Chapter 8

Gibbs stood in the doorway of Jenny's room for what seemed like forever, not liking any of what he saw, the fact that she didn't look much better than the last time he saw her, the machines, or how much pain she seemed to be in. He sat in the chair beside her bed, stroking his hand through the red hair he loved so much, finally growing long, the way it'd been when they were together, massaging her shoulders and arms, trying to help her relax. He couldn't ignore the heart monitor or the oxygen tube and once again wished that certain people could die more than once. Short's death seemed so little compared to his crimes, both in Europe and with the girls in his life. He could never stand for anyone he loved to be in pain and now he couldn't prevent it. She coughed and he winced, seeing her shake from a chill, unable to even sit up, her eyes closed, and, even though he was right beside her, he wasn't convinced she knew she was safe. He wasn't convinced himself that it was over, that he wouldn't lose her. The doctor had mentioned things like pneumonia, hypothermia, and he worried that this time she didn't have enough strength left to fight.

"Mr. Gibbs?" He turned slightly as a nurse caught his attention. "Doctor Mallard's talked to Ms. Shepherd's doctor. You can stay in here with her for as long as you want and we're to explain everything to you before we do it."

Gibbs felt grateful to have a friend like Ducky, who understood his love for Jenny and, although he might not approve, Gibbs still felt the support. He hated hospitals, wouldn't be in one himself unless he had to, but could remember countless times he had to and even a time before when Jenny had.

"I'm going to give her medication to help with the pain," The nurse said, inserting a syringe.

As he heard Jen moan, he held her hand, closed his eyes, and did the only thing he could think of, he prayed.

Jenny found herself in a place where there was no pain, somewhere peaceful, just her, her and Gibbs. She looked around, instinctively knowing that they were on a lake on a boat. He looked over at her, a patented Gibbs smile, and put his arms around her, comfortable, sweet, like they belonged together and they'd be together forever. It was as if time stood still for them, just once, and she knew that everything else was secondary to this moment, this feeling, of being together with the only man she'd ever really loved.

Tony made sure that the others got home all right to rest, having lost count of the number of hours everyone had been awake at that point, before returning to Shelby's room. He could tell from the look in her eyes, not that different from the look in her brother's, that she was truly and completely pissed off. " Shelby..."

"I'm not a child."

"I know that." A child was the last thing he thought of her as. "I know that. But I'm responsible to take care of you."

"I'm a big girl. I take care of myself."

"Just like Jenny," Tony let slip and then regretted it. " Shelby, I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "You're right." She left him just enough time to absorb the rarity of those words before moving on. "To a point. Maybe if Jen and I were helpless females, then I wouldn't have been shot. Jenny wouldn't be..." She closed her eyes, biting her lower lip, something he only saw her do in extreme stress, and then opened her eyes again. "But that's not her. And guess what, Tony. It's not me either. You should know that by now."

"I do, Shelby." He sat on her bed, facing her. "I do know that. And I'm sorry for what I said." He knew he shouldn't have fought with her or with Ziva after Gibbs went with the doctor to see Jenny, but he couldn't help it. "I don't think you're a child. That's not why I want to protect you."

Her blue eyes searched his face inquisitively and then, already knowing the answer, she asked, "Then tell me why."

"I'm a chaveunistic skirt-chaser who's only had two serious relationships in my entire adult life. One died. And one left me because I broke her heart. You're the longest relationship, male or female, that I have...my best friend. I don't want to screw this up." He kept his head down, unable to look at her.

"Then don't." He finally looked up at her. "My brother and I were fighting before this whole mess happened." She paused. "Does it ever occur to you that we both have the same relationships with other people? Transient 'friends', no one to get attached with, to have a life with..."

"You better have a point," he said with the slightest of smiles.

"I'm going to need someone to stay with me, help me, until I get better...Why don't we use it as a trial period?"

He looked at her. "You don't think you-know-who's going to have a problem with that?"

Shelby shrugged as well as she could. "That's his problem. Well, and Jenny's." She smiled. "I have a feeling he'll be pretty distracted."

Tony laughed, beside himself, only having one more hesitation. "And if it doesn't work?"

"We'll decide what's best for us then. Either way, you won't lose me, Tony." She stroked his cheek with her hand.

"How do you know that?" He asked, wanting to believe her with all his heart.

"Because I have faith. In you, in me, in us." He kissed her gently, settling down beside her.

Gibbs woke quickly, his eyes taking in the room until he remembered where he was, why he was there. As much as he hated hospitals, hated being sick or hurt, he would give anything he had left to take Jenny's place. He looked at the monitors, not able to understand much, but luckily there was someone who could help.

Ducky had been sitting in the chair Gibbs had vacated for the extra bed only a few hours before, watching over both of his friends. "She took a turn for the better last night, Jethro. She's fighting hard, doing well." He then said the news Gibbs had been waiting days for, "She's going to make it."

Gibbs felt himself wanting to cry with relief, but held back, watching the redhead, grateful when Ducky changed places with him, the doctor sitting on the bed so that Gibbs could be back by Jenny's side. "Are you kidding? Of course she is." He made it sound like there had never been any doubt at all. "I've been thinking, Ducky...This cold weather...it's not going to be good for her. She needs to go some place else so she can get her strength back."

Ducky nodded. "It might be good for you both." Gibbs hadn't left Washington since his 'retirement' the year before.

He nodded. "How's Shelby?"

"She's good. DiNozzo's keeping an eye on her...she went home this morning, about an hour ago. He wanted to wake you to tell you, but she wouldn't let him."

Gibbs took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "When's the last time you went home?"

"Before the girls were taken." Ducky looked at his friend, knowing where he was going. "She'll be okay. The doctors are going to keep you informed. If anything happens, they'll call me and I'll be right back in..."

"I'll be fine, Ducky. We'll both be fine."

Ducky nodded, hesitating, finally deciding he'd talk to the doctor one more time and come back to check before he actually left. He left the room, Gibbs holding Jenny's hand, picking it up to his lips and kissing it gently, feeling how the warmth had returned.

"You're doing good, Jen. Keep fighting." He smiled, flashing back to one of their many 'fights'. She was one of the few people who never gave in when she knew she was right, even with him, stubborn, tenacious, but it was one of the things that made her such a good agent...and such a good director. She fought like that for their people, and for him, probably more often than even he knew. He could see her in the hallways of NCIS, fighting with him, and remembered the exquisite feeling of being pissed off at her and wanting to kiss her all at the same time.

He continued, massaging her skin, thinking that it might help the blood flow, watching her heartbeat increase on the monitor. "What do you think about a vacation, Jen? We could leave DiNozzo in charge for a week...he's ready. We could go anywhere you want. Paris, Mexico, anywhere...Just you and me."

Jenny had been awake for awhile, almost as long as he had, but hadn't opened her eyes yet, the lids still feeling heavy as she struggled against the sleep that still wanted to engulf her. Jethro needed her, just as much as she needed him, she could hear that in his voice. His hands on her skin felt so good, both invigorating and relaxing at the same time, reassuring her that she would be all right. She heard Ducky leave and then Gibbs' words to her.

"That'll be the day," she finally responded, quiet, waiting a good minute before she opened her eyes to see his astonished smile.

"Jen?" Without even thinking, he called her name, continuing. "Baby?"

" Mexico…sounds nice... Paris..." It was hard to talk with the oxygen in her nose, but she was having trouble breathing even with the tube. She started coughing, hard, and he winced, seeing the pain it caused her.

Gibbs pressed the call button quickly, knowing he should get help but refusing to leave her side, afraid that if he did, she would no longer be awake, that it'd be some kind of dream or cruel joke. "Whichever you want, Jen. Just some place where you can get well." She still looked pale, weak, and tired, but she was alive and her eyes had completely captured his heart.