Rachel was finding it interesting that they were both asking the same questions. "It does," she said slowly, "but nothing like this," she snapped her fingers. "For a long time it's hour by hour, then day by day, then finally you can count in weeks and months." She paused, looking down at her hands. "Jenny was there for me when I needed her, now it's my turn. I hope you...don't mind having me around."
Although Gibbs found it different to have a friend of Jenny's here when they usually just had each other, he shook his head. "No. She needs someone else to talk to." He sighed. "Jen can't always tell me things."
"She will Jethro," Rachel said softly, "just give her time."
He nodded and then Jenny walked back into the room.
"What did I miss?"
Gibbs shrugged.
"Nothing," Rachel said, brightening, "just getting to know each other."
To Jenny that meant trouble but she didn't say anything. Instead she leaned against the doorframe. "I invited Rachel to stay overnight so we could have some extra time to catch up. I hope that's okay," she added lamely, since it was already decided. "The guest room is already made up."
If her announcement surprised her husband, he didn't show it. "That sounds like a good idea." He directed his gaze to Rachel. "Are you staying for breakfast? Noemi makes a killer quiche."
Rachel laughed. "Despite the insanely early hour Jen quoted me for breakfast, I promise to be at the table and awake at 0645. Coherent?" she shrugged. "No guarantees."
Jen looked at the clock. "It's probably time we at least head to bed. As my mom always told me, tomorrow is going to come early." She eyed her husband, wondering if they would talk tonight or just go to sleep, still confused and lonely. "Come with me Rach, I'll get you a couple extra pillows and set out towel in case you feel like showering in the morning."
Rachel joined Jenny and Gibbs stood up. "Why don't the two of you share our room tonight?" he offered. "I'm sure I'll be fine to sleep one night in the guest room."
"If that's okay with you Jen," Rachel said, "it works for me. More time to talk," she grinned.
Gibbs assumed the sudden change in Jenny's expression had something to do with a bad memory. "Sure," she agreed, leading the way up the stairs while Gibbs turned off lights and set the alarm.
At the top of the stairs she looked back at her husband. "Good night Jethro," but made no move to go to him.
"Sweet dreams ladies," he said, before turning into the room next to his and Jenny's.
As they got ready for bed, Jenny's mind was spinning. She couldn't stop thinking about Jethro's willingness to give up his place in their bed to Rachel. It seemed like just a nice gesture, but what if it was more than that? The whole time they'd been married, even when they weren't exactly getting along, she and Jethro still always, always! slept in the same room. Did that mean things were much worse between them than she thought?
Jenny knew she'd been distant earlier, but not wanting to be touched did not mean she didn't still love her husband! Couldn't he see that she was trying? Jenny fought back the tears, lest Rachel notice and ask her about the cause. This she definitely didn't want to talk about. It hurt too much.
Even after she and Rachel had stayed up late talking and sometimes giggling like little schoolgirls instead of grown women, Jenny couldn't shake the hurt and concern she felt, wondering what was wrong between her and her husband and how bad it was. And while she loved having Rachel around, it was so nice to spend time with her again, tonight what Jenny really missed was Jethro beside her in their bed.
NCIS
Gibbs shifted on the guest room double bed. The mattress was comfortable enough he supposed, but he'd gotten very used to having Jenny in his bed. Even if they were just sleeping, he liked to open his eyes at night and see her there, where for so many years there had only been an empty space.
He didn't regret his offer to let Jen and Rachel share their bedroom. He was glad Jen finally had someone else she could hopefully talk to, someone who would understand what she was going through in a way Gibbs never could. Still, he missed her body beside him, the scent of her hair strewn over their pillows, her subtle warmth as they slept close. Maybe it would be incentive to dream about her, Gibbs smiled.
Tomorrow was another of Jenny's sessions with Kristyn. He really hoped that would help Jenny with what she was feeling today. Gibbs really wanted just to be able to hold her again. Being deprived of all touch...that was far worse than just the little he'd had before. Maybe after her session they'd actually get to talk.
The only thing worse than missing his wife when she was just down the hall, was missing her when she was standing right beside him. Gibbs rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position. Right now he just wanted to sleep.
NCIS
Tony woke up, still groggy, when his phone rang. He reached for his cell on the nightstand, but the nightstand wasn't there. It took supreme effort to pry his eyelids open, but then he was still very confused as to why he was sleeping on his livingroom couch.
The phone rang again, the incessant noise irritating to Tony's barely coherent brain. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on the phone which lay on the coffee table. Reaching for it with clumsy hands, Tony finally managed to hit the right button.
"H'lo?" he mumbled.
"Tony!" the voice on the other end hissed. "It's McGee."
"Yeah," Tony's voice was working better now, his mind finally on enough to come up with an insult, "kinda noticed that McInterruption. What do you want?"
"It's 0705 Tony. Gibbs will be here in 25 minutes, so you better beat him here!"
"What happened to my alarm?" he said, more to himself than McGee. Only then did he hear faint music coming from the direction of his bedroom.
"I don't know," McGee was saying, "just thought I'd warn you."
"'Kay," he yawned. "See you in twenty."
"Tony, it takes you twenty minutes just to get here -" click.
Tony hung up and stretched, still trying to remember why he was sleeping on the couch. Shuffling to his room, he pulled out clean clothes, resisting the urge to shower and instead applying a liberal layer of deodorant. He was halfway through putting on his pants when it came to him. Movie night. Ziva. Sleeping on the couch. All the pieces started to fall into place.
Oh boy, he thought. We must've fallen asleep during the movie. Ziva woke up, freaked out, and left. Which is why I wake up on the couch with a sore back and a crick in my neck.
He reached for his keys, noting that the door was locked. Well, she remembered to lock up, so she still has my key. Interesting, he smirked. I wonder how I'll bring this up in a conversation today? Tony paused, frowning. Or maybe I shouldn't say anything. Ziva is already prickly enough about being close to people. If I mention her falling asleep on my couch in my apartment, she might not come back. If I pretend like nothing happened, maybe it won't scare her. Hmm...
Tony debated with himself all the way to work. By the time he made it into the bullpen at 0727, he still hadn't made a decision.
NCIS
The first thing Jenny did when she walked into her office was pick up the phone and call Jeff, the senior technician in MTAC.
"Jeff, get me Colonel Fischer on screen." She listened for a minute. "I don't care if he's unavailable. Make it clear to him that if he isn't available in ten minutes I will go to SecNav with my issue instead." She nodded. "Thank you Jeff. Call when you have him."
Too agitated to sit down, Jenny paced her office. There was a knock on the door. "What is it Cynthia?" Jenny asked when her assistant entered the room.'
"Just thought you might like some coffee Ma'am."
"Thank you Cynthia," Jenny began, but -"
"It's decaf." Cynthia smiled. "I noticed you were drinking it yesterday."
Jenny sighed after she took her first sip. "This is why you're my favourite Cynthia," she smiled.
Cynthia just returned the smile. Jenny's phone rang and her assistant reached for it automatically. "Director Shepard's office." She nodded. "Thank you." Looking up at Jenny, Cynthia reported, "They're ready for you in MTAC Director."
"Thank you Cynthia," Jenny nodded, squaring her shoulders.
Less than a minute later, Jenny walked into MTAC and stood face to face with Colonel Fischer.
"Ah, Director Shepard, how are you?" he asked, a slimy smile on his face.
Jenny's eyebrows lifted. "Better than you're going to be if I don't get all the right answers to my next few questions." She ignored the darkening look on his face, the carefully concealed scowl. He was one of those who did not appreciate working with and taking orders from a woman. No matter, after this the only thing he better be thinking of her as was the director of NCIS.
"Outcome of yesterday's mission," she demanded.
"No casualties and we got our guy," he reported proudly.
Jenny crossed her arms and gave the man a stare that would give Gibbs a run for his money. "You were lucky this time Colonel. But if you ever do something stupid like that again and defy a direct order, you'll find yourself scrubbing every head in the Navy with a dollar store toothbrush. Do I make myself clear?"
"How dare you?" the man was outraged. "You can't do that!" he blustered.
"I can and I will Colonel. And just so you know, the correct answer to my question is 'yes Ma'am'." She made the motion to cut the transmission, missing whatever the colonel's next words were.
Letting out a slow breath, Jenny finally smiled. Sometimes being the director had it's high points. Telling off Colonel Fischer and men like him was definitely one of them. She was just glad their soldiers were alright. No one should have to die because of another's stupidity.
NCIS
"Ziva," Gibbs said as soon as he got in that morning.
"Gibbs?"
"With me." He motioned for the Mossad Liaison to follow him to the 'conference room'.
She did, blurting out an explanation as soon as the elevator stopped. "Movie night is not a violation of Rule 12."
Gibbs shook his head. "Not why you're here David. This is about Jenny."
Ziva shifted her weight back and leaned against the elevator wall, nodding to show she was listening.
He sighed. "Jenny hasn't been the same since she got back."
"I have noticed. But I did not think it my place to ask."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "A friend can always ask Ziva. I know that's what Jenny considers you."
Ziva conceded the point, waiting for the real reason they were here.
Gibbs looked away. "She's lost her confidence in her ability to take care of herself, she doesn't trust her skills anymore." He shrugged. "I've never seen her so insecure Ziva. I've worked with her, you've worked with her. We both know how well Jenny can fight. But she needs to remember that and this is one thing it won't help her to hear from me."
Ziva frowned. "Just telling her what she already knows is pointless."
Gibbs leaned back. "That's why I came to you Ziva. Can you think of another way?"
The Israeli woman nodded slowly, a plan already forming. "I will see what I can do. I may need the team."
"They're yours. Just let me know the plan before it happens."
"It will have to look like Jenny's idea," Ziva said thoughtfully. "I will speak with her."
"Wait a bit," Gibbs advised, turning the elevator back on, "I think she's planning to be in MTAC for a bit."
"Later then," she agreed, and they both exited the elevator.
Tony and McGee looked at them curiously, but neither Gibbs nor Ziva offered any change in expression or explanation about what was going on. Ziva sat down and began working on her plan.