Hey. Below is an excerpt from a song in Wicked, and I think it really sums up Jenny because she's gotten everything she wanted, but not quite. In her speech in this chapter I make some references to it, sorry couldn't resist! :) Also, I have no idea if there really is a senator Carson and if there is I apologise, I just made the name up.
That's why I couldn't be happier
No I couldn't be happier
Though it is, I admit
The tiniest bit
Unlike I anticipated
But I couldn't be happier
Simply couldn't be happier
Well-not simply
Cause getting your dreams
It's strange but it seems
A little-well-complicated
There's a kind of a sort of...cost
There's a couple of things get...lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you'd crossed
Until you'd crossed
And if that joy, that thrill
Doesn't thrill like you think it will
Still-
With the perfect finale
The cheers and the ballyhoo
Who wouldn't be happier
So I couldn't be happier
Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true
Well, isn't it?
Happy is what happens
When your dreams come true
-Glinda, "Thank Goodness", from Wicked
Jenny absentmindedly played with the bracelet on her wrist. It was the one Lizzie had given her for her birthday a few years ago, and had insisted her mom wear today. She'd also insisted Jenny took a picture of her to work for her desk after discovering she didn't have one. Jenny glanced at the frame Lizzie had picked and smiled. Silver with three photos; one of Jenny holding newborn Lizzie, Lizzie in her school uniform on the first day of school grinning carefreely, and the third one, taken in Cairo, of Jenny and Ziva on either side of Lizzie, who had her arms around both their necks as she balanced on a wall. Jenny wished she could be at home with her daughter, and hated the fact that it was Lizzie's first day and she was working. She was comforted by the fact it was the weekend after today. In a few hours she'd be home to spend two whole days simply being a mom and not the director of NCIS.
"Jen we have a problem."
Jenny was brought back to reality by Gibbs walking into her office.
"What kind of problem?" she asked suspiciously.
"A big problem," he replied. His tone of voice and expression showed he wasn't kidding. She sighed.
"What is it?"
"Our main suspect is the son of an important senator and he's missing," Gibbs explained.
"The senator or the son?"
"The son, but we think the senator's protecting him."
Jenny sighed again. This was a big problem, one that would involve lots of favours and ass kissing.
"What's the case?" she asked, wanting the full story before she tackled the senator. Gibbs sat down opposite her.
"Martina Anderson, petty officer first class found dead yesterday outside Quantico," he explained. "Cause of death was a stab wound to the back. We found DNA belonging to Andrew Carson under her fingernails, and an eyewitness puts them together minutes before her death. We found the murder weapon and it had fingerprints and DNA belonging to Andrew Carson. We went to his apartment to pick him up for questioning and he was gone. He'd taken his personal belongings. Senator Carson refuses to co-operate with us."
"Okay," Jenny sighed. "I'll make a call."
Forty five minutes later Gibbs returned to Jenny's office.
"It's not good news," she warned. "Senator Carson insists his son is innocent and is threatening legal action. He also insists we turn the case over to the FBI."
"What did you say?"
"Our jurisdiction, our case," she replied.
"And?"
"And he refuses to co-operate. I have a video call with SecNav in fifteen minutes to discuss it."
Gibbs sighed. It was going to be a long night. He knew Hollis had planned to come over that night. He would have to call her and tell her not to bother. They could be there all night. Jenny was realising the same thing. So much for being with Lizzie.
XOXOXOX
It was already nine thirty. Jenny had spent over an hour arguing with SecNav, then another hour arguing with the director of the FBI. Finally Senator Carson had agreed to them "interviewing" his son with a lawyer present. They were waiting for them to arrive. She sighed for what felt like the millionth time that night. She was tired but she wouldn't go home until this was resolved. She was expecting more difficulties from the Senator.
Of course, Lizzie had been disappointed she wouldn't be home until late. Jenny was disappointed too. She missed not having her daughter here all the time. Her little girl was growing up and she was missing it.
Gibbs walked into Jenny's office. The first thing he noticed was how tired she looked. Not only was it late and she worked all hours anyway, but she was pregnant too. And he hadn't exactly been making it any easier on her. He felt guilty about that.
"Dinner Jen?" he asked, holding up the bag of Chinese. She raised her eyebrows. "No need to look so surprised."
Jenny smiled and left her desk to sit next to him on the couch, taking a container of food from him.
"Thanks Jethro," she said.
"No problem."
"How's it going?" she asked, taking a mouthful of food.
"Andrew Carson's downstairs, DiNozzo's interogatting him now."
"Why DiNozzo?"
"Cause I wanted to shoot the lawyer."
Jenny laughed.
"Rule 13, never, ever involve a lawyer," she quoted. "Was that after a divorce?"
"Not specifically," Gibbd replied. 'I don't know if you've noticed Jen but I don't really like lawyers that much."
"You hide it well," she joked. He smiled. For the first time in months everything felt completely comfertable between them again.
"Sorry for ruining your evening Jen," Gibbs said.
"What happened to rule six?" she asked.
"I'm bending it," he smiled.
"It's not your fault Jethro," Jenny replied, her face falling slightly at the thought of Lizzie.
"Plans?" he asked.
"Sorry?
"Did you have plans?" he asked.
"Sort of..." she said. "You?"
"Not really," he replied, thinking of Hollis. "Just me and my, what was it? Hundredth boat?" Jenny laughed, remembering she'd said he was on his hundredth boat by now.
"Well you've saved me from Night at the Museum," Jenny replied. "For the third time." Gibbs looked at her questioningly. She'd known that she would have to explain when she said it but she didn't care.
She pulled herself up and went over to her desk, picked up the photoframe then sat down again. She handed it to Gibbs. He looked at it. In the first picture Jenny was cradeling a newborn baby in her arms, looking down at it instead of at the camera, her red curls falling round her face. In the middle picture a young redheaded girl, the baby in the previous photo he assumed, was standing, wearing a school uniform, grinning at the camera. She was a mirror image of Jenny. The third picture showed Jenny and Ziva with the girl, he assumed, in Ciaro. The girl had her arms around the women's shoulder's and was balancing on a small wall, wearing the same carefree grin. He glanced at Jenny.
"Her name's Elizabeth, Lizzie," Jenny explained. "She's eight. She's my daughter." She put a hand on his arm. "She's your daughter."
"You were pregnant in Paris?"
She nodded. "I didn't know, I swear! It must've happened just before I left."
"Why didn't you tell me Jen?" he asked.
"I figured you would be pretty mad after I'd left you," she said. "Besides by the time Lizzie was born, you were married to Stephanie. What was I supposed to do? Turn up on your doorstep and say to her 'Hi, I worked undercover with your husband in Paris and I loved him but I left and then I found out I was pregnant and this is his two month old daughter'?" Jenny stood up. "I did what I had to to get here. It's harder than you think it'll be, you make sacrifices and things get lost, you cross bridges you didn't know existed just to keep going! I love Lizzie, she's my life. And I'm so proud of her. Like just last night she told me she got the highest marks in her year last year and got a prize. But I couldn't be there to see her get it. And I hate that."
Despite himself, Gibbs felt a little flare of pride when Jenny said their daughter had gotten a prize. Throughout her speech he remained on the couch, watching her, unsure whether to be angry or not. He watched her now as she turned away from him, a hand on her stomach. He knew she was fighting back tears. He left the couch and put his arms around her, although her baby bump made it difficult. So he turned her round so she leant her side against his chest, her face buried in his neck and let her get it out of her system. Jenny tried to move away but he wouldn't let her. So she gave in and let the tears come. Unconsciously she put her arms up onto his shoulder.
"I don't want to lie anymore," she said, her voice muffled. "I was always waiting for the right time. Then I realised there would never be a right time."
XOXOXOX
When Gibbs left Jenny's office, he told Stanley to go home.
"I have to take Director Shepard home," he objected.
"I'll drive her," Gibbs replied.
When the case was (finally) finished for the night, Gibbs returned to her office.
"What do you want?" she asked, obviously exhausted. It was well after midnight by now.
"I'm here to drive you home," he explained.
"That's why I have a driver Jethro."
"Yeah but I sent him home hours ago."
"You..." Jenny shook her head. "One of these days you will fail to surprise me," she said. He smiled.
"Come on Jen," he said gently. Whether she was too tired to object or she knew it was pointless to argue, Jenny gave in and followed him to his car.
They drove to her house in silence. Neither of them knew what to say. But despite this, it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, which surprised both of them.
"Here you go," Gibbs said when they drew into her driveway.
"Thanks Jethro," she smiled. Impulsively she leant over and kissed him lightly on the cheek before getting out of the car. Gibbs waited until he was sure she was safely inside before he drove away.
