Unbreak My Heart
Chapter 8
After a huge fight with Jen, Jethro drove his car far away from his house. He wasn't sure where he was. It was obviously morning. He woke up in his car near a park. He looked at the time, 0730 already!
"Damn it!" He swore and started the engine and drove away to the Navy Yard for work, not thinking that he would meet Jen there. His mind was installed in to get to work as fast as possible.
Jenny was getting ready for work. She slept over at Gibbs' house, praying for him to come back last night. But he didn't. She asked her detail to drive her car to her; she wanted to drive herself in to work today, for once, it has been too long since she sat on the driver seat. On the way to work another car was in a hurry, almost crashed in to hers. Both of the cars stopped.
The drivers got out of their cars and they both were ready to yell at the other, but stopped their mouths from saying something. Jenny stood shocked to see Jethro behind her, and of course Jethro was surprised to see Jen driving her own car to work today. Usually her detail drives her back and forth. Jenny wanted to say something to him but Jethro beat her to it.
"Keep your eyes on the road" Was all he could say, he got in his car and drove away, past her, just like the wind.
Jenny couldn't believe what just happened. That's it? That's all he had to say to me after our big fight last night? She was too stunned to react on his behavior a second ago. She snapped out of it when the cars behind her was honking, making her realize she blocked the road. She quickly got in the car and drove away.
NCIS Building
Gibbs got out of the elevator, in to the squad-room.
"Morning Boss! Running a little late today are we?" Tony chuckled; Gibbs glared at him to shut the hell up!
"Anything today?" Gibbs asked them.
"Uuh no Boss, but we do have to write a report of yesterday's case though" McGee answered.
Gibbs sighed. He forgot about that. Now he has a report to write about Jen's ex-fiancé, just great! Like his day hasn't been bad enough already. "Well, get on with it! I'll be at Ducky's!"
"Right away boss!" McGee answered him.
When Gibbs walked away, far enough not to hear, Tony spoke up:
"Campfire!" He told Ziva and McGee.
"Anybody noticed something different about the boss today?" Tony asked.
"Well he seemed a lot angrier today" Ziva pointed out.
"Maybe he's grumbling about the case, I mean it was kinda emotional yesterday"
"Yea McGoo we all know that, we were there remember" "But there is something else, we're missing something here people! And we're gonna find out what it is before he ends up chewing us all up"
"And how we supposed to do it then Tony?" Ziva asked.
"We gotta be observant. We got an important mission here people!" Ziva and McGee rolled there as at Tony.
"You have seen way too much spy movies Tony"
Autopsy
"Duck! Need to talk to you"
"Jethro! I'm about to start some paperwork, but that can wait a little longer. Mr. Palmer would you take these formulas to Abby to sign please"
"Right away doctor" Palmer replied and disappeared.
"So, what do you have in mind my friend" Ducky asked him.
"It's about Jen…"
"Well go on…"
"We had a fight last night. And I said something to her before I walked out, I think this is the end for us Duck" Jethro said sadly.
"Oh dear, that bad? After what happened last night I would of thought that both of you has gotten together already" Ducky sighs.
"Yea well, so did I…until she kissed him" Jethro rubbed his face, not wanting to say those words out loud.
"I gather that was what the fight was about?" Jethro nodded.
"The problem is with the both of you, is that you are stubborn as hell! Both of you always want to have right, even if it isn't, none wants to back down from the other and that causes trouble for everyone" "I think for once, you need to have a long and healthy conversation about everything, starting from the very beginning…Paris" Jethro looked up at him, knowing that he was right about that, everything started in Paris and after that nothing was ever the same again between them.
Both Ducky and Jethro jumped when the door opened and in came Jenny Shepard. All surprise to see the other.
Jenny ignored Gibbs; she just walked past him over to Ducky. "Doctor I need that report from the Muller case"
"Of course Director" Ducky handed her a file of the case then she walked out. It was like Jethro never existed to her. Ducky signaled to Jethro to go after her and he did, but against his own will.
Outside the autopsy, Jenny stood and waited for the elevator to arrive. When the elevator door opened Gibbs joined her. Jenny was about to get out of it but the door was closed. The ride felt like hours. No one said anything.
Gibbs was about to have it. He switched the button and the elevator stopped. Jenny turned to look at him, glaring at him for stopping it. When Jen turned to switch it back Jethro grabbed her wrist, making her glaring at him even harder.
"Let go of me right now if you wanna leave this elevator in one piece" She threaded him. He let out a laugh.
"Not gonna happen Jen" He said sharply.
"Then let go of me!" She hissed.
"We need to talk" he says.
"Oh did you just figure it out Jethro!" She shot it right back at him. "You walked out on me last night remember"
"Yea well you pissed me off!" His voice got louder.
"If you really wanted to solve our problems, you would have stayed!"
"In that condition? I don't think so; I would of end up killing you, who knows" Jenny just groans in frustration.
"Well maybe you should have!" She shot back.
"Maybe I would…!" He screamed at her. Silence fell on them. Gibbs slammed his hands on the metal door, making him scream in pain. Jenny turned to him, concern. She took his hand to hers and took a look at it.
It felt warm and soft, to be having his hand in hers.
"Does it hurt?" She strokes it softly.
He laughed.
"What?"
"…our mood swings that's what" Jenny's laughter faded away rather quickly.
"We need to fix this Jethro, we need to talk to each other, which I believe is gonna be difficult considering both of us don't want to back down. If not each other, then someone else" She suggested, letting go of his hand.
"You're saying that we need to see a therapist Jen?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well yea if it means that it would help this problem between us!"
"The problem between us is because we don't talk to each other Jen! There problem's solved!"
"No it's not solved! We still have lot of issues that constantly haunting us whether it's from the past or present or even the future!"
"I'm telling you that we need therapy Jethro, I won't make you. But it's either this or nothing at all. Because we can't go on like this…" Jenny said as the last thing before she switched over the button, the door opened and she stepped out of it heading over to her office.
Jethro stepped out of the elevator just after Jenny slammed the door to her office; he was standing on the balcony, confused, rubbing his face constantly. So many thoughts were wandering around his head at the moment.
"Damn it!" He punched the railings with his one hand angry over the situation.
1300 hours
Tony was playing a game online, trying to be discrete about it, not wanting to be busted by Gibbs, but once again he underestimates him.
"DiNozzo! You have exactly five minutes to get your report ready, or you will be working your ass off this weekend!" Gibbs barked at him.
"Sorry boss"
Director's office
"Agent Gibbs are those the reports from yest…"Before Cynthia could finish that sentence Gibbs was already in Jen's office.
"What can I help you with special agent Gibbs?" Jenny asked in her director voice, not taking her eyes off of her paperwork.
"Our reports" She heard him say.
"Put it on the desk over there" Still not looking up at him.
Gibbs was getting irritated by her. "Aren't you gonna go over it?"
Jenny took a quick look at him then continued with her work. "I'll do it tomorrow, I'm about to go out for lunch and when I get back I have to be in MTAC all day" "Was that all special agent Gibbs?" She asked this time looking at him ice cold.
As usual he didn't reply, instead he just walked to the door, but stopped at the entrance, closed the door again and walked to her.
"Cut the director crap Jen, we're alone in this room! Now let's have a talk!" He said sharply, putting both of his hands on her desk as support.
"What about?"
"Our problems god damn it!"
"So…you made up your mind yet Jethro?"
He shook his head and let out a tiring sound from his lips. "If it means so much to you and if it could help solve whatever this problem is…then fine" It was hard for him to admit it, but he wanted to be with her. And for once he was not gonna let her go, he was gonna keep his promise to her, it's now or never.
Jenny couldn't help but smile. "I want you to want this as well Jethro, it's not just for me, but for you too" He nodded firmly. "Well then I'll try to make an appointment then" after that Gibbs walked out.
A moment later…
"Jethro wait!" He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turn his face to her. "We've got an appointment…this Thursday afternoon" Jenny said.
Jethro took one step up, raising his eyebrows at her. "We've got an appointment already, I just made up my mind a minute ago" He said confused. Jenny swallowed and he could see she was kinda nervous.
"Well…I may have…called the…therapist…last week" Jenny stuttered on her words. This time Jethro walked all the way up to her, she could feel him breathing heavily in front of her.
"See…this is why we have these arguments all the time, because you can't communicate!" He grumbles at her.
"Well you're not all perfect either Mr. I'm going home to by boat" She says sarcastically.
"Again…if you weren't acting like an ass I wou…" She stopped him there.
"Can we please save this until our appointment" She said, holding her hand from stopping him from talking any further.
"Fine!" Gibbs replied angrily and walked down the stairs once again, this time with heavy feet.
"And we should probably not talk to each other until then!" She hollers after him. Jethro just waved a hand at her, Jenny sighed at his childish behavior, and she shook her head and walked back in to her office.
Tony noticed Gibbs' mood and couldn't resist asking.
"Something wrong boss?" Gibbs gave him a glare of warning.
"Nothing you should be concern of DiNozzo!"
Ziva laughed at Tony. Then he gave her his version of Gibbs stare.
"Something funny agent David?"
"You should really butt out of other people's personal business Tony"
"If I did then they wouldn't call me the king of gossip for nothing Zee-vah!"
"I will start calling you names if you don't get back to work DiNozzo!" Gibbs barked at him.
"Ooh nicknames from the boss-man, awesome!" Tony gloated.
"DiNozzo!" Gibbs was annoyed at him
"Sorry boss, getting back to work right now"
"And we're the hell is McGee?!" Gibbs asked loudly.
"Uuh…he's helping Abby with some nerdy stuff in her lab boss" Tony answered him.
Gibbs frowned and started to get on with his own paperwork. He was definitely not looking forward to the therapy section on Thursday afternoon. Once he and Jen starts yelling at each other, there will be no turning back.
Next day, early morning
Outside of Jenny's house, Gibbs was knocking on her door.
"Jethro what are you doing here outside my house?" "It's 2am, it's late you should be sleeping" "And I thought I was clear about not talking to each other until our appointment with the therapist"
He was surprised to see her up this late. "Considering you opened the door I guess you couldn't sleep either" That wasn't a question. She looked down on her feet, hated when he was right.
When Gibbs was about to take a step further, she stopped him with her words.
"I don't think you should come any closer Jethro…I really think we need some space from each other, you know, just to clear our heads. After what happened…it's been an emotional road, not just for me but for you as well" Jenny says with regret in her eyes.
Gibbs knew that, part of what she'd said was true, they needed some space form one another now and then. But even though if he wasn't walking beside her hand in hand, he was always gonna be right behind her, to catch her when she falls.
"I better go then" Jenny watched as he walked to his car and slowly drove away in the dark.
She wanted to kick herself for saying that to him. He was willingly to knock on her door at 2am in the morning and she just pushed him away, just like that! How hard could it be to say: 'Jethro take me to bed'! So frustrated.
NCIS Building
Thursday morning 1230 hours
Jenny walked out of her office and saw the squad room empty. "Ducky!" She hollers for him when he saw him getting off the elevator on her floor.
"Where's Jethro and his team? New case?"
"Aah yes, they just got a call minute ago or so, I'm heading over there myself, but I cannot seem to find Mr. Palmer. You don't happen to know where he is Director."
"No sorry Ducky" She replied, Ducky saw the worrying expression on her face.
"Is there something wrong my dear?"
"No, it's just that we have to go to therapy in an hour" Jenny said.
"Aaah yes, Jethro told me about that. I think both of you are doing the right thing to get this sorted out once and for all" Ducky nodded at her and stepped in to the elevator again to find Palmer.
Therapy section 1330 hours
Outside, in the waiting room, Gibbs and Jenny are sitting impatiently and waiting for their therapist.
"Would you stop it!" She hissed at him. "Stop stamping with your feet all the time, it makes me nervous!"
"Well I can't. I'm kinda worried…Jen we don't really need to talk to some stranger about our problems, we can try and solve this ourselves" he tried to persuade her in to his option.
"Gibbs, you promised" he sighs. "How many times have we talked to each other huh?" "And how many times haven't we tried to solve this? Always ending up with some big. Fat. arguments!" She looked at him. "We're trying some new ways to deal with it. And if it means that it may be a small chance that this could save us, then I'm willing to try it. So suck it up already!" She screamed the last words closely in his left ear, making him jump a little. She was really pissed at him now for trying to get her to change her mind, when they've come this far.
A handsome man approached them.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Greg Handsome, and yes that is really my last name" Jenny laughed. "You two must be Jenny and Jethro am I right?" He took Jenny's hand first, then Jethro's.
"Yea, how'd know?" Jenny asked him politely.
"Well my receptionist said that you two have been on each other's throats since you walked in that door. Well that and you are my only appointment today" He laughed. Gibbs shrugged. "Shall we?"
"So…we all know why both of you are here, so why not get on with it" Dr. Handsome suggested and they both nodded in agreement. "Right…so what seems to be the problem between the two of you here?" He asked them and they just looked at each other.
Jenny was the one to speak up first. "Well our main issue here is the lack of communication"
"I see…communication problems" The doctor said and took notes. "It's normal between a lot of couples. So don't worry, we're gonna solve this as fast as possible, because I see here that you've book for five appointments so far, is that right?" Jenny nodded. "Well communication problems usually don't take long to solve, it's very common and I'm the best there is about this area" Jethro shrugged at his comment.
"Thank you Dr. Handsome" Jenny nodded at him.
"You love to say that don't you?" Jethro said to Jen, referring to the doctor's last name, he sounded a bit jealous.
"Oh please! Grow up for god sake Gibbs!" Jenny shot back at him.
NCIS Building
"Hey where's the boss-man?" Tony said and looked around the bullpen after Gibbs.
"Oh I heard he and the director had some therapy appointment" Abby commented while sitting and playing at Gibbs' desk.
Tony got more interested at the subject. He stood up from his desk, made his way to Abby. "Oooooh, do tell me more please" He begged her.
"Well…all I've heard was that him and the director was gonna see a therapist this afternoon" Abby answered him and playing with Gibbs' glasses at the same time.
"Must be trouble in paradise" "When's he coming back?"
Abby shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know, should be within two hours I think"
"That's right Tony. And the boss specifically said that we need to make some progress on this case or else…" McGee stopped right there, wanting Tony to imagine the worse himself.
"Why haven't I heard of this?" Tony said in confusion, looking at everyone.
"I think you were busy flirting with Agent Wilson at the time" Ziva muses herself and laughed, joined by Abby and McGee.
"Yikes!" Tony frowned. "I better get started then, haven't got anything yet" He sighs and went back to his desk.
Back at Dr. Handsome's office…
"I wouldn't have said it if you weren't lying to my Jen!" Jethro and Jenny were in the middle of a heating discussion about their latest argument.
"Well I wouldn't have lied to you if you weren't such a bastard all the god damn time!" "God you are such a hypocrite!" She screamed at him.
Gibbs took one look at the doctor who was sitting comfortable in his big chair, watching them arguing like some sort of soap opera.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at him. "Hey, are you just gonna sit there and watch, I thought you were supposed to help us solve this thing!"
"He's just doing he's job Jethro!" Jenny said defending the handsome therapist.
"By doing what, watching us while were tearing each other a part?!" "What kinda doctor are you anyway, and you supposed to be the best of them all" Gibbs said sarcastically and Dr. Handsome took notes and continued to watch the two of them.
"Don't let it out on him Jethro just because you're pissed at me!"
"You know what I hear from you all the time Jen?" Jenny looked at him. "I hear you defending him since we saw him outside! Maybe I should change my name to Leroy Jethro Handsome for me to get your attention huh is that what I have to do!" He snaps at her.
Before Jen could defend herself from his ridiculously accusation, Dr. Handsome stepped in.
"Okay…take a break both of you. It's time for me to say something here" "I felt there were a lot of inner feelings here, is that it?" No one answered him which he took it as a yes. "Now I've heard a few bad things from the both of you, I want you to say good things to each other. How about you start agent Gibbs"
Gibbs was silenced for a minute before he could answer. He couldn't even think of the good stuff about her, he was too pissed at the moment. He sighs.
"Look in to her eyes and say something good about her" Dr. Handsome explained.
They sat on the couch, on each side, turning to look at one another, awkwardly.
"You keep me happy, always trying to protect me, keep my safe" He replied, at first he said it because he figured it was a part of the section, but then it got deeper and deeper and then he said it with heart.
"I love for everything you have become" He was lost in his thoughts of Jen.
Jenny was stunned of what he just said to her. She was speechless.
Then the doctor turned to Jenny. "Now, Ms. Shepard, I want you to say all the good things you find about him"
Jenny started to play with her fingers, that's how Jethro could tell she was nervous.
"Rule #51" She said right in to his eyes, and Gibbs understood immediately. But the doctor however was confused.
"What's rule #51?" He asked them both.
"Sometimes…you're wrong" Gibbs was the one to answer, but kept his eyes on her, overwhelmed about her love to him.
"I was wrong about Paris; I should have told you about certain things, maybe if I did, we could have been different. I was wrong about a lot of things, and I've made choices I'm not particularly proud of, but the one thing I know for sure…is how much I love you and how devoted I am to you" She said with tears in her eyes.
Silence fell upon them. Dr. Handsome was the one to break it.
"Well that was some…emotional moments there, sensitive words. You manage to take a step further to your love for each other. I'd say we made som progress today, and it was very good, considering it was your first day" "I'll see you again next Thursday" The doctor said.
NCIS Building
"Tony you should really be working right now, Gibbs should be here any minute" Ziva said, a little annoyed by him.
"Well he isn't here yet Zee-vah!" He replied playfully.
"Tony, Gibbs has the power to show up when you least expect it" McGee rolled his eyes at him. "We're telling you Tony, you're gonna get in to trouble" McGee sings out the last word.
Tony just continued to read his GSM magazine in front of McGee's desk. "The boss-man wouldn't punish his favorite senior field agent probie" He raised an eyebrow at Tim.
"Try me DiNozzo; I'll dedicate my life to make sure you get your punishment if you don't get on with your work!" Gibbs breathed heavily on his neck.
Tony felt his soul just left him alone, facing Gibbs' wrath.
"Uuh hi boss!" how was the therapy section?" McGee and Ziva was stunned at Tony's question, their hands covered their mouths.
'Damn, shouldn't have said that' He thought, McGee and Ziva giggled lightly. Then it came, 'pang'. The slap on Tony's head came unexpected and really really hard, it was so hard that it echoed all across the room.
Even Jenny could hear it up in the balcony when she was on her way to her office. She laughed for herself. "A normal day at the office" She said for herself.
Abby's lab
"Abby, you got me anything on that case?" Gibbs asked her as he held out a CafPow to her, which she gladly took.
"Yes I do Gibbs, and they're all good news" Gibbs smiled at Abby's playfully act.
"I manage to find saliva on the piece of paper that you found, and it looks like AFIS got a match" "A Jonah Miller, working as a construction builder" Gibbs kissed her cheek.
"Good work Abs" Gibbs was about to disappear from the lab but Abby stopped him.
"Oh Gibbs by the way, how was the therapy with the director?"
Gibbs walked out. "Personal Abs!" He yelled outside her lab and stepped inside the elevator.
Abby smiled. "Mommy and Daddy are back together!" She screamed out and jumped at the same time making her a bit dizzy.
1800 hours, Jenny's office
Jenny and Cynthia are discussing her upcoming schedule next month. "I think we should move the dinner with senator Larkins till next week"
"Yes Director" Cynthia replies. Then the door opened and in came Jethro Gibbs.
"Always know how to use a door, right Jethro?" Jenny said sarcastically. "I think we're done for now Cynthia, go home"
"Thank you Director" Her assistant smiled at her and walked out of the room.
Jenny turned her attention to Jethro. "What can I do for you this evening Jethro?" She said taking off her glasses.
"Well you can start by stop working your ass off all the time and take on your coat" He said and sat down on the couch.
"What for?" She asked confused.
"Because you're going home that's why" He rushed her a little.
"You don't know how to ask nicely do you?" She sighs at him. He let out a laugh. "Besides I have my detail driving me home"
"Not anymore, I told them I'll drive you home myself" He cleared it out for her and she was kinda annoyed.
Jenny sighs again and breathed in the air heavily. "Apparently I have to remind everyone in this building that I'm the boss and not you!" She stood up, took her coat out of the closet and started to walk out and Jethro followed her behind.
Outside of Jenny's house
"Thank you for the ride home Jethro" She kissed him on the cheek,
"I drove you all the way from the Navy Yard and home and all I get is a peck on the cheek" He pouted like a four year old. Jenny smiled and blushed.
"We're taking it slow remember?" She looked at him and he nodded in understanding.
Jethro stepped closer to her, raised his hand to touch her cheek, Jenny shivered at his touch. They wanted each other so badly, but Jenny knew that if they were gonna get this another shot, they needed some space from one another. She was the one to break a part.
"Good night Jethro" She said and walked in to her house, closed the door quickly, not wanting to look at him in the eye, because if she did she wouldn't have controlled her desire for him, so she made a decision, fast.
Jethro sighs and got frustrated. "Another step closer and I would have you howling my name in your bed Jen, so damn close!" He groans. He looked up at her bedroom window, knowing that she was already there. "Good night Jen, dream of me when fall asleep" He said convincing himself.
The end of chapter 8! I know that there are some unfinished questions that I haven't answered yet, like the photo that Jenny keeps in her night stand. But that will come a bit further in to the story. So for the next 2 maybe 3 chapters, I wanna focus on Jen and Jethro rebuilding their relationship.
Thank you for your support, and still being with me!
Tell me what you think of this one! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
/Julia