Disclaimer – I think we all know by now I do not own NCIS
Authors note – this is quite short but I liked the ending so I was hesitant to add more. Thanks to my reviewers and enjoy!
The trial – day 5, the verdict
Jenny Sheppard had never been the kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve. She never showed her emotions a lot of the time, instead she would bottle them up and then let them all come flooding out when she was alone. Yet this week had caused those aspects of her personality had been shattered into a million pieces. She'd broken down numerous times, yet Jethro had always been there with his strong embrace and comforting words. He'd made her laugh and smile when all she wanted to do was go and crawl under a rock and hide. For that, she thanked him.
Jenny woke up on the day the jury revealed their verdict with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Today she was nervous, she'd tried her hardest with this trial and simply hoped it would be enough. So as the sun softly shone in through the window in her room, Jenny was already awake and washed. She walked over to her docking station and put on some music to hopefully calm her nerves. She selected artists, then 'Lifehouse' and pressed shuffle. Music filled her room and it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her stomach still fluttered but she could relax.
Jenny Shepard walked over to her wardrobe and looked in. She saw the warm weather outside and pulled out a long royal blue maxi dress with a thin brown belt around the middle. Once it was on she pulled out a pair of silver wedge heeled sandals. She pulled her red hair into a messy bun, grabbed a hand full of bracelets and put on some light makeup. Her look although more casual was all she wanted. This week had been about smartness, being composed in court. She was simply watching today, and so she knew, if she felt the need she could allow her composure to fall apart. Jenny walked down the stair with a smile on her face. Ducky was sat in his usual position with a cup of tea and the paper. She smiled and grabbed a yogurt from the fridge. As she ate she and Ducky spoke lightly. By the time she had finished, the doorbell was ringing. Jenny smiled and went to answer it.
As she opened the heavy wooden door she was surprised by the sigh. Instead of there being simply Jethro standing there, there was the whole gang; Abby, Tim, Jethro, Kate, Tony, and Fornell. She smiled and hugged every one of them. When it came to Jethro she hugged him as well yet whispered in his ear: "thank you." Knowing it was him who would have arranged it all.
"Anything for you." He replied with sincerity. She cupped his face in her hands and slowly kissed him, before letting the whole gang flood into the house.
Tony walked into the kitchen. "You got anything to eat? I'm starving." And the whole group laughed.
"Bread is in the bread bin, butter and jam in the fridge, you'll be able to see the toaster. Make some toast." Said Jenny with a smile. "I'm just off to go and get my bag and stuff. Make your selves at home." Jenny then went upstairs. The whole team made themselves at home, Tony eating and Abby plugging her music in. Kate watched her friend and followed shortly after.
When she walked into Jenny's room she saw the red head applying her lip gloss with nervous hands. "You alright?" she questioned softly. Jenny turned around surprised by another presence.
"Yeah I'm fine, just a little nervous."
"You're bound to be. But we're all here for you, especially Gibbs. He's been through a lot, but I can honestly say I haven't seen him this happy in an awful long time. You two are good for each other."
"thanks Kate." She said with a smile.
"I heard you are swanning off to Las Vegas in a few weeks."
"Yeah." Jenny replied laughing.
"Well I hope you have fun!" replied Kate. Jenny grabbed her faded denim Jacket and bag and the pair headed downstairs. When they arrived they all smiled, Jenny and Jethro got in the car to go with ducky whilst the others got the bus as there was not enough room.
They reached the courthouse just in time and made their way through the bustling crowds of reporters outside. Jenny and Jethro held hands the whole way and by the time they made their way in to the court room they were all on edge for the verdict.
The judge stood up at the front of the court room and proceedings began. "This trial had been a long and difficult one. After a week of voicing testimonies and hearing the evidence from both the prosecution and defence on both charges the jury had reached its verdict. For the final time I would like to ask the accused, Mr. Benoit how do you plea to the charge of pre meditated hit and run?"
"innocent." Replied the man in question.
"Very well. Jury, have you come to a unanimous verdict?"
"We have your honour." Replied the spokes person.
"And how do you find Mr. Benoit?"
"We find him guilty."
A small smile spread across the faces of all the students sat in that courtroom and on Ducky too.
"Very well. Mr. Benoit. You have been found guilty of pre meditated hit and run towards Jennifer Sheppard on the Saturday evening of two weeks ago, as per the Jury's request you will be charged with attempted murder via automobile. I hear by charge you with the sentence of 20 years imprisonment." Jenny saw on the face of the judge a battling smirk. "Mr. Benoit how to you plea to the charges of attempted murder via poisoning?"
"Innocent."
"Very well. Members of the Jury have you reached a unanimous verdict?"
"We have you honour." Replied the spokesman.
"And how do you find Mr Benoit?"
Jenny held her breath and closed her eyes. Jethro hugged her tightly as she listened.
"We find Mr. Benoit guilty your honour."
Jenny couldn't believe her ears. "Mr Benoit you are also here by charged with the attempted murder of Jennifer Sheppard on the morning on Sunday two weeks ago. I hereby charge you with a life sentence of imprisonment with an addition twenty years imprisonment." Said the judge banging his hammer. "Take him away. Court dismissed."
The group at the back smiled. And as they left the court room Jenny received tonnes of hugs from her friends. Abby was nearly crying and so was Jenny. When she had received hugs from everyone apart from Jethro she turned to him. She hugged him tighter knowing this trial had not only affected her but him too.
"I love you, I'm not leaving, I told you I'd be fine and I'm here. I'll be here for you as long as I live. Forever Jethro, me and you forever and always." She whispered in his ear.
"I love you Jen." He replied before kissing her properly. In that moment with her friends around her nothing was out of reach. Ducky went to work and they all went to that park she'd first seen them in all those months ago. They sent Tony and Kate on a food run and they came back with a load of food for a picnic. Everything was perfect.
Abby, Tony, Tim, Kate and Fornell messed around. But Jenny lay in Jethro's arms and they looked up at the clouds with a smile. They pointed out what the shaped looked like and laughed. Life, was nothing less than perfect.
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