Author's Note: Hey ya'll! Happy Belated New Year! I promised some reviewers that this chapter would be up last week (Sorry guys!) but the school just started and I'm totally piled with homework right now I can't even. I'l try to update whenever I can, but right now my update schedule is pretty unorganised. Again, I'm so sorry to people who have been waiting for this chapter, but it's finally here! Oh, some OOC, especially big ones on SECNNAV's part.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS
ENJOY!
The next morning, at exactly 0915, Jenny and Jethro went into MTAC and cleared everyone out except Cynthia, whom Jenny appointed to do the tech work, because she trusted Cynthia the most.
As they waited for the next fifteen minutes to pass, Jenny and Jethro bickered as usual while Cynthia sat in the corner, snickering at them. Jethro shot her a glare that she was unfazed by while Jenny told him not to look at her assistant like that.
Sooner than later, 0930 came and Cynthia opened the feed.
"Director," greeted SECNAV and Morrow as they appeared on the screen.
"SECNAV, Morrow." Jenny greeted. Jethro just nodded in response.
"Jenny – what do you think you're doing?" demanded SECNAV. "Starting a relationship with one of your agents – the press are all over it –" he held up a copy of Stars & Stripes with a big, blow-up photo of them kissing at the ball the night before, the headlines entitled 'FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR OF AN ARMED FEDERAL AGENCY HAVING LOVE AFFAIR WITH ONE OF HER LEADING AGENTS' "Couldn't you have kept it a secret?"
"We've been keeping it a secret for over a year now, sir." Snapped Jenny. She didn't like her personal life being discussed in the papers, and she certainly didn't like the fact that it was being discussed in MTAC, with her significant other, her boss, and her ex-boss.
She glared at her boss, refusing to feel ashamed about the best thing that's ever happened to her.
"What?" roared SECNAV, and Jethro felt Jenny tense up beside him. "You've been doing this behind my back?"
"A minute ago it, this wasn't about the fact that we were doing this behind your back – it was about the press." Said Jethro calmly, wrapping an arm around Jenny's waist and pulling her closer to his side.
Jenny smiled up at him, silently thanking him for his support. He smiled back softly.
"Well then," said Morrow finally. "This isn't a one-time thing, then?"
The couple shook their heads and SECNAV glared at Jenny.
"What were you thinking?" berated SECNAV. "How could you start a relationship with a subordinate and not expect this to not make it the tabloids?"
"We didn't say that we didn't expect this to make it to the tabloids, sir." Said Jenny, glaring at him with equal intensity. "We simply do not give a damn what they say."
"Did you two honestly think I would be okay with this?" asked SECNAV angrily.
"Phillip," warned Morrow – they had agreed not to meddle in their affairs any further than what they did to the press.
"I will not stand idly by while you two start a sex scandal –"
"This is not a scandal," said Jenny sharply, and Jethro inhaled – he had heard that voice before, and if he had hoped that he never needed to hear it again – because it meant that she was beyond angry, and that meant that SECNAV was most probably going to get his ass whooped. "I'm starting a relationship with someone I love very much, and with all due respect, sir, I don't give a flying fuck about what anybody thinks about me – including you."
Jethro, Morrow and Cynthia cringed together while SECNAV stared at her with a mix of shock and anger.
"And if you expect me to stop this relationship because you're afraid of a sex scandal –" she paused and took a deep breath. "Then you'll have my resignation letter on your desk by sundown. "
She violently took off her headset and threw it on the ground, stomping up the ramp and out of MTAC, slamming the door roughly as she went and making Cynthia cringe once more.
SECNAV and Morrow stared at the spot that Jenny had just vacated, open-mouthed and slightly shocked at her outburst. Jethro was equally stunned, though he didn't show it. He turned back to the monitor.
"I suppose she got that from you?" said SECNAV, looking back at Jethro and raising an eyebrow.
"Nah," said Jethro, shaking his head. "She was born with it."
"What do you suppose we do, Tom?" asked SECNAV.
"It seems pretty clear they're not stopping this," said Tom. "So you can either fire Jenny, or be okay with this."
"Well, it's clear that there will be no replacement for Jenny," said SECNAV.
"Wait, what?" asked Jethro, not understanding. Wasn't Vance Assistant Director.
"You're A.D made it clear last night at the ball that if I fired Jenny because of this, he would resign immediately." Said SECNAV grudgingly, wondering how Jenny made so many people loyal to her in her short reign as Director. Jethro smirked, silently thanking Leon Vance. "And since there are no other suitable candidates for the job, I guess I will be forced to accept the fact that you two are involved with each other –"
"Leroy. Jethro. Gibbs." Came a deadly voice as the door slammed. Jethro inhaled again sharply – she was doing the voice that she had been doing before she left. "It isn't even ten a.m. and you've already found a way to royally piss me off, you nuisance!"
Jenny stormed back down the ramp, and SECNAV and Morrow watched, a slight smirk gracing their features.
"Wha – I didn't –" stammered Jethro.
"Don't you start with me, Jethro!" said Jenny angrily, holding up a hand. "Did you see the news? Every news channel is buzzing about the fact that you 'do not give a damn what the press thinks' –"
"What – I didn't say that – Jen! – they're editing it, I didn't say that!" repeated Jethro.
"Jethro, I don't want to hear it! I told you specifically that when someone shoves camera up your ass stick with 'No. Comment.'. Is that so hard to do? Goddamn it, Jethro, you're an effing headache –"
"Now I'm a headache - ?"
"No, Jethro – you're a – you're a headache, stomach ache, chest ache – goddamn it, you're a fucking period!" she shouted.
At the last statement, Cynthia let out a muffled laugh – even SECNAV and Morrow were smiling, extremely amused at a terrified Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Jenny walked up the ramp again.
"Honestly, Jethro, next time, you clean up my mess while I piss the media off!" she said angrily, slamming the door again.
There was a moment of silence in MTAC.
"On second thought, Jennifer Shepard shall stay as Director of NCIS as long as I live." Declared SECNAV, laughing at the look on Jethro's face.
"Note: to control Leroy Jethro Gibbs, scream uncontrollably and call him a period." Teased Morrow.
Jethro rolled his eyes and glared at Cynthia, who was still laughing silently.
"Well then, Phillip, we agree that anyone who can scare Gibbs is a win," said Morrow.
"Definitely," agreed SECNAV, but his voice turned from amused to a warning tone as he addressed Jethro. "But don't let me catch you getting personal while you're on the job."
"Of course, sir." Said Jethro.
"Well then, that's that." Concluded SECNAV. He bade goodbye to Jethro and Morrow, and they responded in kind.
A second later, the screen went blank.
~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~
Cynthia watched, completely amused but trying to hide it, as Jethro paced up and down her office, looking at the Director's door and hesitating on whether to enter or not.
"Would you like me to page the Director first?" offered Cynthia.
Jethro shook his head and made up his mind. If he was going to die today, he'd rather it be sooner than later.
The moment he opened the door, he was greeted by Jenny's all-too-famous glare. And he tried to escape, but as soon as he opened the door, she said, "If you go out that door, you are never stepping foot in this building ever again."
He closed his eyes and gulped, closing the door slowly. The moment the door closed, Jenny stood up, walked over to Jethro and gave him a well-deserved punch in the arm.
"Ow – Je-en!" he whined.
"Honestly, Jethro, don't piss me off again." She warned.
Then, she smiled, and put her arms around Jethro, hugging him tightly. He frowned at the sudden change, but welcomed it nevertheless.
"What did SECNAV say after I left?" asked Jenny.
"The first time or the second time?"
"Both."
"The first time he said that he was going to have to force himself to accept the fact that we're together because there's no other suitable candidate for the position – Leon said that he'd quit if he fired you because of this." Said Jethro and Jenny bit her lip, smiling and silently thanking her friend. "The second time he said he changed his mind, because anyone who can intimidate me needs to stay."
He pouted as she laughed and she kissed him softly.
"So it all worked out?" she asked softly, and he nodded.
She smiled brightly at him and hugged him, burying her face in his shoulder and kissing his neck softly.
They stayed like that for a while before Jethro said he had to go for updates on the case, promising to see her for dinner.
~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~
"Director, you have a lunch appointment with you sisters in five minutes." Reminded Cynthia.
"Right, thank you, Cynthia."
"You're welcome, Director."
Jenny got out of her office and speed-walked to the bullpen, wanting to get an update on the case before going out for lunch.
As soon as the team saw her, they got up and explained the case and their progress, knowing what she wanted because it was already part of their procedure at this point.
She smiled once they finished and dismissed the team for their lunch, rolling her eyes when Jethro tried to play the 'I'm their boss' card.
"Yes, and I'm your boss, Jethro, and all of you work for me – so deal with it." She said, folding her arms.
The team shuffled out after promising to get take-out and come back as soon as they can. Jenny smiled sweetly at Jethro, going behind his chair and wrapping her arms around his neck. She started pressing soft, sweet kisses to his neck and shoulder area.
"Last night was wonderful," she whispered sexily into his ear, "You think we could do that again?"
"We can do that again anytime you want," he whispered back slightly aroused.
"Mm. I thought so."
She continued peppering tender kisses, sucking and licking the skin on his neck. They were both interrupted by the sound of someone clearing her throat.
They sprung apart, partially annoyed at being interrupted and slightly embarrassed at being caught.
"You go, Jenny!" cheered Jade, winking suggestively at them.
Amelia rolled her eyes and Heather shook her head.
"Really? In the middle of the bullpen?" she asked, slightly exasperated.
Jenny shrugged and Heather rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, your sisters have completely lost it." Said Heather, just as the team came strolling back in with their food.
They tried to hide their smiles at the sight of Jenny's sisters – they had been their daily source of entertainment every time they came to pick Jenny up for lunch. They greeted the redheads and took their seats, waiting with their bag of takeout, Ziva passing Gibbs his usual before taking hers.
"They never had it," said Jenny, putting a hand on her hip. "What've they done now?"
"They're going back to New York."
"What?"
"Tomorrow."
"What?"
Heather nodded and Jenny looked at the other two redheads in disbelief.
"And you're only telling us this one day before you were leaving?" she almost shouted, gripping onto the back of Gibbs' chair, lowering her head and counting to ten to calm herself down.
"Jenny, we know you're upset, but can we please take this discussion elsewhere?" said Amelia politely.
Jenny shook her head, grabbed her coat from where it laid on Jethro's table and put it on, beckoning for her sisters to follow her.
~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~
They were in a diner now and softly arguing in sort of a cross between hissing, whispering and shouting kind of voice.
"What do you mean you didn't want to ruin my Valentine's Day with Jethro?" hissed Jenny. "Don't you use that as an excuse, Amelia Grace, or you, Jade Lynn, because some kind of warning-"
"It's true!" Jade hissed back viciously, in a shouting but whispering voice. "Since we came you guys spent like only one full week together where you didn't have any interruptions and that was months ago, Jenny."
"You could've told me – told us – earlier, we would've understood-" added Heather, as a waitress raised an eyebrow in amusement behind the counter.
"How many times have we told you it was a last minute assignment from our bosses?" said Amelia defensively. "And Jade's right – you didn't spend nearly enough time with Jethro as you should've and it was Valentine's Day! You guys were supposed to enjoy it as a couple, not with eating candlelit dinners in the living room watching Grease with your three sisters and Noemi watching like voyeurs-"
"Who said I would've stayed in that night if you had told me then?" said Jenny, and three heads turned to her, raising their eyebrows in an I-know-you sort of way.
"Are you saying that you wouldn't have?" asked Jade.
"You would've wanted to spend the last few days you get to see two of your sisters, whom you only see twice or three times a year, with them, and not with your neglected boyfriend, even if it was Valentine's Day." Said Amelia smartly.
Jenny shook her head.
"I still can't believe you guys are leaving tomorrow," she said sadly, as their food was served.
"We'll still come back," assured Amelia. "We have Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and then New Year's-"
"Amelia, those are at the end of the year," said Jenny, looking annoyed. "We've only just started 2014."
"I know, but it's not like we're leaving forever," said Jade, looking at her sister. "We could Skype and stuff, and I could show you my sketches for my new line – I can even get you guys free clothes once it comes out."
Jenny looked a bit more relieved – she only ever saw her sisters twice or three times a year, and before Katherine, they had promised to each take a year off to spend time together, and Jenny had been looking forward to being surrounded by her sisters – she had missed their arguments and petty bickers and sexual references about everything, and the thought that she was going to have that for an entire year had really made her happier.
But then, of course, it was inevitable that life would interfere with their plans – first Katherine, now this? Jenny really should've seen it coming.
She probably wouldn't see Jade or Amelia in person until Thanksgiving, but that was okay, because life happens.
Life moves forward, to the future.
And she will too.
~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~ NCIS ~ JIBBS ~
"Hey," said Jethro, looking up to the basement staircase, surprised to find Jenny there. "What're you doing here? I thought you went home after dinner."
She shrugged, continuing her journey down the stairs cautiously.
"I thought you wanted to spend time with your sisters since they were going home tomorrow," said Jethro, tilting his head slightly.
"Amelia told me that you knew they were going to leave. Why didn't you tell me?" she said, ignoring his implied question.
"She told me not to tell you," he answered.
"You could've told me anyways-"
"And what, ruin the one time we could spend the night with each other?" said Jethro. "I wanted to be with you, Jen. Alone. No sisters, no interruptions. We haven't had that since your sisters came. I wanted to lie down beside you and make love to you. Was that so bad?"
"No," she said softly. "No it wasn't"
"If someone close to me told you to keep a secret from me, would you have done so?"
"Of course,"
"Then you see my point." Said Jethro. He sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. It's just that – it was our first Valentine's Day since 1999. I didn't want you to be sad," he came closer to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "I don't ever want to see you sad."
Last year, they didn't get to spend Valentine's day together, because she had gone away to Europe for a conference, but it wouldn't have mattered if she was with him anyway, because that very week, they had had five opened and unsolved cases.
Jenny nodded.
"I didn't realise – I thought you were okay – with me and my sisters – I mean, I didn't know –" she struggled to find the right words.
"I was okay with you spending time with your sisters," he said softly, "I just wished we had more time than just dinners together."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "But you could've said something, I would've understood."
He shrugged.
"You looked very happy." He said. "And I love seeing you happy."
She gave him a soft smile and a passionate but tender kiss.
"I love you," she said softly as she pressed their foreheads against each other.
"I love you too," he replied, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
So there ya go! What was your favourite part of the chapter? I thought that calling Jethro a period was pretty funny(hehe) and I'm so proud because I made that joke up by myself and it wasn't copyright at all :)
Oh, and thank you guys so much for putting up with my erratic update schedule, and for those who reviewed last chapter, thanks a bunch!
Don't forget to tell me what you like and what you don't in a review!
The next update will be for On The Job, so look out for that one ;)
Adios!
- Natalia