Fic Title: Ghosts of the Past
Author: I Love NASCAR
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Jibbs, brief Gibbs/Hollis, slight Tony/Other
Feedback: please
Disclaimer: The only profit I receive from this story is the feedback you provide. All creative rights to the characters belong to DB, not me. (Except Shelby & Bella which I'll take full credit for. ;) )
Summary: A ghost from the past returns.
Chapter 1
Jenny Shepherd sat in her car, watching the blonde play with the little girl in the swimming pool, watching the girl laugh as her parents splashed each other with the water. She hated to get out, hated to interrupt the obviously private family moment, but finally did, approaching the gate, hearing the dog bark, announcing her arrival.
"Jenny!" Shelby Gibbs waved from the pool, pretending to be angry when Tony DiNozzo splashed her again, laughing as she called a truce.
Jenny managed a half-smile, glad that Tony seemed to be getting over his ex-girlfriend, spending more and more time with his best friend and daughter these days. She still felt awkward around him though, knowing she could have gotten him killed on the 'mission'. Shelby seemed to understand and looked at DiNozzo, who nodded. "C'mon, Bella." He picked the little girl up, putting her on his shoulders. "Let's go get some Kool-Aid. Jenny, do you want anything?"
The redhead shook her head. "Thank you," she said softly, almost unheard.
Shelby climbed out of the pool, wrapping a towel around her for warmth, the coolness of the pool a sharp contrast to the warmth of the day. "I didn't mean to interrupt. You looked like you were having fun."
"It was. You should try it some time." Jenny had just begun to heal from the whole Frog experience and then something, Shelby wasn't sure what, went wrong.
"Can we talk?" Jenny asked, not removing the sunglasses over her eyes.
"Sure." They moved to the porch swing, Shelby sitting on one side, Jenny on the other, Shelby's focus squarely on her friend, Jenny looking anywhere but at Shelby. "Jenny."
"I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't have come."
Shelby moved her hand on top of Jenny's. "Jen. What's going on? Are you okay?"
Jenny removed her sunglasses, allowing Shelby to see how red her eyes were. "No." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Gary Davidson."
Shelby closed her eyes, finding her breath caught in her throat, squeezing Jenny's hand slightly before opening her eyes. "Jen."
"I started seeing him again. At NCIS, outside my home, in parking garages…I thought it was just stress. Then the phone calls started. No ID shown, no one on the other end, no dial tone, just nothing." Shelby nodded, holding her hand, just listening. "Today I got this." She took the piece of paper out, smoothing it out, handing it to Shelby, who read it, her eyes growing wide. "He's out. He's out of jail and no one bothered to tell me. It hasn't even been ten years."
"Have you told Jethro?" Jenny's only answer was to shake her head. "You have to tell him. And Tony. Ziva. Someone who can protect you."
"I can protect myself." Shelby looked hesitant, doubtful. "I used to be an NCIS agent. I know how to shoot. And if he comes near me, I don't intend to miss."
"Jenny, you can't do that. You have to tell Jethro. You have to. Please." She could still remember how awful the last time had been, how close they'd come to losing her. "Please."
"Okay," Jenny lied, knowing she'd never tell him. "I just…I needed to tell someone."
Shelby nodded, brushing some of her still wet hair behind her ear. "Stay. Stay the night. Don't go back to your place. We're just going to have hamburgers, watch a movie, and then you and I can stay up and talk."
Jenny sensed someone watching her and turned to see Bella standing on the other side of the patio door, watching them. "I can't."
"Then call Ziva. Go to a movie, to the mall, anything. Just…don't go home by yourself."
"I'm not going to drink," Jenny lied again, sensing that Shelby was frightened for her. "There's no reason why I can't go home. Noemi's there…I'll have Matt stay overnight. I'll be perfectly safe."
Shelby sensed she was fighting a losing battle. "Call me?"
Jenny nodded. "I will."
Tony walked outside and watched Jenny leave, sensing something very bad was happening. "Is she okay?"
Shelby shook her head. "No."
