Disclaimer – I do not own NCIS
Authors note – I want to thank everyone for their support, it really does mean a lot to me. Thank you for sticking with me this long and I hope you all enjoy this final chapter. Keep a look out for my new story which will be up in a few days. Enjoy
"Sometimes good intentions, don't come across so well" – The song Undermine, sung by the character Juliette Barnes in the show Nashville (so addicted to this show, and Rayna/deacon!)
5 years later . . .
At one point or another in everyone's lives, we all sit and wonder where we might be this time next year, and the year after that. . .
We all sit and wonder what job we will end up doing, what house we will have and whether we'll be married, are parents or maybe just single. We all wonder, and dream out our perfect life. Where, if everything went according to plan, we'd like to end up. But as time goes on, and we play the cards that life deals us, we begin to watch as that dream slowly moves farther and farther out of reach. We have to watch, and dream that with some mad turn of events we'll get that dream. Yet sometimes, the turns on the road life takes are too much to get us back to where we want to be. Instead of where we want to be, we end up miles off course.
That day when Jenny failed her fitness she thought that her whole world was about to collapse around her feet. That everything she wanted, everything she'd dreamt of was over. Yet then there was the Duke, and Ali, and few years later Jethro. Standing next to her looking all too handsome, complementing Ali and attempting to flirt before being cut off as work called.
When he'd stood at their graveside all those years ago, his whole life buried six feet under, and then she had wondered what the hell he was supposed to do. Because it had felt to him like someone had placed him in his grave, and left it open. Like somehow he was supposed to scale the wall when all they did was crumble at every attempt. Somehow though, through a mixture of work, boats and bucket load of bourbon he'd got to the point where he could at least attempt. Then she'd turned up, with her red hair and longlegs, holding out a hand. And all of a sudden he was wrapped up in her smile, suffocated by her laugh, and imprisoned by her hand holding his heart.
As time passed, to say nothing changed would be wrong, but say things fell apart would be wrong. Because as time passed and they moved on, they stayed together. Whether it would be holding hands or drinking coffee, laughing at jokes then kissing in the rain. Dates that ended in dancing in the silence of night on a back street, deserted at night time. Life seemed as though someone had just flicked a switch and made things happy again, made them both smile.
He was still the same cold as stone former marine who took no nonsense. She was still the same flirtatious and hard working woman she'd been. But now there was a smile on both on their faces. It turned out when Marrow found out Jenny had worked in the police; he'd gotten her file and been extremely impressed. Now she worked for NCIS, talking with victims of invasive cases, young children, and distressed victims. Jenny was thriving, she saw Jethro more often and he loved to watch her work. She'd talk with suspects on occasion and he'd watch from behind the glass, admiring the way she'd gently probe and poke until the truth revealed itself.
As for Ali, well it turned out putting her business and work as a priority had turned out for the best. Over the last five years she'd opened three more bars, LA's Angel, Virginia's Voice, and Montana's Maiden. She'd become a big name, with every bar near a marine base. Things were amazing for her, she'd toned down the style, making it slightly more businesslike, but she was still the same girl. Still single, much to her discontent though.
Now though, now the whole of their miss mashed, completely bonkers family was gather in San Diego at the bar. The one that had made her choose her career. Everything was amazing. They were gathered there to celebrate Jenny and Jethro's wedding, however none of the group, except for the two, Ali and Ducky knew about it. Last week Ali had been up in Dc, and one afternoon, when Jethro had finished early, they'd sat in the park and decided to finally do it. They'd been engaged for four year, he'd proposed whilst they were sat in interrogation one time. He'd told her that there was a suspect in there, only it was a ring. Both of them had been so busy, working none stop. So when she walked into the cold grey room and seen the blue velvet box sat on the table she'd been completely confused, that was until he'd asked her to marry him through the sound system. Spinning around she'd been confused until he appeared at the door.
So that day, they'd looked at each other, gone home, got changed and rung Ali and Ducky for witnesses. An hour later, him in a suit and open neck shirt and her in a green sun dress, they'd gotten married. It'd been spontaneous and out of the blue. It had been perfect though, just them. That weekend they had gone up to the lodge in the woods that Jethro owned for the weekend. And now they were all gathered here. Everyone; from Tom Marrow who had been like an uncle, to Abby – their youngest child.
The summer was in full swing, it was a Saturday, and Ali had grabbed a load of blankets and put them all outside the bar. The Duchess had run its self for years now, so she didn't need to be working. Now she sat along with the rest of them laughing. Ali was sat there, between Abby and Ben the barman who had come out on his break. Tony was sat across from her, but neither of them had said a work to one another. Instead they just kept passing glances between one another.
Jenny and Jethro were sat together, her practically on his knee, laughing and smiling. Both were kissing one another frequently, just as they should considering they were newlyweds. "Do you think we should tell them?" She asked, whispering in his ear.
"Can do." He said, kissing next to her ear. She swatted his arm with a smile.
"You want to tell them?" She questioned, all the while still laughing at his antics.
"Nah, you can." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Smiling Jenny looked at the group of them. "Right you lot, listen up." She said, watching as they all fell silent and looked at her. "Last week, when we both had the afternoon off. We..." She paused and looked over to where Ali sat smirking, or more likely desperately trying to hide a massive grin. "We got married." She looked at them all and couldn't help but laugh at their shocked faces. Abby was the first to react she squealed and crawled over the blanket before hugging Jenny and Jethro, not giving them time to separate.
The rest of the team soon regained their composure; they all laughed, and congratulated the pair, hugging them freely and happily. Ducky and Ali of course already knew, but still congratulated the pair anyway. And so the rest of the day began to go on, Ali went back to the bar and grabbed her guitar from behind the bar. The whole place was silent, the wind blowing lightly, the symphony of the sea playing silently in the background and the smiles on everyone's faces. So as Ali picked up her guitar, and sat on the floor began to strum away, Jenny and Jethro lay on the mat, her head on his chest.
Once upon a time, the team seeing their boss like this would be a surprise. Tony would have been sprouting sarcastic comments and McGee would have been looking more than a little uncomfortable, and once upon a time they were. But over the last five years there had been many moments where they had to sit and see their boss acting all loved up with Jenny. And it had now gotten to the point where they were all more pleased about their boss being happy than they were uncomfortable about it.
Jenny Cast her eyes over to where her daughter was beginning to sing and strum the beets of one of the songs that had been all over the radio recently after the new show Nashville had hit the screen. Of course it being based around country music Ali had immediately fallen in love with the songs.
Ali sat there, although she had toned her style down for work, today she was back to being the same old Ali they all loved. She had angle cut, frayed denim Levis shorts on, with Dr. Martin's boots, black with flowers all over them. She then had a white blouse on that was made of a thin chiffon material, tucked into her shorts and had black collars and black cuffs. Her hair had grown and she now had a full fringe which was feathered at the edges, the rest of her hair was curled.
Her perfectly pitched voice filled the air as she sung the lyrics.
"And if I've only got one shot
won't waste it on a shadow box,
I'll stand right here
"It's all talk, talk, talk
Talkin' in the wind
It only slows you down
If you start listenin'
And it's a whole lot harder to shine, Than undermine
Yeah, undermine
"First mile is always harder
When you're leaving what you know
Won't blame you if you stay here
Waving to me as I go
Always wished the best for you
Thought that you would see me through my wildest dreams
Yeah, the ones you thought I'd never make" Her eyes looked up from her finger pained with black nail varnish to catch Tony's eyes. She knew from the rest of the team that he had not settled down, not had a decent relationship since her. But what none of them knew was neither had she. Every guy had been subconsciously compared to the Italian. And she wanted now nothing more that to go back in time and not spend those three weeks down here in Diego, so that it would never have happened.
"Still, you would trade your best day
Just to have your way
all these years
and if you only had one shot
maybe all this talk
would disappear
"It's a whole lot harder to shine
Yeah, it's a whole lot harder to shine, than undermine
Yeah, undermine
"Sometimes good intentions
don't come across so well..." She sang the last two lines without any music, and the whole time her and Tony ere looking at each other. Both wanted to get away from the group and talk. But that wouldn't happen anytime soon. She smiled as she looked at her family, even if she wanted to escape. And once they had all told her she was amazing she asked who wanted a drink, of course it was bears all round. Her eyes fell to tony and she nodded toward the bar telling him to follow her.
She waited just inside the back door of the bar for him to join her. A few moments later he did. She smiled and looked at him, his hair was longer than it had been, and he'd been working out more. He was wearing jeans that fit too well and a t-shirt that did nothing but emphasise his now much stronger muscles. She looked down avoiding his eyes; the ones that she knew would make her melt to the ground. "You good Al." He said his voice soft and smooth.
"Thanks." She replied, feeling a blush rise on her cheeks. "You've been working out." She commented.
"Yeah, I have." He responded. He looked in her eyes, knowing in that moment he wanted nothing more than a second chance. "Ali, look I know I messed up big time, but I . . . I was-" He was cut off as she placed her finger on his lips and smirked, before he could comprehend what was happening she learnt up and captured his lips in a gentle kiss, soft and sweet.
"One more chance." She said, completely serious. He smiled, loving how beautiful she looked in that moment.
"You won't regret it." He said before crashing his lips down onto her and kissing her passionately, his hands going to her hips whilst hers went to his hair. What they didn't know was Jenny was stood near the door smirking after Jethro had told her to check and see if they were alright or killing each other. With a smile on her face she walked back over and sat down next to Jethro.
He saw her smile, and slightly baffled asked her why. "Let's just sat I've got my niece back." She said before kissing his cheek.
"She's given him a second chance?"
"Yeah, she has." And with that they kissed properly. Ten minutes later, with slightly dishevelled hair Ali and tony returned, beers in hands. That day as they sat on the bank, smiles on their faces and surrounded by family they were all more than consent. Life had dealt them all a round of cards that they all had a chance of winning with, and that was a very good feeling.
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Thanks, _fashiongirl97