Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS

Okay so I was asked to update soon, so her you go. I'm surprised I managed to update but here it is. I've loved this chapter, and the meal will be in the next as well as the Gibbs/Jenny reunion. So enjoy…

Jenny and Ally were both sat in a little café just down from the dress shop. As kids they'd gone there when on shopping trips, or in the winter after a snowball fight in the park for a milky coffee. As teenagers they'd sat in there talking about who they fancied or attempting to do their coursework. That café had seen many a laugh, tantrum, giggle and strop from these two girls, and over a decade later, this little slice of heaven had not changed a bit. Worn leather sofas (where the two currently were) where placed by the window, further back chairs and tables were set out.

The two best friends where now sat down where they always used to drinking coffee. No longer though was it milky. Ally had forced Jenny to have some too after seeing how thin she had gotten. So both where sat talking and eating a large piece of Victoria sponge.

"Do you regret it?" Questioned Ally looking up.
"Regret what?" replied Jenny although she had an idea what her friend meant.
"Being a career woman, not having a life outside of work."
"Honestly? Partly. I got where wanted, as in the job I wanted. That's all id ever dreamt of for my life I suppose. But the saying's true, it is lonely at the top. Now, in a way I suppose I do, I mean I'm proud of where I've got, but when you come home after a 10 hour day and you're greeted by an empty house. I suppose it makes you wonder if it was all worth it."
"You could change It though. There must be hundreds of guys cueing up."
"There are, but I don't want hundreds of guys. I only want the one."
"You ended it?"
"Ye, nearly a decade ago, and I suppose I still haven't gotten over him. Thing is I though he didn't love me, turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. I left him after a mission, moved to Europe and didn't see him until just over a year ago."
"Ring him, speak to him. Surely there is something you can do."
"I only sore him because I now work with him, I'm now his boss. Anyway, he's got someone else now, and as long as she makes him happy then I am too. HE deserves that."
"Really?"
"No. Given half the chance I'd slap her into the next century."
"So do it then."
"Al, unlike you I think before I do things. If I did slap her she'd no doubt go to the press and it'd be a public relations disaster. What about you, ever wish you'd moved to the big city, become that fashion critic you always dreamt of being?"
"Sometimes. But then I look at what I have and smile. I'm in a job I love, have great friends, family on my doorstep and about to marry the man of my dreams. I'm happy."
"Good."

The girls then fell into a comfortable silence. Once they'd finished their coffee and cake, the pair left the small café and headed their separate ways. Ally headed to the supermarket and Jenny down the road towards the park.

Trees swayed in the breeze, small children played football in the play area, whilst mothers sat watching at the side. It brought a sad smile to her face. That life, with the family, husband and children was one she'd never even considered wanting until a few months ago. After the heart attack, in a way reality had dawned and Jenny had realised that maybe the life she was living wasn't the one she really wanted any more. That what life meant to her now, wasn't what it once had. Suddenly all the missed opportunities spared chances that had passed her by became so obvious. What if I hadn't left Jethro in Paris? Where would I be now? Married? Divorced? Family? Would I still be at NCIS? Would I be Director? Life would have been so different. Like an alternate universe.

The sun was beginning to set as Jenny walked back to her mums. She'd spent the afternoon thinking things over. Talking to an old friend and playing catch with her children. It'd all brought back the feelings she'd had in Paris, the hoped and dreams of a personal life. It had made her reconsider her life as it was.

~N~C~I~S~

NCIS Head Quarters- Washington DC

Gibbs had been granted his leave, although Vance had not really had a say in the matter. Gibbs still had so much unused leave that it wasn't really an option to say no. The team still had no case and Gibbs was getting increasingly irritated with their antics. After talking to Mark earlier it had made him think. He'd trained Mark, turned him from a spotty teen to a dedicated hard working marine, and in a way Gibbs couldn't help but feel a slight sense of pride. But Mark had achieved something Gibbs no longer felt. Ark was happy and obviously in love, Gibbs was single and grumpy. How their two lives couldn't be more different. Jethro knew Hollis hadn't been right for him, for a start she was blonde. But now things where over, he couldn't help but feel a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Whether it be he could now try and sort things out with Jen or not he wasn't sure. But what he was sure of was that he was going to try. Starting off by finding out what happened whilst he was away.

The team leader was brought from his thoughts by a paper ball hitting him, thrown by his senior field agent. Looking at his watch he say it was nearly 17 00. He decided it wouldn't do them any harm going home early. "Right off you go. Have a good evening." The agents moved the fastest he'd seen them in ages. "Not you DiNozzo." He waited before the other two agents had left the bull pen before stopping his agents rambling.

"I…I meant it as Zivas fault, I was trying to get her attention…-"
"DiNozzo I don't want to talk to you about messing around with paper although I do wonder how old you actually are sometimes."
"Okay, then why do you want to talk to me boss?"
"What happened whist I was away?"
"Not much. We had a few cases-"
"I mean with the director. Don't tell me nothing either because I can read you like a book."
"Boss you know I'd run to the end of the world for you but she asked me to tell no one."
"I don't care Tony. What happened?"

Tony sighed; he decided that for his own safety he would tell Gibbs. He hadn't wanted or agreed with Jenny not telling him. So the younger agent perched on McGee's desk.

"A week or two after you left, J-the director collapsed after a meeting. Turns out she was shot in the chest on one of her opps with you. The bullet grazed her aorta. Over times that graze ripped causing problems. I don't know all the details. Anyway she was hospitalised. When you came back to help Ziva, she'd been instructed to stay home, but she didn't want you knowing so she came in. When you returned full time, your first day was her's too. She came back too early. But she said you'd already dealt with so much, this might push you over the edge. Her not telling you was her way of protecting you. No one else knew or knows now except me, Jenny, the SecNav and now you. She came back too early Gibbs, that's why she collapsed nearly when you were in her office, why she walked slower. She didn't have any strength. I wanted to tell you I di but-"
"DiNozzo, I understand. She asked you not to r=tell anyone, in your position I would have done the same thing."
"Thanks boss."
"Go home DiNozzo."
"Night boss."

Gibbs rubbed his face and sighed. Her and her ways of protecting him, how he wished she'd told him. But he was thankful to Tony; he owed his younger agent one.

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