Disclaimer I don't own NCIS

Authors note Once more, this chapter shows Jenny being very highly strung and confused resulting in her strange behaviour. I hope you continue to enjoy and please review! :)

You Chose This

'Well, I'd rather start off slow
This whole thing's like some sort of race
Instead of winning what I want
I'm sitting here in second place
Because somewhere the one I wanna be with's, with somebody else'
-Nickelback, Someone that you're with

Once more Monday morning came back around, and to say there was a different mood in the bull pen was an understatement. Gibbs was back, sat at his desk and already annoyed with Will and Stan for the fact that they were already messing around. To add to his bad mood, the coffee girl had gotten his order wrong, and Stephanie had told him that they were having a meal with her parents at the weekend. So Gibbs was grumpy, and to make matters worse Jenny was apparently late.

However, she actually wasn't. It turned out that whilst she had turned down the job that Tom had offered her whilst they were still in Europe, he wanted her to be more than just Gibbs' probie. So that was why since 4am that morning she had been stuck in MTAC planning an op in Moscow. It was once more about the arms dealing community, and after her undercover work she had basically become NCIS' personal expert on the arms world. So that was why she was up there planning another op.

On a lighter note; her Friday night plan had worked, in fact it had worked very well – even if she knew she wanted nothing more than one night. She'd met a marine who was deploying today and wanted a bit of fun before he went. She hadn't left until Sunday morning, with the promise that when he got back they'd have some fun again. So, even though she was tired, and more than a little bored, she was still in a good mood.

She and Marrow stepped out of the dark room, a brown NCIS file in her arms marked 'HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL' in bright red stamped print. "I think we can get this to work." Said Tom as he looked at the red head stood in front of him. He'd never seen her plan something before, he'd not been massively involved in the Europe operation – that had been McAllister's doing, and as far as he knew Gibbs had been more in charge of it than she had. When it had all been set up she was barely more than a probie after all. But watching her work had been like watching a more polite and courteous Gibbs. She planned everything that would need to be taken into consideration, and did it with such precision, thinking of things that he would never in a million years have considered. In fact, the only thing he needed to decide on was who took part – but he already knew who he wanted there.

"Yeah, I don't see why not." She said, smiling softly as she brushed a stray piece of hair that hadn't managed to be tied into her ponytail behind her ear. She'd continued her 'make Gibbs see what he's missing' plan, but tamed it down for work, dressing in a navy blue shift dress that had a white collar on it. On her feet were the same red heals from Friday night and she had small pearls in her ears.

"Well done Jenny, now go see Gibbs." And with that he headed off towards his office. Feeling content, and not dreading his meeting with the SecNav as much as he previously had been. As she turned to make her way down the stairs she saw the man in question, squinting as he looked at his computer screen, and she felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Sighing, she made her way downstairs. Jenny was pretty sure that Gibbs thought she wasn't in, so it would be interesting to see how this played out.

"Ahh, Shepard's been allowed to play in the big boys play area." Said William Decker as he smirked at her from across their division where he was sat. She just rolled her eyes playfully at his antics and walked over to her desk, briefly glancing at Gibbs as she did so. Noticing that he didn't look any browner, bu he also didn't look about to kill someone – well, other than her at least.

"Jealous Will?" She asked him, effectively silencing the agent as he decided that he should probably set about getting to work. Jenny turned around with a content smile on her face and placed the file she'd been carrying in the top draw of her desk, and locked it. The last thing she wanted was Gibbs seeing it, which would then result in a lecture about how she was putting herself in harm's way or something. Whilst he tried to act like an over protective father- or husband?

"By the way Jenny, how did that guy do on Friday night? You seem a little tired." Stan said, smirking at the red head who glared back at him. However, her plan was working, and she could feel Gibbs' eyes drilling holes in her at the thought of what she had been doing. Jenny made herself blush furiously, another talent she had managed to master over the years.

"Stan, you wouldn't believe it." She said, smirking, and not lying in the slightest – it had been a good night. "I didn't get home until Sunday." The agents all looked at her, like she'd admitted her sin. It was normal for the men to talk about their sex lives, after all ninety percent of the conversations she overheard in the break room were boasting. But they were used to the women being more reserved, which made Jenny smirk – because they had obviously forgotten that she wasn't most women.

Whilst she let them stew, she grabbed her gun, jacket and bag before heading out of the divider. But she had forgotten just how in tune Gibbs was with his surroundings. "Where do you think you're going Shepard?" He growled from behind his desk. 'Shepard' he hadn't called her that since before the first op. And it kind of hurt a little, but it also showed that her plan was working. Because she had obviously got under his skin enough to annoy him.

"For coffee." She replied, smirking ever so slightly as she headed off. But he shouted after her, making her stop and spin on her metallic heal so that she was looking at him.

"Like hell you are, you've only been here two minutes." Gibbs said, standing up from where he was sat. Stan and Will eyed each other, it was a long time since the two partners had argued. When Jenny had first arrived Will had been around to see them, but Stan hadn't. So the lesser experienced agent found it amusing, but anyone who had been there originally began to groan. Their arguments had been renowned, in fact the whole agency had known when they argued.

"Actually Gibbs, I've been here since 0400. And seeming as I didn't sleep much over the weekend, it's either I get coffee or fall asleep at my desk – take your pick." And with that she once again spun on her heel and headed off towards the stairs, ready to go and get the drink that was more like an IV drip to the red head.

Stand couldn't help but fail to mask his laughter at Jenny's comment, but Will just groaned, before turning to his computer to get on with his work, knowing that Gibbs was now going to be in a foul mood for the rest of the day. And if things continued then he may just end up quitting – because his life would end up being nothing short of hell.

Burley was still laughing when Gibbs stood up to go and speak to Ducky, and that was why he ended up with a head slap to kick all head slaps in the ass. Gibbs then stormed off whilst the other agent rubbed the back of his head, squinting through the pain. "What the heck got into him?! That really hurt!" He exclaimed, still rubbing his head.

Will turned to look at the other agent and felt a little sorry for him – not that he would ever admit that though. "Looks like it's all about to start again." He muttered, before opening his emails and warning the rest of headquarters to keep their heads down. Back when arguments had been a daily occurrence, every time one kicked off, an email would be sent around, telling everyone to avoid the bull pen. It wasn't long, of course, until the Director found out where everyone went when an argument kicked off. So he soon cornered Decker, who told him the truth. And that was when his name got added to the email list.

When they fell out with another agent though, they got removed from the list, which almost guaranteed that they would walk in on one, and end up with a head slap which mirrored the one Stan was experiencing. But after the op in Marseille, something changed. Many thought that it was because they had slept together – but Will knew now that they hadn't. No one knew the truth behind what had happened that changed things, and they were all pretty sure that no one ever would. But they were thankful that they had stopped.

Until now though – it seemed.

It was about a week later when Gibbs was called up the Directors office. Everyone had left for the night – even Jenny. Most of them were heading out for a take away or something which would no doubt end in either food poisoning or a hangover. He'd been invited of course, but he had Stephanie at home – waiting loyally for him. He'd leave soon though, as soon as he had taken the case file up to the Director. He'd noticed how all of his paperwork had been done, and he knew who had done it. Jethro just hadn't managed to talk to her since.

The arguments had started up again, and where as last time it was both of them picking them, this time around it seemed to just be him. Every chance he got he was biting her for something. Gibbs didn't know why the fact that she had slept with a man that wasn't him bothered him so much, after all he was the one who had gone and gotten married. But it did, and he couldn't help it. So at every chance he'd been arguing with her, and he hadn't a clue why. Whether it was the fact that her outfits seamed to look so damn hot at the moment, or that she was just rubbing him the wrong way.

Jenny had been spending more time in MTAC, and if he was honest he felt like he knew he would lose her to some other job. Maybe he was making distance so that when the time came it didn't hurt as much?

-Whatever the reason, he knew he was being an ass.

Running a tired hand down his face he stood up, grabbed the brown NCIS file and made his way up the stairs to the office. Tom's assistant had gone, so he just walked in – not knocking as per usual. The director looked not the slightest bit bothered by the agent's entry – he was used to it, Franks had acted almost the same.

"The case report." Gibbs stated, placing it on his desk, before heading for the door, only to be stopped before he left.

"I need to talk to you." Tom said, looking up from his paperwork and nodding to one of the chairs. Gibbs closed the door, and moved over to the seats which were positioned opposite the Director. "How was your honeymoon?"

"Well she didn't threaten to kill me – so it was better than last time." Gibbs stated referring to his honeymoon with Diane. He watched as Tom smirked. Back when he was married to Diane, there were numerous times that his marital arguments had spewed into NCIS. Mainly because she was set on the fact Gibbs and Jenny were having an affair. So much that she came into NCIS when they were on the weekend shift to make sure that they actually were.

"Well, that is always helpful." Tom Said, but he could tell Gibbs was itching to ask what he was really wanting to talk about. So the director decided to end the phatic talk, and get one with what he really wanted to ask. "Do you think that Jenny would cope with another deep cover op?"

Gibbs was taken aback, he'd thought that Jenny had been sorting out many things – even training agents had passed through his mind. But not for a minute had he thought she was helping plan another op. And as he thought about the question, he realised that part of his wanted to say no, just because he didn't want to risk losing her. But he knew she would cope. Sure it had been hard undercover, and there had been moments when neither of them thought that they could continue, but if she had a lead role in the cover, he knew she'd thrive. "Yeah, I think she would." He said, even though he didn't want to.

"What about if she was alone?" he asked. And that had Gibbs wanting to turn into the Hulk. Sending her undercover as part of a team was one thing; but sending her alone – he wasn't even going to consider that. He cared too much about his red headed partner to let her go undercover on her own – no matter how bigger back up team she had.

"You can't be serious?!"

"It would be under the same alias as when you two were undercover. Only sending you in as well is not a good idea. First you're married now which causes a heck of a load more issues, all we need is someone to catch sight of a picture and it is all over. Second, you were prominent in bringing the Russians down. Their business if broke now – which is good. But they will be too weary of you."

"You asked her?" Gibbs jumped in. Almost going mad, the people they had been after last time were awful, and the mission had been even worse. Going in alone may just break her.

"Yeah, she knows I want her in the role. She almost volunteered herself for it."

"So why are you me Tom?" Gibbs questioned, confused that if the Director already had his answer, then why he was being consulted.

"Well you do know her best Gibbs, wanted to check you think she would cope."

"She can damn well make her own decisions." And with that the silver haired man stood up and left the office, slamming the door heavily behind him as he did so. Tom sighed, he had heard about the arguments, in fact he had heard a few from up in his office. But it was only now that he could see just how much things had changed. And as he sat back in his chair, he groaned, there was absolutely nothing that he could do to help.

He walked in, slamming the door behind him. Forgetting he no longer lived alone, and that Stephanie was in the kitchen, he went straight down to the basement. Grabbing his slightly dusty bottle of Bourbon and pouring a healthy amount into a mason jar – not even wiping it first. He had downed it in one by the time Stephanie stood at the top of the stairs, looking worried. "Dammit Jenny!" He cursed under his breath, not realising that his wife was stood there.

"What's going on Jethro?" She asked concern in her voice as she watched her husband chuck a load of nails hap hazardously onto the concrete floor. He screwed his eyes up, trying not to bite her head off, knowing it was too early to wreck his marriage.

"Nothing." He answered, sighing loudly to himself.

"You lie to me Gibbs, and this marriage will be over before you can drink another glass of bourbon!" She said, as she began to walk down the stairs. Gibbs mentally shook himself and walked over to her, meeting the red head at the bottom of the stairs so she didn't hurt her sock glad feet. "So?" She asked, but her reply was him kissing her softly.

"Just work."

"Well it's obviously not just work."

"What's for tea?" He asked, she eyed him knowingly, letting him be warned that this wasn't the end of the conversation. But with that she took his hand and led him upstairs.

"Pasta okay?" She asked, trying to add some normality into their lives. And although they spoke over the meal, Stephanie was not stupid, she knew that he had something else on his mind. But she also knew that prying would only cause more issues, so she decided to leave it for the time being.

The next day, Jenny and Gibbs stood in the lift, heading back up to the bullpen after going to see Ducky about their latest case. Silence spread out between them, the tension could be cut with a knife, neither one looked at the other. Then just as they were about to get to the bull pen he flicked the emergency switch. And Jenny just rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what was to come. "I'm surprised you waited so long. So, what's up boss?" She asked. Gibbs internally cringed at her calling him 'boss'. She hadn't done that in a very long time.

"When were ya going to tell me you were planning on going undercover in Moscow?" He asked accusingly. She just sighed, knowing that she should have expected Marrow to talk to him about it, after all he was still her partner.

"How about when I got a formal offer? Would that have been a good enough time?" She asked; just as accusingly as he had done so. Jenny watched as the anger flared in him, but she didn't care. He'd been a pain in her ass as of late, so it was about time he got a taste of his own medicine.

"How about when you first found out Jenny? You're gonna get yourself killed going in there alone!"

"Oh have some faith in me Gibbs; I'm not your damn probie anymore!" She shouted back at him.

"No? Then stop acting like you are!"

Jenny rose her eyebrows, shocked at his words. "Excuse me; you're the one acting like a damn child! I did you're damn job for two weeks, and I did it well!"

"If you were that good then why are you still working on my team?"

"Because I turned down my own, thinking that we were maybe friends Gibbs."

"Way to act like a friend Shepard? Keeping secrets!"

"I was going to tell you!"

"Cause you were Jenny."

"I'm not attached at your hip Jethro! I have my own damn life!"

"Yeah, flaunting your sex life in the bull pen – damn mature."

She had to stop herself punching him for a moment; her lips were clenched in a straight line. Then she said something that she knew she would regret. "Why shouldn't I? I'm your partner after all, not you're flaming wife!"

"That what this is about Jen? Showing that you don't need me anymore? Well maybe you should try going off on your own."

"You think I wouldn't cope?"

"I think you're too immature."

Jenny flicked the switch, and the doors almost immediately opened, scoffing as she walked out of the lift. "Well let's see shall we?"

"Fine by me." He replied, both of them pacing to their desks.

Turning to look at him, she slapped him, and he looked at her, shocked. "Just remember, Agent Gibbs, you chose this." And with that she headed up to the Directors office to tell him she would do the op. And she would happily do it alone.