Hello! Well, here we are. The last chapter! I feel like crying right now, but all things must come to an end. But we will always have Minny!
Thank you for all the reviews and suggestions guys! I tried to incorporate a little bit of everyone's ideas, because some of you guys had really good ones. Except for one anonymous reviewer, who suggested that Jenny should be gay! Hahaha, it made me laugh! So sorry Graceland lover, but if you want to write a fanfic about a fanfic, knock yourself out :)
Now, I'll shut up so you guys can cry... I mean read this ending.
Briggs pulled up to the airport drop-off zone after a long and silent car ride. "Do you need any help checking your bags or something?" He asked.
Jenny shook her head. "No, I should be fine. Thanks." She looked at her brother, who studied her very closely.
"Why are you leaving, Jenn?"
"I told you. I have-"
"A job to do, right. So you keep saying. But that's not the real reason you're doing this."
Jenny started to grow a bit weary. "Why do you say that?"
"Come on, Jenny." Briggs pushed. "I've seen that look of running away before. It hasn't changed."
"I'm not running away, Paul."
"Then, what are you doing?"
She rested her head on the car seat with a sigh, staring forward. "It doesn't matter anyway. It has to be done."
"Are you running from Mike?"
Jenny shot Briggs a frustrated look. "Geez, am I really that transparent? Everyone in that house knows about me and Mike and we haven't told anyone."
"We all live in the same house." Briggs shrugged. "When you have that many people who are constantly living together, you tend to notice the little things. Besides, I'm your bro. I know you."
Jenny shook her head. "Well, like I said, it doesn't matter." Her hand went to open the car door, but she felt her brother's hand rest on her shoulder.
"Jenny," He spoke softly. "I know what I did in the past. I was the one who called Abby at the hospital, because I thought that his feelings for you were just a fad. That he only liked you because you saved him or something. I was only trying to protect you from getting hurt. But I heard you guys talking last night-"
"Whoa, whoa, wait." Jenny interrupted. "You were eavesdropping on us?"
"I didn't mean to." He defended. "I came downstairs to grab a midnight snack and I heard you guys talking. It sounded important so I didn't want to interrupt."
"So, instead you listened in? Paul, that was not a public conversation." Suddenly, Jenny grew very angry with Briggs.
"I heard it." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing is going to change that. I know what he said to you."
That was when Jenny stared at her feet. "Then you know why I have to leave." She said quietly.
"No, I don't. I know you like him, Jenn. I see it every time you look at him. So then why are you leaving?"
"Because..." She stumbled over her next words. "I have history with this sort of thing, Paul. You should know this more than anyone." He nodded., but she still continued. "I have loved before. I thought that I had found the perfect guy at least three times before. But then reality kicks in, and I'm just left with a broken heart, and an asshole on my ass."
"But Mike isn't like those guys, sis." He told her.
Jenny nodded. "I know he's not. He's different from anyone else I have met. But I just... I can't get my heart broken again." She felt her voice crack with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "I can't just jump right in, without first thinking about how I truly feel. Without really sorting through my feelings. And I can't do that with him around. I can't. So, that's why I have to go. I need to decide for myself what is best for me."
Briggs nodded and considered her words carefully. This was probably the first time his little sister had ever thought rationally about a guy before, and he admired it. He didn't want to see her get hurt either. "Okay," He said. "Just figure it out soon, and let me know, 'kay?"
She nodded firmly. "I will. And you better keep in touch now. I mean it. If I have to find out what you're up to through a computer again, I will hunt your ass down and kill you with my bare hands."
He let out a small chuckle. "Ay, ay, captain."
Jenny gave her big brother a bone-crushing hug and then dashed into the airport.
Meanwhile, there was a knock on Mike's door back at Graceland. Johnny poked his head in, seeing Mike sprawled out on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Ay, yo, Levi," He greeted as he walked in.
"Please come in, Johnny." Mike muttered sarcastically.
"Man, what you doing lying around here? Aren't you supposed to be going after her or something?" Johnny had decided to secretly increase his chances on winning his bet with Paige and hoped it would work.
"Why would I do that? It's clear that she doesn't want to stay anymore." He sighed.
"Dude, she's playing you."
Mike glanced at his friend perplexedly. "What are you talking about?"
"She's doing that girl thing, where they act all dramatic, and pretend that they don't care in order for you to come after them." He explained. "Girls love drama. Trust me."
"But why would she do that?"
Johnny smiled and shook his head. There was so much he could teach him. He sat down on the bed. "Because it's a test to see if you really care for her or not. I get this all the time. It's along the same lines of a girl wanting you to defend her or whatever. They just want to know that you would do anything for them."
Mike sat up and considered his words. "So I should go after her?"
Johnny slapped his friend on the back. "Mike, she's a kick-ass girl. You ain't gonna find anyone like her." He took that as his signal to leave, and made his way to the door.
"Johnny?" Mike called, making him stop and face him once more. "Thanks, man."
"Don't be thanking me." Johnny encouraged. "Get off that white ass, and get that girl."
…
Jenny stared at her plane ticket, and then up to the list of flights and which gate they were at. Apparently, she had bought a ticket to Washington D.C. She thought about this irony, for that was where Mike had originally wanted to be placed after he got out of Quantico. Ugh, stop thinking about him, you idiot. She thought to herself. It was her idea to get away, and she fully intended to follow through. She couldn't think about his stupid handsome face, or his stupid movie-star smile. She can't think about that now.
Sighing deeply, she started to make her way towards her designated gate.
…
Mike had raced through traffic illegally. He was sure that he was going to get pulled over by a local cop, but he couldn't think about that. The only thing that mattered right now was Jenny. Once he pulled into the drop-off zone and parked illegally, he raced inside and went straight to the administration desk.
A middle-aged lady was at the desk, typing away at a computer. Once she saw Mike approach her, she smiled nicely and asked, "Hello, sir. Can I help you?"
"I need to know what plane Jennifer Briggs is taking." He said, cutting the friendliness from his voice.
Her smile faltered a bit. "Um, I'm sorry, sir. But it's against our policy to release that sort of information."
"Can't you make an exception?" He asked urgently. "It's really important."
"Well," She frowned in thought. "I don't think..."
Suddenly, Mike had an idea, though he was pretty sure that Briggs would kill him for this. He reacehd into his pocket and showed her his badge. She let out a small gasp. "Jennifer Briggs. Now." He demanded.
…
Flight 274, now boarding. First class seats only. The intercom announced. Jenny sat in the uncomfortable chairs silently. Luckily, she riding in coach, so she had a bit of time to think.
Across from her sat a married couple, obviously on their honeymoon. They held each others hands tenderly, and looked each other with such love, it was enough to impregnate anyone near them. It was so obvious that they were meant to be, that they were made for each other.
Jenny regarded them sadly, not able to control the thoughts in her head. She had always wanted a relationship like that, like those relationships you see in the movies or read in books. It was probably why she had pined after so many men, and fell in love too fast. That's why she was worried about her and Mike.
And no matter how much she tried to deny it, when she pictured her life in the future, with a husband and two and a half kids with a white picket fence, she pictured Mike standing right next to her telling her he loves her.
Flight 274, now boarding. Business class seats only.
…
Mike was lost. The crowd was thick at that time. So many foreigners and businessmen in suits pushing their way through to get to their plane. Poor Mike had been turned around and turned around until he didn't know which way was which. Panic started to pour through with him. He just had to find her. He just had to. There was no other way.
Suddenly, he found a massive board with the listings of all the flights. His blue eyes searched frantically for Jenny's plane, but then felt more panic when he did. It said that her plane was now boarding. He didn't have much time.
…
Flight 274, now boarding. Coach seats only.
Jenny stood and saw the honeymoon couple stand as well. Before they got their bags together and shared a tender kiss. Her heart sank to the floor. She watched them disappear down the tunnel, and felt despair as she stood at the gate, willing her legs to move.
…
Unfortunately, Mike had been on the other side of the airport from Jenny's plane. But he was not discouraged. He ran faster and shoved people out of his way, desperately working his way to her gate.
…
Final boarding call for Flight 274. Final boarding call for Flight 274.
…
Five gates away. He was nearly five gates away. His lungs were on fire from all the running, but he pushed forward, nearly sprinting to her gate.
…
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. This plane will be making its way to our nation's capitol, Washington D.C. There will be no stops along the way. There may be some slight turbulence when we reach Oklahoma, due to high winds, but it should not be too much to worry about. The flight attendants will be by shortly to offer refreshments and drinks. So, stay seated until the light above your seat indicates you may roam about the cabin. Thank you for flying with us, and enjoy your flight.
…
Mike made it! He actually made it. Barely able to breathe, he looked to the gate. It was closed. No one was at the desk. Feeling his heart break, he looked out the window and saw the plane pull away and disappear down the runway. He was too late. Jenny was gone, and he was too late.
Frustrated, Mike kicked the stone pillar next to him. Tears threatened to slip past his eyes and down his cheeks, but he wiped them away, refusing to cry.
"Mike?" an all too familiar voice called behind him. But it couldn't be...
He turned and saw Jenny sitting in one of the chairs, staring at him unbelievably. "Jenny?" He choked. He couldn't believe it. "What are the hell are you doing here?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked.
"You're supposed to be on that plane."
"And you're supposed to be at Graceland." She countered.
Mike took a step towards her, but kept his difference. "Why didn't you get on that plane, Jenny?" He asked seriously.
She opened her mouth, but then closed it, knitting her eyebrows together. "I don't know." She said honestly. "I just... couldn't do it." Then, she looked up at him expectantly. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Maybe it's a sign."
Jenny sighed. "Mike-"
He held up his hand to silence her. "Just hear me out, okay?" Jenny begrudgingly closed her mouth and let him speak. "I know that this is a scary thing for you. This whole..." He gestured between himself and Jenny. "Mess that we have. And I have to tell you, I didn't want for this to happen. I didn't want to love you. I didn't want to this constant need to be with you. Especially since I've only known you for a week." Mike paused, still searching for the right words. Jenny wasn't sure if her heart swelled or ached at his words. "But I have never felt like this before, about anyone. When I said that I loved you last night, that was when I first realized it, and somehow it managed to come out. And I'm sorry if that scared you. To be honest, it scared me too. But Jenny, you are an incredible, intelligent... a bit stubborn woman that I just can't help but love. And I don't care about anything else, my investigation on your brother, Abby, anything, except you. I know that now. And I know that you can't leave me, because without you... I don't know. Things just aren't quite right. It's like your the missing piece of the puzzle that I need." Jenny remained silent, in addition to feeling tears coming on. "So, can you please say something?" He asked.
Jenny bit her lower lip and fixated her gaze on her shoes. "I'm not really good at knowing what to say." She told him. "But I tell ya, I was going to leave. Make no mistake. I was ready to run away and forget all about you. But then, I saw you. Everywhere. Everything reminded me of you, no matter how hard I tried to suppress it. And then... I started to picture my life in the future, where I was, and who I was with. And..." She paused to help regain her ability to stop crying. She would not, could not cry in front of him. Not again. "It's funny, but I pictured you." Jenny dared herself to look up at him, the urge to cry growing stronger. "I saw you and me, and our two and a half kids. And that was when I realized... I can't live without you, Mike." Finally, her voice cracked with emotion, and the tears fought their way down her cheeks.
Mike grinned. "So you do? Love me?" He asked.
"I don't know." She answered. "I have loved before, but all it left me was a shattered heart. I loved too quickly. I was naïve and stupid. And I just don't want to make that same mistake. I can't make that same mistake. That's part of the reason why I wanted to get away; so I could figure it out on my own."
"Let me help you." Mike said, taking a seat next to Jenny and taking her hands in his. "I want to help you, Jenny. If you'll let me." She glanced at the floor again, but he tilted her head back up with his hand. "Just don't leave me."
She nearly melted right there. Those beautiful blue eyes were looking at her the same way the honeymoon couple looked at each other. He looked at her with all the love he was biologically capable of feeling. In that moment, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. "I'm scared." She whispered.
He smiled gently. "So am I." They both breathed out a chuckle. "So what do you say? Will you stay with me?"
Jenny found everything within her swelling with happiness. She felt as though she could fly. How could she leave this man who loves her with all his heart? He's not like any guy she has met before. He wouldn't break her heart, or cheat on her, or call her a worthless whore. He would love her until the end of his days and beyond. "Yes." She nodded, no longer able to control her tears. They flowed freely down her cheeks, as Mike leaned in and kissed her.
It was a slow and tender kiss, unlike their heavy make-out session earlier that week. They enjoyed the way each others mouths fit perfectly with each other. This kiss was that kiss that they described in those romance books. They both felt breathless and dizzy, as if the whole world had disappeared around them and all that mattered was each others mouth. It felt as though their hearts had combined into one, forever beating and forever loving.
…
(Epilogue)
Jenny moved into Graceland shortly after that. She was still able to be a technical analyst, but she was much more home based. Because of this, she was a helpful adversary for many different investigations that anyone had. Sometimes, she would be called away for a case, but would always come back to Graceland, come back to Mike.
Nothing had changed between Mike and Jenny. They still argued about many things, and continued to have that banter that they had always had. The only thing that had changed is that, in order to win an argument, or to avoid one, Mike would kiss Jenny passionately, which always managed to shut her up. However, she soon began to resent him for using his amazing kissing abilities against her.
Their favorite thing to do together was to just lounge on the beach. Sometimes they would talk for hours upon end, about work, about life, whatever. Sometimes they would make out. But more often then not, they would lie in each others arms and watch the sun set, just happy to be in each others company.
Mike and Jenny were perfect together, because they were them. And as they watched the sun set, the sky change from blue to pink to red to black, the ocean reflecting the sky above, they knew that they will be okay. Graceland was a place where everyday was a new problem. Everyone in the house lived dangerous lives and had to balance all their lies and secrets always. But Mike and Jenny, they had each other. They could tell each other things that they couldn't tell anyone else. And if either one was feeling completely stressed or sad, they knew how to cheer each other up.
No matter what, Mike and Jenny would by okay, because they loved each other. And that's all they would ever need.
There we are! Are you satisfied? Is it sappy and happy enough for ya? I hope so.
Again, huge thanks to all of you for reading this and reviewing it! I never expected this story to be as popular as it turned out to be, and I couldn't have done it without you!
Feel free to leave more reviews if you want after this chapter. I'll still read them. And i'm always up for a conversation, so PM me, tumblr me (my url as stated before is tennantgastic), or tweet me ( CalloftheDork).
Again thank you for all your support! So much love for you all.
*exits while singing to Goodbye from the musical Catch Me If You Can* It's a happy ending. Now it's time to say goodnight...
