A/N: I am so terribly sorry that this update is two days late! I got a bit busy with other commitments. That being said, I hope you enjoy the next installment!
Jenny couldn't stop shaking as she finished speaking into the recorder, gripping the edge of her desk as though her very life depended on it. She'd just concluded her witness statement, more than a little thankful that the judge had allowed her to forego attending the actual trial, and to say that she was shaken was more than an understatement. Gibbs had agreed to take the evidence to the trial himself, and though she was grateful, she was still nervous about the task she'd been entrusted to do. As Beth and McGee were both required to be present for the trial, Jenny had offered to watch Zelda, a decision she was feeling more apprehensive about with each passing minute.
She knew that she was likely being irrational, knew that Heather would be there to help her if needed, but the very idea of taking care of the baby when she couldn't see was daunting to her. She jumped as the door to her office opened, and when she caught the scent of sawdust and coffee, she visibly relaxed, releasing her grip on her desk.
"Jethro. Shouldn't you be getting ready for the trial?"
He nodded.
"I am. Just came to pick up your statement. You gonna be okay with Zelda?"
She sighed, but nodded anyway.
"I hope so. She's only two months old. How hard could it be?"
Though she couldn't see it, Gibbs smirked, leaning closer to kiss her before leaving for the day. If only she knew...
Harder than she thought, as it turned out. Though Zelda slept most of the morning, Jenny was so paranoid of something happening that she couldn't relax, regardless of Heather's assurances that nothing was wrong. She hovered near the playpen that Beth had loaned them, her ears straining for even the slightest whisper of a cry, and when Miranda walked into the room to find her sitting on the edge of the couch, she laughed.
"Jenny, relax. She's sleeping. If something happens, you'll know."
Logically, she knew the younger woman was right, but she remained on edge, shaking her head slowly. The couch dipped with Miranda's added weight, and Jenny turned to face her, running a hand through her hair.
"So, Miranda, how long have you been sober?"
"Twelve years."
"Wow. That's amazing. Does it get easier over time, or...?"
Miranda shook her head, smiling sadly.
"No. Every day, I have to remind myself of what I stand to lose if I fall back into it. Even one slip can destroy everything I've worked for."
Nodding thoughtfully, Jenny considered her words, oblivious to her sister lingering in the doorway.
"That makes sense. So, if you don't mind my my asking...you and Heather...how did that happen? I think it's great, and you seem to fit really well together."
"Well," Miranda paused, trying to think of the best way to begin, "I was there when Heather came to her first meeting. She was a mess, to put it lightly, but there was something about her that drew me in. Even after we'd left for the day, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was so beautiful, so lost, but underneath that, there was this quiet determination. Like even after all she'd gone through, she was going to do everything she could to overcome it."
A soft cry drew Jenny's attention to the playpen, and as she stood up to retrieve the baby, she had the distinct feeling of being watched. She said nothing, however, and lifted Zelda into her arms, placing a light kiss to her temple.
"Good morning, McNugget. Are you hungry? How about we go make you some breakfast, and then maybe we can spend the day together. Sound like a plan?"
Zelda reached up to grab a stray lock of Jenny's hair, and she smiled, shaking her head once.
"I don't think so, little one. I'll remember that when you're older. See how much you like it."
She carried her into the kitchen, frowning when she noticed the presence in the room, stopping slowly.
"Heather, can you turn on the bottle warmer?"
"How did you—"
"The floor creaks. Once you've done that, why don't you go spend time with your girlfriend? I think Z and I can handle it here for a bit. Might even tell her a story or two while she eats."
Heather smiled, hugging Jenny after plugging up the warmer, kissing Zelda as she stepped into the hallway.
"You should tell her some stories from your time with Jethro in Europe."
Jenny laughed, shaking her head.
"Those are definitely not age-appropriate stories."
"She's a baby, Jenny. She can't even laugh yet."
Deciding that her sister made a very valid point, Jenny nodded as she lifted the bottle from the warmer, testing the temperature of the liquid on her inner arm.
"Okay, Z. Want to hear a really good story about your Uncle Jethro?"
As she held the bottle, Zelda nestling closer to her warmth, Jenny smiled, wishing for nothing more than to be able to see the baby in her arms.
"Once upon a time, in a magical place called Paris..."
As much as she tried to ignore it, Beth couldn't stop the nausea that was building in her stomach as she stepped down from the witness stand, having finally finished recounting the events that had taken place on the nights of her torture at the hands of Anthony Carrington. Even from where he sat, Gibbs' highly trained eyes could detect the shaking in her hands, and he pulled out his phone, texting Heather quickly, hoping it wouldn't take her long to check her phone.
Can you do me a favour?
His phone vibrated seconds later, and he glanced down, glad no one was paying him any attention.
Sure, what's up?
Take a picture of Zelda and Jen. Send it to me.
K. one sec.
As soon as his phone vibrated again, he opened the message, smiling at the sight. Though it made his heart ache in a way he hadn't expected to see Jenny holding Zelda in her lap, he knew it was perfect for his plans now, and he stood quickly, slipping out of the back of the court room. A glance around the hallway showed Beth leaning against the wall, her eyes tightly closed, doing everything she possibly could to keep herself from crying.
"Beth?"
She jumped, looking at him slowly, and he frowned.
"You okay?"
Nodding once, Beth took a shaking breath, and he pulled his phone from his pocket, unlocking it with one hand.
"Got something to show you. Might make you feel better."
He showed her the photo, watching a smile come across her face as she looked at her daughter, shaking her head slowly.
"Yeah. Seeing her always helps."
"Not just her. I know what you just did was hard. One of the most difficult things you've ever done, but remember this: you're making the world safer for not just her, but Jenny too. Not that Jenny didn't help as well, but you're both ensuring a better world for that little girl. Because of what you're doing, that monster can never touch her, or either of you again."
Beth didn't even try to stop her tears, throwing her arms around his neck, and when Gibbs hugged her back, he pretended he didn't feel his shirt dampening.
"Thank you, Jethro," she whispered.
"Anytime. I've got to get back in there. The sooner I'm done with this, the sooner I can get home. Not fair that my wife gets all the quality time with Zelda."
Beth laughed weakly, nodding as he made his way back into the courtroom, and when McGee passed him, the team leader gave him an encouraging smile. The younger man waited until the door had closed behind him before walking closer, placing his hand on Beth's shoulder, his eyes searching hers worriedly.
"Everything okay?"
She nodded, wiping her hand under her eyes.
"Yeah. Just...reliving all of that...it wasn't easy. I can't even imagine how Jenny must have felt."
McGee nodded in understanding, taking her hand and kissing it gently.
"Think of it this way, we got two amazing things from this entire situation. Without it, we never would have met, and then we wouldn't have our beautiful daughter."
"You're right. That's a much better way to look at it."
"And...I'm hoping we can add one more thing to that list."
She frowned, her confusion only growing when he knelt down in front of her, and when her eyes landed on the ring in his hand, she shook her head slowly.
"Tim, what...what are you doing?"
"Thought it was obvious," he answered with a smile, "I've never met anyone like you, someone who takes me seriously, who listens when I need someone to talk to, someone who makes me laugh, who accepts every part of me, especially the less-than-cool parts, so...Elizabeth Hale, will you marry me?"
The tears that had stopped earlier began to fall again, and as she nodded, he slid the ring onto her finger, standing up to kiss her gently.
"I love you, Tim. But don't ever call me Elizabeth again."
He laughed, kissing her again, and nodded.
"You got it."
Jenny was gently cradling Zelda in her arms, running her hand lightly over her fine blonde hair when her front door opened, and she immediately tensed. When she heard the sound of Gibbs hanging up his jacket, she relaxed, smiling as she placed a soft kiss to the baby's head, and he made his way closer, feeling inexplicably sad as he looked at the two.
"How was the trial?" she asked quietly.
He shrugged.
"Fine. How was Zelda?"
"Perfect. She just had a bath, and now she's taking a nap."
He sat next to her, looking at the sleeping infant with a smile, and kissed her gently before running his hand over Zelda's cheek.
"Did you have any trouble?"
Jenny shook her head, smiling as she felt Zelda turn in her arms.
"No. Heather and Miranda helped with the bath, and she was an absolute angel."
Gibbs reached out to take the baby from her, holding her securely in one arm, and smiled. With his other arm, he pulled Jenny closer, breathing in the scent of her perfume as he kissed her hair.
"Beth and McGee should be here in the next few minutes. Said they were going to grab dinner first."
Jenny nodded, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her as she thought about giving Zelda back to her parents.
"Jethro?"
"Hm?"
"Is it bad that I've been pretending that she was mine all day?"
He frowned, considering her question. He supposed it couldn't really hurt anything, as long as she didn't become too attached, and he shook his head.
"No. As long as you remember that you have to give her back."
Jenny laughed.
"I don't think Beth would let me keep her anyway. But...it was nice to pretend, even for a little while, that she was mine. It...made the pain a little easier to deal with."
"I get that. Believe me, I do. But Zelda can't replace what we lost."
"I know," she said softly, "and I would never try to replace Matthew. But even for a minute, it made it a little easier."
He smiled, running his free hand through her hair slowly.
"You'd tell me if you wanted to try again...wouldn't you?"
Jenny nodded, leaning closer in his embrace.
"Yeah. I've thought about it, but it's definitely not something I want. The pain will never go away, but Z makes it easier, and so does Aries. As long as I have both them and you, I don't need anything else."
The knock on the front door cut off Gibbs' attempt at an answer, and when Jenny made her way to open it, Gibbs smiled. Her progress of navigating her surroundings was astounding, and if he hadn't known for a fact that she couldn't see, he would have never guessed it. She smiled as Beth and McGee came through the door, and as Beth gathered the sleeping baby in her arms, her smile grew even wider.
"Hey, little princess. I hope you were a good girl for Aunt Jenny and Aunt Heather today."
Jenny nodded, sitting next to Gibbs on her couch, reaching for his hand slowly.
"She was perfect. Fell asleep almost as soon as she got out of the bath. She only cried a few times. I think she's finally starting to learn that sleep is essential."
McGee laughed, shaking his head.
"Took her long enough."
Beth rolled her eyes as he began gathering up the playpen, and as soon as he'd left to place it into their car, she all but ran to the couch, shifting Zelda to her right arm.
"Jenny, give me your hand. I want to show you something."
Frowning, the redhead held out her hand, and when her fingers touched the unmistakable surface of a diamond ring, she gasped, a smile breaking across her face.
"Beth, he—congratulations! I'm so happy for you! This is amazing!"
Beth nodded, still smiling, and when McGee returned, holding out his arms to take the baby from her, Jenny smiled again.
"Congratulations, McGee. I'm sure you'll both be incredibly happy together."
Beth turned to face her, expression serious.
"Jenny, will you be my matron of honour? I wouldn't have even met Tim if it weren't for you. Please? Please, please, please, pretty please—"
"Okay," Jenny agreed, cutting her off with a laugh, "Of course I will. Just let me know what you need, and I'll be more than willing to help."
After saying their goodbyes and after Jenny had smothered Zelda with kisses, Gibbs closed the door, looking around the room in confusion.
"Where's Heather and Miranda? Thought you said they were here."
Jenny laughed.
"They are. They're locked in a battle of wits in Heather's room."
He frowned, more than a little confused.
"What?"
"They're playing Scrabble. Heather's determined to beat Miranda once and for all. It's something they do every week after their meetings to distract themselves from the temptation of drinking."
"Does it work?"
"Dunno," Jenny admitted with a shrug, "but it's always entertaining. Come on, I'll show you."
For once leading the way, Jenny grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the stairs, smiling as she heard an exasperated yell come from the bedroom.
"Son of a bitch! How the hell do you always beat me?!"
Knocking on the door lightly, Jenny pushed it open, her unseeing eyes sweeping over the room curiously.
"I take it the game is going well?" she asked conversationally.
Heather glared at her, shaking her head in annoyance.
"She wins every damn time! It's ridiculous. I wish you could still see, Jenny. With your fancy words, you'd kick her ass."
"Yeah, that's what I miss most about having my vision," Jenny muttered sarcastically, "The ability to play Scrabble."
She laughed to show she was joking, and Gibbs placed his hand on her shoulder, quietly indicating that he was ready to leave. Jenny gave Heather and Miranda a smile, nodding once.
"Have fun, you guys. We're gonna head out for the night. Aries is probably dying to go outside, and it's getting kind of late."
"Bye, Jenny. Jethro, don't let my sister push you around too much."
Gibbs laughed, and Miranda waved as she picked up a Scrabble piece.
"Have a good night."
"We will. See you tomorrow."
As they neared the bottom of the stairs, a loud swear, followed by Miranda's laughter, made Jenny shake her head, laughing quietly as she grabbed her jacket.
"Hopefully I have a house to come back to in the morning."
Gibbs laughed, leading her carefully to his truck, and as he climbed into the drivers seat, he looked at her seriously, reaching for her hand.
"About that, Jen...since we're married and all, wouldn't it make more sense to let Heather have the house? I mean, she's sober now, and it doesn't make any sense for her to keep her apartment if she's never there. With her and Miranda being together now, it makes sense for them to stay there. You can visit any time you like, but...just something to think about."
Jenny nodded, and when she smiled, he felt himself relax, not really realising just how concerned he'd been until that moment.
"You make a very good point, Jethro. I'll mention it to Heather in the morning. In the meantime, I think we'd better get back to the house as soon as possible."
He frowned.
"Why?"
"Just because I don't want children doesn't mean that I don't enjoy the creative process."
The full implication of her words hit him within seconds, and he nodded, swallowing thickly. Though he drove faster than was strictly necessary, it still took him longer to reach his house than he would have liked.
Jenny frowned when her cell phone rang late in the afternoon, pulling it from her pocket with a confused expression.
"Shepard."
"Jenny, thank God. It's Miranda. I need to talk to you. It's important."
"Miranda? Is something wrong?"
"Well, um...you know how in AA everyone goes around sharing about what they've been going through? Anyway, one of the girls has been dieting, and she mentioned how she's had a lot of luck doing things in moderation. Like, eating half a cookie and stopping, that kind of thing. Heather...she decided to try it, but she..."
"She tried it with drugs, didn't she?" Jenny asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
"No. God, no. I would have never let her even consider that. She tried it with alcohol."
Jenny relaxed slowly, still trying to breathe without her lungs collapsing on her.
"Thank God," she whispered, "Alcohol was never Heather's problem. She never really drank much to begin with."
"I know," Miranda said, "But I'm worried that it could be a gateway. She keeps saying that she likes the way her head spins. That's what's making me nervous."
"Are you both at the house?"
After receiving an answer in the affirmative, Jenny nodded, standing from her chair, feeling on the back for her jacket.
"Just stay there. I'm on my way, okay? Don't leave her."
"I won't. I promise."
Jenny hung up, making her way to the door, surprising even herself with her ability to not run into the wall, and as she walked down the steps of the catwalk, she counted them in her head. She'd long ago memorised how many there were between the top and the squad room, and when Gibbs noticed her walking in his direction, he frowned.
"Can I help you, Director?"
"Yes, actually. Need to borrow you for about forty-five minutes."
He nodded, ignoring the looks of his team, and as they walked towards the elevator, Gibbs placed his hand on her lower back, always the protective husband.
"What's going on?"
"Heather. She's drunk, and I need you to drive me to my house. Miranda's there with her now, but I want to make sure she's safe."
Gibbs didn't think he'd seen Jenny this determined in a long while, and in spite of the seriousness of the situation, he smiled. They didn't speak the entire way to the truck, and as she climbed into the passenger seat, Jenny shook her head. This wasn't how she'd expected her day to go, but it was definitely an interesting development.
Heather Shepard laughed quietly as she walked into the living room of her sister's house, searching for Miranda. She found the object of her search sitting on the couch, her hands tangled in her long strawberry-blonde hair, her eyes tightly closed. She fell onto the couch next to her, laying her head on her shoulder, and when her fingers lightly trailed up the other woman's jean-clad leg.
"What are you doing in here by yourself?"
Miranda sighed.
"I told you, I'm waiting for Jenny. Why don't you lie down and get some sleep? You'll feel better if you do."
Heather smiled, kissing her cheek.
"You're so pretty..."
"Thanks, but you really need to lie down. Please."
After she shook her head, Heather frowned when the room continued to spin, and she closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep herself from vomiting.
"Miranda?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't feel so good."
The other woman nodded, positioning her body so that she was laying with her head in her lap. Her fingers ran lightly through Heather's hair as she kissed her forehead, and gave her a small smile.
"I know, darling. Just get some sleep now."
Heather had only been asleep for a few minutes when the front door opened, and Miranda sighed in relief when she saw the older redhead.
"Jenny. I didn't think...I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
Jenny shook her head, turning to face Gibbs as he walked up behind her.
"Jethro, will you go make coffee? We're going to need it."
He nodded, kissing her cheek, and as Jenny made her way to the couch, she gave Miranda a sad smile.
"This isn't your fault, Miranda. It honestly isn't even really Heather's. When you think about it, this might actually be a good thing. Now she knows for certain that she can't touch any kind of mind-altering substances, and she won't make the same decision again."
Jenny sat down on the opposite end of the couch, slowly reaching out to run her fingers over Heather's hair, and when she felt her begin to stir, she smiled, thankful that she was able to support her sister during this time.
"Jenny? What are you doing here?"
"Heard you had a little slip, came to make sure you were okay. How are you feeling?"
Tears filled the younger girl's eyes, and she raised up slowly, looking at her sister seriously.
"I messed up. I didn't think it would make a difference. I never really drank much anyway, so I thought...Jenny, are you mad at me?"
Jenny shook her head, feeling along the couch until she found her sister's hand.
"No. You tried something and it didn't work. Everyone does that now and then. It happens. At least you did things responsibly and made sure you weren't alone."
Heather nodded, for the first time turning to face Miranda on her other side, tearful blue eyes meeting forest green.
"Miranda?"
"Hm?"
"Half a cookie doesn't work," she said sadly.
Miranda smiled sadly, shaking her head.
"Not for us, love. But it's okay. Now you know that for certain. And before you ask, no. I'm not mad at you."
Gibbs chose that moment to return with the coffee, handing a cup to Heather silently, and when she grimaced at the bitter taste, he smirked slightly.
"Gross. People drink coffee without cream and sugar...willingly?"
Jenny laughed, touching Miranda's arm discreetly behind Heather's head. When she felt the younger woman turn slightly, she nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen, and stood slowly.
"I'll be right back, Heather. I can't resist the call of freshly made coffee."
Heather laughed, not even questioning it when Miranda joined her, and as she took another drink of the black coffee, she shuddered again.
"Seriously, Jethro, how can you drink this?"
As soon as they reached the kitchen, Miranda looked at Jenny, her expression serious.
"I really am sorry about this, Jenny. I feel like I should have done more to stop her."
Jenny shook her head, reassuring smile on her face.
"It's not your fault. Really. But I do have a favour to ask of you. I really need to go, but do you think you could stay with her? Just until she sobers up, and—"
"No problem, Jenny. Don't worry about her, she's in good hands."
Jenny nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, but the anxiety she was trying to keep control of was threatening to make her scream at any moment, and she knew if she didn't remove herself from the situation and fast, she was going to fall apart.
"Thank you."
The older woman made her way back into the living room, hugging her sister before reaching for her husband's hand, and as soon as they had stepped out onto the porch, Gibbs looked at her seriously.
"Are you okay?"
Jenny shook her head, trying to regulate her breathing.
"I need to get out of here. Can we go home? Please?"
He knew if she was asking this before the work day had ended, something was definitely bothering her, and as he led her to the truck, he frowned.
"Jen, I—"
"Just take me home, Jethro. Please."
Gibbs nodded, unable to keep from glancing at her periodically as he drove, for once thankful that she couldn't see him. There were a million questions circling around in his mind as he pulled into his driveway twenty minutes later, but he could detect the shaking of her body, preventing him from asking any of them. She didn't wait for him to walk around to the other side of the car, desperate to get inside the house, and though she stumbled only once, it still made him nervous.
"Jen?"
She didn't answer him in words, opting instead to grab him by the corners of his jacket, her lips meeting his in an urgent kiss. He frowned when she pulled him up the stairs but said nothing, sensing that she needed to ignore whatever it was that was going on in her head. She kicked the door shut, shoving his jacket from his shoulders, and he sighed when he heard his phone begin to ring. He reached for it, frowning when she shook her head.
"Don't answer it."
"I have to, it—"
"Turn it off, Jethro," she said desperately, her voice bordering on tears, "Please."
"Jen, it could—"
"Please, Jethro. I can't handle another emergency. Turn it off."
He looked at her, feeling her shaking in his arms, and finally he nodded, pulling the device from his pocket and hitting the power button. He placed it on the dresser, and when he kissed her again, he lifted her from her feet, carrying her the short distance to the bed. Jenny wasted no time in threading her fingers through his hair, pulling his shirt over his head with surprising accuracy. Her tongue found his easily, and when he slid his hands under her shirt, she moaned quietly, her head falling back onto the pillow. Using her current position to his advantage, Gibbs moved his lips to her throat, his teeth lightly scraping over her carotid artery, causing her breath to catch.
His right hand found the zipper of her skirt, sliding the fabric down her legs with ease, and when her satin underwear found their way to the pile of clothing accumulating on the floor, he smiled. Her shirt and bra were next, followed by his jeans and boxers, and as he trailed his lips along her inner thigh, she closed her eyes slowly. He let his tongue sweep over her only once, just enough to make her body jerk beneath his, and he lightly moved his hands to her breasts, rolling the nipple between his fingers.
Jenny's hands slid over his chest, her nails slowly moving over the smooth skin, and when her lips found his throat, he whispered her name, moving his body so that he could taste more of her skin. His tongue traced her collarbone, dipping into the hollow easily, and as he captured her mouth with his own, he carefully entered her, moving slow enough that she moaned in frustration.
"Jethro, please..." she whispered.
He kept his rhythm slow, pulling back so much that he almost left her completely, and as he moved back in, he angled his hips in a way that made sure he touched her as much as he possibly could. She gasped his name, tightening her grip on his shoulders, and when he kissed her again, he could feel her shaking. Her need was so strong he could almost taste it, and as his tongue explored the farthest corners of her mouth, his hips moved in that same maddening rhythm.
Even with his pace, Gibbs knew he couldn't keep this going for much longer. Every sensation was threatening to send him over the edge: every breath she took, every touch, every taste of her lips, it was almost overwhelming, and he forced himself to focus on making sure her needs were met before his own, He moved his hips again, changing the angle just enough that it drove him deeper than he'd been with her in weeks, and she moaned as he hit a particularly sensitive place.
As soon as she reached for his hand, he knew she wouldn't last, and with one well-timed thrust, he sent her spiraling over the edge, his name a prayer that fell from her lips in a breathless gasp. His own orgasm hit moments later, and as he kissed her again, he could feel her still shaking as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"I love you," she said quietly, running her fingers over his jawline.
"Did it help?"
She frowned.
"What?"
"With whatever you were so close to panicking about. You were nearly hyperventilating. Did it help you forget?"
Jenny nodded, unsure of how to explain.
"I just...I needed to focus on something that wasn't a national emergency. And if that's the remedy, I'll gladly panic every single day."
He smiled, kissing her forehead as he shifted his body away from her. He ran his finger lightly over her wedding band, the smooth silver gleaming up at him as he took her hand, and he frowned as he remembered something.
"You know, I just remembered that I need to fire my team, with the exception of McGee. None of them have noticed the rings."
Jenny shook her head, smiling.
"Ziva did. She came up to turn in a report and gave us her congratulations. I meant to tell you earlier. I haven't seen Abby, so I can't speak to her, but I can't believe that Tony hasn't noticed it yet."
Gibbs rolled his eyes, pulling her into his arms, and as she laid her head on his chest, he ran his fingers through her hair lightly.
"We could just spend the rest of the day here," she pointed out.
He nodded.
"We could. But then DiNozzo might burn the entire building to the ground."
Jenny frowned, tilting her head curiously.
"How, exactly? And more importantly, why?"
Gibbs laughed, kissing her temple, the sound quite possibly the best thing she'd heard in years.
"It's DiNozzo. Do you really have to ask?"
"Fair enough."
He shifted so that he was sitting with his back against the headboard, using his pillow for comfort, and frowned as he noticed a large purplish bruise marring Jenny's otherwise perfect skin. He ran his fingertips over it gently, not wanting to cause her any pain, and when she didn't react, his confusion only grew.
"What happened to your arm?"
She frowned.
"Which one?"
"Left."
Shrugging, she shook her head, unsure of what he meant.
"Nothing that I know of. Why?"
"Got one hell of a bruise. Looks like maybe you hit it on something."
Jenny laughed, shaking her head again as she moved to a more upright position.
"Jethro, maybe you haven't noticed because I'm a master of deception, but I'm blind. I'm not surprised that I have a few bruises. What's more surprising is that this is the only one."
Considering that she made a very good point, Gibbs nodded, kissing her once more before standing to collect his clothing, and after he'd pulled it on, he handed Jenny the items she'd discarded, smiling when he noticed how well she dressed on her own.
"You might not be a master of deception like you claim, but you're one hell of a resourceful blind woman, Jen."
Jenny laughed, reaching for her shoes, and it wasn't until she'd pulled them on that she realised they were alone in the room.
"Jethro, where's Aries?"
"Asleep on the couch downstairs," he replied, "I'm not surprised you didn't notice."
She nodded.
"To be fair, I was a little preoccupied."
His answering laugh was definitely the best sound she'd ever heard.
As Jenny carefully typed out a response to her most recent email, she ran her fingers through her hair, sweeping it up into a ponytail, reaching across her desk to press the intercom button.
"Cynthia?"
"Yes, Director?"
"Could you come in my office, please?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you."
Seconds later, her office opened, accompanied by the younger woman's soft knock, and Jenny smiled, waving her closer.
"Could you please read over this email before I send it?"
"Of course, Director. Checking for spelling and grammar errors?"
Jenny shook her head, a mischievous smile playing around her lips.
"I need to make sure it doesn't sound too bitchy."
Cynthia laughed, reading it quickly, and when she made one simple correction, Jenny laughed, looking in the direction of the younger woman's shadow.
"I guess it was a little harsh?"
"Only slightly. Don't worry, it was easily fixable."
"Thank you. If I could, I would give you a raise in a heartbeat. You've more than earned it."
"Thank you, Director," Cynthia replied, her shock evident in her voice.
"I mean it, Cynthia. Seriously, I can never repay you for the way you've helped me, not just this past year, but ever since I took this job. You've more than exceeded your job requirements, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it."
Cynthia smiled, reaching out to touch Jenny's hand gently, and when the ringing of her phone shattered the silence, the redhead jumped, laughing quietly.
"You'd think by now I would be used to the ringing sound."
She picked it up quickly, nodding once when Cynthia softly excused herself, and as she spoke into the receiver, she reached for her bottle of water, hoping she wouldn't accidentally knock it over.
"Shepard."
"Jenny! Jenny, I have to tell you something!"
"Okay, calm down, Beth. Is something wrong? Is it Z?"
"No, no. Zelda's fine. She's sleeping right now. No, I just got a call from my lawyer. Carrington lost his appeal! He's going back to prison!"
Jenny didn't think she could have moved even if she'd tried, and though there were a million things she wanted to say, her vocal chords refused to work.
"You'll probably get a call soon, or Jethro will. I just couldn't wait to tell you. Can you believe it? We did it, Jenny!"
"Yeah..." Jenny answered softly, still trying to process this new information, "Beth, I'll have to call you back, okay? Give Z a kiss for me."
"Will do! Talk soon!"
It was a full minute before Jenny could bring herself to move, finally hanging up her phone, and as soon as she released her hold on the receiver, she felt her entire body begin to shake. Hot tears spilled from her eyes as she realised that, for the first time in weeks, she didn't have to feel afraid, and she laid her head down on her arms, trying to breathe. When her office door opened nearly five minutes later, Gibbs frowned at the sight before him, and he made his way closer, looking at her in confusion and worry.
"Jen? What's wrong?"
She shook her head, raising up to look in his direction, and when he walked around to the other side of her desk, he laid his hand on her shoulder to alert her of his presence.
"Talk to me. What's going on? Why are you crying?"
"He lost the appeal, Jethro," she said softly.
Gibbs nodded.
"I know. That's what I was coming up to tell you. Just got the call. So...the crying?"
She sniffed, running her hand under her eyes, shaking her head as she offered him a weak smile.
"They're happy tears, I promise. I'm just so relieved. For the first time in forever, I don't have to be scared. Do you know what that feels like?"
He nodded again, kneeling in front of her chair and taking her hands in his, kissing each one gently before pulling her into his arms.
"You don't ever have to be scared again, Jen. He's never going to touch you. I promise."
She smiled, breathing in the comforting scent of sawdust and coffee, and she pulled back, her eyes trailing over his face even though they saw nothing. Her fingertips lightly grazed over his jawline, and she smiled again as she kissed him.
"I hope you're right, Jethro," she whispered, "because you're the only person I ever want to touch me."
He laughed, kissing her again, and as he carefully pushed her farther back in the chair, her hands wound into his hair, unable to keep from gasping as his tongue swept into her mouth. Jenny reached for his hand, running her fingers over the smooth wedding band, and when she pulled back, she shook her head.
"You know, we're treating this marriage like the old-school Catholics. I don't believe in divorce. You're not taking the easy way out this time."
Gibbs smiled, standing up carefully, and placed his hand on either side of her body, preventing her from getting up from the chair.
"Good thing I finally found the one woman that I don't want to leave."
"More like you found the one woman who doesn't put up with your bullshit."
"Yeah, that too," he conceded, kissing her cheek, "Just so long as you remember that I don't put up with yours, either."
Jenny laughed, nodding as he made his way to her door, and just as his hand touched the handle, she called his name.
"Don't fire DiNozzo. I've gotten used to having him around."
He shook his head, looking at her in amusement.
"You're lucky I love you."
"Believe me, I know."
A/N: Quick question: should I have three weddings in one story? Is that too much? Haven't decided yet.