Looking down at the notes she'd scribbled earlier, the doctor changed the subject slightly. "Now, I know there are people in your husband's life that he can talk to and share things with. Who are you talking to Jenny?"

The redhead's forehead furrowed and she looked perplexed. After a moment or two of uncomfortable silence, she shrugged. "You. Sometimes Jethro."

Kristyn looked appalled. "Is there no one else?"

Jenny shrugged one shoulder helplessly. "It's been years since I've had any close friends. I've been too busy working, fighting to move forward in my career. There was no time for friendships."

"Oh Jenny," the therapist sighed. "It is so important for you to have other people in your life to lean on. Your husband is a good man but he cannot help you through this all by himself. I know it must be hard if you don't feel close to anyone, but please try to find a confidant. Someone who will just listen when you need to talk and be available when you need another person around. Or if you like, I can give you the number of a Rape Crisis Line where you can call anytime to talk to someone who's been where you are and will be more than willing to listen and give advice."

Jenny didn't like the thought of spilling a personal and perfectly horrible event to a complete stranger over the phone, so she didn't really acknowledge the doctor's comment one way or the other. Still, she couldn't help thinking about her lack of friends. Suddenly a voice in her head said, Call Rachel. Jenny frowned. After all these years? It seemed crazy. She tucked it away to think about later.

Kristyn let her have her thoughts, giving her a minute of space before bringing up another topic. She almost wanted the session to end right now, unsure as to whether more information would be good for her patient or whether Jenny was unwilling to absorb any more. But there were still so much that had to be gone through, at this point whether Jenny liked it or not.

"What was your fight earlier about?"

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Both of us acting like children. But not really at the same time. He was trying to care, I was trying to keep him away."

"Why?"

Another sigh. "Because when he gets too close he just gets hurt."

"What do you mean by that?" Kristyn frowned.

Jenny rubbed her forehead. "A long time ago, we were together."

"How long ago?"

"Seven years. It was an undercover mission in Paris that lasted months. We...were in love. But I'd never been that close to a man before and I had big plans for my life. I couldn't afford to give them up for love. So I left." She shook her head. "I'd give anything now to have stayed."

"So, your feelings lasted over six years of being apart, you're back together and planning to be that way forever, and you still feel guilty for leaving?"

Jenny's eyes flashed. The woman clearly didn't understand. "I feel guilty for writing Jethro a 'Dear John' letter and hurting him as badly as I did."

"Has he forgiven you?"

"Yes."

"Does he still blame you?"

"No."

"Is he still angry about you leaving?"

Jenny squirmed. "No. He said he would do it again if it meant still having me."

"What more do you need Jenny?" Kristyn asked, not sure why she was determined to punish herself.

"I don't know!" Jenny said loudly. "I need to forget that it was my fault, that's it's always been my fault. My fault for leaving, my fault for telling him to meet me at home, my fault for suggesting that we try too soon. It's always my own, stupid fault!"

"And your husband, I suppose, is perfect?" the therapist asked skeptically.

"My husband is a good man who loves me. He would do anything for me!" Jenny asserted.

"Does it take two to be in a marriage?"

"Yes."

"And two to get in a fight?"

"Yes," Jenny answered grudgingly.

"And two to make love?"

Glaring at her doctor, Jenny ground out the word through clenched teeth. "Yes."

"Then there is no way this can be all your fault."

"So how come I feel like it is?" Jenny shot back.

"It's part of the shame and guilt thrust upon a woman who is raped," Kristyn said calmly. "But you don't have to accept it Jenny. You have people around you who are willing to tell you the truth. You have a husband who loves you more than you know. Why are you so determined to push all that away? Do you want to feel guilty?"

Thinking of the last couple days, Jenny shook her head. "No."

"Do you want to feel like everything is your fault?"

Hearing it stated like that, the answer was obvious. "No, I don't."

Kristyn smiled. "Then listen to the truth Jenny. It's right what they say, it will set you free from this burden you are so eager to hold. Let it go Jenny," she said softy, "just let it go."

Jenny stared at her psychiatrist like the woman had suddenly grown wings and a halo. Yes, that was it, wasn't it? She was claiming blame that did not belong to her. Yes, she had made mistakes and done things she regretted. But she'd apologized, she'd been forgiven, she didn't have to hold onto it anymore. Subconsciously, the fingers curled tightly into Jenny's palm loosened and finally fell open. Just like that, she was letting it go. And as she did so, she took the first deep breath she'd been able to manage since before what happened on Saturday.

Kristyn watched for a moment with satisfaction as the expression on Jenny's face became less pained. Finally she chose another topic. "Mr. Gibbs told me you had a doctor's appointment today?"

Jenny nodded. "Yes."

"And?"

Another shrug. "Physically fine. Memory wise not so much. And one more person to get on my case about not eating."

Assuming that touching any of that was not worth the fight, Kristyn let it go for now. "Well, I'm glad you went. At least you have someone else looking after you and some of your physical questions have been answered."

"Sometimes I wonder if knowing makes things worse," Jenny said, eyes still glued to the floor.

Kristyn had to agree. "Sometimes I'm afraid it does."

Jenny let out a breath. "So what am I supposed to do now?"

Finally, something she could smile about. "Now Jenny?" the doctor answered. "Now you get to talk to you husband and hear him tell you how much he loves you."

NCIS

"Agent Gibbs?" the girl at the desk said.

He looked up. "Yes?"

"You can go in now."

Gibbs took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for what might be waiting behind the door. He let himself in and braved his first glance at his wife. To his surprise, Jenny offered him a tentative smile. He sat down on the couch, though not as far away as he'd been earlier, wondering what it meant.

"Alright," Kristyn smiled, trying to break the sudden tension. "It gave me a lot of insight, to be able to talk to you both separately. And from what I heard, there's a lot you need to tell one another."

Husband and wife still did not look at each other, though both were wondering exactly what Kristyn was about to make them do.

"It's clear that you both think what happened between you Saturday morning was your fault."

Jenny's head popped up and she stared at her husband, trying not to let her mouth fall open. Jethro thinks it's his fault? she asked herself. Why on earth? I was the one who suggested it.

"So, one at a time, I want you to tell each other why you think that and then we'll work through those reasons. The condition," she smiled, "is that you have to make eye contact while you tell the other person."

Both groaned inwardly. This was going to be fun.

"Mr. Gibbs," Kristyn announced, "you're first."

Slowly, Gibbs turned to face his wife. After a moment, he lifted his eyes to hers. He could see the surprise there, she didn't understand why he would blame himself. Did that mean she didn't blame him either? He cleared his throat, then looked back at Kristyn, not sure where to begin.

"Start with, 'I think Saturday was my fault because...'" she prompted.

He nodded, meeting Jenny's eyes once again. "I think Saturday was my fault because I didn't think you were ready, but I wanted you to be. I hate that I hurt you when I should've been trying to help. I could've stopped it. I could've prevented all...this." He waved his arm to indicate the two of them.

"Oh Jethro..."Jenny said, her voice soft. She was already shaking her head.

"Your turn Jenny," the doctor acknowledged.

"I think Saturday is my fault because it was my idea. Because deep down, when we started, I knew I wasn't ready, but I thought I could make myself ready." She kept her gaze steady, looking into Jethro's eyes. "I cried because I knew you needed me and I couldn't even give you that. I couldn't talk to you because I didn't want to be there when you decided this wasn't worth the effort."

Now it was Gibbs' time to be shocked. "Jenny, how could you think that?" he protested. "I am never going to give up on you like that. I am never going to say that you aren't worth trying for, worth fighting for. And yes, I wanted you, but I would've waited. I needed to know you were okay because my thoughts were in a bad place, but holding you close would've been so much better than being so distant that I don't touch you for two days."

"I'm sorry," Jenny whispered. "I'm sorry for telling you everything was okay when it wasn't. I'm sorry that you think it's your fault when it takes two. I wish it didn't hurt to be with you, but I know you didn't do it on purpose."

If there had been a picture of the wall between them, one could've watched the words, the truths they uttered to each other, take down several layers of bricks.

"Good," Kristyn approved. "I appreciate that you were both honest about that. The next part is listening." She held up a small, digital recorder which sat on the table by her chair. "I record all of these sessions so I can go over them later and in case I missed something in my notes. I have here the words you spoke about missing each other. I want you to hear them with your hearts, because neither of you held anything back when you answered."

"Jenny," Kristyn pointed the recorder at her, "you first. This is what your husband said about missing you."

The doctor pressed play and Gibbs' recorded voice began to speak. Jenny sat there, her eyes fixed on a point on the far wall, listening as Gibbs talked about needing to touch her, missing what used to be okay, and voiced his regrets about Saturday. She could feel tears starting to prick the corners of her eyes by the time Kristyn pressed stop. Jenny slid her glance over to Gibbs, who sat tensely on the sofa. She knew this was hard for him, coming here and sharing things he would probably never tell another human being. As she looked at him, she loved him just for trying.

"Now Mr. Gibbs, this is what Jenny had to say about missing you," Kristyn said by way of introduction.

Gibbs sat perfectly still when the clip began to play, listening to and savouring the sound of his wife's sweet voice. But when he actually began to pay attention to her words, he realized he was not the only one missing them. Knowing that they were on the same page made it so much easier, and Gibbs was suddenly grateful for a shrink who cared about them and their relationship enough to do whatever had to be done to repair it.

Kristyn clicked the recorder off again and looked at the both of them. "The third part is the hardest for some: talking to each other. And not with me here to moderate it, because I won't always be around to give the right answers. Tonight go home, and talk to each other. I know neither of you likes to fight with the other or wants to be distant. So take some time for the rest of the day, think about little things you can do to restore the closeness you are both longing for. Try to make time for talking tonight. The longer you leave it, the easier it will be to find reasons not to talk." She shook her head. "I don't want to see that happen to the two of you."

Finally the therapist stood. "You have done well today, thank you for sharing with me. Jenny," she smiled at the petite woman, "I will see you for our next session on Thursday. Mr. Gibbs," she held out her hand, "I'm glad you could come. We may invite you to one last session, so don't write this place off yet. Have a good rest of your day," she smiled and the couple stood so she could show them out.

It was quiet as they walked beside each other down the hall to the elevator and quiet as they waited for the doors to slide open. But as soon as they were inside, Gibbs spoke.

"It's been slow today. I think I'll wrap up some paperwork and send the team and myself home in the next hour. What else is on your agenda?"

She shrugged, "Paperwork, same as everyone else. I'll be another couple hours before I'm through though and I think I have some phone calls to return." The numbers were getting closer and closer to his floor. "I'll see you at home?" she asked, feeling awkward.

Gibbs nodded, pushing himself away from the wall to get off when they came to his floor. "My house, if that's alright. I need to work on some things."

Jenny nodded and gave him a small smile. "I'll see you later then."

He got off and turned around to face her. "Later Jen," he said softly, his eyes conveying a deep meaning behind his words.

Jenny leaned back against the elevator wall after he got off for the short ride to her floor. While things were better than when they'd met at Dr. Renway's office, they still had a long way to go before the strain between them was gone. She wondered if they could fix three days of doing the wrong thing in one evening of trying to do the right thing. Something told her she was about to find out.