At about five o'clock the next morning Gibbs woke at his desk. He felt stiff and a little achy after falling asleep in his chair. He realised that he hadn't seen Jen or Penny all night, so he thought he'd go and check on them.
He walked up the stairs and went straight into Jenny's office and was confused when he didn't see them, but then realised they may not have left MTAC. Walking in to the secured room he saw the pair of them huddled together next to each other in the chairs on the front row.
With a small smile he walked over to Jenny and gently shook her awake. She looked up at him blearily and then down at Penny, who was still hard and fast asleep.
'So how'd it go?' He asked in hushed tones as he tilted his head in Penny's direction.
'OK I guess. She took it better than I thought she would.' Jenny replied in equally hushed tones.
'Yeah well Penny seems a pretty level headed person, I think she just needed time to think things through.' Gibbs said as he wrapped his arms around Jenny's waist and pulled her towards him when she stood up.
'Thank you for looking after her in New York. She told me that you all stayed with her in the same hotel during your investigation. And don't worry; I understand that you didn't want to betray a confidence. I'm just glad she was able to talk to someone.' Jenny explained with a smile.
Standing on her tiptoes Jenny cupped Gibbs's face in her hands and kissed him passionately. With every second they kissed she felt more comfort and relief than she had in a long time. They pulled away quickly when they were interrupted…
'You guys really should get a room.' Penny said sleepily with her eyes still closed and pulling her knees up to her chest.
Gibbs and Jenny looked at each other and laughed before Penny felt a very gentle tap to the back of her head. Her eyes sprang open in surprise as she looked at Gibbs, but she couldn't help but laugh.
'So what are going to tell the team? I mean about you two. They know something is up and they're all concerned.' Gibbs explained, still holding on tightly to Jenny who had curled herself up into his side.
'Well Jethro I've kept this secret for long enough, it's about time it was brought out into the open. That is if you want it to Penny?' Jenny said.
'Absolutely.' Penny replied brightly.
That evening the whole team, including Ducky, Jimmy and Abby, went into town for a meal. The restaurant had given them a private room, used to catering for the director, and a private bar at the far end.
It was the first time they'd been out privately as a team with the director, and it felt rather alien to them all and yet very relaxed at the same time.
Jenny and Gibbs sat next to each other, with Ziva and Tony sat on Gibbs's right hand side. On Jenny's left sat Penny and McGee. Abby, Ducky and Jimmy sat opposite. Everyone was engrossed in conversation with each other and they were enjoying each other's company outside of work.
Finally Jenny decided it was time to explain her new found situation with Penny in between the main course and pudding. She wasn't entirely sure how she was going to explain this but she knew it was the right thing to do.
'OK guys there's a reason that I arranged this little get together this evening, as Penny and I have something that we'd like to share with you all, and to clarify a few things.' Jenny began to explain.
Penny held Jenny's hand under the table and gave it a very gentle squeeze, with Gibbs doing the same to Jenny's right knee. She felt relieved to have them both there with her, making the situation a little easier.
'I appreciate that you have had a few questions regarding Penny's recent absence, and I know there were quite a few rumours flying round. The truth is Penny isn't my sister, she's my daughter.' She explained bluntly and there were a couple of gasps from around the table. 'I know you'll have many questions about it, but all you really need to know is that I was seventeen when I had her and my parents made the decision to bring her up instead of me.' She added.
'Wow, bet that was a bit of a shock huh Penny?' Tony said before receiving a Gibbs slap to the back of the head. 'Sorry Boss.'
Jenny felt a lot better once her secret was out in the open, but most of all that the most important person in her life now knew the truth. She wasn't entirely sure how this was going to affect her relationship with Penny, or indeed where they went from here, but she knew that she had her NCIS family around her. She was also pleased to say that she had Gibbs's support and love to help her through as well, which gave her more strength and courage than anything else.
'Actually whilst we're admitting secrets,' Gibbs began, which caused a complete silence amongst the team, none of them quite sure what was coming, 'this is probably a good time to tell you all that Jenny and I are seeing each other.' He explained.
The team sat in silence, with Abby and Penny looking at each other with a massive smirk on their faces, again no one quite so sure what to say.
'I thought you had a rule against that Boss?' Tony said.
'Rule number twelve right? Never date a co-worker.' Ziva added.
'Yeah but I also have a rule fifty-one, sometimes you're wrong.' Gibbs replied earnestly.
Tony and Ziva looked at each other mischievously, and Gibbs noted the look. He'd realised for some time that there was a distinct air of sexual tension between the two, and now realised that it was only a matter of time before they would end up together.
The whole team stayed late into the night, laughing and carrying on. They all got to see a different side to each other and they liked this change in relationship. One thing was for sure, the relationships at NCIS were never going to be the same, but they all had to admit that it was a good thing.
Thanks guys I hope you enjoyed the story, next one coming soon will be a little more light hearted, so please stay tuned.