A/N: Happy All Hallow's Eve, and Blessed Samhain to my lovely readers! I hope you've all been well since my last update. Now, back to our favourite couple! In which Jenny deals with a frightening situation, Heather continues to be a pain, and Beth asks for Jenny's advice. Hope you enjoy!
Jenny swore quietly as she opened her eyes to feel the blinding pain in her head. She'd had a migraine consistently for the past week, and it was seriously beginning to annoy her. Having only slept two hours that night, she laid awake next to Gibbs, staring at the clock as the minutes ticked by, silently praying for the pain in her head to subside. She could feel the baby moving as she moved closer to the warmth of Gibbs' body, and when he wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer, she smiled.
Turning just enough that she was now facing him, Jenny tucked her head under his chin, trying to fight the panic she could feel rising in her chest. She didn't have the slightest idea of what was causing her heart to race, and when she reached out to touch his shoulder, his eyes opened slowly. His looked at her in confusion before understanding that she had been the cause of his awakening, and as his foggy mind processed the panic in her eyes, he sat up carefully.
"You okay?"
She shook her head, eyes closing tightly in an attempt to block out the strange sensations taking over her mind, and he frowned.
"What is it?"
What, indeed? Jenny didn't think she could have explained it even if she'd tried, and he pulled her closer, kissing her hair gently as he reached for her hand.
"Just breathe, okay? It's just you, me, and our babies here. Even though I still think Aries is a demon."
She smiled slightly, but it wasn't enough to stop the thoughts in her head. Every sound was amplified to a hundred, yet time was moving in slow motion, and she moved closer, burying her head in his chest.
"Jethro?"
"Hm?"
"Would you do something for me?"
"Probably," he answered with a smile.
"Shoot me in the head. Please?"
He shook his head, giving her a gentle kiss.
"Nope. Still have a migraine?"
Jenny nodded, wrapping her arm around his waist, and as he held her as tightly as he dared, Gibbs frowned. Though she was no stranger to headaches, this had been ongoing for the better part of a week now, and he was growing more concerned with each passing day. It was obvious she was in an extreme amount of pain, and he ran his free hand through his hair as he tried to think of anything he could do to help her.
He shifted away from her as a sudden idea came into his head, and she frowned as he pulled her into his lap.
"What are you—"
"Close your eyes."
She did as he asked, and when his fingers threaded into her hair, she smiled softly. The pressure of his touch increased gradually as he continued to massage her head, and though it was still painful, the relief it provided was more than worth it. She was silent for so long that he thought she'd fallen asleep again, so when her voice broke the quiet, he nearly jumped, looking down at her seriously.
"I don't think Matthew likes me very much," she remarked softly.
"Why would you think that?"
"Think about it. I've been sick pretty much the entire time I've been pregnant, I can't get rid of this migraine, and now that he's able, he moves so much that I can hardly sleep. Face it, Jethro, your child is mean to his mother."
Gibbs smirked, leaning down to place a light kiss to her forehead, and as she lost herself in the comforting rhythm of his fingers, Jenny smiled again.
"To be fair, I wouldn't have expected anything less from a Gibbs baby."
"Hey," he interjected, "I was a good kid. Still am."
Jenny raised her eyebrow, never once opening her eyes, and he rolled his own at her, though she couldn't see it.
"Don't believe me?"
"Jethro, I think that's a question better left unanswered. And don't roll your eyes at me."
He stared at her, trying to figure out how she'd known, and she shook her head slowly, not wanting to risk a resurgence of pain.
"With you, an eye-roll is audible."
"Get out of my head," he snapped jokingly.
Jenny laughed, raising up to look at him, and when her lips met his, his hands instinctively found her waist.
"Jethro, I don't believe you've been a good boy for one day of your life," she said, her voice low in the darkness.
"No?" he countered, his own voice slightly breathless.
"No," she repeated, kissing him again, her hands sliding slowly underneath his shirt.
Gibbs couldn't keep himself from smiling as she pulled him closer, running his own hand through her hair. Just as he reached for the hem of her satin nightgown, a quiet bark made them both jump, and Jenny frowned as she looked to her right. Aries was watching them from his bed, his ears laid back, and when Gibbs wrapped his arm around Jenny's waist, the puppy began growling, his teeth gleaming in the darkness.
"Aries, be quiet," Jenny said, fighting the urge to laugh.
He growled again, and Gibbs swung his legs over the edge of the bed, fully intending to pick up the dog and place him in the spare room. Jenny's eyes flew open when he swore loudly, and as her eyes registered the blood dripping on his hand, she bolted from the bed.
"Jethro, are you—"
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth, "but your little demon dog might not live to see the morning."
Jenny stared at him with wide eyes, and as she glared at Aries, she kissed his cheek.
"I'll take care of it."
She reached down to pick up the dog, and as she carried him to the spare room, she shook her head.
"Aries, you were a very bad boy. You can't bite Daddy every time he touches Mommy. That's not nice, and we don't bite."
Placing Aries in the room, she swatted his behind as he sat on the bed, and when he looked at her reproachfully, she sighed.
"Don't bite. I know you're only trying to be protective, but you don't bite Daddy."
She closed the door, making her way back into the bedroom, and when she noticed the light on in the bathroom, she knocked lightly on the door.
"Jethro, can I come in?"
He pushed open the door, granting her entrance, and she frowned at the sight of his hand wrapped in a towel.
"How bad is it?"
"Not too deep. Gonna hurt like a bitch for a few days, though."
Reaching for it slowly, she unwrapped the towel, surveying the small mark. As he'd said, it was shallow, the blood already stopped, but it still made her more upset than she'd anticipated, and when she felt the hot tears fill her eyes, she shook her head.
"This is my fault."
Gibbs frowned.
"How do you figure that?"
"I knew he was getting too overprotective, and that it was a possibility that he would react this way. I should have put a stop to it sooner."
Taking her hand and leading her out of the small room, Gibbs pulled her into his arms, kissing her cheek gently.
"It isn't your fault, Jen. He didn't really mean me any harm. He just doesn't want anything to happen to you or the baby."
She sighed, moving away from him to sit back down on the bed, and when he joined her a moment later, she laid her head on his chest.
"Rain check?"
He nodded.
"Definitely. Get some sleep, Jen. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow."
She nodded, having almost completely forgotten that they were going to begin working on turning the spare room in his house into a nursery for the baby the next day. She was so excited that she could hardly stand it, and when she finally fell asleep an hour later, her dreams were filled with visions of a tiny crib, freshly painted walls, and small sets of clothing.
Jenny moaned softly as she finished drying her hair, trying to pretend that each pull of the brush wasn't causing her more pain, and as she set the dryer back in the closet, her eyes landed on her reflection. Her skin was pale, her eyes glassy, and her hands refused to stop shaking as she leaned on the sink. Just over her shoulder in the mirror, she could barely make out the shadow of a woman standing behind her, and she whipped around, her hair hitting her in the face.
There was nothing to be seen, but when she looked into the glass again, the vision was still there, and she fought the urge to scream. Turning off the light, Jenny ran from the room, not even bothering to shut the door behind her, and as she sat down on the bed, she took a shaking breath.
"Easy, Jenny..." she whispered to herself, "You're just tired. That's all."
Curling her body as tightly as she could, Jenny laid on the mattress, trying to control the trembling that had taken over her entire body. When she finally felt ready to face the room again, she made her way back into the bathroom, searching for a hair tie. Her eyes met the mirror, still partially coated with steam, and when she noticed the shadow behind her, she slammed her hand against the glass, not even flinching as it shattered.
Blood dripped down her hand, twisting around her arm in a crimson ribbon, and she frantically searched for a towel. Wrapping the cloth around her hand, Jenny held it close to her body, making her way into the bedroom. Aries glanced at her from his bed, tilting his head curiously, and she gave him a small smile.
"Mommy's fine, Aries."
As she sat down to wait for Gibbs to return, the puppy jumped up on the bed, nestling in the bend of her legs, and she reached out to pet his head slowly.
"You'd better be a good boy when Daddy gets home."
The soft lick he placed on her other hand made her smile, and Jenny laid back more comfortably on the bed, closing her eyes. She was just so damn tired...
Gibbs frowned when he opened the door, confused by the quiet in the house, and as he walked up the stairs, he called Jenny's name softly. He smiled when he saw her sleeping in the bed, Aries protectively sleeping next to her, and gave her one last glance before setting his purchases in the spare room. When he returned, he made his way silently to the bed, running his hand over her hair gently. Her eyes slowly opened, locking on his immediately, and she raised up, giving him a smile.
"You're back."
"With supplies."
She nodded, but he could detect the unease behind her eyes, causing him to frown.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
Even if the twitch of her right eye hadn't given her away, the exhaustion in her voice would have for sure. He stared at her, and shook his head.
"What is it?"
"I'm just so tired. Do you think maybe we could work on the room tomorrow?"
Gibbs sat down, careful not to crush Aries, and pulled the redhead into his arms, kissing her gently.
"Sure. Why don't you get some sleep?"
"Okay."
"How's your head?"
Jenny sighed, looking at him with a pain that he could almost physically feel.
"Don't ask."
He nodded, and when he kissed her again, she gave him a weak smile.
"I love you."
"Love you more."
A silent roll of the eyes was his only answer.
It was amazing: even when she was simply standing in the kitchen, wearing a loose pair of yoga pants and his old Marines sweatshirt, her hair thrown into a hasty ponytail as she washed dishes, Jenny was absolutely stunning. He'd never noticed until now that she'd gained a healthy amount of weight, and as he opened the refrigerator door, he smiled. How in the world had he gotten so lucky as to have her in his life again?
A loud shattering, followed by Jenny's harsh gasp, made him turn, and when he saw her standing away from the sink, her hands holding the remains of a plate, he frowned.
"Jen? You okay? What happened?"
She shook her head, and as he walked closer, he noticed how badly she was trembling. He took her hand, checking for any cuts or abrasions, and met her eyes concernedly.
"What is it?"
Nodding at the sink, Jenny grabbed for his arm blindly, her eyes wide.
"I keep—I keep seeing these shadows. I've been seeing them all day, but only in reflections. I don't—I don't understand."
Gibbs wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest, feeling her tears dampening his shirt.
"Shh...it's okay. It's probably nothing. You haven't been sleeping well, and you're exhausted. Why don't you go lie down, and I'll finish up here? Okay?"
Glancing up at him, Jenny nodded slowly, though she knew there was no way in the world she would be able to sleep. She stepped back, casting a wary look towards the sink, and as soon as she had disappeared into the living room, Gibbs shook his head, more than a little concerned. As she walked to the bathroom to run a bath, Jenny couldn't stop the feeling of panic that was beginning to overtake her mind, and she inwardly cursed herself as she shut the door.
This was ridiculous. Gibbs was right, she was just tired, and it was nothing that a little sleep and relaxation wouldn't fix. She knelt down to test the temperature of the water, dipping her hand into it carefully, and as she stared at the smooth surface, she found herself once again staring at a shadowy figure. Though her first instinct was to pull back, Jenny was transfixed by the dark apparition, and couldn't tear her eyes away.
It wasn't her own reflection, of that she was certain, but it was undeniably female, long hair moving in invisible wind. She stayed where she was, immobile, and as the water began to rise in the tub, she didn't even notice it soaking her shirtsleeve. The figure appeared to move with her eyes, confusing her even more, but Jenny kept staring at it, too entranced to even blink.
As he returned from walking Aries, Gibbs frowned at the sound of the water still running. Even for Jenny, it had been on for an unusual amount of time, and when he walked down the hallway, he frowned. Water was covering the floor, and his heart began to race as he realised that something was wrong. Jenny would have never let the water flood the bathroom voluntarily, and he dropped his coat, not even caring as it landed in the water.
"Jen?"
He pushed open the door as quickly as he dared, his eyes confused as he noticed the redhead on her knees in front of the tub, her eyes locked on the water, hair falling over her shoulder, fused together by the liquid. Crossing the room in two steps, he knelt next to her, hardly flinching as the water soaked through the denim of his jeans, and he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Jen?"
Still, she didn't move, and Gibbs shook her gently, not wanting to hurt her.
"Jenny. What is it?"
Finally, she blinked, turning to look at him in confusion, and he searched her eyes worriedly.
"Jethro?"
"What's going on, Jen? You're scaring me."
Jenny shook her head, turning her gaze back to the water.
"You don't see it?"
He glanced at the water, then shook his head.
"I only see you."
"It's...a woman. I can only see her in reflections, but I've been seeing her all day. I don't...Jethro, what's wrong with me?"
Kissing her hair and brushing the strands behind her ear, Gibbs shook his head.
"Nothing. You're just tired. Go to bed, and get some sleep."
A few errant strand of her hair clung wetly to her cheek, and Jenny's eyes widened as they took in the state of the room.
"I'm so sorry about the mess."
He shrugged.
"Just water, Jen. Sleep. Please."
Jenny gave him a half-hearted kiss before leaving the room, and as he set about cleaning the water, Gibbs knew he was going to have to have a very important conversation the next morning.
As the younger man finished his story, the Scottish doctor looked at him seriously, his eyes never leaving the bright blue irises.
"And this has been happening frequently?"
Gibbs nodded.
"Happened all day yesterday. We were going to work on fixing up the spare room, and when I came back from picking up supplies, she'd covered up the mirror in the bedroom, the bathroom mirror was shattered, and she broke a plate while washing the dishes. I took Aries for a walk, and the entire bathroom was flooded with water. I've never seen her like this, Ducky."
Ducky frowned, more than a little concerned.
"There is a possibility that her medication is causing her to experience these side effects. I would definitely suggest that she mention it to her doctor when she next sees him. Of course, that may not be the cause at all. You said Jennifer's been getting migraines, correct?"
Another nod.
"Every day for a month."
"Migraines can cause hallucinations if they're severe enough, so that could also be a factor. Make absolutely sure that she mentions it to her doctor. If I were you, I would seriously consider going with her to her next appointment. If she's as bad as you say, she shouldn't go alone."
Gibbs looked at him intently, his eyes almost pleading.
"Would you also talk to her? Jenny trusts you, and you'd know what to look for if this is an emergency."
Ducky placed his hand on Gibbs' shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Of course, Jethro. Be happy to."
Though Ducky had fervently wished that Gibbs had been overreacting in his analysis of Jenny's health, it was clear as crystal that it was accurate. He hadn't seen her skin look so pale in months, her hands refused to be still, and the dark circles under her eyes were all the proof he needed that she hadn't been sleeping well. None of this prevented her from welcoming him into her office with a warm smile, however, and he returned it as he sat across from her.
"How are you feeling this morning, my dear?"
She sighed.
"A bit better, but I'm still exhausted. I can definitely tell this is a Gibbs baby, because this little brat never lets me get any sleep."
He laughed softly, nodding at her.
"I know you've decided on Matthew and Charlotte for names, but have you given any thought to middle names?"
Jenny nodded, smiling at him again.
"Matthew Conor and Charlotte Anne, after Jethro's mother. The spelling is a bit different, but he doesn't mind."
"That's a lovely gesture. On a related note, have you gone to see Dr. Lentz lately?"
"I have an appointment tomorrow, actually," Jenny answered, taking a drink of her tea, "Why?"
"Just curious," Ducky lied, "You need to keep your own health up as well, Jennifer. I know he put you on an alternative to Wellbutrin while you're pregnant, and it's important to check on your progress periodically, especially with new medication."
Nodding tiredly, Jenny gave him a weak smile, and when he noticed how badly the mug of tea in her hand was shaking, he moved a bit closer.
"You know you can always talk to me, don't you?"
"I know, Ducky. Thank you. But this is my problem to deal with, not yours."
"You don't always have to face your problems alone, Jennifer."
"I'm not," she said, a genuine smile flickering across her face for a brief moment, "I have Jethro, remember?"
Ducky leaned over to kiss her cheek as he stood, and as he made his way to the door, he gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Never forget how much you mean to so many people, my dear."
As the door closed behind him, Jenny had never felt more confused and exhausted.
Her eyes, once so bright and clear, were now dark brown, and Jenny fought the urge to scream as she looked in the mirror. When Gibbs wrapped his arms around her from behind, she turned to face him, running her fingers through his hair. Her kiss was bruising, all teeth and tongue, not even pausing when he flinched slightly, and when she tasted coppery blood, she smiled. She backed him into the bedroom, pushing him roughly down on the bed, and as she pinned his wrists above his head, he frowned in confusion. It was clear that her actions struck him as odd, but when her lips found his throat, his hands pulled her closer.
"Jen, are you okay?" She nodded.
"I want you to do something for me."
Jenny heard the words coming from her mouth, in her voice, but they didn't belong to her. She could no more control her words than she could her actions, and as she fought the presence that had taken over her body, she silently begged Gibbs to realise that something was wrong. Surely he would notice the change in her eyes, wouldn't he? Or at the very least think she was acting out of the ordinary and question it...right?
Biting down on his lip so hard that it began to bleed again, Jenny swept her tongue across the open wound, tasting it with relish. Gibbs closed his eyes in a mixture of pain and pleasure, and she brought her mouth close to his ear.
"Trust me, Jethro. Close your eyes."
Inside, Jenny was screaming, pleading with him desperately to run, to get away while he still had the chance, and when she felt the cool of the knife between her fingers, she couldn't stop the panic that filled her heart. Before she knew what had happened, blood poured from the gaping wound in his throat, and his wide blue eyes stared up at her in pain, confusion, and fear.
"Jen?" he gasped, his hand weakly reaching for her.
She laughed, cold and bitter.
"Wrong again," she whispered, her eyes locking onto his, "Jenny's gone."
Jenny's eyes flew open as she bit back a scream, and when her terrified mind finally realised that she was still on her couch, in the safety of her office, she slowly began to relax. Gibbs was fine, she was fine, the baby was fine...everything was fine. So why couldn't she stop the racing of her heart, pounding in her chest? As she stood, she was forced to blink several times to make her eyes focus, and when she stumbled into her adjoining bathroom, she immediately closed her eyes, too afraid to look in the reflective surface.
She knew she was being silly, knew she was overreacting, but Jenny couldn't stop the shaking of her hands as she gripped the sink, fighting to get her breathing under control. She was so immersed in trying to calm herself down that she didn't hear the opening of her office door, and when a hand landed on her shoulder, she jumped, whipping around so quickly that her hair smacked her in the face.
"God damn it, Jethro!" she swore, shaking her head as she looked at him.
"You okay?" he asked.
She didn't speak for a long moment, and when she reached for his hand, he frowned at the coldness of her skin.
"Jethro, what colour are my eyes?"
He tilted his head, sure she was messing with him.
"What?"
"Just answer the question. Please."
"Green," he answered automatically, "Why?"
She shook her head desperately.
"You didn't even look. I'm not joking. Please! Look."
His bright blue eyes met hers, searching them deeply, and he pulled her closer, his hands on her shoulders.
"They're green. Just like always. What's going on, Jenny?"
"I—I had this dream. This really crazy, fucked up dream, and..."
She was dangerously close to crying now, and Gibbs turned her so that she was facing the mirror, noticing at once how she automatically closed her eyes.
"Look, Jen. See for yourself. It was just a dream. You're okay now."
His hand smoothed over her hair, his fingertips lightly ghosting over her cheek, and his breath was warm as he spoke.
"Open your eyes, Jen," he said gently, "I'm right here, nothing is going to happen."
Slowly, so agonisingly slowly, Jenny opened her eyes, staring into her reflection silently, shaking so badly that Gibbs tightened his hold on her, reminding her that he was still with her.
"See?" he whispered, "Just like always."
She turned, falling into his arms heavily, his support the only thing keeping her upright, and he held her against his chest, kissing her hair.
"You're okay, Jen. I promise."
Gibbs slowly led her to the outer office, lowering her to the couch, and when he brushed her hair back from her face, his eyes locked onto hers.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Jethro. What's happening to me?"
He shook his head slowly.
"I don't know. But we're going to figure it out. Together. I'm going with you to your appointment tomorrow, and we'll mention this to Dr. Lentz. He'll be able to change your medication, and maybe that will help. Okay?"
She nodded, moving closer to his body, and when she laid her head on his shoulder, she sighed quietly.
"I'm so tired," she whispered.
"I know. And that's okay. Expected, even, but we're going to find a solution. Trust me."
Those words, reminiscent of her nightmare, made Jenny more terrified than she'd been in days.
Gibbs decided immediately that he liked Dr. Lentz, regardless of his chosen profession, and as he sat next to Jenny, he could feel her nervousness radiating from her in waves. The doctor had greeted them both warmly, pleasantly surprised by the former marine's presence, and when he noticed how the older man never once released his hold on her hand, he smiled.
"Tell me more about these shadows you've been seeing, Jenny. Are they vague, or do they take on a definite shape?"
"Definite," she said softly, "I can see a woman. Dark hair, but I can never make out her face."
"She only sees it in reflections," Gibbs added, "Water, mirrors, you get the idea."
"Yes. And you've had consistent migraines for the better part of a month, am I right? I know you mentioned it when we had our last visit."
She nodded, still clinging tightly to Gibbs' hand, and Dr. Lentz made a quick note.
"Your blood pressure could be elevated, which would explain all of your symptoms, so I'm going to lower your dosage just a bit on the Wellbutrin replacement. I want to see you in exactly two weeks to check your progress. No exceptions. Is there anything you'd like to discuss further while you're here?"
Jenny shook her head, and Dr. Lentz frowned.
"How has your mood been? High? Low? Moderate?"
She shrugged, and Gibbs frowned. Dr. Lentz noticed this, and turned his attention to the older man.
"Would you disagree?"
"She's been a bit down lately. I originally thought it was a result of not sleeping, but now I'm not sure."
Dr. Lentz nodded, making another note, and when he had finished, he gave them both a smile. Jenny seemed nervous, and he nodded at her reassuringly.
"If you'd like, I can ask Jethro to step out and we can talk privately."
She shook her head, not wanting there to be any secrets between them, not again, and raised her eyes to his.
"I keep...I've been having strange dreams, and even during the day, I've been panicking over things that don't seem to merit that kind of response. The smallest thing makes me want to break down, and the other day I had the strongest urge to just drag a knife across my throat. I could see it in my mind as surely as if I'd done it. I...I've never had anything like that happen before."
"And what was your first initial reaction to that vision?"
"Honestly, I felt relieved at first. Then scared. I knew, even as it was happening, that it wasn't realistic."
"Did you?"
The question, asked in Dr. Lentz's gentle voice, was soft enough that Jenny shook her head before she'd even realised she'd done it.
"Jenny? Can you elaborate on that, please?"
"I felt relieved, but...I wasn't as scared as I should have been. It was...it was fascinating, if that makes any sense."
The doctor nodded, looking at her seriously.
"It makes perfect sense. You've been through so much, especially these past few months, it's only natural to want some kind of relief from that pain, no matter how brief. But Jenny, you have to realise and understand that isn't an option. That would be a devastating course of action, and not just to yourself."
"I don't want to hurt anyone," Jenny whispered, "I just want the pain to stop."
She seemed to have forgotten that Gibbs was still in the room, her eyes locked on Dr. Lentz, silently begging him to understand, and he nodded slowly.
"I know, Jenny," he answered gently, "and I'm not going to waste time telling you that if you were to go down that path that it would hurt everyone around you. That wouldn't help you, no matter how true it is. It would to a degree, but that isn't enough. I don't want you to stay alive for them alone. One day, you're going to wake up, and you won't feel as though you're suffocating. One day, that bright light is going to find its way back into your eyes. You're going to be the best version of yourself. Stay for that day. Stay for yourself, Jenny. No one else."
Jenny was silent, processing this new perspective, and when she finally spoke again, her voice shook.
"How do I make it until then?"
Dr. Lentz gave her a smile.
"One day at a time, Jenny. One day at a time."
Glaring at Jenny as she walked through the front door, Heather Shepard shook her head as she realised that she'd brought her fiancé along as backup.
"Wow, you've gained weight, Jenny. Too lazy to work out now?"
Jenny rolled her eyes, surveying the living room carefully.
"Not that it's any of your business, Heather, but I'm pregnant."
"Great," Heather said sarcastically, "Another perfect Shepard brat."
Ignoring her sister, Jenny made her way up the stairs to her bedroom, opening her closet slowly. She pulled a few various items of clothing from the hangers, and as she was placing them into a bag, Heather stuck her head around the corner.
"Boy or girl?"
"I don't know," Jenny answered coolly, "I want to be surprised."
Heather frowned, shaking her head, and as she made her way back into the living room, she was surprised to find one silver-haired agent waiting for her.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah," he said shortly, "You can help me by leaving Jenny alone. She's got enough going on right now, so if you can't manage to be civil to her after all she's done for you, then stay away from her, and keep your mouth shut."
Just as Heather was about to tell him off, Jenny's footsteps on the stairs halted her response, and when the older Shepard met her eyes, she frowned. She'd only just noticed the glazed look in her blue eyes, and took a step closer.
"Heather...how could you?"
Her sister frowned.
"What?"
"You're high," Jenny said slowly.
"No, I'm not," the younger woman protested angrily.
"You're either high, or you're drunk. Which is it?"
Tossing her auburn hair over her shoulder, Heather glared at her sister, taking a threatening step closer.
"So I had a few drinks. What are you going to do? Forbid me to do that, too? You're not Mom, Jenny! And you sure as hell aren't Dad, so why don't you just back off?"
Jenny shook her head, unable to believe what she'd heard.
"I'm not trying to be Mom. Or Dad, for that matter. I'm trying to keep you safe! Or are you so selfish that you can't think about anyone but you?"
Gibbs saw what was about to happen moments before it did, and as Heather drew her hand back, he prepared to step forward. It turned out to be unnecessary, as Jenny caught her sister's wrist just before her hand connected with her face, and twisted it just enough to make her gasp in pain.
"If you ever take a swing at me like that again, I'll throw you out on your ass so quickly that it'll make your head spin," Jenny threatened, her eyes hard.
"Let go of me," Heather hissed, jerking her arm free and glaring at her sister.
"One more, Heather. One more slip, and you're gone. Do I make myself clear?"
Sensing that Jenny was deadly serious, Heather nodded silently and as Gibbs led the older sister out to his truck, he gave her an encouraging smile.
"You did great."
"Did I? Because I feel like shit, Jethro."
He shook his head, throwing his arm around her shoulder.
"I know it's hard, but it was the right thing to do. She needs to understand just how serious this is."
Jenny sighed, laying her head on his shoulder as he opened the truck door.
"I know, but—"
He kissed her gently, holding her close, and when he ran his fingers through her hair, she smiled.
"I'm so proud of you, Jen. You're doing so well."
Though it made her smile, Jenny felt as though she'd done absolutely nothing worth being proud of.
Ducky smiled as he watched Jenny walk through the squad room, her head held higher than it had been in weeks, and when Gibbs followed his gaze, he nodded.
"Seems to be doing better, doesn't she?"
Ducky nodded.
"Yes. She looks much healthier now. I take it that Matthew has settled down and is letting her eat better?"
"Yeah. She's also not had a migraine in three days. I haven't seen her this happy in a month."
As the redhead disappeared into MTAC, Ducky nodded again, giving him a warm smile.
"It's amazing, what being pain-free can do for a person."
Gibbs smiled.
"I know. She actually laughed this morning. I almost wanted to bottle the sound because I hadn't heard it in so long."
"I understand the feeling completely, Jethro. Just make sure to keep an eye on her. While she might be happy now, this doesn't mean that she won't fall."
Nodding once, Gibbs moved to answer his phone as it rang, and smiled again.
"I know, but for now, I'm going to enjoy it."
If he'd known the path that his life would take in the next few months, Gibbs would have appreciated the sound of Jenny's laughter more than he ever had before.
Though she was almost afraid to admit it to even herself, Jenny Shepard felt better that morning than she had since the day she'd found out she was pregnant. She'd gotten five precious hours of sleep the previous night, she hadn't gotten sick that day after eating, and the shadows that had plagued her the week before had all but stopped. She knew that her happiness was fragile, that her illness had the power to send her spiraling downward at the flick of a wrist, and so she was determined to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.
She'd asked Tony to stop by her house and check up on Heather, which he had done, and while she could sense that he had no love for the younger Shepard, she greatly appreciated his sacrifice of visiting her. The sharp ringing of her phone made her glance up from her emails, and as she read the name displayed across the screen, she frowned.
"Shepard."
"Hi, Jenny. Are you busy?"
She hadn't heard from Beth Hale in weeks, and hearing her voice now was strangely alarming to the redhead, but she braced herself regardless.
"Hi, Beth. No, not really. At least, nothing that can't wait. Is everything okay?"
Beth laughed, immediately easing some of Jenny's fear, and she relaxed slightly in her chair.
"Yeah. Everything's great. I wanted to run something by you. You've known Tim for awhile, right?"
"A few years, yes. Why? Has he done something to you?"
"No," Beth assured her, voice warm, "But, he's asked me to move in with him, and I wanted your opinion. He's not a secret ax murderer, is he?"
Jenny laughed outright, shaking her head slowly.
"No. Tim's not a murderer. He's a good guy. Smart, reliable, quietly funny...I think if you're ready, then it's a good step in the right direction. Just be careful that you don't move too fast just to make him happy."
"Oh, I'm not. I really want to do this. I just kind of needed to hear it from someone who wasn't myself, you know? Hey, how's Baby Gibbs doing?"
"Better. He seemed to finally realise that letting Mommy get some rest would be in his best interest."
Beth laughed.
"That's great! Anyway, I'm going to call Tim and give him my answer. Thanks for everything, Jenny!"
After saying her goodbyes, Jenny resumed typing out a response to the email she'd been not-so-secretly avoiding, feeling happier than she'd ever thought she could. Her good days were precious few, and she wasn't about to let this one slip away.
A/N: What awaits Gibbs and Jenny? Hm...