Chapter 22

Jenny had now been working with the FBI for almost two months, she liked it but still missed NCIS, missed the team and seeing Gibbs all the time but this was nice, it gave them space.

And the people on Jenny's team were great people, there was Thomas Michaels who had only just joined the FBI at probationary level. There was also another man on the team called Fin Spencer, he'd been at the FBI for a year but still didn't have the experience or want his own team and Jenny was happy that there was a girl on the team Karen Miller, who'd joined only six months ago.

Of course at first Gibbs had been a little weary of the young guys on Jenny's team but she'd assured him that he was the only one for him and that made him feel a little better.

Gibbs and his team missed their director a lot, they'd had all been shocked to find out that she had quit, so that was when with Gibbs and Kelly at her side Jenny told them why she left and they all congratulated the couple and Kelly, everyone was sad to see Jenny go but happy to see that she was happy with the life that she had chosen and she really was.

…

Jenny sat at her desk, the team had no active case so instead they sat reviewing cold case files, trying to find a break in maybe just one.

The redhead looked around the office, it was a lot different than the orange walls that she had become so attached and still loved very much, but maybe this place was growing on her, as she looked around she still saw people laughing and talking together, so maybe it wasn't that different than NCIS.

"Well I see the rumours were true" Jenny smirked at the familiar voice, she'd been surprised they hadn't come to check up on her sooner.

She spun around in her chair "Tobias" she smiled at him.

"It seems that you Madame Director came to her senses" he joked, sitting on the edge of her desk.

Jenny smiled "NCIS will always have a place in my heart" she told him "You wait before you know it, I'll be your boss" she told him and it was true, in a year or so she would be offered the job and she wouldn't refuse.

"Well then I'll know how Jethro feels… I mean felt, having you as a boss" he told her. The redhead tipped her head in response , "Why'd you quit?" he asked her.

"How'd you know that I didn't get fired?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"If you got fired I don't think you would go quietly" Fornell informed her.

Jenny nodded before looking over his shoulder to her team who were sending her questioning glances "Tobias meet my team Tom Michaels, Fin Spencer, Karen Miller" she said pointing to each other them in turn and Fornell nodded at them all and they did the same.

Fornell then turned back to the redhead "So why'd you quit?" he asked her. Jenny just rolled her eyes before turning back to her file and then brushed her fringe out of her face only to have him notice the diamond ring that adorned her left hand, "Well, well Miss Shepard" he grinned at her, was an employee wasn't it?" he asked her knowing she would probably get told to choose Job over love and it seemed she'd chosen love.

Once again the redhead stayed quiet ,"You gunna tell me who?" he asked her.

Jenny shook her head with a grin, oh if only he knew who, her desk phone began to ring, Fornell then slipped off of her desk "Your no fun" he told her as he walked off.

"Oh yes I am" Jenny yelled to him over her shoulder before answering the phone "Shepard"

"Ms Shepard this is Mrs Grover from Kelly's school, I can't contact her father and your put down as her emergency contact, there has been an incident and we'd like you to come down to the school" she explained.

Jenny's heart began to beat faster, oh what if something was wrong with Kelly, why couldn't they contact Jethro? she closed her eyes for a second, Jethro probably had a case and was out of cell tower range, I'm sure they've left a message and he would get it at some point.

"What sort of incident?" Jenny then asked the women.

"Nothing serious, I'll explain more when you come down to the school"

"I'll be right there" she told her before putting the phone down, "I have to go, I'll probably not be back, if there is anything call my cell and go home when you want, were not on call this weekend so I doubt we'll get a case in the next couple of hours" Jenny told them and they all nodded before she practically ran out of the bullpen.

Half an hour later Jenny walked into Kelly's school and went to the main reception, "Can I help you?" an older women asked her from behind the sliding glass door.

"Yes I'm Jenny Shepard, I was told to come here, regarding an incident with Kelly Gibbs" she informed them.

"OK" the women nodded "Mrs Grover is expecting you" she said pointing to the door with the sing 'Principle' written on it, the redhead knocked and waited for a 'come in' before walking in.

"You must be Ms Shepard" Mrs Grover, a short, sort of plump, greying women with a big smile offered her hand. Jenny shook it and nodded "Please take a seat" she said motioning to the two leather seats in front of her desk.

Jenny sat down "Is Kelly ok?" she asked her.

"Yes Kelly is fine, maybe a few scratches and bruises but she's fine" the women told her with a warm smile.

Jenny nodded "What happened?" she asked her.

Mrs Grover took off her glasses before answering "She got into a fight with one of the girls in her class, they were out on the sports field when they Kelly seemed to have dragged the girl to the floor and so they began to fight and the their teacher, Ms Morgan had to pull them apart" she explained.

"Oh God, that's not like Kelly" Jenny was a little surprised, Kelly had always been so sweet and nice, to everyone, it just made the redhead wonder what the other girl had done or said to upset Kelly in such a way.

"No it's not like her at all" the elder women shook her head "She won't talk to anyone, we got all of that from the other girl involved in the fight, I was thinking it might be best for Kelly to go home for the rest of the day, give her some time to cool off and maybe you can get her to open up"

"Yes" Jenny nodded "I think that would be good" she agreed.

"She's in the medical room now, I'll got get her" Mrs Grover informed Jenny before they both walked out of her office.

Jenny waited in the hallway until Mrs Grover came back with Kelly by her side, the little redhead didn't look happy, she had mud all over her trousers and a little on her t-shirt, her pigtails were messy, her cheek had a bright red scratch mixed with a little smudge of mud. What had that little girl done.

"Hey Kelly" Jenny grinned at the girl, Kelly had been expecting her father to pick her up, she'd expected him to yell at her not have Jenny there and her be so nice, "Come on let's go home and get you all cleaned up" she suggested holding out her hand for the little girl to take.

Kelly nodded slightly and took Jenny's hand before they both walked out of the school.

The drive home was silent with Kelly looking out of the window while Jenny kept her eyes on the road and turned to look at the little girl every time they hit a red light or traffic.

When they finally did get home Kelly went straight up for a bath, Jenny then called Gibbs and left him a message telling him that she'd got Kelly and for him not to worry she was sorting it out.

Half an hour later Kelly lay on her bed, her hair still wet, wearing a fresh pair of trousers and a T-shirt, Jenny knocked lightly on the door before walking in with two mugs of hot chocolate in her hands and the first aid kit tucked under her arm,

"Can you braid my hair?" Kelly asked the redhead.

"Of course sweetie " Jenny told her before putting everything on top of Kelly's handmade chest of draws and then grabbed the brush and hair ties before going over to sit behind Kelly on her bed and began to gently brush her hair.

"Stupid Debby Pinkle" Kelly muttered, her voice full of anger.

"And Debby Pinkle is the girl you…" Jenny began but Kelly cut her off.

"Punched and she deserved it" Kelly informed the redhead.

"What did she do?" Jenny asked her as she began to entwine the ten year olds red locks before securing it with a hair tie, "Can I take care of your cuts?" she asked.

Kelly nodded "Debby Pinkle's always hated me" the girl explained as Jenny got the antiseptic wipes and began to carefully wipe the cut on the little girls cheek and then blew on it gently to alleviate the stinging as much as she could.

"Ok, but what did she do this time to upset you?" Jenny asked her.

"She said mean things" Kelly answered "Mean things about me, daddy but mostly you"

"Me" Jenny was shocked "What did she say?"

Kelly took a breath before speaking "She said that the minute you marry Daddy you're going to ship me off to an orphanage and you're going to make Daddy forget I ever existed and then Debby also said that she hoped it did happen"

The older redhead was a little shocked that a ten year old would say such a mean thing "Sounds like someone's been watching too many Disney cartoons with the evil step mother" Jenny told Kelly as she moved to a small cut on Kelly's elbow.

"Yeah" Kelly nodded "I told her it wasn't true and that you loved me just as much as Daddy and then Debby said it was a lie and that you were just saying it and I told her that Jenny isn't a liar" the little redhead explained.

"did she say anything else?" Jenny asked Kelly and then looked from the elbow she was tending to, to Kelly's face and found that her eyes were tearing up.

"She said that you and Daddy would leave me just like mummy did because you guys hate me" she said with a little sob.

At that moment Jenny wrapped the younger redhead in a tight hug and cradled her, Jenny had lost her mother when she was young too and knew what it felt like, she'd had people pick on her and say nasty things but never had someone said something that mean to her.

Jenny pressed a kiss to Kelly's forehead "I love you Kelly and your father loves you, neither of us will leave you, I promise" she told her "You mean so much to me Kelly, I won't put you in an orphanage or anything like that, if I had it my way you'd stay with me and your father until you're at least thirty" she assured her.

Kelly nodded "I love you Jenny" she told her before hugging the older redhead "I can't wait for you to be my mum" she told her.

"I promise I'll look after you Kelly" Jenny told her and held her tight, they stayed like that for a minute before Jenny spoke "What type of name is Debby Pinkle anyway" she said making both herself and Kelly laugh and giggle.

Later that evening Gibbs walked into his house and was surprised to hear laughter coming from the living room, when he walked in to the living room he smiled at the sight of Kelly and Jenny chatting and laughing on the sofa, his girls were so happy and that made him happy.

TBC…

I just want to give a shout out to Jessica Pires who has been really supportive of this story recently, with all your lovely tweets, hope you like the update.

Anyone get my Motive quote?

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