Disclaimer: I don't own it!
Author's Note: Thanks for the awesome reviews, and if a man is willing to dye your hair, it's probably true love...we meet somebody else in this chapter and it was so fun to write!
"Fine..." Jenny sighed heavily as Jethro got out of the tub.
"Might as well get it done and over with." Jethro mused, although he hated what was about to transpire just as much as Jenny did.
"Wait, have you done this before?" Jenny asked as she wrapped a towel around herself.
"No, of course not, but I bet I can get it evenly...it's got to be hard to get the back." Jethro said.
"Actually, the roots are the worst." Jenny said through gritted teeth.
"Plus...I don't want you getting any chemicals in your hand." Jethro added as Jenny sat on the edge of the tub and let the water drain.
"That's sweet of you." Jenny leaned in and kissed Jethro on the lips as he ran the water in the sink.
"Comb?" Jethro asked.
"Vanity." Jenny pointed and Jethro retrieved the comb.
"Now just be careful...the dye stains everything." Jenny stressed the word everything as she said it and she noticed Jethro's sly smile.
"We ruined three towels the first time I dyed Faith's hair." Jenny explained as she rolled her eyes.
"Why not go to the salon?" Jethro asked.
"We were on our way to Frankfurt." Jenny said bluntly as Jethro patiently combed her hair.
"So Faith is your commander?" Jethro asked.
"More like a buddy...she's from the same stock as me...you know, military family, refused to be a nurse...joined the service to help the war effort. She does outrank me, but she's my best friend." Jenny explained.
"It's nice to have a friend." Jethro smiled as he said it, thinking of the Sheriff from back home who had become his best friend very quickly. Mike Franks was too old to enlist in the service to help the war effort, but he was back in the states, organizing scrap drives, dance-a-thons, and conducting air raid drills.
"Oh...that's strong..." Jethro mused as he opened the bottle of hair dye. The heavy scent of ammonia permeated the small bathroom. Instinctively Jethro propped open the bathroom door, providing some relief.
"Okay, now saturate the roots...and the scalp, then work your way down." Jenny directed as she sat patiently on the edge of the tub while Jethro's hands gently ran their way through her long red hair.
"Now what?" Jethro asked as he used the last of the dye on Jenny's hair.
"Let it sit for a half-hour then rinse." Jenny explained.
"That long?" Jethro asked bewildered.
"That long." Jenny rolled her eyes. The wait was always a nuisance...she couldn't leave the bathroom for fear the dye would drip.
"Let's re-wrap that hand." Jethro smiled as Jenny stood up from the edge of the tub and patiently allowed Jethro to clean and re-wrap her wounded hand.
"Thanks." Jenny said quietly as Jethro's gaze met hers.
"Anytime." Jethro replied as he kissed Jenny's bare shoulder.
"I don't get it." Jethro lamented as they waited a few more minutes until the dye could be washed.
"What?" Jenny asked.
"Benoit...he's French, the French are our allies, yet he's selling weapons to the enemy...if he's going to work the illegal arms trade shouldn't he sell to the Allied Forces?" Jethro asked.
"In a perfect world I suppose, but the Allies already have the weaponry they need, and they're not willing to pay Benoit's prices. He's an opportunist...charging high prices and selling weapons to those who want them the most." Jenny looked disgusted as she said it, and in fact Renne Benoit did disgust her. She had wondered the same thing.
"In a perfect world nobody would sell arms illegally, forge ration stamps, or go to war." Jethro said with heavy sigh as he glanced at his watch.
"It's time." Jethro said as Jenny leaned over the edge of the tub.
Jethro washed her hair thoroughly. He was astonished to see the bright coppery red he loved so much replaced by a shocking jet-black.
"Well...it's not the worst I've seen...but it's not the best." Jenny growled as she looked in the mirror.
"You still look beautiful to me." Jethro informed her, as he wrapped his arms around Jenny's waist in a tight hug.
"Bed." Jenny whispered softly.
Jethro couldn't disagree, he was exhausted, but knew there would be little if any sleeping once they got back to the attic, and he didn't mind one bit. This was the best exhaustion possible. Tomorrow would be an even longer day, heading to Russia and becoming acquainted with their new identities.
"Good morning." Jenny whispered in Jethro's ear with a delighted giggle. She loved waking up next to him, she hadn't felt like this in so long and she knew their hasty relationship was more meaningful than some other long-term relationships she had had in the past.
"Morning." Jethro whispered as he rolled over and brushed a lock of Jenny's now black hair out of her face.
Jenny felt a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Big day today." Jethro mused as he stood up and stretched.
"It is...let's get some breakfast." Jenny swung one long leg out of the bed and then another.
Just as she was pouring two glasses of milk to accompany their toast and applesauce Jenny was interrupted by a knock on the door. Jethro stood up from the table and instinctively put his hand on his hip.
"I'll answer it." Jenny said cheerily. Jethro didn't speak French, and depending on who it was Jenny didn't want to alarm anybody.
"Tim!" Jenny greeted happily as Tim McGee stood on the front porch in his uniform.
Jenny refrained from hugging McGee until he was inside the small home.
"This is for you two." McGee said with a grin as he set down a paper bag.
"And this..." McGee trailed off as he procured a yellow piece of paper from his pocket.
Jenny snatched the paper from McGee and glanced at it.
"Let's make a scene." Jenny said tersely as she followed McGee out to the porch.
There was only one reason why a drill raid officer would be visiting during the day, and that was to issue a fine.
"There is a war...and rationing where do you expect me to get new curtains?" Jenny yelled in French as McGee stood on the porch.
"Do what you must." McGee replied in flawless French.
"Fine." Jenny said as she narrowed her eyes and slammed the door as she made her way back into the house.
"What happened?" Jethro asked.
"He fined us for short curtains." Jenny explained with a small smile.
"Nice...now the neighbors have something to gossip about." Jethro teased, knowing that it had all been meant to distract from the true purpose of the meeting.
"Check this out!" Jenny exclaimed as she rummaged through the bag McGee had left.
"How did he manage?" Jethro asked wide-eyed as he stared at two chocolate bars.
"Somebody probably owed him a favor." Jenny replied knowingly.
"Let's save them for the train ride!" Jethro said happily knowing the trek to Russia would be a long one.
"Good idea." Jenny bit her lower lip as she agreed, trying to avoid the temptation of eating the chocolate right then.
"Even better than chocolate..." Jethro trailed off as he rummaged through the bag.
"Bourbon?" Jenny asked hopefully.
"Nope." Jethro said proudly as he held up two rolls of bandages a tube of ointment and a small vial of pills.
"Must be for your hand." Jethro added.
"I hope so...I don't need those pills though." Jenny said quickly, not wanting to seem weak.
"Well, that's fine...let's save them in case on of us should get hurt." Jethro quipped.
"Goodbye tiny house..." Jenny said sadly as Jethro shut the door. They were leaving in time to catch the noon train. They'd be in Russia by sundown, hopefully with no problems.
"It's filthy." Jethro whispered as they got on the train with the two small bags they had.
"Told you so." Jenny replied as she pouted her lower lip.
"Travel papers?" A uniformed guard barked as he made his way through the car.
Jenny and Jethro rummaged for their Russian documents.
"Very good." The guard replied after quickly glancing at the photos.
"Jen...sit over here." Jethro whispered. He wanted Jenny cuddling next to him, not sitting across the way.
"Thought you'd never ask." Jenny happily obliged Jethro's request, and much to his contentment she leaned her head on his shoulder. They both fell asleep quickly until the train screeched to a stop.
The guard shouted something in Russian and then French, and Jenny looked at Jethro. They were only facing a slight delay.
Gestapo slowly made their way through each car. A formidable presence in their khaki uniforms with orange armbands.
"Papers." Barked one guard.
Jethro held out both passports and looked at the Gestapo. He would have shot both men if he could have gotten away with such an act. They were despicable to say the very least.
The one man looked at Jenny curiously. She knew they were speaking Russian, and so she had no choice but to remain silent.
The older of the two guards looked at Jethro and spoke in a kinder tone, one Jenny hadn't expected a German soldier to possess.
Jethro replied in Russian, and glanced at Jenny. He reached for her good hand and held it gently in his.
The guards both said something in unison, Jethro gave a quick reply, and all three men howled in laughter. The one slapped Jethro on the back and they headed towards the rear of the train.
"What did they say?" Jenny whispered as the Gestapo exited their car.
"They wanted to know why you were so quiet...he saw fire in your eyes...thought you would be a tough woman to control." Jethro whispered back.
"And?" Jenny asked with a small grin.
"I told them you were mute, unable to speak after a childhood illness. I told them we have the perfect marriage...when I speak you're forced to listen." Jethro smirked as he said it.
Jenny rewarded his quick thinking and odd sense of humor with a punch to the arm.
"When you lie always be specific." Jethro whispered as Jenny rested her head back on his shoulder.
"It would explain me being able to hear but not speak." Jenny replied.
"Dinner?" Jethro asked about an hour later as he pulled the chocolate from his bag.
Jenny nodded as she watched the sun set over the country side that sped by.
As much as she wanted to tear the wrapper off and gorge herself on the sweet candy, Jenny refrained savoring each bite.
"Here we go." Jenny stifled a yawn to hide her exhaustion as the train jerked to a stop.
The line to get through customs was surprisingly short, and Jenny and Jethro were relieved that they didn't have to answer any questions.
"It's going to be a long walk." Jenny mused as she and Jethro headed out of the train station. It was warm enough Jenny decided happily.
"Temperature is good." Jethro said in a low voice, not wanting anyone around them to know they spoke English.
Jenny retrieved the address McGee had given them and they walked silently to the boarding house.
Jethro knocked on the front door twice.
"Coming!" A female voice yelled in Russian.
The door swung open, and a petite woman with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a pretty smile stared back at Jenny and Jethro. She was wearing a plain dress, and an apron. Her hair was neatly combed into a bun, and although Jenny knew the woman was younger than her, she looked older than she really was.
"May I help you?" The woman asked in stern Russian.
"My wife and I...have traveled this far...we are still far from home and we need a place to stay for the night." Jethro explained in his perfect Russian.
"Good thing you've arrived on my doorstep." The woman replied harshly as she glanced at her watch.
"Well come in already!" The woman exclaimed as Jenny and Jethro made their way into the home.
"Business has been slow this week I need the money up front." The woman added in Russian as she held out her hand.
Jethro placed a large sum of money in her hand, and she smiled appreciatively.
The woman locked the door and closed all the drapes in the front hall.
"Kate Todd...nice to meet you...I've been expecting you since yesterday...I've been excited to spend time with fellow Americans." Kate beamed as she said it, and held out her hand to and Jenny.
After the handshake Kate led them upstairs.
"How was the train ride?" Kate asked.
"We slept." Jethro said bluntly.
"I can't sleep on trains...I'm jealous." Kate smirked as she said it.
"Three rooms...I have one other boarder right now, but she's rarely here. You all share the bathroom at the end of the hall. My room is on the first floor. Breakfast at seven, lunch at noon, dinner at six. I suggest a good Christian couple like yourselves read the Bible every night." Kate pointed to the Bible on the small dresser in the room she was showing Jenny and Jethro.
"To keep up the context of marriage, you two will have to share a room. I apologize." Kate smiled as she said it. Decency and modesty were her forte and she felt so guilty that an unmarried man and woman were forced to share a small room.
Jenny stared at her shoes and avoided Jethro's gaze to avoid laughing.
"Do you two need to eat?" Kate asked realizing they had been on the train through dinner time.
"Something would be nice, but it's after midnight...don't go to the trouble." Jenny said politely.
"It's no trouble." Kate replied quickly.
Kate seemed content on the idea of caring for Jenny and Jethro, much like a mother hen. They followed her into the kitchen.
"How did you manage to get those?" Jethro asked as Kate pulled two ready made meals off the shelf in a pantry.
"Major Kerry dropped them off. He realized that even freeze-dried food is better than what I can get at the market right now." Kate said as she heated the meals up in their aluminum trays.
"How is Major Kerry?" Jethro asked.
"Good...strong as an ox, considering what happened." Kate blessed herself instinctively at the mention of her boyfriend's mishap.
"What happened?" Jenny inquired.
"He parachuted into enemy territory six months ago, he was tortured and poisoned. When his unit finally found him he was near death, but now you'd never know." Kate said it proudly as she handed her two guests their dinners.
"Not bad. Thanks Kate." Jenny said as she finished her pot roast.
"You're welcome. Now go to bed, and read the Bible like good Christians." Kate said as she glanced at the clock.
"Yes ma'am." Jethro gave Kate a mock salute and headed upstairs.
"Kate it was nice to meet you." Jenny said.
"Nice to meet you Jenny...but remember if anyone asks I'm Marina Ivanov." Kate replied.
"Yep...we're Olga and Sergei Popov." Jenny replied with a smile as she and Jethro headed upstairs.
"What are you doing?" Jethro asked as he came back into the bedroom. Jenny was lying in bed, holding the Bible in her hand.
"She was pretty adamant that we read this." Jenny said knowingly.
"Kate's always adamant about the Bible." Jethro quipped.
"You know Kate?" Jenny thought quickly, realizing they hadn't shook hands in the front hall.
"Yeah, Major Kerry and I go way back, that's how I know Kate." Jethro explained.
"She's religious?" Jenny pressed.
"Devout Catholic." Jethro replied quickly as he slid into bed next to Jenny.
"What can it hurt?" Jenny asked as she opened up the Bible.
They both gasped as a bookmark fluttered out.
"You were right...your instinct...it's dead on." Jethro smiled as he stared down at Kate's neat underlining of certain letters and words.
They read three chapters before looking up at one another, both with fear in their eyes. The mission had gone from dangerous to possibly deadly in a matter of seconds. The message in the Bible was clear. Infiltrate Benoit's group of distributors. It would be no easy task, possibly taking months to complete, but if they caught up to Renee it was worth the risk.
"Got it?" Jenny asked as she stood up, making sure Jethro had names and locations committed to memory.
Jenny took the Bible and slid it gently into a drawer in the dresser, piling it under her clothes. Although the risk of discovery was minimal Jenny knew they couldn't be careful.
"Goodnight." Jethro whispered as he snuggled under the covers and kissed Jenny.
"Night." Jenny whispered as she tried to ignore the fear she felt rising within her.
