A/N: Happy Saturday, my loves! I hope you're ready to dive into this next chapter. In which McGee helps Jenny, Heather sees how brave her sister is, and Tony learns a secret. Hope you enjoy!
Gibbs frowned when he walked into Jenny's office and found her nowhere in sight. He knew she didn't have any meetings in MTAC that day and he'd not seen her leave the building, so he had no idea of where she could have gone. Though he knew he was being overprotective, knew she would have to learn to navigate her surroundings on her own, it still made him nervous when she walked around on her own. There were so many missteps she could take, and he would have felt guilty if she'd gotten hurt when he could have prevented it.
The door opened suddenly, revealing the very woman he'd been searching for, and he spoke quietly to alert her to his presence.
"Morning."
"Jethro. Is something wrong?"
"Nope, just came up to see if you wanted coffee. But it looks like you beat me to it."
Pointedly taking a drink from the cup in her hand, Jenny nodded, giving him a smile.
"So it seems."
She made her way to the desk, impressing him with how easily she moved around the room, and he smiled in spite of himself. Sitting in the chair gracefully, she waited no less than thirty seconds before speaking again, her voice slightly amused.
"Why did you really come up here?"
Damn her for knowing him so well. He laughed, sitting down in the chair opposite her desk, and nodded slowly.
"Fine. You caught me. I was checking up on you. Happy?"
"You're sweet, Jethro, but it's not necessary. I have Cynthia here if I need anything. You don't have to worry. Have a little faith in me."
He nodded, leaning over the desk to kiss her cheek just as his phone rang.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
Listening to the voice on the other end of the line, he glanced at Jenny once before hanging up, his eyes serious.
"Abby's got something on our dead petty officer. You need anything before I leave?"
She laughed quietly, shaking her head, and waved him to the door.
"I'm fine, Jethro. Go play agent."
Jenny gave McGee a smile as he walked through her office door, more than a little grateful to him for agreeing to help her fix her computer. Though she still hadn't told anyone other than her assistant and Ducky about her now almost completely non-existent vision, she had a feeling that he already knew she had an ulterior motive. The young agent was remarkably observant, and it wasn't likely that they had managed to sneak something like this by him unnoticed.
"Thanks again, McGee. I really appreciate you doing this."
He nodded, glancing at her once as he worked.
"You're welcome, Director. It's a fairly simple thing to do. Some computers even come with the software already installed now. But, this is much more advanced than those versions."
McGee worked in silence for a few more minutes, painfully aware of the redhead's presence, but when he glanced in her direction, he relaxed when he realised she wasn't looking at him. Her gaze was directed out the window, and though he didn't know what she could possibly be looking at, he shrugged.
"Director Shepard?"
"Hm?"
"If you don't mind my asking, why did you want me to do this? No offense, but it's kind of an odd request."
She sighed, running her hand through her hair as she turned from the window, and her eyes were sad as she spoke.
"What I'm about to tell you is need to know, McGee. It will eventually be made public, but not until it's necessary. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Jenny took a deep breath to steady herself, and shook her head.
"I'm going blind, Tim," she said quietly, "The accident that Gibbs and I were in caused permanent damaged to my eyes, and within the next month or so, I'll be completely blind. I need to find ways to still keep working, and having you install this software is one of those."
He stared at her for a moment, trying to figure out if she was serious. She certainly seemed to be, and he returned to his work, hoping he wasn't overstepping his boundaries.
"How bad is it right now?"
"I can still make out changes in light. Other than that, nothing. Hence the reason the blinds are still open. I've been working on strengthening my remaining senses, but it's a slow process."
"Is there any other way I can help? Anything else you can think of, I'd be happy to do it."
She shook her head, a sad smile on her face.
"No. You've done more than enough. But I've been thinking about your request for Gibbs and me to be godparents. Given what you know now, I completely understand if you want to ask someone else. How much use would I be?"
He shook his head, forgetting that she wouldn't be able to see it, and reached out to touch her wrist. It was the first time McGee had ever touched her of his own accord, and though the action was foreign to him, it seemed right. She jumped slightly at the feeling of his fingers on her skin, but said nothing.
"Even blind, you'd be the only woman I would want to be my child's godmother. No one in the world could ever be better at it than you. Not even my sister. Let's face it, Sarah is still a kid herself. You and Gibbs are the only people Beth and I trust to raise her."
Jenny smiled, then realised what he'd said.
"Her? It's a girl?"
He nodded, unable to keep his smile from his face.
"Yeah. Beth is so excited."
"And what about you?"
"I...honestly, I can't wait. I'm terrified, but...I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it. I know it must be hard for you to hear Beth talk about it—"
"No, Tim," Jenny interrupted gently, "I'm glad you're both excited. You should be. You're both going to be wonderful parents, and I can't wait to meet your daughter. If you still want me to be her godmother, then I would consider it the highest honour you could give me."
"Thanks, Jenny. You have no idea how much this means to us."
In spite of herself, Jenny felt tears fill her eyes, more than a little touched by his words.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs was more than a little confused when he walked into Jenny's house only to find Heather Shepard walking down the stairs, purse in hand, wearing one of her sister's dresses, a bright smile on her face. Jenny walked in from the kitchen moments later, an annoyed look on her face, and he tilted his head curiously.
"Heather, you are aware that you're supposed to walk down the stairs, not throw yourself down them, aren't you?"
Heather rolled her eyes, looking at Gibbs conspiratorially.
"Jenny, calm down. I didn't hurt your precious steps. Besides, Jethro would have caught me if I'd fallen."
He shook his head, laughing.
"Maybe. Chances are, I would have let you fall."
Jenny laughed, walking closer, and glared in his general direction.
"I don't think you have it in you to let a woman fall. Heather, where are you going again?"
"On a date. With this guy I met in my AA meeting. His name is Lucas. He looks kind of like a grown up Macaulay Culkin with a little facial hair."
"Odd description choice," Jenny laughed, "but okay. Just make sure you call me if anything happens. I mean it."
Heather made her way closer, kissing her sister's cheek gently, and nodded.
"I will. Do you want to meet him too, Mom?"
"You watch your mouth," Jenny snapped in mock outrage, "I haven't even turned thirty-seven yet. I really would like to meet him, though. If you're not afraid I'll embarrass you."
The knock on the door made Heather turn, and as she pulled it open, she smiled. The young man waiting on the other side did indeed look as the younger redhead has described, and Gibbs fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"Hi, Lucas."
"Hi."
Heather gestured for him to enter the house, and as he stepped inside, she gave him another smile.
"Lucas, this is my sister Jenny and her fiance, Jethro."
Jenny held out her hand, hoping she didn't look too foolish, and when Lucas took it after a moment's hesitation, she smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, Lucas."
"Same to you. Don't worry, I won't keep Heather out too late. We're just going out for coffee."
Gibbs shook the younger man's hand, a careful smile painted on his face, and nodded.
"Have a good time, Heather. Lucas."
"Jenny, do you need anything before I leave?" Heather asked.
Jenny shook her head, giving her a smile, and as the door closed behind them, she turned to face Gibbs, her eyes serious.
"What's wrong, Jethro?"
He frowned, considering her question carefully. In truth, he didn't know exactly what was bothering him about Heather's date, but there was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right."
Jenny moved closer, running her hands slowly up his chest, raising up on her toes to kiss his lips gently.
"Well, maybe I can help you forget about it."
Her lips trailed along his jawline, smiling when she felt him shiver beneath her touch.
"What do you think, Jethro? Does this feel right?"
As much as he wanted to deny it, Gibbs had to admit, it definitely did.
Occasionally glancing at Lucas as he drove, Heather sighed, wishing she knew how to word what she wanted to say. She'd seen the look of confusion on his face as he'd shaken Jenny's hand, and though she didn't quite understand why, she felt the need to explain.
"Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry if that was awkward. Meeting my sister, I mean. I know it might seem weird, but I owe so much of my sobriety to her. She's always been there for me, and she's saved my life more times than I can count."
He gave her a smile, reaching for her hand.
"She seems nice. From as much as you can tell about a person from a five second encounter."
Heather nodded, staring at their entwined fingers with surprise. She hadn't been on a date in years, and to say she was nervous would have been a massive understatement.
"Jenny's blind," she blurted out suddenly, "That's why when she shook your hand, she—"
"So that's what it was. I wondered why she never made eye contact. Wow. I've never known a blind person. That's...kind of cool, actually."
"She wasn't always blind. She and Jethro were in a really bad car accident about a year ago, and she lost her vision. She nearly died."
He glanced at her again as he parked the car, pulling the keys from the ignition slowly.
"You really love her."
Heather nodded.
"She's the only person who never gave up on me."
Jenny sighed as she tried to locate her phone, wondering where she'd left it, and as she ran her hands along the dresser, her frustration only grew. She'd been waiting for Gibbs to get out of the shower before they went back to his house, hoping to pass the time by playing some music on her phone, but now that she couldn't find it, she was beginning to get more than a little angry. Her fingers hit the smooth glass of the mirror, offering her no help, and she slammed her hand down on the wood furiously.
Feeling her way back to the bed, she finally located her bedside table, and when her searching fingers only found the lamp, she tangled her hand in her hair, pulling it in frustration.
"Where the hell is it?"
The water shut off in the bathroom, and when Gibbs walked into the room, he frowned at the sight of her crawling on the floor beneath the bed.
"Jen, what are you doing?"
"Looking for my phone," she answered, her voice muffled.
Gibbs smirked, sneaking a glance at her, and when he head her voice again, he laughed outright.
"Jethro, stop staring at my ass and help me."
"Can't help it. It's a great view."
"Shut the hell up."
He laughed again, and when he placed his hand on her lower back, she moved closer, raising up from her previous position.
"Got something to tell you," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
She raised her eyebrow, her hazy eyes landing on his, and he kissed her forehead lightly.
"Your phone is downstairs on the kitchen counter."
Jenny playfully shoved him away from her, and when he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer, she gasped. His lips found hers, his hands tangling in her hair, and before they could get too carried away, she pulled back, her hand resting on his cheek gently.
"Later, Jethro. Right now, we have a puppy to get home to. He's probably lonely."
Gibbs rolled his eyes but nodded, pulling her to her feet.
"Fair enough."
She laid her head on his shoulder as they walked down the stairs, and when she picked up her phone, she smacked his arm lightly.
"How long were you going to let me look for this?"
"As long as I could get away with it," he whispered seriously, his breath warm on her skin, "Your ass looks great in those jeans."
Jenny laughed, grabbing his hand, and she kissed it gently.
"I love you, you idiot."
"I love you, too."
From the moment Heather left the vehicle, she was uncomfortable, and she glanced around her nervously. She knew, without a doubt, that she'd made a mistake, and when she finally found her voice, it was shaking.
"Lucas, where are we?"
"I just had a quick stop to make. I needed to pick something up at my house first."
"Um...okay? But weren't you just here? I mean—"
"I was at work," he answered vaguely, "Feel free to wait here. I'll be right back."
She nodded, waiting by the car, and as she pulled out her phone, she scrolled through her pictures to pass the time. She smiled when she came across one of herself and Jenny, taken a few days after she'd gotten out of rehab, and when Lucas called her name, she jumped.
"You okay? We can go now."
"W-what did you need to get?"
He shrugged, not meeting her eyes, and when she finally managed to see them, she frowned at how bloodshot they were.
"Lucas, are you high?"
"Nah...it was just a tiny hit. I still have some. You want any?"
Heather shook her head, pulling her arm out of his grasp, and he frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't. This was a mistake. If you're going to be getting high, then I can't go out with you. For anything. Will you please take me home?"
Lucas took a step forward, pinning her between the car and his body, his eyes cold.
"Just relax. It'll be fine."
"I want to leave. Now."
His hand swung before she even had a chance to react, and tears immediately sprung to her eyes. She flinched when he moved closer, his breath washing over her skin, and when his hand found her throat, a soft whimper escaped her.
"You'll leave when I say you can leave."
She said nothing, her eyes searching the area, trying to memorize her surroundings. The nearest neighbour was too far away for her to be able to run, and it was so dark now that she didn't think she would be able to find her way even if she tried. Instead, she brought her knee up as forcefully as she could slamming it into his groin, bolting from her place as fast as she could.
Her heels slipped on the steps of the porch, and she kicked them off, using the pointed end to smash the glass in the front door. Without pausing to be careful, she pushed her arm through the pane of broken glass, her fingers fumbling for the lock on the other side of the door. At last, it opened, and she made a mad dash for the steps, trying to pretend that she didn't hear his quickly approaching footsteps.
She finally located the bathroom, locking the door as soon as it closed behind her, and she pulled her phone from her purse, landing on her sister's number quickly. It seemed to ring forever, each pause lasting an eternity, and when she heard Jenny's voice on the other end, she began crying in relief and fear.
"Shepard."
"Jenny, it's Heather. I need your help. Please. It's important."
"Where are you?"
"Locked in the bathroom of Lucas' house. He...he's high off his ass, and he attacked me. I'm calling the police, but I—"
"Don't. I'll do it. Leave your phone on, I'll need to trace your location. I'll get McGee to do it, or figure it out myself. Jethro and I will send the police there. Just stay where you are and don't open the door."
"P-please hurry, Jenny."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Of all the drug-induced situations she'd ever found herself in, Heather Shepard had never been more terrified in her life.
Jenny wasted no time in climbing into the federal car next to Gibbs, McGee in the back, and as they sped down the darkened road, for once the redhead wasn't nervous in the car. Any fear she would have felt was being overridden by worry for her sister, and as they neared a turn, McGee's voice cut through the tense silence.
"Boss, make a right at this next light."
Gibbs nodded, turning so quickly that McGee felt his stomach flip, and as he realised they were close to their destination, the young agent opened his mouth, hoping he could keep from vomiting.
"Might want to slow down...we're almost there."
The older agent did nothing of the sort, slowing only when they'd reached the driveway, and Jenny threw open her door before the car had even stopped moving. Gibbs was directly behind her, making sure she didn't fall going up the steps, and when he noticed blood on the door, he frowned. There was no sign of Lucas anywhere, and as Jenny found her way up the stairs, Gibbs and McGee began clearing the rest of the house.
As soon as Jenny found a closed door, she knocked on it gently, listening carefully for any kind of movement nearby.
"Heather?"
"Jenny?"
"Open the door."
The younger woman did so, throwing her arms around her sister, and as her tears dampened the fabric of Jenny's shirt, Heather frowned.
"Where's Jethro?"
"Downstairs clearing the house with McGee. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Can we go? I want to get out of here."
Just as they neared the steps, Jenny heard a slight creak behind her, and grabbed Heather's wrist urgently.
"Run. Now. Go downstairs, get McGee and Jethro, and get out of the house."
Heather started to protest, but Jenny shook her head, cutting her off.
"Now."
Her sister had just made it to the landing when Jenny felt the movement directly behind her, and turned, taking great care not to fall down the stairs.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Lucky guess," Jenny said quietly, "What do you want with my sister?"
"I wasn't going to hurt her, Jenny. I just thought we could have some fun. She didn't take to the idea, and panicked."
"Wait," she said slowly, thinking quickly, "Aren't you in AA? Have you been sober at all?"
He shrugged, though Jenny didn't know it, and laughed quietly.
"Not really, where's the fun in that?"
"Seems to me that you're the only one having fun here."
As she moved farther away, Jenny knew she would have to be extremely careful here. This was his house, he knew every inch of the property, and his sight gave him a marked advantage. Still, she could feel the change in temperature as she began walking down the steps, telling her she was going in the right direction. Her feet hit the last step, and once she was back on firm ground, she tried to tell if they were alone. Somehow, she doubted that Gibbs would have left her alone in the house, but she had no way of knowing where he was.
She could hear Lucas approaching her, and when he spoke, the tone of his voice was enough to make her skin crawl.
"You know, I'm not opposed to having fun with you instead of Heather. You look enough alike that you could be twins. Except for the eyes. Yours are so much more captivating."
"I'll pass, thanks. Never been much for the drug scene."
Her back hit the wall, and as he drew closer, she could feel his breath on her skin.
"Who said anything about drugs? There are so many more ways to have fun, Jenny."
His lips ghosted over her cheek, making her recoil instantly, and just as they were about to touch her own, Jenny shoved him away, bringing the heel of her hand upward. The satisfying crunch beneath her palm told her she'd accurately hit her target, and as she ran in the opposite direction, she heard Lucas cursing behind her.
"You fucking bitch!"
A hand grabbed Jenny's wrist, very nearly causing her to scream, but when she realised she recognised the familiar touch, she gasped in relief.
"Jethro."
"Come on. Police are close."
He pulled her through the house, making his way to the kitchen, and just as he threw open the back door, Jenny's slightly breathless voice made him turn.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me here alone."
"Not a chance in hell, Jen."
The slightly sticky autumn breeze was the most welcome thing Jenny had felt in hours, and she breathed a sigh of relief, smiling when she felt Heather throw her arms around her again.
"Jenny! Are you okay?"
The redhead nodded, leaning forward to catch her breath, looking in the direction of her sister's voice.
"Heather?"
"Yeah?"
"You have terrible taste in men. Have you ever considered being a lesbian?"
Gibbs laughed outright, pulling Jenny close, kissing her temple gently.
"I'll think about it," Heather answered seriously, "Not like it would be the first time."
If Gibbs hadn't known any better, he would have sworn Jenny was staring directly at her sister, her eyes wide.
"Wait...what?"
"That's a conversation for another time," the younger woman backtracked, "Right now, I want to be as far away from here as possible."
That was a wonderful idea, in Jenny's honest opinion.
As Tony held out his vacation form, he frowned when Jenny didn't immediately reach out to take it. Instead, he placed it on her desk, and when she dismissed him a moment later, he was more than a little confused. It wasn't like Jenny to outright ignore him, but right now he had more important things to worry about. They were still no closer to solving their case, and though he hated to admit it, he was dangerously close to giving up. Not that he would ever tell Gibbs that.
He had made it halfway down the stairs when he heard Jenny call his name, and he turned, glancing up at her. Changing directions, he began walking back up, and when he realised what was about to happen, he moved quicker than he'd ever thought possible. Jenny missed the first step on the staircase, and it was only Tony's fast reflexes that stopped her from falling down them, his hands catching her just as she slipped.
"Careful."
"Thanks," she said quietly, her voice shaking.
With a jolt, Tony suddenly realised just where his hands were, and as he helped her back up the stairs, he let go of her waist with a slightly embarrassed look.
"Sorry."
Jenny waved his apology away, trying to ignore the way her entire body was shaking. She couldn't believe how close she'd come to a dangerous fall, and she shook her head.
"It's okay."
Swearing quietly as her leg connected with the side of Cynthia's desk, Jenny inwardly cursed herself, and as Tony followed her back to her office, he frowned.
"Um...Director? Not that it's any of my business, but...are you okay?"
Sighing, Jenny closed her door, determined to make it back to her desk without incident, and as she sat in her chair, she shook her head.
"Too much bourbon with breakfast?" Tony quipped.
"I wish," Jenny laughed, "That would be easier."
"Are you sick?"
"No," she assured him gently, "I'm not sick, Tony. I'm blind."
He laughed, not realising she wasn't joking, but when he noticed the tears in her eyes, he sat straighter in his chair.
"You're serious."
Jenny nodded, and he waved his hand in front of her face, waiting to see her reaction. She didn't move, but her voice was amused and slightly exasperated when she addressed him next.
"Stop doing that, Tony."
"How—"
"I know you. And I could feel the air moving," she admitted.
He laughed, and when her cell phone rang, she jumped at the loud sound. Her fingers trailed along the smooth wood of her desk, searching for the small device, and when Tony noticed this, he felt suddenly ashamed for thinking she would have ever lied about something such as this.
"A little to your right," he supplied helpfully.
When she found it, she gave him a grateful smile, and as she answered it, her voice was warm.
"Shepard."
"Jenny, oh my God. Thank God you answered! I just tried to call Tim, and he didn't answer. Where is he?"
Jenny frowned, confused.
"Hold on, Beth. Tony, where's McGee?"
"Should be at his desk. We haven't gotten a call today."
"Thanks. Beth, try his desk phone. It's easier to hear. And Jethro won't bust his balls if he answers that one. What's wrong?"
"My water broke. I'm in labour. And my idiot boyfriend won't answer his damn phone! That's what's wrong!"
In spite of the situation, Jenny laughed, and as she tried to get her amusement under control, she shook her head.
"Okay, Beth. Just stay calm. How about this: you just worry about getting to the hospital, and I'll get him there. One way or another."
"Thanks, Jenny. I owe you one."
Jenny hung up, bursting into laughter, and Tony smiled. It was good to hear her laugh, and she stood up, nodding her head towards the door.
"Well, Tony, what do you say? Should we go get ready to meet the mini-nerd?"
Tony nodded, hooking her arm through his as he walked her to the door, and it was a comical sight that Cynthia stared at them as though they'd gone insane as she returned from her lunch break. Gibbs glared at them as they walked down the stairs, and when Jenny stopped pointedly in front of McGee's desk, he jumped at her presence.
"Director Shepard! What's wrong?"
"You really should answer your phone, McGee. Beth's been trying to call you, and when you didn't answer, she called me."
"Beth? Is everything okay?"
Jenny nodded, smiling at him.
"You're about to become a father, Tim. Better get a move on."
He sprung up from the chair so quickly that it toppled over, and Jenny laughed, shaking her head. She pretended to look around the room, Tony keeping thankfully silent, and gestured in the direction of the elevator.
"Well, let's go. We've got a McNugget to meet."
"Oh, I'm so stealing that," Tony said quietly.
"Like hell you are, DiNozzo. That one's mine," Jenny threatened.
Gibbs threw his arm around her shoulder as they walked, his lips close to her ear, his words quiet enough that only she could hear.
"You gonna be okay with this?"
She nodded, kissing his cheek as soon as the elevator doors slid shut.
"Yeah. I'm not that fragile, Jethro."
Abby was practically bouncing in her seat as she waited to hear any kind of news, and as he watched her, Ducky shook his head, a smile on his face.
"Abigail, why don't you take a walk? Maybe burn some energy."
"And possibly miss it? No way!"
"Yeah, Duck man, it's not every day that our little Probie has a baby," Tony added.
The doors of the waiting room opened, and McGee stuck his head through them, his eyes locking on Jenny.
"Um...Director Shepard? Beth wants to see you."
Jenny frowned but stood, nodding when Gibbs placed a hand on her shoulder to ask her silently if she was okay. Tony's eyes followed her every cautious step, and when she had finally made it to the hallway, Gibbs discreetly approached him.
"You know."
It wasn't a question, but the younger man nodded, looking at his boss sadly.
"The accident?"
Gibbs nodded almost imperceptibly, and Tony met his eyes seriously.
"I won't say a word, boss."
The older man placed his hand on his shoulder, giving him a rare smile, and a silent understanding passed between them.
Jenny followed McGee to the delivery room, and when Beth's eyes landed on the redhead, she felt her tears begin to fall faster. McGee stepped out to give them privacy, and as Jenny made her way to the side of the bed, she frowned.
"What's wrong, Beth?"
"I changed my mind. I don't want to do this."
Jenny shook her head.
"It's a little late for that. Whether you like it or not, that baby is coming."
"It's gonna hurt," Beth snapped, "I'd rather not."
Laughing, Jenny ran her hand over Beth's damp hair, shaking her head again.
"They'll give you an epidural. You won't feel much after that. Trust me, once you hold her, it will all have been worth it. I promise."
Beth reached for Jenny's hand, her eyes wide and scared.
"What if I mess this up? She's depending on me. Jenny, I don't even have a dentist! How am I supposed to keep this little tiny person alive?"
"Calm down, honey. You don't have to do it alone. You have Tim, and if you need me, I'll do everything I can to help. So will Jethro. You're going to be just fine. It's normal to feel like this."
Beth's grip on Jenny's hand tightened as another contraction began, and she laughed breathlessly.
"We're going to need a new bathroom rug, though. I had just gotten out of the shower when my water broke."
Jenny laughed, leaning down to kiss her hair gently.
"I'll buy you one. Consider it a baby shower gift."
"Haha," Beth muttered sarcastically, "I see what you did there."
If she did say so herself, Jenny thought it was pretty clever.
Hours passed and as Jenny laid across Gibbs' legs in the waiting room chair, she could feel her eyes beginning to grow heavy. Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone rang, and she sighed as she reached into her pocket.
"Shepard."
"Hey, Red. What's up?"
"Oh, hey Burley. I'm actually waiting at the hospital right now. McGee's about to become a daddy."
"That's awesome! Hey, when you're done, give me a call. Maybe we can get together with that grouchy husband of yours for old time's sake."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll call you when we get home, if it's not too late."
Jenny hung up just as McGee came back into the waiting room, and his smile was brighter than the summer sun.
"Boss...Director Shepard...would you like to meet your goddaughter?"
Jenny raised up so quickly that she was slightly dizzy, and Gibbs smiled as he gently guided her to the door. The redhead was so happy for them that she didn't even spare a single thought for her own lingering pain, and as they entered the delivery room, she couldn't stop smiling.
"Beth? Gibbs and Director Shepard are here to see her."
Beth smiled at them both, still holding the baby tightly, and when she looked at Jenny, Gibbs noticed the sheen of tears still in her brown eyes.
"Jenny, do you want—"
"Absolutely," Jenny said without hesitation.
Beth handed the tiny bundle of blankets to the redhead, and as she held the baby in her arms, Jenny didn't think she'd ever felt happier in her life.
"She's perfect, Beth. What's her name?"
"Don't laugh," McGee warned her.
After Jenny promised not to laugh, McGee nodded, his smile never leaving his face.
"Her name is Zelda. Zelda Elizabeth. Elizabeth for her mother, and Zelda...well..."
Jenny smiled, leaning down to kiss the baby on her forehead.
"I love it. It's unique, it fits her parent's love of video games, and she's going to grow up being a badass just like her namesake."
She kissed her again, running her finger lightly over the smooth skin of her cheek.
"Hi, Zelda. I'm Jenny, your godmother, and though you don't know it yet, you've got two of the best people in the world as your Mommy and Daddy. That being said, give them hell, McNugget."
McGee glared at her, shaking his head as Jenny handed her to Gibbs, kissing her one last time.
"McNugget? Really?"
Jenny shrugged.
"It fits."
As much as he hated to admit it, Jenny was right.
The ride back from the hospital was quiet, and as they pulled into the driveway of Gibbs' house, he glanced at Jenny seriously, wondering how she was handling the emotions he was sure were running through her head.
"Jen?"
"Hm?"
"You okay?"
She nodded, glancing in his direction slowly, thinking about Burley's slip earlier on the phone.
"Yeah, actually. I'm too happy for them to feel anything else. But I have been wondering about something."
"Oh?"
"With everything that's been going on this past year...have you thought about setting a date for our wedding? I know it isn't exactly high priority, but—"
"Like hell it's not. Jen, I'd marry you tomorrow if you wanted. A big wedding isn't important to me. Whatever you want, whenever you want, I'll do it. Just let me know."
She frowned, looking at him seriously, her hands twisting in her lap nervously.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Let's do it, then. Tomorrow, let's just go down to the courthouse and get married. There's no point in waiting, and if this past year has taught me anything, it's that nothing in this life is guaranteed."
He leaned closer, unhooking his seat belt to move more freely, and kissed her gently, running his hand through her hair.
"As you wish."
"Did you just Princess Bride me, Jethro?"
"Me? Inconceivable."
Jenny glared at him, rolling her eyes.
"Don't make me shoot you."
Jenny's hand was shaking as she signed her name to the bottom of the paper in front of her, hoping it was legible. Gibbs had positioned her pen in the proper place, earning them a few strange looks, but Jenny wouldn't have cared in the slightest even if she'd known. It was finally done, she'd finally married the man she'd loved for the last ten years, and there was nothing that could have ruined her happiness.
After the legalities were taken care of, and the paperwork filed, Gibbs led Jenny out into the bright September morning, sweeping her into his arms as soon as they'd reached the bottom of the courthouse steps. Her laughter was light as she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him gently as he placed her on her feet.
"I love you, Jethro."
"I love you too, Mrs. Gibbs."
She frowned at that, shaking her head.
"About that...I think I'm going to keep Shepard. I want to hyphenate them. Finally get rid of Morgan forever."
He nodded, smiling at her decision, as kissed her again as he opened the door to his truck, helping her into it carefully. Gibbs glanced at her as he climbed into the driver's seat, a sudden thought occurring to him.
"What about work? You really gonna say "Shepard-Gibbs" every time you answer the phone?"
Jenny shook her head.
"Nope. Just Shepard. Don't want anyone accusing me of nepotism or favouritism."
Laughing at her practicality, Gibbs nodded, reaching for her hand as he drove. His thumb ran over the simple wedding band she now wore in addition to her engagement ring, and when he brought it to his lips, she smiled.
"What about your team? When do we tell them?"
He shook his head.
"We don't. We wait to see how long it takes them to notice the rings. If it's longer than a week, they're all fired for being terrible investigators."
"Except McGee. He's going to be exhausted from taking care of Zelda."
"Fine. McGee gets a pass. No one else though. And we can tell Ducky just to include him in the fun."
Oh, yes. What fun, indeed.
Jenny was thrown when she noticed the music coming from her sister's room as she walked up the stairs, and when she realised that she recognised it, she knocked lightly on the door. Heather granted her entrance, and as she walked into the room, her sister gave her a small smile.
"Hey. What's up?"
"Nothing. Just wondering how you're doing, considering what happened with Lucas."
Heather laughed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, that was a disaster. Cops said he was on enough hallucinogenic drugs to make him attempt to murder his own shadow. How are you? That must have been terrifying."
Jenny nodded.
"It was, but I was more concerned with getting you somewhere safe."
"By the way, you were a total badass, Jenny. You broke his nose and you couldn't even see him. You're fucking amazing!"
Laughing, Jenny sat down on the edge of the bed, nodding her head in the direction of the music still playing quietly in the background.
"I see you're still a Tori Amos fan."
"Of course. She's talented and gorgeous. What's not to love?"
Something about her words triggered a memory in Jenny's mind, and she frowned suddenly, shaking her head.
"About that...what did you mean when you said it wouldn't be the first time you'd considered being a lesbian?"
"Well...it's not really something you choose, but...I've been known to...sleep with women. Occasionally. From time to time."
Jenny raised her eyebrow, tilting her head curiously.
"Occasionally?" she repeated.
"More than that, actually. Like...I've only had sex with one man, and it was awful. It's not really something I want to do again, if I'm being honest. I didn't tell you because I...our relationship was already fragile, and I didn't want you to hate me."
Jenny hugged her, pulling her as close as she could, and kissed her cheek gently.
"I told you, dummy. I could never hate you. And if you like women, good for you. More power to you, because we're bitches."
"Nah, that's just you, Jenny."
Jenny shoved her playfully, laughing as Heather reached over to the bedside table, handing her something square and thin. The older redhead frowned as she realised she was holding an album, and shook her head.
"What's this?"
"The Little Earthquakes album you borrowed from me when you were younger."
"You kept this?"
Heather nodded.
"Yeah. Every time I missed you after you left, I would listen to it, and remember how much you loved it. Needless to say, I played it every day."
"I love you, Heather. You're my sister, and nothing in the world will ever make me love you less."
Heather was silent for a long moment, and her next question made Jenny frown as she struggled to answer it honestly.
"Aside from the obvious things, like being able to see Jethro and the other people you love, what do you miss most about losing your sight, Jenny?"
"I...I miss painting. And playing the piano. When my vision began to disappear, I lost colour and definition first. I began to see the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colours and shades I knew existed."
Heather hugged her, running her fingers through her sister's long red hair, and nodded.
"I get that. Even if you don't want to try painting anymore, you could always pick up piano again. You don't need to see to play it. You were pretty good when you were younger. I'm sure it's muscle memory. You'd probably pick it right back up."
"Maybe you're right," Jenny said softly.
"Just think about it. It could help you turn your pain into art."
Turning pain into art...even Jenny had to admit, the idea had merit. In any case, it was definitely something to consider.
A/N: Hooray for baby Zelda!