CHAPTER 4

Over the next tense weeks Jenny spends all of her free time at the hospital. At first Andy showed no signs of life, but then one day, almost a month after his accident, he opened his eyes and showed signs of recognition. Now, after an additional three weeks he can blink his eyes when spoken to as a form of communication. His entire body is still paralyzed and the ventilator won't allow for speech. The doctors are optimistic about his progress and say he could still show improvement in weeks to come when the swelling around his spinal cord comes down. Jenny has taken it upon herself to be there for Andy because he has no other family.

Gibbs is very understanding about her time there, however they still had an investigation to run. That task, more and more fell on Young's shoulders while Gibbs was conducting the internal investigation of that night. Neither has mentioned the incident at the hospital on the night of Andy's accident.

From the suspect they were able to piece together a somewhat sketchy picture of how Andy's accident happened. Somehow he left his car and was walking northbound on a street one block over from the house they were watching. The suspect first saw him as he was getting out of the stolen car, which he parked away from the house. He wasn't going to take any chances of them linking the car to him or his house. The suspect was looking for a lighter when Andy walked by so he had asked him for a light. They stood talking for several minutes before it dawned on both of them who they were talking to.

Andy recognized the suspect at the same moment the suspect realized Andy was a Navy cop. The suspect ran and Andy chased him for several blocks. Andy hadn't gotten on the radio until they were several streets away, at which time the suspect realized he needed to hide. So he ran into the abandoned house that he has used as a hideout before. He knew the cellar stairs were steep, but Andy didn't and when he came racing down the steps after him in the pitch blackness, he stumbled and fell. The suspect thought Andy was dead so he had planned to hide out down there until the cops went away. Then he would sneak back home and leave Andy in the cellar, but then the canine picked up his scent and he got caught.

Jenny hasn't been able to get much out of Andy because his memory was still pretty vague about that night. The doctor tells her to be patient because every day his memory and his body will get stronger. Andy is able to answer some questions by blinking his eyes… once for no and twice for yes.

Jenny sits beside him on his bed, holding his hand as she does every day while she talks about the routine news from the office. It is hard having one-sided conversations every day so she tries to include him by asking simple questions he can answer. Keeping her tone positive for him, but inside her heart aches for this young man whose career is over.

She holds his hand up where he can see it as she gently asks, "Can you feel anything today?" He blinks his eyes once which means no. She sighs and smiles at him as she lowers his hand and soothes, "Well, I wouldn't worry, last week you couldn't even blink your eyes, remember?"

He blinks twice for yes and she smiles, even though she feels like crying. She jokes with him to lighten the mood. "Before you know it you'll be back to chasing all the girls again. Then I'll be wishing you were like this again, huh?"

He blinks his eyes once and she realizes there are tears forming in his eyes at this sad thought. She leans over and brushes back his hair from his brow as she softly comforts him. "I wouldn't really wish that. I want you back the way you were, kiddo. We just have to keep a positive outlook, all right?" He blinks twice through his own tears and she gently wipes his eyes with a cloth. "You're getting stronger every day and soon enough you'll be walking and talking again."

Again he blinks twice for yes and then his eyes move past her towards the doorway. She follows his gaze and sees Gibbs standing there watching them. She feels the familiar nervousness welling up inside her, but controls it as she calmly greets him. "Agent Gibbs. We were just discussing how soon Andy will be ready for active duty again. He says he'll be back next week, but I think it's gonna be at least two weeks yet."

"Gotta agree with your boss, Andy. I think we can hold down the fort for a while. How you feeling today?" Andy blinks twice which also means good. Gibbs sits on the opposite edge of his bed and pats him on the chest. "Good. You know, I asked the doctor if there was any chance you could be faking this."

Andy looks worried as his eyes go from Gibbs's to Jenny's and then back. She also looks confused as she looks at Gibbs uncertainly. Gibbs smiles and continues, "Told him a lady's man like you would do just about anything to keep this one sitting here by your bedside day after day holding your hand. Hell, I might be tempted to fake it myself."

Andy's eyes light up and they can tell he thinks this is funny. He can't laugh, but his breathing increases as his eyes glitter with amusement. He looks at Jenny and blinks twice quickly as he heartily agrees. Jenny blushes and tries to cover her embarrassment by lifting his hand up where he can see it again. "I know what you're thinking, mister, but your hand is the only thing I have ahold of."

Again Andy's eyes glitter happily and Gibbs laughs out loud. At his deep, warm laughter a familiar thrill runs down her spine. Their eyes meet over Andy and her eyes darken like before. For an endless moment when they are lost in this gaze while Andy looks from one to the other curiously. Jenny finally breaks the trance. "Don't worry Andy. I don't care how good he pretends… I'd rather be here with you."

Andy blinks twice and Gibbs doesn't miss the hidden message directed at him. She is still angry with him about the investigation. He sighs heavily and keeps up the playful front for Andy's sake. "Guess you get her all to yourself, buddy."

She glares at him in silent warning and he merely returns her gaze innocently, but then winks and she finds herself blushing as she suddenly stands up, desperate to get away from him. "I… I'm gonna go stretch my legs for a bit while you two guys talk."

They watch her leave and when Gibbs looks back to Andy he sees one eyebrow raised suggestively. Gibbs grins and again pats his chest as he quietly agrees, "Know exactly what you mean. Hey, Andy, you feel up to answering some questions about that night?" Andy blinks twice, wishing desperately he could talk. Gibbs begins to ask him about the night of his accident.

"Okay, did you see something that caused you to go on foot?" Andy blinks once. "Were you looking for something?" Again, one blink of his eyes. "Were you looking for the other agents?" Another single blink. Gibbs sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly as he tries to hide his frustration.

He finally looks down at this young agent and asks, "What… were you just out walking for the hell of it?" Andy blinks twice and Gibbs feels hope that he is finally getting somewhere. "Were you tired?" One blink again. "Were you bored?" Andy blinks twice, then looks down as if embarrassed to admit this.

"And you ran into our suspect?" He blinks twice again. "Why didn't you tell anyone you were out on foot? Scratch that, you can't answer that one." Andy quickly blinks his eyes several times as if to say he can answer it. Gibbs thinks for a moment and then rephrases his question into a yes or no format. "Did you tell someone?" He blinks once. "Were you doing something you shouldn't?" This time his eyes blink hard, one time. "Then what? Were you looking for trouble?"

Andy again blinks twice and then looks away, ashamed. Gibbs watches him for some time and sees a tear roll down Andy's cheek. Andy knows what he did was stupid and now he'll be paying for it for the rest of his life. Gibbs sighs heavily and waits until Andy has calmed down before he continues. "You were trying to work this case?" Andy blinks twice through his tears. "Trying to bring it together and it backfired when you chased that guy down the steps."

This last statement isn't a question, but Andy blinks twice in answer, confirming what Gibbs already suspected. Andy refuses to look at Gibbs now as more tears roll down his cheeks and Gibbs sighs heavily as he comforts him. "Christ Andy, we've all done it… just rotten luck to have it end this way. You did solve the case though and we got the guys... but at what cost to you?"

Andy blinks twice and the tears roll freely down his face now as his eyes come up to meet his boss's. Gibbs knows his career is over and feels sad, but tries to keep a positive front as he smiles gently. "At least you got the girl... to have that woman so devoted..."

Andy's eyes glitter through his tears and Gibbs wipes his cheeks with a corner of the blanket. After several minutes he seriously adds, "Andy, don't worry about what's done. You need all your energy for getting better, okay?"

He again blinks twice and their eyes hold for a long moment as a special bond forms between them. After that they sit quietly until Andy finally drifts off into an exhausted sleep. When he is sure Andy is asleep he slips out of the room to find Agent Shepard.

He finds her sitting on a bench at the end of the hallway, staring out the large window. She is gazing at the trees, but a million miles away and doesn't hear him approach. She is startled when he sits on the bench beside her and tenses at his nearness. She starts to get up when he exhales tiredly and pleads for her company.

"Don't go…"

The pain in his voice stops her and she realizes he is upset. They sit for a long time just staring straight ahead, next to each other, but miles apart. Gibbs doesn't speak and after a long time he just extends his hand to her. Jenny hesitates, then slowly extends her hand until it is hovering above his. He waits and she finally drops her hand into his larger one. His fingers close gently over hers. He sighs, laying their hands on his thigh as they go back to staring out the window.

After some time Gibbs finally speaks, "Andy is lucky to have someone who cares about him as much as you do."

She tries to force her heart to slow its rhythm, but it's no use. His touch makes her tremble and the sound of his deep sexy voice melts her inside. She carefully answers his double-edged comment. "I'm just keeping him company. He doesn't have any family."

"You do more than that, Jen. You give him hope and that'll make him better."

There is a long silence again as Jenny adjusts to this new nickname. No one has called her Jen before... not that she doesn't like it. After several minutes she sighs sadly. "I just hope he gets better."

"So do I." He gently squeezes her hand and they sit in a more comfortable silence together. Gibbs hates to break their moment of peace, but there are things he must say now that he has her attention. "I have all the information I need to complete the investigation."

He feels her tense, but won't allow her to pull her hand away as he quietly continues, "Jen, let me finish. Know you're angry about what happened that night. You have every right to be, but you misunderstood me. When I said I couldn't let what happened interfere with my investigation..."

She tenses further and tries again to pull her hand away, but his grip tightens as he pulls her hand closer and now holds it in both of his. He stares down at their hands for a moment while she watches suspiciously and he struggles to explain.

"I never meant to say it was intentional… it just happened. We were both under a lot of stress and if anyone is to blame it's me. I was wrong to take advantage of your emotional state. I meant to say... I couldn't let my own personal feelings get in the way of the investigation. I'm sorry for the way I acted, Jen… it was totally inappropriate."

There is a long tense silence between them. Her frowning expression, looks angry, but in reality she is stunned. All this time she has been blaming herself because she should have been thinking about Andy. They were both emotional that night, but it was entirely his fault. She is relieved to hear he isn't accusing her of anything devious in kissing him.

"So… it was just an accident… of circumstances?"

"Right, completely understandable."

"And there was no ulterior motive on your part… or mine?"

"Absolutely not. Just a natural reaction to a stressful situation."

"Right... happens all the time when people are going through really stressful stuff."

"Exactly, and now that it's over everything is back to normal."

"So we should just forget the whole thing?"

"Yep, hardly even worth making a fuss over, right?"

"Well, not really. Before you know it we won't even be able to remember it happened at all."

"Right, everything will be back to normal."

They are both nervous and trying very hard to convince the other of what they are saying. Even as they secretly admit those few intense kisses left a lasting impression on them that won't be forgotten any time soon. The conversation drops off again and Gibbs continues to stare down at their linked hands. His thumb slowly strokes her soft skin and she sits quietly until she feels the heat rising in her and suddenly stands up, pulling her hand away as she steps back.

"Now that we have that settled I better get back to Andy."

"Don't worry about the investigation. Andy was able to tell me what happened so I can put an end to it and send it off to D.C."

"Poor Andy. not only did it end his career, but it could affect the rest of his life… depending on the outcome of your report."

"Yea, that doesn't make me too happy either."

"Thank you for coming... it means a lot." She hesitates at Andy's door to turn and smile at Gibbs before going inside.

Gibbs is left wondering if it meant a lot to her or Andy? He didn't like lying to her about the kisses meaning nothing, but she wasn't ready for the truth. Besides, from the relief in her voice they must not have meant that much to her. He sighs sadly and heads off down the corridor.