Thank you so much to those who reviewed the last chapter! x
When Jenny woke up in the early hours of the following morning, the bed beside her was empty. She couldn't hear noise from the bathroom or downstairs, there was nothing to indicate anyone else was moving around the house and when she reached out her hand, the sheets were still warmed from where Ziva had been lying. Her stomach knotted uncomfortably. Her partner was already gone, she knew, back out in the field alone, sleep deprived and exhausted all because Jenny had been injured.
It didn't sit well with her.
One punishingly cold shower later, the smell of coffee was like a siren call, drawing her to the kitchen where Jethro was lounging against a cabinet, mug in hand. It was almost as if he were waiting for her, and she gave him a look that was barely a step away from suspicious. "Morning."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment, moving out of the way so Jenny could pour her own cup. She barely tasted the bitterness anymore, drinking it more for the caffeine hit than anything else. Unlike Jethro, who seemed to genuinely like the taste. He was still stood, eyes still watching her. And she didn't have to wait long.
"Your partner always come in through the window?"
Jenny resisted the urge to sigh. Of course he knew. "Only when she's trying to avoid waking up grumpy ex-marines."
"No such thing."
She waved a hand through the air at him, all too used to his spiel and his lips twitched, gaze never moving away from her as he leant back, sipped his coffee. "What was so funny?"
That one, she couldn't follow his train of thought with. "Sorry?"
"You and the other one. Sounded like a couple of schoolgirls up there."
Her cheeks heated, and she knew he would notice. "Her name is Ziva," she reminded him instead, studiously avoiding his gaze. "I'm sorry we woke you."
He shrugged a shoulder. "She still here?"
"She left early."
He made a noise that she took as an acknowledgement, and Jenny bit her lip. She hated that they were so awkward. Once upon a time, they'd been able to have entire conversations without saying a word to each other, would have been able to tell what the other was thinking without even looking at them. Now it was as if being in the same room was too much. It was her own fault, she knew that. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
The silence persisted, through the sounds of movement upstairs, the shower and the thump of something falling to the floor. It was Kate who appeared first and to her credit, Jenny thought, she only hesitated a moment at the palpable tension in the room, before continuing to the coffee with a polite 'good morning'. Tony was ten minutes behind her, his own gaze lowered to avoid the glare that Gibbs was giving him.
"Hurry up. You got five minutes."
He practically stormed out, and Jenny raised an eyebrow. "He meant please."
It took almost fifteen, but eventually Tony and Kate were in place at the coffee shop- this time, Tony was inside alone while Kate sat across the street, pretending to read while perched on the edge of a fountain. Gibbs paced agitatedly, tension practically radiating off of him and being in the same room was unbearable, but Jenny didn't have many other options. Not unless she wanted to hide in the bedroom, but Gibbs would have no compunctions about simply wandering in to disturb her in there as well.
She tapped her fingers, tried to concentrate on her own work. But it was next to impossible with Jethro barking into the headset every so often, with the constant distraction of wondering if McKidd would turn up, or if, horrendously, he was already gone and they were chasing ghosts. That would be worse, and she couldn't help the curl of anxiety that settled into her chest at the thought.
She hadn't even realised she had been subconsciously paying attention to Jethro, but the change in his tone had her instantly twisting in her seat, looking at him with wide eyes. Only to find his gaze already on her, blue eyes meeting green. "They have him."
Jenny exhaled a shaky breath, hoped the sheer relief she felt wasn't quite as obvious to him she suspected. "Give me one?"
He tossed her an earpiece, and she slotted it into place just in time to hear Kate murmur that McKidd was sitting down in the café. And Jenny abruptly decided she'd made the wrong decision in listening, because hearing what was going on and being completely removed from the situation was as bad as not knowing.
She sat gripping the edge of the chair so tightly her knuckles were white, entire body coiled like a spring as she forced herself to breath slowly, listening intently to the sporadic murmurs coming from the two agents in the field. McKidd was enjoying a leisurely breakfast by all accounts, sipping two coffees and nibbling on a pastry as he read a newspaper. So when Kate finally spoke up and gave the warning that he was leaving, it seemed an eternity later.
It was Tony who followed him for several streets, before Kate took over, having circled around in their general direction. It was she who watched McKidd enter shop after shop, until Tony returned, shirt replaced by a brightly coloured pattern and seconds later, Kate had a new jacket and a hat on. And so the businessman and tourist were replaced by a honeymooning couple, wandering hand in hand together.
It was almost afternoon before McKidd left the area again, Tony and Kate close behind. Kate realised where they were going long before Tony, her frown evident even over the airwaves. "Wasn't there a car park in this direction?"
Gibbs and Jenny exchanged a look, and a second later the latter was on her feet, grabbing the keys. "We're on it. Get a description."
Gibbs looked like he wanted to argue, but Jenny didn't give him the chance. She was out the door and headed towards the car before he could say a word, and by the time he'd caught up with her, the engine was already rumbling.
"Are you supposed to be in the field?"
"Shut up, Jethro."
For perhaps the first time, he did as she told him. They were halfway down the street when Tony's voice came over the radio, accompanied by a low whistle. "Yowza!"
"DiNozzo?"
"Boss, you ought to see this car. That is one sweet-"
"DiNozzo!"
"It's a red Ferrari, Gibbs," Kate supplied. "But I can't see the numberplate from this distance."
"I doubt we'll have trouble spotting it," Jenny said dryly. Sure enough, mere minutes later, it drove straight past the spot where they were idling, and three cars behind Jenny pulled out.
It was easier said than done, trailing it discreetly. McKidd didn't exactly heed the speed limit, and the usual traffic of the island caused a few issues. Until gradually, they began to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and traffic became sparser. Crowded streets gave way to quiet suburbs, and Jenny glanced at her silent passenger. "How long do I push this for? He's going to see me."
But he shook his head. "He's not paying attention to anything behind him. Flashy car like that, he's concentrating on the road in front of him."
She hoped he was right.
The roads grew steeper and quieter, Jenny dropping further and further back. The villas surrounding them were becoming larger and more spaced out, the cars parked on driveways becoming newer and shinier. And finally Jenny pulled over, pinning Gibbs with a look. "He will see us if we push this further. We don't exactly blend in."
He ground his teeth together, refusing to meet her eyes. "Damnit!"
It took Tony and Kate all of two hours to catch them up, Tony now riding a motorbike with Kate in an open-top convertible, glasses on her head. She parked behind them, and Gibbs had taken the map from her hand before she'd even slid from the car.
"How are we doing this, boss?" Tony joined him leaning against the bonnet of Jenny's car, the map spread wide open.
"Systematically. Kate and I will go right at the end of this road, you go left. You do every street until you find that car!"
Tony risked a glance towards the silent redhead next to him. "And Jenny?"
"Waits here in case he leaves again. This is the only road in and out of this section." His glare practically dared one of them to argue. Jenny said nothing, sunglasses firmly in place and hiding her expression surprisingly well. She pretended not to notice Gibbs eyeing her, half curious and half wary, having fully expected an argument. When none came, he simply folded the map and muttered an order to move, leaving Jenny to climb back into the car and watch as the three drove off, quickly vanishing from sight around the corner.
NCIS
Jenny couldn't say she'd ever been one for stargazing. She was a city girl, who had grown up with the haze of streetlamps and headlights obscuring all but the brightest of the constellations. It hadn't been until Jethro that she had come to fully appreciate their beauty, lying underneath the sky in the middle of nowhere during an assignment. He, of course, knew more about them than she'd realised there was to know and she had no doubt that if needed, he could probably have navigated his way out of the middle of a desert simply by reading the night sky.
The stars weren't as bright as they could have been here, not gazing as she was from the middle of town. But they were visible, and there was something oddly comforting about their presence. Which was how she found herself sat in the window of the bedroom she and Ziva shared, head tilted back, doing her best to concentrate on the sight before her instead of the noise inside her own head.
Kate and Tony were taking the first shift, watching McKidd from a car parked higher on the hill that his villa sat on. It had been Tony who found the spot, more by luck than judgement. But it was shaded, nestled just off the road and perfect for spying on the man below. Of course, having Tony and Kate on night shift duty meant that she and Jethro were alone in the quiet house, the atmosphere undeniably different without the presence of anyone else. It was what had led Jenny to hiding up here, although she would deny that to the bitter end if confronted, leaving the rest of the house to Gibbs.
He himself had stayed downstairs, wishing he had something else to do. He had read the case file over yet another time, phoned Abby to check on her (she had almost deafened him with her excitement down the phone, assured him that she was fine, but expecting plenty of caf-pows to make up for his sudden absence when he finally got home.) He'd even succumbed to reading some fiction book that had been sat on a coffee table, but given up less than one chapter in. So now he lay on the bed that had been Tony's, settling in for a surprisingly early night. He knew Jenny had still been awake when he'd come upstairs- light spilled from beneath her door, and for a moment, he'd been tempted to knock.
He hadn't. But the temptation had been there, which was dangerous enough. He huffed, turned on his side and pushed all thoughts of redheads from his mind.
Only to spring upright again sometime later, some unknown sound breaking through his dreams. For a moment, he sat frozen, holding his breath as he listened intently. It didn't take long to hear it again. A choked moan, a whimper.
He was at Jenny's door before he'd fully registered swinging his legs out of bed. His weapon in hand, he burst in, half expecting to find McKidd with his hands around her throat. Instead, Jenny was alone, twisting on the double bed in a way that left no doubt what was happening, the image made all the worse by the long shadows cast by the low lamp on the bedside table.
"Jen." His gun was almost tossed onto the dresser as she let out another moan. This time, her lips formed actual words.
"No… please. Please, not again…"
"Jenny, wake up!" He practically shook her, fingers digging into her shoulders. "You're dreaming!"
Her eyes flew open but stared straight through him, glazed and panicked. "NO!"
Gibbs wasn't expecting the sudden blitz of punches and kicks, and his surprise enabled Jenny to land more than a few hits. The heel of her hand hit his jaw, his teeth clacking together painfully. Her foot met his thigh, threatening to unbalance him while simultaneously, blows rained upon his chest and arms. "Jesus, Jen!"
It was all too easy to grab her, to pin her arms to her torso with his, to wrap one leg around hers to stop the kicks. She'd always been smaller than him- now it seemed more pronounced than ever as he forcibly overpowered her, pulling her back against his chest and positioning them both in such a way that allowed him to lower his mouth near her ear, murmuring lowly to her. "Jenny, you're safe. It was just a nightmare. I've got you."
He couldn't quite pinpoint the moment she came to awareness. She had stilled first, muscles still tense. Then there was a hitching gasp, a small jerking movement. And she'd turned her head, just able to see him on the edge of her peripheral vision. "Jethro?"
He couldn't deny the relief that ran through him. "It's me."
Positioned as they were, the way she swallowed harshly was obvious, and so was the shudder that ran through her. It was with a tentative caution that he loosened his grip, becoming less constraining before he untucked his leg from around her, but made no other move to increase the distance between them. Jenny was crying silently, trying to hide it but he could feel the way her breath silently shuddered, shoulders hitching every so often. So he stayed where he was, arms holding her to him, one hand seeking out hers to rub his thumb across her knuckles.
It took only a few minutes for Jenny to compose herself, for her to swallow back her emotions and take a steadying breath. "I'm sorry."
"Rule 6."
She huffed out a laugh.
"Wanna talk?"
Jenny quickly shook her head, not able to think of anything worse. "No."
"Okay."
She waited for something else, anything else. But he stayed silent, unmoving and simply present. The position they were in was inappropriate, on multiple levels. But she couldn't bring herself to break it. Not when this was achingly familiar, comforting, warm in a way that had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with him. So they stayed where they were, silent but comfortable in the dim light.
It was gradual, the way Jenny's body grew heavier and heavier against him. The way her head came to rest against his shoulder, her breathing becoming slower and slower until Gibbs knew without a doubt that she was asleep, rather than just relaxed. And then he continued to hold her.
Perhaps it wasn't fair. She'd been vulnerable, seeking comfort and he had just happened to be the person there. But equally it had been years since he had held her like this, since he'd been allowed to touch her, watch her, simply enjoy her presence. And since he wasn't sure if he would ever be allowed to again, he was going to take full advantage.
The minutes ticked by, Jenny continuing to sleep. It was only when Gibbs noticed his own body aching from the position he'd been in for too long that he realised she was lying awkwardly too, her neck at an angle which would hurt in the morning, arms tucked in a way that must be aggravating her shoulder. It was with a sigh that he carefully began extracting himself from around her. She'd thrown off the covers at some point, so there was no need to worry about those as he eased her into a more comfortable looking position, earning him a murmur as she stirred. "It's just me," he told her gruffly, smoothing a hand across her cheek. "Go back to sleep."
He tried not to contemplate whether it was actually him or simply the familiarity of his voice and touch that had her doing so. The sheets were light and unconstricting as he tucked them over her, careful not to wake her and once she was settled, he found himself hovering in the middle of the room. He could return to bed, and risk her having another nightmare. Or he could stay, and risk her castrating him in the morning.
The chair tucked next to the window made his decision for him. It wasn't overly comfortable, but it wasn't supposed to be- it meant he remained awake as he sat watching over his former partner, the hours slipping away and the few, faint sounds of life outside eventually vanishing, leaving that peculiar feeling of being the only person awake in the world.
He didn't hear anyone enter the house. Didn't hear their silent footsteps, didn't notice the shift in the air as another person entered the space. So when he caught sight of the dark figure standing by the door he hadn't bothered to close, he instinctively went for his weapon.
It was still on the dresser where he'd left it.
His heart rate skyrocketed and his knife was in his hand with a flick of his wrist, every muscle tensing. But before he could do anything the person tilted their head, suspicion filling their voice. "What are you doing?"
It wasn't what he'd been expecting. He paused, considered. And relaxed. "You Ziva?"
She came fully into the room, and now the light from the lamp illuminated her properly, her eyes narrowed as she glanced from him to the still sleeping Jenny. "And you are Agent Gibbs, I presume. You did not answer my question."
He hesitated, wary of telling her something Jenny didn't want her to know. But they shared a room, and a bed, he reasoned. She must already know. "Nightmares."
Something akin to understanding and sympathy washed over her face, and even though she didn't move, he got the impression that she relaxed. "It is good you were here, then."
"They happen often?"
"More than is fair," she said softly. "She has been through enough."
Wasn't that the truth. Her words hung between them for a moment, before silently Gibbs rose to his feet. "Wake me before you leave. I'll come back and sit with her."
He couldn't quite read her expression, carefully blank as it was. But he had the impression she was studying him, assessing him somehow. Finally, a look of amusement flickered over her expression. "She will not like that."
Now, he half-grinned at her. "Nope." He grabbed his gun and was out the door, just in time to hear her laugh lightly in his wake.