Title: It Ain't All Roses
Author: NickyK
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them.
Summary: A misunderstanding causes a rift between Jenny and Gibbs.
A/N: I wrote this story while at work listening to one of my favorite artist, Mary J. Blige, which is also where the title of this story comes from. I do hope you enjoy (b/c it was written in just a couple of hours). Thanks in advance for reading. Now I'm off to finally read everything I've been missing!!
Chapter 1
Their voices were angry, though no one could really make out what they were saying. It didn't matter. The tone was enough to transcend the privacy of the Director's office and out to the bullpen where the staff cringed at every muffled word. Cynthia, the Director's assistant, who just happened to sit right outside the Director's office, bolted from her seat for fear that she would soon be scolded by the heated words flung between the Direct and her star agent, Jethro Gibbs.
His team, which consisted of Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo, Timothy McGee and Ziva David, stared at each other in growing horror, each coming to the realization that this would not end well-for them or the parties inside that office.
"What the hell happened between yesterday and today?" Ziva hissed.
Tony flinched as their voices grew louder. "I don't know. I was just about to ask you that."
Everybody froze as the door opened and then slammed shut again.
"Uh…think we need Ducky?" asked McGee.
"It's alright, dear boy, I'm already here," said Dr. Mallard (Ducky) as he rounded the corner and stood in front of Tim's desk.
"Don't tell me you can hear them all the way in autopsy?" Tony asked, stunned.
"No…no. It's as quiet as a morgue down there," Ducky assured him. "It was Cynthia who alerted me. It seems she was quite certain that the two of them would end up killing each other." He turned his attention to the Director's door. "How long have they been at it?" he asked.
"At least half an hour, Ducky," said Ziva. "I'm surprise that Jenny has let this go on."
"Or that Gibbs hasn't stormed out of her office yet," muttered Tony.
"Indeed," Ducky agreed. He sighed, debating whether he should face the wrath of two of the most temperamental and stubborn people he knew or stay out of it and let the staff suffer a little longer. Of course, he knew something the others didn't; however, that was quickly going to change it they continued on the way they were.
"Wish me luck," said Ducky, starting toward the stairs.
"You're not going up there?" McGee asked incredulously.
Ducky shot him a look and continued on his way. The three of them stared at his back; each thinking of Ducky's bravery as he ascended the stairs.
He could hear them clearer now as he neared the door. He considered turning back; it just wasn't worth his life to step in between these two when they got like this. But he couldn't very well let them continue. They were at work after all. He turned the knob slowly, half hoping it was locked. It wasn't. He sighed in disappointment, slipping inside taking in the scene. They stood in front of her desk, anger radiating from them both, slinging words sharper than the tools he used to autopsy with. He cleared his throat to get their attention but it had no effect. Rolling his eye, he opened the door and slammed it hard. They both jumped, glaring at him as if they could tear him apart.
"Well, that's certainly more like it."
"What can I do for you Dr. Mallard?"
Director Shepard's voice was as cold as her eyes.
"You can lower your voices and remember where you are," Ducky told her unperturbed by her cool reception. "Do you both realize the entire office can hear you out there?"
"He started it."
"She started it."
They said in unison.
"What is this all about?" Ducky asked gently, still keeping vigil by the doorway.
"He's being pigheaded."
"She's being stubborn."
Both turned to glare at each other.
"He accused me of cheating," she told Ducky as if it were the most ludicrous thing she'd ever heard.
"She went out on a date," he shouted back, the words intended for Ducky but directed at the Director, "with a married man, no less."
"How many times do I have to tell you, it was not a date? You're being impossible about this and making something out of nothing."
Oh dear, thought Ducky, realizing he'd lost control of the conversation-if he'd ever had it.
"You're my wife," he shouted loudly. "I'm supposed to make a big deal out of some man buying you flowers and inviting you to dinner."
"Say it a little louder, Jethro, I'm sure the rest of the world didn't hear it."
"Maybe I want them to!"
She stared wide-eyed at him. "Is that what this is about? Wanting to claim me?" she asked in disbelief.
Ducky watched as Jethro seemed to shrink before his very eyes. He stared at Jenny, chest still heaving from the angry exchange but his face was pained as he spoke to her. His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
"Maybe it is, Jen. Maybe watching you flirt and dine with a man the way you did last night, a man who wasn't me, made me want to tell the world you're mine. Is that so bad?"
She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off, his tone hardening once again.
"But maybe that's not what you want, huh Jen? Being somebody's wife takes you off the market, makes you unavailable, and makes you accountable. You want to flirt with Senators; use your womanly wiles to get your way, be my guest. But I'm not going to sit around and play the fool why you do," he spat at her, oblivious to the tears gathering in her eyes.
"You want out, Jen, just say the word."
A sob escaped her and she turned away.
Ducky stepped forward, fury written all over his face. "Not another word, Jethro," he warned the younger man. "Maybe you should go before you say something else you're going to regret."
Jethro looked at him and Ducky could see the regret already settling in. The damage; however, was done. He heard the Director's quiet sniffling behind him and knew it was only a matter of time before she built up her walls and buried her pain. Ducky needed to reach her before she did because if he didn't, it would be much harder to fix this.
Jethro tried to approach but Ducky shook his head.
Not now, he mouthed to the man as his own anger dispersed at the look of realization on Gibbs' face.
Gibbs nodded. He turned and walked out, the closing behind him with a final click.