"DiNozzo!" Tony jumped a mile. Instantly he minimized the screen on his computer. He and Abby hadn't had a chance to talk and discuss what to do about getting the Director and Gibbs back together since they'd uncovered the pair's secrets. Instead, the gothic scientist and the Italian had been emailing each other to come up with a plan.
"Yes, boss?" He asked hesitantly. Gibbs had been in a foul mood all week. That of course could be easily explained by the falling out he'd had with the Director. Come to think of it, Tony wondered if the Director were responsible for all of Gibbs's foul moods. Wait, no he'd had plenty of foul moods before Jenny had popped up as Director.
"Where the hell is that report I told you to write up?" His boss demanded angrily. Tony thought the fact he received a head slap when the report did not turn up was highly unfair. Gibbs had told him to write up said report only ten minutes ago. He sincerely doubted even McGee could've had it done by then.
"On it boss." He said before turning to the file on his desk. The file was large and as thick as a textbook, oh this was going to be fun.
Two hours later Tony's hand was cramping, and he'd somehow managed to spray himself with blue ink from his new pen but he was rewarded with a completed case report…all was good in the world again. Curse Gibbs for making him hand write it and not allowing him to type it up. Just as Tony began massaging his wrist Abby appeared. She was not decked out in any of her usual outfits, favoring instead a camouflage outfit with a matching bandana and combat boots.
"Abby, do I even want to know?" Gibbs asked appearing out of nowhere with a coffee in his hand. He picked up Tony's report and glanced at it, throwing it back on the desk. "Black, not blue." He stated without a second glance. Somehow Tony had a feeling this waspish mood had to do with the Director. Well it was a little more than a feeling since the aforementioned red head was barreling down the stairs, her face bright red, murder in her eyes.
"Special Agent Gibbs!" She snapped and Tony and Abby ran for cover. This was going to be a battle and neither of the bystanders felt like becoming casualties.
"Yes, Director Shepard?" Gibbs questioned turning his look on her. His tone was icy and his expression was impassive.
"Care to tell me why even after I ordered you off the case; you continued your investigation anyway?" She demanded, fire burning in her eyes. That wasn't really the reason she was pissed; today was her birthday and he hadn't said a damn word to her about it and there hadn't even been so much as a card from him. It stung, a lot, considering never had she once forgotten his birthday. She'd even sent a card with no return address from wherever she was currently undercover after Paris. The fact he'd disobeyed a direct order only gave her cause to justify yelling at him.
"No." He responded without offering anything further.
"Gut feeling, Jethro?" She sneered.
"Sure. You could call it that or you could call it what actually solved the case and arrested the dirt bag responsible. And we both know you really don't care about that. You're pissed at me for something else and I wonder if you've checked on top of your desk at your house." He turned on his heel, muttering something about getting a refill on coffee.
Jenny stiffened. He hadn't forgotten? She walked quietly to the catwalk. A tear falling down her cheek but she continued on, unfazed, at least until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turing around she found it was Abby, the gothic forensic scientist. The black-haired happy Goth pulled her into a hug and Jenny found herself hugging her back.
"I-I can explain." The Director explained a little weakly as she saw DiNozzo too.
"We know." Abby assured her. "About everything, including…Paris. It was kind of an accident how we found out." She elaborated softly finally letting go. Jenny reached a finger up to wipe her tears and smiled faintly at Abby.
"I suppose you think I'm horrible then."
"No, we don't." It was Tony who answered. He reached out to pat her gently on the back. This was weird. Really weird; the Director of a Federal Agency was standing in the middle of the bull pen hugging one agent and being patted on the back by another. It was odd to say the least.
"I hate myself for it. I think I'm horrible, how could you not?" Jenny questioned softly.
"Because we can tell how hard it was for you to make that decision. I'm not sure but…does this have something to do with La Grenouille? And your father? Actually the most important question is…do you still love him?" The questions fell one after another from Abby's lips. There was no doubt that the 'him' she was referring to was Gibbs.
Jenny hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Yes to all three questions." She answered softly at last.
Abby smiled and hugged Jenny tighter. "You should tell him." She said after a minute, the happy grin still on her face.
The Director inside her hesitated…was it wise to tell one of her agents that she loved him? The Jenny side of her told her to do it. Had he not risked everything when he was her boss? "I will. Tonight, I'll visit him tonight." The redhead decided firmly and she was going to stick by that decision.
The redhead slid out from behind the wheel of her car and smoothed down the tight black dress. Her short pixie cut was styled casually as if someone had just run a hand through it. Emerald eyes were lit up in anticipation and excitement. Finally, after waiting so long, she was going to do this.
Her heels clicked on the pavement as she let herself in. A smile graced her face and she walked swiftly toward the basement stairs. Upon hitting the landing right before the precarious staircase she stopped dead. Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann, a blonde, was in Jethro's basement. She was kissing Jethro, her Jethro.
Feeling all the hope drain out of her, she retreated hastily, not even pausing when Gibbs called out to ask what she was doing. In an instant she was in her car and speeding away. The worst part was she knew he didn't care that she'd seen.
Involuntarily she drove to her home and though she would normally deal with this alone, she picked up her phone and called Abby and, of course, Ziva. They would do their best to help her, she was sure.