Thank you to those who have reviewed so far :)

I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Gibbs sat in his car, staring at the elegant façade of Jenny's townhouse. He'd sat here for almost an hour now, silently willing himself to either go in and talk to her or drive off. For one thing he was pretty sure he was putting her detail on edge by sitting here. But he just couldn't seem to move, couldn't bring himself to drive away and if he was honest he was too afraid to go in there and interrogate her. Because he wasn't sure he really wanted to know the answers to his questions.

He sighed deeply, rubbing his hand across his jaw. He was getting ahead of himself, Ducky didn't say that the test results were Jenny's, but his face…. Gibbs groaned, his face had been so bleak that it had filled him with dread.

His hands tightened into fists, he needed to get to the bottom of this, needed to speak to her, if only to put his own mind at rest. Just as his hand had reached the door handle however, his phone went. Cursing profusely, he answered it, barking, "Gibbs."

"It's Abby." Gibbs something really hinky has just happened and I don't know what to do, I'm so freaked by this, it's impossible, I just don't understand it. It couldn't have happened that's why it should be impossible but it's not-"

"Abby!" Gibbs interjected sharply, cutting into the nonsensical ramblings. "What's happened?"

The young Goth let out a deep, agitated sigh before answering, "The necklace is gone, but it was there half an hour ago when I last checked and I haven't left the lab since then."

Gibbs frowned. "You're telling me that whoever took it this time, took it while you were in the room."

"Yes! Gibbs I'm really scared by this, I mean what if he's still here? And how is he even doing this?"

"I don't know Abs, look just stay where you are and I'll be there as soon as I can, Ok?"

He could almost see her nodding, as she replied, "Thank you, Gibbs."

"Not a problem, Abs."

Finally Gibbs felt able to step out of the car, although that might have something to do with the fact he knew he wouldn't be seeing Jenny. He strode determinedly towards Hector - who had once again stayed over his shift - nodding with his head to indicate that he wanted to talk privately. Stepping away from the rest of the detail, Hector asked quietly, "What is it?"

"Looks like we might have had another breach back at NCIS."

Hector's eyes widened slightly. "Where about?" he asked.

"The lab."

Nodding grimly, Hector replied, "I'll make sure we up our checks here."

Gibbs didn't reply, there wasn't a need to and he wasn't one to needlessly waste words. Turning away from the other Agent, he moved swiftly back towards his car. As he slid back into the driver's seat, he couldn't help but look towards the light emanating from Jenny's study, and ignoring the sensation of dread that was cramping through his stomach he finally drove away.

Jenny curled up onto her sofa, the throw pulled over her, having long given up any pretence that she was working. She swirled the remnants of her bourbon around in it's glass as she stared vacantly into the flickering flames of her fire. It had been over twenty four hours since her diagnosis and she felt almost numb at the moment, although she had veered between feeling eerily calm and being on the verge of hysteria. Numb she had decided was the best option, if she couldn't feel then it couldn't hurt.

She'd avoided Ducky today, burying herself in meetings, unable to face his sympathy, no matter how genuine it would have been. She couldn't cope with sympathy, she didn't want to be pitied and yet that was what this disease would do to her. It would rob her of the one thing she had, that she depended on, her independence.

She heard heavy footsteps behind her and after taking another sip of the burning alcohol, she said calmly, "I did wonder how long it would take you to come back."

"I had some loose ends to tie up," Henri replied, stepping into the dim light and coming to sit beside her. "Did you seek medical advice?"

Jenny gave a jerky nod. "I think I'm going to need another drink if we're going to talk about this."

Henri took the glass from her shaky hand. "I'll get it," he told her.

"If you want something help yourself," she replied, waving her hand in the direction of her drinks cabinet. She watched him almost warily for a moment before asking, "What exactly constitutes a loose end to you?"

"Arnaud," he answered honestly.

"What happened?"

Henri turned to look at her, and Jenny could see poorly concealed grief and remorse in his gaze. "I did what I had to do to protect people from him-"

"By people do you mean me?" Jenny asked, interrupting him.

"You were the reason I tracked him down, and yes he still wanted to see me suffer and by association you, but he was also growing more dangerous all the time and he wasn't selective about who he attacked. I couldn't just stand by and watch. I offered a truce, a new start, but-" Henri shook his head sadly. "He refused."

Jenny bit down on her bottom lip. She'd taken lives before in the course of her job and she knew the guilt afterwards felt like it could cripple you if you let it, and she'd never taken the life of someone she'd once cared about. So she knew it must be agony for him.

Getting to her feet, she moved towards him, her hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," she whispered.

He gave a brief nod. "At least," he sighed. "It's over now. It had went on for so long and I couldn't hold a grudge anymore." He looked up into her clear crystal green eyes. "Not now, there are more important things than that now." He reached for the hand that was resting on his shoulder, holding it lightly. "How did you get on yesterday?"

Jenny gave a small shrug. "It was just as you told me, I'm dying." She blinked slightly as she realised that was the first time she'd said it out loud, and she could feel her bottom lip tremble slightly as the reality of her situation began to truly sink in.

Henri let out a sad sigh. "I'd really hoped I was wrong about this."

"You weren't the only one," Jenny replied wryly. She let her hand fall from his, and reached for one of the glasses behind him. She took a sip and asked, "So is that the only reason you came?"

He watched her, replying carefully. "Partly. That and I wanted to reiterate what I said earlier, I can save you if you want me to."

Jenny turned to look at him, trying to quash the small bloom of hope that was unfurling inside of her. "By making me like you?"

Henri nodded. "Yes. However I'm not going to rush you into making a decision, I just wanted you to know that, and see if you had any questions."

"I do have a few," Jenny admitted.

He inclined his head back towards the sofa. "Maybe we should sit while we talk."

Silently, Jenny made her way to the sofa and sat down, her fingers tapping agitatedly against the glass tumbler, waiting until he sat beside her, she finally asked, "Will it hurt?"

"It can, but I know how to ease the pain," he told her confidently. "You'll feel dizzy and you'll pass out, but a few hours after you come too you'll feel better."

"And I won't be tied to you?"

"No, once you've turned you'll be free to go wherever you want to. You won't have to stay with me. Although," he told her. "It would probably be better if I taught you how to hunt first, on your own it is difficult to come to terms with all the changes." He stared at her intently for a moment, before saying, "It's not just as simple as me just turning you and you adapting to your new gifts. There are things you need to understand. You won't age, so you can't stay in one life for longer than ten years before you have to move on. So you'll have to leave behind the people you care about, over and over again. Either that or avoid becoming to close to others. Even if you decide to watch over them you'll have to see them grow old and die. Knowing that you'll never change from what you are at that very moment in time. What I'm offering you is very much a mixed blessing, so I want you to take your time with your decision."

Jenny sat in silent contemplation for a few moments. The thought of watching her friends age and die wasn't a pleasant one, while thinking about losing Jethro, about walking away again….it was almost like a physical blow, it made her feel winded.

But then again she didn't actually have any of them, she'd systematically ruined every relationship, friendship and even any camaraderie she'd ever had with anyone. Pushing them away for the sake of her career, until that was all she had left. And either way she was going to have to say goodbye, and she didn't want their pity as she wasted away, so she'd be disappearing anyway. That and….she just didn't want to die, especially not like this. This could be a new start, she could make amends here and then move on and build a new life free from the confines she'd put in place for herself.

Finally she looked up, meeting Henri's unwavering gaze. "I've already made up my mind," she told him confidently. "I want you to change me."

He shook his head. "No. I need you to think it through. To take time-"

"Time is not a luxury for me anymore," Jenny stated calmly. "And I'm sure of what I want. I'm not going to regret this, or change my mind."

Henri stared at her for a few seconds, his eyes searching her face for any sign that she might not fully understand the enormity of her decision. When he took in the set to her jaw and the determination set in her eyes, he saw the determination that knew that Eloise had always shown and knew that her mind was made up. "Well then, I suppose there's no time like the present."

"Gibbs!" Abby flew into him the moment that he walked into the room, almost knocking him off of his feet. "Oh thank God you're here. I've been so freaked out."

Gibbs hugged her tightly for a moment. "Everything's going to be Ok now, Abs." He moved his hands to her forearms, holding her at a distance slightly as he said, "So tell me what happened?"

"That's just it!" Abby babbled. "I don't know!" She shook her head as she dropped onto the stool that Gibbs had backed her up to. "I was calibrating the mass spec and catching up on some work that I missed because of that symposium today. So before I started I decided to check that the necklace was still there and it was, so I got stated. Then about half an hour later I felt like someone was there, all the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and it was so horrible that I turned and looked around. The place was completely empty, but I just couldn't shake off the feeling that someone had been in my lab. So I checked the place and when I opened the locked drawer I found the necklace was gone." She stared up at him with wide green eyes. "I don't understand it, Gibbs. How could he steal it from right underneath my nose. I mean what is this guy!"

Gibbs rubbed his hand over her shoulder reassuringly, dropping a calming kiss to the top of her head. "And you didn't leave the lab at all?"

"No. I was here the entire time." She let out a choking sound. "Oh Gibbs!"

"It's going to be Ok, we'll get him, I promise," he told her determinedly.

Abby shook her head miserably. "It's not just that. I feel like I've been violated, he was here and I didn't….couldn't see him. He could have been there for ages, he could have done anything he wanted." She looked up at him, eyes wide. "I can't imagine how scared the Director must be, I mean he was in her house, while she slept, he's been in her office..." she trailed off.

He hugged her again. "We'll keep her safe, Abs."

"Good," Abby sniffed. "Because I don't know what we'd do if anything happened to Mommy."

Gibbs felt like his gut was on fire. Something was wrong, this guy was up to something and he could tell it was big. Smoothing Abby's hair, he told her, "I'm going to drive you home, ok?"

She smiled up at him. "Thanks, Gibbs, for everything."

He gave a curt nod, all the time knowing that he had to get to Jenny, and quickly.

Jenny took in a shaky breath as she felt Henri push her hair off one shoulder, pushing it so that the curve of her neck was bare. She shivered slightly as she felt his fingers trace her carotid artery, finding her thumping pulse. He paused when he felt her movement. "We don't have to do this now," he whispered.

"I'm not changing my mind," Jenny replied, her voice unwavering, not once betraying the turmoil racing through her.

"We could still do this another time."

"I'll still be nervous," she told him, managing a small laugh. Turning to meet his gaze, she asked, "So what happens?"

His fingers continue to move up and down the pulse in her neck. "I'm afraid it's a bit cliché," he replied. "I bit you, and drain your blood."

Jenny's nose crinkled in distaste. "Is that it?"

"No," he shook his head. "In order for the change to take place you have to take in some of my blood. My blood will regenerate your body and bring you back."

"Wait a minute so I die?"

"Technically, yes."

"And this isn't meant to hurt?" She asked disbelievingly.

"It depends on the amount of blood you ingest, the more you take in the less the process will hurt, as your body has more to work on." He frowned as he noticed that she was staring quite intently at his mouth. "What is it?"

"Do you have fangs?"

He gave a small bark of laughter, shaking his head, he replied, "No, my teeth sharpen slightly when I go to feed, but no fangs." He bared them at her so she could see the razor sharp but otherwise perfectly normal teeth.

"Ok then." Jenny nodded, rubbing the palms of her hands on her thighs. "Well let's get this over with then."

Henri gave her an odd look and only just managed to suppress a smile at her impatience. "If you're sure."

"I am."

Nodding, he lowered his head to his own wrist and used his teeth to slash it open, causing Jenny to wince. He pushed the wrist towards her and she recoiled slightly. "You need to take this," he prompted. "Preferably before it heals and I have to do it again."

Leaning slowly forward, Jenny opened her mouth and grimaced as he pushed his wrist into her mouth and the metallic tasting liquid hit her tongue. She was so distracted that she didn't see him lean into her and so let out a muffled squeal of surprise as he bit into her neck, causing the arm that she hadn't noticed was around her waist to tighten - holding her in place. The pain was unbelievable and she choked slightly as the blood in her mouth trickled down her throat. Amazingly the pain seemed to ease off, and she relaxed very slightly as she felt a haze descend over her. She felt unbelievably dizzy and disconnected, everything felt surreal and she was struggling to keep her eyes open. Finally her head lolled backwards and her eyes closed, leaving her completely unaware.

Henri felt Jenny's body grow limp as the last few drops of her blood left her body. Pulling away, he ran his tongue over the large bit mark on her pale neck, his saliva healing it instantly. Holding her gently, he lowered her onto the sofa, lifting her legs up so that she was lying across it. He ran his hand over her pale cold skin, still feeling uneasy about this. After all this was the first time he'd done this and he wasn't entirely sure how long it would take her to awaken. His thumb ran along her cheekbone, as he sat quietly, waiting, since that was all he could do now.

This time, Gibbs didn't hesitate when he drew up in front of Jenny's house, he was out the car in seconds and striding determinedly through the door, giving no more than a cursory nod in the direction of Jenny's detail before walking inside.

The hallway was silent, the only light emanating from the study. He didn't call out, but his gut tighten even further as he crept slowly towards the door, and he drew his weapon. As he approached the entranceway and saw no one there, he re-holstered it. His eyes ran over the room, taking in the fact that Jenny was sleeping on the sofa in front of the fire. The flames casting an orange glow over the room.

Still feeling uneasy, he moved towards her. The need to throw up suddenly assailed him as he took in her stillness and the pallor of her skin. He knelt beside her, his fingers moving to the freezing skin of her neck, as he whispered almost desperately, "Jen?"

He pushed his fingers urgently into the soft flesh, searching for a pulse and letting out a massive sigh of relief when he felt one. It was faint, but very definitely there, so he tried once again to rouse her - hoping that she was just cold - shaking her shoulders. "Jen, Jenny, come on wake up for me now."

Much to his relief, her eyes blinked slowly open, and she stared at him in confusion. "Jethro," she mumbled. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you. You're freezing, Jen."

She shook her head and attempted to try and sit up, slumping as a wave of dizziness slept over her, and she felt Jethro's arms tighten around her, holding her steady. "I'm fine," she told him.

"I'm going to call Ducky," he muttered determinedly, apparently ignoring her reply.

"No." She shook her head. "I just need to sleep." Trying to get to her feet, she felt herself stumble, and once again his arms steadied her.

He cursed under his breath. "Fine, but I'm taking you up and I'll be checking on you, if you don't start to improve quickly then I'm calling him."

"Fine," Jenny replied, too exhausted to argue. She glanced up at him and noted how strained he looked. She knew his case would be exhausting and she immediately felt guilty for distracting him. "You need to sleep too, Jethro."

"Not as much as you do," came the gruff reply.

Jenny let out a small irate sigh, but again didn't bother to protest. She looked up at him again when she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking over she saw Henri standing there, watching intently.

Gibbs followed her gaze, asking concernedly, "What is it?"

Realizing that he was unable to see him, Jenny gave a mumbled, "Nothing, shadows from the fire." And let him guide her slowly from the room, missing the growing frown on Henri's face.