she knew. He nods, though, it's so small he's not sure she can see it.
"What happened?" She left me, but then she came back. She came back and maybe if I'd done things right we could have had another chance, but I didn't and then...
"She died." A look passes over Diane's face, and that look is the reason he never tells anyone. Because those people who only get by because they still believe in second chances, in some shred of hope in the world, in love being more than once in a lifetime, they are only discouraged to hear that the love of your life can die twice.
"Leroy, I-"
"Don't. Victor's your Jenny, Diane. Don't let him go." He doesn't watch her leave. And just like all the time they were married, Diane knows that his mind, like his heart, is somewhere else.