For once, he knocked. Leroy Jethro Gibbs knocked on the front door of the Georgian town house. Noemi knew the only person who didn't use the bell was him, although he didn't knock either, usually. She also knew he would continue to knock until someone answered. She opened the door to find Gibbs stood, waiting.
"Senor Gibbs, come in." Noemi had worked for Jenny for a long time and knew of the denied love between the pair. She also knew that Jen needed Gibbs, but wouldn't admit so.
"Where's Jen?" Gibbs asked, peering into the vacant study.
"The Director is resting, Senor Gibbs. Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you, Noemi." Gibbs replied before making his way up the stairs. He was the only person Noemi would allow to do so.
Gibbs looked through a slightly open door to see Jennifer laid in bed, seemingly sleeping. He sat on the bed's edge and reached to push her hair out of her face (she had grown it long again, how he had always loved it.) Her eyes opened suddenly, her hand beneath her pillow.
"Ziva tell you to keep a gun under your pillow?" Gibbs asked?
"No harm in protecting one's self, Jethro." replied Jen.
"The Jenny I know doesn't feel the need to keep a gun under her pillow in her own home." Gibbs made eye contact with Jenny.
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think?" rolled off Jenny's tongue without thought.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Gibbs.
"Nothing, Jethro, just…" Jenny rolled over, wincing slightly. She didn't want to be facing Gibbs, who had witnessed the wince and was growing concerned. "I feel vulnerable."
The pair fell silent for several lingering minutes.
"Jen, I wish you would talk to me, tell me what's going on, please?" Gibbs disturbed the silence, running his fingers through her hair. "I'm worried about you, Jen."
She rolled onto her back and sat herself up a little, with some effort.
She called out "Noemi." who soon appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, Senora?"
"Could you fetch me a glass of water, please, and a bourbon for Jethro?" Jenny asked.
Noemi did as she was asked, soon returning with the glass of water and bourbon. She placed both on the bedside cabinet.
"Thank you, Noemi." Jenny said, before Noemi left the pair alone again.
"Jethro, could you pass me my medication, please. It's in the top drawer." Jenny asked.
He did so in silence, before waiting for Jen to take it. She passed the bottle of pills back to him when she was done and he put it away before looking at her as if to say "well?"
"You'll need this, Jethro." Jenny said, passing him the glass of bourbon.
He took it from her and placed it back down on the bedside cabinet.
"I think I'll go without." He said, and so, she began.
As he learnt of her illness, he took off his shoes and moved beside her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. For once, he was a man and he knew exactly what to do.