A/N: Here you go guys! The next chapter :-) :-) The next is ready and waiting to be posted, as is the rest of this story. HOWEVER, I have decided that the next chapter shall NOT be posted until I have 5 REVIEWS for this chapter. The quicker the reviews come in, the faster the next one shall be posted.

Thanks for all the reviews, alerts and favs so far.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Paige xx

Chapter Ten

Three months on and Jenny was still battling the disease. She had her good days and bad days. This day started out as a good day. Jethro had made love to her as the sun rose, he brought her breakfast on the way to work and he had ordered her a bunch of flowers that were waiting on her desk for her. She was so relaxed that she felt nothing would be able to bring her mood down, not even her medication. She got to work on her stack of files and paperwork, wanting to get as much done as she could. She never knew how she was going to be feeling the next day.

Down in Abby's lab, a scout group had been brought down on their tour of NCIS Headquarters. She was more than happy to have them there, but one hormonal teenage boy, was really getting on her nerves. She used him to demonstrate the finger print scanner. All was going well until she got a hid on a kidnapping. She called Gibbs who sent the other boys home before taking the boy to the conference room.

"What's your name bud?"

"Carson." He looked up at Gibbs. "Am I in trouble?"

"No. No."

"But the computer said I was kidnapped. I'm not kidnapped."

"Carson, we're going to speak to your father, okay?"

Carson nodded. "Can I go now?"

"'Fraid not kiddo, you'll have to stay with us until we get this straightened out."

Carson nodded. "Can I stay with Abby?"

Gibbs noticed the excited tone in his voice so he shook his head deciding that Tony would be better for the kid. "You'll be staying with one of my agents for a while, okay?"

Carson nodded, a little disappointed. "As long as they're fun."

"Don't worry kid, you'll get along just fine with Agent DiNozzo."

"Okay."

Five minutes later and Gibbs walked into the squad room with Carson at his side.

"DiNozzo!"

"Yes Boss!"

"Look after Carson. I'm going to brief the Director. Kate is working on finding the father."

"Yes Boss." Tony looked at Carson. "What do you want to do?

Carson shrugged. "Watch a film?"

Gibbs watched the pair from the catwalk for a few moments before chuckling and heading to Jenny's office. He stopped at Cynthia's desk.

"Is she in?"

Cynthia nodded. "I'll just see if she's busy."

"It's okay Cynthia, I'll knock." Gibbs waited for her nod before knocking on the Director's door.

"Enter!"

"Hello Jenny."

"Jethro." Jenny stood and went to him. "Thank you for everything this morning."

"You're more than welcome." They lovingly kissed before breaking apart to sit on the sofa.

"What can I do for you?"

"I've pulled an unsuspected case. One of the scouts is in the system as a kidnapped little boy. I have DiNozzo with him downstairs."

Jenny nodded. "What do you want to do?"

"Find the father and question him."

"Okay. Where is ..."

"Carson."

"Thank you. Where is Carson going to stay until then?"

"I'm hoping he is able to stay with his step-mother, I have Abby checking her out."

"And if he can't?"

"Then I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

Jenny nodded. "Is that all Special Agent Gibbs? I would like to speak to my lover now."

"Yes."

"Good." Jenny took a breath. "I've been thinking, perhaps I should retire from NCIS."

"Why Jen? You love this job."

"The stress. I was thinking that it couldn't be helping any of this."

"It'll work out Jen, I promise. We just need to give it time."

"How much time Jethro? I don't want to go through another disappointment."

"Neither do I Jen." He paused. "Perhaps we should take a vacation?"

"I'd like that."

"Good. Now, stop worrying about things and worry about getting your paperwork done before I come to take you home and ravish you."

Jenny blushed and nodded thinking of all the things that they would be doing that night.

~0~0~

Five O' clock rolled by. Six O' clock rolled by. Eventually her clock showed nine O' clock. Jenny signed the last of her paperwork and was about to stand and go looking for Jethro when he walked through the door with a file in hand.

"Close the case?"

"No, step-mother isn't a legal guardian so I need you to contact social services."

"Jethro, it's nine at night, who do you think is still at social services?" she sighed. "I'll look after him."

"Jen, do you think that's a good idea?"

"Don't Jethro. I want to do this."

Eventually he nodded. "I'll go and get him."

"Don't. I'm ready to go, I'll come down with you."

They stopped at the door. "We did bet on kissing in the squad room didn't we?"

"We did, why, Jen?"

"I want a good night kiss before I go."

Jethro nodded and brought her into his side as they headed for the squad room.

"Carson, this is Director Shepard, she'll look after you tonight, okay?"

He nodded. "Are you coming too?"

"I'll come over later. If you want me, just ask and I'll be called, okay?"

"Yeah."

Jenny came over and crouched in front of him. "You can call me Jenny."

"Okay."

"Grab your things and we'll head off." Jenny stood and went to Jethro. "Be safe."

"I promise. I love you."

"I love you too." Jenny brought Jethro's head down to meet hers and their lips met. She closed her eyes and lost herself in his love. When they broke apart, Jenny rested her head on his chest and he held her until Hector arrived to take her and Carson home.

"Say it."

"I will be safe. I will be back."

She pecked his lips. "I love you."

"I love you too, Jen." He walked the pair to the elevator and turned to Tony. "I do believe that me and Jenny won that one."

"What –"

Cynthia walked down the stairs. "Through me Tony."

Tony nodded and handed three hundred dollars over. "Everyone in the office and SecNav joined in boss."

Kate smiled and put her phone away, Jethro knew she had recorded it, but he didn't care as long as only Abby saw it.

~0~0~

Jenny watched from the doorway of her study as Carson read a magazine while listening to Jazz. She smiled and headed back upstairs to change. Half an hour later and there was a knock on the door.

"Jethro, there's no need to knock."

"You have company."

"We kissed in the squad room."

"Mmm, fair point."

Jenny nodded. "Why are you here?"

"I got a call." He indicated Carson.

Jenny hand went straight to her waist. "Ah, that's where it went."

Jethro nodded and stepped into the study and sat opposite him. "You said you want to talk."

Carson nodded and started talking about his father. Jethro added what he thought would do the kid some good before telling him to finish his hot chocolate and got to sleep.

"He'll be fine, Jen."

Jenny smiled and nodded. "Looks like he's alright now."

Jethro nodded. "I'll take him up to the guest room."

She nodded and followed him up. It pulled at their heartstrings knowing that soon they wouldn't be able to do this. Jenny walked Jethro to the door, but held his hand, not allowing him to leave.

"Stay Jethro."

"Jen I –"

"Please."

Jethro watched as a long tear slipped down her cheek, he couldn't leave her alone like this, so he nodded and brought her into his arms. He practically lived with her, but there was a child and he wanted to keep his earlier promise.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Jethro locked the door up and carried Jenny up the stair causing her to giggle lightly. In their bedroom, Jethro placed her on the bed and slowly took her clothes off. She returned the favour once she was just in her underwear. She could tell that this was effecting him and wanted nothing more than to let him have his way with her. She brought him down and kissed him. For a while they just kissed and gently caressed each other, but it was slowly becoming torture.

"Make love to me Jethro."

He didn't hesitate and they were quickly pressed skin to skin.

"I love you Jen."

"I love you too, Jet."

Anything else that was said was lost in the quiet gasps and moans of their love making.

~0~0~

Carson's father was found early the next morning and was at NCIS Headquarters when Jenny arrived with Carson. Carson spent the rest of the day split with Abby and Tony. Jenny's mood was pretty low and she submersed herself into the numerous amount of requests that she had to reply to. But when her hands started to shake an hour later, she stopped and decided to sit on the sofa and read her book.

~0~0~

"Thank you Agent Gibbs"

"It's no problem, kiddo."

"Can I say bye to Jenny, please?"

"Sure." Jethro led Carson up to Jenny's office and just walked in. "Jen."

"Oh! Hello Jethro, what can I do for you?"

"Carson just wanted to say bye."

Jenny sat up on the couch and nodded. Carson walked up to her and have her a hug.

"Thank you for looking after me."

"It's no problem Carson."

"You'd be a great mom!" He hugged her once more before waving to Gibbs and running out of the room.

Jethro waited for the door to close before sitting next to Jenny and bringing her into his arms. "Speak to me Jen."

"I've not got my medication with me."

"Oh, Jen." Jethro held her shaking hands.

"I want to go home." A tear slipped down her cheek. "It's starting to hurt."

"Come on then." He helped her into her coat and picked up her bag and brief case. "We'll take the elevator."

Jenny nodded and leaned into Jethro, letting him guide her. Once he had grabbed his coat from behind his desk, he guided Jenny back to the elevator.

"I'll be gone for the rest of the day. When you've finished your paperwork put it on my desk and leave."

"Yes Boss."

"Yes Gibbs."

In the elevator, Jenny turned and rested her head on Jethro's chest. Jethro held her close with his free hand and pressed a kiss to her crown. A single tear fell down her cheek and splashed on his coat, Jethro noticed and held her tighter. The disease had never been this bad before and Jethro wanted nothing more than to take the pain away.

They were home in no time. Jethro helped Jenny out of the car and straight up to their bedroom where her tablets were. He handed her two and a bottle of water. Once she had taken them, she kicked her shoes off and lay on the bed. Jethro sighed and started to take her suit off so she could be in her comfortable silk pyjamas. Half an hour later, Jenny sat on the sofa in the living room, starring into the fire as she waited for Jethro to finish making something to eat.

"Here you go."

Jenny took her plate from him, "Thank you."

"My pleasure, love."

Jenny smiled and leaned into his side as she slowly ate her sandwich. That night, Jenny snuggled as close to Jethro as possible and entwined their legs so that she would know if he tried to get out of bed. She didn't want to be alone.

To Be Continued ...