A/N: Here, we dive into court. This is a very dialogue-heavy chapter, but I hope you can bear with me. Not a lot of physical action in courtrooms.
It took Jenny nearly twenty minutes to understand that she was nervous. It wasn't a common emotion for her, and as such, it took her longer than she'd care to admit to recognise it. As she rifled through her closet for something appropriate to wear, she sighed and ran a hand through her damp hair. Her shower had been anything but relaxing as she'd hoped, and she frowned, pulling out a pair of black slacks.
"What are you doing, Jen?"
She turned at the sound of his voice and gave him a pointed look.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" she snapped.
He shrugged, muttering under his breath.
"What?"
"I said, it looks like you're making a mess."
It was true. Almost every article of clothing in her closet had been dropped onto the floor of her room, and Jenny glared at him.
"I'm trying to find something to wear for court today."
Gibbs frowned, trying to determine if she was serious.
"Jen," he said cautiously, "you're the Director of a federal agency. Nearly everything you own is acceptable for court."
He gestured to the current pair of slacks she held in her hands and looked at her once before speaking again.
"Wear those. It'll be fine."
"With what?"
He stared at her blankly.
"You're seriously asking me for fashion advice, Jen?"
She fingered a deep purple blouse and frowned as she picked up the vest she always paired with it. Gibbs cleared a space on her bed and she laid it out, looking at it for a moment.
"Black or purple heels?"
"Black," he said without hesitation, "More professional."
She nodded, and went to grab them.
"For the record though, I like the purple better," he called to her.
"Very funny."
Finally, she returned and he stopped her steps with his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him curiously and he met her gaze evenly.
"It's going to be fine. I know you're nervous, but you're going to do great."
She smiled at his words and raised up on her toes to kiss his cheek gently.
"Thanks."
As she dressed, he let his thoughts wander to what he would be doing while she was in court. He knew she wanted him there, but they both knew it was for the best if he wasn't. So he'd taken it upon himself to prepare a surprise for her to come home to after what was sure to be a stressful day.
Jenny stepped out of her bathroom, her hair now dry and she looked at him expectantly.
"Up or down?"
He frowned, confused and she lifted her hair from her shoulder.
"My hair," she clarified.
"Both. Half up, half down. Professional, but not overly frigid. That way the jury will see you as a woman, not just evidence."
She nodded, sweeping it back and pinning it with a clip that had been given to her by her father. It was a small yet meaningful way to give herself a bit more strength and she knew she would need it. Her makeup was subtle, no crimson lipstick this time, and she wore only minimal jewelry so as not to distract from the seriousness of the situation. The necklace she wore had been a gift from Gibbs in Paris and as she felt it warmth against her skin, she smiled.
"I have to go," she said gently, "Try not to destroy the agency while I'm gone."
He smirked.
"Nah, if I did that, I'd be stuck with you all the time."
"No one would survive," she said with mock seriousness.
He kissed her cheek lightly and walked down the stairs after her, seeing her safely to the security detail that awaited her. Just before the car door closed, he leaned down, his voice low in her ear.
"Make them remember who they're dealing with, Jen."
Struggling to keep herself from panicking, Jenny's shaking fingers closed around the necklace hanging from her throat and she glanced around the courtroom. She knew there were reporters inside, and she'd been hounded by the ones standing outside as she'd walked into the building, and frowned. She hated reporters almost as much as Gibbs despised lawyers.
"All rise. The Honourable Judge David Bishop presiding."
They all stood, and when given leave, they returned to their seats. Jenny refused to look to her left, knowing that Shawn Harrison was sat with his lawyers at the next table and she turned instead to her own lawyer, Daniel Way .
"Relax, Jenny. We've got this."
As opening arguments were made and a plea of "Not Guilty" was entered for Harrison, Jenny fought against the bile rising in her throat. She couldn't afford to lose control here. Not now. She jumped as her name was called and when Daniel nodded, she stood, making her way to the stand. Her legs felt as through they would give out at any moment and when she finally sat again, she was proud of herself for simply making it this far.
"Now, Director Shepard, could you please describe the events of the night in question in as much detail as you can?"
Jenny took a deep breath, and as her eyes scanned the courtroom, they landed on a familiar face near the back of the room. The doctor gave her a small nod, and she met his eyes, hoping he knew how much it meant to see him.
"I was walking to my car from the NCIS building after finishing my work for the night. I had gone for a run in the on-site gym, and I wasn't as aware of my surroundings as I should have been. A hand grabbed my wrist and spun me around. When I tried to pull away, I was pushed to the ground."
She paused, taking another deep breath. As much as she wanted to keep up a professional front, the incident was flashing through her mind, and when she glanced down, she noticed her hands were shaking.
"I...I tried to get away, I screamed, and he hit me. He told me that if I made another sound he would slit my throat. My wrists were pinned above my head and he pulled my clothing off. I kept trying to escape and his other hand grabbed me by the throat..."
Jenny stopped speaking, closing her eyes tightly and she tried to focus on breathing.
"What happened then, Director?"
Daniel's voice was gentle and she opened her eyes.
"Then he was...he was inside me. After...after he let go of me, I laid on the ground for a few minutes, trying to stop shaking. I got up, got in my car, and immediately contacted an agent at NCIS. A rape kit was performed by our medical examiner, and I was released."
Daniel nodded and Jenny found herself grateful for his understanding.
"Can you identify the man who raped you, Director Shepard?"
Jenny nodded, looking at Harrison for the first time that day.
"Yes. Shawn Harrison is the man who raped me."
"No further questions, Your Honour."
Judge Bishop nodded, and directed his attention to Harrison's lawyer.
"Your witness, Miller."
Jenny felt her heart pounding in her chest as Harrison's lawyer approached her. She'd never met Olivia Miller, but there was something in the woman's eyes that she didn't like.
"Director Shepard, how long have you worked for NCIS?"
"Eight years."
"And how many as Director?"
"Two."
Miller nodded.
"Being Director must come with pretty nice perks."
Jenny remained silent, unsure of where the woman was heading with her comment.
"You have a security detail and a driver, do you not?"
The redhead nodded.
"Yes."
"And where were they when you were supposedly attacked by my client."
"My driver was with my car. I hadn't made it that far yet. My security detail was walking the perimeter of the building."
"Is that standard practice? Leaving the Director of a federal agency alone at night where anything could happen?"
"No," Jenny said tightly, "We've recently had our regular guard accept a better job position, and as such, the agency is a bit short-handed. It has been remedied, believe me."
The woman nodded, a sickly sweet smile on her face and Jenny felt suddenly sick.
"Why did you not go to a hospital?"
"I didn't want to risk the press finding out about it before I pressed charges. As you can tell, that didn't work out quite well," Jenny quipped.
"And your medical examiner is equipped to perform a rape kit?"
"Doctor Mallard is more than qualified."
Jenny's voice was shaking with anger and she fought to keep herself from telling Miller off.
"And the agent you contacted?"
"Yes. He is more than qualified to handle it."
"What is your relationship to him? Why would you contact him instead of going to the police?"
Jenny frowned.
"You aren't familiar with what NCIS does, are you? We solve Naval crimes. I was raped on federal property, which makes it our jurisdiction."
In the back of the courtroom, Ducky smiled softly at Jenny's answer. She wasn't about to let anyone disrespect her agency and he felt a surge of pride.
"You still didn't answer the question. What is your relationship to this agent?"
"I don't see how that matters," Jenny snapped, "but since it's all you seem to care about, he's my best agent. I can trust him with my life without question."
"Hmm...so there's nothing personal about it?"
Jenny frowned. How in the world could this woman know about her relationship with Gibbs?
"Objection. The Director's personal life has no relevance to this case," Daniel spoke up.
"I'm simply trying to point out that perhaps Director Shepard doesn't make good choices. Such as allowing herself to be put in a position that could potentially cause harm to herself or others."
"Sustained. Keep your line of questioning to the case, Miller."
Jenny fought the urge to smirk and Miller continued.
"Why did you wait so long to file official charges, Director?"
"I wanted to be absolutely sure that we apprehended the correct person."
"I see. And how did my client supposedly get onto your Naval property?"
Now Jenny was silent and she frowned, thinking.
"I don't know," she admitted.
"No further questions. For now."
Jenny was dismissed, and as she sat back down, she mentally kicked herself. Daniel gave her a sympathetic look and she sighed.
"Don't worry. We've got all the evidence."
She nodded, trying not to feel as though she had royally messed up. Her head snapped up as Ducky was called to the witness stand, and as he passed her, he gave her a reassuring smile. Daniel stood up to question him and Jenny frowned.
"Doctor Mallard, please state your name and occupation."
"Certainly. Doctor Donald Mallard, Medical Examiner at NCIS, with a Master's degree in psychology."
"You performed the rape kit on Director Shepard, did you not?"
"Yes."
Daniel nodded, his eyes flickering to Jenny briefly.
"Could you describe her injuries of that night?"
"There were many. Her throat was severely bruised, as were her wrists, I found traces of latex on her skin from the condom used, and there was a large bruise under her eye. I believe the photos of her injuries are in the file."
"How would you describe her emotional state that evening?"
"She was quiet, withdrawn, non-verbal, and very shaken."
"Would you say that her behaviour and injuries were consistent with that of rape, Doctor?"
"Absolutely."
"No further questions."
Miller stood to take over questioning, and Jenny felt very sorry for the doctor in front of her.
"Doctor Mallard, did you take these pictures?"
"Some of them. A few were taken by Agent Gibbs."
Miller nodded, her eyes narrowing.
"Agent Gibbs was present for the rape kit?"
Ducky shook his head.
"No. He left the room."
"But he was the one who brought the Director to you?"
"Yes."
There was a slight smile on Miller's face, and Jenny suddenly knew what her next question would be.
"How would you describe Director Shepard's relationship with Agent Gibbs?"
Ducky frowned.
"I believe this has already been deemed non-relevant."
"So there is a relationship between them?"
"Director Shepard and Agent Gibbs have a complicated relationship. They have always remained professional in the office."
Jenny groaned inwardly, wondering if the doctor had realised his mistake.
"In the office?"
Miller had, apparently.
"What about outside the office?"
Ducky gave no outward sign that he was flustered and he gave the woman a stern look.
"I am not privy to all the details of their relationship. I am a medical examiner, not a counselor."
It wasn't an outright lie, and Jenny smiled at the doctor's ability to dodge the question.
"Doctor, is it possible that Director Shepard's injuries were the result of a night of rough sex and she was trying to cover up her actions to avoid a scandal?"
Ducky frowned, tilting his head in confusion.
"Absolutely not. There is video evidence of the rape, and I can assure you, this was not a consensual act."
"We'll get to the video later. For now, I'm asking whether or not Agent Gibbs and Director Shepard could have been trying to avoid the public finding out about their personal relationship."
The doctor shook his head firmly.
"No."
"Very well. No further questions."
Jenny sighed, pushing the heel of her hand against her forehead. This was going to be an absolute nightmare.
After they had been dismissed for the day, Jenny ran her hand through her hair and walked tiredly to her front door. She put the key in the lock and as she opened the large oak door, she frowned. She had the odd feeling that she wasn't alone, and her guard was immediately up. As she made her way into the study, she smiled softly at the bottle of champagne sitting on her desk and when she felt arms wrap around her waist from behind, she turned.
"What's this for? Who did you kill?"
Gibbs smirked.
"Cute, Jen. I didn't kill anyone. I just know you had a rough day, and I wanted to help."
She kissed him gently and gave him a smile.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
She walked over to the desk, picking up the bottle and examining it carefully.
"You don't drink champagne," she said with a laugh.
"Didn't buy it for me. Never cared much for it."
Carefully, she opened the bottle and poured it into the glass he had also provided. As she sipped it thoughtfully, he moved closer and kissed the top of her head. As her lips met his with the sweet taste of champagne on them, he smiled. Maybe champagne wasn't so bad after all.
"Director Shepard, you are aware that you're under oath and it is a crime to lie while on this stand, correct?"
Jenny frowned, looking at Miller more than a little puzzled.
"Yes. What are you talking about?"
"When asked about your relationship with Agent Gibbs, you stated that he was quote 'your best agent and you could trust him with your life', is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Why did you neglect to mention that you are also seeing him outside of work in an intimate capacity?"
"What?" Jenny's voice was weak, and her skin had paled considerably.
"A reporter for Channel Six news snapped this picture of Agent Gibbs leaving your house this morning."
Miller held up the picture, and Jenny's eyes widened slightly. There was no denying that it was him, and Jenny glared at the woman.
"How long have you been seeing Agent Gibbs personally?"
Jenny fought a smirk. That was quite possibly the most difficult question she'd been asked so far. In truth, she wasn't sure how to answer.
"That's complicated."
"How so?"
Jenny gave her a smile, but anyone who knew her would have seen it for what it was: a challenge.
"I've worked with Agent Gibbs for three years. First as a member of his team, then as his superior. I can't quite put a timestamp on the exact date, though."
Daniel Way snorted into his water glass, and though Judge Bishop glared at him, nothing was said. He quite liked Jenny, admired her for all she had accomplished in her life, and her sass was just another reason to want her to win.
"When did you first sleep with him?"
"Objection. How is this relevant?"
"Again, Your Honour, I'm trying to prove that Director Shepard shows faulty judgment."
"Sustained. Move on, Miller."
"Very well. Let's get to the tape."
Olivia Miller pulled out the copy of the security footage from the night of Jenny's rape, and as it began to play, Jenny averted her eyes. She didn't think she could handle seeing it again. Especially not after what had happened to her the last time she'd watched it. As the tape cut off, Miller looked at Jenny with a glint in her eyes that made the redhead very uncomfortable.
"Isn't it possible that this tape shows Agent Gibbs attacking you, Director?"
"No. Absolutely not."
"No? Perhaps you had a fight at work and stormed out. He followed you, things got a little out of hand, and you decided to save your reputation by saying it was rape."
Jenny was beyond furious, but she miraculously kept from slapping the hell out of Harrison's lawyer.
"No. Agent Gibbs would never hurt me."
Miller smiled, but there was nothing reassuring about it.
"We've done some research on him. He's got quite the temper. Arguments with reporters, challenging authority, run-ins with local LEO's...are you sure there's no chance he wouldn't become violent after an argument?"
"Agent Gibbs would never hurt me," Jenny repeated firmly, her voice shaking in anger.
As soon as Jenny was dismissed from the witness stand, she rounded on Daniel.
"Did you know about the picture?" she hissed.
He nodded.
"She has to show me all the evidence she has, by law. Don't worry, once we bring in Ms. Sciuto, we've sealed this."
Jenny sighed, rubbing her temple slowly. At this rate, Gibbs would be blamed for the assassination of President Kennedy.
The light in Gibbs' basement was dim, just enough for him to work by, and as Jenny walked down the steps, she struggled to locate him.
"Jethro?"
"Here."
She glanced down, frowning as he moved from his position under the boat, and approached him slowly. He offered her a drink and she shook her head. Her hair was beginning to fall from the clip she'd placed it in, and he realised she was wearing the same clothes she'd worn to court.
"The court knows about us."
She sounded exhausted, and he wondered when she'd last slept. Her skin was ghostly white, save for the dark circles under her eyes, and even her lips were pale. He took a step closer and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be okay."
He gave her a light kiss and turned to his boat, picking up the sander. She watched him silently, and when his voice cut through the quiet, she jumped.
"Hand me the bourbon?"
She reached for it, and as she handed it to him, her hands were shaking so badly that it slipped from her grasp. She fumbled for it, but it was too fast. It shattered on the concrete and Jenny swore as she knelt down to pick it up.
"Careful."
He took the pieces of glass from her hands and knelt down in front of her.
"I'm sorry, Jethro."
He shook his head and continued to pick up the pieces. Jenny could feel the bile rising in her throat and she reached for the empty bucket sitting on the floor. Gibbs watched her sadly as she threw up, and he ran his hand over her back soothingly. She coughed, trying to catch her breath and hot tears fell from her eyes. She retched again, and he frowned.
"Jesus, Jen."
Finally, she stopped, coughing roughly, and she pushed back her slightly damp hair.
"I'm sorry," she said again.
"It's okay."
He finished cleaning up the glass and spilled liquor, pulling her closer to him.
"Hey, it's okay, Jen."
She shook her head, and pulled away from him.
"No, Jethro. It isn't. I'm not. I can't handle this. It's too much."
"Jen—"
"Stop! Stop telling me that I'm okay. I'm not. This is killing me. I can't...Jethro, I don't know who I am anymore. I feel so out of control. I can't control what the media says about us, about me, I can't even control my own body anymore. Don't you see it?"
He was silent, unsure of how to answer.
"Or do you see it...and just not care? You don't want to deal with it, so you pretend it isn't real?"
"That's crazy."
"Is it?" her voice was bordering on hysterical.
She stood, backing away from him and he made to follow her. Shaking her head, she stopped him, and her next words were so cold he couldn't believe she'd said them.
"I'm sorry that I'm not perfect like Shannon."
He frowned.
"What does she have to do with any of this?"
"Our entire relationship, you've compared me to her. You always have. You put her on a pedestal, perfect, untouchable. I'm sorry that I couldn't live up to her memory."
She began walking up the stairs, and if he hadn't known better, he would have said she was drunk. Before he could even think, he had run after her, grabbing her by the arm just as she reached his front hall.
"No, Jen. You can't leave like this."
"You can't stop me. Now, let go of me."
He shook his head, tightening his grip to prove his point. She glared at him, but he refused to release her.
"Jethro, let go."
"I'm not letting you leave until you and I have a talk."
"I don't want to talk to you."
Jenny tried to maneuver out of his hand, but he was simply too strong. When she finally stopped trying, he looked down at her seriously.
"She hoarded silverware."
Jenny frowned.
"What?"
"Shannon. She would leave them in the bedroom, living room, wherever she was when she finished eating. She wouldn't put them in the sink until we were completely out of clean silverware."
When he was sure she wouldn't run, Gibbs released his hold on her arm. Jenny simply stared at him, her eyes filled with tears and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse.
"She wasn't perfect."
Jenny still said nothing, and he blinked.
"You were right about one thing. I compared you to Shannon at first. Then, after awhile, I stopped without even realising it. When you left, I compared every woman after to you. None of them could ever replace you. And I shouldn't have asked them to. Just like I shouldn't have compared you to her. It wasn't fair to you. Or Shannon. You both deserved better. I can't make the past right, but I can fix the present."
Jenny didn't think she'd ever heard Gibbs say so much at one time. She wasn't sure what to say, so she stayed silent.
"I didn't notice that things were so difficult for you. I should have. I've been so caught up in trying to find Harrison that I didn't see how much you were struggling. I'm sorry, Jen."
Her eyes widened at his apology and he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't leave."
She nodded, and as he reached out to brush her hair behind her ear, she smiled. His lips brushed against hers and he pulled her flush against him. She buried her head in his chest, taking comfort in his steady heartbeat.
"Ms. Sciuto, please tell us of your qualifications."
"I graduated with full honours from Louisiana State, with a triple major in sociology, criminology, and psychology. I have a master's degree in criminology and forensic science from Georgia State. I've been published in several articles for my work in the field."
Daniel Way nodded, giving Abby a small smile.
"Ms. Sciuto, could you please describe what you found on Director Shepard's coat from the night of her assault?"
"There were traces of DNA that didn't match Director Shepard on the fabric of her coat. When Shawn Harrison was arrested, a DNA sample was taken from him, and it was a positive match to the hair we removed from the coat. If you look closely at the video of the assault, you can see him lean in close to her, like he's talking to her, and that is the most likely time that the hair would have fallen onto her clothing."
"Thank you, Ms. Sciuto. No further questions."
Olivia Miller stood, approaching the Goth and Abby gave her a smile.
"Ms. Sciuto. Isn't is possible that Director Shepard could have come into contact with Shawn Harrison at another location? His place of employment, perhaps?"
Abby frowned.
"Well, yeah, but not closely enough to get his hair all over her coat."
"Was there any other DNA on the coat?"
"Director Shepard's."
"Anyone else?"
Abby shook her head.
"What about Agent Gibbs?"
"No. The only evidence we collected places Shawn Harrison at the scene, and proves he raped her."
"So Agent Gibbs couldn't have been the one on the tape?"
Vehemently, Abby shook her head.
"No. Gibbs...hurt the Director? Are you serious? He would never hurt her! Besides, look at the tape. His body type is nothing like Harrison's. It clearly isn't Gibbs."
"Isn't there a chance you're wrong?"
Abby started to protest, and stopped, her frown increasing. Of course there was the possibility, but she didn't particularly want to admit that. Still, she nodded.
"Yes, but the chances are less than .1 percent."
"Sounds like enough to me. No further questions."
Jenny swore in her head, cursing the day that Olivia Miller had ever decided to become a lawyer. She was beginning to understand Gibbs' hatred of them. As she glanced around the room, her eyes widened as they landed on the very man she'd just been thinking about, and she frowned. What in the world was he doing here?
"Your Honour, we'd like to call Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs to the stand."
Fuck. Jenny knew there was no way in hell that this was going to be a good thing. Fuck.
"Agent Gibbs, please describe your relationship with Director Shepard."
He glanced at Miller, a slightly amused look on his face.
"It sounds like you already know."
"How long was she your subordinate?"
"Thirteen months."
"And it was during this time that you first became intimate?"
"Something like that."
Jenny rolled her eyes and turned to Daniel.
"This is going to kill us."
"Nah. Once I get to him, they'll let it go. Gibbs is fine."
"Agent Gibbs, did you in any way influence Director Shepard's rise through the ranks, so to speak?"
"Nope," he replied, popping the "p", "By that time, she wasn't around anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"She left me. Came back six years later as Director. I had nothing to do with it."
Jenny cringed; the reminder that she had left him still stung.
"And now, Agent Gibbs?"
"Now, what? She's Director. I'm still where I was eight years ago."
Miller gave him a smile, but Gibbs saw the bait for what it was and refused to elaborate. If she wanted him to openly admit to their relationship, she would have to work much harder.
"Are you sleeping with Director Shepard, Agent Gibbs?"
Gibbs frowned.
"Not at the moment."
Daniel laughed, and Jenny heard more scattered laughter throughout the room. He was getting the jurors to like him, and she absolutely loved him for it.
"This isn't a game, Agent Gibbs. You don't like having to answer to your girlfriend, do you? So one night, you have an argument at work, she walks out, you follow, and things get rough."
Gibbs frowned. Girlfriend wasn't the word he would use to describe Jenny. It sounded so...juvenile. Still, he had to focus on the situation at hand.
"No. I would never lay a hand on her."
"Never?"
"Not even if the fate of the world depended on it."
Jenny smiled at his words, touched by the depth of his feelings for her. Sighing, Miller seemed to realise that her line of questioning was getting her nowhere, and she gave him one last cold look.
"No further questions."
"Way, your witness."
Daniel nodded, standing quickly.
"Agent Gibbs, you were the one who brought Director Shepard in to be examined. How did that make you feel?"
"Angry. No one should ever have to go through something like that."
"You've dealt with rape cases in your line of work. Were her injuries consistent with those you've seen in the field?"
Gibbs nodded.
"Yes. All of her injuries coincided with rape."
"Thank you, Agent Gibbs. Nothing further."
"Mr. Harrison, how do you know Director Jenny Shepard?"
Harrison shrugged.
"I don't. She comes in to my work to get coffee and leaves. That's it. Never says much. Seemed nice enough."
"But you knew who she was. Knew where she worked."
Another shrug.
"Well, sure. Not many civilians come into the coffee shop. It's close to all the military bases, so we get a lot of people like that."
Jenny wanted to scream. How could he sit there and so nonchalantly lie as if nothing had happened? As if he'd done nothing wrong? She wanted to throw something at him, but she clenched her hand tightly in her lap.
"So, you saw her nearly every day?"
He nodded.
"Yeah. I mean, you don't not notice a woman like her. Pretty, seemed nice, always left a tip."
Gibbs had taken his seat near the back of the room again, and as he listened to Harrison talk about Jenny as though he had never touched her, never held her down as she'd screamed...it made his blood boil. He wanted to smack the smirk off of the younger man's face and he sincerely hoped Way would get to his point soon.
"You're a decent looking man. Could probably have your pick of women. So what was it about Jenny Shepard that made you decide to assault her in a dark parking lot? Was it because she was in a position of authority? Did you like the challenge of sneaking onto federal property? Did you enjoy the power it gave you when you held her down as she tried to get away from you?"
Suddenly, Gibbs knew what it was that Way was trying to do, and he smiled. They had him now.
"Did you like the way she screamed? Or was it simply because she was unattainable? This isn't the first time you've been arrested for rape. Seems to be a pattern here. You like the control."
"Well yeah, everyone likes control."
Beyond furious now, Gibbs stood and walked to the door as quickly as he could. Jenny saw the movement out of the corner of her eye, but didn't move. She couldn't make herself tear her eyes away from Harrison. He winked at her once, and Jenny's mouth fell open in shock as Daniel glared at him.
"No further questions."
The knock at her door caused Jenny to jump as she sat in her study, reading over a case report. She sighed, taking off her glasses and when she opened it, she smiled at the sight of Abby and Ziva.
"May we come in?" Ziva asked.
Jenny nodded, stepping back to allow them entrance. As they walked into her living room, Jenny turned to smile at them.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, we knew you'd probably be nervous about the verdict tomorrow, so we thought we'd drop by to distract you."
Abby pulled out a bottle of tequila and Jenny declined her offer, going to retrieve the decanter of bourbon from her study. Ziva accepted it, however, and as they began pouring shots, Jenny sipped her drink thoughtfully.
"So, Director...what is Gibbs like outside of work?"
"Same as he is at work. Stoic, brooding, quiet."
Abby laughed.
"Really?"
Jenny nodded, taking another drink. The sound of her front door opening made her tense, but at the sound of his voice, she relaxed.
"Jen?"
"In here," she called.
Gibbs' eyes widened at the sight of the women in her house and Jenny smiled.
"Hi, Gibbs!" Abby laughed.
"Abs. What are you guys doing here?"
"We came to keep the Director company."
Ziva turned to Abby and stood, grabbing the liquor they had brought.
"We should go."
Abby pouted.
"Okay. Sorry for barging in."
Jenny waved away her apology, giving her a warm smile.
"Don't be sorry, Abby."
Abby hugged her, and then she launched herself at the silver-haired agent.
"Don't let her worry too much."
Gibbs kissed her cheek as Ziva called a taxi to take them home, and Jenny walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her head rested on his shoulder and he kissed her hair gently.
"What are you doing here, Jethro?"
"Didn't want you to be alone tonight. Seems I wasn't the only one."
He brought his lips to hers, and she smiled against his mouth. He led her into the living room, sitting down in front of her fireplace, and as he pulled her into his arms, she smiled again. She'd thought that perhaps they'd enjoy a night of lovemaking, but apparently he had other plans. As he held her, he ran his hands through her hair, letting it slip through his fingers.
"What are we doing?"
"Dunno about you, but I'm just enjoying being with you, Jen. Just you and me tonight. No reporters, no lawyers, nothing else."
She relaxed against his chest and when he kissed the base of her throat lightly, she smiled.
"I love you, Jethro."
"I love you, Jen. No matter what happens tomorrow, that will never change."
As she drifted off to sleep, for the first time in months, Jenny slept deeply without dreaming.
A/N: Just so there is no confusion, the trial takes place over several days. I hope this was clear. Hope you enjoyed!