A/N: This story has been at the back of my mind for a while now. It's a side story while I try and figure out what to do for Good Things Come to Those Who Wait. It's set somewhere in the beginning to middle of season 5.
*Disclaimer*: I don't own the characters, only the plot
Heather Shepard sat in her living room, watching her younger sister on T.V. She was often amazed that her younger sister was the first female director of a federal agency, and that she was so loved by the media.
However, the image that was being conveyed in front of her was so different to how she remembered her. She used to look so happy and care-free; but now she looked stressed, tired and their was a hint of something else.
Sorrow?
She couldn't tell over the television screen, but she knew that there was something up with her.
When they were growing up, she was used to Jenny hiding behind a tough facade, but a person shouldn't have to live like that. She should be able to confront her problems, and she needed someone to help her.
And the task could only be undertaken by someone who knew her sister very well. Herself.
She had been meaning to go and visit her sister since she moved back to America, and now she had a perfect excuse.
She got up from the couch, and headed over to family computer to find the earliest flight to Washington D.C from L.A.X. She decided that the 0600 hour flight tomorrow morning would be perfect.
She would break the news to her boyfriend later. She knew that he would understand, especially since he had a major international business contract that he was trying to focus on. Without her there, he could solely focus on it, and establishing their future together,
After confirming her flights, she went upstairs to pack her bag. She didn't know how long she would be there for, but she knew that the trip wasn't going to be short.
Since she owned her own online website, selling clothes over the internet, business was able to be managed from wherever she was. Her assistant was more than able to cover for her growing business while she was away.
She threw in a bunch of long-sleeved shirts, jeans and jackets. Washington DC was always colder than California, especially in Autumn. If she needed any other clothing items, she knew Jenny would let her borrow them.
Then next step in her impromptu vacation was to call her mother. She needed someone to watch her dog and water her plants; she didn't want to burden Chris.
With all her arrangements set in place, she was ready to sleep.
The flight to Washington DC was nice and relaxing. At this time of morning, the majority of people headed out were business people. There was no noisy children to disturb the other passengers.
Heather just sat in chair, listening to music and reading this month's issue of 'Vogue' magazine.
She had decided last night, while trying to sleep, that she would surprise her sister by showing up at her office, unannounced. She couldn't say no that way. And getting into NCIS was sure to be east. She looked freakishly like her sister, only she was taller and had blue eyes, not green. Security would be a breeze.
Jenny had had a frustrating day so far. She had spent half the night in MTAC, trying to cover up a blown operation over in Africa, resulting in the loss of several month's intelligence and a leak stemming from one of the teams over there. It was a nightmare. And Sec Nav was not happy about the situation.
And to make matters worse, she had been fighting with Jethro this morning over a case. His gut was telling him that the wife had murdered her husband, but all the evidence pointed to the wife's lover. He simply did not have enough evidence for a conviction.
Their conversation resulted in him storming out of her office, slamming her door on the way out.
To say that she was exhausted was an understatement. She needed a break from all the stress and pressures that came with the job. And unfortunately the best way to relieve these pressures was through something that she was not able to access.
Due to her busy schedule and security detail, it was impossible for her to meet guys. She couldn't just pick up a guy in the bar.
The one person that she really did love, and want to spend her time with, would not even look at her if he didn't need to. Her actions throughout the past couple of months, with the La Grenouille case, and using Tony in an unorthodox mission, had put a massive strain in their already awkward relationship. And that was without acknowledging their past in Paris.
Like many times throughout the past couple of months, Jenny had been questioning whether leaving Jethro in Paris had been a good idea. She loved her job, but she loved having someone to look after her and support her more. If only she could repair the damage that she had inflicted….
She was bought out of her reverie by Cynthia, who had gone out and bought her lunch. Lunch! The majority of the day had already passed her by, and he had barely covered any of the work that really needed doing.
She thanked Cynthia, and started eating her lunch while skim reading case files that had to be signed off.
It couldn't have been more than half an hour when there was another knock to her door. She called,
"Come in."
And in stepped a red-headed lady. Doing a double-take, she realised that her older sister Heather was standing in front of her.
Her face light up with a bright smile. She was glad for the company. And judging by the size of the suitcase, she planned on staying for a while.
The look of happiness that spread across her younger sister's face only confirmed that she was correct in flying out to DC.
She moved towards her younger sister, enveloping her in a hug.
"It's been forever Jenny," she whispered in her ear.
"It's been too long," Jenny replied.
Taking a step backwards, Heather started to study her sister. She looked absolutely tired, and stressed. And there was definitely something hiding behind the many layers of Jennifer Shepard; she just needed to identify what it was, and how she could amend it.
"Hope you don't mind, but I needed a break from California so I decided to visit," Heather said casually. Jenny was not someone who would readily accept help from anyone, even her.
"Of course," Jenny replied, "I have no meeting this afternoon, so why don't I pack up my paper work and we can head over to my house."
"Sounds perfect," Heather replied.
Jenny quickly packed up her belongings before the sound of her door being thrown wide opened caught them off guard.
Heather jumped, caught off guard by this sudden occurrence.
Jenny just shrugged it off.
Heather could feel an invisible tension within the room. Hostility wasn't the right word to describe it.
"Special Agent Gibbs," Jenny said warily. Heather caught the look shared between the two agents. The emotion she saw in her sister was definitely sorrow. And it hadn't been there moments before.
She could tell that it was more of a sexually-charged tension; or a lack of it…. A love interest of her sisters? But why the sorrow?
"Director," he acknowledged. He then turned to Heather and said, "Gibbs."
"It's nice to meet you Gibbs, I'm Heather," she said with one her happiest smiles she could muster She was trying to suss out the issue between the two agents. Out of the corner of her eye, she could tell that Jenny was not happy with the amount of attention she was receiving from the incredibly handsome special agent. She deducted that personal feelings where definitely involved here.
Gibbs flashed her an uncharacteristic smile before turning to Jenny once again.
"I just thought you should know, but we have arrested the Petty Officer's wife on murder, she confessed to killing him after we found the murder weapon and hidden CCTV footage."
Jenny just nodded in response.
Gibbs then turned and left the office.
Heather watched him leave, admiring his firm butt. Jenny stood from the other side of her desk, resenting the attraction that her former partner had been showing her sister.
Heather had been in DC for less than an hour, and she already knew what, or whom. was bothering her sister. A plan started to formulate in her head. First on her agenda was to figure out what Jenny's feelings were, and what was between the two agents.
A/N: Do you like it? Should I continue? Feedback please xx