A/N: I deeply apologise for the delay in this chapter. I hope you're still with me. Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Hannukah, etc! I hope you're ready for this ride! Quite a lot happens in this one!
Gibbs
Of all the ways he'd expected to be greeted when he walked into Jenny's office, it hadn't been with a glare and an angrily snapped "What?" as she'd rolled her eyes. He frowned as he held out the food he'd brought for her when it had become apparent that she was yet again planning on staying at work for the rest of the night, trying to figure out what was wrong. She ran her hand through her hair, sighing heavily as she gestured for him to leave it on the couch near her desk, and he shook his head slowly.
"Something wrong?"
"Let's see...someone broke into my office and destroyed it, which I am nowhere near close to solving, I haven't slept in two days, and my team is still having to waste valuable time making new copies of all the information we lost. Why no, Jethro, why would you ever think something is wrong?"
In spite of her obvious anger, he smirked at her sarcasm, glad that she was willing to speak to him. He frowned at the slight shaking of her hands as she reached for her coffee cup, wondering just how many she'd consumed over the last few days, and when he took a step closer, he looked at her seriously.
"How much coffee have you had?"
"Jethro, I don't exactly have time to stop and eat right now."
"Uh-huh. And when the caffeine jolt ends?"
I'll do what you do," she answered, her tone carefully sweet, "Get a refill."
"Right. Well, I'll leave you to it, then. Pardon me for being concerned."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked from the room, feeling more than a little annoyed. He'd known that work was stressing her out, but he hadn't counted on her being so short with him. After all, he'd done nothing to deserve her anger, and as he made his way down the stairs, he couldn't keep his frown from his face. Just before he reached the last set of steps, he heard someone call his name, and he turned slowly. Jenny was making her way down the stairs, her steps quick in an effort to catch up to him.
"Jethro, wait. Can we talk in private? Please?"
He nodded, pointedly ignoring the looks of her former team as they passed, and as soon as they stepped onto the elevator, she reached for the emergency stop, powering it down. He waited, knowing she would speak when she was ready, and as she took a deep breath, he frowned. Something was different about her, though he couldn't figure out exactly what it was, and she raised her eyes to his slowly.
"I'm sorry," she began, "I know you think that's a sign of weakness, but I am. I was being bitchy and you didn't deserve that. There's no excuse for it and I completely understand if you're angry with me."
He was silent for a moment, selfishly enjoying the opportunity to make her slightly nervous, and he raised his eyebrow in question.
"That it?"
"I—yeah, I suppose it is."
Gibbs nodded, purposefully not looking at her, and when she blinked hard, he suddenly realised she was trying not to cry. She made to flip the emergency switch again and he reached out to stop her, lightly covering her wrist with his hand.
"Hey," he said gently, "Look at me."
Her eyes met his, filled with such an exhaustion that it was almost hard for him to look at them, and he suddenly felt like an ass.
"Look, Jen...I know you're under an incredible amount of pressure right now, I know you're exhausted, and you're still trying to prove yourself in your promotion. I get it. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna let you use me as your personal punching bag. We clear?"
She nodded and when he leaned down to lightly kiss her cheek, he felt her tense as he moved. This struck him as odd, but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind, figuring that she was just on edge in general. He smiled at her as he ran his fingers through her hair slowly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she flipped the switch again, bringing the elevator back to life.
"I'm so fucking tired, Jethro," she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.
"I know," he said gently, "How about when you leave today, we spend the rest of the night on the couch and just relax?"
"Your place or mine?"
"Whatever you want."
She smiled.
"Mine is much more festive."
He laughed, nodding.
"True."
"Can we just watch Christmas cartoon specials and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist?"
Gibbs nodded again, kissing her cheek just before the doors opened, smiling at her warmly.
"Anything you want, Jen."
As he sat behind his desk, Gibbs found his thoughts again turning to Jenny, and he smiled as he realised just how drastically his life had changed in just one short year. This time last year, he'd been content just to live in his (then new) apartment and spend his time running from memories of a life long lost. He frowned as he remembered the way she'd tensed up in the elevator that morning, and he wondered if perhaps something else was bothering her. She hadn't mentioned anything, but knowing Jenny, that was to be expected.
He sighed as he glanced at his watch, running his hand through his hair, wishing that time would speed up. His lunch break had flown by, so why was the rest of the day dragging endlessly on? Winter was always a slow period in the recruiting office, as most enlisting men and women joined just out of high school, and it never failed to drive him insane. Oh, well. At least he had his thoughts of Jenny to keep him occupied.
Just as she had been when he'd first heard her voice through the apartment, she remained an intriguing mystery, one that drove him mad but that he was determined to solve even if it killed him. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't figure out what she was keeping so carefully guarded, and he sighed as he looked at his watch for the millionth time that day. This was going to be the longest day of his life. He just knew it...
Shepard
Though she knew Gibbs was right and that she needed to calm down, Jenny was simply too angry for the truth to make much difference. How could someone do this? It didn't make any sense. To the extent of her knowledge, NCIS wasn't involved in any illicit crimes, and she certainly didn't have any sensitive files tucked away in her office. There was entire section of the building for that and it most definitely was not her personal space. It had broken a rule she hadn't even known she had: you don't attack someone on their own turf, personal or professional. She sighed as she searched every corner of her memory, trying to figure out if there was anyone or anything that stood out to her as odd.
Nope. Nothing.
Well, this was proving to be a massive waste of time. The only thing that was being kept a secret from her was the glaringly obvious hooking up of Michelle Lee and Jimmy Palmer, and if they thought they were keeping it quiet, she knew they were in for a very rude awakening. It was kind of funny how obvious it was and—wait. That was it. It was so perfect that Jenny swore loudly, shaking her head in annoyance with herself.
What better way to deflect attention from yourself than by creating a diversion? She didn't suspect Palmer for a second, he was too loyal to his profession and Ducky to ever betray them, but Lee...? She was new, her resume almost too flawless, she picked the least-obvious choice to get close to, stayed mostly under everyone's radar. It was perfect.
Strike that. It was infuriating. And it downright pissed her off.
Jenny frowned as she picked up her phone, quickly dialing Cynthia's extension, hoping the younger girl hadn't gone to lunch.
"Yes, Director?"
"Send Agent Lee in legal to my office, please."
"Of course."
Jenny smiled. That girl really did deserve a raise. Moving Agent Lee to a place where she could be more actively observed would be the easy part. Whether Tony DiNozzo saw it that way or not was another matter entirely.
Just as she had predicted, it took less than twenty minutes for DiNozzo to make his way angrily up the steps, his knock on her door betraying just how furious he was. Jenny allowed herself a small laugh before granting him entrance, making sure to remove all traces of a smile from her face as she met his eyes.
"What the hell, Jenny? What are you doing, moving Lee to my team without telling me first?"
Jenny was overcome with the urge to laugh, thankful for the cup in her hands as she raised it to her lips, hiding her smile.
"It isn't a permanent move, DiNozzo. I just figured that the more people looking into this investigation, the better. We should have our answer of who our mole is soon enough if things go according to plan."
DiNozzo frowned, looking at her seriously.
"You think it's McGee? Or me? You're sending Lee over to us to keep an eye on us, aren't you?"
Jenny said nothing, letting him continue his angry tirade and when he suddenly stopped, she knew he'd understood.
"Wait...you think it's Lee, don't you? You're not sending her to us to watch us. You want us to watch her. Am I right?"
"I expect a report at the end of each day, Agent DiNozzo," Jenny answered with a smile, "Make no mistake, I'll be waiting."
He nodded, giving her a smile in return.
"You got it, Shep."
She dismissed him with a nod, and just when he reached the door, she frowned.
"Tony?"
He turned, looking at her seriously.
"Be careful. You and McGee both."
DiNozzo nodded, smiling as he opened the large silver door.
"We will."
As she sat in the darkened MTAC room, Jenny slowly placed her head wearily in her hand, blinking hard. She frowned as she glanced at her watch, her eyes taking longer than normal to focus, and as she shook her head slowly, she sighed. She stood from her chair, running her fingers through slightly tangled hair, and made her way slowly to the door. Though she knew she should probably stay a little longer to oversee her op, she was simply too exhausted.
Her eyes burned from far too many hours of staring at various screens, her hands shook from the copious amounts of caffeine in her system, and as she slowly slid in the seat of her car, her driver turned to look at her curiously.
"Straight home?"
Just as she was about to nod, Jenny suddenly changed her mind, shaking her head once.
"No, I need to make one stop first."
"Yes, ma'am."
As she directed him on where to go, she found her thoughts turning to Gibbs, and she smiled as she remembered their plans for the night. She simply couldn't wait.
The light from her Christmas tree and the television were the only things illuminating the room, sparkling and beautiful, but Jenny wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention. She was entirely consumed by the man currently holding her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair, and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She couldn't have even told anyone exactly which Christmas special they were watching, not that anyone else would have cared, and as she tilted her head to look up at him, she smiled.
"Jethro?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
He glanced at her, raising his eyebrow in question, and she laughed quietly, moving closer.
"For being here. It really means a lot."
Gibbs smiled, leaning down to kiss her softly, taking her hand in his.
"Nowhere else I'd rather be, Jen."
She returned his smile, reaching for the tumbler of bourbon on the table next to her, and as she took a long drink, she gave him a serious look.
"You're just happy I stopped by the liquor store," she said jokingly.
He nodded, pulling her so that she was sitting in his lap, and as he ran his hand through her hair, she laughed quietly, reaching up to touch his face gently.
"Has anyone ever told you how attractive you are?"
"Once or twice," he answered with a playful smile, "but I'm always happy to be reminded."
Jenny laughed, rolling her eyes as she pulled him closer, her lips capturing his in a deep kiss.
"You are the most attractive man I've ever seen in my life, Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
His answering kiss was all she needed to prove that he felt the same way about her.
In the years to come, Jenny was never quite sure how it happened, but the day she found herself in a hospital bed next to one Anthony DiNozzo was sure to be cemented in her mind for the rest of her life. If McGee's description of his condition was anything to go by, the near-fatal bullet had nearly ruptured part of his right lung, and as she made her way into the small room, she called his name softly.
"McGee, what happened?"
"We were set up. The suspect we were tracking knew every move we were going to make. I saw the gun before he fired it. I tried to push Tony out of the way, but..."
Jenny nodded, glancing over at Agent Lee, her eyes cold.
"Anything else?"
"N-no, ma'am. I...I was on the other side of the room. I didn't see—"
The quiet knock on the door made them all jump, and as it opened, Jenny painted a smile on her face. The nurse nodded at her, his eyes roaming over all of them, and Jenny could have sworn she literally felt her skin crawl. Something wasn't right here. The only question was of what. She glanced over at McGee, silently telling him to be alert, and as she took a step closer to the bed, she felt someone watching her.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to step back. I have to give Agent DiNozzo more fluids."
Though Jenny nodded and stepped aside, she kept her eyes locked on the nurse, and when she realised that she recognised him as the man who often dropped Agent Lee off to work, she frowned. She made her way slowly to the door, her fingers gripping the handle, and when she tried to pull it open, she looked at McGee seriously.
"The door is locked. From the outside. Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?"
"I'm just trying to do my job, Director Shepard."
Wait. How did he know her name? Jenny was absolutely certain that she'd never given it, and she made her way to DiNozzo's bedside, grabbing the man's arm tightly, wrenching the syringe from his grasp quickly.
"What's in this?"
"Just an antibiotic."
"Right," turning to Agent Lee, Jenny glared at her, eyes ice-cold, "You've got about ten seconds to explain."
"I..I'm sorry! I didn't have a choice. They have my daughter. Please, you have to understand."
"You planned this. You set up DiNozzo and McGee with an ambush. You wanted them dead."
"I...no, it wasn't—I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt."
Jenny tightened her hold on the syringe in her hand, still glaring at the younger woman. The man standing next to DiNozzo's bed gave her a cold look, nodding at her as he took a step towards McGee. As soon as he was near enough, he grabbed McGee by the neck, the gun he held in his hand pressed against his temple, and the young agent flinched hard.
"Now that I have your attention, Director, you're going to give us the information we need."
Jenny shook her head, her eyes hard.
"Not until you let him go."
"Now you know that isn't how these things go."
A sudden idea came to her and Jenny fought the urge to smile as she spoke again. She held the syringe in her hand over her arm, tapping it carefully to get any air bubbles out.
"Let him go, or I'll inject this into my bloodstream right now."
McGee's eyes widened and he shook his head, praying she was bluffing. She didn't appear to be, and as she rolled up her sleeve, he began to shake. Before he could even comprehend that she'd done it, Jenny carefully inserted the needle, pressing down on the plunger.
"Jenny, don't!"
Jenny smiled, shaking her head.
"Don't worry McGee. It's just an antibiotic. Right?"
Already, she could feel her head beginning to spin, and as she tried to focus on what was happening around her, she blinked. Hard.
"Jenny, are you okay?"
She nodded, though she couldn't have told anyone exactly what the question had been, and she took a shaky step forward. Her vision was blurred, her heart racing in her chest, and when she collapsed on the floor, she didn't even register the sound of McGee calling her name.
When her eyes opened, she dimly realised that she was in a bed, her surroundings unfamiliar, and as her eyes began to focus, she frowned as she recognised the man sitting in the chair next to her.
"Ducky? What—what happened?"
He smiled, reaching out to take her hand in his.
"You're a very lucky woman, Jennifer. Were it not for Timothy's quick thinking, you would have ended up in the morgue rather than that hospital bed. That syringe contained a dangerous amount of colchicine, a drug that can be fatal even in small quantities. You certainly owe that young man a thank you."
Jenny gave him a small smile, though he could sense that she was beginning to tire, and he leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"You need to get some rest, my dear. You'll feel much better in the morning."
She nodded slightly, her eyes slipping closed, and before Ducky had even made it to the door, she'd fallen fast asleep.
Gibbs
In spite of Ducky's reassurance that Jenny was going to make a full recovery, Gibbs still drove faster than he had in years on his way to the hospital. By the time he'd made it to her room, she was deeply asleep, and he breathed a sigh of relief at the steady beating of her heart monitor. He quietly made his way closer, sitting down in the chair next to her, and he took her hand in his own. He ran his thumb slowly over the back of her hand, careful not to touch the IV needle, and when she opened her eyes, he smiled.
"Jethro? What are you doing here?" she whispered.
"Had to see for myself that you were okay," he told her quietly, "Ducky called me, but I wanted to be here."
She smiled weakly, her hand holding his securely, and as he kissed her forehead, he flashed her a smile of his own.
"You gotta stop putting yourself in danger," he told her seriously.
"I had to. That would have killed Tony if I hadn't. I couldn't let him get hurt."
"You got hurt, Jen," he reminded her gently, "I can't lose you. Please be careful."
Jenny nodded, moving slightly in an effort to be more comfortable, and when he placed a steady hand on her shoulder, she frowned.
"Jethro, I'm fine," she insisted, "The doctors told me that I should be released in a few hours after they monitor everything."
"I'll be here until then. You're not driving yourself home."
She laughed, quite possibly the best sound he'd heard, and nodded.
"I didn't expect anything else."
Hours later, after driving Jenny home, Gibbs was watching her sleep in the living room, her skin glowing under the multi-coloured lights of her Christmas tree, and he smiled as he took a long drink from his bourbon. Even after all this time, he still couldn't believe how he'd gotten lucky enough to have her in his life, much less be loved by her in return. She was, quite simply, the best thing that could have happened to him, and he smiled as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Surely you're not trying to make a move right now, Leroy Jethro," she murmured sleepily, her voice warm.
"Wouldn't dream of it," he assured her with a soft laugh, "Get some rest and I'll make you some hot chocolate when you wake up."
"Well, the promise of chocolatey decadence has persuaded me to wake from my restful slumber," she replied, her amusement clear in her voice.
She carefully raised herself to a sitting position, her bright green eyes illuminated by the tree, and kissed him softly as he pulled her closer.
"I do believe hot chocolate was promised."
He nodded, standing quickly, and as soon as he'd made his way to the kitchen, Jenny shook her head, laughing quietly.
Shepard
Jenny made her way quickly to her hallway closet as soon as Gibbs had left the room to grab the present she'd so carefully picked out and hidden over a week ago. She knew he'd been suspicious of her behaviour as she'd tried to pretend she hadn't gotten him anything, and it made her smile to herself as she placed it under the tree. She just hoped he liked it.
She made it back to the couch mere seconds before Gibbs returned, a mug of hot chocolate in each hand, and as he handed her the mug, she frowned as the scent reached her.
"Jethro, this doesn't smell like a regular hot chocolate."
He nodded.
"Put a little something extra in yours. Thought maybe you could use it."
She frowned, taking a careful drink, and when she smiled, he knew he'd done well.
"Peppermint schnapps?"
Again, he nodded, wrapping his arm around her as he sat next to her on the couch. She smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder, taking another slow drink. How had she gotten so lucky?
The best way to start her day. Jenny thought sarcastically, was having to find a replacement for Michelle Lee in legal and still manage to keep up with all of her other obligations. In spite of her being the mole, Jenny had been forced to admit that she'd actually been quite good at her job, and she sighed as she took a long drink of her coffee.
She sat down at her desk slowly, trying to remember where she'd placed the stack of resumes she'd been sorting through, and when the phone on her desk rung, she jumped slightly.
"Shepard," she answered, slightly breathless.
"Good morning, Jennifer. Are you alright? You sound like you've been running."
"No, I'm okay. Ducky. The phone startled me. What can I do for you this morning?"
"I'm sending you a child."
Wait...what?
"I beg your pardon?" Jenny asked, positive she'd misheard him.
"I'm sending you a child," Ducky repeated.
"Um...thanks, Ducky, but I'm pretty sure I didn't request a kid."
"That is irrelevant. I'm sending her to you whether you like it or not. She needs someone like you to help her. She's familiar with who you are and everything you've been through over the last year, and she would greatly benefit from your guidance. In fact, I think you both would."
"Ducky, I really don't—"
"Meet me at Union Station around noon. No exceptions."
"But Ducky, I—"
"I'll be waiting, Jennifer."
As she hung up her phone, Jenny could do no more than run her hand through her hair, thoroughly confused as to how she'd ended up in such a situation.
What the hell had just happened?
Ten minutes until noon found one Jenny Shepard wrapped in a long burgundy coat that reached her thighs, waiting by the unloading area of the train, and as Ducky made his way closer., she frowned.
"Ducky, what is going on?"
"I told you. I'm sending you a child. She's been living on the street for weeks, she just lost both of her parents in a house fire, and she needs someone to help her."
Jenny shook her head.
"And why did you think that someone would be me? I can't even get my own life on track, I don't—"
"That's precisely why. You need someone other than Jethro to ground you. He's only one man, after all."
As the train came to a stop, he led Jenny over to the platform, and as soon as the doors opened, he smiled, nodding his head to the right.
"There she is."
"Ducky, I really don't—"
"Just talk to her, Jennifer. Please."
Sighing, Jenny nodded, taking a step back to allow the passengers to move past her, and as Ducky hugged the girl in front of him, Jenny fought the urge to shake her head. He led them both to a small table just outside of the train station, and gestured for them both to sit. As soon as Jenny realised he didn't intend to stay, she opened her mouth to protest, and when he shook his head firmly, she closed it again.
Sitting down across from the girl, Jenny took a moment to assess her, highly trained eyes taking in every detail of her appearance, from her long strawberry-blonde hair, extremely thin frame, and her bright blue eyes that refused to meet her own. The girl tugged on the long sleeves of her sweatshirt, pulling them down over her hands, and as Ducky gave them both hugs, he gave Jenny a serious look. One that clearly told her not to mess this up.
As Jenny placed her purse on the table in front of her, she was suddenly aware of the girl looking at her, and she frowned.
"Would you like to go get a coffee? Or maybe a hot chocolate? It's cold out here."
The girl nodded and Jenny stood, waiting for her to follow. They made their way silently to Jenny's car, and as they slid into the back seat, Jenny nodded at her driver, a smile on her face.
"Coffeehouse, please, Darren."
"Ebenezer's?"
"Yes."
"Right away, ma'am."
The ride to the small coffeehouse was silent, with Jenny sneaking glances at her guest every so often, and as soon as they reached their destination, she nodded at her.
"Well, let's go."
The small shop was warm, inviting, and as Jenny sat down at the booth in the far-right corner of the dining area, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the young girl. Both ordered black coffee, and as they sipped it silently, Jenny glanced at her watch. She really did need to be getting back. But something about this girl made it impossible to move.
"It's time for lunch," Jenny informed her.
The girl nodded, reaching for the small bag she'd been carrying since she'd stepped off the train.
"I brought pineapple."
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Jenny said, rolling her eyes slightly.
The girl looked terrified, her eyes wide, locking on Jenny's in fear.
"If you're going to play with the big kids, sweetie, you can't eat fucking pineapple for lunch," Jenny added helpfully.
The girl laughed, making Jenny feel slightly better, and the redhead nodded at her as she reached for her coffee.
"What's your name?"
"Carly. Carly Anna Marler."
"Jenny Shepard."
Carly nodded, her eyes never leaving Jenny's.
"I know. Doctor Mallard has told me so much about you. That's why I wanted to meet you."
Jenny frowned, her eyes puzzled.
"You wanted to meet me? Why?"
"I just—I...well, it's complicated. I have...well, I've got a problem, and it—it's kind of similar to one of yours, and Doctor Mallard thought that maybe we—that we could help each other, and..."
It suddenly all came falling into place as Jenny realised just exactly the younger girl was talking about, and she frowned.
"You're...you have an eating disorder?"
Carly nodded and suddenly her thin frame made perfect sense, making Jenny feel worse than she had before. She couldn't help this girl. Hell, she couldn't even help herself. What was Ducky playing at? This wasn't fair. To her or to Carly. But, what could she do?
"Look, Carly, I...I don't know what Doctor Mallard was thinking, but—"
"Please don't send me away. Please? I don't—I don't have anywhere to go. I can't afford a hotel, I only make a little money at my job."
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen," came the quiet reply, "please, ma'am. I—I don't—"
"Okay, you can stay with me for at least the day. I'll try to come up with a solution. Are you finished with that? If not, bring it with you, I really do need to be getting back to my job."
Again, Carly nodded, and after paying their bill, Jenny gestured for her to follow her. This was turning out to be the strangest day in her life...
Jenny had no sooner left Carly in her office than she made her way angrily down to autopsy, wasting no time in ordering Jimmy Palmer to leave the room. The doors slid shut behind him as he quickly ran to Abby Sciuto's lab, leaving her alone with the elderly doctor, and she glared at him, her eyes cold.
"Ducky, what the hell are you doing? You left me no choice in taking this girl into my care! I don't know anything about her, other than she has an eating disorder and her name. Why did you do this?"
"You both need help. You can give it to each other. She needs a mother, you need a reason other than Jethro to keep going. Just give it time. She's just a scared girl who needs someone to help guide her. You can be that person."
"Ducky, I can't even keep a plant alive, let alone a person!"
He laughed, walking around the metal table, hugging her as soon as he was near enough.
"You can do this. I know you can."
"Okay, suppose you're right. Now for the bigger question: how do I explain this to Jethro?"
"You're on your own with that one, I'm afraid. Best of luck to you, my dear."
As she walked back to the elevator, Jenny had never felt more confused.
Gibbs
After a very confusing conversation with Jenny, Gibbs was currently waiting outside in the parking lot to take her home, thankful for the heater in his truck. His confusion only grew when she walked out of the front door accompanied by a girl in her mid-teens, and he frowned as Jenny climbed into the truck next to him, the girl following suit.
"Jethro, this is Carly. Carly, this is Jethro."
"Nice to meet you," Carly replied warmly, holding out her hand.
Gibbs took it warily, still staring at Jenny, and as she shook her head minutely, he put the vehicle in gear, driving carefully down the road. He glanced at them both occasionally, and as soon as he pulled into the parking lot of their apartments, Jenny nodded at Carly, handing her the keys from her purse.
"Here, Carly. Apartment 4. Right down the first hallway."
Carly nodded, taking the key from her, and as soon as they were alone, Gibbs looked at her as though she'd lost her mind.
"What's going on here, Jen? Who is that girl and why is she here?"
Sighing, Jenny began to explain, and when she had finished five minutes later, Gibbs merely shook his head, opening his door slowly.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Jen."
She shook her head, laughing somewhat bitterly.
"Not even in the slightest," she admitted.
After sitting down to dinner, Gibbs found that he was beginning to warm slightly to the young girl that Jenny had invited to her home. It didn't escape his notice that she was exactly the same age that Kelly would have been had she lived, and she looked somewhat like he would have imagined his little girl looking, save for the obvious illness she was fighting. She didn't speak much, something he could understand, but what she did say held weight.
Jenny kept the topics of conversation light, learning a bit more about their guest as they ate, and as Carly slowly pushed the food around her plate, the redhead frowned, her eyes serious.
"Carly, maybe you should try eating just one thing from your plate. Just one. Can you try that?"
Carly's eyes grew wider as she shook her head, and Jenny reached across the table, taking her hand in hers.
"You can do this, Carly," she said gently, "Pick the safest thing. That will be enough for now."
After carefully examining her plate, the younger girl finally settled on the green beans, but not before soaking up as much butter as she could with her napkin. She ate them slowly, but it was better than nothing, and when Gibbs gave her an encouraging smile, she returned it carefully.
"Would you like to join us in the living room? We have a tradition of watching Christmas cartoon specials after dinner in December."
"More like you have that tradition and I just got sucked into it."
"You love it and you know it," Jenny told Gibbs with a laugh.
"I love you, not so much the cartoons," he corrected her.
Carly laughed quietly, nodding as she picked up her soda can, opting to join them in the living room, and as they sat down, Gibbs wrapped his arm around Jenny, pulling her closer.
"The cartoons aren't the worst thing to happen," he whispered, "but I wouldn't do it for anyone but you."
Jenny smiled, kissing him as she turned on her television.
"I love you, you jerk."
Hours after Jenny had fallen asleep and been carried to bed by a certain marine, Gibbs and Carly sat silently in the living room, the young girl paying little attention to the Christmas special Jenny had been watching. As soon as Gibbs had returned to the room, a sort of awkward silence had fallen over them, and when Carly spoke, she couldn't keep the curiosity from her voice.
"Why do you look at me like you want to either cry or murder someone?"
Gibbs froze, unprepared for the question, further fueling the girl's interest, and he coughed slightly before answering.
"Years ago...I had a wife and daughter. They were both killed in a car accident. You look like her. Hair's a bit more red. But your eyes are the same colour. She would have been the exact age you are now."
Carly was silent for a long moment before nodding, and when she spoke again, she kept her voice quiet, as though afraid of being overheard.
"How sick is Jenny? I mean, Doctor Mallard made it sound pretty bad, but...she doesn't look like—"
"Not as bad as she was," Gibbs told her honestly, "She's gotten a lot better, but she still needs help. What about you? What's your story?"
"What makes you think I have a story?"
"Everyone's got a story, kid. Some are just more interesting than others."
Nodding slowly, Carly began to speak, her voice soft at first, verging on tears.
"I...I've been living on the streets for awhile. Living in my car, actually. My parents died in a house fire a few months ago, and I—I didn't have anywhere to go, or enough money saved up to get a place of my own. I've been working at a small little coffee shop just outside Chicago since I was old enough to get a job, and I was planning on going to school to be a therapist. I can't afford that now, and it takes all I have just to keep my grades up. I met Doctor Mallard during one of my trips to DC with my class...he was at a museum that we visited. We started talking, and he told me about this amazing woman he worked with...I guess it was his way of telling me that even people who struggle can be successful, and I mentioned that I would love to meet her."
"And now here you are."
Carly nodded.
"I...I know that Jenny doesn't have any reason to help me, she doesn't even know me, much less owe me anything, but..."
Gibbs smiled.
"Maybe not, but she will. That's just how Jen is."
"Hey, Jethro?"
He raised his eyebrow in question, making her smile, and she continued.
"Thank you."
"Anytime, kid."
A/N: Fun fact: this is almost verbatim what happened with a friend of mine and her adopted daughter. As a matter of fact, some of it is verbatim. Hope you enjoyed!
