I rewrote this one about three times. And to be honest, it didn't really turn out the way I intended. I wanted to write it a little more angsty. Meh maybe another time ;)
Blackmail
Blackmail is the crime of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand made upon the victim is met. This information is usually of an embarrassing or socially damaging nature. As the information is substantially true, the act of revealing the information may not be criminal in its own right nor amount to a civil law defamation; the crime is making demands to withhold it. (source: wikipedia)
She didn't even hear him enter. Usually she could hear him from outside her office but this time it was different. She was too wrapped up in what she was reading to notice his entrance. It was his voice that made her look up, startled.
"I need to get a warrent."
"And why do you need my help with that? I'm sure you know how to do that after all these years."
"Fornell has been bothering me again and I need you to get him to back off."
Smirking Jenny leaned back in her chair, "Can you say that again."
He opened his mouth to repeat what he just said but then he caught his own mistake.
"You need me Jethro?"
He caught the look on her face, he was sure he would see some kind of sparkle in her eyes. The one she usually had when she was teasing him. It was not the same sparkle that lit up when she was truely happy but it was better than what he saw when he looked in her eyes at this very moment.
The only thing he saw was sadness, like there was something haunting her. He wanted to do something. Confront her, hug her, kiss her, anything to make it all better but he decided against it. If she needed him, she would tell him.
Wouldn't she?
He turned away again. Not even remembering why he came here in the first place. When he opened the door, he looked over his shoulder one last time. There was a tiny smirk on her face, but when her eyes drifted away to her desk, more specifically, to the papers that were on it, the smirk disappeared again.
Worried, he told Cynthia to call him if anything unusual happened. The woman nodded, she too had noticed that something wasn't right with her boss.
Days went by, and everything had stayed the same. That was, until Cynthia called.
She had heard sobs from inside her boss' office, and wasn't sure what was going on. She knew the Director wouldn't like it if someone would see her vulnerable like that, but she had promised Gibbs to call.
And so she did.
He was in her office in no time. And just like last time, he caught her off guard.
This time he wouldn't back down. And she knew it too.
"What do you want Jethro?"
"I want to know what is wrong with you."
"I don't see how that is any of your concern."
"Cut the crap Jen, something is bothering you. Remember rule 4?"
"Well this is a secret I don't plan on sharing."
He groaned in annoyance. He wanted to help her, but if she kept being this stubborn it was going to be very difficult.
"And don't try to give me that stare. I learned to resist that one a very long time ago."
Her hand slowly made its way over her desk, covering a few papers with others. He noticed, but didn't say a word. Jenny rose from her seat, and walked around her desk.
"Well then, Special Agent Gibbs, if that was all, I'd like to go back to work."
She tried to direct him to the door, but instead he went around her desk. Picking up the papers she tried to hide just a minute ago. His eyes scanned the pages. Jenny tried to take them away from him.
"I'll have those thank you." He held them our of her reach, and when he finished the last line, his eyes shifted from the paper to her face.
"What is this?"
"It's nothing, just someone trying to blackmail the director of NCIS, nothing new."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's none of you business, Jethro." In his unguarded moment, she took the papers away from him.
"Of course it's my business when someone is trying to blackmail you!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is!" And within these few minutes another screaming match had begun. But just as quickly as it had started, it ended again. The cool mask of the Director was back into place.
"Just let me handle this Jethro, you have your case to worry about."
He walked over to her, and put his hands on her shoulder. Softly shaking her with every word he said.
"I'm not leaving. We'll deal with this. Together."
She could see the concern and most of all determination in his eyes, a discussion would be useless.
"Fine."
"Good."
He released her. And walked to the door. She turned away from him, trying to hide the smile that was forming on her face. Not that she would ever admit it, but she was glad he wanted to help her. It seemed like a weight was released off her shoulders. Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder, she turned around.
Without saying a word, Jethro pulled her into a hug, and placed a soft kiss on her hair. She was completely surprised by the action. But she wasn't about to complain, instead she leaned against his strong chest, feeling safe just by hearing his heartbeat and inhaling the familiar musky scent.
After a few seconds, he pulled away again. With his finger, he lifted her head, just to make her look at him, her green eyes meeting his blue ones.
"No more crying Jen, you know I can't stand it."
And with that, he left her office. Leaving a stunned Jenny behind.
