Jenny stayed until he fell asleep. He told her not to, told her didn't need the company. He'd always accused her of never listening to him, so this time she proved him right by staying anyway.
She turned off the television, lowered the lights, drew the blinds, even tucked the blankets around his shoulders and chin, ignoring the look he gave her and sighing when he pushed the blankets back down to his waist. She pressed a kiss to his forehead despite the exhaustive roll of his eyes.
"Sleep, Jethro," she murmured, sitting back in the chair.
He stared at her for a long moment, blue eyes under half-closed lids before he let them close.
And then he allowed himself to sleep – a conscious choice.
Everything he did was on his terms.
She knew that. She'd always known.
They had been partners, then friends, and finally lovers. But that was years ago; things had changed: no longer partners, always friends, not quite lovers anymore. While she was director, she knew they never would be. He would never compromise her position even if she were willing to do so.
It was part of the reason why she loved him – almost reason enough to give up the directorship, pass it on to Leon, retire – maybe head to Mexico like Mike Franks.
Or go back to Paris, she thought as she watched him sleeping, the heavy rise and fall of his chest, the sound of his breathing filling the silence of the room. And she sifted through those memories – images of the past as she contemplated the future.
It scared her to death and made her mad as hell. They'd been through enough – all of them. Dealing with the accident and Tony's injury, learning to lead this life, accept this new reality. And for Jethro, this precious responsibility that he held, and cherished, and loved.
She had assured him that no one would take Tony away, but was that really her assurance to make. The courts had appointed Jethro as Tony's guardian. If they decided he was medically unable to fulfill that role, Jenny knew that there would be others to take his place: Abby, Ducky, Ziva, Tim – he would not lack for family.
But still, it would not be his Boss.
~vVv~