A/N: I'm currently working on the next chapter, so hopefully it won't be long before it's finished. Hope you enjoy!
It was barely past nine in the morning, and by his own admission, yet through no fault of her own, Director Jenny Shepard was driving one Special Agent Jethro Gibbs insane. It wasn't the typical wanting to smack the back of her head because she was getting on his nerves though, it was the slamming her up against a wall and kissing her until she forgot her own name kind of crazy. He couldn't have even explained why he was suddenly consumed by this insanity, but once it had settled into his brain, the thought refused to leave.
He supposed it had really started with the morning coffee, that he was now regretting buying for her. The deep red lipstick stain around the rim of the cup had stood out so starkly against the white and he'd instantly thought of other things that would be easily stained if her lips touched them. She hadn't noticed his distraction, however, and she'd swept up the stairs to her office with a quiet "Have a good day" combined with a soft smile that he hadn't been able to forget.
Gibbs didn't even realise he'd been staring at the catwalk until she walked into his line of vision, returning from MTAC, and he blinked. It was clear that his thoughts weren't going to give him any peace, and when he stood, he ignored the questioning looks of his team. Wasting no time, he headed for the stairs, giving Cynthia his trademark smirk as he passed her desk, amused that she no longer even pretended to keep him out of Jenny's office.
Said redhead turned around as soon as her door opened, holding up her finger to let him know that she'd be with him in a moment, and he nodded. He locked the door silently behind him, and when Jenny sat down behind her desk, leaning her head on her hand as she spoke, he smiled.
"Yes, I understand. Yes, sir."
Gibbs walked around her desk, stopping behind her chair, and as he ran his fingers lightly through her hair, Jenny frowned in confusion. She didn't ask, however, still half-listening to her conversation, and he smiled to himself.
"Yes, I'll make sure that Ms. Scuito is prepared. She's always excelled in court, so it shouldn't be an issue."
She laughed quietly at something that was said, and nodded.
"Yes, her dislike of them is duly noted."
Gibbs swept her hair to one side, lightly trailing his lips along her throat, and Jenny's breath caught, making him smile. She covered her phone with her hand, trying to glare at him.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Distracting you," he answered with a smirk.
"I'm on the phone with a judge about one of your cases, you know."
He nodded, and Jenny returned to her call, hoping she hadn't missed anything.
"Yes, I'll definitely pass along your compliments. I'm sure she'll be glad to hear it."
Gibbs was still doing everything possible to distract her, and when his teeth lightly grazed her throat, Jenny bit down on her lip. Hard.
"Jen..." he murmured, his lips warm on her skin, "Get off the phone."
She nodded, trying to remember how to speak, and when she finally found her voice, she was thankful it wasn't shaking.
"It's been lovely talking to you, Judge Underwood, but I've got to cut this short, I'm afraid. Someone will be in touch with more details in the next few days. Yes, sir. Thank you."
The phone was pulled from her hand as soon as the call disconnected, and Gibbs tossed it to her couch, spinning her chair so that she was facing him.
"Jethro—"
His mouth on hers cut off any protest she'd planned, and he pushed her farther back in the chair, taking great precautions to ensure she didn't fall. He straightened up slightly, pulling her to her feet, and when he backed her into the wall, she gasped breathlessly, a smile forming on her lips.
"What's this about?"
He didn't answer, kissing her throat again, and when her head fell back, he ran his tongue over the shell of her ear slowly.
"It's about you," he whispered, his left hand running up her leg, pushing her skirt aside.
He hooked his fingers into the lace underwear she wore, pulling them down easily, and when he knelt in front of her, he trailed his mouth up her leg. Jenny was immensely thankful for the wall behind her keeping her upright, and when his tongue slid inside her, she bit down on her lip to muffle her moan. The fabric of her skirt whispered around him as he continued his delicious assault, and he could feel her shaking as she struggled to remain standing.
Stopping suddenly, he straightened and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to her couch, laughing quietly when she shoved her phone to the floor. Tossing his jacket off, he quickly undid his belt, allowing her to push his jeans to the ground, and when she pulled his shirt over his head, the look in her eyes was sinful. She raised herself up to kiss him, her tongue dancing over his slowly, and he bit down on her bottom lip just enough to combine pain and pleasure.
He moved his lips to her throat, tasting her heartbeat in his mouth, and she tightened her hold on his shoulder as he entered her. He knew it was killing her to stay quiet, and he thought it was a fair punishment. After all, it was her fault they were in this situation in the first place. Her and that damn lipstick. She gasped as he rolled his hips against hers, and as he dipped his tongue into the hollow of her collarbone, and her eyes closed.
"Jethro..."
He kept kissing her throat, humming in response, and she fought to remember what she'd been going to say. Her body was on fire, the need to feel him touching her almost unbearable, and she finally found her voice as he ran his hand over her thigh.
"Jethro, please...touch me," she whispered, "I need to feel your hands."
Gibbs bought his lips to hers, his tongue exploring every corner of her mouth, and when his hands slid beneath her shirt, moving up her body to roll the nipple of her breast between his fingers, she moaned softly. He slowed the rhythm of his hips as his hands roamed over her body, and when he hit a particularly sensitive spot, Jenny gasped, her nails raking down his arm. He made sure to do it again, and when she bit down on his throat, it was the most wonderful pain he'd ever experienced.
"Right there," she whispered, "God, Jethro, do that again."
He did as she asked, rolling his hips against hers, and Jenny ran her hands over his chest, her lips moving over his throat. She sucked his skin between her teeth, determined to leave just enough of a mark that he wouldn't forget it, and when she felt her body begin to tighten, she moaned into his shoulder. Jenny knew, as surely as she knew her own name, that there was no way she could stay silent and when she kissed him hard on the lips, Gibbs knew exactly what she was doing. She moaned into him, his mouth muffling the sound effectively, and he smiled as he finally kissed the smooth skin of her throat again.
His own climax was stronger than he had expected, and it took everything he had to stay quiet, save for the soft whisper of her name as he buried his face in her fiery hair. He was still trying to remember how to breathe when his phone rang, and when he finally answered it, his voice was rougher than he intended.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"Um...boss, there's someone down here that wants to see you."
"They can wait."
Jenny rolled her eyes as she gently pushed him off of her, and as she straightened her clothing, pulling on her discarded underwear in a discreet way that only a woman can, Gibbs sighed. He pulled his shirt over his head as Tony continued to speak, and finally answered as he hooked his belt.
"I'm on my way. Five minutes."
He hung up, glancing at Jenny as she reapplied her lipstick. He waited, letting her silently look him over, and when she was satisfied, she nodded.
"All clear."
He kissed her cheek gently before walking toward the door, and gave her a smile as he pulled it open.
"Have a good day."
Shaking her head as she laughed, Jenny unlocked her computer, preparing to check her emails. It wasn't until she was halfway through her task that she realised Gibbs had left his jacket laying on the floor of her office.
Of all the people that Gibbs could have guessed would be waiting for him in the squad room, this wasn't one of them. He frowned at the young man fidgeting nervously in front of him, and though he looked familiar, Gibbs couldn't remember his name for the life of him.
"Can I help you?"
"I-um—I was wondering if I could talk to you. You and um..."
He glanced at Tony for help, and the Senior Field Agent looked at Gibbs briefly before answering.
"Director Shepard."
Now, Gibbs couldn't deny that his curiosity had spiked. The young man ran his hand through his hair, too afraid to look at the team leader directly.
"What do you need with the Director?"
"It...I—um, well, it concerns both of you."
"You got a name?" Gibbs asked, trying to keep his voice light.
"P-Parker. Seth Parker."
It suddenly clicked in Gibbs' mind why the young man looked familiar, and his eyes hardened at the memory.
"Don't waste your time."
"Please, Agent Gibbs! I just—I want to tell you both how sorry I am. Please."
Gibbs pulled out his phone, dialing quickly, and Seth Parker glanced at Tony in confusion.
"Who's he—"
"Hush."
The former marine fought to keep his face neutral as he heard Tony shush the younger man, and when he heard Jenny's voice, warm on the other end of the line, he closed his eyes slowly.
"Shepard."
"You busy?"
"Jethro, wasn't once enough for you?" Jenny asked with a laugh.
"Never. But not why I called. Got someone down here that wants to talk to Director Shepard."
Frowning, Jenny sat a little straighter in her chair, and took off her glasses slowly.
"Oh?"
"Very insistent."
Running her hand through her hair to straighten it, Jenny finally nodded, standing up quickly.
"Tell them that Director Shepard will be right down. And she has something of yours to return to you."
Gibbs nodded though she couldn't see him, and smiled.
"Yes, ma'am."
It took Jenny less than a minute to appear on the catwalk, hair, clothing and makeup all impeccable, and Gibbs frowned as he realised she was carrying something over her arm. With a jolt, he recognised it as his jacket, and he could feel Tony's eyes on him as she walked closer. Seth Parker looked at Jenny as she handed the jacket back to the silver-haired agent, unsure of what to make of her.
"Your jacket, Agent Gibbs."
"Thank you, Director."
Gibbs could tell that she was enjoying herself, could clearly see the laughter in her eyes, and when he addressed her again, he fought to control his own amusement.
"If you've got a moment, this young man would like to have a word. With both of us."
Jenny was well aware of the eyes watching her, it seemed as though everyone was waiting to see how she would react, and smiled. Ever since their relationship had been made public almost a year ago, the entire building no longer hid their curiosity and waited with bated breath for an open display of affection between them. It had never happened, not even when the entire agency knew she was expecting his child, and it was still a hot topic of discussion.
"Of course, Agent Gibbs. I've got as long as you want," Jenny replied, green eyes dancing with amusement.
Gibbs nodded, allowing her to lead the way, and as they made their way back up the stairs, the former marine had already decided it was going to bring him great entertainment to antagonise the younger man. He just hoped he could get Jenny to play along.
From the moment Jenny's office door closed, it was apparent that Seth Parker was so terrified that he was close to crying. Her emerald eyes met Gibbs' sapphire blue, and he could tell they had both reached the same conclusion. A silent understanding passed between them, and Jenny walked around to the other side of her desk, crossing her legs gracefully as she sat.
"You wanted to speak with me?"
"Um, y-yes, ma'am. I...well, I wanted—"
"I'm sorry, have we met before?" Jenny asked, looking at him seriously.
"No, ma'am. M-my name is Seth Parker, and—"
The rest of his words went unnoticed by the redhead as she realised the significance of his name. Now she understood the look Gibbs had given her, and if she looked closely enough, she could see the agent texting someone, his phone hidden by his jacket. Fully preparing to mess with their visitor, Jenny placed her own cell phone on the table, screen facing the ceiling, clearly visible to the two other occupants.
"Jethro," she said smoothly, pausing for effect, "who are you texting?"
Gibbs smirked at her as he hit send, and had they been alone, Jenny would have thrown him against the wall herself.
"My wife," he answered, waiting.
Jenny's phone chimed, the team leader's name gleaming up at them, and she reached for it, reading it quickly.
Make this bastard suffer, Jen. Give him hell.
It didn't escape Jenny's notice that Seth Parker was now looking between the two of them with a look of shocked understanding on his face, and he stared at her, shaking his head.
"Consider it done," she replied, indicating her phone for dramatic effect.
He smiled, and Jenny turned her attention back to Parker, her eyes cold.
"I'm sorry, what was it you wanted to speak with me about?"
"I—a-about a year ago...I was out driving one night and I ran a red light. I cras—I hit your truck. Well, actually, your truck, Agent Gibbs...and...it—"
"You're the one who hit the truck?" Jenny asked, pretending she hadn't heard him.
"Yes, ma'am. I should have stopped, but I—I'd never hit anything before. I was so scared, and I just panicked. I know that isn't an excuse but—"
"You're right," Jenny said slowly, "It isn't. Do you know what happens when your heart stops? Do you know what it feels like?"
He shook his head, and Jenny closed her eyes, trying her best to remember the way she'd felt that night.
"You can't breathe, you try, desperately try to make your lungs work, but they don't. You're suffocating, but you're also drowning. At least, I was. Blood was pouring into my lungs, and my heart realised that it wasn't functioning properly. So, it stopped. You can't speak, you can't move, can't think, at least not about anything other than the panic. About the fear, about the things you'll never get to do because someone else decided they were too afraid to stop. About the fact that they didn't even have the nerve to turn themselves in."
Parker was shaking in his chair, looking at Jenny with such a fear that Gibbs found it difficult to keep from laughing. She was doing a damn good job of intimidating him, and he was suddenly very glad he'd come to work that morning.
"I lost so much that night. A coma gives you plenty of time to think, though. Had to relearn certain words, broken bones, insomnia, nightmares, the pure fear of ever being in a vehicle again...that never leaves. And now...nearly a year later, after everything you've taken from me...you have the nerve to come in here and ask my forgiveness. To try to sway my emotions by saying you were scared..."
Jenny beckoned him closer, leaning forward on the smooth wood of her desk, her eyes locking on Parker's.
"I don't doubt that you were scared. Not for a minute. But did you even spare one thought for us that night? The people you left on that dark, rainy road, one of whom you almost killed? I doubt it. You were so scared of getting caught, of being held responsible. You're like the thief who's not the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly sorry he got caught. Now, unless you have anything else to add to your pathetic little sob story, I highly suggest you leave my office."
He was too stunned to move, but he still tried to appeal to her, speaking quickly.
"Wait! I really am sorry. I didn't—"
"Jethro?" Jenny's voice cut Parker off, and she ignored him as he tried again.
"Jen?"
"Would you please show Mr. Parker the door? It seems he's having difficulty locating it."
Gibbs nodded once as he stood, kissing her gently before jerking his head at Parker, his eyes like steel. The younger man didn't wait to be told again, standing up and bolting for the door, leaving Jenny to dissolve into laughter the moment he had disappeared. Gibbs leaned closer, his breath warm on her skin, and she closed her eyes at the feeling.
"You're brilliant, Jen."
He made his way to the door, and he turned just inside the doorway, a smile on his face.
"Remind me never to piss you off."
Jenny laughed, her hair spilling over her shoulder as she shook her head.
"Oh, Jethro...that ship sailed years ago."
"I'm telling you, she had his jacket. He left it in her office. I've never known Gibbs to take his jacket off at work, Have you?"
Ziva rolled her eyes, taking a bite of the breakfast burrito in her hands.
"Tony, we all know they're engaged. They aren't hiding it anymore. Besides, do you really think Director Shepard would ever let Gibbs break a rule like that?"
Tony frowned, trying to steal a bite of her food. The Israeli slapped his hand away, and as he pouted, a thought occurred to him.
"Gibbs doesn't have a rule about sex in the office."
"I'm sure Director Shepard does," McGee pointed out.
"Exactly," Ziva said with a smile, "She's a firm believer in rules."
"Speaking of rule followers, how's our little Daddy-to-be? Still freaking out?"
McGee considered the question, and finally shook his head, a small smile playing across his lips.
"No, actually. I got some advice from someone I care about, and when I did what they said, it worked out."
None of the agents noticed that Jenny and Gibbs were standing on the catwalk, and the redhead smiled at the team leader.
"I told you McGee looks up to you. You did a good job helping him."
There was still a sadness in her eyes each time the baby was brought up, but Jenny was determined to put it behind her and focus on the happiness of the situation. She nudged him gently with her arm, giving him a smile as she walked back to her office, and as his phone rang, he began to walk down the stairs.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
Listening for a moment, he nodded once as he walked around Tony's desk, hanging up quickly.
"Grab your gear. Got another body."
"Another?" McGee asked in confusion.
"Same MO as the one we found in that back alley."
McGee nodded slowly, a look of sadness filling his eyes. He'd almost forgotten about the body they'd found the day Christina had been killed, even though they'd been working the case, he'd been so consumed by his guilt that he hadn't paid much attention. Gibbs sent a quick text to Jenny, letting her know they were leaving, and as they filed into the elevator, McGee took a deep breath. He could do this.
He could...couldn't he?
"I don't get it," Tony said as he knelt down to examine the body, "Why would you shove someone's genitals in their mouth?"
"I can think of a few good reasons," Ziva muttered under her breath.
"Very funny, Zee-vah. But I mean, if they're already dead, what's the point?"
"What makes you think he was already dead, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he passed.
As the full implication of the team leader's words sank in, Tony shivered, shaking his head slowly. His eyes caught the few droplets of blood that were spattered on the pavement, and snapped a few pictures, calling Gibbs' name.
"Got blood over here."
"Good. We'll get a sample back to Abby. Most likely it's our victim's, but there's always a chance we're wrong."
Glancing at his watch, Gibbs frowned as he realised it was beginning to get late. They need to work fast before they lost the light, but every piece of evidence they found only served to give them more questions. This was going to be a long night...
Jenny swore as the cup she'd been holding fell from her hand, shattering on the floor. She quickly grabbed the broom from the corner, sweeping up the glass as Aries stuck his head around the corner curiously.
"It's okay, baby. Mommy just dropped a glass."
He wagged his tail as she dropped the broken glass into the trash bin, and her phone began to ring, she rolled her eyes.
"Go in the living room and Mommy will be there to play in a minute, Aries."
He picked up his toy, squeaking it happily, and she smiled as she reached for her phone.
"Shepard."
"Hi, Jenny."
"Oh, hi, Heather. How are you?"
"Good. I just wanted to call you and let you know how sorry I am. Not just for what I did to you, but for the things Mom said. She was being a bitch, and I was an idiot."
Though she was touched that her sister had reached out, Jenny was still highly skeptical, and so she kept her tone carefully light.
"It's okay. Don't worry about Morgan, she just wanted someone to blame."
She took a step towards the kitchen, swearing loudly when a tiny piece of glass embedded itself into her bare foot, and shook her head angrily.
"Jenny, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just stepped on some glass. Heather, I'm sorry, I have to go."
"Of course. Be careful, Jenny. I'll talk to you soon."
"I will."
"Love you."
Jenny hesitated, unsure if she should say it, and then shook her head, What was she thinking?
"Love you too, Heather."
She hung up, carefully balancing her weight on her right foot, and as she made her way slowly into the living room, she smiled at Aries waiting for her. He dropped his toy at the end of the couch, and when she tossed it across the room, he ran after it, barking quietly. Jenny laughed as she sank down on the couch, bending her body over her leg to survey the damage.
It was a small piece of glass, no bigger than her smallest fingernail, and as she finally found the tweezers, she smiled in triumph. She fumbled each time she attempted to pull the tiny shard from her skin, the tweezers slipping on both the blood and smooth glass surface, and she swore softly. Another attempt merely shifted the fragment deeper into her foot, and she brushed her hair out of her face angrily.
"Son of a bitch."
She tensed at the sound of footsteps on the porch, but as soon as she recognised who they belonged to, she relaxed. The door opened, revealing her favourite former marine, and though she was happy to know he was home, she didn't look up. Gibbs frowned when he saw the look of concentration in her eyes, and when he noticed the blood on her skin, he immediately made his way closer.
"You okay?"
Jenny nodded.
"Got a piece of glass in my foot. Broke a cup, thought I swept it all. Guess I missed a piece."
The tweezers slipped again, and she let out a frustrated sigh.
"God damn it."
Gibbs sat down on the opposite end of the couch, pulling her legs across his own, and when he pulled the tweezers from her hand, she frowned.
"I'm perfectly capable of—"
"I know," he said gently, "but it's easier for me to see at this angle. Your hair casts a shadow when you're leaning in front of the light."
Hm...she hadn't considered that. She nodded, trying not to flinch as he maneuvered the tweezers in his hand. The steadiness of his hands was such a contrast to her own, which seemed to shake every moment of every day, and within seconds, he smiled triumphantly.
"Got it."
Jenny smiled, leaning forward to give him a gentle kiss, and he dropped the glass into the ashtray that neither of them had ever used.
"How did things go with your case?" Jenny asked quietly.
Gibbs ran his hand up and down her leg slowly, content to simply have her close, and sighed.
"Not much to go on. Same as the last time. Abby's analysing the blood we found at the scene, but we don't have anything else. How was the end of your day?"
She shrugged.
"Not bad. Heather called, sounds really good, and I worked on a painting today for a few hours."
Gibbs glanced at her, intrigued, and when she stood, she beckoned him closer, smiling as she led him up the stairs.
"It's not much, but it's something."
Flipping on the light in the spare bedroom, Jenny gestured to the canvas sitting on the bed, and when Gibbs looked at it more closely, he smiled. It was the same sketch she'd done of him and Aries on the couch, but she'd brought it to life using the rich colours of her paintbrush, the final result nothing short of stunning.
"Jen, this is...this is amazing."
She smiled, but shook her head.
"There's just one thing I don't like about it. Your eyes are the wrong colour."
It was true. They were still blue, but the shading was slightly off, and it bothered her to no end. She'd struggled for hours trying to find the right mixture of pigments, but nothing had ever come close to being good enough.
"They're blue. Looks right to me."
Jenny rolled her eyes, leading him out of the room and across the hall to their bedroom. She kicked the door shut as soon as she'd been close enough, and as her hands slipped under his shirt, her lips trailed over his throat.
"Your eyes are not just blue, Jethro. Sometimes they're icy, like the winter frost early in the morning. Sometimes they're warm like a pool on a summer day. And sometimes, they're chaotic, like the sea after a storm. There isn't a paint colour that has been invented yet that captures the depth of your eyes, and they're always mesmerizing."
She was still touching him, her lips finding his in a heated kiss, and when he pulled her as close to his body as he could, she fought against the moan building in her throat.
"You sure have a way with words, Jen," he murmured, kissing her throat slowly.
"That's not all I have a way with," she whispered, gasping as he lifted her off her feet.
All things considered, it was a pretty damn good way to end the night.
Gibbs frowned as he made his way back into the bedroom, coffee in hand, confused as he realised that Jenny hadn't moved from the bed. She was still as he walked closer, and when he called her name, there was no indication that she'd heard him. Slightly worried now, he placed his hand on her shoulder, more than a little relieved when her eyes opened.
"Jen? Are you getting up for work?"
Her head shook, and he sat down on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through her hair slowly.
"What is it? Is there any way I can help?"
Again, her head shook, but still she said nothing. It was as though she'd lost the ability to speak, and he nodded as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Text me if you need anything. I love you."
She nodded into the pillow, and it wasn't until he'd made it to the door that he heard her voice, barely above a whisper.
"I love you."
If he hadn't been in the midst of a case, if there had been any way he could have swung it without potentially allowing a serial killer to walk free, Gibbs would have never left the house that morning. As he drove to work, he couldn't stop the nagging feeling that something was seriously wrong with the redhead still laying in his bed, and if he'd known how the next few days would play out, he would have never gotten in his truck.
Jenny didn't move from the bed for any period longer than ten minutes over the course of three days. Gibbs was worried yes, but there was also the familiar feeling of annoyance and anger as he looked in the room again. She was still under the blankets, and when he walked into the room, there was nothing to suggest that she had any intention of moving. He sat down on the edge of the bed, kissing her cheek as he brushed her hair back, and when she opened her eyes, he gave her a small smile.
"Feeling any better?"
She shrugged, and he sighed.
"Jen, please. It's been three days. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't, Jethro. I don't know what's wrong. It's not that simple."
He stared at her, unsure of what to say.
"How can you not know? It's your head."
Her eyes met his, and he knew he'd messed up as soon as he saw the tears in her eyes.
"I didn't mean it the—"
"I know," she said sadly, "I know what you meant. I just don't—I can't explain it."
He combed his fingers through her hair, pulling her to a sitting position. She laid her head on his shoulder, her hair falling over her face in a curtain, and he tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
"Have you taken your medication?"
"Not today. I always wait until you come home."
He nodded, and when he handed her the pill bottle, she sighed. Gibbs watched her take the pills, doing his best to hide his frustration, but he knew she could sense it just by the look in her eyes. She ran her hand over his cheek slowly, willing him to understand.
"I'm sorry, Jethro," she said softly, "I swear, I'm trying."
Gibbs nodded, kissing her cheek.
"I know. It's okay. Do you think you could try taking a shower? Or a bath? It might help."
She shook her head, laying back down on the bed, and as he stood, he gave her one last worried glance as he made his way to the door.
"I love you, Jen."
There was no answer, and as he closed the door behind him, he sighed. This was turning out to be a very bad week.
Jenny bounced down the hallway, singing quietly to herself as she searched for a dish cloth. Gibbs was still out searching for any kind of clue in his latest case, and so she had taken it upon herself to clean the house in his absence. Aries was sleeping on the couch, and as she passed him, she placed a light kiss on the top of his head. He ignored her, still sleeping, and she reached to pick up the furniture polish, spinning on her heel as she went.
She was in an absolutely fantastic mood, and she was suddenly overcome with the desire to go for a drive, enjoying the cooling summer weather. Grabbing her keys, she made her way to the door, but then she remembered that she'd forgotten the laundry in the dryer, swearing softly. The keys fell from her hand, and she whipped around, the noise startling her.
"Jesus, Jenny. Get it together."
Picking up her phone, she was just preparing to send a quick text to Gibbs when it began to ring, making her jump.
"Shepard."
"Hello, Jennifer. At least you have the decency to answer your phone."
Jenny frowned, more than a little confused, and shook her head.
"Morgan?"
"Is that any way to refer to your mother? It's bad enough that you didn't answer the door."
"Wait. You're at my house? Why?"
"Didn't Heather tell you? She's being released from rehab, and I'm taking her home with me. I thought maybe she would be with you, so I came to pick her up."
"I'm not home. And I would suggest you leave my house before the authorities arrive."
Morgan laughed, making Jenny cringe, and she held her breath, knowing the older woman wasn't finished.
"Jennifer, would you really call the police on your own mother?"
"You'd better believe it," Jenny snapped.
"Why don't you just come by and we can talk about it? I only want what's best for you and Heather."
Jenny rolled her eyes, running her hand through her hair in frustration and finally she sighed, picking her keys up from the floor.
"I doubt that, but since there's no other way to get rid of you, fine. I'll be right over."
After hanging up the phone and giving Aries another kiss on the top of his head, Jenny closed the front door behind her, throwing herself in the seat of her car. This was definitely not how she'd pictured her day going.
As soon as she walked up to her house, Jenny was immediately beginning to regret her decision. Morgan Shepard was waiting for her on the porch, and as she ushered her inside, she made a mental note to keep her phone nearby. She didn't trust her in the slightest, and she knew it would be best to have a way out if needed. The door closed behind the younger Shepard, and as Morgan began wandering through the house as though she owned it, Jenny felt her anger begin to rise.
Who did this woman think she was? She took a deep breath, trying to imagine what Gibbs would tell her if he were with her, and as she let her breath out, she shook her head.
"Is there a reason you've disgraced me with your presence?"
"Jennifer, I'm surprised at you. That's no way to speak to the woman who raised you."
Jenny raised her eyebrow slowly, moving closer with deliberate steps.
"I don't see the woman who raised me. She doesn't exist. And how can you possibly think that Heather going back to her apartment and living close to you is a good thing? You know she'd just turn right back to the drugs. I'm not going to let you ruin her life anymore."
Morgan took a step forward, her eyes so cold that Jenny began to shake without even realising it. The older woman's mere presence was enough to make her feel as though she were a little girl again, and she unconsciously gripped the side of her jeans to keep her hands still.
"If I want to see my daughter, then there's no way I'm going to allow my other daughter to stand in my way."
"You're not our mother. You're just the woman who gave birth to us. A dog would have been a better mother. You're nothing but a manipulative bitch who uses her children like bargaining chips."
Jenny's head snapped backward, her equilibrium thrown so off balance that she crashed into the wall behind her, and as she stared up at Morgan, her eyes filled with tears.
"It always comes to this with you, doesn't it, Morgan? If you had any shred of humanity—"
The second slap was hard enough that she felt blood begin to drip down her face, and Jenny closed her eyes in pain.
"Watch your mouth, Jennifer!"
Jenny's hands moved without her even realising it, shoving the older woman away from her, and when Morgan tried to take a step forward, the sound of the safety clicking off made her pause.
"Don't come near me."
"Jennifer Morgan Shepard, put that away. You and I both know you would never use it."
"Try me," Jenny whispered dangerously, "One step closer, and you'll regret it."
Morgan frowned, assessing whether or not Jenny was serious, and finally nodded.
"Fine. But don't ever expect my help with anything ever again."
"I never have before. Now get out of my house and stay away from Heather."
Backing away, Morgan made her way to the door, pausing just before she reached the porch, and the look in her eyes made Jenny's shaking so violent that it was painful.
"You've made your bed, Jennifer. I just hope you're willing to sleep in it."
The door closed with a slam, and as soon as Jenny was certain that she wasn't going to come back, her fingers fumbled frantically for her phone, pulling it from her pocket desperately. It slipped from her hands as she tried to unlock the screen, and when she successfully managed to keep in in her grip, she pressed Gibbs' name harder than she intended. Her breathing was faster than she'd ever known it to be, her pulse was racing, and she could hardly hear from the sound of blood rushing in her ears, but still she held her phone, praying he would answer.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
Thank God.
"J-Jethro, are you b-busy?"
"Going over evidence with DiNozzo and Abby. Why?"
She was fighting to keep her breathing under control, but even Jenny knew she was fighting a losing battle.
"C-can you p-put it on h-hold?"
"Hang on, let me put you on speaker so I can hold these jars."
She waited, her mind racing a mile a minute, and when she heard his voice again, she nearly cried in relief.
"Okay. Is something wrong?"
"J-Jethro, I n-need to talk to y-you. It's imp-portant."
"Where are you? You sound like you can't breathe. Jen, what's wrong?"
Her eyes closed as her breath tore from her throat, and she braced herself on the floor with her free hand.
"M-my h-house. J-Jethro, p-please."
"On my way."
He hung up the phone, and as Jenny's fell from her hand, she closed her eyes again, but she couldn't pretend that she didn't feel the tears falling down her skin.
Gibbs frowned as his cell began to ring, and the look of annoyance in Abby's bright green eyes was enough to make him smile as he answered it.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"J-Jethro, are you b-busy?"
Abby tapped him on the shoulder, handing him the evidence jar with the bit of blood that they'd found at their latest crime scene. He examined it closely, still a bit unsure of what it was he was meant to be looking at, and frowned again.
"Going over evidence with DiNozzo and Abby. Why?"
"C-can you p-put it on h-hold?"
DiNozzo handed him another jar as Abby handed the Senior Field Agent a large file folder, and Gibbs struggled to hold the phone between his ear and shoulder.
"Hang on, let me put you on speaker so I can hold these jars."
After hitting the appropriate button, Gibbs placed his phone on the table, pretending to look at what Abby was trying to show him.
"Okay. Is something wrong?"
"J-Jethro, I n-need to talk to y-you. It's imp-portant."
Jenny's voice was breathless, and he was suddenly very concerned. The last time she'd sounded so out of breath, it had ended badly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tony and Abby exchange a worried glance, and he frowned.
"Where are you? You sound like you can't breathe. Jen, what's wrong?"
There was a slight pause, and he set down the jars he was holding, his mind automatically fearing the worst.
"M-my h-house. J-Jethro, p-please."
That one word was enough to make his decision, and he nodded.
"On my way."
He hung up his phone, picking it up from the counter, hoping he wasn't too late.
Each tick of the clock was a cannon, each beat of her heart took her breath away, and each painful breath tearing from her chest burned like wildfire. Jenny's eyes were tightly closed, her hands on the floor the only thing keeping her upright, and her hair hung around her face in a crimson waterfall. The blood on her face had long since dried, but her tears still fell, dripping onto the hardwood silently.
She heard the front door open, but it hardly registered in her panicked mind, her thoughts both racing and incoherent all at once. Gibbs frowned when he saw her on the floor, walking over quickly, and when he knelt down in front of her, he wasn't sure if he should touch her.
"Jen? What is it? What happened?"
"M-Morgan. S-she...she s-said—"
"Wait. Your mother was here? When?"
"E-earlier."
He nodded, tilting her head up, frowning when he noticed the cut under her eye.
"You're bleeding."
Jenny nodded, still trying to breathe, and Gibbs looked at her seriously.
"Easy, Jen. Slow, deep breaths. One at a time, okay?"
She reached out to touch his arm, gripping his shoulder tightly, her breathing finally beginning to slow, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Good. Now, tell me what happened."
Jenny met his eyes slowly, hers still filled with tears, and he kissed her cheek gently.
"She wanted Heather to stay with her. She's getting out of rehab, and I told her that Heather couldn't stay with her, it would only make her relapse. She hit me, and I...I pulled my gun on her."
"She hit you?"
"Twice," Jenny whispered, still shaking, "Must have been wearing a ring. I told her that if she didn't leave that I would shoot her. Jethro, I—I pulled my gun on my own mother. I pull—I pulled a gun on my m-mother."
Her breath caught in her chest, dangerously close to hyperventilating again, and he ran his fingers through her hair, trying to calm her.
"Shh...breathe, Jen. It's over now. She's gone."
"But J-Jethro, I—"
Gibbs gathered her in his arms, beyond furious with Morgan Shepard, and shook his head as he kissed her hair.
"No, Jen...you pulled a gun on the woman who assaulted you in your own home. And I'm proud of you. I would have done the same."
As he held Jenny in his arms, his fingers running through her hair as she began to cry, wondering if perhaps murder wasn't always bad idea, Gibbs found that he had never been more proud of her, nor as angry at another woman before in his life.
A/N: Poor Jenny.