Author's Note:
I am so sorry for taking such a long time to update this story. In fact I was shocked when I realised just how long it has been.... My only explanation is that I have had one crisis after another to deal with over the last few months and that had left me with no time to write or even think about writing....
I am fervently hoping that now that I have started writing again... I will be able to continue at a rate of at least one chapter per week...
Thank you to all who have read and re-read and reviewed this story... I hope that this chapter will receive your usual attention and that you will review and let me know your thoughts...
Thank you....
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Gibbs sat on the bed half listening to the doctor's instructions regarding meds and warning signs that should have him heading back to the hospital asap. He was wondering how Jenny and he were going to make it though the next few days... weeks...
He needed her. But more importantly, he wanted her ... her touch, her scent, her nearness. And he wanted to keep her safe, make her comfortable and show her that he was ready to be whatever she needed him to be.
But the nightmares still plagued him. Emily, Kelly... his unborn babies... blood, pain, fear, hurt, accusation...
He didn't want Jenny to know how bad it got. He needed to be strong and in control for her. And he didn't want her worried or stressed about his mental state, which he admitted was scaring him at that moment.
He would speak to Rothman. He would have to share his fears and Rothman would have to find a way to help him overcome them. He hated that he needed to do this to be back on an even keel. Talking about himself had never been easy for him. But these feelings of unease, fear and terror were even more foreign to him and threatened to overwhelm him. He would be damned if he allowed this fear to destroy what he and Jenny and his unborn children could have.
"Please sign here, Agent Gibbs." A nurse handed him a file. He signed not bothering to read the discharge form.
"These are your meds. This white one is the antibiotic. You must finish the course, one capsule 3 times a day for the next five days. This green on is for pain and fever and these small blue ones are for nausea."She said handing him three orange shaded bottles.
"Good bye Agent Gibbs." The doctor said as he and the nurse left the room.
A few minutes later Tony ran into the room.
"It's about time DiNozzo." Gibbs said standing up and willing the dizziness away.
"Sorry Bos... Whoa, are you okay?" Tony reached out a steadying hand.
"Fine." Gibbs lied. "Let's get out of here."
Tony didn't bother to hide the expression on his face. But he grabbed Gibbs' bag, meds and followed the man he called Boss, out of the room.
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Jenny watched DiNozzo's car pull into the drive way. She watched Tony get out of the driver's side and rush to Gibbs' side. She watched him shadow Gibbs as he walked towards her front door.
Here we go... she ran a hand over her stomach as the doorbell rang.
"Señor Gibbs" Milenka greeted. "Señora Sheppard is waiting to receive you in the living room."
"Jethro." Jenny greeted, stepping out into the foyer. She reached out for his hands and he took them into his.
"How are you, Jen?" Gibbs asked.
"You were the one just discharged from hospital." Jenny laughed as she led him to the living room. Jenny didn't miss the smile on Tony's face.
"I'll just take your bags up to your room, Boss." Tony said.
"This way, Señor DiNozzo." Milenka smiled.
"You better have a word with her." Gibbs commented.
"With who?" Jenny asked as she closed the living room door.
"Milenka. DiNozzo will have her flat on her back in no time."
"Oh Jethro, Milenka's a big girl. If she wants to play around with Tony, that's their business." Jenny said.
Gibbs stopped in the centre of the living room tugging on Jenny's arm.
"And if I want to play with you, right now?" He whispered.
Jenny's eyes darkened. Her breathe hitched.
"Jethro..." she murmured as he stepped forward, his palms framing her face.
"I'm going to kiss you Jen." He said.
"I don't... mmm..." Jenny moaned when his lips touched hers in a mixture of intense need and intimate delicacy.
He kissed her as if it was their very first kiss.
Soft...
Gentle...
Exploring...
Giving rather than taking...
He was tender.
He was sweet.
He was showing her what he wanted for them...
She wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss.
An unspoken commitment... clear to both ... filled the air.
He deepened the kiss then, wanting to possess her very sense, wanting her to think of nothing else but him and his passion for her.
The doorbell rang.
Gibbs pulled away. Jenny panted.
"Jethro ... I... we need to talk..." Jenny said.
"We will ... later." He smoothed down her hair and left her in the middle of the room. He sat down on the nearest chair and Jenny realised that he was shaking.
"Jethro?"
"I'm okay. I just need a minute." He said taking a deep breath.
Her eyes filled with concern a moment ago, widened with realization as he crossed his legs. She blushed, turned away and headed to the living room door just as it was being opened.
"Ah, Director Sheppard. I believe our patient is in here." Ducky said stepping in.
"Yes he is. Would you excuse me for a moment? I want to make sure Milenka's prepared Gibbs' room." Jenny said stepping out of the room.
"Of course my dear." Ducky smiled closing the door behind her before he turned to look at Gibbs.
"How are you feeling?" Ducky asked.
"Okay." Gibbs replied.
"You're flushed. Are you running a fever?" Ducky reach out a hand and placed it on his forehead.
"I'm fine. Just the walk. It was more then I've done in a few days." Gibbs said removing Ducky's hand.
"Okay. Have you taken your painkillers?"
"Ducky, I said I'm fine."
"Jethro I can see the pulse throbbing at the side of your temple. I can see the redness of your eyes. And I can see the tightness around your lips. You are in pain and you need to take your meds and get up to bed, now."
Jenny and Tony arrived in time to hear that.
"Dr Mallard, will you help me get him settled." Jenny asked.
"I am not a two year old who needs to be taken up to bed." Gibbs growled.
"Of course not, Boss." Tony mirrored Gibbs tone.
"But you are a man suffering from a severe concussion which makes you prone to dizziness and no doubt weakness in your extremities and that certainly entitles you to being escorted up to your room. Anthony, if you please." Ducky ordered in a stern voice as he stood on one side of Gibbs.
Gibbs just glared at Ducky before turning his gaze to Tony. Taking a deep breath he stood up and cursed when the room tilted on its axis.
"Jethro." Jenny gasped as Duck and Tony steadied him, their arms on either side of him.
"Deep breathes, Jethro." Ducky ordered.
"I'm fine now." Gibbs said long moments later.
"Good. Jenny, will you show us to his room?" Ducky asked.
Once in the guest bedroom, Tony helped Gibbs change into sweats.
"You need to take your meds." Tony said.
"Leave it on the night stand." Gibbs said. He was tired and his head was pounding.
"Boss, you know that Ducky is outside and Jenny is with them. You don't really want them to come in and find the pills untouched. They'll just make a huge fuss and that will irritate you... " Tony stopped when Gibbs glared up at him. "I need that is what you all usually do when I refuse to take my meds. You stand over me and watch until I swallow every last pill. So I expect Ducky and Jenny..."
"Shut up and give me the damn pills." Gibbs held out his palm.
Tony handed him the pills and water. Once done, Gibbs lay back against the pillows and sighed.
"Switch off the lights on your way out."
"Boss."
"Yeah?"
"Call me if you need anything."
"Out DiNozzo." Gibbs ordered.
Just before the bedroom door closed, he said, "Thanks Tony."
"My pleasure. Sleep tight Boss." Tony replied, closing the door.
Gibbs drifted into sleep... only to be trapped once again in a terrifying nightmare...
Lifeless eyes demanded reasons...
Once smiling lips were now contorted in terror...
Bright red blood coated everything...
And when Gibbs looked down at himself.... he found the double edged knife held tightly in his grip...
"Do it!"
"You're just like the rest of us!"
"Kill them..."
Faceless voices shouted all around him.
"Jethro!" Jenny's cry of terror made him spin around.
Her stomach was ripped open... and his unborn children lay on the ground... dead....
"NO!!!!" Gibbs shouted out amidst tears of anguish....
"NO!!!!!"
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Author's Note:
That's it for this chapter.
The next chapter sees Jenny comforting Gibbs...
Tony, McGee and Ziva discuss Gibbs and Jenny and the future...
Gibbs calls Dr Rothman...
So stay tuned and review soon.... Thank you...