TITLE: Better late than never
AUTHOR: nicis_anatomy
CHARACTER: Jenny Shepard, Abby Sciuto
GENRE: Gen, episode tag for 3.09 "Frame up"
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 500
SUMMARY: She had only tried to do her job but then she realized that she'd almost ruined two lives of the ones close to her ... Written for prompt #19 "Next Time" for lj's 24_times
WARNINGS: English still isn't my native language (although I wish) and the story is not beta'd.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. If I would Season 5 would have ended different.

~*~*~*~*

Abby's overworked. She needed help down there.

Jenny had hired Sterling with her best intentions. It was her job to increase the efficiency of each employee to increase the efficiency of the whole agency, and that had been the only reason for Sterling's employment.

You haven't been here long enough to know what she needs yet, Jen.

Jethro probably had been right. She hadn't known Abby or any other employee long enough to really know them. But it wasn't her job to know everyone; their names, their profession… of course but besides that … Someday she might know most of them, and Jenny had the strong feeling that she would know the ones working for Jethro best. Some day in the future.

It's not me you have to worry about, Director.

She'd smiled when he'd warned her. She really couldn't see Abby hurting someone but after today … Tonight she'd seen Abby from a totally different perspective. She'd never imagined Abby being a fighter. Abby was a hugger. But still … what she'd done tonight had probably saved her life - and Jenny's, too; because Jethro would never have forgiven her if anything had happened.

Now can I work alone?

As shocked as she'd been when she'd seen Sterling lying on the floor, tied up with duct tape, Jenny couldn't help but smile, knowing she would never doubt Abby's efficiency again. When she wanted to work alone she would work alone; but not tonight.
After everyone had left to take care of Sterling, Jenny had stayed behind to help Abby cleaning up. They'd worked in silence, and it wasn't until they were nearly finished that Jenny broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, Abby," she said, without realizing what she was doing. "I should've listened to Gibbs. But …"
"You just tried to do your job, director."
Jenny nodded. "It's not easy … especially when you work with someone like Gibbs."
Abby smiled knowingly, and they both fell back into silence. They worked hand in hand as if they'd done this before.

She's a lot like you– very hands-on.

By the time Jenny hadn't known what Jethro had tried to tell her but after tonight she was almost sure that there was something she and Abby had in common. Not visible or obvious, but still there. Somewhere…
"Next time you …" Abby's voice startled Jenny out of her thoughts and she looked up.
"There won't be a next time, Abby."
"You promise?"
"I promise." Jenny smiled. "Now, come on. Tony's waiting for you. Last time I saw him he looked like he could use a hug."
Abby beamed with joy; as always when someone promised her the opportunity for a hug. "And pizza," she said excited, already on her way to the elevator. "We should order pizza."
"We should," Jenny said quietly, watching Abby leave. She still hadn't celebrated the start of her new job. Maybe tonight was the right time to do it.
It would be a few months late … but like they said: Better late than never.

- The End -