Long Enough Alone?

Chapter 10 -- Talking to Ducky

On Sunday Jethro met with Brian and they discussed the new porch for the back of the house. Jethro had marked off the size he wanted and sketched what he wanted it to look like. Brian was always happy to work for Jethro because he knew what he wanted and what it took to get it done.

"Okay, so basically you want to do it like we did the house right? I'll do all the prep work, get it framed and you make it look nice."

Jethro chuckled, "yeah that's it. I'll put down the deck and install the screens. You frame out the windows and I'll do the trim work. I'd like you to do the roof of course. How long do you think it will take?"

Brian looked at his work calendar and then at the plans. "I can get it ready for you by Memorial Day weekend."

"That would be great. Thanks Brian."

"No problem. This mean you'll be here more often?"

"Who knows. It all depends on work."

"Too many bad guys still out there I guess."

"Afraid so. And speaking of work, I better get going or I'll be in the worst of the traffic. Call me if you have any problems."

"I will. Hey, you bringing the decking yourself?"

"Yes, and I'll bring the screens.

"Okay. Be careful Jethro. I'll be in touch."

Jethro packed his few things, locked the cabin and was soon on his way home. He didn't stop to see Martha preferring not to risk running into Jen.

He went back to work on Monday and forced himself not to think about Jenny Sheppard. He focused only on the case they were working and if they didn't have a case he found a cold one for them to work. If his team wondered why his mood was so bleak they knew better than to ask. They each noticed of course and they each speculated privately about why he was suddenly so grouchy after several weeks of relative good humor.

Only Ducky had the courage to venture into the unknown. That was why he was making his way down the stairs of Jethro's basement late Friday night.

"Hey Duck. What are you doing here?" Jethro was working on his latest boat and looked up to see his friend making an unannounced visit.

"Good evening Jethro. I've come to see if there is anything I can help you with."

"You want to do some sanding, Duck?"

"No my friend I'm referring to your mood this past week. Are you alright? You seem very distracted and unhappy these last several days. Has something happened?"

Jethro put down the sander and sighed heavily. Ducky was one of his oldest and his most trusted friend and he knew better than to lie to him.

"Just trying to work out some stuff, Duck. I guess I'm not doing a very good job of keeping it out of the office. I'll keep that in mind next week."

"That's not the point, Jethro. Is it anything that talking might make clearer? You know I can listen just as well as I can tell a story."

"I know Duck."

The two men remained silent in the musty, cool basement. Jethro knew he could trust Ducky and would undoubtedly get good advice from him. He just wasn't sure he was ready to face the prospect of having his mind changed. He was just beginning to accept not seeing Jen and he wasn't sure he wanted to risk Ducky talking him into giving the situation another look.

Ducky knew Jethro was working out whether or not to open himself up and talk. They had been through a lot together both professionally and personally including Jethro's three divorces. Ducky was one of the few people who knew about Shannon and Kelly and how much their deaths continued to haunt his friend. From long experience Ducky was sure Jethro's mood the past week was somehow tied to that sad chapter of his life.

Finally Jethro stepped over to his workbench where Ducky was sitting. He reached behind his friend and pulled the picture of Sophie with the fish out of a drawer and handed it to Ducky without comment.

"What a lovely child. Who is she?"

"Her name is Sophie. She's my neighbor at the cabin. Her mom's a Nurse Practitioner. The one who helped me when I was up there last month after I got shot."

"Ah. And is the mother as lovely as the daughter?" The twinkle in the medical examiner's eyes was unmistakable.

"Yes. She is."

"Jethro are you telling me these two beautiful females are the cause of your bad temper this past week."

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"You will have to explain yourself I'm afraid."

Jethro reached for the bourbon and an empty jar and poured Ducky a drink before refilling his own glass. He leaned against the hull of the boat and told Ducky everything. Everything from waking up in the driveway to taking Sophie fishing to Jen driving away from his house last Saturday night. He even told him about the tingly feeling he got whenever Jen was standing close to him. He told him about his reluctance to involve Sophie in something that could very likely end up hurting her. When he was finished he poured himself another drink and waited.

Ducky considered everything Jethro had told him. He understood his friend's reluctance to become involved with Ms. Sheppard. He acknowledged Jethro's track record with women was not good--at least not after he married them. And he respected Jethro's concern for Sophie's feelings and her future. Part of him wanted to argue against all those things and encourage Jethro to take this chance at happiness. However, another part understood his need to hold back and agreed it was not a good risk especially for the child. Jethro would never forgive himself if he became serious with this woman then the relationship failed and the child was caught up in the ugliness of that failure.

"As much as I would like to see you happy Jethro I have to agree you are making the wise and unselfish choice. The risk to little Sophie has to be the number one consideration. Of course, her mother is the person who knows her child best and she might have a different view. But, you know yourself and if you are not comfortable with this then by all means do not go forward."

Jethro was shocked that Ducky didn't try to change his mind. He wondered if he was using some kind of reverse psychology on him.

"That's the thing Ducky, I haven't felt as comfortable around anyone as I do Jen in a long time. I mean a really long time. I know she's dying to ask questions but she doesn't. She's very easy to be with. She's a very calm person but I can tell there's a fire in there and not too far below the surface either. But not the kind of fire that will lead her to come after me with a blunt object. You know? More like she'd stand up to me and hold her own but not in a mean way. She's different, Duck. Special."

"So, you've decided to see her again I gather." Ducky could barely conceal his laughter. He had not intentionally set Jethro on this course but it was obvious this was what Jethro had wanted all along; someone to act as a sounding board. "You have presented your argument very well Jethro and then shot it down yourself. If you truly believe this woman is someone you could love then pursue that apart and away from the child. See Ms. Sheppard here in DC without the child present. I know you can control yourself when Sophie is at your house there. She has no reason to know what her mother is doing as an adult. If things don't work out between the two of you Sophie need not know. That is assuming her mother is capable of keeping any emotional upset she may experience away from the child."

By the time Ducky left in the early hours of Saturday morning the two men had rehashed the entire situation several more times. Jethro went from saying he didn't want to get involved to telling Ducky what it felt like when Jen was standing in his personal space. Eventually he had to admit that if Jen showed him she wanted to know him and spend time with him he wouldn't stop her. Or himself.

Ducky marveled at how willing Jethro was to talk about his feelings for the child and the mother. He knew Jethro had a special way with children but he always managed to keep them at arm's length. Not so this little girl it seemed. She had obviously maneuvered her way into his heart and that was not easy to do. Driving home Ducky said a silent prayer for his friend and the two redheads who had captured his interest.

Jethro guarded his emotions as closely as he guarded his privacy. Ducky knew this was an attempt to protect himself from further heartache although he was sure Jethro wouldn't characterize it as such. Since his divorce from Stephanie, Jethro had made it a point not to become romantically involved. Ducky knew he had had relationships over the years but none that progressed to the serious stage. As far as he knew Jethro had decided he liked the single life; he liked his privacy and the ability to spend hours in his basement with only his boat and his bourbon for comfort. For some reason Jethro was now wiling to take a risk with Jenny Sheppard. Ducky was very anxious to meet her.

TBC