Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS

A/N- Okay so I honestly didn't expect for me to update so soon, but this chapter wouldn't leave me alone! I hope it's okay, any mistakes I apologise for. The first lot of italics are Jenny's thoughts. The song in the middle is 'home is where the heart is' by Lady Antebellum. I got the CD with it on yesterday and am in love with it. There are not many chapters left I don't think, maybe two. I dunno yet. Anyways…enjoy…

For the first time in years Jenny Shepard woke up with a hangover. Her head was pounding and the only thing she was certain of was that Ally was going to die for giving her all that wine last night. Jenny grabbed a hair band from her bedside cabinet, and shoved her hair up in a bun. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen to see her mum.

"Hey love." Said her mum.
"Hey." Jenny replied roughly.
"Hang over?"
"Yeah. Ally is so dead." Jenny stated as she reached for coffee.
"Erm no. Whenever you were hung over as a teenager you said the only thing that worked was going for a run. So, no coffee, go get changed and go for a run."
"Fine, thanks mum." She replied.

Upstairs Jenny ran again, feeling more like a teenager than a full grown woman. She changed into a pair of joggers and a t-shirt and went for a run. Outside the ground was still damp from the dew. The sir smelt damp and cool. Jenny smiled as she ran, memories flooded her mind. Her mum was right, she'd run a lot all through her teen years and early twenties. Not only if she was hung over, but if she was upset too. After her father's death just running had gotten her through it. Yet as she got up higher in NCIS, her hours increased and she never really ran any more. She could tell her stamina had dropped too, once the course she was running wouldn't have fazed her, now it was. She realised now though, that long hours, living on coffee and old age where taking their toll on her body.

This was the job I wanted over a decade ago. This is what I claimed I wanted. I sacrificed all I could to get here. I set love to a side and left Jethro, I pushed away my friends and family. Now I wonder if it was all really worth it. 12hours of sleep a week if I'm lucky, living on coffee, fighting every day to prove I'm capable. Is this what I really signed up for?

Thoughts ran through her head as she ran, and before too long she was back at her mum's front door. Hangover free too as it seemed. Upstairs she ran and showered. She got out of her sweaty cloths and changed into a pair of black leggings and purple vest top. She shoved up her wet curls in a bun and sat down on her bed in front of her laptop.

"I'm off to the shop, you want anything?" shouted her mum up the stairs.
"A bottle of bourbon wouldn't go amiss. Don't think I can stomach any more whine."
"Where does your taste come from?" laughed her mum as she closed the front door.

Jenny turned on her laptop and for once bypassed her e-mail account, instead heading for YouTube. She typed in a song and it slowly began to play. When it was released she'd heard it and felt touched. In her own way the lyrics spoke to her.

I felt I was spinning my wheels,
Before too long the road was calling,
I packed everything I own,
So sure that I was leaving this small town life for good,
And not a single tear was falling,
It took leaving for me to understand,
Sometimes your dreams just aren't what life had planned,

Downstairs as her mother left the house she was greeted by a man. He was tall and had a marine haircut. He was quite handsome in her eyes.

"Can I help you?" she questioned.
"Hi…erm I'm Jethro, I erm…I work with Jenny. I trained her before she became my partner and then-"
"Your boss. You're that Jethro."
"Ye. She in?"
"She is yes. But, be careful she's not herself at the minute. Just-"
"Treat her gently? I wouldn't dream of doing anything less." He replied smiling.

He went inside and followed the sound of music. It was a country beat which surprised him. There again, he was surprised Jenny listened to music. But then again he knew she'd gone through a lot in her life and everyone had a coping mechanism, his' his boat. He stood outside her door as the last few lyrics sounded out. He looked at her, mesmerised by her beauty. But he actually studied her for the first time since his return. She was thinner. She'd always been slim, but now she was skinny. Her skin was paler than usual and her eyes weren't as bright as they used to be.

Mama said home is where the heart is,
When I left that town,
I made it all the way to West Virginia,
And that's where my heart found,
Exactly where I'm supposed to be,
It didn't take much time,
It's just south of the Mason Dixon line,
It's just south of the Mason Dixon line,

She sensed a presence at her door and looked to see Jethro. Blushing she silenced the last few bars of music and turned to him. Embarrassed she'd been caught out.

"Jethro…you should have said something. I'd have turned it off. Wait…what are you doing here? And how on earth did you get in."
"Your mum let me in. And I'm here Jen, because we both said we need to talk. Now seems as good a time as ever."
"I suppose we both have to face our demons sooner rather than later. Not here though, mum'd have a field day if she could hear us. There's a park down the road. It's a school day so it'll be empty."

The walk down to the park was silent. Jenny was caught up in her thoughts and Jethro was looking around at the area. Entering the park they walked over to a bench under a weeping willow tree. They sat and all of a sudden Jethro couldn't stand the silence any more.

"I know Jen."
"Know what." She asked although she knew exactly what he was on about she didn't look up from her feet.
"I know what happened when I was away. Tony told me. If it's any consolation he didn't break easily."
"Thanks."
"Why didn't you tell me Jen?"
"Because you had just relived losing your wife and child. I couldn't even imagine how painful that must have been for you. I wasn't about to load all this on you, what kind of person would I have been if I had."
"And?"
"And what?"
"That is not the only reason Jen. I'm not as gullible as Tony."
"Suppose not. Honestly? I didn't want you seeing me as weak. I can take down five armed men double my size and win. But I can't fight my own body. How weak does that sound."
"Not at all weak Jen, just human."
"I've been thinking."
"About?" questioned Gibbs in a soft voice.
"Lots. But when I look in the mirror these days I don't like what I see. Years ago I wouldn't have done half the things I do now. This job has changed me, and I don't like who I am. I'm thinking of changing that."
"How?"
"I don't know. But I'm gonna talk to the Sec Nav. I suppose we'll just see what comes of it."
"You leaving?"
"I really don't know. All I do know is that I can't continue the way I have being doing."

They fell into a comfortable silence. Yet as they looked up they caught one another's eyes. It was more emotional that either had meant it to be.

"I should…erm…I should go…mum'll be home and I'm meant to be meeting Ally."
"Ye, I'd better get back to the team before rumours start."

Jenny quickly began to walk off before she heard her name being called. The way he said it was full of emotion. He hadn't spoken her name like that since Paris. It brought back so many emotions she'd kept hidden.

"Jen."
"Ye?"
"I'll see you at the wedding."
"Ye, you will. Goodbye Jethro."
"Bye Jen."

Leroy Jethro Gibbs left that small village that day feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He'd managed to speak to Jenny and he now understood why she hadn't told him. Pride as usual. But he also couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment. He'd hoped today would bring more than just an explanation. He loved Jenny, and he just hoped with all his heart she did too.

Hope you enjoy!

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