A/N: Okay, this is the end of all the bad that is going to happen. Things only get better from here.
I only gave this chapter a quick look over because, quite frankly, I hate it (content wise).
Disclaimer: Everyone from NCIS is not mine, all the original characters are.
Gibbs couldn't believe that he was really leading Eliza Wren straight to Alana. But, regardless of his opinions of the woman they needed to finalize the adoption and if she was the Social Worker they sent he really didn't have much choice.
He nodded to Cynthia before knocking on the door to Jenny's office.
"Come in," her voice floated through the door.
She had been sitting on the couch next to Alana, game pieces spread out on the coffee table before them, but stood as her door opened. Surprise registered in her eyes when it was Gibbs that walked into her office, but she managed to keep her expression blank at the sight of a woman entering the office after him.
"Special Agent Gibbs," Jenny stepped forward to great them, unconsciously positioning herself protectively before Alana.
"Director," Gibbs nodded in return. "Eliza Wren," he indicated Wren with a wave of his hand.
Jenny stepped forward, arm outstretched to shake the woman's hand. "Jenny Shepard," she tried not to let her nervousness at Gibbs' attitude show.
Wren took her hand, "I'm Alana's Social Worker."
Jenny nodded, dropping Wren's hand the instant it was appropriate.
"Lana," Gibbs waited until she looked up at him, "Go wait outside with Cynthia."
"But…" Alana started to protest.
"Alana," Gibbs' tone, while not angry, left no room for argument.
"Okay Daddy," Alana plodded out of the room slowly.
Wren's eyes flared the instant the door was closed behind the child, "I thought we discussed her calling you 'Daddy'."
The pure venom in the woman's voice surprised Jenny but it was Gibbs' nonchalant response of, "We did," that surprised her more.
Positive that this would turn into a full-fledged fight sometime soon Jenny decided to intervene, "Sit." Wren plunked herself immediately into one of the chairs surrounding the conference table. Jenny glanced at Gibbs before seating herself at the head of the table. She concentrated on shoving away the nerves that fluttered in her chest at Gibbs' openly reserved hostility toward the Social Worker. But she stayed on her guard; she wasn't going to pretend anymore that her fiancé's opinion of a person didn't have a huge influence on her own.
"Ms. Wren," Jenny had to struggle to keep her voice impassive, "How can I help you?"
"Well, Director, Agent Gibbs placed a call to the agency yesterday requesting permission to adopt Alana Hewitt," Wren began. Jenny simply nodded, she knew all this. "As Alana's Social Worker I, naturally, was asked to speak to Agent Gibbs. Now, as I am sure you are aware, the Hewitts named Agent Gibbs as Alana's legal guardian should anything happen to them," she paused for Jenny's acknowledgement. At the redhead's nod she continued, "As you may also be aware, Agent Gibbs applied for, and was denied, custody of Alana two years ago."
"I was aware of that," Jenny interrupted the woman, "Though I would like to know why."
"Agent Gibbs has already had several marriages, none of which have lasted more than three years, several of them also ending badly," Wren jumped into her list immediately. "Also he has suffered a past trauma of such magnitude that raising a child would prove difficult. Those reasons, coupled with his line of work, led me to conclude that Agent Gibbs was and is not suitable to raise a child on his own."
Gibbs stiffened at the poorly concealed dismissal in the woman's voice. But Jenny spoke before he could, "He won't be on his own."
"Oh?" the surprise was evident on Wren's face and she didn't bother to hide it.
Jenny's nod was stiff, "I will be helping Special Agent Gibbs to raise Alana, as will various other individuals at this agency."
Wren's gaze flickered to Jenny's left hand, her eyes widening at the ring here. For a moment she was silent and Gibbs felt his satisfaction growing at her pause. But then Wren smiled and he was once again filled with a sense of dread.
The smile Eliza Wren directed at Jenny was anything but pleasant. "Unfortunately, Director, while your position puts you out on the field much less than Agent Gibbs, you must also work longer hours, and your life is at a much greater risk. I cannot allow a child to be raised in such an environment," there was an air of finality to Wren's words as she stood. "I will begin arrangements to have Alana transferred to one of our foster homes, and begin setting up interviews with prospective parents. However, I would hope that you would continue to visit. Any young girl could do to have a role model such as the first female Director of a Federal Agency in her life."
Jenny felt as if she'd been slapped. Tears welled up in her eyes before they were replaced by indignant fury. She was on her feet in an instant, "No!" Her voice, though hard and resolved, had a tremor to it that had Gibbs shooting her a worried look.
"Excuse me?" Wren's tone had Gibbs jumping to his feet as well.
"You cannot send her to some arbitrary home and take her from everything she knows," the quaver became slightly more pronounced in Jenny's voice as she spoke.
"Well, of course I would prefer to return her to her biological parents if at all possible," Wren began.
"She's not going back there," Gibbs cut her off. "Did you forget why she's in the system to begin with?" he growled when she glared at him.
"You have no proof," Wren bit back.
"I'm not willing to take that chance," Gibbs spat, "This is a child's life you're talking about!"
"I am trying to do what is best for her!" Wren shouted.
"Out!" Jenny finally barked. When Wren didn't move immediately Jenny repeated the command through gritted teeth, "Get out."
Realizing it might be wise to follow the order Wren hurried from the office, slamming the door behind her.
A sudden wave of lightheadedness washed over Jenny and she had to grab hold of the table to stay upright.
"Jen?" Gibbs was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him.
"I'm fine Jethro," Jenny reassured. She turned into his embrace, tears pooling in her eyes, "She just made me so angry."
Gibbs rubbed a hand up and down her back soothingly. When her tears slowed he tilted her chin up, wiping away the remaining tears with his thumb and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go home," he rested his own forehead against hers, "Take Alana with you. Relax." He knew that Jenny didn't want to argue, could sense the fatigue she was feeling now her tears were spent, but knew she'd still try to offer up a token dispute. "I'll be there as soon as I can," he whispered, catching her lips with his own to forestall any response she could have made.
She merely nodded when they broke apart and they spent a couple of minutes gathering everything together. Gibbs explained to Alana that she would be going home early with Mommy while Jenny gave Cynthia instructions to clear her schedule for the rest of the day and only to call her in the case of extreme emergency.
Five minutes later Gibbs had seen Jenny and Alana to the car and was now back at his desk quietly contemplating ways to kill Eliza Wren.
NCIS
Jenny and Alana were curled up on the couch reading when Gibbs walked into the house at 1840.
Jenny flashed him a quick smile, careful not to remove her attention from the book for too long. Gibbs took a seat in the armchair next to the couch, content to simply watch his girls together.
Jenny closed the book several minutes later, handing it to Alana and whispering for her to take it back upstairs. As the five year old scampered off upstairs Jenny met Gibbs' eyes, a faint smile on her lips.
Gibbs abandoned his chair in favor of the seat next to her. She greeted him with a kiss.
"You doing okay?" he checked when they separated.
Jenny nodded, "Lana was hoping you could give her a bath and that we could all watch a movie afterwards."
"I think we could manage that," Gibbs kissed her again briefly before heading upstairs.
Jenny didn't move until she heard the water running. After listening to the soothing sound a few moments she heaved herself off the couch and went into the kitchen to clean up.
NCIS
All three of them were curled up on the couch twenty minutes later when Gibbs' stomach rumbled.
Alana glared at him, "Daddy, be quiet."
"That's my tummy Lana," Gibbs explained.
"Why is your tummy making noises?" Alana wanted to know.
"It means your Daddy is hungry," Jenny shot her fiancé a reproving glare. "There are leftovers in the fridge."
Seeing the look in Jenny's eye Gibbs didn't stop to argue. He was back moments later with a heaping plate of food. He sat next to Jenny, whispering to her, "We got 'im." Jenny smiled a little, glad there was another criminal off the streets.
Alana leaned over Jenny, a finger pressed to her lips, "Shh!"
"Sh?" Jenny repeated, "Sh?" She caught Alana and flipped her onto her back, tickling her mercilessly. "Sh, huh? I'll give you 'sh' you little rascal!"
Alana squealed, squirming under Jenny's fingers. "No!" she shrieked, "No! Mommy stopit! Daddy! Help! Help Daddy!"
Gibbs just continued eating, eyes fixed on the television screen, struggling to keep a straight face.
NCIS
The next day both Jenny and Gibbs were awake before the alarm went off, regardless of their late night. They were both nervous after their encounter with Wren the day before, not that they would admit it, even to each other.
It wasn't until mid afternoon that Wren showed up again. She strode straight into Jenny's office, where the Director and Gibbs were just finishing a conversation, thrusting a sheet of paper into their faces.
Jenny took it from the woman, pulling on her glasses and scanning it quickly, suddenly very glad that they'd left Alana down with Abby in her lab. Her eyes flicked up to the top of the page and down it again, getting paler with each pass.
"Jen," Gibbs forgot all about titles in his concern, "What is it?"
Jenny blinked several times before meeting Gibbs' gaze, "A court order demanding the release of Alana Hewitt into the care of Eliza Wren and Ryan Jenkins."
Gibbs was on his feet as soon as the words left her mouth, "No."
"You don't have a choice Agent Gibbs," Wren's expression was something between smugness and ecstasy, "Alana will be going to live with her father."
"I am her father," Gibbs growled.
Wren's eyes swept over him disdainfully, "Her actual father. I will be taking her there this afternoon."
"Not gonna happen," Gibbs informed her.
"As I already explained to you, Agent Gibbs, you don't have a choice in the matter."
That gave Gibbs pause. There wasn't a whole lot he could do about a court order, not without ending up in jail, and then Wren would get her way anyways. He took a deep breath, cursing himself even as he spoke the words, "Fine. But on one condition." It took all of his concentration to continue glaring at Wren and ignore the sharp intake of breath he'd heard from Jenny at his words. He waited for Wren to nod before stating his demand, "She stays with you until a full background check has been completed on this man." Though Gibbs may not like the woman, he trusted in the fact that she did genuinely care for all children. He would let her believe that she had won for now. After all, he had no intentions of ever letting Alana near the man Wren claimed to be her father.
Wren nodded, "Alright." She clapped her hands together briskly, "Now, where is she?"
"In Abby's lab," Jenny spoke up for the first time.
"Shall we?" Wren gestured to the office doors.
Gibbs didn't move immediately, "I'll need an address so I can bring Lana's things."
Wren considered him a moment then pulled out a pen and a scrap of paper and scribbled an address on it. She shoved it into Gibbs' chest and stalked to the office doors, stopping a few steps from them in attempt to make Gibbs cater to her.
Gibbs simply waited for Jenny to start walking before taking his place beside to her; Wren following behind. He pressed the button for the elevator, stepping aside to let Jenny on when it arrived then following directly behind her; he was done playing the gentleman for Wren. The brunette huffed a little but didn't make too much of a fuss about it, still happy after her perceived victory.
Gibbs stood against the back wall with Jenny. He brushed his hand down her arm and the look she gave him told him that while she may not understand exactly what he was doing she trusted him completely. But the tears in her eyes gave away her pain and Gibbs cursed himself all over again.
They stepped out on the floor to Abby's lab and Gibbs spared a brief thought of gratitude to the fact that Abby was playing Disney music at a much quieter level than her usual heavy metal.
Alana looked up when they walked in, the excitement on her face fading immediately at the sight of Wren and the grim expressions Jenny and Gibbs wore.
She tried to hide behind Abby's leg when Gibbs crouched down before her and he wanted to kick himself. "Alana, you're gonna have to stay with Ms. Wren for a coupla days," he told her.
"Why?" Alana's voice was small.
"Because Mommy and I have to go on a trip," he wasn't sure he'd ever stop hating himself for this.
"Why can't I go with you?"
"It's called a business trip, sweetheart," Jenny crouched down next to Gibbs, "That means grownups only. It'll be really boring."
"Okay," the child's ready acceptance was a knife in Gibbs' heart.
"You're gonna go with Ms. Wren now," Gibbs told Alana, "I'll bring your stuff over tonight, okay?"
Alana nodded slightly, biting her lower lip as it started to wobble. She flung her arms around Gibbs, "Bye Daddy, I love you."
"I love you too, baby girl," Gibbs' voice was choked as he hugged Alana back tightly.
Alana released Gibbs and threw herself at Jenny, "I love you too Mommy."
A tear slipped down Jenny's cheek and she hurriedly wiped it away, "I love you too, sweetheart." She tightened her grip on Alana, "Forever and for always."
Alana squeezed her one last time before approaching Wren slowly. She was just about to the woman when she suddenly stopped and spun around. Racing back, Alana crashed into Abby's legs, "Bye Abby!"
Abby reached down to pick Alana up, "Bye Gibblet, see you soon."
Alana nodded and jumped out of Abby's arms. She made her way back to Wren, stopping before the woman, her teeth sunk into her lower lip and her arms wrapped behind her back.
Wren crouched down, "It won't be so bad. We'll have lots of fun." Alana looked a little hopeful at her words. "You all ready to go?" Wren checked. Alana nodded and Wren stretched out a hand. Alana took it after a moment's hesitation, allowing the woman to lead her out of the lab. She looked back only once.
"Gibbs?" Abby's voice was small when she finally spoke, "What just happened?"
Gibbs wrapped his arms around Jenny as her composure threatened to crumble. "The only thing I can't ignore," he answered cryptically before leading his fiancé from the lab.
NCIS
Gibbs just managed to get Jenny to her office before she broke down. She sank down to the ground, arms wrapped around her stomach, knees pulled up as tight as she could get them, the sobs wracking her entire body.
Gibbs sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him. She buried her face in his chest, hands clutching to his jacket. He ran his hands along her back in circular motions, trying to give comfort even though he wanted nothing more than to join her in tears. But he kept his face set for the time being, knowing that he needed to be strong for Jenny and for Alana; he needed to find a way out of this mess.
NCIS
Wren pulled up in front of a simple white house. It was box shaped with only two windows on the front and the front door on a slight protrusion in the exact middle of the wall. There was a cement path up to the door, with one large stone step providing an entryway to the house.
The yard itself was mostly dead. The small patch of grass on one side of the path had long since turned brown. The flowers along the sides of the house were wilting, some brown and molding from lack of care.
Wren led Alana up to the house, knocking on the door. Alana glanced about her nervously at the sound of steps echoing towards the door; something about this place didn't feel right.
The man who answered the door had mated dark brown hair and a short beard that still somehow managed to look un-kept and scraggly. His beady brown eyes darted suspiciously at Wren then the girl beside her from under thick eyebrows. He scratched at his shoulder, pulling the nonexistent sleeve of his wife-beater up even farther. His dark jeans were plain, and his feet were bare.
"Mr. Jenkins?" Wren asked. At his nod she extended a hand, "Eliza Wren."
He took her hand briefly before dropping his arm back to his side, "Ryan, please."
Wren smiled winningly back, "Eliza."
Jenkins nodded curtly, turning his attention to the small redhead on his doorstep. He smiled down at Alana, making her uncomfortable. With that Alana decided she'd had enough. She tugged on Wren's arm to get her attention. When the woman looked down Alana pleaded, "I wanna go home. I don't like it here."
"This is your home," Wren told her.
Alana looked around again, "No it's not. I want my mommy and daddy."
Jenkins crouched down so he was at her level, "I am your daddy kid."
Alana's gaze was critical, "No you're not. I want my real daddy."
Jenkins sighed and stood back up to address Wren, "Thank you for bringing her. I can take it from here."
Wren nodded, "I'll be back later tonight. Someone will be over with her things later as well. If I'm not back when they get here, just tell them that I stepped out for a moment."
Jenkins nodded, "I will. Thank you." Reaching down he plucked Alana from the ground. She started fighting him immediately, letting out a wail. Jenkins gave Wren a pained smile before stepping back inside the house and slamming the door behind him.
NCIS
Jenny had fallen asleep when her tears stopped and Gibbs had moved them onto the couch. But he knew Jenny would be sore if she slept on the couch for too long, and if he were completely honest with himself he just wanted to go home.
Making up his mind Gibbs gently shook Jenny's shoulder, "Jen." She stirred a little. "Jenny, c'mon, time to wake up."
Her eyes blinked open and it took her a moment to focus on Gibbs, "Jethro? Was it a dream?" She sat up a little and reality hit like the ton of bricks that it was. The tears welled up in her eyes again but this time she refused to let them fall.
Gibbs wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her head. "I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely and his voice was so full of pain that Jenny almost lost her battle with the tears.
Leaning back she placed one hand against his cheek, "I understand Jethro, you didn't have any other choice." They fell silent but she knew he would be beating himself up and nothing she said would really stop that. "Let's go home," she finally whispered.
Gibbs nodded and hauled himself to his feet, offering her a hand up.
NCIS
Alana continued screaming and struggling with Jenkins, crying for her mother and father. It took Jenkins all of five minutes before he'd had enough. He spared a moment to glance out the front windows to make sure Wren had gone before flinging Alana from him, "Stupid shit! Shut up!"
But the action only caused Alana's wails to grow louder, and now the tears started. "Daddy! I want my daddy," she cried.
"I said 'Shut up!'" Jenkins grabbed the front of her shirt roughly, pulling her to her feet and slapping her across the face. The wailing stopped immediately, though the tears continued to stream from Alana's eyes. "Thank God," he sighed, flinging Alana back as he stomped away in the direction of the kitchen.
He made his way straight to the refrigerator, pulling out a beer before slamming the door shut so hard the cabinets rattled. He popped the top off his beer and took a big slug. He stared at the bottle a moment before plunking it down on the counter. When he turned around he saw that Alana hadn't moved an inch. "You!" he stomped back over to her, "Little shit. Get out of here." He kicked her in the side, smiling viciously when she fell over.
He abandoned her abruptly, going instead to the cabinet next to the television and pulling out a bottle of hard liquor. He pulled away the foil and bit out the cork. He didn't bother to grab a glass simply gulping from the bottle as soon as he'd spit the stopper away.
He continued to rummage through the cabinet for a moment, pulling out bottle after bottle and lining them up carefully at his side. At the very back of the cabinet was the worn old shoebox he'd been looking for. He dragged it to him and ripped away the top. The photos inside spilled across the floor and he made no move to stop them, simply staring at what he could see of each one; occasionally tipping the bottle back.
He had finished the first bottle and was well on his way into the second when the sound of sniffling brought him from his silent contemplations. His head jerked up and he saw Alana curled up where he'd left her. And suddenly he was furious, "YOU!" He was on his feet in a moment, running to Alana.
He had her by her throat in a moment, one hand holding her aloft as the other pounded into her side. He quickly decided that that wasn't enough and dropped her to the floor again, his foot slamming into her immediately. She was knocked back several feet and he followed. A grin split his face and he stomped the two steps needed to reach her, kicking her again, reveling in the feeling of her small body being sent flying by his foot.
He'd only kicked her a few feet down the hallway before he realized she'd lost consciousness and lost interest. He stomped back into the living room, leaving her bloody and beaten on the floor.
NCIS
Gibbs placed a kiss to Jenny's temple, glad that she was finally in bed and asleep. He scribbled a quick note in case she woke up before he returned and slipped from the house, Alana's bag in hand.
He drove at his usual pace to the address Wren had given him, picking up speed when he entered the neighborhood and realized there was no way she lived here.
Parking the car Gibbs grabbed the bag out off the backseat and made his way quickly up the cement pathway. He reached up to knock on the door, his anxiety peaking when it creaked open.
Hand on his gun Gibbs slipped silently into the house. He dropped Alana's bag just inside the door before taking a look around. The TV was on, a man passed out on the couch surrounded by several bottles of alcohol. Shaking his head in disgust Gibbs turned in the other direction, praying that his gut was wrong.
As soon as he took a step into the hallway he identified the tiny mass halfway down it as his little girl.
"Alana!" he breathed. He was at her side in an instant, scooping her into his arms and racing back out of the house, no longer worrying about being quiet. He got her set up in her booster seat before remembering her bag still inside the house. Deciding that he'd better get it, he'd packed Teddy after all, Gibbs raced back up to the house.
He slammed the door open and the man on the couch jumped. He fell to the ground with a grunt, pushing himself up on his arms just enough to see Gibbs in the doorway.
Grabbing Alana's bag the Federal Agent fixed the pathetic excuse for a human with his most piercing glare. "If you ever come near my daughter again I will tear you apart limb by limb," he promised, before turning back out the door.
A/N: I'm just going to restate what I said at the beginning, this is it, there are no more bad things after this. At least not bad at this level. There will be the usual team fights, injuries, etc. but nothing like this ever again.
Next chapter will be up sometime Saturday night, please don't kill me in the meantime.