A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews! I'm glad you guys like this story :) There's a lot of explanations about Fiona's friends this chapter, so you'll have to bear with me. This one is long…and don't hate me for the ending. There's some tough stuff in here too, so beware… (AND WHO ELSE WAS SHOCKED BY THE NEW EPISODE?)
Fiona sat at the kitchen table, attempting to understand the math homework in front of her. She kept staring at the worksheet, the numbers floating off the page.
She'd been trying to do her homework for over half an hour, but nothing was sticking in her brain. She hadn't exactly been focusing on the math, though.
Her thoughts had been on a certain boy.
Logan DiNozzo had been plaguing her thoughts for days. He had been assigned as her lab partner in Chemistry, he was in her math and music theory classes, in her lunch, and was in band with her. He flashed her his dazzling smile, and his blue eyes held mischief and laughter.
She had never really liked anyone as much as she liked Logan. She knew she had a crush on him, and she knew that every time he flirted, smiled, or even just looked at her, she fell in a little bit deeper. He was gorgeous, and all the girls watched him in the halls. As her mom had once said, once a guy like that is taken, you can hear all the other girls' hearts break.
She glanced at her phone, surprised to see a new text message. She opened the phone and read the message, smiling. The message was from Lauren, inviting her to the movies. It was Friday, so Fiona really hoped that Aunt Jenny would let her go.
Since her kidnapping, the atmosphere in the house had changed, if only slightly. Gibbs was the tiniest bit more protective of her aunt, and he was almost completely moved in. He'd taken her to see his boat, and she had worked on it with him. He had been right; woodworking was surprisingly soothing. She'd watched him work, seen the way he almost caressed the wood. Fiona had never seen someone care quite so much about something you would think was insignificant.
He's painted the name on the boat. Kelly. She'd asked him why, and he'd stopped his work, staying silent for a moment before putting his tools down. He'd walked over to where she was seated on his stairs and sat down next to her, and told her.
She'd started crying, listening to him explain his wife and daughter's murder. She couldn't believe something so terrible had happened to him. To lose a daughter…Fiona couldn't even imagine.
It explained how he knew what to say in some of the more critical moments, how he knew how to comfort her. And their deaths explained his hardened exterior, his gruffness. Fiona had noticed more of a softness in him though, these past couple of weeks, whenever he was around Aunt Jenny.
Fiona smiled when she thought about how happy her aunt was. She always seemed to have a smile on her face, and she just seemed…bright. Fiona didn't really know how to describe it, Aunt Jenny was just really, really happy. She looked up when she heard footsteps in the doorway, and smiled at her aunt.
"Are you really doing math homework on a Friday night? And you get mad when I bring work home." Aunt Jenny said, ruffling her hair playfully as she walked past.
"Well, if I do it now then I don't have to do it later. And Lauren just invited me to go see Iron Man 2 later today. Do you think I can go? She said I could spend the night if it's okay with you." Fiona asked, looking hopeful.
"Who would be there with you and Lauren?" Aunt Jenny asked, taking a sip of water from her glass.
"Logan, Farrah, Ty and Camille, Conner, Amanda and Ashley, and Natalie, and Nick and Lindsay. And I think that Amanda's boyfriend Chris, Ashley's boyfriend Jordan, Natalie's boyfriend James, Nick's girlfriend Emily, and Lindsay's boyfriend Harry are coming." Fiona listed, double checking the people.
"Have I heard about Amanda and Ashley before?" Aunt Jenny asked, her brow furrowing.
"They're twins, Amanda's in band, she plays the flute too, and Ashley is in my music theory class. She sings, and she's in my math class too. They're both nice, and they're identical, so the only way you can tell them apart is by their necklaces. Ashley's is a silver 'A' with a ruby, and Amanda's is a gold 'A' with a sapphire. They switched once and confused everyone, even the teachers." Fiona explained, smiling.
"One of these days you have to have all of your friends over. I hear about them, but I haven't met any of them." Aunt Jenny said, shaking her head. "But tell Lauren that sounds like a great idea. I have a dinner at the White House tonight anyway, so I would have been leaving you alone. Jethro is on a ship working a case until late tonight, so I feel better knowing that you aren't here all alone."
"Thanks Aunt Jenny! And dinner at the White House, sounds impressive. Tell Mr. President I said hello." Fiona said with a smirk.
"You, shut up. It will most likely consist of me sitting with a bunch of older men that will try to hit on me. Not exactly the most pleasant way to spend an evening. I tried to have Jethro's team for security, but the FBI already filled in. Then they caught this case and he's currently on a ship, trying to locate an undercover NCIS agent. He won't be home until late." Jenny explained, rubbing her temples. The case they had closed recently had been stressful, and tough. A Petty Officer had been dabbling in drugs, and one night had taken too much and taken his family hostage inside their own home in his insanity. His pregnant wife, two daughters and his young son had been his hostages, and if not for Jethro and his team's quick thinking, they most likely would not have survived. It had hit a nerve in Jenny, those poor children.
No one understood, save Jethro, why the case had affected her the way it had. They didn't understand how children affected her. They'd been confused as to why she'd been on edge more than usual during the case, why she'd snapped at poor Tim for asking a simple question, why she'd nearly taken off Jethro's head for trying to calm her down.
They'd been trying for three months, and still no successes. They'd made a promise that they wouldn't let it affect their relationship, the disappointments. They knew that they were both older and therefore the chances were lower and the risks were higher.
Their relationship had been different since her kidnapping. Jethro was the slightest bit more protective, but still knew when to give her her space. Admitting they loved each other had crossed a line they weren't going to go back over, and Jenny noticed just the slightest difference in the way he looked at her.
The only ones that knew about them were Tony, Ziva, Ducky, and Cynthia. Abby and Tim still didn't know, but Jenny knew it was only a matter of time before everyone knew. She'd had to tell SecNav however, once she and Jethro had talked about having a baby. He had been a little gruff, but wished her happiness, and asked her to try and be as discreet as possible.
She had a dinner at the White House, and she really did not want to go. Hours of being surrounded by men who were extremely sexist, and still could not accept that a woman could be a capable Agency Director. She'd tried desperately to get Jethro's team on security, so she could at least slip away for a few moments to hear his voice making fun of the politicians and getting her mind off of their comments. Unfortunately, the FBI had already called dibs on security, and then Jethro and the team had caught a case on a ship.
Jenny sighed, standing and placing her now-empty water glass in the sink. She was glad Fiona now had plans for tonight; she felt terrible about having to leave her, so she felt better knowing her niece wasn't in the house all alone.
She walked upstairs, going over to where her dress was in the plastic bag. She smirked, remembering Jethro's expression when he had discovered the dress was red. He'd been upset that he wouldn't be able to see her in it, but she had promised him he could have a private showing later that evening.
She shook her head at the thoughts before walking into the bathroom and starting the shower, allowing the room to fill with steam. She shed her clothes quickly, stepping under the stream of water. She massaged the water into her hair, letting her muscles relax under the heat. As she reached for her shampoo, she couldn't help but let her hands drift to her bare, flat stomach. A stab of disappointment hit her, and she sighed.
She knew that the chances of her getting pregnant this late in life were slim, but it still hit her with each failure. She desperately wanted a baby, and her disappointment rose each month when still, her lovely time of the month came right on schedule. The only exception had been the first month. She'd been almost two full weeks late, and while she didn't want to get her hopes up, she'd been almost sure. Thankfully, she hadn't told Jethro, because only a day later, her period had come, crushing her dreams.
She knew she'd promised Jethro she wouldn't let it affect her, but she couldn't help it. When you'd waited as long as she had, it was hard to not be upset with a failure. Adding in the fact that both she and Jethro were strong-willed, determined people that were used to getting their way, it made each month harder.
Jenny shook her head, attempting to rid herself of the thoughts. They were doing the exact opposite of what she had wanted from the shower, because the tension was back, and she wasn't relaxed at all. Sighing, she turned the temperature of the water up and let the heat ease the stress out of her muscles.
Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the shower, feeling a little more relaxed than before. She grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself before reaching for another one to dry her hair. She dried off, slipping into her bra and panties before drying her hair, fluffing the curls around her shoulders, clipping her bangs back.
She glanced in the mirror, wincing at the dark circles under her eyes. Working later and stressing over the case had taken its toll. Sighing, she grabbed her concealer, swiping it under her eyes to cover the exhaustion.
Stepping back into her bedroom, she slipped the dress on, adjusting the thin straps on her shoulders. She turned, examining the dress from all angles. It looked good on her, she knew. With her fiery hair, the deep red of the dress contrasted sharply with her pale skin. Jethro loved her in red, as he'd told her many times before. She stepped into her heels, tightening the straps around her ankles, the silken material of the dress brushing against her legs.
She grabbed her clutch and a flowered scarf before heading down the stairs. Fiona was still at the kitchen table, leaning over her math worksheet. She was leaning her head on her hand, absentmindedly biting the eraser of her pencil. Her thoughts were obviously elsewhere, because she hadn't done any more of the homework than when Jenny had left her to shower and get dressed. She wondered where her niece's thoughts were. Her green eyes had a dreamy look in them, and she twirled a piece of hair around her finger.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Jenny asked, coming up behind Fiona. Her niece jumped slightly, turning around in her chair.
"Geez, give me a little warning before you do that Aunt Jenny!" Fiona exclaimed, glaring lightly.
"I was just curious as to what my niece's thoughts were on. Sue me." Jenny said, shrugging.
"I wasn't thinking about anyone." Fiona said, avoiding Jenny's gaze. Jenny's eyebrows went up.
"I didn't ask about a person. I asked about a thing. So you might as well spill. Who is it?" Jenny asked, curious.
"No one! I swear!" Fiona said, throwing her hands up.
"Yeah…you're lying. Your right eye twitched. So you may as well tell me." Jenny said, leaning against the counter, folding her arms.
"I like your dress Aunt Jenny, the red is really pretty on you." Fiona said, hoping her aunt would go with the change of subject.
"Thank you Fiona. And this is not the last time we'll be discussing this. I will find out eventually. What time is Lauren's mom picking you up?" Jenny asked, allowing her niece to avoid her question.
"The movie is at nine, so her mom is picking me up at eight so I can drop my stuff off at their house. We're also picking up Farrah, and we're meeting everyone else at the theater." Fiona said, letting relief fill her. She'd been thinking about Logan again, and she really didn't want her aunt to know she was obsessed with a guy. Her aunt looked gorgeous in her red dress, her hair around her shoulders. "Too bad Gibbs isn't here to see it. I'm sure he'd like it."
"He does like it. He just hasn't seen it on me yet." Jenny said, shrugging. Sighing, she straightened up off of the counter and rolled her neck, rubbing at the muscles. "Well, I have to go. Have a good time at the movies, and please keep your phone on vibrate. I have this weird feeling something's going to happen that I can't seem to shake. Have fun at Lauren's." Jenny pressed a kiss to Fiona's head, smiling down at her.
"Got it. I'm sure I'll have lots of fun. I love Robert Downey Jr.. So did Mom." Fiona said with a smile, remembering. Jenny smiled softly, shaking her head slightly at her sister.
"Well, I have to go Fiona. Have fun, and leave me a voicemail after the movie." Jenny said, walking towards the door.
"Okay Aunt Jenny. Have fun with the President!" Fiona said, smirking at her. Her aunt shook her head at her before heading outside, where her security already had a car waiting. Fiona stood, grabbing her homework and heading upstairs. Putting the folder back in her bag, she walked over to her dresser and rooted through the clothes. She grabbed a pair of skinny jeans and a light pink tank top, changing out of her sweats. She slipped a billowy short-sleeved peasant top on over her head, tying the strings near her neck into a loose bow.
Walking into the bathroom, she brushed her hair out, pulling it up into a ponytail. She swiped concealer under her eyes and mascara on her lashes before heading back into her room and grabbing a sweater and her phone. She didn't carry a purse; she just popped her phone in her pocket and was fine.
She quickly packed her overnight bag and grabbed a pillow before walking downstairs, setting her stuff on the ground. Lauren and her mom were picking her up in ten minutes, and then they were going to hang out at her house for a little while before picking Farrah up. Fiona was excited about the movie, but she was kind of upset that Conner was going.
Conner was in her Chemistry class, her English class, and he played the trombone in band. He had brown hair that curled around his ears, and brown eyes that were the color of mud. He had been really nice and helpful her first few weeks of school, but then, his helpfulness had become overbearing. He'd followed her around and tried to talk to her all the time. He was a nice guy and everything, but he needed to learn this thing called personal space. In Chemistry, whenever she tried to talk to Logan, or do work, Conner was right there.
Fiona knew that Farrah had a crush on him, so she could only hope that she would distract him. Fiona was kind of hoping that something would happen with Logan tonight. He'd been acting really friendly and nice to her the past couple of weeks, and he'd flirted with her whenever he saw her at work or school.
Sighing, she looked up when she heard a car pull in. Lauren was sitting in the front seat, her mom behind the wheel. Fiona smiled, grabbing her bag and pillow and locking the door. She opened the side door, sliding into the car.
"Hey guys. Thanks for inviting me Lauren. Aunt Jenny had a dinner tonight so I would have been all alone."
"No problem. I'm glad you could come. I know it's really short notice." Lauren said, turning to face her. Lauren was about five six, had light blonde hair that fell to just past her shoulders, and pretty blue-grey eyes. She played volleyball and the piano, and she was really smart. She was in Fiona's Chemistry class, and she was in her French, Global, and Music Theory. She'd been awesome, helping Fiona catch up with the work that the teachers were throwing at her and showing her around. She had an older brother named Christian who was a senior that played soccer, and a younger sister named Lia that was in eighth grade that ran track.
"So…Logan is going to be there tonight." Lauren said, smirking at her.
"Shut up Lore. I know he's going to be there. He sent me a text about five minutes after you did." Fiona said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, he told Adam, who told Katie, who told Christian, who in turn told me that he was really excited that you were going. Just so you know." Lauren said, flipping her hair as she settled in her seat. Fiona rolled her eyes at her friend, staring out the window as some cheesy pop song played on the radio.
They dropped Fiona's stuff off at Lauren's house, where Lia was jumping up and down, excited that she was spending the night. Christian was polite, like always, when he greeted her, his blue eyes solemn and clear. Lauren's dad called a hello from the garage, where he was working on his car, much like Gibbs and his boat.
They were on the road again, heading to Farrah's house. They pulled in to her driveway and the hyper brunette skipped down her front stairs, a purse swinging from her shoulder. She opened the side door of the car, sliding into the seat next to Fiona.
"Hey guys!" Farrah said, her big hazel eyes shining in the car lights. Farrah was a tiny brunette, her hair cut in a short pixie cut that complimented her petite face, with big eyes and a bright smile. She was a dancer, and she was in Fiona's English class. She attended the same dance center as Fiona, and she was a very bright person. She always had a smile on her face, and her laugh was heard often.
"Hey Farrah." Fiona and Lauren said, smiling at her.
"Excited to see Logan?" Farrah teased, smiling at Fiona.
"Will you guys stop already? Logan and I are friends!" Fiona said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. The two only laughed at her, and Lauren's mom met her gaze in the mirror, smiling kindly at her. They arrived at the mall, and Lauren's mom dropped them off, telling them to have fun. Looking around the movie entrance, they soon spotted a group of their friends near the ticket window.
"Hey Fiona!" Fiona looked up at the sound of her name, and blushed when she saw Logan striding towards her. He had on a tight light blue t-shirt paired with dark wash jeans that hugged his legs in all the right place, with a dark gray zip-up sweatshirt. His hair had that tousled look to it, and he had on his yellow Converse. As soon as he reached her he pulled her into a tight hug, and it took all of Fiona's self control not to melt on contact. She inhaled his scent; a concoction of shaving cream and Old Spice.
He pulled away after a few moments, his green eyes dancing. He kept his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close to his warmth. Fiona turned her attention to Lauren and Farrah, widening her eyes to show her excitement. Her two friends gave her the thumbs-up, smiling at her.
She noticed the flash of jealousy in Conner's eyes when he walked past her and saw Logan's arm, but she honestly didn't car. He stuck up a conversation with Farrah, and Fiona could only pray that she kept him distracted. Turning towards the other people walking towards them, she smiled.
Amanda walked hand in hand in their direction with her boyfriend, Chris, and her twin, Ashley, had her arm around her boyfriend Jordan's waist. Amanda and Ashley were both five eight, and had long strawberry blonde hair that fell to mid-back. They had big honey colored eyes that flashed with their emotions, and their skin was on the tan side. Amanda played the flute, like Fiona, and was in her English class. Ashley sang, and was in her Music Theory and Geometry class, and was super intelligent. Chris was slightly taller than Amanda, and had dark brown hair that was cut close to his head and had forest green eyes. He was only in Fiona's lunch, but he seemed like a decent guy, and he treated Amanda well. Jordan was almost six feet tall, and had reddish brown hair that half-covered his ears. His blue eyes were almost always full of mischief, and he kept a goofy grin plastered to his face. He was in Fiona's Gym and French class, and he was definitely a class clown.
Natalie and her boyfriend James came next, but they didn't look nearly as happy. James had a hand on Natalie's lower back, but her arms were firmly crossed over her chest. Natalie had long, jet black hair that fell to just past her chin, and her sharp blue eyes were more often than not serious. Natalie was in her math, lunch, and French class, and had been kind of uptight at first, but had warmed to Fiona eventually. Natalie and James had been fighting a lot lately, and everyone was just waiting for the explosion at this point. They still couldn't understand why they were even together. James was a skater, with the long hair that covered his face, while Natalie was committed to her schoolwork, and always looked clean and polished. James was good-looking enough, with brown hair and green eyes, but he just didn't seem like the guy that Natalie would be with.
Ty and Camille came next, and Fiona smiled when she saw them. Where Ty was tall and muscular, Camille was petite. She was about five foot four, and had big, soulful blue eyes that went perfectly with her white-blonde hair. She was in Fiona's lunch and math class, and had been really nice to her. Ty adored her, and was so gentle and loving with her. There wasn't a doubt in anyone's mind that they'd be married after senior year.
The other set of twins, Nick and Lindsay, came next with their significant others, Emily and Harry respectively. Nick had brown hair that curled uncontrollably and big blue eyes, Lindsay had blonde hair that curled around her face with eyes the exact same shade as Nick's. Both twins were in band, and Nick was in her Global class while Lindsay was in her Music Theory and Gym. Emily was a redhead with big blue eyes that was quiet and shy. She was in Fiona's English class, and seemed nice enough from the few times she had talked to her. Harry had black hair that stuck to his head save for a cowlick in the front, and bright green eyes. He had a slight scar on his forehead that was mostly obscured by his hair. He'd apparently transferred from London two years ago, and had been delighted to meet Fiona. He'd come from the other side of London, so unfortunately they had never met, but it was still nice to talk to someone who knew the city firsthand.
Since everyone was now there, Lauren, Farrah, and Fiona all bought their tickets and everyone walked into the theater, buying popcorn and other snacks. Fiona picked up a box of Sweetarts and a bottle of water before walking into the theater next to Logan. She picked a seat at the end, and Logan sat next to her. They filled in the row completely, and soon enough the previews were on the screen. She kept her phone on vibrate like her aunt had requested, and settled in to watch the movie. About halfway through, Fiona felt Logan's arm snake around her shoulders, and she willingly settled against his warm chest, her head resting near his shoulder.
"You have big guns; you're not the big gun." Tony Stark's velvety voice said on the screen, and the entire theater chuckled quietly. At just that moment, Fiona's phone lit up and vibrated quietly in her pocket. Glancing at the phone, she felt her heart constrict slightly when the caller I.D. said Aunt Jenny.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
Jenny sat at the table of Senators and other Agency Directors, listening to the men drone on about golf and the latest Sports Center when her phone vibrated quietly in her purse. She surreptitiously slid her cell out, checking the I.D. Upon seeing DiNozzo's cell, she excused herself and stepped outside.
"Shepard."
"Ma'am, its Tony. Gibbs was in an explosion on the ship. He's being rushed to Portside as we speak."
Jenny felt her heart stop as Tony spoke. Jethro had been hurt. He was being rushed to a hospital. Oh God.
"When did this happen, exactly? How? I thought that there was a plan as to how Jethro would meet Galib? Jethro said it would an in-out mission." Jenny said, attempting to keep her voice steady.
"I really don't know ma'am. Ziva, McGee and I were in the car, waiting for Gibbs to come out and then part of the ship exploded. We called an ambulance and are processing the scene. Ducky's here and he said that he'll be at the hospital as soon as he can. No one's told Abby yet, ma'am." Tony said, his voice sounding apologetic.
"Its fine, Tony." Jenny sighed, not even caring that she wasn't being formal. "I'll call Abby. Call me with anything you get. Thank you, Tony."
She ended the call, and stood still for a moment, collecting herself. She had to go in there and tell them she needed to leave, an agent had been injured. She couldn't very well go in there with hysterics; they had a hard enough time taking her seriously as it was. SecNav would be the only one who would understand why she needed to be there anyway.
First she had to call Fiona. Her niece cared about Jethro too, and she needed to know. Pressing speed dial two, she put the ringing phone to her ear, the dreadful news on the tip of her tongue.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
Fiona exited the dark theater, leaving a confused Logan behind. Pressing accept call, she put the phone to her ear.
"Aunt Jenny, what's wrong?"
"Jethro was in an explosion. He's being rushed to Portside. I'm heading there now."
Fiona felt the tears prick her eyes. Gibbs was hurt? He couldn't get hurt…he was Gibbs.
"Pick me up." It wasn't a request, it was a demand, but Fiona didn't care. She viewed Gibbs as a father, and she'd be there for him like had been for her.
"I'll be there in twenty." her aunt said. Fiona could hear the fear in the back of her voice, and she knew that her aunt was just barely holding it together.
"See you then Aunt Jenny. And Gibbs is going to be fine. Knowing him, he'll be up and causing trouble in no time." her aunt laughed softly at that, and Fiona took pride in knowing that she could help. After ending the call, she walked swiftly out of the mall, sitting on the curb waiting for her aunt. True to her word, she pulled up twenty minutes later and Fiona quickly opened the door. She'd barely put her seat belt on before Aunt Jenny was pulling away, speeding off onto the highway.
"Where'd you learn to drive Aunt Jenny?"
"Jethro taught me 'real driving', as he calls it. I just don't want him to wake up alone." Aunt Jenny said, her voice full of emotion. Reaching over, Fiona covered one of her aunt's hands with her own.
"Aunt Jenny, please calm down. He's going to be fine. After all, it's Gibbs we're talking about."
Soon enough they were pulling into the hospital parking lot and stepped out swiftly. Fiona was amazed her aunt could walk so fast in heels, and struggled to keep up. Bursting into the ER, her aunt scanned the room before heading over to the desk, where a black nurse sat.
"Condition of Special Agent Jethro Gibbs." Jenny said, flashing her badge at the heavyset nurse behind the desk. She'd steeled herself in the car, and was ready to rip into anyone that stood in her way. Fiona stood next to her, her arm looped through hers, lending her support. The nurse examined the badge, and looked her up and down, no doubt taking in the fancy dress. She typed something into the computer and moved the mouse.
"Trauma one, no condition listed yet." the nurse said, looking at the screen over her glasses. Before she had even finished, Jenny had turned and was walking over to the doors, Fiona close behind. "You can't go in there Director it's restricted…" the nurse called, sounding annoyed. "To medical personnel."
Exasperated that the door wouldn't open, Jenny turned and stalked back to the desk, her patience thinning considerably.
"This isn't about turf, you know." Jenny said, leaning on the counter. Fiona sensed a changed, and stood close to her aunt, looking around her shoulder and the unfortunate nurse.
"Oh I know that." the nurse replied, her tone smug. "It's about rules." she stood, meeting Jenny's gaze. "And one really big one is, none medical people cannot enter trauma one, unless they're carried in."
"Get me a gurney." Jenny deadpanned, her eyebrows rising. The nurse started to laugh, but Jenny's face remained the epitome of serious.
"That's good. 'Get me a gurney.' A like that." she said, evidently mocking her.
"I left a dinner at the White House to come here." Jenny said, her voice hard. She wasn't doing it to showboat; she was doing it to show connections. Hopefully the woman would get it through her thick skull that she wasn't playing around.
"I'm impressed, really I am. That still doesn't change the rules."
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to this." Jenny said, shaking her head as she dug around in her purse.
"Shooting your way in?" the nurse asked sarcastically.
"Don't be silly," Jenny said, laughing harshly. "I don't have my weapon." she pulled out her phone, finding the correct number.
"Calling the president?" the nurse asked, rolling her eyes.
"Now that would be overkill." Jenny said, shaking her head. "Condi? Jenny. No, I don't have his condition. The head nurse won't let me into trauma." At her request, Jenny silently offered the phone to the nurse, whose lips were now pursed tightly. Jenny watched the woman squirm, and Fiona hid her smirk in her aunt's back. After a few moments, the nurse handed the phone back and Jenny put it to her ear. "Thank you Condi."
Turning, Jenny led Fiona back to the door, and the nurse grudgingly unlocked the door. Abby joined them soon after, and Fiona stared in wonder at the Goth. She'd been working at NCIS for a few months now, but she hadn't encountered the bubbly forensic scientist. With her braided pigtails and tall boots, she was quite a sight.
"Oh, Gibbs. How did this happen, Director? I mean, it's Gibbs. Gibbs doesn't get hurt, this doesn't happen to Gibbs." Abby said, her voice shaking and her words stumbling together. "Who are you?"
Fiona looked up, and smiled hesitantly.
"I'm Fiona Shepard." she stuck her hand out and Abby took it gingerly.
"Director, do you have a daughter we never knew about?"
"No, this is my niece Abby. Fiona, this is Abby Sciuto, our forensic scientist. I'm surprised you two haven't met yet." Jenny said, looking between the two.
"Well, I haven't left my lab in ages. Gibbs always finds me. He has that ESP thing; I swear he knows things before I do!" Abby said, waving her hands. "He's going to be okay, right Director?"
"I don't know. Let's find a doctor." Jenny said, looking around.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
"He suffered a concussion, but there are no signs of cerebral hemorrhaging." a young doctor said as they followed Jethro's stretcher to his room.
"He's gonna be okay though, right?" Abby asked.
"Uh, he should be fine." the doctor said, starting into the room.
"I don't wanna hear 'should-be' I wanna hear 'will-be'!" Abby said, her voice level rising.
"Abby…" Jenny said, looking at her for a moment before turning her gaze back to Jethro. She was just barely holding back the tears as they moved his body from the gurney to the bed.
"'Should-be' is not positive." Abby said.
"Enough, Abs." Jenny pleaded, the first tears breaking through her shield and falling. Abby and Fiona both saw the tears, and Fiona wrapped her arms around her aunt's waist, forcing her to wrap her arm around her shoulders and bury her face in her hair to stop the flow of tears. Abby stood on her other side, and hesitantly took her hand. Jenny squeezed it gratefully, her gaze still on Jethro. The doctor was talking to her a nurse, and he walked back in their direction as the lights shut off.
"I'm positive, Miss Sciuto, but with a concussion until…until he wakes, no one knows what's going on inside his brain." the doctor said, meeting all three of their gazes.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
He was in his uniform, loading the truck. Kelly and Shannon stood there, and Kelly grabbed his helmet, passing it to him. Her big blue eyes pleaded with him, asking him not to go.
"I'll miss you Daddy." her tiny voice said as she hugged him tightly, her arms around his neck. He kissed her head before standing, turning to Shannon.
"We've said it all before." he said, meeting her blue gaze.
"And I wanna hear it again." she said, a half smile on her face.
"I will take care, I will come back safe." he said as she put her hands on his chest.
"Not those words." she said, shaking her head.
"I love you." he said, cupping her face in his hands as he kissed her softly. She closed her eyes, enjoying his last kiss, and opened her eyes when he pulled away. Her blue eyes were sad, but he told her silently to remember his promise. Next time, he'd stay. Next time, their family would grow. He'd promised, and he intended to keep it. He glanced at them, his girls, one last time before getting in the truck and driving away.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
Hours later, Jenny was in Jethro's room, staring out the window at the rain. She'd gone home briefly, dropping Fiona off at her friends and changing out of her dress into comfortable yoga pants and one of Jethro's cleaner t-shirts. It smelled like him, and she buried her face in her shoulder, breathing in the comforting smell of him. She'd insisted that Fiona go to Lauren's house. There was no sense in her sitting around worrying. Jenny had promised her she'd call if anything happened.
She wasn't there as Jethro's boss. She was there as his lover, his friend, anything but his boss. Of course, if needed, she would slip into the role. But not now. Now, she let her guard down, let her emotions out. She thought it ironic that it was raining. The world was mourning him, in his coma. She was shaken out of her thoughts by her cell ringing, and she put it to her ear, her voice emotionless.
"Shepard."
"Yikes, Agent DiNozzo here." Tony said after a pause. "Cynthia told me you stayed at the hospital, is the boss awake?"
"I am, Agent DiNozzo." Jenny said, her voice hard from lack of sleep and fear. Realizing how she sounded, she lowered her head, sighing. "You have a sit-rep for me?"
"I do, Director Shepard." Tony said, his voice taking a formal tone. "Crime scene's been processed, evidence tagged, remains are on its way to Autopsy. Officer David and Special Agent McGee are questioning the crew. We have an I.D. on the suspected bomber, freighters radio man Pinpin Pula, Pilipino. Suspected to be Abu Sieve. Bolo's been issued for his apprehension. That is all I have to report ma'am." as Tony had been speaking, Jenny had drifted from the window to Jethro's bed, and took his hand in her free one. Tony's a good agent, she thought to herself, listening to him.
"Agent DiNozzo." Jenny said, her voice softer.
"Director." Tony said, still firm.
"I was out of line." she said, her eyes never leaving Jethro.
"You are the Director, ma'am; you cannot be out of line." Tony said, his voice firm.
"Please. I was bitchy. Let me apologize, Tony." Jenny said, the stress of the situation affecting her more than she had realized. "I'm sorry."
"If I may state an opinion, ma'am." Tony said, sounding more confident.
"Fire away." Jenny said, leaning against the window as she gazed at Jethro.
"Never apologize, it's a…" Tony stared and Jenny smiled before finishing.
"Sign of weakness. I was his partner too, DiNozzo. I know all the Gibbs-isms." Jenny said, smiling as she walked back over to Jethro from the window, taking his larger hand in her smaller one.
"Actually, he borrowed that one from The Duke." Tony said.
"John Wayne." Jenny replied.
"He said it to Joanne Drew in 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.'" Tony said, using his movie knowledge.
"Jethro's a lot like The Duke." Jenny said, smiling softly.
"I keep waiting for him to say, 'That'll be the day.'" Tony said, his voice going deep at the end. The words triggered a memory in Jenny. Paris, with Jethro, walking around hand in hand. She'd blurted the words out, not knowing what she was doing. I love you, she'd told him. Not knowing what he'd say back. He'd simply dug up another John Wayne line. That'll be the day. Taking them back to the present, the awkwardness of the situation dispersed.
"He said that, in Paris to me once when I told him that I," she faltered, not sure if she wanted DiNozzo to know. To hell with it. "When I told him that I loved him. And I swear, if this helps you win some pool, I will personally hurt you, DiNozzo."
"Your secret's safe with me, ma'am. Shouldn't he be awake by now?" Tony said, easily changing the subject.
"You know Gibbs. He keeps his own schedule." Jenny said, stroking Jethro's hand. "Do you know what REM is?"
"Sure, rapid eye movement, happens when you're asleep and dreaming." Tony said.
"That's what it looks like he's doing right now." Jenny commented, watching Jethro's eyes dance behind his lids.
"Oh, well that's gotta be a good sign, right?" Tony said hopefully.
"If it isn't a nightmare." Jenny said, remembering the nightmares from Paris.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
Gunfire. It filled his head. He couldn't escape it.
His CO pulling him aside.
"Gunny, they're both dead."
No, no it couldn't be. Shannon and Kelly…Shannon and Kelly couldn't be dead. They couldn't.
"I'm terribly sorry Jethro."
"No!"
The bomb, the explosion. Pain, then nothing.
He was in a sea of black, and nothing hurt, nothing felt.
He was numb.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
Jenny stood with Tony in the back of the room while a doctor looked at Jethro.
"Coffee." Tony said, breaking the silence.
"Coffee?" Jenny replied, confused.
"Coffee. It's a sure way to wake Gibbs."
"Good idea." Jenny agreed, blinking her eyes tiredly. "But he's intibated, we'll have to use the I.V." Tony laughed quietly, and he met her gaze. They were trying to find some way to lift the oppressive worry and stress. Jenny knew she looked exhausted, and she was in casual clothes. She was in Jethro's t-shirt for God's sake.
They both looked up when the doctor from the night before walked over.
"Tell Miss Sciuto I didn't abandon Gibbs. Chief neurologist would have been here today anyway."
"I'm sure she'll understand." Jenny said, nodding at him.
"Hope so. I like woman with fire." the man said, his eyes widening.
"Ahh." Tony said "So the dog collar and the tats had nothing to do with it?"
The man merely smiled and left, leaving Tony and Jenny.
"DiNozzo." Jenny said, worry in her voice. "Does he look in pain?"
"I don't know. I've never seen Gibbs show pain, Director." Jenny strode forward, in need of an answer.
"Doctor, is he in pain?" when she received no answer, she tried again. "Doctor?"
"Was this man a Marine?" the doctor asked, his gaze intense.
"Yes." Jenny said, confused.
"Wounded in Desert Storm?" he asked, and Jenny's heart constricted at the words. Desert Storm. Shannon and Kelly. "Yes."
"That's it. I treated him in Kuwait." the doctor said, remembering.
"Gibbs never told me he was wounded in Desert Storm." Tony said from behind her.
"He doesn't talk about it." Jenny said simply, close to tears again.
"He was in a coma when we evacted him to Frankfurt. Talk about déjà vu." the doctor said, apparently relieved to remember.
"But is he in pain?" Jenny asked, determined to steer the conversation away from Desert Storm.
"Certainly not extreme pain, maybe a little hurting, but the only way to know is for him to tell us." the doctor said, looking at Jethro again.
"Why not give him painkillers just in case?" Tony asked.
"I want him to wake up." the doctor explained. "Opium would only deepen his coma."
"I've just never seen Jethro look like this." Jenny said, and cringed at the tears in her voice. He'd only ever looked like this when he'd told her about Shannon and Kelly, and she didn't want to relive that, not here not now. Tony sensed her distress, and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I have." the doctor said, his voice quiet. "That's why I remembered him. That's the expression he had in 91. It's more anguish then pain." the year he said hit Jenny.
"The coma was in 91?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The doctor turned and looked at her, mildly confused.
"Yes, it was a nineteen day coma in 91."
"But that's…oh my God. He's reliving their deaths." Jenny said, a hand going to cover her mouth as the tears built up.
"Whose deaths is he reliving?" Tony asked confused.
"His first wife and his daughter. They were killed in 91. He was at Desert Storm. He got the news in the field." Jenny said, wiping at the falling tears. Tony remained silent, but the grief on his face said everything.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
He stood at their graves with his crutches. Their names stared back at him, engraved into the cold granite. They shouldn't be there. Not without him.
Her name, Shannon Gibbs, stared him in the face. Memories of her hit him full force, and he closed his eyes at the pain.
Kelly Gibbs. Riding horses on the beach.
"I wanna gallop Daddy!"
"No, Kelly." Shannon's voice, full of laughter cam from next to him.
"Aw, let her go Shannon." he said as his daughter pulled away on her horse.
Her name, just saying his name.
Jethro…
Camping with the two of them, sitting on the log next to Kelly, Shannon on the ground between his legs, his arms around her. The scene changed from Kelly eating a marshmallow and Shannon smiling up at him to him staring down the barrel of his gun.
He missed them. He needed them.
He had to be with them. Didn't he?
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
"I order another CAT scan on the off chance that he hemorrhaged since that last one, but I think it's unlikely." Dr. Gefland said as he grabbed his lunch. Jenny followed close behind, her coffee clutched in her hand. She didn't want to be here, in this bright, loud cafeteria. She wanted to be in Jethro's room, holding his hand as she watched him sleep. Well, what she really wanted was to be at home, in Jethro's arms, a baby between them, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. She sighed softly, shaking the thoughts away before turning her attention back to the doctor.
"So why are you doing it?"
"Covering my ass."
"You don't seem like the ass-covering type, doctor." she said, attempting to put some humor into the conversation.
"You know, I dislike this 'doctor', 'director' formality. I'm Todd." Todd said, looking at her.
"Jenny." she replied, but she disliked how flirtatious he was being.
"You see, Jenny, the truth is that I'm puzzled. Gibbs took a long time to come out of the coma in 91."
"You followed his case after he left Kuwait?" Jenny asked.
"Not until today. I had Bethesda fax me his medical records."
He explained that the tests weren't that of someone in a deep coma. The tests were identical between the two.
"How do you explain that?" Jenny asked, concerned.
"Sometimes, patients don't seem to want to wake up." the doctor said gently, and Jenny's thoughts flew to Shannon and Kelly.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
He was in the NIS evidence yard, the bloody car in front of him. This had been where. Where they had both died.
Mike Franks' voice explained the death of the agent driving, then how the crash had killed Shannon and Kelly.
Daddy! Kelly's voice rang through his head.
They were fishing, and Shannon had caught a bigger fish.
It's bigger Daddy! she said as she giggled.
He was back in the office with Mike Franks, a man's picture in front of him.
Pedro Hernandez Mike Franks' voice rang through his head. The drug dealer your wife saw kill a Marine.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
"I don't have an answer." Todd said. "Everything is normal. How well do you know Gibbs?"
"He was my mentor and then my partner. We were apart for six years before I became Director. We've been seeing each other for close to six months, but we were together in Europe years ago." Jenny explained, exhausted and drained from worry.
"So now you're his boss?" Todd said, and Jenny noticed a brief flash of disappointment when she said that she and Jethro were together.
"Jethro's a great field agent, he's a great team leader, and he deals more efficiently with difficult politicians than I do." Jenny explained.
"Then why isn't he…" Todd asked, confused.
"He shoots them." Jenny said simply. Todd laughed, and the walked into Jethro's room. He looked so out of place in the bed, tubes everywhere.
"In the morning I'm going to try and find the neurologist that was on his case in 91." Todd said.
"Why wait until the morning?" Jenny asked. Todd merely looked at her and she sighed. "Forgive me. I'm…just tired and worried…I can't lose him. I just can't."
"I understand. He'll pull through. Just give him time."
"Thank you Todd." Jenny said, giving him a quick smile before walking over to Jethro. She settled in the chair, watching him as he slept. Her hand slid into his, intertwining their fingers. She pressed a gentle kiss to his bandaged forehead, willing the tears to stay away.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
They all sat on the couch, Kelly in-between Shannon and him. Shannon's sock-clad foot brushed his, and he met her gaze, knowing neither one of them wanted to wait but they had too.
Cover your eyes, Kel he said as the couple on the screen kissed.
I've seen you and Mommy kiss Kelly giggled, looking up at him knowingly. Shannon took his hand, intertwining the fingers.
Well, this is scary kissing he replied
Like kissing a frog? Kelly asked in her tiny voice, giggling at the end.
Cover 'em he said, rolling his eyes at her.
Shannon leaned in, but before he could kiss her, Pedro Hernandez's face flashed through his mind.
Mike Franks leaving the file. Reading.
Mexico.
-NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS-
"He doesn't recognize Ducky, Fiona. Why would he recognize me?" Jenny asked her niece, wrapping her arms around her knees as she sat on her niece's bed.
"Because he loves you." Fiona said simply, looking at him. Jenny's gaze softened and she smiled.
She'd given the case to Tony, telling him to do what he had to. She'd picked Fiona up and they were heading to the hospital to see Jethro. He'd woken up, but he had no idea who anyone was. He'd hadn't recognized Ducky, who had had known for much longer than her.
She'd told Ducky about Shannon and Kelly. Tony knew, she knew, Ducky knew, and it was only a matter of time before everyone knew. She hoped Jethro could forgive her when he remembered her. Ducky had been shocked. He'd had no idea Jethro had been married to Shannon, or that he had had a daughter.
It still hurt her, thinking about them. Thinking about all the pain Jethro must be living through again. She wanted to be able to just hold him and comfort him, but he wouldn't remember her.
She'd called Mike Franks in the hopes that he'd be able to help Jethro remember. He'd arrived and apparently, Jethro remembered him. So his memory was up to at least 94.
Sighing, she stood, and Fiona took her hand as they walked out of the room. Jenny wrapped her into a hug, holding her tightly.
"Thank you." she whispered into her hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
They drove to the hospital in silence, Fiona staring out the window into the night. They pulled into the parking lot and got out. Jenny wrapped her arm around Fiona's shoulders, pulling her close. They reached his room, and saw he was sleeping. Fiona sat in the chair by the window, and Jenny walked over to Jethro, sliding her hand into his.
"Jethro?"
His head turned towards the sound of his name. Was that Shannon calling his name? He opened his eyes, and he could swear that was Shannon holding his hand.
"Shannon?"
"No Jethro, it's me, Jenny." the face became clearer, and a beautiful woman with long crimson curls smiled down at him. It wasn't Shannon, and he closed his eyes against the tears. "You still don't remember me?"
He looked at her, and a memory triggered.
A hot, stuffy attic. Her, under him, on top of him, everywhere. Making love to her like it was his last day on Earth. Her long curls running through his fingers, her arms gripping his biceps and he rolled them, putting himself over her as he sped up the pace of their lovemaking.
He looked up sharply, into her green eyes.
"Maybe." he said, his voice hoarse.
"I'm Jenny. We were partners." the woman said, hesitantly.
"After Shannon died?" he double-checked.
"Yes." she replied.
"Did I marry again?" he asked.
"Three times." Jenny said, smiling.
"No way." he said, laughing slightly.
"'Fraid so." Jenny said, laughing with him.
"You're an ex-wife." a realization hit him.
"God, no." she said, laughing. "I'm the Director of NCIS."
"For a moment I thought you were somebody else." he said. There was no way she was the woman from the attic. A look crossed her face, and she leaned closer.
"You remembered us making love, didn't you Jethro?" she asked, her voice soft. He looked into her eyes, and saw a kind of small happiness in them. "Jethro, we've been seeing each other for almost six months. We were together in Paris, where we were sent undercover in 99. I left you there, and became Director six years later. We got back together when my niece came to stay."
"That's me, by the way." A teenaged brunette girl said as she came to stand next to them. He stared frozen, a memory hitting him.
Her and him, sitting on his basement stairs. He had his arm around her and she was sobbing against his chest. Through her tears, he heard her faintly mumble, "I'm so sorry that happened to you Daddy."
Bringing himself back to the present, he looked her up and down. She didn't look like him, so could she really be his daughter? It couldn't be.
"I'm not…you're not my daughter, are you?"
"No, I am not. Why would you…oh. You remembered the basement, didn't you?" Fiona asked, her eyes going soft. He nodded, feeling confused. "You'd just told me about…about Shannon and Kelly. I felt so terrible and…you've been like a dad to me these past few months, and it just kind of slipped out."
Jenny listened to Fiona, and felt the tears well up in her eyes. Neither of them had told her what had happened in the basement; all she knew was that Jethro has shown Fiona the boat and told her about Shannon and Kelly. Apparently, she'd called him dad, or daddy.
She didn't think she should tell him about how they were trying to have their own child. In his mind, he'd just lost his daughter, so she wasn't going to throw the fact that they couldn't get pregnant in his face. She looked at him, and she could tell they'd thrown a lot at him.
"Jethro are you…"
"So you're together?" Jethro interrupted, looking at her.
"Yes, we are." Jenny replied, meeting his gaze.
"I feel terrible. I can't remember anything except…well, except an attic." he said, slightly embarrassed.
"That was Marseilles. That was…the first time. The second night." Jenny said, sitting on the edge of his bed. He took her hand, looking up at her.
Fiona sensed this was straying into dangerous territory. She really didn't need to know about their sex life.
"Aunt Jenny, I'm going to go to the cafeteria. I'll be back." her aunt looked up briefly and nodded before returning her attention back to Gibbs.
She wandered out of the room, and just walked around. She didn't really have a destination in mind. She wasn't hungry; she'd just picked a random area to tell her aunt. She somehow ended up on the newborn ward, no idea how. She walked in front of the glass and saw all of the tiny babies.
She knew her aunt and Gibbs were trying to have a baby; she'd overheard her aunt's phone conversation with her doctor. She also knew that so far there had not been any success, and she knew that her aunt, at least, was getting frustrated. Sighing, she gazed at all of the babies, hoping that one day one of the bassinets would have a baby with the last name 'Gibbs' on it.
She turned and walked back to Gibbs' room, hoping that he and her aunt were done talking about the past. When she walked in, she noticed that there was only Gibbs in the room, and there was no sign of her aunt.
"Where's Aunt Jenny?"
"She got a call from some guy named Tony who said she was needed urgently in MTAC." Gibbs said, looking at her carefully.
"Way to tell me Aunt Jenny." Fiona muttered, walking over to the chair. "Do you mind if I crash here?" Gibbs shook his head, and Fiona settled into the chair. They stayed in comfortable silence for a few moments before Fiona stood, coming over to him.
"You don't remember that night at all?" Fiona asked, her green eyes big and intensely bright.
"I don't remember anything!" Gibbs said, looking up at her.
"I don't care that you don't remember anything! That night should be imprinted in your brain. That night…damn it, that night was the night that cemented you as my father in my brain!" Fiona said, full of emotion. Her tears started to build up and she furiously wiped them away. Her anger and frustration hit him, and the memory burst forth.
He was in bed with Jenny, his arms around her as she slept against his chest. Suddenly, a loud cry from down the hall woke them both, and he watched Jenny's big green eyes blink sleepily up at him.
"What was that?" she asked as she yawned.
"I don't..." he was interrupted by another cry, louder this time.
"Mommy! Mommy, make him stop!" Fiona's voice could be heard, and Jenny was out of his arms and pulling on a robe in seconds. He grabbed a t-shirt and followed Jenny down the hall to where Fiona was crying.
It was obviously a nightmare. She was moving around on the bed, twisting the sheets around her. She was crying, and yelling. The nightmare held her, and Jethro knew what that felt like.
"Mommy, tell him to stop! Don't let him hit you! Mommy, no! Daddy stop! Stop it, no, Daddy!" Fiona sobbed, her voice breaking. Jenny quickly went to her niece's bed, taking her shoulders and shaking them.
"Fiona, Fiona it's fine honey, I'm here. It's a nightmare, it isn't actually happening." Jenny had woken Jethro up from his fair share of nightmares and this was no different. Some demon from her niece's past was haunting her. After a few more shakes, Fiona's eyes shot open, and she looked around herself, bewildered by her surroundings. Upon seeing Jenny, she threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly.
"Mommy, you're safe."
"Fiona, it's me, Aunt Jenny. Not Jess." Jenny said apologetically. Fiona pulled back, her eyes filling with tears.
"I…I thought it was a dream. It's the same one…" Fiona said, closing her eyes and taking a faltering breath.
"What's wrong, honey? What were you dreaming about?"
"My mom." Fiona sobbed.
"Fiona, who were you asking your Mom to ask to stop? Was it your dad?" Jenny asked, concerned.
"My dad…my dad used to beat my mom when he was home. He'd come home for a week, and by the time her left Mom had more bruises. He broke her fingers once, when I was eleven." Fiona whispered, tucking her knees under her chin.
"Fiona…why didn't Jess report it?"
"My dad was a prominent member of the mob. You don't just call the police. Besides, he died when I was thirteen, and we moved to England. I tried to forget." she whispered, shaking her head.
Jethro listened to Fiona, and he got angrier and angrier. He walked over to her, sitting next to her and pulling her into a hug.
"He is no longer your father, Fiona. I am." he whispered in her ear, kissing her temple. Fiona looked up at him, her green eyes big and tear-filled.
"Do you mean that?"
"Every word."
The memory caused a torrent of others to be released, and he remembered everything. He remembered Paris, and Jenny leaving, and Tony, and McGee. He remembered Kate's death and Jenny becoming director. He remembered Abby and her death metal and her obsession with Caf-Pow!. He remembered Fiona coming, and that night with Jenny. He remembered her kidnapping, and he remembered his talk with Jenny about having a baby. He remembered that night.
The ship.
"I have to get to NCIS."
"I'll call Tony."
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
He sat in Jenny's office, disappointed. He hadn't been able to save the people on that ship. It hurt, just like Shannon and Kelly.
Jenny sat, watching him. Her hair was in a disarray over her shoulders and her eyes had deep, dark circles under them. She looked exhausted and he knew she hadn't slept at all during his coma.
"Mike invited me to stay with him in Mexico for a little while. I have vacation time, and I need a break after this." Jethro said hesitantly, watching Jenny. Her face flickered briefly, her green eyes sad.
"If that's what you need." she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It'll only be for two weeks, and then I'll be back Jenny, I promise. I'll come back, and then we'll have our baby. Maybe this is what we need."
"Jethro, maybe I can't have a baby. I'm too old. Face it, we've been trying for a months, and with no success." she sighed, looking up at him. "I can't handle another disappointment Jethro."
"You can't give up Jen. It'll happen, I know it will." Jethro said, standing. He kissed her forehead, meeting her tired gaze. "Think DiNozzo can handle being team leader for two weeks?"
"He's more than ready, Jethro." Jenny said. "You have a plane to catch."
"I love you Jen. I really do." Jethro said, kissing her.
"I know Jethro. I know you do." Jenny said, smiling faintly.
She watched him leave, and as soon as her office doors shut, she sat behind her desk and tried not to cry.
-NCISNCISNCISNCIS-
The next morning, Jenny called Tony into her office.
"Special Agent DiNozzo, I have an undercover assignment for you."
A/N: This is the longest thing I have ever written. Ever. I hope you liked it, and please leave me a review! :)
