A/N: Here we are with the latest installment of ABF! Hope you're ready for a fun (?) chapter! Enjoy!
As had been the case with Jenny's first pregnancy, Ducky was the only one who had been told, even though she knew it was driving her husband mad having to keep it to himself, and she smiled to herself as she walked to her office, cup of coffee held in her hand. It was kind of fun, she thought, having a secret that belonged just to them, even for a short time. She had her own reasons for staying silent on the matter, mostly driven by a fear of what would happen if she began celebrating too early, and as she sat down behind her desk, she took a slow breath.
Even the slightest things were enough to make her nauseous, though thankfully she hadn't been nearly as ill as she'd been with Matthew, and that was an immense relief. Even if she couldn't stand the nearly overwhelming scent of Tony DiNozzo's cologne. She didn't question her sudden craving for deep fried pickles, something she had always detested in the past, and when she reached for the phone on her desk, she wasn't surprised to see that her hand was shaking.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"What time are you planning on taking your lunch break today?"
He didn't answer immediately, and she could practically see his confused expression even through the phone.
"It's 05:41. As in, not even 6 o'clock in the morning," he reminded her, "The sun isn't even up yet. I haven't even thought about breakfast, much less lunch. Why?"
She laughed, leaning forward in her chair to pick up her coffee.
"I'm really in the mood for fried pickles."
"What?"
"Fried pickles," she repeated, "You know, dill pickles, battered and deep fried in oil, Served with ranch dressing."
He sighed, and Jenny fought the urge to laugh again, running her hand through her hair slowly.
"I know what they are," he finally replied, "and I also know that you don't like them."
"Guess the baby does," she answered teasingly, "and what kind of mother would I be if I didn't give her what she wants?"
"A normal one. Look, I've got to go. We just got a call."
"Be safe," she said softly, "and that's an order."
"Yes, ma'am."
It looked like her fried pickles would have to wait after all.
Staring at the Israeli in front of him as though she'd gone insane, Gibbs took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice from betraying his frustration.
"What?" he asked.
"I can't get anything out of her," Ziva repeated, "She won't even look at me. Considering the way she reacted to Tony and McGee, I was lucky."
Gibbs frowned, thinking hard. This girl was their only chance of solving their case and given that she'd already attacked two of his agents and refused to communicate with either him or Ziva, that really only left one other option. He swore under his breath as he shook his head, more than a little annoyed. Damn it. Damn it all to Hell…this meant he'd have to ask her for a favour and seeing how she'd already been in a strange mood, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to. After all, she never was one to waste an opportunity, particularly when he owed her a debt. Still…it needed to be done, and he reached for his phone, pulling it slowly from his pocket.
"Shepard," she answered, her voice warm.
"You busy?"
"I'm reading an email from Senator Jonathan Bullock for the eight time, trying to make sense of it. I'd welcome a break, though. Why do you ask?"
"Need a favour."
"A favour? Hmm…interesting," her tone had turned playful, and he knew she was already thinking of the best way to collect her debt, "and what might that be?"
"Need you to question a witness. She attacked DiNozzo and McGee at the crime scene and won't even look at Ziva. Thought maybe you'd have better luck."
Even as he waited, he knew what her answer would be, knew she'd secretly (or perhaps not-so-secretly) missed field work, and when she finally spoke, he could tell the annoyance in her voice was all an act.
"I'll be right down."
"Thanks. I owe you, Jen."
She laughed.
"Believe me, I'll collect."
As soon as he'd hung up and placed his phone back in his pocket, he heard the voice of Tony DiNozzo directly behind him, the amusement in his tone so strong that he could almost physically touch it.
"Calling the fearless leader for reinforcements?"
Gibbs glared at him, shaking his head and pointing to the desk across from him.
"Don't you have work to do?"
Not wanting to risk the team leader's wrath, Tony wisely said nothing, not even turning as Jenny walked past him, but when he glanced at her, there was something different about her. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but there was a gleam in her eyes that he hadn't noticed before, and when she gave Gibbs a warm smile, Tony frowned. Not that she never smiled, but it was so unusual for her to so openly showcase her happiness. It was…odd.
"Well?" she asked as they walked, heading for the elevator with purpose.
"Elisabeth Murphy, nineteen, saw her father and her boyfriend get murdered, both enlisted in the Marines, but they were killed in a drive-by shooting. According to office scuttlebutt, they were both working on something top secret, and the only other person who knew what they were up to—"
"Is Elisabeth," Jenny guessed, smiling slightly when he nodded.
"Right. I highly doubt they told her, they wouldn't be that careless, but it's possible she found out by accident. In any case, she's terrified, convinced the men who killed her father and boyfriend will be coming after her."
"Should she be?"
He frowned, thinking hard as the lift stopped.
"Probably."
Jenny nodded as they stepped off the elevator, Gibbs leading her to the interrogation room, and the redhead frowned when she noticed Ducky standing in the hallway, an expectant look on his face.
"I'm going to observe your interrogation," he said by way of explanation, "I want to see if she appears to be suffering from any mental illness as a result of the trauma."
Jenny gave him a warm smile, and as she reached for the door, she noticed the rest of Gibbs' team making their way to the observation room. So, they were going to be watching...she supposed she'd better show them how it was done, then. She walked slowly into the room, closing the door behind her, and her eyes landed on the girl sitting in the chair, hardly able to contain a laugh. The figure in front of her was of average height, thin in the extreme, long golden hair that fell just past her shoulders, and large brown eyes that were currently staring straight ahead. This was the girl who had attacked two of her best agents? It would have been hilarious if she'd not seen the bruises and cuts on their faces herself.
The redhead sat down across from her, looking at her closely, and when she spoke, she was careful to keep her voice soft so as not to startle her.
"Hello, Elisabeth. How are you?"
There was no answer, no indication that the girl had heard her, and Jenny reached for the file still sitting on the table in front of her.
"I'm Director Shepard. It's nice to meet you. It says here that you've been through quite a shock. I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now. But the best thing you could do for them would be to tell us what you know. No one outside of this building will ever have to know, except for the police."
She glanced at the girl, noticing that she still hadn't moved, and she slid her chair slightly closer, noticing what appeared to be dried blood on her skin.
"What happened to your arm? May I see it?"
When Elisabeth said nothing, Jenny slowly reached across the table, gently taking her wrist and turning it over to examine it more closely. It looked to be a scratch, presumably from when she'd attacked Tony and McGee, and when the older woman released her hold, the girl's arm landed on the table with a thud.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll be right back, Elisabeth. I'm going to get a cloth to clean that for you, okay?"
Silence.
"I won't be long," Jenny assured her.
As soon as the redhead had entered the observation room, Ducky pulled her aside, looking at her seriously.
"Be very careful, my dear. She's faking her catatonia."
Jenny frowned.
"I will be, but how do you know she's faking it?"
"Her arm. When you released it, it hit the table. In truly catatonic patients, the limb would have remained in the air, however you left it."
The doctor handed her a cloth, borrowing Ziva's water bottle to dampen it, and she smiled gratefully.
"Thanks. I'll keep it in the back of my mind, Ducky."
"Be careful, Jennifer."
She smiled, knowing that he wasn't only concerned for her safety, but that of her unborn child.
"Of course."
Walking back into the room, Jenny gave Elisabeth a smile, feeling a bit more on edge now due to Ducky's observation, but doing her best not to let it show. She took the younger girl's hand in her own, gently cleaning the blood from her arm, and for the first time, she noticed that her eyes followed her movements now. Jenny smiled as she finished, setting aside the cloth, and sat back in her chair, watching her closely.
"You know, Elisabeth is a very pretty name. I have a very good friend with that name, but hers is spelled a bit different. What about you? Surely a young pretty girl like you has friends. Or pets, if you don't care much for people. I'm not much for being around crowds, but I have a puppy, and he's my best friend. Well, except for my husband, but don't tell him I said that. My husband can be a bit grouchy."
On the other side of the glass, Tony laughed quietly, jumping when Gibbs slapped the back of his head.
"Sorry, boss," he muttered.
"She is very good," Ziva said, looking at Jenny with a smile, "I have always admired her for that."
"It's an interrogation, Ziva. Not that difficult."
"It can be. Director Shepard always seems to know the best technique to use for different people. One approach does not always work for every person. She tailors each one based on what she can feel about them."
McGee frowned.
"I know she tried to kill me, but I can't help feeling bad for this girl."
Ducky nodded.
"You should, Timothy. She's been through a terrible ordeal, and that's why our lovely Director is taking the approach she is. She's trying to make her feel safe, to realise that no one here wants to hurt her. Once she feels like she can trust her, Jennifer will be able to get the answers we need."
"I don't get it. Why wouldn't she open up to Ziva? I can see why she'd be scared of men, but Ziva's a woman, and she acted like she didn't even exist," Tony asked.
"Because Jennifer is less intimidating," the doctor answered.
Gibbs snorted into his coffee, glancing over his shoulder at them.
"Is she, Duck?"
Ducky laughed.
"At first glance, yes. Though I must say, it would be interesting to see the two of you battle it out, Ziva. But with Jennifer, while she is formidable, intimidating, and definitely not someone you want to cross, she is able to showcase her softer qualities more easily."
He glanced at Ziva, hoping he hadn't offended her.
"Please don't misunderstand me, my dear. I'm not saying that you lack empathy or emotion, but—"
Ziva laughed, waving his words away.
"Do not worry, Ducky. I know what you meant. And you're right. I could never do what she does. Not yet, anyway. It is something I'm working on. It is an admirable skill to possess. Very useful, especially undercover."
As soon as the word "undercover" fell from her lips, Gibbs smiled, remembering his time in Paris with Jenny, fondly recalling the week in Serbia, and he fought the urge to laugh. He turned his attention back to the interrogation, watching the redhead as she slowly made her way around the table, kneeling in front of the younger girl.
"Elisabeth, I know you're scared. Anyone who had gone through the things you have would be. I can't even imagine how terrified you must be. But, I promise you: no one here wants to hurt you. We want to keep you safe. I know that's why you attacked Agent DiNozzo and Agent McGee. You didn't really want to hurt them, but you were afraid. Believe me, I know what it's like to be that scared. You can't think, at least not about right or wrong. All you can think about is making it out alive. About doing anything it takes to keep breathing."
She reached for her hand, holding it gently, and ran her fingers over her skin slowly.
"You don't have to be scared anymore, Elisabeth. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. You have my word on that."
She let go of her hand, standing up and making her way back to the other side of the table. Halfway to her destination, she felt the unmistakable feeling of being watched, and she did her best to pretend she didn't notice.
"Why?"
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and Jenny turned, looking at her in confusion, her eyes locking on the younger girl's.
"Why what?"
"Why would you do that? You don't know me. You just want what they want."
Jenny frowned.
"What who wants, Elisabeth?"
"The men. The men who killed my dad and Jake. They followed them for weeks, I tried to tell them, but Jake didn't believe me. You're just like them."
"Elisabeth, I don't—"
"Get out."
"Elisabeth—"
"Get out! Get out! GET OUT! Now!"
Jenny nodded, looking at her sadly as the younger girl slammed her hands down on the table in front of her, and she took a step backward.
"Okay, Elisabeth," she said quietly, "I'll leave. But what I said is true. I just want you to be safe."
Walking out of the room, she carefully locked the door behind her, and when she turned to find Gibbs standing almost directly behind her, she jumped slightly.
"Jethro! Don't do that."
He shrugged, and she rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
"I know. Got a minute?"
She nodded.
"I suppose so. Doesn't look like we're going to get anywhere with Elisabeth for awhile."
He placed his hand at the small of her back, leading her towards the stairs, and as they walked, she frowned when she realised he wasn't taking the elevator.
"Why are we taking the stairs? You always use the elevator as a conference room."
"Wanted more time to spend with you," he said, his voice carefully quiet, "and I love watching you walk."
She rolled her eyes, laughing as she slapped his arm lightly, and as they neared the top of the stairs, she could feel him watching her, making it difficult for her to focus on her steps. He knew the effect his eyes had on her, and he had always used it to his advantage, knowing that the way he looked at her took her breath away. Made it almost impossible to think. Not that she had ever really minded.
As soon as they had reached her office, he shut the door, locking it behind him, and his arm went to her waist, pulling her as close to him as he could. He kissed her hard, his hand tangling in her hair, and when he finally released her almost a full minute later, she looked up at him, her eyes betraying her confusion.
"What was that for?" she asked, her voice slightly breathless.
"Don't put yourself in danger like that," he said.
"Jethro, she wouldn't have—"
"Yeah, that's what DiNozzo and McGee thought. You saw what she did to them. This is serious, Jen. You've got more than just you to think about now. But even if you didn't, you have to be careful."
She nodded, smiling softly when he lightly slapped the back of her head, and he reached out to brush her hair behind her ear, kissing her again. He tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her closer, and she smiled at the feeling of his body pressed against hers.
"By the way," he murmured as he moved his lips to her throat, "I am not grouchy."
"Hm...I disagree," she answered softly, "and is this really the way you want to have this conversation?"
He shook his head, lifting her off her feet as he kissed her again, spinning her until he was able to place her on the couch. As her hands threaded into his hair, he kissed her deeply, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, causing a low moan to fall from her throat. She pulled him closer, biting down on his lower lip as he kissed her, earning her a low growl of her name.
"Jethro...don't stop kissing me. Please."
He nodded, sweeping her hair to one side, running his tongue over the smooth skin of her throat, and her grip on his shoulders tightened. The low sound of a cell phone made her sigh in frustration, and when she realised it was her own, she struggled to remove it from her pocket. Gibbs never stopped kissing her throat, gasping as she moved under his body, and when she finally answered her phone, she warned him to stay silent with a single look.
"Shepard."
"Director, Elisabeth Murphy wants to talk to you. Said you were the only person she wanted to see."
Jenny struggled to comprehend the words through the feeling of her husband's lips on her skin, but she finally nodded, her voice sounding much steadier than she felt.
"I'll be right down, DiNozzo. Thank you."
"Yes, ma'am."
She hung up, not even able to speak before Gibbs kissed her again, and she reluctantly pushed him away, her eyes slightly annoyed.
"Later, Jethro."
Gibbs laughed.
"I think I just got taken back to high school, making out with my girlfriend in her parents house."
Jenny laughed, straightening her clothing as she stood, shaking her head.
"Trust me, Jethro. You couldn't have handled me in high school. I would have killed you."
She had just made it to the door when he grabbed her wrist from behind, pulling her back against his chest, his voice low in her ear.
"I'll show you just how I would have handled you when we get home, Jen," he growled.
His words made her shiver, and as she walked out the door, she threw him a look over her shoulder that said she couldn't wait.
Elisabeth Murphy's eyes followed her every move as Jenny entered the room, and the redhead gave her a warm smile.
"How are you feeling now, Elisabeth?"
She shrugged, looking at the redhead skeptically, and when Jenny sat across from her, she tilted her head curiously.
"You're young."
The statement came out of nowhere, making Jenny frown, and when the blonde continued, she felt herself feeling more sorry for her than ever.
"You've got a great job, a puppy, you're married...and you're so young. How did you do it? I could never do anything that great."
Jenny smiled sadly.
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret," she said, "My father died when I was about your age, too. He was murdered, just like your father was. It was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through at that point, and I felt so lost, so scared. I didn't have anyone I could talk to, anyone that could help me, and I didn't know what to do with my life. I spent my entire life after that running. From everything that I needed, and towards everything I didn't. I ran from the man I loved more than my own life, from my friends, my sister, and it nearly cost me my life. So, let me give you some advice: don't run. Accept the help that you're being offered, and help others in return. Maybe then you won't have as much pain in your life as I did."
"But...if they find out what I know, if they get the numbers, they'll kill me like they did Jake and my Dad. I...I can't tell you. Can't tell anyone. I didn't mean to see it, it was an accident, and—"
"Calm down, honey," Jenny said gently, "No one is going to kill you. What number do you mean? A phone number? A case file? An op number?"
Elisabeth shook her head.
"Don't know. Didn't ask. Don't ask, don't tell. That's what Daddy always says. Can't tell. Won't tell."
She was silent for a long minute, Jenny watching her carefully, and when she opened her mouth to speak again, it was clear that she was about to cry.
"Director Shepard?"
"Yes?"
"I miss my Dad. And Jake. Why did this happen?"
Jenny shook her head, remembering what Ducky had said after the death of her son.
"Sometimes...sometimes shit happens. Don't overthink it, because if you do, you'll drive yourself insane. Believe me, I did the same thing."
"I don't know what to do," Elisabeth said quietly, "I don't have anywhere to go, and I don't have any money. What should I do?"
Jenny frowned.
"Let me make some calls. I might be able to help with that."
"Why? Why are you being so nice to me?"
"I told you. I want you to be safe."
Though she couldn't have explained why, the younger girl found herself beginning to trust the redhead in the room.
After making a few calls, Jenny had gotten Elisabeth Murphy a hotel room, reserved under the name of a girl she'd known as a child, and after arranging for a car to bring her back to the Navy Yard the next morning, the redhead was finally heading home. As Gibbs carried his new bottle of bourbon down to the basement, Jenny called for Aries, smiling when he came bounding to her, jumping up on her legs excitedly.
"Hi, baby. What did you do all day while Mommy and Daddy were gone?"
His tail wagged, and as Jenny leaned down to pet him, she felt that strange fluttering in her stomach, and she smiled. As soon as she heard the basement door open, she turned, standing back up quickly.
"Jethro! I felt the baby move."
His steps quickened, reaching her in seconds, and when he stopped in front of her, there was no hiding his excitement.
"You did?"
She nodded, taking his hand and placing it where she'd felt the movement. At first, she was worried that nothing would happen, but a few moments later, it happened again, causing a smile to flash across her face.
"Told you."
He smiled, hugging her tightly, and as he kissed her, he pushed her towards the stairs, careful not to move too fast lest she fall, and as they made their way up to the bedroom, Gibbs glanced at Aries sleeping on the couch. He'd be just fine down there for a bit. Jenny wasted no time in pulling his shirt over his head, her fingers desperate to touch his skin, and as he reached for the buttons on her crisp Oxford, she ran her hands over his chest, her lips tracing the path her fingers took. He backed her up to the mattress, having finally undone her shirt, and as he tossed it to the floor, he gave her an annoyed look.
"Your shirt is way too complicated."
"It's just buttons. Can't handle it?"
He shook his head, pushing her back into the pillows, running his lips over her throat lightly.
"I can handle them. Can you handle this, Jen?"
He took both of her wrists in his hand, pinning them above her head, and he kissed her hard, his teeth grazing her bottom lip, and she moaned, her body arching into his. His other hand moved to her inner thighs, pulling her stylish dress pants down her legs, her underwear following soon after. He refused to touch her in the way she wanted, instead letting his free hand roam over her thigh slowly while he bit down on her throat just hard enough to drive her insane without leaving a mark.
She whispered his name, her body screaming for him to touch her, taste her, anything other than this maddening torture. His lips found her right breast, circling the nipple with his teeth, and she let her head fall back as his hand rolled the left nipple between his fingers.
"Oh, fuck, Jethro..." she whispered, "Don't stop."
He kissed her, his tongue tasting the corners of her mouth, and he caught her eye as he tightened his hold on her wrists.
"Never intended to, Jen. Not until you've screamed my name at least once. Now, be still."
She strained against his grip, but as soon as his fingers slid into her, she moaned, her eyes closing as he kissed her again. He moved slowly, selfishly wanting to draw out the torture, knowing just how much he was driving her insane, and smiled as he ran his tongue along the hollow of her collarbone. It dipped into the valley easily, running across the ridge of the bone, and she moaned when he twisted his fingers in a "come hither" motion.
Her hands were still trying to break free from his tight hold, but he refused to let her go, knowing that she secretly loved it. It was one of the things she'd told him years ago in Paris, and he smiled as he remembered the way she'd looked at him then. The same way she was looking at him now, if he really stopped to think of it. It made him feel an almost overwhelming sense of love for her when he realised that she'd never stopped looking at him as though he were the most important thing in her world, even when she couldn't see him.
He twisted his fingers again, feeling her shatter in his hold, her body arching into his as her orgasm crashed over her, and she gasped as he suddenly slid into her, finally releasing her hands. She immediately grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer, and as he rolled his hips against hers, she kissed him, her nails digging into his skin in a way that was both painful and wonderful all at once.
"Jen..."
She didn't answer him in words, kissing him harder as he continued to move, and when he suddenly pulled away, she was beyond confused. He moved down her body, his tongue slipping into her quickly, and she jerked beneath him, a sharp cry tearing from her throat. It always amazed her just how well he knew her body, knew what would make her break within minutes, and as his teeth lightly grazed her clit, she moaned his name.
Her eyes closed as she felt that tightening in her abdomen and when he entered her again, she was so on edge that it didn't take more than a few thrusts to make her fall again, a soft scream falling from her lips.
He wasn't far behind her and when he placed a breathless kiss on her forehead moments later, she gave him a weak smile. He returned it, running his fingers through her hair, and when he moved to pull her into his arms, she laughed quietly.
"High school Jenny really missed out."
"Damn right."
As she stood to make her way to take a shower, Jenny felt the baby move again, and she smiled, running her hand through her hair. It was still surreal to her that she was pregnant (now for the second time) and she gave Gibbs a smile as she tossed a towel over her shoulder at him.
"You coming?"
He smirked, and she braced herself for the snarky response. He didn't disappoint.
"Pretty sure I just did."
Jenny laughed, and Gibbs kissed her hair as soon as he was near enough.
"I love when you do that," he said quietly.
"Do what?" she asked in confusion.
"Laugh. It's beautiful. You should do it more often."
She smiled.
"So should you. I love hearing you laugh. And you have the most amazing smile I've ever seen. You know the saying "lights up a room"? Your smile does exactly that."
He kissed her, holding her close, and met her eyes, staring deep into the emerald irises.
"I love you, Jen."
"I love you, too."
Watching Jenny dress the next morning, Gibbs was elated to see the slight bump underneath her thin camisole, and as she pulled on a crisp white silk blouse, he gave her a smile. She flipped the collar of the shirt up, sliding a tie around her neck, and as she tied it, he frowned.
"You trying to be Joan Jett today, Jen?"
She laughed, shaking her head.
"No. I have a meeting with the board of Directors and SecNav this afternoon and ties are an unfortunate requirement."
"Hm...too bad I won't see you much today, then."
Jenny frowned, running a brush through her hair slowly.
"Why?"
"Because you look so damn sexy right now that it's ridiculous. And did you know that you've got a tiny little baby bump now?"
"Won't be long before we have to start telling people," she agreed, "but I kind of like having a secret that's just ours, you know? It's been fun."
He nodded.
"Yeah. Guess we'd better get going, Madame Director."
"God, what did I tell you about that?"
He laughed, making her smile.
"I know, I know. Come on, Jen. Don't want to be late."
As Jenny slid on her heels, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She couldn't quite explain it, but as she reached for her phone, she looked at her husband seriously.
"Jethro?"
"Hm?"
"Be safe today. Please."
He frowned but nodded, kissing her as he opened the front door.
"I will. Everything okay?"
She nodded.
"I just have a weird feeling. Like something is wrong."
"Who knows, Jen? Maybe you'll be wrong this time."
God, she hoped he was right...
"DiNozzo! Where's Elisabeth Murphy? She was supposed to be here an hour ago."
"Don't know, boss. We sent Fitchner out to pick her up. He's not back yet?"
Gibbs glared at him, rolling his eyes as he sat down behind his desk.
"Would I be asking where she was if he had come back?"
In all fairness, Tony had to concede that his boss made a very good point. Still, she was their only witness to the crime, the only one who had the information that the men who'd killed her family wanted. Damn, could this day get any worse?
As it turned out, the answer was a resounding "yes". Jenny was just getting out of the car that had driven her to her meeting when she felt the unmistakable feeling of metal pressed into her lower back, and she immediately froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Hello, Director Shepard. I don't believe we've met. But I believe you know a friend of mine. Her name is Elisabeth. Elisabeth Murphy. Ring any bells?"
Jenny nodded slowly, taking great care not to draw attention to herself, and when she heard the voice of her driver, she felt her heart begin to pound in her chest.
"Director Shepard, is everything okay?"
"Yes, Ben. Everything is fine," she said, her tone carefully neutral "You're free to head back to the Navy Yard. I'll call you when I'm ready."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jenny said nothing else as he drove away, hoping he would realise what she'd done by giving him that particular order, and as she was led to a car waiting nearby, she tried to stay calm. After all, nothing would be gained by her losing her shit. There was no amount of preparation, however, that would have been enough for her seeing the blonde girl next to her as she was shoved into the back seat of the car. As they began to move, Jenny glanced at her, noticing how badly she was shaking,
"Elisabeth? What's going on? Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry, Director. I don't—I don't know how they found me. This is all my fault. I tried to stop them. I—"
"Shh...it's all right. Are you okay?"
Elisabeth nodded, her eyes downcast.
"I'm okay. My arms hurt, though."
Jenny glanced down and her eyes widened when she saw the state of the younger girl's arms. Bruises, cuts and burns covered her skin, marring the otherwise flawless complexion, and she swore softly.
"What did they do to you?"
"They wanted the number. I told them no. They're going to make me tell them, I know it."
Jenny shook her head, taking her hand, and running her fingers gently over her skin.
"Don't worry, honey. Everything is going to be fine. We'll get through this."
Elisabeth nodded, holding onto Jenny's hand so tightly that her fingers began to go numb, and once the car had stopped, the redhead was relieved to find that they hadn't gone far, merely parking at a hotel across the street from the bar where they'd held their Christmas party two years ago. As they were pulled from the car, Jenny blinked in the bright light, trying not to fall in her heels, and they were led to the front lobby, Elisabeth never once letting go of Jenny's hand.
Gibbs frowned when he saw the frantic expression on the driver's face, his eyes noticing at once that something was wrong, and he pulled the man aside, his demeanour serious.
"What's wrong?"
"Director Shepard...she...she told me to come back here after I dropped her off. She's never done that, Agent Gibbs. There were these men waiting for her outside, I think one of them may have had a gun, but I couldn't see. I know I should have tried to stop them, but.."
Gibbs shook his head, trying to remain calm even though his heart was racing.
"No, you did the right thing. She sent you back here because she knew you would understand what it meant. She was trying to get a message back. Did she say anything else?"
The driver shook his head, still fighting the immense guilt he felt.
"No. She just told me to drive back. I almost asked her why, but there was something in her eyes that told me not to."
"Where did you leave her? At the hotel?"
He nodded.
"Yes. She had a meeting with SecNav and a few others today. I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs. I should have done more. Her safety is my job, and I let her—"
"It's okay, Ben. You didn't let her do anything. I know her, and she would have done it no matter what. Now we just have to find out where they took her, and what they want."
Even as he said it, Gibbs knew that was easier said than done.
Jenny knew, as surely as she knew her own name, that the men who'd taken them were never going to let them go until they had their precious number, and she frowned as she tried to think of a way around it. A fake number was no good, they would be expecting that, and as she tried to come up with a solution, she tried to pretend she didn't feel the movement of the baby. It made her more than a little nervous to think that she was going to let another child die, and she resolved that nothing was going to hurt any of them that day. Not if she had anything to say about it.
"Director Shepard?"
"Hm?"
"I'm scared."
"I know," Jenny answered quietly, "but we're going to get out of this, Elisabeth. I know we are. And call me Jenny."
"That's your name? I've always liked that name."
"Thanks."
Their conversation was pointless, but it was doing a surprisingly good job of keeping her from panicking, and so Jenny welcomed it. As soon as their captors returned, her phone was ripped from her pocket, turned off and tossed to the far corner of the room. When they made their way closer, Jenny immediately tensed, preparing for the worst, and she wasn't disappointed. After she'd been tied to the chair, the ropes biting into her skin, a hard slap was delivered to the side of her face, making her flinch, and Elisabeth glared at them, her eyes cold.
"Leave her alone! She doesn't know the number. Why are you doing this?"
"Because...we tried hurting you to get what we want, and that didn't work, so the next best thing is hurting someone you care about. How much pain are you going to let her endure, Elisabeth?"
Jenny looked at her through the curtain of her flaming hair and shook her head minutely. There was nothing that could have prepared her for the blow that crashed against the side of her head, making her vision spin, but still she stayed silent. There had to be a way around it, there just had to be.
Back at the Navy Yard, though Gibbs showed no outward sign, he was dangerously close to going out of his mind with worry. He sat behind his desk, trying to think of anything he could use to find Jenny, and as soon as it came to him, he slammed his hand down on the table.
"McGee! Is there any way to track a phone when it's been turned off?"
The younger man shook his head.
"No. I can tell you where she last was before it was switched off, but that was the hotel. Looks like it was turned off as soon as they took her."
Gibbs nodded, feeling more than a little frustrated, and he ran his hand through his hair nervously.
"There has to be something. Keep looking, and call me the minute you find it."
The members of his team nodded, not even questioning him as he walked to the elevator. They knew they had to move fast, or nothing else would matter. Ever.
Gibbs walked into autopsy as quickly as he could, his eyes betraying the depth of his fear, and when Ducky noticed him in the room, he immediately came closer.
"Jethro, is there any news?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing. I've tried everything I can think of. Her phone was turned off, no one saw anything...Duck, we have to find her."
Ducky placed his hand on his shoulder, knowing he was likely not providing much in the way of comfort.
"We will, Jethro. Nothing is going to happen to either her or the baby."
"I can't lose her."
"You won't. Everything is going to be fine. We'll get them back. Both of them."
Jenny struggled to keep her eyes open and her head up as yet another blow was delivered to her ribs, and she fought against the panic building within her. What if they'd hurt the baby? She didn't think she would even want to live if something happened to her child. Elisabeth was crying openly now, tears streaming down her face, and as her blood dripped onto the white silk of her shirt, Jenny raised her head carefully, fighting the dizziness that swept over her. She could tell exactly what the younger girl was going to do next, and she tried to shake her head.
"Stop! Please, stop hurting her! I'll—I'll give you the number. Please, don't hurt Jenny."
The man standing in front of Jenny turned, gesturing for a notebook and a pen, and as Elisabeth took it, Jenny noticed that her hands were shaking so badly that she didn't even know how she would be able to hold the writing utensil. She began to write, her hand moving across the page, and as Jenny watched, she realised that Elisabeth was writing from right to left, even though she was using her right hand. This struck her as odd, but she knew better than to draw attention to it, and she closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness crashed over her.
It was getting harder to stay conscious now, and she blinked hard as she took a shaking breath. She could still taste the coppery blood in her mouth where her lip had split, could feel it running down her neck, pooling at her shoulder and soaking into her shirt, making her remember the way she'd felt that night on the freezing pavement two Novembers ago. There was so much more at stake now, and so she fought to stay awake, knowing she would have to fight if the chance arose.
Their guard was down down, each too focused on the number that Elisabeth had written, and as Jenny realised that the younger girl had managed to undo the ropes tying her, loosened from when they'd allowed her to write, she smiled. She discreetly began to move her chair closer to Elisabeth's stopping each time she thought she saw movement, and when she was close enough, she caught Elisabeth's eye.
The blonde seemed to understand at once, and began to untie the ropes around Jenny's waist and chest, and Jenny frowned as she tried to think of anything that could be used as a weapon. She brought her hand to her throat, massaging the sore area where she'd been choked earlier, and as she felt the silk tie around her collar, she froze. Tearing it off, she held it tightly in her hands, and when she nodded at Elisabeth, she bolted from the chair, making a mad dash across the room. As Jenny wrapped the tie around the neck of the man in front of her, gruesomely reminding her of the wire garrote that Anthony Carrington had once held to her own throat, Elisabeth threw herself, screaming, onto the back of the other man, her nails clawing and scratching every inch of him she could reach.
Elisabeth picked up the gun that fell from his hand, swinging it as hard as she could, screaming as it connected with the side of his head. Jenny tightened her grip on the tie, her blood-soaked hands struggling to keep their hold on the fabric as the man clutched at his throat, but soon she felt his resistance begin to falter, and when he collapsed on the floor in front of her, Jenny ran to the corner of the room, grabbing her phone.
Taking Elisabeth's hand, Jenny wrenched open the door, turning her phone on as she ran. She glanced back at the door, memorizing the room number, and as they approached the front desk, she stopped.
"Call the police. Send them to room 217. The two men in there just tried to murder us."
The young man took one look at Jenny's bloodstained clothes and picked up the phone, dialing quickly.
"Ma'am, wait. Take this room key, lock the door and don't open it for anyone you don't know. You'll both be safe there until the police arrive."
Jenny nodded, taking the key from his outstretched hand, and she walked with Elisabeth to the elevator, stepping into it as quickly as she could. She couldn't stop shaking as she stood in the lift and as she braced herself against the wall, she fought the overwhelming desire to pass out. It wasn't until they had locked the door behind them and moved one of the chairs in front of it that Jenny felt even remotely safe, and as she dialed the familiar number, she closed her eyes hard.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"Jethro..."
"Jen! Where the hell are you? Are you safe?"
She shook her head, trying to remember the name of the hotel. When she couldn't do it, she turned to Elisabeth, her voice shaking.
"W-what's the name of the hotel?"
After Elisabeth had told her more than once, Jenny relayed the information to Gibbs, and she knew, as she opened her mouth to speak again, that her conscious time was limited.
"Elisabeth and I are in room 308. Please hurry, Jethro."
"On my way."
He hung up, and Jenny's phone fell from her hand, her vision spinning. She tried to look at Elisabeth, but all she found was a golden blur.
"A-Agent Gibbs is on his way, Elisabeth. He w-won't be long."
She thought she saw the younger girl nod, but she couldn't be sure, and as her body finally gave into the pain and dizziness, she fell onto the floor without another word.
When Jenny finally opened her eyes, she was surprised to find herself still in the hotel room, though she was no longer on the ground. Her glassy green eyes landed on the figure next to her, and when she realised that she recognised it, she blinked, trying to bring things more into focus.
"J-Jethro?"
She tried to sit up, and he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Take it easy, Jen," he said gently, "the paramedics are on their way."
She nodded, reaching for his hand slowly, and he ran his thumb over her skin, kissing her cheek softly.
"You're safe now," he whispered, "I promise."
As her vision began to spin again, Jenny blinked, not wanting to miss any second of seeing his eyes.
"I love you," she whispered, her body beginning to shut down.
"I know, Jen. I know. And I love you, too. So very much."
Pure whiteness filled her vision the next time she opened her eyes, and the scent of disinfectant told her that she was in a hospital. She glanced around the room, her head still feeling slightly hazy, and when she saw Gibbs in the chair next to her, she smiled.
"Hey."
"Hey...how are you feeling?"
She shook her head.
"Confused. Jethro, have they said anything about...the baby? Is the baby—"
"Shh...hush," he said gently, "the baby is fine. You did it. You kept them both safe. Elisabeth is going to be just fine, and so is our little one. Speaking of which, you were right. It's a girl, Jen. Our baby. We're going to have a little girl. A perfect little baby girl."
Jenny smiled, the relief so strong that it made her feel almost lightheaded, and she laughed as she thought of something.
"You know, that tie that you love so much saved my life."
He nodded, smiling at her.
"Elisabeth told me. She said you were amazing."
Gibbs leaned down, kissing her gently, and ran his hand over her hair.
"I always knew you were."
"I think my shirt is a bit ruined, though."
He laughed.
"I'll buy you a new one."
Her eyes widened suddenly, and he frowned, reaching for her hand, worried that she was in pain.
"What is it, Jen?"
"I missed my meeting," she whispered, her voice horrified.
Gibbs laughed again, leaning down to kiss her gently, his lips lingering on hers for a long moment.
"They can reschedule."
She nodded, smiling as she suddenly remembered something else she'd forgotten in the chaos of the week.
"You know, I never did get my fried pickles, Jethro."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you liked, what you hated, etc. Until next week!