A/N: I haven't forgotten this, but I have difficulty writing during the week because of my work schedule. I usually get the rough idea in my head and then I take my first day off to flesh it out. Hope you enjoy, and I am sorry for the wait.
Hot tears spilled from Jenny's eyes as she was violently sick for the third time that morning. Gibbs was standing in the doorway, watching her sadly, more than a little concerned. All of the progress she'd made in the last six months had vanished almost as soon as she'd seen Harrison in the bar parking lot, and not even the restraining order they'd gotten could calm her. She rinsed her mouth, running her shaking hand through her hair, and looked up at him somewhat coldly. The look in her eyes made him frown; she had no reason to be angry with him that he knew of.
"Are you—"
"Don't," her voice was weak, but the anger was still there, "don't you dare ask me if I'm okay."
She had a point. Any idiot could see that she was a mess.
"Okay," he answered cautiously, "how bad are you?"
Silence met his question, and she pushed past him to make her way to her couch. She sank down onto the cool leather, and placed her head in her hands.
"Jen?"
She sighed, raising up slowly.
"Bad," she whispered, "Really fucking bad."
He nodded, carefully walking closer, and when he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, she flinched. He drew his hand back, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a low beep filled the room.
"Director, you're needed in MTAC."
Jenny stood, taking a deep breath, and Gibbs couldn't help but be impressed. There was no outward sign of the pain she was going through, and he admired her ability to put on a brave front. It concerned him, mainly because he knew she couldn't keep the facade forever, but still it was a skill he was proud of. The redhead walked out of the office, and as Gibbs passed Cynthia's desk, her soft voice stopped him.
"Agent Gibbs...I don't want to pry, but...is she okay?"
"She will be."
Gibbs gave her a sad smile and the younger woman returned it. She knew her boss had been through hell, and she was concerned for her health. After all, Jenny was the best boss she'd ever had.
It had been two days since the incident at the bar, and Tony couldn't help but feel as though they'd gone back in time. Gibbs was more irritable than usual, Director Shepard spent all of her time either in MTAC or locked in her office, and the relaxed atmosphere had all but disappeared. He knew they were both concerned (or in her case, scared), but he wished things could go back to the way they'd been the previous month. He sighed as he tried to focus on the game on his computer, knowing he should probably be doing something more productive.
"Gear up! Got case. Dead Lieutenant in Georgetown."
The team hurriedly made their way to the elevator, and Gibbs glanced up at the catwalk. His eyes met Jenny's as she walked back to her office and she didn't look away until the doors had closed. He knew, from that one look, that she wouldn't be there when his team returned to the office. She'd already made up her mind to go home early, and he hoped she would be able to get some rest while he was gone.
Jenny pulled her hair from the ponytail as soon as she stepped over the threshold of her front door, and she sighed. Her heels were placed by the front door and she walked up the stairs, her mind focused on the warmth of her bed. She didn't even bother changing her clothes as she collapsed on the mattress, and she unconsciously moved closer to Gibbs' side of the bed. The scent of sawdust still lingered on the pillow though it had been a few days since he'd slept in her house, and she smiled as she closed her eyes.
Knowing that her security detail was outside helped calm her slightly, and she found herself falling asleep quickly. She knew that she'd been slipping back into old habits of avoiding sleep and drinking too much, but the fear of Harrison being near was simply too strong. As she lingered between consciousness and sleep, Jenny wondered how long it would take Gibbs to finish his case. More than anything, she wanted his arms around her as she slept.
"We about done here?"
McGee nodded.
"Just getting the Lieutenant's laptop. Might have something on here that would explain why someone would want to kill him."
Gibbs nodded, jerking his head toward the van.
"When you finish, get in."
The younger man nodded, trying not to look too much into the harsh tone. He knew that Gibbs was concerned about Director Shepard, and he didn't blame him in the slightest.
"Does Gibbs seem more slippy to you?"
Tony frowned, trying to understand what the Israeli meant.
"I think she means snippy," McGee said helpfully.
Nodding, Tony glanced around for any sign of their boss.
"He's worried about Jenny. Harrison showing up at the bar probably scared her."
Ziva frowned at his use of the redhead's name, but said nothing. She knew he was right, and even she would admit that the situation was very concerning.
"You'd be scared too if the person who assaulted you was following you. You cannot possibly believe that it was a coincidence that he was there at the same time we were."
The Senior Field Agent shook his head.
"No such thing as a coincidence. He knew she would be there. He wanted to scare her."
McGee finished tagging the laptop and nodded in the direction of the van.
"We need to go. Don't want to piss off Gibbs."
"Sounds like a good idea, Elf Lord."
Jumping at the voice of their silver-haired team leader, McGee nodded and began walking to the vehicle. He didn't know how long Gibbs had been standing behind him, and he wasn't particularly sure he wanted to find out.
Jenny placed her hand into the water of her bathtub, checking the temperature, and smiled. She turned off the faucet, and made her way to the stairs, intent on finding a glass of wine. Perhaps even a book, but she was still undecided. She didn't want to risk getting a headache from reading too much, and she ran her hand through her hair. Glancing out the window as she passed, Jenny was relieved to see Fredericks car still parked out front, and she smiled. If Gibbs couldn't be there, the younger agent was the next best thing.
Pouring the wine into her glass, Jenny frowned as she tried to keep her hand from shaking. She was slightly annoyed at herself for the way she'd been reacting to even the slightest noise, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't stop the slight trembling every time she moved. She took a small drink from her glass, letting the rich liquid sit on her tongue for a moment, and when she swallowed, she sighed.
A loud knock at the front door made her jump and she frowned. She wasn't expecting anyone, but she supposed it could have been Agent Fredericks needing to ask her a question or perhaps use her restroom. She opened the door slowly, blinking in the sudden light and when her eyes finally adjusted, she stepped back.
"Afternoon, Director Shepard. Or, should I call you Jenny? Can I call you Jenny? After all, we know each other pretty well now."
She tried to shut the door, but Harrison stopped it with his foot. Pushing it back roughly, he forced her to allow him in, and she tried to stay as calm as she could. Panicking wouldn't help her at all.
"Where's Fredericks?"
Harrison shrugged, pointing to the car.
"He's still there. Might have a bit of a headache when he wakes up, but he'll live."
Jenny took a step backward, trying frantically to remember where her phone was, and Harrison closed the door behind him.
"Now, Jenny...you and I have a lot to discuss."
She frowned.
"What could you possibly want from me? You've already destroyed everything."
The silver of the blade in his hand caught her eye, but she didn't move.
"Let's see...you had me thrown in jail, your fuck buddy killed my brother and busted my nose...did I forget anything?"
He reached for her arm and she swung her hand upward, making harsh contact with his upper lip. Blood dripped onto the floor, and she bolted for the living room, leaning against the fireplace. She accidentally hit the picture frame Abby had given her, and as it hit the floor, it shattered. It took Harrison little more than ten seconds to recover, and just as Jenny made it into the kitchen, she felt his hand grab her roughly by the hair. He pushed her into the cabinet, oblivious to the dishes that shattered on the floor, and she blinked hard. She swung her foot out, meaning to trip him, but managing instead to bruise his leg and she tried to push past him.
Her hand knocked against the glass of wine she'd left sitting on the counter, and it fell to the floor. The shattering barely registered in her mind and Harrison grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her body. The knife in his hand cut into her throat and she jerked away, trying in vain to break free as tears fell from her eyes. The pressure increased and as blood poured from her skin, Jenny could hear someone screaming. It took her a few seconds to realise that it was her own voice, and she screamed again. He pushed her away from him, and she winced as she landed on the broken glass.
She didn't even notice the pain of the glass in her cheek, too preoccupied with the searing pain of her throat and she held her hand to the cut, knowing even as she did so that it was more than likely pointless. Pulling herself along the kitchen floor, she tried to scream as Harrison's hand wrapped around her ankle, and when he trailed the blade of his knife across her skin, he smiled.
Jenny knew, if by some miracle she lived through this, that his grotesque bloody smile would be burned into her mind forever. The blade sliced into the skin of her thigh, cutting easily into the fabric of the slacks she wore, and she whimpered as blood poured from her throat. Her vision was beginning to fail her, and as her eyes closed, her last thought was that she was going to die.
When Agent Fredericks opened his eyes, he groaned, sitting up slowly. For a moment, he couldn't remember what had happened, and as it all came flooding back to him, he flung open the door of his car. He ran as fast as he could across the street to Director Shepard's house and as soon as he stepped inside, he knew something was wrong. It was quiet. Much too quiet, even for a woman who wasn't prone to making much noise. He noticed the blood on the floor just near his foot, and he carefully made his way to the kitchen, calling her name urgently.
He felt his stomach drop as he took in the scene before him, and he immediately pulled out his phone.
"911, what is your emergency?"
"I—I need an ambulance now. My..my boss has been severely injured. I don't know if she's breathing. I'll check, but I need an ambulance."
"Sir, I need your location."
He quickly gave the address, and after he had been assured that the paramedics were being dispatched, he hung up. There was still one more call he needed to make, and it was this one that he dreaded more than anything.
As they drove back to the Navy Yard, Gibbs fought the urge to roll his eyes when his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket carefully, not wanting to crash as he drove, and sighed as he held it to his ear.
"Yeah. Gibbs."
"Agent Gibbs, this is Agent Fredericks. You need to get to the Director's house. Now."
"What happened?"
"I don't know exactly, but you need to be here. As soon as possible."
Gibbs nodded, hanging up the phone and he made an abrupt turn, much to the discomfort of his team. Tony groaned as his stomach lurched, and McGee grabbed the edge of his seat, closing his eyes. Ziva was the only one who didn't move, and she frowned as they sped off in the other direction.
"What is it?"
"Fredericks. Said we needed to get to the Director's house."
"Did he say what happened?"
Gibbs shook his head, pressing his foot down harder on the pedal. If Fredericks had called him, he knew it had to have been something very wrong. And he had a damn good idea of who had been behind it.
While Gibbs spoke to Fredericks outside of Jenny's house, the rest of his team made their way inside. Tony swore as he took in the damage and he knelt down next to the redhead's still body. He found a pulse, though erratic and weak, and nodded to McGee.
"McGee...pictures. Ziva, bag and tag."
"What are you gonna do?" McGee asked.
"Gonna go warn Gibbs. This isn't gonna be easy for him to see."
McGee nodded, shaking his head as he put the camera up to his eyes. He definitely didn't envy the Senior Field Agent right now. Tony intercepted his boss at the front door, his eyes serious.
"Boss...I don't know if you want to go in there."
"Let me through, DiNozzo."
"Gibbs, wait. It's...it's bad. Really bad. I've never seen anything like it."
"She breathing?"
Tony sighed, trying to prepare him as best he could.
"Boss.."
"DiNozzo! Is she breathing or not?"
The younger man nodded, and Gibbs moved around him. The first thing his eyes noticed was the broken picture frame, and he tried to pretend that the blood smeared on the glass didn't bother him. He walked into the kitchen and he had to immediately close his eyes to keep from vomiting. Blood covered nearly every surface, thick and dark, and when he finally found his bearings, he opened his eyes again. He'd never seen such destruction in such a small space, and as he knelt next to Jenny on the ground, he felt tears fill his eyes.
She was still, much too still for his liking, but he could detect the slight movement as her shallow breath filled her lungs. He glanced up at McGee, still standing silently in the room, and his eyes were more serious than the younger man had ever seen.
"You done with photos?"
McGee nodded.
"Ambulance is close, boss. I can hear the sirens."
Gibbs nodded, reaching out to touch Jenny gently. He thought she moved slightly at his touch, but he couldn't be sure. It could have just been wishful thinking. He fought every instinct he had to pull her into his arms, and settled instead for brushing her hair out of her face. Loud footsteps signaled the paramedics and as they stopped behind him, Gibbs frowned.
"Sir, could you step aside, please?"
He nodded, and moved just enough to let them near her. He refused to leave the room, afraid that if he did, he would never see her alive again. She was alive, that much he knew, and he was clinging to that in very much the same way that a desperate man clings to religion. Jenny's body was lifted carefully onto the stretcher and when he was able to get a better look at the gash on her throat, Gibbs frowned.
"McGee, you get a good shot of this?"
The young agent frowned, shaking his head.
"I didn't want to move her, boss."
He snapped the picture quickly and Gibbs nodded at the paramedics. They moved as quickly as they could, and when Gibbs walked out of the house minutes later, Tony looked at him, concerned.
"Boss?"
"Gonna call Ducky. Get everything to Abby. We're gonna need her."
"You think Harrison did this."
Gibbs shook his head.
"No. I know he did this. Get a sample from every bit of blood in that house. I need something."
Tony frowned.
"It's probably all hers."
Gibbs smiled sadly.
"Nah. She wouldn't go down without leaving something for us to find."
Tony nodded. He knew Gibbs was more than likely right. Jenny would have given them some kind of clue to work with. She was simply too good at what she did.
Rather than call Ducky as he had originally planned, Gibbs simply walked into the autopsy room. This was something he needed to explain in person. The doctor turned, frowning at the blood on his clothes and waited.
"What happened to you?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"Not me."
"Did you kill your suspect?"
"No. Duck, you might want to sit down."
Ducky shook his head, meeting his eyes evenly.
"Who?"
Gibbs sighed.
"Jen."
Leaning back against the cold table, Ducky drew in a sharp breath. He looked at the former marine seriously, holding onto the metal tightly.
"Is she—"
"She's alive. How, I don't know. Need you to look at these and see if anything unusual jumps out at you."
Gibbs passed him the folder he'd been carrying, and Ducky frowned. He hadn't even noticed it until now. He opened it slowly, and he felt tears filling his eyes as he flipped through them slowly. It was difficult to focus on anything other than the massive amount of blood in the photos and the doctor closed the folder, sliding it back to him.
"How did she survive?"
"No idea. I'm on my way to Portsmouth now. Want a ride?"
Ducky nodded, grabbing his coat. Gibbs picked up the folder, making sure he remembered to give it to Abby, and as they stepped into the parking lot, he found his thoughts filled with a certain redhead and thoughts of revenge.
The first thing that went through Gibbs' mind as he entered the hospital room was of how small Jenny looked. The crisp white sheets made her skin look even paler than normal, and he frowned as he made his way to the chair next to the bed. Ducky was outside speaking with her doctor, and Gibbs reached for her hand, holding it gently in his own. He leaned down, kissing her forehead and he touched her hair.
"Don't worry, Jen. I'll find that bastard if it's the last thing I do."
"Jethro, I do have some good news."
He looked at the doctor, and waited.
"They've given her blood to replenish what she lost, and it looks like she'll make a full recovery. Agent Fredericks saved her life by calling as quickly as he did. The injury to her throat was the most severe, but luckily, she was brought here in enough time to save her."
Gibbs frowned.
"Will she be able to talk?"
Ducky sighed.
"Not right away, definitely. As for later, I'm not sure. It depends on how deeply her larynx was cut."
"Guess it's a good thing I taught her sign language in Europe."
"Yes, between you and Abigail, we should have no trouble."
Ducky looked down at the sleeping redhead, frowning as he examined her injuries. He ran his finger delicately over her cheek, touching the stitches that held it shut, and looked to his friend.
"She's likely going to have some scarring from this. It was much deeper than I thought. Her throat will also scar. I don't think even I could have prevented that. They did a very good job at closing the wound, though."
Gibbs frowned.
"Not like she doesn't have other scars, Duck."
The doctor nodded.
"Yes, but none of those are as easily seen. She can cover those. These are going to be prominent. She might be able to cover them with makeup, depending on her skill with it, but she's likely going to feel insecure about it for awhile."
"She's still beautiful."
"Without a doubt, Jethro. I just hope she can still see it."
Gibbs ran his thumb over the back of her hand lightly.
"I'll make sure she sees it."
Abby couldn't stop the tears from falling as she examined the photos Gibbs had given her, and she laid her head on her desk. Her body shook as she sobbed and she was so upset that she didn't notice the doors sliding open. She jumped as McGee put his hand on her shoulder, and turned.
"McGee!"
She wrapped her arms around him, crying into his shoulder, and he rubbed her back soothingly.
"Did you see her, McGee?"
He nodded, still holding her close, and he ran his hand over her hair.
"I saw."
"Is she...is she going to die, McGee?"
The agent sighed, not sure how to answer. In truth, he had no idea, but he knew the Goth would never accept that answer.
"It was bad, Abby. I've never seen that much blood. She was alive when the ambulance took her to the hospital. Gibbs is there now."
"Oh, God! Gibbs! I didn't even think...McGee, how is he?"
"He didn't look good. He wants you to analyse all of the blood. Most of it will be the Director's, but there's a chance that we might get a match on Harrison."
"You think he's the one who did it?"
McGee nodded.
"Definitely. Just need the DNA to prove it."
Abby nodded, stepping out of his arms and she turned to the computer.
"I'll find it, McGee. This is for the Director. I have to."
McGee kissed the side of her hair gently.
"I know you will."
Gibbs refused to leave Jenny's side when Ducky offered him a coffee, and the doctor smiled knowingly. Much like she had stayed with him in Positano and when he'd been in a coma, he knew there would be no point in trying to convince him to leave. The doctor glanced at him once more as he stepped from the room, and as he passed Tony in the hall, he stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Unless it's majorly important, I wouldn't disturb him."
Tony nodded.
"It is."
The Senior Field Agent walked into the room, frowning at the sight of the redhead lying unconscious in the hospital bed, and when Gibbs looked up, Tony nodded his head.
"Boss, we found a footprint in the blood on the floor at Director Shepard's house. Abby's running everything now, and she should have an answer within the next twenty minutes on the blood analysis."
Gibbs nodded, turning his attention back to Jenny.
"How is she?"
"Should make a full recovery. We'll know when she wakes up."
"Is she in a coma or just sedated?"
Gibbs looked at him, and Tony was struck by how much older he looked.
"Sedated. Should wear off in a few hours."
Tony nodded and he took a step closer. He wasn't sure if he should touch her or not, but he ultimately decided to reach out and lightly touched her hand. He could feel Gibbs watching him, and as he pulled back, the older agent gave him a small smile.
"As soon as Abby calls, I'll let you know."
Gibbs nodded.
"Hey, DiNozzo."
He turned, halfway between the door and the bed.
"Yeah, boss?"
"I'll tell her you stopped by."
Tony nodded, and walked out, passing Ducky as he moved.
"Call me as soon as she wakes up. Please."
"Of course, Anthony."
Tony walked away, pulling out his phone and as he stepped into the elevator, he began dialing.
"McGee, tell me Abby's got something."
Ziva knocked lightly on the door of Jenny's hospital room, and when Gibbs glanced up, she gave him a small smile. He waved her in, and she sat down on the opposite side of the bed, looking at the redhead sadly.
"How is she, Gibbs?"
"Should wake up soon."
She touched the bandage covering Jenny's throat gently, and he tensed. He knew Ziva would never hurt Jenny, but his overprotective nature was taking control.
"She is very lucky. Were her vocal chords damaged?"
He nodded.
"Won't know how badly until she wakes."
The Israeli nodded, looking at him seriously.
"She'll be okay, Gibbs. Jenny's a very strong woman. She wouldn't give up without a fight."
Again, he nodded and Ziva touched Jenny's shoulder lightly.
"Ani ohevet otah'," she said quietly.
Gibbs frowned. Ziva didn't offer any explanation, but she smiled as she left the room. He took her hand again, and he raised it to his lips, kissing it lightly. He needed her to wake up, needed to see her eyes, and he laid his head on the pillow next to her.
"Come on, Jen. Come back to me."
The only answer he received was the steady beep of the heart monitor.
Abby clapped her hands excitedly as the results flashed on the computer in front of her and she turned to McGee. He hadn't left her side since he'd found her crying in the lab, and she hugged him as she picked up the phone.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony, I got it! I got a match on Harrison's DNA."
"Great. I'll call Gibbs."
He hung up and Abby smiled as McGee kissed her cheek.
"Good work, Abby."
Sounds were echoing, swelling and falling in great crescendos, slow and distorted, and it was beginning to make her head ache. She wanted to move, wanted to take advantage of the strength she could feel returning, but her muscles refused to listen. A steady tingling sensation was spreading throughout her body and she tried again to move.
At last, her eyes opened slowly and she immediately regretted the decision. Her eyelids were heavier than she remembered them being, and the bright light made them sting painfully. She closed them again, and after a moment of debating, she opened them halfway as a compromise. She wanted to sit up, but at the same time, she was too exhausted to try. Panic was building within her, and when she realised that someone was touching her, her fear only intensified.
Glancing around the room, her eyes landed on the figure next to her, and when she realised that she recognised it, she relaxed. Finally, she tried to move her hand, and her fingers twitched slightly, hitting a slight resistance. A shifting drew her attention and she tried to keep her fear under control.
"Jen?"
She met his eyes, and tried to speak. He shook his head, holding her hand tighter.
"Don't. Don't try to talk. I'll get the doctor."
He leaned over as he stood and kissed her head gently. When he returned seconds later, she visibly relaxed, and the doctor gave her a warm smile.
"Good afternoon, Jennifer."
She rolled her eyes, looking to Gibbs. He nodded in understanding and turned to the doctor.
"Jenny. She doesn't like Jennifer."
The doctor smiled.
"Of course. Sorry, Jenny. I'm glad to see you're awake, and I'm sure your husband is as well."
Jenny glanced at Gibbs again, but he said nothing.
"My name is Amy Bowen, and I'm the doctor who has been overseeing your treatment. Do you remember what happened?"
The redhead nodded, and Doctor Bowen gave her a reassuring smile.
"Okay. I know you can't talk now, but could you write it down? Can you tell me who attacked you?"
Jenny tapped Gibbs on the shoulder and he looked at her seriously.
-Can you interpret?- she signed.
He nodded.
"I know ASL."
Doctor Bowen nodded, and Jenny gave Gibbs a weak smile.
-Harrison. It was a knife. About nine inches. No idea where he went.
Gibbs relayed the message to the younger woman and she nodded.
"I can relay your description to the police if you'd like."
Gibbs shook his head.
"Not necessary. I work for NCIS. We're currently handling it."
She nodded again and Gibbs pulled out his phone. He needed to call Ducky to alert him of the change in Jenny's condition and he stepped away. Jenny's eyes never left him as he stood in the corner of the room and when he returned, she reached for his hand.
"Ducky's on his way. He's down in the cafeteria."
Jenny nodded, and he kissed her hand gently. She leaned closer to him and he carefully wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She closed her eyes wearily, opening them only when she heard the door open again, and she smiled when she saw the Scottish doctor. She began signing rapidly and Ducky looked to Gibbs a slight question in his eyes.
"She wants to know when she can start speaking again," Gibbs explained.
Ducky frowned, turning to Doctor Bowen.
"I'm Doctor Donald Mallard, I work with both Jennifer and Jethro. How extensive was the injury to her larynx?"
The young woman shook his hand, and gave him a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Doctor Mallard. It will take a few weeks at the very least for her vocal chords to have any chance of recovering, and even then, nothing strenuous. She'll have to be very careful for awhile."
Ducky looked at Jenny, his eyes serious.
"You heard her, Jennifer. I expect you to listen."
Jenny rolled her eyes and began signing again.
"I don't think you want me to interpret that one, Duck."
Ducky laughed, leaning over to hug her gently, and when she didn't let go, he frowned. He pulled back, still holding her in his arms and looked at her seriously.
"What's wrong, my dear?"
She asked her question, and when Gibbs relayed it, his voice was quiet.
"She wants to know if Fredericks will be okay."
Ducky nodded, waving at Doctor Bowen as she left the room.
"He's fine. Very concerned about you, but he'll make a fast recovery. But why did you not just ask Jethro? He was the one at the scene."
Jenny frowned, looking to Gibbs.
-You were there?
He nodded.
-What happened to Harrison?
"No idea. He was gone when we got there. We were more concerned with getting you here."
Jenny closed her eyes and nodded.
-How bad was it?
Gibbs looked at her, searching her eyes seriously.
"Not now. I'll tell you more later. I promise."
Jenny nodded, and Ducky stepped back from the bed, his phone in his hand.
"I should call Anthony. He asked me to let him know when she woke up."
Gibbs nodded his head once, looking to the redhead with a smile.
"That reminds me. Tony and Ziva stopped by."
-What about McGee? Too nervous?
"Nah. He's been with Abby running samples. They got a match on Harrison's DNA. Found his blood in the front hall."
Jenny smiled slightly.
-I tried to hit him hard enough to leave a trail.
Gibbs returned her smile and kissed her cheek
"I knew you would give us something to work with."
Their conversation was interrupted as the attending nurse returned to check on Jenny and she smiled at the redhead warmly.
"Hello, Ms. Shepard. Are you in any pain?"
She shook her head and Gibbs looked at her seriously.
"Jen."
She glanced at him and then back at the nurse. She nodded and the nurse smiled knowingly.
"I figured as much. We'll give you a mild sedative to take the edge off of the pain and you'll feel better soon."
Jenny nodded her thanks and Gibbs kissed her cheek again. She was feeling more than a little tired now, and as she waited for the nurse to return, she found herself profoundly grateful that she was still alive.
Abby barely heard the phone ringing in her lab and when she answered it, she gestured for McGee to turn down the player.
"Abby Sciuto's lab, how may I rock your world?"
"Abby, the Director is awake."
"That's great! Tony, when can I see her?"
"I don't know. I'll ask when I talk to Gibbs. Just wanted to let you know."
"Where's Ziva?"
"She's out looking for Harrison. Gibbs is out for blood. I'll be in touch."
Abby turned to McGee, hugging him tightly.
"She's awake!"
"That's great, Abs."
The Goth kissed his cheek and McGee smiled. He hadn't realised just how much Director Shepard really meant to them until now. He made up his mind as he watched Abby smile that he would never take any of his friends for granted again.
A/N: Ziva's words in the hospital translate to "I love you" in Hebrew (when spoken from female to female).
When I originally started this chapter, the opening scene with Jenny being ill was the first scene I knew I wanted to have. The second scene I knew I wanted was of Jenny being attacked by Harrison, and the scene was inspired by Annie Brackett's death scene in Halloween II (2009). For an idea of how it would look, check it out on YouTube. The last scene I knew I was going to write was Abby crying in the lab. I started with those three scenes and this was the result. I hope you liked it.