A/N: This may be my last update for awhile. My work schedule is soon to become hectic (70+ hours a week), so I'm not sure how frequently I'll be able to write. I will give it my best efforts, though. Hope you enjoy this one!
The pounding in her head was the first thing that Jenny Shepard was aware of when she opened her eyes in the dark room. The next was the blinding pain in her right hand, and she frowned as she struggled to remember what had led to this pain. Her eyes finally adjusted to the blackness, though she still couldn't make out much of the room, and when she noticed the figure sitting just to her right, she blinked slowly.
"Beth?"
The younger woman's head jerked up, her dark eyes filled with tears, and she moved slightly closer.
"Jenny...I thought you were dead."
Jenny raised up on her arm as best she could, careful not to put any weight on her injured hand. She couldn't tell if her fingers were broken, and she flexed them experimentally, swearing at the jolt of pain that shot through her.
"Son of a bitch..." she whispered.
Beth moved even closer, her eyes wide as she looked at the redhead, and as she stopped, the door on the far end of the room opened, casting an eerie light over them.
"Good evening, Miss Hale. Miss Shepard."
Jenny froze at the sound of Carrington's voice, her heart pounding in her chest, and as her terrified green eyes landed on the man standing in the corner, she fought to control her breathing. She said nothing, glancing at Beth from the corner of her eye, and as he walked closer, Beth finally asked the question that had been circling in her own mind since Carrington had opened the door.
"How did you get out of prison?"
He shrugged.
"Minor details aren't important, Miss Hale. If you insist on knowing, I would be happy to oblige you, but I don't think that's really necessary, do you?"
Jenny heard the words, but paid them little attention. Her mind was beginning to piece together the events of the night, and as Carrington made his way closer, she couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her body.
Two hours earlier
Smiling at Gibbs as he handed her a cup of coffee, Jenny gave him a gentle kiss, running her fingers lightly over his cheek. He returned her smile, sitting next to her on the couch and pulling her legs into his lap. He ran his hand over her calf slowly, smirking slightly when she moved so that she was laying with her head in his lap, and looked down at her quizzically.
"While you're there, Jen..."
"Shut up, Jethro."
He laughed, and when she raised up suddenly, he stared at her in confusion.
"I've got to get ready. Meeting Beth for a drink, remember?"
"You look fine."
Jenny rolled her eyes.
"Jethro, I'm wearing your Marines sweatshirt and a pair of yoga pants. I can't go out like this."
"Point still stands."
She smiled, kissing him lightly as she stood, and as he watched her make her way up to the bedroom, he couldn't stop himself from staring. Aries trailed after her, ever the loyal shadow, and the former marine leaned back on the couch, setting his cup of coffee on the table. Just resting his eyes wouldn't matter much while he waited for Jenny. After all, it wasn't like he was going anywhere.
Staring at her reflection as she ran her brush through her hair, Jenny sighed, searching for the lipstick she'd selected earlier that day. She finally found it on the floor where it had fallen, and as she picked it up, a blinding pain shot through her head. Blinking hard, she willed the pain to pass, taking a slow deep breath, and when it finally eased up almost a full minute later, she ran her hand through her hair. Maybe going out wasn't such a good idea.
Still, she had promised Beth, and Jenny was nothing if not a woman of her word. She applied her lipstick with pale fingers, and when she was satisfied with the result, she gave herself a smile.
"You've got this, Jenny. It's just a drink with Beth."
A light tapping sound caught her attention, and she smiled as she glanced down to find Aries standing next to her, his tail wagging happily.
"Hi, little monster. What do you think? Does Mommy look okay?"
He tilted his head, still wagging, and she laughed as she reached down to pet him.
"You be a good boy for Daddy while I'm gone, okay?"
Grabbing her phone as she walked through the bedroom, she quickly texted Beth to let her know that she was on her way, and as she made her way down the stairs, she laughed quietly. Gibbs was still sleeping on the couch, and she kissed his cheek lightly, trying her best not to wake him. She had just reached the front door when his quiet voice made her pause, and a genuine smile came across her face.
"Be safe."
"I will. I'll let you know when I'm headed back."
"Love you, Jen."
"Love you, too."
The door closed softly behind her, and as Gibbs positioned himself more comfortably on the couch, he closed his eyes again. He frowned when he felt Aries jump up next to him, curling up on his legs, and he opened one eye slowly.
"What do you think you're doing? I'm not Mommy."
Aries ignored him, laying his head on Gibbs' thigh, and he sighed, not having the heart to move him.
"Fine. You can stay."
As he fell asleep again, Gibbs had to admit, he was significantly warmer than he'd been a few minutes ago.
Beth waved at Jenny almost as soon as she walked through the door of the bar, and as the redhead made her way closer, she gave her a smile.
"Hi, Beth. How are you?"
"We'll get to that. Jenny, you look amazing! Where'd you find those shoes?"
Jenny glanced at them, trying to remember where she'd bought them, and shook her head.
"I don't remember. Paris, I think. I've had them for years."
"Paris? God, Jenny, you've been to so many exciting places. I'm so jealous. I've only ever been to Tennessee once and I was nine. I've always wanted to see Europe."
Jenny smiled, thinking back on the fond memories she had of Europe. The long nights spent tangled in bed sheets with Gibbs, the warm afternoons she'd walked the streets with him, and the many times they simply hadn't left their bed at all. Nearly every memory she had of Europe involved her silver-haired fiance, and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
"You should go. It's beautiful there. I haven't been back in awhile, though. Been a bit busy here."
A comfortable silence fell over them after they'd ordered their drinks, and when Beth's was placed in front of her, Jenny could tell there was something on her mind.
"Beth...what's wrong? You didn't ask me for a drink just so we could make small talk. Something's bothering you."
The younger woman sighed, running her hand through her long brown hair, and as she picked up her drink, Jenny thought she could detect a shaking in her hands.
"I've been thinking about what you said. About maybe seeing someone. A psychiatrist. I mean, it would be good to talk to someone about it, but...and I don't want to always bother you when I'm freaking out, but..."
"You can always call me. I don't mind."
Beth smiled, and Jenny reached for her own drink, taking a small sip.
"Thanks, Jenny. But seriously...isn't seeing someone like that...it makes me feel like a failure. Like I'm so pathetic that I can't handle my own life. I don't like feeling that way, but I don't know what else to do."
Jenny nodded, understanding the feeling perfectly.
"I understand. Believe me, I do. But there is no shame in asking for help. I had to learn that the hard way a few months ago."
Beth frowned, taking a long drink from her glass.
"You did?"
"I was in a near-fatal car accident, was in a coma for ten days, my heart stopped in the ambulance...when I woke up, there was a lot that I couldn't remember. Even now, I have blank spots in my memory. It took awhile for me to ask my friends for help, and even longer for me to accept it. Asking for help doesn't make you weak. It makes you stronger, because you're smart enough to realise that everyone needs help sometimes."
Beth considered her words for a moment, nodding slowly.
"Maybe you're right. I'll think about it a bit more before I decide."
Both women jumped as a man stumbled into their table, knocking over their drinks, and as they began to clean up the mess, he began to apologise, reaching for a napkin.
"Sorry," he said, his voice heavily slurred.
"It's okay. Accidents happen," Jenny said with a smile.
"Let me buy you both another. Least I can do."
Beth shrugged, and when he signaled for a waiter, Jenny frowned. Something about him seemed familiar, though she couldn't quite place it, and in the darkened room, it was difficult for her to make out his features. The waiter brought their replacement drinks a few moments later, and the man leaned closer, so close that Jenny could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Really am sorry. I'll leave you alone now."
He stumbled again, reaching out to grab Jenny's drink before it could fall over, and she exchanged a slightly amused glance with Beth. He walked closer to the younger girl, his movements clumsy, and when he hit the table again, he steadied her drink with a shaking hand.
"Sorry again. Have a good night."
Beth gave him a smile, and when he had returned to his own table, Jenny shook her head, laughing quietly.
"Got to love bars."
"Tell me about it. The last time I went to one, my best friend got hit on by a drunk older woman from the time we walked in until they ended up making out on the dance floor. And my best friend was quote-unquote straight. It was hilarious."
Jenny laughed again, taking a drink from her glass, and as the liquor began to warm her body, she leaned a bit closer.
"Have you ever been hit on by the bartender? That's always an interesting time."
"Oh, yeah. Even better when they think they have a chance," Beth laughed.
"Even better when it's a woman."
They both laughed again, and Beth picked up her glass, draining half of it in seconds. There was something in her eyes that Jenny swore she'd seen before, and when she finally realised that it was the same fear she saw reflected in her own eyes, she felt an immense sadness for the younger girl wash over her.
"Beth...what's the other reason you asked me here?"
There was a long silence, filled by the clinking of ice in Jenny's glass, and as the redhead downed the drink, Beth sighed.
"All of my friends...they don't want to talk to me anymore. They treat me differently now. Like I'm broken, or tainted...like they can catch what I've been through just by being near me. You didn't do that. Even when I was in your office, you didn't treat me like a victim or like I was fragile. You treated me like a person. I just...I wanted to hang out with someone who wasn't going to treat me like some scared little girl. Even if that is what I feel like."
Jenny smiled sadly, reaching across the table to take her hand.
"You're not a victim. You're a survivor. And I've been exactly where you are. I know how rough it can be. Just remember that you're not alone. You made it through this, and no one can ever take that away from you."
Beth wiped at the tears in her eyes with her free hand, and gave Jenny a weak smile.
"Thanks, Jenny. That really means a lot."
She finished her drink, and as she set the glass down, the sound reverberated in Jenny's mind. It was unusually loud, yet distorted, and the redhead frowned, shaking her head slowly. Her head felt strangely heavy, and she blinked hard, trying to make her eyes focus.
"Beth...I think we should call it a night. That drink was stronger than I expected it to be."
The brunette nodded, her own eyes glassy, and she looked at her slowly.
"Should we call a taxi?"
"That would be a good start. Let me text Jethro first."
Jenny pulled out her phone, texting slowly in her inebriated state, profoundly grateful for auto-correct, and as Beth hung up her own, she smiled.
"Okay. Taxi should be here soon. Can we go outside? I need some air."
Nodding, Jenny stood up slowly, careful not to slip in her heels, and she reached for the younger girl's hand, leading her toward the door. She didn't want her walking out alone, and as they stepped out into the cold night, Beth stumbled slightly. Sitting on the curb by the entrance of the bar, Jenny pulled Beth next to her, not even questioning it when Beth's head fell onto her shoulder.
"Jenny?"
"Hm?"
"I don't feel well."
Jenny nodded, her own head still spinning, and she frowned as she struggled to focus. She'd never had a single drink affect her so strongly in her life, and even in her confused state, she found it odd. A shadow fell over them, causing Jenny to glance up, and when she recognised the man who had spilled their drinks, she frowned.
"Are you ladies okay? Do you need someone to call a ride?"
Beth shook her head, still laying on Jenny's shoulder.
"Taxi. Just waiting."
"Have a good night," he answered as he walked away.
Jenny closed her eyes as she sat next to Beth, listening for the sound of approaching cars, and when she heard a door open moments later, she nudged Beth softly. She could hear the sound of someone speaking, but the words were low, and she frowned.
"Did either of you call for a taxi?"
Beth nodded, standing up, and when she staggered, Jenny caught her, supporting her weight carefully on her heels. Jenny's eyes were so unfocused that she never knew how they made it safely to the car, and as she placed Beth into the back seat, she leaned against the side of the vehicle heavily. She took a deep breath to steady herself, and a quiet voice at her shoulder made her jump.
"Are you alright, ma'am?"
Jenny nodded carefully, not wanting to risk falling, and as the man helped her into the car, she thanked him softly. The door closed behind her, and when the car began to move, Beth mumbled unintelligibly, laying her head in Jenny's lap.
"Jenny?"
"Hm?"
"You're really pretty, you know? And I love your perfume. It smells like vanilla and roses."
Jenny smiled, leaning her head against the window, and sighed.
"I'm not that pretty. But thanks."
"I would have to agree with Miss Hale. You are quite stunning, Miss Shepard."
Jenny's eyes flew open at the sound of his voice, and next to her, Beth stiffened, raising up to look at the driver of the car. They exchanged a terrified glance, and Jenny blindly reached for the handle of the door. It was locked, refusing to open, and as she tried to think, Carrington's voice cut through the silence.
"You both had to have known that I would find you. I'm not letting either of you go that easily."
Blinking hard, Jenny struggled to come up with a way to escape, and when she spoke, her voice was slightly hoarse.
"You followed us."
"Naturally."
"You...you...the drinks..."
"Of course. I knew you would never allow yourself to get heavily intoxicated of your own volition, so I had to take matters into my own hands. A few drops is all it takes, easy enough to slip into a drink when you "accidentally" almost knock it over. When your taxi arrived, I convinced him that you were fine, and that I could give you both a ride home. It was surprisingly easy."
Though her mind was beginning to shut down, Jenny fought to keep her eyes open, trying to find anything to serve as a landmark. Beth reached to pull her phone from her pocket, and as she did so, Carrington stopped the car, pulling the keys from the ignition. Jenny quickly pulled her own free, texting Gibbs as fast as she could, hoping her words made sense, and as the back door opened, Carrington smiled at her.
She'd never seen such a cold smile in her life, and when he pulled her phone from her hand and tossed it to the ground, she winced. He crushed it under his foot, too preoccupied to notice Beth slipping her own phone into her shirt. Reaching for Jenny's arm, he jerked her from the car, rolling his eyes as she held on to the side of the vehicle. When he realised that she wasn't going to let go, he slammed the door, crushing her fingers in between the metal.
A harsh cry of pain tore from her throat, and inside the car, Beth winced, her own eyes watering at the thought of the pain Jenny was experiencing. She released the door, falling into Carrington's hold, and as she finally began to pass out, she hoped Gibbs had the good sense to check his phone periodically. Though Beth tried to stay conscious, she was quickly losing the battle, and when Carrington pulled her limp body from the vehicle minutes later, she couldn't remember why she'd been so afraid.
Gibbs frowned when he opened his eyes to find himself still alone in the house, and when he reached for his phone to check the time, he noticed the texts Jenny had sent. The first, sent at 19:45 was simple enough, merely telling him she was on her way home. The second, sent twenty minutes later, made his heart race and his blood run cold.
Carrie found us beth with me drinks spike
He knew without a doubt that Jenny didn't know anyone named Carrie, and he could only assume she'd been trying to type without being noticed. Jenny didn't make spelling or grammar mistakes, even in a text, and her lack of punctuation made him more than a little uneasy. The last two words of her message were the most concerning, and he stood up quickly, grabbing his keys as he walked. He knew there was only one bar that Jenny frequented, and as he pulled on his jacket, he hoped he wasn't overreacting. He called her phone, frowning when her voicemail immediately picked up, and his mind was made up. Jenny would have never turned her phone off when she was out, and as he closed the front door behind him, he shook his head.
He debated on calling DiNozzo for backup, but decided that he would wait until he was absolutely certain that he would need it. No need to overreact until he knew the facts. As he drove the dark streets, he glanced at his clock, frowning when he realised it had been nearly two hours since Jenny had said she was leaving the bar. He pulled up to the bar ten minutes later, stepping through the door silently, and as he made his way to the counter, the bartender flashed him a smile.
"Good evening, sir. What can I get you?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"I'm looking for my fiancee. She was here about two hours ago with a friend. Two women, one redhead, one light brown. Both in their thirties."
He pulled out his phone, scrolling through it to find a picture, and held it up carefully. The bartender nodded, frowning slightly.
"Yeah, I remember her. Real pretty, seemed nice. They left together, called a taxi. Is everything alright?"
Gibbs showed him his badge, and the man's eyes widened.
"She never made it home. Was anyone around them? Did anyone follow them out?"
"Um...not that I remember. They only had one drink each. Actually, wait. They had two, because someone knocked into their table and ruined the first ones. He paid for the replacements. Nearly knocked those over, too. He left around the same time they did."
Gibbs frowned, his eyes hard, and leaned closer.
"What did he look like?"
"Kind of average. Dark hair, dark eyes, kind of tall. Really polite. Kept to himself, except when he hit the table."
Nodding, Gibbs wrote down the description, and looked at the younger man seriously.
"You guys have security cameras out front?"
"No, sir. We have them in the building itself, but not the lot."
"I'd like to look at them, if you don't mind."
The bartender nodded, calling for the manager of the bar, and as Gibbs waited, he hoped that he wasn't wasting precious time.
Jenny's head was finally beginning to clear, and as she glanced down at her battered hand, she winced, still feeling the throbbing pain. She vaguely remembered a car door slamming onto it, and as Carrington followed her gaze, he shook his head slowly.
"I am sorry about that, Miss Shepard. It was an unfortunate casualty."
"Where are we?" Beth asked quietly.
"Don't worry about that. Details aren't important right now."
He reached for Beth's ankle, dragging her across the concrete floor, and when he ran the blade of his knife along her jeans, she closed her eyes tightly. Blood slowly bloomed along her skin, and as it trailed down her leg, it soaked into the denim, staining it dark crimson. Tears fell from the younger girl's brown eyes, and when she tried to pull away, Carrington shook his head.
"If you even think about screaming, this will be so much worse for you."
The blade bit into her skin again, and Beth's teeth sank into her bottom lip, fighting against the scream building in her throat. Over and over, the knife was plunged into her leg, and just when she didn't think she could take another cut, the silence was broken.
"Stop. Carrington, your problem is with me, leave her alone. You and I both know you're doing this because of me. So take it out on me."
He paused, glancing at Jenny over his shoulder, and the smile he gave her was enough to make her blood run cold.
"I am, Miss Shepard. And this is only the beginning."
As Carrington was running his knife over Beth Hale's skin, Gibbs was viewing the security footage from the interior of the bar, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary as he watched Jenny and Beth talk over their drinks, and as soon as the man the bartender had mentioned slammed into their table, Gibbs stiffened. He recognised the move for what it was the minute he'd knocked into Jenny's drink the second time, and he frowned as the women stood up from the table a few minutes later. Even as they walked to the door, it was clear that Beth was unsteady on her feet, and he smiled when he noticed how closely Jenny watched her.
After thanking the manager for his time, Gibbs stood up slowly, frowning in confusion. If either Jenny or Beth had called a taxi (which he knew they had), what had happened? There would surely be a record of the fare. Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing which taxi company they had called, and it made him slightly angry. He pulled out his phone, trying Jenny's cell again, and when her voicemail picked up again, he hung up, shaking his head.
Where was she?
He knew she would have never changed her plans without telling someone, Jenny simply didn't operate that way, and as he made his way back to his car, he slammed his hand against the hood in frustration. As he drove back to his house, he tried to think of anything that would give him some indication of where Jenny was. His mind was infuriatingly silent, and as he pulled into his driveway, he simply sat in the car, staring blankly out the window.
She was out there, somewhere. And he wasn't going to stop searching until he found her.
Beth's sobs fell from her throat quietly as she fought her every instinct to scream, and as Jenny slowly crawled closer, she was thankful for Carrington's distraction. He raised the knife again, and the redhead reached out, grabbing his wrist with her good hand, and when he turned to face her, Beth automatically scrambled backward as far as she could.
"Leave her alone."
Carrington glared at her, throwing her off easily, and as he walked closer to her, Jenny tried to keep her fear in check. His hand wrapped around her throat, bringing the knife up to trail over her cheek lightly, and he smiled when he felt her body shaking in his hold.
"You're going to regret that decision, Miss Shepard."
The blade sliced easily into her skin, a thin line of blood running down her face, and she closed her eyes, determined to stay silent. Carrington stared at her, moving the knife to her throat, slowly increasing the pressure. Still, Jenny managed to keep herself from screaming, and he smiled as he leaned closer, his breath warm on her skin.
"Do you remember what I said to you the day we met? I told you that you were different than the others. You continue to surprise me, Miss Shepard. I admire that. But, it's also deterring to me. It angers me."
He moved his hand to her hair, dragging her across the floor, and reached into his pocket for the handcuffs he'd brought with him. One latched around her ankle, the other end hooked to a long pipe in the corner of the room, and her eyes widened at the click.
"Let her go!" Beth yelled, moving closer.
His hand shot out, connecting with her face, and she immediately shrank back, her hair falling into her eyes. When he had finished tightening the cuffs around Jenny, he turned his attention to Beth, grabbing her ankle and hooking the second set of handcuffs around her, shackling her to the adjoining pipe. Beth began to cry, her tears mixing with the blood on her face, and as Jenny felt him move closer to her, she closed her eyes.
The knife plunged into her thigh with a force that she couldn't have possibly prepared for, and she bit down on her lip so hard that warm blood filled her mouth. She was so scared that she didn't think she could have screamed even if she tried, and though she attempted to push him away with her good hand, it was no use. He was simply too strong and had the advantage of both his hands. She could hear Beth yelling, but the words made no sense to her, her mind too preoccupied with the pain in her thigh.
He twisted his hand, turning the knife deeper into her flesh, and Jenny sent up a silent prayer for help, though she knew it was far too late. Though she knew she was going to die. Her luck had finally run out. There was nothing left to do but accept it. No matter what she did, she couldn't think of a way out of this. Not this time. Her body was beginning to go limp, and just before her mind shut down, Carrington released her, letting her drop onto the cold floor. He glared at her, standing quickly, and as he reached the door, he gave them both an unsettling smile.
"You might as well get comfortable ladies. The fun is only beginning."
As soon as the door had closed shut behind him, Jenny's head fell forward, too heavy for her to hold up. Beth watched her for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice trembled with fear.
"Jenny."
The redhead glanced at her, raising tear-filled green eyes to her brown, and Beth beckoned her closer. There wasn't much give from the handcuffs, but she shifted as best she could, still wary of Carrington returning.
"I have my phone," Beth whispered.
Jenny's eyes widened as she pulled it from her shirt, holding it up for her to see. The small device was the most welcome sight Jenny had ever seen, and a weak smile broke out over her face.
"You're brilliant, Beth."
"Should I call the police?"
Jenny shook her head, holding out her hand.
"I know exactly who to call. He's already looking for us if I know him."
Beth slid the phone as close to Jenny as she could, and as she strained to reach it, Jenny fought the urge to cry. If their release was so close to her and she failed, she would never forgive herself. Finally, her desperate fingers locked on the device, and she began dialing quickly, placing the phone to her ear. If this didn't work, if he didn't answer...well, that simply wasn't an option. He had to answer.
He just had to.
Gibbs frowned as his phone rang, staring at the unknown number for a long moment before answering. He was still sitting in his driveway, trying to think, only to come up blank. He still hadn't found any leads in searching for Jenny, and as he held the phone up, he closed his eyes slowly.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"Jethro, thank God..."
"Jen! Where are you?"
"I—I don't know. I'm using Beth's phone. You have to trace her location. Call McGee, do whatever you have to. Just hurry."
"Jen..."
"It's Carrington, Jethro. I don't have much time. Please, for the love of God, hurry. I love you."
She hung up, leaving him wildly disoriented, and when he picked up his phone again, his hands were shaking terribly.
"McGee."
"McGee, I need you to trace a cell location. Now. It's important."
"Uh...okay. Boss, I'm not near my computer though, so—"
"Damn it, McGee! This is a matter of life and death. So get near a computer!" Gibbs snapped.
"Yes, sir."
He could hear the sound of McGee shuffling around, and as Gibbs read him Beth's cell number, he found himself fighting the panic building within him. It took longer than Gibbs could stand for McGee to report back with an answer, and as the younger agent read the address back to him, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good work, McGee. Now call the police and send them to that address. Tell them it's an emergency."
"On it, boss. You need backup?"
"Yeah. Do it. Thanks."
He hung up, throwing his car in gear, and as he sped off down the darkened road, he prayed that he would get there in time. Jenny needed him. Failure wasn't an option.
Just as Beth finished tucking her phone back into her bra, they could hear footsteps descending the stairs, and Jenny glanced at her, her eyes serious.
"Try your best not to scream."
Beth nodded, her eyes betraying the depth of her fear, and she took a deep breath as the door opened. Carrington made his way to Jenny, kneeling in front of her, and the smile he gave her was anything but reassuring.
"I hope you took time to rest. You're going to need your strength."
"What's your endgame here, Carrington? Killing me? Go ahead. The second you do, it's over for you. Do you really think you can get away with murdering me without consequences? You'll be locked up for life. If my fiance doesn't kill you first."
He laughed quietly, shaking his head slowly.
"Agent Gibbs doesn't frighten me, Director Shepard."
Beth frowned, confused. She hadn't realised that "Jethro" and "Agent Gibbs" were the same person, but she supposed it made sense. He was a very attractive man, and he'd been nothing but understanding and considerate when she'd given him her statement before being shown to Jenny's office. Jenny smiled suddenly, and Beth was even more confused than before. What on earth could she find amusing here?
"He should scare you," Jenny whispered.
Her head flew backward as Carrington slapped her, red hair spilling over her face, and he moved closer, holding the knife to her throat again.
"If I were you, I would worry less about what frightens me and focus on what frightens you. Because all of those fears will become a reality tonight."
Jenny shook her head, meeting his eyes unflinchingly.
"I doubt that."
Carrington released her, walking as close to Beth as he could get without touching her, and when she shrank back from his touch, he laughed softly, reaching for her ankle and dragging her body to him. The blade of his knife sliced into her cheek slowly, blood pooling just below her right eye, and she fought to stay still as it spilled over her face. The next cut of the knife was even deeper, and as she whimpered, Jenny wondered what was taking Gibbs so long to find them.
His hand roamed over Beth's body, frowning when he felt the hard case of her phone, and he froze, his eyes hard and dark as he pulled the hem of her shirt up. The phone fell into his hand, and he tossed it carelessly to the other side of the room, glaring at both of them.
"Who did you call?"
"No one," Beth answered, her voice shaking.
"Don't you think if we'd called someone, they would have been here by now?" Jenny added.
As he considered her words, Carrington plunged the blade of his knife into Beth's upper arm, burying it almost to the hilt, ignoring her soft scream.
"You'd better hope that you aren't lying, Miss Hale."
He pulled it from her skin, a harsh cry of pain falling from her lips.
"Please..." she whispered.
"Begging won't help you, Miss Hale."
"Carrington, if you want to torture someone, torture me. Leave her out of it."
"I most certainly will torture you, Miss Shepard. In due time. But you must wait your turn. Right now, it's Miss Hale's time to shine."
As he began to trace patterns on Beth's pale skin with his knife, Jenny inwardly cursed herself for thinking that could have possibly worked.
Where in the hell was Gibbs?
As soon as he parked his car outside of the house, Gibbs noticed a small object laying in the driveway and knelt down to examine it. Recognising it as the shattered remains of Jenny's phone, he picked it up slowly, making his way closer to the front door. He could hear the sirens approaching, and as another car door closed behind him, he turned.
"Got here as soon as I could, boss. What's the situation?"
"Carrington. He drugged Director Shepard and Beth Hale's drinks and brought them here."
McGee frowned.
"How did he get out?"
"No idea."
The sirens stopped, and as they were joined by local LEOs, Gibbs turned to glare at all of them, his bright blue eyes colder than ice.
"How the hell did Carrington escape?"
"Lost around twenty pounds, chipped away at a hole in the ceiling and crawled through it. This guy's a regular Ted Bundy."
Gibbs kicked in the door, quickly clearing the room, and as McGee followed close behind, he felt inexplicably nervous. It wasn't often that the younger man worked alone with his boss, and Gibbs' authoritative presence often made him second-guess himself. They both cleared the main floor and while the local LEOs went to check the upstairs, Gibbs gestured to the basement silently. McGee nodded, following quickly, hoping they hadn't been too late.
Above her head, Jenny could hear the sound of footsteps, and she silently rejoiced, knowing that they would be out of this soon. She called Carrington's name, hoping to distract him, and when he glared at her, she took a deep breath.
"Do you remember what you asked me the day we met? About why I wanted to live?"
"Very well. What is your point, Miss Shepard?"
"I have a different answer now."
He raised his eyebrow, moving closer to her, and as the blade sliced into her throat again, she visibly winced, making him smile.
"Oh? Do tell."
The blood dripping down her throat was warm and sticky, flowing quickly, and she forced herself to ignore the sensation as she met his dark eyes.
"I want to live long enough to see you locked in prison for the rest of your life."
"Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Shepard, but that's not going to happen."
"Like hell it isn't."
Whipping around at the sound of Gibbs' voice, Carrington was so startled that the knife fell from his hand, and Jenny made a mad dash for it, her shaking fingers closing around the handle tightly. She drove it into his calf, taking great pleasure in his scream of pain, and as Gibbs instructed McGee to cuff him, she smiled triumphantly as she saw the glint of silver on the floor.
"You're right," she whispered, "It is better when you scream."
McGee called up to the officers upstairs, and as they hauled Carrington up them, Gibbs ran to the other side of the room, searching for something to pick the lock on the cuffs around Jenny's ankle.
"McGee! You got a safety pin or something?"
"Negative."
"Looking for these?" Jenny asked softly as she held up the tiny keys, her voice weak but amused.
"How'd you get those?"
"Fell out of his pocket when I stabbed him."
Gibbs smiled, taking them from her trembling fingers, and when he noticed the damage to her right hand, he frowned.
"What the hell?"
"Later."
He nodded, unlocking the cuffs, and when he pulled her to her feet, she immediately stumbled, falling into his embrace as he looked at her seriously.
"You need to go to a hospital."
She surprisingly didn't protest, and as he started to walk, she shook her head, instantly regretting it as her vision began to spin and a wave of nausea crashed over her.
"Jethro, wait," she gasped, closing her eyes, "Get Beth first."
He nodded, handing the keys to McGee, and as the younger girl was helped to her feet, she reached for Jenny, pulling her into a tight hug.
"You saved my life, Jenny. Twice. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jenny said with a soft smile.
"Both of you, hospital now," Gibbs ordered sternly, "McGee, help Beth."
"On it, boss."
As Beth was led carefully up the stairs, Jenny knelt down to pick up her discarded phone, and Gibbs nodded.
"Reminds me, we need to replace yours."
He made to walk up the steps, and Jenny stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm.
"Jethro?"
"Yeah?"
"Can this be the last time we deal with this bastard?"
"I hope so. God, I hope so."
She smiled, laying her head on his shoulder, and ran her left hand over his chest slowly.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too, Jen. More than you'll ever know."
After Jenny's hand had been x-rayed and bandaged, she knocked quietly on the partially open hospital room door, smiling at the attending nurse.
"May I come in?"
"You're Jenny?"
The redhead nodded, and the nurse gave her a smile, beckoning her into the room.
"She's doing very well. Made an amazing recovery. She may even be released soon."
It was strange, seeing the younger woman so still as she laid in the bed, and just before the nurse left the room, Jenny turned, her eyes sad.
"Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?"
The nurse smiled, nodding once.
"I'll bring it right back."
Nodding her thanks, Jenny made her way closer to the bed, sitting on the edge, and as she reached for the sleeping woman's hand, she felt tears fill her eyes.
"I am so sorry this happened to you," she whispered, "I should have protected you better."
The nurse returned, holding out the requested items, and as Jenny began the painful task of writing with her injured but not broken fingers, she left them alone in the room, sensing the desire for privacy. The words flowed from her pen steadily, surprising given the ordeal she'd just experienced, and when she had finished, she propped the paper up on the water cup sitting on the table next to the bed.
A quiet knock caused her to turn, smiling when she saw Gibbs standing in the doorway, and when she stood up from the bed, she leaned down to kiss the younger woman's forehead softly.
"I love you," she whispered gently, "and I'm so sorry."
Gibbs placed his hand around her shoulders as soon as she was close enough, and his sapphire eyes searched her emerald in concern.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"I had to see her. I was here anyway, and...I couldn't leave her with nothing. She's my sister, Jethro."
He kissed her temple, his lips warm in her hair.
"I know. But let's go home now. Beth's waiting in the lobby to talk to you."
She nodded, allowing herself to be led from the room, and as the door closed behind them, Heather Shepard's eyes slowly opened, frowning in confusion as she noticed the paper on the table. She reached for it with shaking hands, and as she began to read, her eyes filled with tears.
Dear Heather,
I know you're scared, in more ways than one, and I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always love you. You've made bad choices in the past, you're only human after all, but that doesn't mean that those choices have to define you. You can come back from this, and do everything you've ever dreamed of doing. It's okay to be scared, it's okay to feel uncertain, and no one will ever judge you for those feeling, but you have to find better ways of dealing with them. I know what it feels like to want to die, to reach for anything that will put an end to your pain, however brief, and it never works. Pain is part of life, and it demands to be felt. You can only run for so long before it come crashing back, and you're worse off than you were in the beginning.
Please understand that this hasn't been easy for me, either. I had to make a choice that would benefit me, and though it hurt like hell, I wouldn't change it. That being said, I am willing to help you in any way I can when you decide that you want to make a change in your own life for the better. You may not believe me, but I do care about you. I love you so much, and I only want you to be safe and happy. Please take care of yourself and if you ever reach a point in your life where you can find it in your heart to forgive me, give me a call. I love you, Heather. So much more than you know.
Love always,
Jenny
By the time Heather had finished reading, her eyes were so filled with tears that she couldn't make out the words on the page, and she wiped her hand under her eyes furiously. She'd spent her time in the hospital thinking that Jenny hated her, and now here she was, with physical evidence to the contrary. It was a strange feeling, knowing that her sister still loved her, was still willing to help her, and the younger Shepard had never hated herself as much as she did in that moment. How could she have put her family through so much pain? She took a shaking breath, closing her eyes again, and as she placed the letter back on the table, Heather silently promised herself that she would do everything possible to deserve Jenny's love and support. Even if it killed her.
After they had finally made it back to Jenny's house, Gibbs locked the front door securely behind them, smiling as Jenny knelt down to lift Aries into her arms. She kissed his head repeatedly, her long red hair covering his eyes, and when he licked her nose, she laughed, placing him back on the ground. It always made him smile to see how happy the little puppy made Jenny, and as she turned to face him, she held out her hand.
"Let's go to bed," she said softly.
He nodded, taking her outstretched hand, and as she pulled him up the stairs, he noticed that her skin was still deathly pale, making him worried all over again. She said nothing as she pulled on one of his old shirts that she'd stolen years ago in Serbia, and he laughed quietly as he recognised it.
"Thought I lost that shirt."
"You did," she quipped, "To me."
He smiled as she turned off the light, and when he joined her in the bed, he instinctively pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently.
"Sleep, Jen. You're home now, and nothing is going to touch you."
She closed her eyes, unnerved by the silence, and when her soft voice broke it, he frowned.
"Jethro?"
"Hm?"
"Tell me a story."
Staring down at her as though she'd lost her mind, Gibbs shook his head, thoroughly confused.
"How old are you?"
"Please, Jethro. It's too quiet in here. It's making me nervous."
"Okay," he sighed, trying to think, "What kind of story?"
"I don't care. Just anything. You could read the dictionary if you want. I just need to hear your voice."
He nodded, and suddenly, he knew what story he was going to tell her. He positioned himself a bit more comfortably, tightening his hold on her, and when he spoke, his voice was warm in the darkness.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess named Kelly..."
A/N: Carrington's escape was inspired by Ted Bundy's second prison escape. That was one fucked up guy...Anyway, reviews make my day.