As You Turn Away by Lady Antebellum. I don't own NCIS. If I did, Jenny would still be alive :/ Thanks to fashiongirl97 for beta-ing this story! :)
Standing face to face
Wrapped in your embrace
I don't wanna let you go
But you're already gone
He's holding her, but he can still feel it: the half-second moment of hesitation whenever he offers her his embrace; the slight tug when she pulls away. But not tonight. Tonight, she holds him like she's afraid he'll leave. Not possible, he argued with himself. Jenny is never afraid of anything. Tomorrow, they'll leave to head back to the Washington Navy Yard, normality. He doesn't understand why she is acting this way. But he will do - soon.
Now you kiss my cheek
Soft and bittersweet
I can read it in your eyes
Baby, this is our goodbye
He can't help but get a sense of foreboding. She won't meet his eyes. He noticed that she has been busy writing… but writing what? She stands up, looks into his eyes for the briefest of moments, and then looks away. She walks over to him, and leans down to give him a gentle kiss. "Bye, Jethro. I have to go somewhere. Will you please take my coat to the airport?" It was a sudden request, but uncertainly he said yes; he could never deny her such a simple request. He heads down to the airport, to wait for the plane ride home. And to wait for Jenny, but she has already gone – he just doesn't know it yet.
Nothing more to say
Nothing left to break
I keep reaching out for you
Hoping you might stay
It's been fifteen years, a life time in many ways. She's no longer the snarky field agent who knew how to press his buttons. She's the Director now; she's strong, powerful and serious. But at least she's back.
Nothing more to give
Nothing left to take
I keep reaching out for you
Reaching out for you
As you turn away
"Jen," he calls out to her, but she ignores him. She can't, won't face the memories that he brings up inside her. The memories are too painful to remember and recall. He's reaching out for her… but she's turning away.
Let go of my hand
So I can feel again
Nothing's gonna hurt as much
As that final touch
He's used to it by now; the pretense that they have forgotten Paris, Marseilles, Positano, Serbia… That they have forgotten it all: the feelings, memories, laughs and love. But he knows that she remembers. He can tell by the regret that lingers within her gaze as she watches his team complete another case. The way she'll watch over them, aid them more and give them, give him lee way.
No we can't be friends
'Cause I don't think I could take seeing you
And knowing where we've been
I hope you understand
We're just friends, he said to himself, a bit bitterly. But it wasn't true, they both knew that. There was more to it. The tension that arose whenever they were in the same room, the way that they could easily talk to each other and the way they knew each other was far from 'just friends'. But both of them refused to take the step that would lead them into the unknown. Maybe it was because they could not face the heart ache if it all went wrong, or if it ended like last time. They had felt that pain once, twice might be too much.
Nothing more to say
Nothing left to break
I keep reaching out for you
Hoping you might stay
He holds out the tumbler of bourbon out to her. She takes it, and sips a bit of the acidic drink.
"I've got to go," she mumbles, setting the glass down.
"Jen," he says, but it is too late. She's already gone.
Nothing more to give
Nothing left to take
I keep reaching out for you
Reaching out for you
As you turn away
She's not home when her housekeeper opens the door. He can hear nothing coming from her house. Nothing. So he leaves. He has to find her, and tell her what's on his mind. He has to tell her what he never told her before.
One step my heart is breaking
One more my hands are shaking
The door is closing
And I just can't change it
She tried to control her shaking hands, but she can't open the door. "Please, please, please," she repeated, her resolve wavering. The door opens, and he sees her, cold, drenched… shaking. He takes her in, and closes the door. No questions asked. It's always been and will always be that way, because with these two words aren't needed.
Nothing more to say
Nothing left to break
There was nothing more to say between them, words had lost all meaning. Talking with their eyes, without words was more honest, because then the façade was gone and the truth was said.
Nothing more to give
Nothing left to take
I keep reaching out for you
Reaching out for you
I keep reaching out for you
Reaching out for you
As you turn away,
As you turn away,
As you turn away...