Disclaimer- not mine

A.N n=hope it is ok, I'm on work experience for the next two weeks so I might not update til sinday at the earliest so sorry

I have had this chap planned for ages so I hope its ok. Enjoy …

xXx

Note- Jenny was shot in the stomach when she was younger. It hit one of the walls of her uterus meaning she still has her eggs but can't have a child as her uterus isn't strong enough. – I'm not a doctor, only a GCSE biology student and not a very good one.

xXx

It had been just over a week since Maria had first visited NCIS and ever since her first day in the lab the bubbly Goth forensic scientist had taken her under her wing. To Jenny's surprise the 17 year old was quite happy to go to the headquarters every day. When she wasn't found in the lab she was with Kate in the bull pen helping to organise the wedding which was now only one week away.

Today was Sunday. Jethro had finished up his case yesterday and Jenny had thankfully dealt with the majority of the mass of paperwork she had. So, today the pair were home. Maria had spent the morning in bed after c omplaining that she had spent her summer holiday working. Jenny and Gibbs had been highly amused and for the first time since her arrival seen the teenager side of her. Now though the teen was back in her room on skype after coming down and making herself some pasta. Jenny and Jethro were looking through photos in the lounge with the patio doors open. A refreshing breeze ran through the room. The pair were sat laughing on floor at old pictures of themselves.

Jenny felt happy and relaxed. The last week she had felt like she had had a family. After she'd found out she couldn't have children when she was younger she had never thought she'd feel like this. Now though, with the man she loved and her niece she was happy. Out of the blue there was at the door. After untangling herself from Jethro and getting up she walked to the front door. She opened it only to be pushed straight out of the way by a red haired man slightly older than herself.

"Where is she!" Jenny looked confused for a moment before she realised that in front of her was her brother. The man she hadn't seen in nearly two decades. "Where the hell is she Jenny?"

"Why on earth are you here James?" she said in a tone completely softer than his.

"Oh cut the innocent act, we both know it doesn't stick with me! Where is my daughter?"

"I-"

"Don' try and deny it either, I went on her facebook and saw you'd been talking to her. What the hell were you thinking? Couldn't get me to agree with your thinking so you thought you'd drag he down into your murky waters instead?-"

"James, it was not like that!"

"You hacked into my face book? What on earth made you think that was even…why on earth-"said Maria who had heard her father.

"I wanted to know where you were! You have been gone a week with no contact!"

"I sent you a text."

"Saying you were at a friend's."

"Yeah well know you know where I am you can go."

"Not without you I'm not."

"James-" Jenny attempted to interrupt.

"No! No you have caused enough trouble as it is!" he replied glaring at her.

"Trouble?"

"Yeah, you start interfering with our lives again 15 years after I did the right thing and got rid of you. You haven't been part of your niece's life for 17 years so what the hell makes you think you can be now."

"And whose fault is it that I didn't see her?"

"Yours."

"no! Ours. WE argued, WE said WE hated one another. I don't see any of that simply being my fault!"

"Oh, oh I see what you are trying to do!"

"And what would that be Einstein."

"You can't have your own children so you thought you'd nick mine. The closest thing you have is Maria. So you decide you'd get to know her, make be look like the bad guy and then BAM! You have a readymade child. You know what Jennifer? Maybe you not being able to have children is a blessing, maybe that bullet was sent by god. You know why? Because e I feel sorry for any kids you might have had, the poor things would have been second best to your job, just like family. There must be a god up there, cause he sent that bullet!"

That was it, she couldn't take it anymore! As soon as the last work had left his mouth her hand collided with his cheek, it instantly went red. Gibbs stood behind Jenny, his and interlocked with her.

"Maria is welcome to stay here for the rest of the summer, and any other holidays to come. You on the other hand are not welcome. Get the hell out of my house and out of my life!" Jenny said, hate and spite filling her voice.

Jenny Sheppard never usually showed her emotions, but what he had said about her not being able to have children had really hit home and she couldn't take it. So she left the hall where everyone was stood, went into the lounge and out into the garden. She walked bare feet in the grass all the way down to the end where and old wooden swing from her childhood was hung. She sat on it and just listened to the wind in the trees, the birds tweeting and the faint sound of children's laughter in the distance. A silent teer rand down the fierce director's face. She had a family, hell she knew that, both her and Jethro did. Kate had asked him to give her away and for Jenny to be her maid of honour. Abby always called them mummy and daddy, but it wasn't biological. As she relieved moment from her life in her mind, it silently and slowly hit her that she did have a family, and now with Maria in contact, and Jethro always there, she was complete.

Meanwhile in the hall…

Jenny had left. Gibbs turned the man, his hate for him rising with every passing minute. "That was wrong dad! Out of order and wrong." Said Maria hurt clearly evident in her voice.

"M-"

"No! You didn't need to say any of that. Hell dad that was just…sick! Aunt Jen would be one of the best mum's In the world. I'm staying here, with Aunt Jen and Gibbs. I'm working in the lab and having fun. She's been amazing dad. I'll see you after summer. Until then…until then just stay away." Maria said before heading upstairs to her room.

Then it was just James and Gibbs. "They have both told you to go, now go. Do not give me a reason to seriously hurt you because god help me I will. You've upset the woman I love and the girl who I love like my own flesh and blood. So get out of this house and out of Jenny's life." Said Gibbs in near enough a growl.

"Now without my daughter!"

"Your daughter is staying her, like she wants. Jenny said that and she's said that, now go." Gibbs said pushing him out of the door.

"I'll sue!"

"Good luck suing and ex-marine and the head of a federal agency!"

With that Leroy Jethro Gibbs slammed the door on him. Before looking up the stairs to see the younger red head who signed thank you just like he had taught her. He smiled and walked out into the garden to see his red head on the swing. He walked down to her and placed his arms around her waist. She instantly relaxed when she realised it was him. "He's gone." He whispered into the air.

"Thank you." She returned in barely a whisper.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I guess…I dunno. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later."

"No Jen, he was out of line."

"Jethro he'd right. If I had kids they would only get caught up in NCIS and then they'd end up becoming bottom of the pile no matter how much I tried."

"Jenny look at me, you would be an amazing mum. And I'm sure you will end up being to Maria whether you try or not just like you are to all my team. They think of you as a mother Jen, and I know for a fact Maria does too."

"Thank you Jethro."

Just then Maria appeared, Jenny smiled at her. "I'm so so sorry. If it wasn't for me, if I hadn't have gotten a boyfriend none of this would have happened. Dad wouldn't have turned up and –"

"Maria, none of this is your fault ok? None of this. Me and your dad should have had that argument years ago. You shouldn't have to have seen it. Come here." Jenny said gesturing for the 17 year old to have a hug.

"Dad was wrong; you would be an amazing mum Aunt Jen. No doubt about it."

That moment, under the old tree on an ancient swing, Jenny Sheppard learn the true meaning of a family. IT wasn't necessarily biological, but it was built on the strongest foundations the world has: love, trust and friendship. For Jenny, if that was what family was then she knew she had the strongest, most loving, most trusting and most friendly family in the world. No matter what her biological one looked like.

Review thanks go to:

Left my heart in Paris

DS2010

TATE Forever 101

Rhiz Oneill

Thank you all ever so much.

TATE will be back next time, pinky promise.

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-fashiongirl97 xxxxxx