12.) Tell her the way you feel about her.
Jenny was nervous about asking him. She didn't quite know where they were in this relationship and she didn't want to make him uncomfortable. She held the letter in her hands and was waiting for him to arrive at her office. She could hear him coming and seconds later Jethro was in her office standing in front of her desk with coffee. She smiled up at him.
"You wanted to see me…. Director?" he said with a smile and handed her his coffee. She took it and inhaled it. Jethro watched her drink it fast with his eyes wide. When she finished it, she put it in the trash.
"Thank you, I needed that. Actually Jethro I called you up here to ask you something." She said and handed him the letter. Jethro frowned and took it from her. He opened it and tried to read it, but he didn't have his glasses. Jenny handed him hers and he began to read it. His eyebrows went up as he did. When he finished he looked at her.
"Okay, so what time will you be ready by?" he asked. Jenny's eyes went wide and she stood up and got a confused look on her face.
"Wait, wait, wait… you will go with me?" she asked in shock and walked around her desk and stood in front of Jethro. Jethro shrugged and nodded. "Jethro… this is the First Lady's birthday invite, many lawyers, senators, governors, congressmen and women, and the president will be there. This is a very formal dinner party with suits and Champaign with most likely a very formal meal of duck or something and you are willing to come as my escort?"
Jethro nodded at her and said,
"Well yeah, I mean I know I absolutely hate these events and I will most likely carry a bottle of bourbon on me during the dinner, but you're my girlfriend and I would rather go and mark my territory and not have you go alone and have a bunch of senators grab your ass."
Jenny smiled and embraced him. She held him tight. She loved hearing him say she was his girlfriend. Jethro kissed the top of her head and held her tight back.
"Thank you Jethro, this means a lot to me." she said and pulls away, but not too far away. He smiled.
"You're welcome, but you do understand I will be going as your date and not protection. Sec Nav will be there and so we will be outed."
Jenny nodded and leaned forward and kissed him lightly. She then pulled away and put her hand on his cheek.
"I am fully aware Jethro, but I don't care what he has to say. He's not my father."
"But he is your boss and after the sexual harassment meeting a couple years ago he will take this very seriously."
"Jethro, you're my date, my boyfriend, my lover, and my closest friend. I want us to work this time."
She kissed him again.
"Well... technically you can't say we're lovers because we haven't actually..." he began when she cut him off.
"Okay, shut up." she said and kissed him again.
"We keep it off work… the majority of the time. I'm sure everything will work out fine." She said and smiled at him. He smiled back and kissed her one last time before leaving.
First Lady's Birthday at the White House:
Jenny's driver was driving Jenny and Jethro to the White House. Jethro was dressed in a black suit and had a black tie on. Jenny had her hair down and wavy and was wearing a strapless aqua colored dress with silver high heels that made her only about three inches shorter than Jethro. Jenny was surprised at how calm Jethro was being about this.
"We're almost there." Jenny said and took Jethro's hand. "How do you want to come out as? Hand in hand, arms looped, no touching?"
Jethro smiled and looked at her.
"Loop is fine, now the only thing that will set me off is the press when we step out." He growled. Jenny smiled and let out a relaxing breath. Jethro looked at her.
"You were too relaxed! You weren't yourself and to hear you say that made me feel a lot better." She said. Before Jethro could answer, they had arrived at the White House and their driver opened the door. Jethro got out and then assisted Jenny in getting out. She then looped her arm with his. The press was flashing cameras all over them as they walked into the building. They made it past all of the press without Jethro growling one thing at them. They entered the building and saw the place was packed.
"So, where are we sitting?" Jethro asked in her ear. Jenny looked around.
"Well, there is a seating chart right there so I am guessing we are supposed to look at that." Jenny said. Jethro chuckled as they headed down the stairs and into the main room. They looked at the chart.
"Well there it is. NCIS Director and date." Jethro said. They were seated two tables away from the president.
"We will be seated with SecNav, Deputy Director of Homeland security and his wife… oh that is Morrow!" Jenny said surprisingly.
"He always suspected something between us. We're also with Congressmen and his wife from Virginia and Senator Bob and date… wait the same one you dated?" Jethro asked. Jenny nodded. She took a deep breath.
"Someone direct me to the nearest bar." She said. Jethro chuckled, but he still didn't like sitting with one of her ex. They placed their stuff down and got a drink. They wandered the room and Jethro stood next to Jenny as she mingled with people. Jethro then saw Morrow coming their way and nudged Jenny. She turned and saw him coming over with his wife.
"Ah Director Shepard, Agent Gibbs good evening." Morrow greeted kindly.
"Hello sir." Jethro said.
"Hello Director Morrow," Jenny said. "And this is your wife?"
"Yes, this is my wife Padma." He answered kindly.
"It is nice to meet you both." Padma said and shook both of their hands.
"So Agent Gibbs, you head of the protection detail for her?" Morrow asked and took a sip of his drink. Jethro glanced at Jenny.
"In a manner of speaking." He answered. Morrow got a confused look on his face and was about to respond with the trumpets sounded and the President and First Lady entered. Everybody clapped for them as they came down the stairs. Jethro moved Jenny away from Morrow and his wife for the moment and into a quiet area near the bar.
"Okay so what are we going to tell people? We never really discussed the part when people asked?" Jethro asked.
"You're my date Jethro, you're my boyfriend, you're my lover, and you're the man I love." Jenny said. Jethro smiled and took her hands in his. He leaned forward and whispered,
"We can probably leave out the lover part considering we haven't actually…"
"Okay, okay…. Shut up." Jenny said and covered his mouth with her hand. Jethro smirked under her hand. She removed her hand from his mouth and replaced it with her mouth. She kissed him sweetly and then pulled away. Together they headed back out to talk with people. The first course was going to come out soon so Jenny and Jethro headed back to the table. Morrow and Padma were already there along with Senator Bob and his date. SecNav was still mingling.
"Ahh Jenny! How lovely it is to see you!" Bob said and went to pull out her seat, but Jenny sat one seat away from Bob. Jethro sat in between them. Jethro was going to make sure he kept her hands off of her. Jenny sat next to Jethro and Padma.
"So, how have you been? I mean it must have been hard for you after the shoot out in California?" Bob asked.
"I only received a shoulder and a grazed bullet on my side. I have recovered well." She answered. Just then SecNav and his wife, Denise, joined them.
"Ah Directors, Senators, and Agent Gibbs, good evening." He greeted them. They all said hello and the first dish came out.
"So, Director is Agent Gibbs your only protection for the evening?" SecNav asked. "I didn't see any other NCIS agents around the building?"
Jenny looked over at Jethro.
"In a manner of speaking." She answered quoting Jethro from before. Just then, the Congressman of Virginia and his wife seated. Everyone greeted them and then they began talking with Senator Bob and his date. Morrow and SecNav both turned back to talk to Jenny. She was talking with Jethro. Morrow and SecNav flashed a look at each other and the wives saw it.
"Oh honestly you both, let them be. Jenny is happy and finally recovered." Denise snapped.
"I fully agree. Tom, you know that NCIS director has a very demanding job, which leaves almost no room for a private life. Let her be!" Padma said.
"There are NCIS policies, Padma."
"You all do understand we can hear you right?" Jethro asked. The four looked over and saw Jethro and Jenny looking at them.
"Good for you two." Padma said and gave her husband a glare.
"I most certainly agree. If it is not displayed in the work place I think there is nothing wrong with dating." Denise said. Jenny gave a weak smile.
"We'll discuss this in the morning, right now this is a party." SecNav said. Jenny nodded and turned to see the president about to give a speech to his wife. When finished, people gathered on the Dancefloor to dance to a couple of slow songs before the main course. Jethro grabbed Jenny's hand and Padma and Denise grabbed their husbands. Jenny was shocked that Jethro would dance with her in public. The president had picked his wife's favorite song, and Jethro had overheard the name and recognized the name. He knew this is exactly how he would tell Jenny how he feels about her. He slipped his hands around her waist and Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck. Many couples including the president and his wife were dancing like this.
Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound
"Jen… there has been something I've wanted to tell you for a long time." Jethro whispered.
"What?" she whispered back.
"Just listen to the song." He said and took her hand. She slipped a hand around his waist and he did the same and brought her close.
I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
Jenny felt her eyes beginning to water, but she held it together as they danced.
It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out
She continued to listen. He was willing to risk everything for her, all the NCIS rules and he wanted her to risk it, too.
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
Jenny tightened her grip on his hand to let him know she was listening and felt the same way.
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Jethro looked at her and saw a tear falling down the side of her cheek. He brushed it away and met her emerald eyes.
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again
Their foreheads met as they danced. He could hear her breathing and she could hear him. After nine years, they were finally back the way they were, happy and in each others arms. The song began to come to a close and Jenny looked up at Jethro. Her eyes were red and she leaned forward and kissed him as the last part played.
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
"Jethro…" she said.
"That's how I feel with you now Jen. You and only you."
She smiled and intertwined their hands. Things were finally in place for them.