'HE DID WHAT?' Gibbs shouted as Jenny explained to him and Penny about her encounter with Danny. 'I'LL KILL HIM!' He added as he made his way from the living room towards the front door, only to be blocked Jenny.
'Jethro it wouldn't do any good. It's probably exactly what he wants.' She said as she held her hands against his chest.
He looked at her with his famous Gibbs stare as he breathed heavily in anger. After a few seconds of watching the hurt in Jenny's eyes he pulled her into a tight hug, never wanting to let her go.
As they hugged Jenny glanced around his shoulder and looked at Penny. She was standing in the middle of the living room hugging herself and looked very close to tears. Jenny held out her arm to Penny who gratefully approached her mother, who was still clinging on to Gibbs.
'Come here baby.' Jenny whispered as Penny met her tight embrace, and Gibbs's arm enclosed round them both. 'Are you OK?' She asked quietly and felt Penny's head nod her agreement.
'Yeah I just wish none of this was happening.' She replied quietly as she fought back her tears. 'I guess there's just one way to sort this out.' She said as she pulled away from them both and wiped her eyes.
'How do you mean?' Jenny asked with concern.
'I need to speak to him and tell him, in no uncertain terms, to back off. I already have my family and it does not include him in it.' She spat angrily, but looked lovingly at Gibbs when she said that she had her family.
'Well if you're going to do that then I want to be present.' Jenny said.
'And me.' Gibbs added with a look of anger still on his face.
Jenny pulled out her cell phone and dialled the number from the card Danny had left her. Both Penny and Gibbs were watching her in anticipation, and part of her was glad that it went to his voicemail, but the other part was a little disappointed. She left him a message and the three of them sat and waited for him to either turn up or phone back.
They only had to wait an hour before the doorbell rang and in walked a bruised looking Danny. He had a small cut on his lip from where Gibbs had punched him the previous night, and a slightly pink tinge to his face from where Jenny had slapped him earlier. He looked a little sheepish, and maybe not quite so cocky as he had done when they'd all met with him previously, but he also looked like he was feeling as if he was about to be lynched.
Jenny stood in front of Gibbs to prevent him smacking Danny, again, and Penny stood behind Danny who was facing Jenny and Gibbs.
'Danny I think Penny has a few things that she wants to say to you.' Jenny said carefully.
Danny turned to face Penny who looked angry, hurt and upset, but she took a deep breath and managed to keep her voice calm.
'I don't care that you're my biological dad, biology doesn't mean a whole lot to me. You made a decision twenty-two years ago to turn your back on my mom, and in turn you turned your back on me too. With that decision comes a consequence, that consequence being that you cannot suddenly walk into my life and decide that you want to play happy families. Gibbs has been a better father to me in less than a year than you ever could be. I think you've already been warned off by Mom and Gibbs, but now I'm going to warn you off and I hope for your sake you take the warning. Back off and leave us alone, otherwise you will have Gibbs to deal with.' Penny said forcefully through gritted teeth.
Gibbs rested his hands on Jenny's shoulders, who then placed both her hands over his. She carefully watched her daughter and in that moment she could have felt any prouder. She couldn't believe that the young woman standing in front of her was the same baby she had held in her arms all those years previously.
June 1984
Jenny sat in her bedroom reading a book, gently caressing her extended stomach. She glanced over at her floor length mirror and smiled at her image. She'd really enjoyed being pregnant but now she couldn't wait to meet her baby. The only thing was it wasn't her baby, and she had to keep reminding herself of that fact. As soon as her baby would be born it would be handed over to two strangers to be raised, she would never get to see her baby grow up and only if she was lucky would she maybe get to see it when it was older, but it just wouldn't be the same. She had to force the rest of her thoughts from her mind as she felt the bitter sting of tears at her eyes. She managed a small smile when she felt her baby move, which was a strange sensation different to how she'd felt before.
After about ten minutes she felt a much stronger wave accompanied by pain which took her breath away for a few minutes. Once the contraction stopped she sat bolt upright on her bed. She was ridged from fear and anticipation, waiting to see if another contraction would follow. After a further fifteen minutes her question was answered when she felt another, much stronger, contraction.
'Heather?' She called out, knowing that her sister was somewhere in the house.
'What is it?' Heather said calmly until she saw her sister almost doubled over and breathing through the pain. 'OK Jen just breathe.' She said soothingly as she rushed over to her and grabbed her hand, placing the other on her back to rub soothing circles over her.
With their parents out Heather was going to have to taker to the hospital herself, and hope that her mom and dad would be along soon.
'Right let's grab your bag and head down stairs.' She said calmly as she helped Jenny to the top of the stairs before another contraction racked her body.
Jenny doubled over as she tried to grit her teeth against the pain, and tightly held on to Heather's hand.
'It's OK Jen I'm here; just remember what you were taught. Breath nice and slowly and take nice deep breaths.' Heather said as she talked Jenny through it.
Jenny was glad that it was her older sister with her and not her parents. Throughout the whole pregnancy she was the only one who had been supportive of her and had gone to any appointments she had or classes.
After writing a note to her parents explaining where they were, Heather managed to help Jenny into the car and they drove to the hospital. Jenny remained calm throughout the journey, focussing on her breathing, but she was relieved when they made it to the hospital. Heather helped her out of the car and into the hospital, where the doctors then took over.
Jenny was in labour for almost seventeen hours before baby Penny entered the world at quarter past one in the morning. She was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally but it was the best feeling in the world as she held her new born daughter in her arms. Heather had remained with her the entire time, and Jenny was pleased to have had her support.
As she looked down at the tiny bundle in her arms she realised that she couldn't go through with the adoption. She couldn't bear the thought of strangers raising her baby, but she knew that she would have a battle on her hands with her parents. For now though she needed to rest before she even considered her argument, and she just wanted to enjoy being a mother.
Once she had fallen asleep she didn't wake again until seven in the morning, and it was a nice peaceful and restful sleep. She was still rather sore, but she realised that it was all worth it to be able to see and hold her baby girl in her arms.
A few hours later, once she and her baby were fed and settled, she had a visit from her parents and a social worker.
'Jennifer I thought we had made it quite clear that you weren't to have contact with the baby after it was born, it'll only make giving her up more difficult.' Sarah said as she sat on the edge of the bed.
'Yeah well I've decided that I'm not. I can't go through with giving my baby to strangers to have them raise her. She's my baby and nothing you are going to say or do can stop me. You cannot force me to give her up.' Jenny said defiantly.
'Yes we can Jennifer, you will give her up. You will have plenty of opportunities in the future to settle down and have a family, but now you need to think about what is best for you and the baby, and what is best is that she goes to a family who really want her and who can love her.' Sarah said forcefully.
Jenny began to get upset and she cursed her raging hormones for betraying her.
'That's the thing Mom, I love her and I want her, it's you who has decided that I'm not capable and shouldn't have her.' Jenny spat as the tears traced down her face.
Jasper placed his hand on his wife's shoulder and stopped her from saying anything further. He motioned her outside so that he could speak to her privately, leaving Jenny, her baby and the social worker alone in the room.
Jenny nursed her baby, who by this point still did not have a name, and waited for her parents to return, defiantly explaining to the social worker that she was not going to give up her baby. Luckily for her the social worker was very understanding. After forty minutes Jasper and Sarah returned to the room, both looking serious yet calmer than before. They turned to the social work and to Jenny before explaining the plan they had come up with to relieve the situation.
'Right I think I've come up with a solution that will benefit us all.' Jasper said as he looked at his younger daughter. 'If you're not willing to have the baby adopted by strangers, then how would you feel about making a compromise? Your mother and I will adopt her and bring her up as our own, so then you can see her grow up and know who is raising her, but you still go to college and university.' He explained.
Jenny had agreed to the decision reluctantly, knowing that it was the only chance that she was going to get to see her baby grow up, but she hated the idea of lying to her. She also got no say in any part of her life or what they were going to name her, that decision had all been made by Sarah and Jasper.
Penny was named Penelope Ruth after Sarah and Jasper's mothers, and everyone, apart from Heather and Jenny, believed that she was their daughter. Jenny had watched her baby as she grew up and she counted herself lucky that she had such a close bond with her "baby sister". She hated that she hadn't been allowed to be her mother and do all the things with her that a mother should do with her child. Her parents had forced her to take a place at a university in New York, and although she'd loved the city and loved all the exploring she'd got to do, she'd missed her daughter and being a bigger part of her life.
Her experiences had made her a lot more guarded about who she let into her life and into her heart, but that wasn't always a good thing. Her guardedness had been what led to her leaving Gibbs the first time they'd been together. Other than allowing her parents to take Penny from her, leaving Gibbs was the only other decision she truly regretted in her life.
Now as Jenny watched Danny leave her home in silence, she was relieved to be with the two people that she'd once hurt the most, but whom she loved more than anyone else in the world.
'Are you OK sweetie?' She asked Penny as she approached her and held her in a tight hug.
'Yeah I'm OK. I just hope that that's the last we see of him.' Penny replied with a small smile.
It had been a long and stressful week for all concerned and one that they were glad to see the back of.
For the rest of the evening Gibbs, Jenny and Penny sat together cuddled on the sofa. Gibbs sat in between his two girls, an arm around each as they watched their film.
A few weeks after Danny had left, life for the NCIS family got back to some sense of normality. Danny had gone back to California and had not contacted or seen Penny or Jenny since. The new NCIS building was just about ready for its grand reopening, and Jenny had returned to her rightful place behind the director's desk.
In between that time Penny and Abby had been working on a secret engagement party for Jenny and Gibbs. It had been a hectic few weeks for everyone, which is why they'd thought it necessary to throw an engagement party for mommy and daddy.
They worked hard to put up a banner and a few balloons around the large living room of the Georgetown house, and also laid out some nibbles and sandwiches. They were now just waiting for the team to arrive, and hopefully before Jenny and Gibbs.
About ten minutes after they'd set everything out Tony and Ziva arrived with a bottle of champagne in hand.
'Hey guys come on in!' Penny said with great excitement as she stepped aside to let her friends in.
Just as she was about to close the door she saw McGee's mother's car pull up, and out appeared McGee, no longer in plaster but still walking on crutches and with a limp.
'Hello Timmy.' She said as she greeted him with a very warm hug and a passionate kiss on the doorstep.
'Wow I should definitely come round more often if that's the greeting I get.' McGee said with a smile.
Penny hadn't brought herself to be able to tell him about her feelings for him, but she'd spent the last couple of weeks trying to hint for clues to see if he might reciprocate her love. Unfortunately for the young couple Ducky and Jimmy arrived before they could continue their conversation.
'Ah Penny are they here yet?' Ducky asked.
'No they're not, you're just in time.' She said as she ushered them inside.
Penny sorted everyone out with drinks and soft music played in the background. They all had become so engrossed with their conversations that they'd almost forgotten about Gibbs and Jenny; that was until they heard Abby shouting excitedly.
'Oh oh oh they're here!' She shouted from her position by the window.
Tony stood by with a bottle of champagne ready to pop it when they arrived, and the rest of the team had party poppers in their hands.
As Gibbs and Jenny walked into the living room they were greeted by cheers, wolf whistles, and lots of popping. They smiled broadly by their friends' efforts and were happy to celebrating with them.
They all enjoyed the party well into the night until one by one they all began to leave, exhausted, with a few hangovers pending, but they were all happy and in good spirits.
The next morning Jenny woke feeling nauseous and off colour. Just as she made her way into the hall she bumped into Penny, who had a small smile on her face as Jenny suddenly ran into the nearest bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach.
'You OK Mom?' Penny asked as she stifled her laugh.
'Ugh I can't believe I'm being sick. I don't feel hung-over, and it's not like I had a lot to drink. I've drunk a lot more and been absolutely fine…in fact I think I had life two glasses of champagne, three at the most.' Jenny explained as another wave of nausea hit her.
It was at that point that another thought occurred to her.
Haha guys I'm going to be really mean and leave it there. You'll just have to wait till my next story to find out more lol. Thanks to all of those who have read and reviewed, it means a lot. Until next time… xxx
