A/N: The beginning of this was especially for srushton24 though I'm hoping you all enjoy. Everyone's support means a great deal, and I absolutely love hearing what you have to say. Thank you!
***JIBBS***JIBBS***JIBBS***
The fact that Gibbs almost died the day before was weighing heavily on both their minds. They came so close to losing each other forever. For the moment, both Gibbs and Jenny wanted to shut out the world, shut out reality and simply hold onto each other for dear life. When he was kissing her, he believed anything was possible and he felt alive. When his lips touched hers, she knew life wasn't just incredible, it was also safe and she was home. But they couldn't stay that way forever. Jenny hated to do it, especially when she wasn't sure if mean Jethro would return, but she began to pull away. There were things that needed to get done.
Gibbs pulled her back, putting his hand behind her head and kissing her cheek, which was all he could reach. "Don't stop, Jen. Come back. I need you too much," he whispered desperately into her ear. He rubbed his face against hers until their lips found each other again. As their kissing intensified, his hands hungrily soaked in every inch of her body they could reach. Hearing how much he needed her, feeling it in his every touch, meant the world to Jenny.
He loved the way her fingers threaded through his hair, caressed his face and ran up and down his chest. She loved the way his hands felt running through her hair, grabbing at her ass and cupping her breasts. He couldn't get enough of her, and she couldn't get enough of him. Even though they were simply making out, it felt like one of the most erotic connections they'd ever shared.
"Jesus, Shepard… Gibbs."
Both jumped at hearing his voice - they looked up, panting heavily and disoriented from having their passion interrupted - not to mention extremely embarrassed at being caught. Well, at least Jenny was. She quickly looked down and covered herself back up, tossing an irritated look at her husband who seemed almost proud.
Jenny was the first to find her voice, albeit strained and perhaps cracking at times. "Phillip, what are you doing here?" she asked, as she quickly got off her husband and the bed, trying to locate what was left of her dignity by keeping her back to him as she buttoned up her blouse.
"I was headed to Norfolk for meetings today and thought I'd give your assistant here a ride on my plane. Since you weren't returning any of my calls, I figured this was the only way I was going to be able to get some answers."
Cynthia looked apologetically at her boss when she finally turned around, mortified on her behalf. She was carrying a briefcase and an overnight bag which she quickly brought over to Jenny. She whispered, "I did leave a message for you on your cell that we were coming."
Jenny whispered back, "Thanks for trying." She then stood tall and determined. "I'm sorry about the calls, sir, but obviously I've had a few things on my mind."
SevNav looked at Gibbs. "Obviously," he said, smirking.
"I didn't mean what you just walked in on," she added, still a bit flustered.
"I know," he said, concerned. "How are you, Jethro?"
Jenny knew her husband wouldn't want to chat about his condition with the Secretary of the Navy. "Sir, can I speak with you outside, please?" As she led him out of the room, she quickly turned back to Cynthia. "Can you find my father-in-law? He has Julia and is somewhere around this hospital but I'm not exactly sure where at the moment - maybe in the waiting room - and bring him back to this room?"
The assistant nodded as Jenny left. Cynthia then looked at Gibbs. "Glad to see you're being a bit nicer to her now."
"You have really crappy timing," he groused, scrubbing his hand down his face.
"Apparently," she smirked. And with that, Cynthia left the room to go find Jackson and Julia.
Gibbs, now alone, relaxed a bit. He replayed what happened with Jenny over and over in his mind. It was incredible and intense and hot and incredible and he was so grateful to her. She had been right about everything.
When a nurse walked in, he asked her how to work the reclining contraption so he could sit up a bit. After she showed him the simple button to press, he glared at her for making him feel stupid. Several minutes later, Cynthia returned with his father and daughter.
"Can you both give me a few minutes alone with Julia?"
Jack smiled. "You got it, son." He handed her over and then turned his attention to Jenny's assistant. "Cynthia, could I interest you in a cup of coffee? My treat?" She smiled as she took his offered arm and allowed him to lead her out of the room.
Gibbs held his daughter in front of him, trying to look her in the eye before he brought her close to him. His heart raced. "Did you just smile at me? Such a big girl." He kissed her cheek before cradling her in his arms, softly caressing her belly. "I owe you an apology, Jules. I wasn't nice, and I scared you and that was the last thing I ever wanted to do."
Jenny was about to enter the room but when she saw the sight before her, she hung back in the doorway, watching them unnoticed.
Gibbs never took his eyes off his daughter. "I bet it's hard to believe, but daddies can get scared too. Right now, all I want is to be able to take care of you and your mommy, protect you, love you." He studied every inch of her, caressing her hand, her head, touching her on her nose. "Your mommy was absolutely right. You do make me feel better."
Jenny smiled. "She is magic that way."
Gibbs turned his attention to the doorway, locking eyes with his wife. "How long have you been standing there?" He motioned for her to join them.
"Not too long. I didn't want to interrupt your conversation but I couldn't tear myself away from watching you with her. Very little in the world warms my heart more." She carefully sat on the edge of his bed, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on them both.
"You know, she smiled a real smile at me earlier," he said, bursting with pride.
Jenny leaned in close. "I want to see! Get her to do it again."
Gibbs switched her position, holding Julia up in front of him like he did before and she smiled at him again.
"Look at you, sweet girl." Jenny was beaming, so happy to see her daughter progressing as well as her husband's enthusiasm. She was almost able to push out of her mind that they were waiting on test results that would greatly impact the rest of their lives. Almost.
Gibbs saw the flicker of a mood change in Jenny before she was able to cover. "Looks to me like Mommy could use some special Julia magic right about now." She smiled when he handed Julia back over to her. "How did it go with SecNav?"
"I told him he was welcome to work on a Saturday but that I was taking today and tomorrow to be with my family… and possibly longer."
"Jen…"
"Don't use that tone with me, Jethro. The man took away my pregnancy leave, he ended my trip meeting my new father-in-law and I've done everything left and right that he's asked of me. You wondered when I'd be able to say no to him? This is it. The line has been drawn."
Gibbs understood, he just hated that it was because of him. He hung his head low, not able to look up at her.
Jenny noticed. She caressed his face, running her fingers into his hair. "I'm going to see you through this, whatever it takes. If that means a leave of absence, if I have to quit even, I don't care. Our family is what matters."
He reached for her hand and took it out of his hair and instead held it to his chest. "Don't do this."
She looked at him surprised. "Do what?"
"Don't risk your job. Don't make me feel worse." He locked eyes with her, willing her to understand.
She took her hand back to help her steady the baby as she shifted her to rest against her shoulder. "Julia and I will be around to help you through any rehab or physical therapy that might be necessary. Maybe I'll even get her a little cheerleading outfit," she smiled.
"Is there a reason you're choosing to ignore what I'm saying?"
"Yes. I don't like it."
Both turned when they heard Jack and Cynthia return.
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "This discussion isn't over."
Jenny looked at him and whispered in a very serious tone, "Just try to keep me away from you." They locked eyes again, only seeing each other.
Jack walked over and took Julia from Jenny. "What's with all the tension? I would have thought you two released enough of it earlier," he laughed.
Cynthia's eyes widened and both Jenny and Gibbs turned their attention to her. "It wasn't me, honest."
Jack laughed. "It was your boss, Jenny. He couldn't stop laughing about it. Ran into him in the hallway as he was leaving."
Jenny shook her head at her husband. "Great." She saw his face and frowned. "All my progress to be taken seriously has been undone - so what is with that stupid grin?"
"Can I help it if it's a pretty great memory?"
A smile slowly came over Jenny's face. "It was pretty great."
Cynthia remained quiet but rolled her eyes, not wishing to relive that particular moment again in her head. She shuddered at the thought.
"So what is the plan now?" asked Jack, as he made little noises to entertain Julia.
"Dr. Michaels asked if we'd wait here until the test results arrive but then we're going to all head back to Bethesda."
Gibbs didn't hide his surprise. "When was that decided?"
Jenny was confused. "Why, is it a problem? I would have thought you'd want to be closer to home. It would certainly make life easier going back and forth."
"For you."
Jack and Cynthia exchanged worried looks.
"Yes, for me, for the team and everyone else who cares for you. What's the problem?"
"The problem is, you didn't ask me. You just assumed. The doctors here are great."
Jenny sighed. "What's this really about because I'm pretty sure the doctors at Bethesda are great too."
He closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. "Can you guys…"
Jack and Cynthia couldn't get out of the room fast enough.
Jenny braced herself. "Okay, we're alone. What's this about?"
Gibbs scrubbed his hand over his face. "I'm not a child, Jenny. I don't want you making decisions about my care without at least consulting me."
Jenny sighed. "You're… absolutely right." She saw the surprised look on his face. "I should have asked. I'm sorry. I guess it never occurred to me that you wouldn't want to go back home. Why don't you?"
He looked at her and then down at his legs. "I don't want to see anyone," was all he could manage.
Her whole body sagged when the realization hit her. "It's not that you don't want to see them, is it?" She swallowed. "You… you don't want to be seen." Gibbs slowly raised his eyes to look into hers, and Jenny knew she was right.
