Disclaimer: Sleepy Hollow belongs to Washington Irving and FOX
Jenny's POV
When Jenny first meets Ichabod Crane, she thinks he's cute, but mostly she's confused by him. The way he speaks and holds himself, so upright and proper, are not things she expects to be confronted by in her cell in the mental institution.
The second time she meets him and she learns he's been asleep for almost 250 years, that he was an actual soldier during the Revolutionary War, of all things, Crane begins to make sense to Jenny. And she still thinks he's cute. But she can see the way he looks at Abbie – of course big sis has all the luck – and even though he's married, Jenny knows.
Still, Jenny can't deny that Crane's life is filled with more tragedy than not, especially after Katrina's death. So, when Abbie comes to her with an idea to celebrate Crane's first year in the 21st century, Jenny's glad to help. Crane's a good man, smart and respectful, but also a little snarky in a way that Jenny can't help but enjoy.
The anniversary of Crane's 21st century awakening is a couple of weeks behind them on the day Jenny's getting out of her car and heading up to the front door of Corbin's old cabin where Crane's been living. The thought of Corbin, the man who believed her when no one else did, pulls at a wound that still hasn't healed all the way. But Jenny likes to think that Corbin would appreciate his cabin being used to support the good fight.
Abbie's in the middle of her own preparations, so it's up to Jenny to make sure Crane's good to go. She stops in front of the door and pounds the butt of her fist against it. Jenny's never had any use for being delicate and damn if she's going to start now.
The door opens a handful of moments later, revealing Crane wearing his usual confused and curious look, but there's a hint of expectation to it that has Jenny smiling. The wrong Mills sister came a'knocking. Crane's face relaxes into a polite smile. "Ah, Miss Jenny. I was not expecting you."
Jenny spreads her hands. "Surprise!" she says, an eyebrow rising in humor.
Crane steps aside, holding the door open. "Would you like to come in?"
"Nope," Jenny says, popping the "p". "I'm afraid you're coming with me."
And the curious and confused look is back. It's a good thing "lost puppy" works so well on the man's face. "Has something happened?"
Jenny shakes her head. "Not yet." She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a slim envelope. "Here, I think this will explain things."
Crane looks down at the envelope, but doesn't open it yet. "Give me just one moment. I'll grab my coat." He reappears moment later with the same coat he's been wearing for a year, the same one he was buried in. It's getting ratty and worn around the edges. Jenny has to bite her tongue to keep from spilling the other surprise that she and Abbie have for him, a replica coat they're having made for him as a Christmas present.
"Ready?" Jenny asks.
"Yes, please proceed," Crane says as he closes the door behind him.
They're in the car and on the road before Crane opens the envelope Jenny handed him. Jenny looks at him out of the corner of her eye while he reads the letter from Abbie inside. She can't help the smile that curls up her lips as he reads it a second time, his face softening. She knows what's in the letter, and what Abbie has planned, and while she's glad she's not going along with them, the schmoopy look on Crane's face makes participating in this totally worth it.
"Truly a wonder," Crane says under his breath, but in the silence of the car, broken only by the low purr of the engine, Jenny can hear the soft words. "Did you know of her intentions for this evening?"
Jenny gives him a quick smile. "Yeah. She wanted to do something nice for you and this seemed like something you'd like. Just don't go telling anyone Abbie's secret. She's a little touchy about it and the guys at the station probably wouldn't let her live it down."
"It will go with me to my grave," Crane says before he smiles. "At least, my second one."
Jenny barks a laugh. "That's the spirit."
"So, is that where we are headed, now?"
"Not yet," Jenny says. "First, we gotta get you a suit."
Their destination is a men's formal wear store in downtown Sleepy Hollow. The proprietor is in his mid-30s, impeccably dressed, and French. "How many I help you?" he asks in a noticeable accent.
"Yeah, we're here to get him a tuxedo," Jenny says as she points at Crane with her thumb. "My sister, Abbie Mills, should have called to tell you that we were coming."
The man nods. "Of course, yes. Miss Mills has arranged everything."
"A tuxedo?" Crane asks and Jenny looks over at him to see the raised eyebrow.
The proprietor lights up at the sound of Crane's voice. "Ah, a man from across the Atlantic! Where are you from?"
Crane looks at the man with a small smile. "I hail from Oxford. And yourself, sir?"
"Paris, of course." And then Crane starts speaking in fluent French, making the proprietor even more excited. The two converse in French, and Jenny can't stop looking at Crane. Abbie confessed to her over a fifth of tequila one night that the sound of Crane speaking in tongues turns her on and Jenny can see why. Because damn if the sound of Crane speaking a foreign language isn't one of the sexiest things Jenny's ever heard.
The proprietor leads Crane towards the fitting rooms, leaving Jenny behind. "I'll just…sit here, then," she calls, but it might as well been to nobody, so she plops down in of the chairs by the door. Great. She knew she should have brought something to read.
A half an hour later, Jenny's picking at the fraying hem of her jeans and praying for a supernatural ugly to burst through the door of the shop when she catches movement just at the edge of her vision. She looks up and the shop's proprietor is walking towards her with Crane's 6 foot plus figure behind him. "I hope this meets the madam's expectations," the proprietor says before he steps aside and Jenny is faced with a tuxedo clad Ichabod Crane.
Jenny's really glad she's mastered the art of keeping her face neutral because holy shit, Crane cleans up nice. Like really nice. The man's body is practically made to wear a suit. He's all broad shoulders and long, lean lines and not even Jenny is immune to the effect. She swallows before speaking. "Looks good," she manages to get out, not trusting herself say more in case it's something stupid. Crane eyes her, knowing there's something she's holding back, but Jenny ignores it.
"There are very minor alterations that will need to be done. I can have them ready in 2 hours," the proprietor says.
"Sounds fine to me," Jenny says.
Crane follows the proprietor back into the fitting rooms and the second they're out of sight, Jenny pulls her phone out of her pocket. It's a simple phone, good only for making calls and texting, and Jenny's fingers dial Abbie's number by heart. "Hello?" Abbie says after she picks up.
"You're a stronger woman than I give you credit for," Jenny says.
"What happened?"
"Crane just walked out of the dressing room in a god damn tuxedo, is what happened. I admire your restraint. And the fact that you seem to get any kind of work done."
Abbie sighs and Jenny can just see the look of suffering on her sister's face through the phone line. "Welcome to my damn world."
"How goes your end?" Jenny asks.
"I'm finished running my errands and I'm about to head back to my place to start getting ready."
"Wow, four hours early?"
"Hey, I don't ever get the opportunity to do this. I'm going to take advantage of it while I can."
Jenny chuckles. "More power to you, then." The two trade their goodbyes and hang up just in time for Crane to come out with the proprietor. The men exchange goodbyes in French and Jenny drags Crane from the shop with the promise of returning in a couple of hours.
"Come on, let's get something to eat," she says as they walk to the car. They have time to kill and Jenny's hungry. She takes him to the only decent taqueria in town – she craves the stands in Mexico City, with fresh tortilla and pico de gallo that makes her mouth sing the most wonderful song and varieties of meats she can't get in New York – but it's better than nothing.
She orders for Crane, who has no idea what to make of the menu, and when their food comes, Jenny amuses herself by watching Crane try to eat tacos with a fork and knife. Seems Tall, Dark, and Time Displaced still has some adjusting to do.
"I would share in your amusement, Miss Jenny," Crane says.
"Even if you're the source of that amusement?" she asks with an eyebrow raised.
There's a pause before Crane speaks. "Perhaps not, then."
Jenny smiles. "Good call."
"Still, my thanks for the meal, as strange as it is."
"Not a problem," Jenny says with a shrug.
They're finishing up, lingering over the last of the food to kill as much time as possible, when Jenny decides to bring something up with Crane. "Hey, can I talk to you about something serious for a sec?"
Crane does that thing with his eyebrow where he's totally judging her grammar, but is too much of a gentleman to say something about it. "Of course, Miss Jenny. I would hope our friendship has progressed to a point where you no longer feel the need to ask permission first."
Jenny will never admit to it out loud, but she loves it when Crane calls her "Miss Jenny". It's like having a nickname that no one else is allowed to use. But, she has something she wants to say. "So, I've been doing some reading, mostly when I'm on the road, you know, and I've been learning a lot about what life was like back in your time. Abbie and I are the only family we have left and I've been kinda waiting for you to come to me about this for about the past month or so, but I decided to jump the gun." Jenny takes a breath and checks to make sure Crane's paying attention. He is, a little too intently. "I just wanted you to know that, whenever you get off your ass and start making a go at courting my sister? You have my blessing."
The man's cheeks immediately go crimson. "Miss Jenny – I mean – what makes-"
Jenny holds up a hand to cut him off. "Look, you don't have to say anything if it makes you uncomfortable, but do us both a favor by not pretending to have no idea what I'm talking about, ok? Nod if you get me." Crane nods after a long moment and Jenny smiles. "There, was that so hard? Now, let's go pick up your tux and get you back to the cabin so you can get ready for your evening out."