One Month Earlier
"I just need to see you back here in two weeks to check on those stitches and make sure there's no underlying infections."
Jenny nodded as she signed the discharge papers, mentally making a list of all the things she needed to pack from the hospital room after her four week stay in the hospital. Turning her focus back to the doctor, she said, "Thank you so much for all the care these past weeks."
He smiled at her, "You're welcome, Jenny." Then, after glancing down at his paperwork, he said, "I am going to recommend to the agency that you are enrolled in therapy as soon as possible."
Not again. Jenny thought. "I have completed the hospital requirement for psychological help these last few weeks, Doctor. You would still recommend more?" She asked, hoping that the tiny edge in her voice signaled that she would not want anything like that.
"We feel that in regards to debriefing your brain, you should be alright, because the hospital therapy focuses on the major traumatic experiences." He paused, then continued, "But with a stressful job, like yours, especially one that is very focused on trauma, we really recommend that for the next few months you see a psychologist that is equipped to handle that stress."
Jenny nodded, pretty sure she wouldn't fulfill the requirements. She had so much to do these next few weeks. Getting her job back from Leon, that asshole, finding a new home to live in, getting Kyrie into a good school with protection now that the world knew that the Director of NCIS had a daughter, and… Jethro, she had so much to do there. Therapy just wouldn't fit into that plan.
And the doctor seemed to know that was the case – after all, he had been in charge of her recovery since the beginning. But he made sure she was looking at him when he said, "But, in my professional opinion, your daughter needs therapy just as much, if not more, than you do, Jenny."
She didn't know what to say. Kyrie seems a bit different lately She thought. It had been a roller coaster for the last few weeks. She just chalked her daughter's peculiar behavior to all the swirling emotions that Jenny herself had been experiencing. But she just wanted to get out of the hospital, get back into normal life. So she said what she thought the doctor would want to hear, "Sounds good. I'll look into therapy for the both of us."
She could tell he thought she was putting him off, just pleasing him. He opened his mouth to say something, but just at that moment, she heard the sweet Israeli voice coming from the doorway.
"Let's blow this socket.."
The confusion on the doctor's face made Jenny laugh at the entrance of one of her oldest friends, "Ziva!"
Ziva walked over to her, and gave her the usual Israeli greeting, a kiss on each cheek. "You look even better than you did yesterday."
Ziva's hair curled around her face, making pale Jenny even more jealous of her friend's wonderfully olive skin. Usual cargo pants, with her gun holstered to her waste, and her beautiful star of David necklace around her neck – Jenny was so glad to have her friend with her.
Jenny looked up at the doctor, waiting for him to finish discharging her. The look on his face was still one of confusion, while he just stared at Ziva. Jenny knew she must explain, causing a bit more laughter from her lips.
"She meant, 'blow this joint." Ziva looked at her in confusion, while the doctor's face changed to amused. Jenny continued, "Idioms are not her thing."
"I would hit you if you weren't injured." Ziva said, a slight smile on her face. The doctor gave Jenny some prescriptions to have filled, then left to finalize her discharge.
In that time, Ziva had pretty much packed all of the cards, flowers, and clothing that had accumulated in the room in the past few weeks. Soon, Ziva was wheeling her out of the hospital doors in her wheelchair – Jenny had protested, but both the nurses and her bodyguard, Ziva, had insisted that she at least take the wheelchair to the car. The car was already at the curb, and Tony stepped out to open the door and help Jenny get situated in the backseat.
"Now, Director, I really appreciate the opportunity to pick you up."
Jenny glared at him, but in a joking way as he helped her to her feet. "Dinozzo. I've missed you too."
He just smiled. His wonderfully adorable smile that made her smile even more. Before she knew it, they were in front of Ziva's apartment. "I really appreciate you letting us stay with you, Ziva."
Ziva nodded, and opened her mouth to say something, when the squealing form of Abbey came running down the sidewalk to where they were getting out of the car. "Director Shepard! Director Shepard! You're home!"
Jenny braced herself for one of Abbey's hugs, the love and care welcome, but the stitches in her side and bruised ribs just might not need the tight squeezing of the young Goth. But the hug that Jenny was bracing herself for didn't happen.
Tony grabbed Abbey just before she reached Jenny. "Ok, Abbs. I know you're excited about seeing the Director, but just give her some air."
Seeming to come to her senses, Abbey just smiled really big at Jenny, and said, "Well, air is always good. I'm so glad to see you're coming home." As they all started walking into the apartment, Ziva carrying in the bags, Tony helping Jenny limp along, holding her if she stumbled or had to pause for a second, Abbey looked around, and asked, "Where's Kyrie?"
Jenny looked up at Ziva in confusion. "Wasn't she here?"
Ziva shook her head, and said, "I stayed at the office late last night. Abbey came and stayed with her overnight."
All heads turned to Abbey.
She started wringing her hands, just as Jenny felt her stomach was. "She left early this morning in a taxi. She said she was going to the hospital to see you, Director."
Jenny's eyes immediately went to Tony's. "She wasn't there. She didn't come this morning."
Tony looked down at her, and she could see concern building in everyone's eyes. In fact, there was more concern in everyone's eyes than was in Jenny's.
Tony and Ziva's eyes met. Tony asked, "You don't think she started again?"
Ziva shook her head, but it wasn't convincing anyone around her. "I don't think… she's been clean…"
"What the hell are you all talking about?" Jenny frantically asked, "What is going on? Where is she? What is she doing?"
No one answered her so she repeated herself. "What the hell is going on?"
Tony made sure Ziva was close enough to Jenny just in case she fell, and then he turned and walked back to the car. "Take her to the house. Have abbey stay with the Director. Then come help me. I'll call the boss."
Ziva nodded.
And Jenny knew that something was terribly wrong.