A/N: Happy Saturday, my loyal readers! I hope you're ready for this chapter, as it's a bit more Carly-centric than previous ones. Enjoy!
Gibbs
Glaring at his clock as he opened his eyes, Leroy Jethro Gibbs fought against the urge to sigh in annoyance as he realized it was nearly three in the morning. In his still half-asleep state, it took him longer than usual to understand that he hadn't been wakened by the alarm at all, making him all the more confused, and he frowned as he looked sleepily around the room. Jenny was sleeping next to him, peaceful for once, her long red hair strewn about the pillow, and he shook his head as he tried to think.
It hit him suddenly, that feeling of dread, that sinking feeling that something wasn't right, and he swung his feet over the edge of the bed carefully, hoping he wouldn't wake Jenny. Silently, he made his way across the room, pulling the door closed before turning on the hallway light. He blinked in the sudden brightness, making his way closer to Carly's room, and as he slowly pushed the door open, he frowned. Nothing was out of place, the sleeping girl in the bed not even stirring as he closed the door again, and as he made his way downstairs, the feeling of dread began to grow stronger.
As soon as his feet touched down on the floor, he could sense that something was different, and he immediately tensed. His every sense was on high alert, his blood rushing in his ears, and as he took a step, he heard the unmistakable sound of the safety clicking on a gun. He stayed where he was, trying to assess the situation, and as he heard the low voice just off to his right, he took a slow deep breath.
"Don't move. How many people are in the house?"
"Just me," Gibbs answered, his voice sounding much calmer than he felt.
"Don't lie to me. Three cars out front, college books on the table. How dumb do you think I am? How many?"
Gibbs bit back the sarcastic answer that would have made Jenny proud and tried to keep his voice even.
"Three."
"Go on. Go up, get the wife and kid, then you get your ass back down here. No funny business. Now!"
Gibbs said nothing, not wanting to risk anything that could potentially endanger Jenny or Carly, but he stayed still, unwilling to move. His arm was roughly grabbed, his balance thrown off as he was shoved towards the stairs, and as he made his way up them, Gibbs tried to think of any way he could get his girls out safely. There were hundreds of thoughts spinning rapidly in his mind, but none of them were good enough to help him out of the situation he currently found himself in.
As he entered the bedroom, he quietly whispered Jenny's name, reaching out to shake her shoulder gently, and she gave him a confused look as her eyes landed on his.
"You'd better have a damn good reason for waking me up, Leroy Jethro."
He fought the urge to laugh at the irony and nodded. She had no idea…
"Jen, someone's in the house. Downstairs. I need you and Carly to make a run for the door when you get to the bottom of the steps."
Jenny shook her head, reaching for her firearm only to find it missing from its usual place by the bed. She swore softly as she remembered it had been left in the basement the night before. She mentally kicked herself for being so easily distracted and as she walked with Gibbs to Carly's room, she rolled her eyes at her own stupidity.
Carly proved to be more difficult to wake, shifting away from every touch, and when her eyes finally opened, she glared at them both.
"What?" she grumbled, pushing her hair out of her face.
"There's someone in the house, Carly. Just come downstairs with us and make a run for the door as soon as you get close."
"I'm not leaving you here," Jenny told him, "I can—"
"Shh," he whispered, nodding his head at the door, "Let's go. Worry about measuring when we're clear."
Jenny merely nodded, following him silently down the stairs and as soon as Carly hit the landing, she bolted for the front door, wrenching it open quickly.
"Not so fast, little girl," came the drawling voice, the weapon in his hand now trained on her, "Over here with Mommy and Daddy."
"What do you want?" Gibbs asked, keeping his voice carefully neutral.
The gun swung in Gibbs' direction and he jerked his head in the direction of the basement steps, glaring at them.
"All of you. Basement. Now."
As they made their way down the steps, Jenny reached for Carly's hand, both as a safety measure and as a source of comfort, and as soon as they were all backed up against the shell of the boat, Gibbs took a step forward. This was his domain, after all. He knew the precise location of every tool in this room and he was certainly going to use it to his advantage.
"Valuables. Where are they? A safe?"
Gibbs shook his head, determined to keep their assailant's attention away from Jenny and Carly.
"Don't have any except the tools."
The man gave Gibbs a look that clearly asked if he was stupid and as he spoke, Gibbs tried to pretend that he didn't feel Carly slowly inching towards the stairs. She made a mad dash for them, making it almost halfway before a hand wrapped around her ankle, pulling her, screaming, back down. The man roughly hauled Carly to her feet, pinning her to the boat with his right, holstering his gun with his left, and as he reached for the tool closest to his hand, Gibbs swore his heart was going to burst from his chest.
"No, please don't d—"
Carly's words were cut off by a scream, one so filled with pain and fear that Gibbs knew it would be cemented in his memory forever, and as Jenny rushed to her side, he could see his own fear reflected in her eyes. Barely protruding from just below her wrist was a long nail, the blood a steady stream from the hole, pinned to the side of the boat and Carly's eyes closed in fear as he raised the nail gun again.
"Don't try anything like that again, little girl," he snarled, "Or the next one goes right between those pretty eyes of yours."
Carly whimpered, burying her head in Jenny's shoulder, and the redhead raised angry eyes to him, her barely-restrained rage clear in her tone.
"We've already told you that the tools are the only thing of value. Either take them or don't, but this wasn't necessary."
Gibbs could see her thinking, knew she was planning something, and when her eyes landed on the firearm on the ground next to his work table, he knew exactly what it was She pushed off from the boat with impressive force, diving for the gun, and as her fingers closed around it, Gibbs had never felt more proud.
She aimed it quickly, firing two rounds into their assailant's upper thigh, wasting no time in taking his own weapon away from him. Gibbs moved quickly, grabbing the landline phone that he'd never gotten rid of (something he was profoundly grateful for now), and as he dialed the emergency number, he looked at Jenny. They'd have never made it without her quick thinking and he frowned as he realized what she was searching for on his table.
"Second drawer," he supplied helpfully.
She nodded, pulling the hammer from the drawer, handing him the gun in her hand, and as she made her way back over to Carly, she knelt down, running her free hand over the younger girl's long reddish-gold hair.
"I'm sorry that I have to do this, Little One," she said gently, "It's going to hurt like hell, but I have to."
Carly nodded, gripping Jenny's hand so hard that her fingers were pure white, and as she positioned the hammer, Jenny forced her to look at her.
"On three, okay?"
Gibbs turned away, focusing his attention on the man still on the floor and on his conversation with the emergency dispatcher.
"Yes, he's detained, but we still need the police. Thank you."
He had just hung up the phone when Jenny took a deep breath, wrenching the long nail from Carly's arm, and even he jumped slightly at the scream of pain that fell from her lips.
"Jethro."
He turned at the sound of Jenny's voice, handing her the gun and sweeping the unconscious Carly into his arms, moving quickly to the stairs.
"Shoot him if he moves."
Jenny nodded to show that she'd heard him, her eyes never leaving the man at her feet, and when he spoke, she rolled her eyes.
"You don't have the guts to kill me."
"You threatened my daughter. You severely underestimate just how wrong you are."
Gibbs bit back his laughter as he carried Carly up the stairs. God, he loved that woman…
Shepard
Carly was fast asleep by the time Jenny and Gibbs were allowed into her hospital room and as they walked into the bright room, Jenny found herself holding her breath, afraid of what she was about to see. Carly's already small frame seemed impossibly smaller in the large bed, swallowed by the pristine white sheets and Jenny felt her eyes fill with tears as she took a seat next to her.
Gibbs said nothing as he stood next to Jenny, merely placing his hand on her shoulder in a show of comfort, and Jenny reached for Carly's hand as she felt her tears burning in her bright green eyes.
"Ducky was wrong," she said quietly, not wanting to wake the sleeping girl.
Gibbs frowned, waiting for her to continue, and she shook her head slowly.
"He thought I would be able to help her. To take care of her. Keep her safe. I couldn't even do that. I had one fucking job and I failed."
Gibbs shook his head, looking at her seriously.
"Wasn't your fault, Jen."
Jenny sighed, running her hand over Carly's hair gently, and as she leaned down to kiss her forehead, a stray tear dripped onto Carly's cheek.
"I'm so sorry, Little One," she whispered, "I love you."
Fortunately for everyone, Carly was released from the hospital early the next day, and as she pulled on the soft yoga pants and sweatshirt that Jenny had brought for her, she frowned, looking at her body in disgust. Jenny noticed the look on her face but said nothing, sitting on the edge of the bed as she finished dressing, pretending that she didn't notice the way Carly's ribs were clearly visible as she pulled the shirt over her head.
She was so absorbed in her pretense that at first Jenny didn't notice that Carly had moved, but when her soft voice cut through the quiet, she was surprised at its closeness.
"Can I ask you something?"
Jenny nodded, raising her eyes from her lap, looking at Carly seriously.
"Of course."
"How did you do it? How do you turn off those thoughts that say "You're fat and disgusting. You need to lose weight. People are horrified by how you look because you're so fat.", even when you know that it's just your fucked up mind being stupid?"
Jenny frowned for a moment, thinking, and as she patted the spot next to her, she gave Carly a small smile.
"I didn't," she answered honestly, "I still have those thoughts every day. I can't stop them from happening, but I can stop the way I react to them. Before, I would have done what you do, restrict food, exercise like crazy, or more recently, purging. But now, I have to tell myself that those actions aren't the answer. None of that will make it better. Will I be thinner? Possibly. But the more important question is will I be happy? And the answer to that is always "no". I have to ask myself which matters more to me, being thin or being happy? My advice to you would be to start there."
Carly was silent for a long moment, shifting slightly in her seat next to Jenny, and when she suddenly threw her arms around the older woman, she smiled.
"You're the best."
Jenny laughed.
"Not even close, Little One."
"I love you, Mom."
Jenny closed her eyes, kissing Carly's temple, fighting the urge to cry.
"I love you too, honey."
Hours later, long after they'd returned home, Jenny found herself alone in the bedroom, holding a glass of bourbon, trying to make sense of the conversation she'd had with Carly. Logically, she knew there had been nothing to cause her confusion, but her emotions had refused to leave her be, and as she took another long drink, she sighed. Why did this have to be so difficult? Why couldn't her emotions just let her more rational side handle things?
She knew that what she'd said to Carly made sense, knew that on her good days, it was even true, so why did she feel as though she'd done something wrong? Was it because she still struggled every day? Was it because (as much as she hated to admit it) Carly was a constant reminder of the way her life had once been? Jenny shook her head, hating herself for even thinking such a thing, and she drained the glass in her hand, hoping that the alcohol would ease her guilt.
She didn't so much as blink when Gibbs entered the room, frowning at the empty glass in her hand, and as he sat next to her on the bed, Jenny tried to pretend that she didn't notice the way he was looking at her. She'd learned months ago how to interpret most of his looks and this one clearly said that he knew she had something on her mind and he wanted an explanation. She sighed, placing the glass on the bedside table, and as he nudged her lightly with his knee, she slowly looked up at him.
"I feel guilty, Jethro."
"Told you it wasn't your fault."
She shook her head.
"Not about that. I mean, yes, but no. Every time I look at her, I remember how sick I used to be, how much thinner I was, and I feel guilty because...there's a part of me that misses it. I miss being that thin, I miss the way that I would focus on nothing else because that was all that mattered to me. I couldn't get stressed about anything else, because as long as I was thin, everything else would work out. Nothing else was important."
She paused, still wrestling with herself on the matter, and when she realised Gibbs was simply staring at her, she sighed.
"You think I'm crazy, don't you? Crazy and stupid."
He shook his head, bright blue eyes locking on hers.
"Nope. Jen, it's an addiction, just like alcoholism or being addicted to drugs. It doesn't make you crazy or stupid at all. You have to treat it the same way: one day at a time. Eventually, it might get easier, but even if it doesn't, you have to keep fighting it."
Jenny said nothing, staring at her hands in her lap, and as he moved closer, Gibbs reached out, taking her hand in his, running his thumb over the back of her hand lightly.
"And for the record, you don't need to lose any weight. You're perfect just the way you are."
The laugh that fell from Jenny's lips was slightly bitter.
"You're just saying that to get laid."
Gibbs shrugged, kissing her cheek softly.
"Maybe, but it's still true."
"Hey, have you seen my notebook?"
Jenny frowned at the urgency in Carly's voice, glancing up from the pot she was stirring, and shook her head.
"Which one?"
"The turquoise one. It has a sunflower sticker on the cover."
"No, but I can help you look. Give me just a minute."
"No!" there was an edge to Carly's voice, making Jenny all the more confused, "I'll find it myself."
Jenny shook her head, turning down the heat on the soup she'd been cooking, and as she walked into the living room, she frowned at the massive mess in the tiny space. Carly had torn the room apart searching for her notebook, and as Jenny leaned down to pick up a cushion from the couch, she sighed. What was so damned important?
Just as she was straightening up, she caught sight of a turquoise corner just under the couch, and she picked it up slowly. The sunflower sticker in the corner proved she'd found what Carly had been looking for, and as she was about to call for her, it slipped from her hand. Though she hadn't intended to, Jenny's eyes landed on the various numbers on each page, and when she finally realised what she was seeing, her heart began to pound in her chest.
2 Coca Colas= 280 calories
1 apple= 95 calories
½ serving of mashed potatoes= 107 calories
½ serving of steak= 137 calories
Total= 619 calories
Jenny recognised the book for what it was immediately, flipping through various pages, and it was only the frantic sound of Carly's voice that made her pause.
"No! Don't look at that!"
Before she could react, Carly had crossed the room, ripping the book from her hands, and Jenny frowned, looking at her seriously.
"Carly, what's going on?"
"Nothing! I just needed my notebook."
Jenny shook her head, taking a step closer, her eyes sad as she pulled the notebook away from Carly. She heard the sound of Gibbs' footsteps on the stairs, coming down from his shower, and as he surveyed the damage done to the living room, she knew he was frowning.
"That's not just a notebook. You and I both know exactly what it is. Carly, this isn't healthy, and if you don't stop—"
"Nothing is going on!" Carly's voice was louder now, shaking in her desperation., "Give it back!"
"No," Jenny said sternly. "I'm not giving this back to you."
Carly turned to Gibbs, her eyes pleading as she looked at him.
"Make her give it back."
Jenny handed it to him, her eyes serious.
"Look at it, Jethro. Even you should be able to figure it out."
She knew, from the way his eyes narrowed, that he understood at once what he was looking at, and as he shook his head, Carly's eyes filled with tears.
"I think she's right, kid," Gibbs said quietly.
"This isn't fair!" Carly seethed, "That's mine and you can't just take it away without my permission!"
"We're only trying to help you get better, Little One," Jenny said gently.
"I don't want your "better"! Just because you were too weak to keep going doesn't mean that I am!"
Gibbs shook his head, taking a step forward.
"Carly, stop."
"You're just upset right now," Jenny said, seemingly unaffected by her words, "and that's understandable, but you have to—"
"No!" Carly yelled, shaking her head angrily, "I don't have to do anything! You're not my mother, Jenny, so stop acting like it!"
"Hey!" Gibbs barked sternly, his eyes cold, "You don't ever speak to her like that, do you understand?"
"It's fine, Jethro," Jenny said, her voice dangerously calm, "She's right. I'm not her mother. And she needs to learn in her own way. But let me tell you something, Carly. Do things your own way. I won't stop you. I won't say a word. But don't you come crying to me when it all comes crashing down around you."
Without another word, Jenny swept from the room, making her way quickly up the stairs, leaving Gibbs and Carly to stare after her. Gibbs handed her the notebook silently, giving her nothing more than a hard look as he made his way to the basement steps, and as the door closed behind him, Carly sank down onto the couch.
The relationship between Carly and Jenny remained strained for weeks following the incident, Jenny making good on her word to stay out of the younger girl's affairs, and while she knew it was for the best, it was still incredibly difficult for her to remain indifferent. Carly was just as likely to skip meals now as to show up, not even pretending to eat when she did join them, and though he could see the worry in Jenny's eyes each time she looked at Carly, Gibbs said nothing.
Both women were being incredibly stubborn, each doing their best to prove the other wrong, and though it was killing her, Jenny pointedly said nothing as she left the dinner table that night to go to the bedroom. Gibbs stayed behind for a moment, glancing at Carly as she sipped her tea, and when she noticed his eyes on her, the younger girl sighed.
"What?"
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine. Just a little cold."
Gibbs nodded, pushing his chair in as he stood, and just as he was leaving the room, he gave her a look she couldn't identify.
"Blankets are in the hall closet."
He didn't wait to see if she would grab one, making his way up the stairs, and as he pushed open the bedroom door, he noticed that Jenny was sitting cross-legged on the bed, deep in meditation.
"How is she?" she asked, her voice soft.
He shrugged.
"Stubborn, just like you."
Jenny sighed, opening her eyes and fixing him with a pained look.
"We can't force her to get better," she said quietly, "It doesn't work that way."
He nodded.
"She was wrong, you know."
Jenny raised her eyebrow in question, and he moved to sit next to her on the bed.
"Leaving it behind, it doesn't mean you're weak. You're strong enough to show your addiction who's really in control."
Jenny sighed, laying her head on his shoulder.
"I don't feel very strong right now."
He ran his fingers through her hair, smiling sadly.
"I know. But that's just it, Jen: even when it might not seem like it, you're the strongest person I know."
Jenny laughed, shaking her head.
"If you say so," she paused, taking a breath, "She's thinner now."
Gibbs nodded, reaching for her hand slowly.
"She was complaining about being cold before I came up."
"I'm not surprised," Jenny said, her voice sad, "She doesn't weigh enough to retain any body heat."
She was silent for a long moment, moving as close to him as she could get, holding his hand so tightly that it was almost painful.
"What do we do, Jethro?" she whispered.
"I wish I knew, Jen."
Over a month passed before things showed any sign of improving and though Jenny watched Carly grow thinner with each passing day, she said nothing, hoping that the girl would come to her senses on her own. She spent her time worrying, trying to think of any way that she could get through to her, and after Carly had gone to work late one night, Jenny sat on the couch, her head held in her hands, trying to sort through her own thoughts.
How had things gotten so out of control so quickly? How was she supposed to take care of Carly if she wouldn't even speak to her? How was she supposed to control her own urges when looking at Carly's increasingly thin frame was sending her mind down a dark path of destruction?
The low vibration of her phone shattered her thoughts and as she reached for it, Jenny took a deep breath, not even bothering to look at who was calling.
"Shepard."
She could just barely make out the sound of someone crying on the other end of the line and as she realised this, her grip on the phone tightened, knowing there was only one person who would be calling her like this.
"Carly, where are you?"
"B-bookstore by w-work..."
"Stay where you are. Are you hurt?"
"N-no, b-but—"
"Don't worry about anything else. I'm on my way."
She hung up the phone, making a mad dash for the basement steps, miraculously not falling down them in her haste, and as her feet touched down on the concrete, she took a breath.
"Jethro, we have to go. Now. Carly just called me, I don't know what happened, but she's at the bookstore by her work. We've got to go get her."
He nodded, following her back up the stairs, and as he grabbed his keys, he gave her a worried look.
"She hurt?"
Jenny shook her head.
"Said no, but we'll see."
The first thing Jenny noticed when they arrived at the bookstore was the destruction of Carly's car. The front bumper had been all but obliterated, the driver's side door was caved in, and the windshield had a series of spiderweb cracks running throughout it. Sitting on the curb in front of the store, with a cut just above her eye and shaking all over, was Carly, her eyes glued to the ground.
"What happened?" Gibbs asked as soon as he was near.
"Hit curb and into the light post," Carly said quietly, still refusing to look at either of them.
"You okay?"
"Probably be a little sore, but I'm okay. No one else was involved."
Gibbs nodded and as Jenny examined the damage to the car, she shook her head.
"You're lucky. You could have been seriously hurt."
"No shit," Carly said, her eyes finally moving to glare at the redhead.
Jenny didn't rise to the bait, merely exchanging a glance with Gibbs, and as the all climbed back into Gibbs' truck, he looked at her seriously.
"I'll come back for your car later."
"Thanks," Carly murmured.
The rest of the drive back to the house was silent and as soon as they'd all gotten inside, Carly made her way up to her room, closing the door tightly behind her. Gibbs glanced at Jenny, his eyes serious as she grabbed her keys.
"How do you think it happened?"
She sighed, running her hand through her hair.
"Could have been anything," she said slowly, "but somehow I doubt it. She probably wasn't paying attention or she blacked out. I hope she was just being careless."
Though it was a strange way for her to word it, Gibbs knew exactly what she meant and nodded.
"Let's go."
It was just nearing midnight when Jenny heard the knock on the bedroom door and as she closed the book she'd been reading, she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing Carly in her pyjamas, and as she made her way closer, Jenny could see the beginnings of a bruise forming just above her protruding collarbone.
"Can we talk?"
Jenny nodded, gesturing for her to sit, and as she took the spot next to her, Carly began twisting her hands nervously in her lap.
"I...I wanted to tell you what happened."
Jenny waited, knowing she wasn't finished, and when she spoke again, Carly's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I...passed out while I was driving. I'd been feeling really dizzy all day, but I thought it would go away if I just kept going. I was planning on drinking some hot chocolate on my lunch break. I thought...I thought that would be enough."
She took a deep breath, still not looking at Jenny, and continued.
"I've never passed out before...not from that, anyway. I...what if it happens again? What do I do?"
Jenny nodded, looking at her sadly, fighting the urge to touch her.
"It will. If you keep doing this, it will happen again. Sooner rather than later, I would guess."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Jenny's eyes locked on Carly's, nodding seriously.
"You know what you have to do."
Carly said nothing, dropping her gaze, and Jenny sighed, moving closer to her.
"Why didn't you tell me you'd been feeling dizzy like this?"
"You...you told me not to come to you when...and I was scared."
Jenny shook her head, finally unable to stand it any longer, and she placed her hand over Carly's, holding it gently.
"I know what I said, but I was angry. You really hurt me that day and I was upset. I didn't mean it."
"Really?"
Jenny nodded and before she could do so much as blink, Carly had thrown her arms around her, burying her head in her shoulder, tears falling rapidly down her face.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, "I was a bitch and I don't blame you for hating me. I should have died in that crash."
"No," Jenny shushed her gently, "That wouldn't have solved anything and I would be devastated if anything happened to you. I don't know what I would do without you. I don't think you realise just how much I love you."
Carly sniffed, raising her head to look at Jenny, and frowned.
"You mean it?"
"Of course I mean it, Little One," Jenny smiled, "I love you just as much as I would love my own daughter. You are my daughter."
Carly began to cry again, tears spilling down her skin, and Jenny reached out to wipe them away, her voice gentle.
"And you can always come to me. I'm always going to be here when you need me. I promise."
Jenny pulled her into her arms, kissing her cheek, running her fingers slowly through her long reddish-gold hair.
"I love you," Carly said quietly, "and you might not be my biological mom, but you're definitely my mom now."
"I love you too, Little One. So much more than you know."
Gibbs
Though he knew she was struggling, Gibbs had never felt more proud of Carly as he did the day that she'd broken down and told them that she was going to give treatment an honest try. He knew that it was going to be difficult, both for her and Jenny, who was going to have to get used to the silence for the time that Carly was gone, but it was for the best. Carly had agreed to give inpatient a try and as he'd dropped her off that morning, Gibbs gave her a hug, smiling at her as Jenny grabbed her bag from the back seat.
"You've got this, kid."
She returned his hug tightly, turning to face Jenny as she placed her bag on the ground, and as soon as she was able, Carly launched herself at the redhead, holding on so tightly that Jenny was nearly knocked off her feet.
"Will you call?"
"As soon as they give us the all clear," Jenny promised, "And until then, I left you a surprise in your new journal."
Carly pulled out the new journal that Jenny had given her, frowning when she saw the words written on the first page, and as she began to read, her eyes filled with tears.
Carly,
I know that things are rough right now and that you feel lost. You probably feel alone and want to give up. Eating disorders and depression are illnesses that seek to isolate you and make you feel alone. It's something deeply personal and difficult to open up about to others. I'm glad to have been part of your life and been able to truly come to know the woman you are underneath it all. I hope you will keep communication open and that you can confide in those you trust when you are struggling and need support. Just remember to also have a little patience with them and with yourself, too.
Have kindness and love for yourself. Focus on the things that make you truly happy and inspired. That's what makes you who you are—not your illness. Remember that you don't have to—and shouldn't—deal with this on your own. There are people, especially me, who want to help you and who are always there to listen. Recovery takes a lot of time and hard work, but it is never impossible. You deserve it. Don't ever give up.
All my love,
Jenny (Mom)
Jenny wiped away the tears that were now falling from Carly's eyes, kissing her cheek as she handed her the bag, and as she took a step, her voice was quiet.
"I love you."
"Love you too, kid."
"Love you too, Little One."
Just before she reached the door, Carly turned, waving at them one last time, and as the doors closed behind her retreating form, Jenny let out a sigh, turning to look at Gibbs.
"Do you think we did the right thing?"
He nodded, wrapping his arm around her as he kissed her cheek.
"Definitely."
Though he would never tell her, Jenny was beginning to drive him insane, pacing the basement floor as he worked, the book she'd brought with her all but abandoned, and as she passed him for the tenth time that night, he sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Jen, you're gonna wear a path in the floor."
"I can't help it. Do you think she's okay? What if she—"
"She's fine," he told her, walking up to her and placing his hands on her shoulders to stop her steps, "If you're not going to read, why don't you have a glass of bourbon and take a breath?"
Jenny nodded, making her way over to the work table, tipping back the bottle without even bothering to get a glass, and when he simply stared at her, she laughed quietly.
"You were right. That helped. You're just full of good ideas tonight."
"Don't tell anyone."
She laughed.
"Your secret is safe with me, Leroy Jethro."
Hours later, long after Jenny had left the basement, Gibbs frowned as he drained the last of his bourbon, trying to ignore the thoughts in his head. Though he would never admit it, he'd been thinking many of the same thoughts Jenny had and he was just as concerned as she was. He shook his head, hoping foolishly that this would clear them, and when it became evident that it was useless, he decided that he'd better go check on Jenny. She'd still been a bit restless when she'd gone upstairs, though he'd been able to see that the bourbon was starting to affect her, and as he walked up the steps, he sighed. This was not how he'd thought his night was going to go.
The bedroom was dark when he entered it, just enough light from the streetlight outside the window that he could make out Jenny's sleeping form on the bed, and as he leaned over to kiss her cheek, he smiled sadly. She really did stress herself out too much, no matter how hard she worked to hide it. He wondered what her colleagues would think if they could see her now. He bit back a laugh at that, turning to make his way back downstairs, and ran his hand through his hair.
"Jethro?"
He turned, looking at her carefully in the darkness, trying to gauge her mood just from that one word. It proved to be impossible and he took a step closer, his voice low in the darkness.
"Yeah?"
"Come to bed," she said quietly, her voice on the verge of breaking, "Don't make me sleep alone."
He nodded, making his way over to the bed, and as he moved to sit next to her on the mattress, she gave him a weak smile.
"Thank you."
He pulled her into his arms, positioning her so that her head was across his thighs, and ran his fingers through her long red hair, keeping his voice quiet in the silence.
"Anything for you, Jen."
"Will you hold me for the rest of the night?'
He nodded, leaning down to kiss her temple, his lips moving against her hair as he spoke.
"Yeah, Jen. I got you," he whispered, "I got you."
A/N: Let me know what you think: what you liked, what you hated, etc! Mad love to you all!
