Disclaimer – I don't NCIS
Authors note - this is only short but I thought it was the right place to finish. Thanks for all of the reviews so far…
Left My Heart in Paris – I'm glad you like the ship's name and I hope you enjoy!
TeamCarisleandEsme8 – I feel sorry for Gibbs and I'm the one writing it! :P
JennyMariaGibbs 4eva – JEnny will be in a coma for a while longer thanks for the review :D
RhizOneill – Thanks, hope this is okay
Thanks to everyone!
Enjoy …
Once Mark had left the room Gibbs didn't move. He just remained there; standing still and gazing down on the woman who had stole his heart since Paris over 15 years ago. He loved her more now than ever before and with each day that passed he realised how much that love grew. He gazed at her red hair with flecks of grey in that he knew she'd be having dyed out as soon as she was awake. He loved the laughter lines age had handed her. He loved her, he loved how she'd aged so gracefully yet still acted as though she was only 20. She was a mother to his team who even after all these years had stayed with him. Tony had assisted with other cases for other teams over the years and passed down numerous promotions. McGee had given up the chance to have a high profile job at the pentagon and Ziva the chance to run the special op's division. They'd each passed opportunities yet their family had remained strong. Even from hundreds of miles away Jenny had been the mother who somehow always managed to ring when she was needed - for all of them. That was why he admired her.
Slowly he made his way over, taking in the burns on the tops of her hands that had blistered. the cuts on her face and bruises. Somehow, after nearly being burnt alive Jenny had managed to save her hair, and that made him smirk. She loved her hair and it didn't surprise him she'd saved it. But as he looked at her paler than normal skin with the angry red marks he felt a mass of anger rising inside of him, not at her but at whoever had done this. Leaning his elbows on the bed and taking her hand - mining the blisters- he sighed, and let a long tear roll down his cheek. It was now he realised just how Jenny must have felt 8ish years ago when she'd sat by his bedside waiting for him to wake up after he'd been blown up and put into a coma. "Wake up Jenny, please love, wake up." He whispered it so quiet it was like a prayer, and maybe it was.
Mark listened to Gibbs and waited a few moments before entering and handing him a coffee. The older man thanked him. "It's only the hospital rubbish but it's better than nothing." Said the younger man his eyes glued on the red head. "I should have tried harder to stop her." Taking a deep breath he told Gibbs the truth. "We were warned there was a bomb, Jenny got the whole ship evacuated thanks to a Petty officer. He'd stayed on though, attempting to stop the bomb because it was a civilian dock and he didn't want people livelihoods been blown to smithereens. Anyway he wasn't off, jenny knew he had a wife and new born at home, she played the hero. Saved his life, nearly lost hers in the process, if only I'd tried harder, managed to stop her going back onboard. Maybe..."
"She's stubborn as hell, I should know. You did your best; she just had to be the heroine. Was the man alright?"
"Yeah, shook up but alright, his wife's on her way over. "
"Good. Go get some sleep Mark. "
"Thanks, call me if there's any new Gibbs." He replied as he stifled a yawn and left.
Then Gibbs was alone, alone with Jenny. She'd been the hero, she'd allowed a young man to keep his life, spared his wife and child a life of grief. He knew that she would have known that there was a chance she wouldn't be coming out. But that was who she was, selfless, put others before herself even if it meant she might lose her life in the process. Gibbs looked at the woman he loved and realised a lot about them. He realised he wanted to spent the rest of his life with her, even though they'd agreed marriage wasn't for them, he wanted to marry her now, he didn't want men leering at her, he wanted them to see the ring on her finger and know she was out of bounds. But he also realised how time had passed. Neither of them was young any more, at their age they should be beginning to take things slowly, not getting blown up. It was then he realised that they needed to talk, maybe the time had come for them to enjoy their golden years and leave the Navy and NCIS to the younger blood.
-two hearts forever intertwined-
As the morning sun rose on Britain it enlighted a room in south Hampton hospital in which a man had not slept. Gibbs had stayed up all night, even when he had tried to sleep, sleep had not come to him even if he had tried. His mind had been too busy last night, he'd been worrying about the red head in front of him. Wondering what he would do if she didn't pull through – work himself into an early grave was the most likely option so far. Now though the nurses were pestering him. They wanted to dress her wounds, check her IV and a load of other medical things he had not understood in the slightest. So Jethro let them do their job. Slowly he walked out of the hospital and in to the front car park where the sun was slowly rising. Gibbs got a cup of coffee from the stand which thankfully took different currencies. Then he walked over to the picnic bench in the front and sat down. He forgot about the time difference and decided to call Ducky.
"Doctor Mallard." Answered Ducky. Gibbs suddenly realised it was very late in DC.
"Duck, it's me."
"Jethro, What are you doing calling at this time? Ah is this the reason why you left Anthony in charge after a phone call earlier on?"
"Jen's in hospital Ducky. There was an explosion on the ship, she played hero and went to get a young officer off. She's critical."
"Oh dear lord. What are her injuries?"
"Severe burns on the front f her hands and wrists, damaged ribs, severe smoke inhalation, and a few cuts. They say she's lucky."
"It sounds as though she is my dear boy. We'll all get the next flight out Jethro. The team have solved the case. We'll be there as soon as possible. You just take care of her for now. Is she awake?"
"Comatose."
"I'll be there later on Jethro."
"Thanks Duck."
With that Gibbs put down the phone on his friend and placed his head in his hands. He was scared, he was really scared. As he sat there alone it hit him just how much he wouldn't be able to cope without Jenny if this went wrong.
-two hearts forever intertwined-
As mid afternoon rolled round in Britain, the team all arrived at the hospital. Abby was crying but McGee was calming her. Ziva had a look of pain on her face, she'd already lost one sister, Jenny was like another, she couldn't lose her as well. Ducky was being the level headed one. He'd gotten the whole team leave from Vance, organised accommodation and gotten the some sterling pounds as well. When they arrived at the hospital he explained they were the family of Jennifer Sheppard and soon were all crowded in the small room. Abby hugged her limp form and said a quiet prayed. Tony kissed her cheek just as Tim, Ziva and Ducky did too. That night they all fell asleep in the hospital room watching over her and telling stories of time by gone. Although laugher flowed at amusing stories it was hollow because there was that one person that wasn't participating and should be.
Everyone had a vacant hole in their hearts that evening.
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