A/N: Before we get into this latest chapter, please allow me to apologise for my lack of updates. I know that I used to update weekly, but my health has taken a few turns lately, which has led to less frequent updates, but please know that I love and appreciate the support you have all shown this story. I hope that you will continue to enjoy this and that you know how much you mean to me.
Shepard
The foggy feeling in her head did little to explain her current position on the ground and when Jenny opened her eyes, she found that she could hardly see an inch in front of her. Blackness surrounded her and she blinked hard in an effort to both see better and clear the heaviness in her head. Much to her annoyance (and fear, though she would never admit it), her efforts were in vain and she swore silently. Where in the hell was she? More importantly, how had she gotten here? And how the fuck was she supposed to get out?
"Good afternoon, Jenny."
She frowned. Where was that voice coming from? The darkness was definitely beginning to piss her off and the echo of the room wasn't giving her any indication of which direction the voice had originated.
"I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to wake up. It's been terribly lonely sitting here without anyone to talk to."
"Where am I?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse, but it was steady. Much steadier than she felt. Point for her.
"Not to worry. You're someplace safe. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Who are you?"
"I'm no one special. That doesn't really matter."
Jenny shook her head, fighting against the panic that she could feel building within her chest. Every nerve ending was screaming at her to run, even though she knew it would be a useless attempt, and as the man in the room moved closer to her, she instinctively crawled backward.
"Don't worry, Jenny. I promise I'm not going to hurt you."
The words were of little comfort to her and as she closed her eyes to keep from screaming, Jenny tried to think of something, anything, that would help her out of this.
Two Days Earlier
Gibbs
The day before Carly was set to return to inpatient treatment for the second time, she spent her time with her best friend Evan Catherine Linton getting so drunk that she could hardly stand. Gibbs kept an eye on them from his place in the kitchen, waiting for Jenny to come home. They seemed to mostly be laughing about something that made little sense to him and while he knew that it was probably not the wisest idea to allow them to drink, he much preferred that they do it in the safety of his house. At least then he knew nothing of major consequence could happen.
The front door opening signaled Jenny's arrival and as soon as she noticed the two girls sitting on the floor in front of the couch, she frowned, her face the perfect picture of confusion. Carly jumped up from her place on the floor and threw her arms around the older redhead, hugging her tightly, causing Jenny to look in his direction. Gibbs merely shrugged, fighting the urge to laugh as Carly spoke.
"Mom, I missed you!" she exclaimed, her voice slurred slightly, "How was work?"
"Fine," Jenny answered slowly, "How was your day?"
"Good! Evan's here to spend the night with me before I leave."
"I see that."
She disentangled herself from the younger girl, making her way quickly into the kitchen, glaring at Gibbs as soon as she was in front of him.
"Jethro, what the hell is going on here?" she whispered, her voice giving away her irritation.
He shook his head, glancing at the girls again.
"Figured it wouldn't hurt to let her have one last good night of fun with Evan before she left. In case you hadn't noticed, she eats more when she's drunk."
Jenny sighed.
"I noticed," she said shortly, "but getting drunk isn't the answer to this problem and you damn well know it."
"Course I do, Jen. But it isn't hurting anyone and it's not like she makes a habit of it. She's being safe and I think it could help her."
Jenny was silent for a moment, her eyes flickering over to Carly and Evan for a brief second, and finally she nodded. As soon as she made her way back into the living room, Carly hugged her again, and the redhead fought the urge to laugh. Gibbs smiled at the look of amusement in her eyes and shook his head, reaching for his own drink. This was certainly shaping up to be an interesting night.
"It's all bullshit."
Gibbs frowned, exchanging a look with Jenny from his position next to her on the couch. Carly was sitting on the floor, leaning back against the redhead's legs, her expression serious as she spoke to the room at large.
"What's bullshit, Little One?"
"Everything," Carly replied, her words severely slurred now, "School, work, going to—to inpatient, all of it. It's bullshit."
Jenny tilted her head in confusion, glancing at Evan to see if she understood any more than she did. The younger girl simply shrugged, taking a long drink of her water and Gibbs shook his head.
"It's not bullshit, Carly. Your classes are helping you to achieve your dream of helping people, work gives you a sense of purpose, and inpatient is going to save your life."
Carly shook her head, her long strawberry-blonde hair falling into her face. She brushed it back in annoyance, taking another long drink from her glass. Though he would never admit it, Gibbs was secretly very relieved that Evan had stopped consuming alcohol hours ago. Maybe it would benefit Carly to hear advice from someone closer to her own age.
"It's bullshit," Carly repeated, "What if it doesn't work? Insurance only pays for one month of treatment and if I'm not ready by then, this will keep happening. I'll keep relapsing and relapsing until poof!"
"Poof?" Jenny asked, raising her eyebrow in question.
"Poof," Carly nodded, tipping back her glass again, "Poof. Dead, in the ground."
Evan hugged her, her voice warm as she spoke.
"That's not going to happen. I'm not going to let it, and I know your mom and dad sure as hell won't, either."
"It's bullshit."
Gibbs shook his head, reaching out to take Carly's glass from her hand, much to her irritation.
"Hey!" she protested, "That's mine! Give it back!"
"Nope. You've had enough for one night."
"Give it back."
"He's right, Carls," Evan told her, hugging her again, "It's time for you to get ready for bed."
"Can we watch a movie in bed?"
Evan laughed, shaking her head as she glanced at Jenny.
"Sure. Whatever you want."
Carly brightened at this and stood slowly, reaching out to hug first Jenny, then Gibbs, a smile on her face as she kissed each of their cheeks.
"Night, Mom. Night, Dad. Love you!"
"Night, Little One. Love you, too."
"Love you, kid."
The girls disappeared up the stairs, the sound of Carly's laughter echoing in the silence, and as she laid her head on Gibbs' shoulder, Jenny sighed.
"Still think it was a good idea to let her drink?"
Gibbs laughed.
"So she got a little emotional. She's gonna be fine."
Jenny didn't look entirely convinced and Gibbs wrapped his arm around her, kissing her hair lightly.
"Jen, she's going to be fine."
"If you say so."
"Let's go to bed."
"Now there's an idea..."
Gibbs laughed, kissing her once more before standing, and as they turned out the lights, he tried to pretend that he didn't have an annoying feeling in the back of his mind saying that he was worried, too.
"Jethro?"
He glanced down at her to show that he was listening and Jenny's fingers toyed with the sheet wrapped around them, her eyes refusing to meet his. He'd long ago learned that she struggled with eye contact when she was nervous or worried and tonight, it seemed, was no exception.
"If I tell you something, do you promise not to laugh at me?"
He frowned.
"Why would I laugh?"
Jenny sighed, shaking her head.
"I don't know, I just..."
She paused, her fingers still twisting the sheet, and when she spoke again, her voice was soft.
"I'm scared, Jethro. What are we going to do if this doesn't work? What if she's right and she just keeps relapsing until she dies? I can't lose her."
He moved without thinking, no hesitation as he pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he dared. She buried her head in his chest, her eyes closed tightly, and he could feel her body shaking in an effort not to cry. He kissed her hair, combing his fingers slowly through the fiery strands, and when he could feel her shaking begin to lessen, he kissed her again.
"We aren't going to lose her, Jen," he whispered gently, "She's a strong girl and she's going to beat this."
"How can you be so sure?" Jenny asked, her voice muffled by his body.
In truth, he wasn't, but he knew there was no way in the world he would ever tell her that.
"Because even though she's not biologically ours, there's so much of you in her. And you're a fighter. She's not going to give up that easily."
Jenny raised her head, looking at him for the first time since she'd spoken, and when he tucked her hair behind her ear, she gave him a smile.
"I love you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs."
"I love you more, Jen."
The first few hours after dropping Carly off found Jenny more irritable than usual and while Gibbs knew she was worried, he quietly distanced himself in the safety of his basement. He found comfort in the process of sanding, the smooth wood beneath his fingers calming his own frayed nerves, and as he took a drink of his coffee, he frowned, lost in thought.
Would Kelly have ever gotten sick like Carly? Though he'd always made sure to tell her just how much he loved her and that she was the most beautiful little girl in the world, he knew it wasn't that simple. After all, if someone as stunning and intelligent as Jenny had fallen prey to the horrors of an eating disorder, then it was possible for anyone. As hard as he tried, he couldn't help but imagine what would have happened if it were Kelly in Carly's place and he found himself wondering how he and Shannon would have handled it.
Neither he nor his wife had any history or experience with eating disorders (that he knew of) and as much as he hated to admit it, he knew they would have been hopelessly lost concerning the help she would have needed. This made him feel immensely grateful for Jenny and though he wished she had never been through the torment and pain, he was glad of her knowledge. The sudden appreciation for Jenny made him feel unexpectedly guilty and he frowned for a moment as he pondered why. He had never consciously compared Jenny to Shannon, that wasn't fair to either of them, but he suddenly felt ashamed for his train of thought.
Jenny wasn't better than Shannon, nor was Shannon better than Jenny, that would be like comparing apples and oranges as the saying went...but damn, he was confused. He certainly didn't think less of his wife for her lack of knowledge concerning the complexity of eating disorders and mental health relating to them, but that didn't make Jenny superior, either. She simply had a different skill set. Like someone who knew more about sports than electromagnetic fields. Right?
Gibbs closed his eyes, rubbing them slowly, and rested his head against the shell of his boat. What the hell was going on with him? He had no idea how he'd gotten into this defense match with himself and if he was being honest, he didn't know what he expected the result to be. God, he was so damn confused...
Soft footsteps on the stairs made him open his eyes, raising his head slowly, and when Jenny called his name, he blinked hard.
"Jethro, do you want more coffee?"
He didn't answer her immediately, still partially lost in his thoughts, and she walked a few steps down, leaning over the rail.
"Jethro?"
"Hm?"
"Do you want more coffee?"
"I'm good," he answered, holding up the cup he currently held tightly in his hand.
Jenny watched him for a long moment before nodding and as she walked back up the stairs, he sighed. Why couldn't his mind just cut him some slack for once?
Shepard
Jenny closed her eyes hard, pressing the heel of her hand to her forehead, hoping against hope that it would help alleviate the blinding pain in her head. To her disappointment, it didn't work as she had wanted it to and she sighed, reaching for her cup of coffee. It was almost full, but she drained it within seconds, standing quickly to make her way to the door. She gave Cynthia a smile as she passed her desk, waving once, and as she walked down the stairs, she shook her head in amusement.
Agent DiNozzo was currently spending his time antagonising Agent Todd, evidently succeeding in getting under her skin (if the look on her face was any indication of her feelings) and when she stopped in front of Gibbs' desk, she gave DiNozzo a warning look.
"Good morning, Agent Gibbs."
He nodded.
"Director Shepard."
"Unless I'm mistaken, you haven't briefed me on your latest case and if you want your overtime approved, I'll require a briefing."
He hadn't forgotten to brief her at all and they both knew it, but he stood anyway, following her to the elevator. The doors closed behind them slowly and as soon as they were alone, he gave her a puzzled look.
"Care to explain?"
She smiled.
"I needed a coffee break and didn't feel like going alone."
"You have a driver," he reminded her, "You're never alone."
"True," she conceded, "but I'd much rather go get coffee with you than with Agent Caton."
He smirked, kissing her cheek just before the elevator doors opened, and when they both stepped out, they were the picture of professionalism. Jenny knew she shouldn't have pulled him away from his case, not when he was so obviously close to solving it, but she'd seen the exhaustion and stress in his eyes from the moment they'd gotten dressed that morning, and she was determined to help in any way she could.
She gave him a smile as he opened the door to the car for her, sliding into the vehicle easily, and when he reached for her hand as he drove, she was again reminded of just how fortunate she was. The drive was silent, giving her plenty of time to think, and Jenny wasn't surprised to find her thoughts returning to Carly. She hadn't heard from her since she'd gone back to inpatient, though she knew that this was likely a good thing, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing better.
If anyone had told her a year ago that she would be raising a teenager and in the best relationship of her life, running the agency that she'd given her life to, she would have never believed it. As it was, she still often found herself questioning how she'd ended up here, not that she would change any of it, and she always came to the same conclusion: she didn't really care. The car came to a stop, making her frown, and when she realised they had arrived at their destination, she smiled.
The coffee shop was warm and inviting, surprisingly quiet considering how crowded it was, and as Jenny approached the counter, Gibbs wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Whatever you want, Jen. I'm buying."
` Jenny laughed.
"You wouldn't be attempting to bribe me, would you, Leroy Jethro?"
He merely flashed her a smile, which she returned immediately. They placed their orders (both black coffee) and as Gibbs handed over his money, Jenny smiled at the man behind the counter. He made quick work of the coffees, handing them to her faster than she would have expected, and as she took them, he smiled.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome."
Armed with more caffeine, Jenny felt better equipped to deal with her day, and as they walked to a nearby table, she didn't notice the way the barista's eyes followed her every move.
"Do you think she's getting better?"
Jenny didn't bother to elaborate, knowing that there was no need. Gibbs wasn't stupid, he would know exactly who she was talking about. He nodded, taking a drink of his coffee, and as he set it down on the table in front of him, he looked at her seriously.
"She's going to be fine. You know there's always a waiting period before she's allowed to call. We'll hear from her soon and then you can visit. See for yourself."
She knew that he was right, knew she was worrying needlessly, but she couldn't help herself. She thought of little else throughout the day, except when her work required her complete attention, and as she looked down at her coffee, she found it hard to return his smile.
"I suppose," she said finally, "I'm just worried. And I miss her."
Gibbs reached for her hand, causing her to look up, and when she met his gaze, she found the same emotions reflected in his bright blue eyes.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're a great mother?"
She shook her head, sighing slowly.
"I don't feel like it. I feel like it's my fault that she's there. If she hadn't been around me and all of my bullshit, she wouldn't have—"
"She was sick before she came here," he reminded her gently, "It had nothing to do with you. Or me. She's been sick for years, it isn't going to be cured magically overnight."
He paused, giving her a serious look.
"Speaking of which, how have you been doing?"
Jenny sighed, trying to gather her thoughts. How was she supposed to tell him that every single day was a struggle, that every bite of food that sat in her stomach was like concrete? How could she tell him that it took every ounce of willpower she had to keep herself from bolting to the bathroom after each meal and shoving her fingers down her throat until she saw blood? How did she put into words that she felt like a disgusting failure each time she looked in a mirror?
"I'm fine. It's been rough, but it's getting easier."
He stared at her for a long time, clearly trying to decide if she was lying, and when he shook his head, she knew he hadn't believed her.
"The truth, Jen."
"Can we talk about it when we're alone?" she asked, glancing around the coffee shop, "I don't want to get into this here."
Gibbs nodded, taking another drink of his coffee, and when she picked up her own, she was surprised to find it almost empty. They seemed to reach the same conclusion, standing at almost exactly the same time, and as they made their way back to the counter, he gave her a smile.
"Sure you're not a mind reader?"
Jenny laughed.
"Believe me, if I were, DiNozzo's thoughts would have driven me insane years ago. I've known him for five years and I was his partner for three. That's enough for anyone."
Gibbs smiled, taking their drinks as they were handed across the counter.
"You do make a very good point, Director."
Almost as soon as they returned to the Navy Yard, Gibbs was called out on a case, leaving Jenny to her thoughts once again in her office and (not for the first time) she wished desperately for a distraction. Her work load had been unusually light for the past few days and while she would have normally welcomed the break, she was too concerned about Carly to truly enjoy it.
A spur of the moment decision led her to the parking lot, slipping past her security detail and her driver as she climbed into DiNozzo's company car, hoping that he wouldn't get his own case before she returned, thankful she still had a set of keys. She quickly drove the short distance to the cemetery, suddenly desperate to talk to her mother, and as she carefully made her way through the silent gravestones, she ran her hand through her hair.
Kneeling down in front of her mother's grave, she ran her fingers over the marble, tracing the letters of her name, her voice quiet as she spoke.
"Hi, Mom. I don't know if you can hear me, but I just wanted to visit. I know I haven't been here in a long time and I am so sorry. I've been spending most of my time trying to help Carly. I bet you never thought I would have a daughter of my own, did you? I know she would have loved you. And Heather. Speaking of Heather, I really wish she was here now. I could use her help. I just...I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know how to help her. She's sick...like me, but...how can I help her if I can't even help myself? How did you do it? How did you know what to do? You always knew what to say and I'm always fucking it up. I guess I'll never be as good of a mother as you."
Jenny sighed, running her hand through slightly tangled hair, slowly standing up from her position on the grass. She took a step back, nearly colliding with someone walking on the path behind her and she froze, her eyes wide.
"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice louder than she had intended, "I didn't see you there."
The man behind her smiled, waving her apology away.
"It's okay, Jenny. No harm done."
She returned the smile for a split second before she realised that the man had known her name. She'd never seen this man before, so how in the world did he know who she was? She was just preparing to question it when his left hand closed around her wrist and his right covered her mouth. She drew in breath to scream, a sickly sweet odor filling her mouth and nose, and before she knew what had happened, her eyes closed, body completely limp.
The foggy feeling in her head did little to explain her current position on the ground and when Jenny opened her eyes, she found that she could hardly see an inch in front of her. Blackness surrounded her and she blinked hard in an effort to both see better and clear the heaviness in her head. Much to her annoyance (and fear, though she would never admit it), her efforts were in vain and she swore silently. Where in the hell was she? More importantly, how had she gotten here? And how the fuck was she supposed to get out?
"Good afternoon, Jenny."
She frowned. Where was that voice coming from? The darkness was definitely beginning to piss her off and the echo of the room wasn't giving her any indication of which direction the voice had originated.
"I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to wake up. It's been terribly lonely sitting here without anyone to talk to."
"Where am I?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse, but it was steady. Much steadier than she felt. Point for her.
"Not to worry. You're someplace safe. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Who are you?"
"I'm no one special. That doesn't really matter."
Jenny shook her head, fighting against the panic that she could feel building within her chest. Every nerve ending was screaming at her to run, even though she knew it would be a useless attempt, and as the man in the room moved closer to her, she instinctively crawled backward.
"Don't worry, Jenny. I promise I'm not going to hurt you."
The words were of little comfort to her and as she closed her eyes to keep from screaming, Jenny tried to think of something, anything, that would help her out of this.
"Can I at least know your name?"
"James."
Jenny frowned, trying to make sense of anything in the darkness, and as she did so, she noticed a slight movement in front of her. The shadows were definitely closer than they had been previously and she moved backward again. Her back hit the wall behind her, cold and hard, making her realise that she was sitting in a basement. It still gave her no indication of how she had come to be here, nor about the man sitting on the opposite side of the room, but it was better than no information at all.
She nearly smiled when she realised that her phone was still in the pocket of her blazer, providing her with a lifeline to the world outside and it was only the voice of her companion that halted any relief she might have felt.
"You don't need to be scared, Jenny. You're perfectly safe here so long as you remember the rules."
"Rules?" she repeated, her heart sinking.
"There are only two. One, you treat me with respect. Two, you do not, under any circumstances, try to escape. If you can manage these two simple rules, I think we'll be very happy here."
Jenny nodded, trying to control the fear that was once again at the forefront of her mind. She'd been a captive before, both in her line of work and in her personal life with Derek, though that seemed a lifetime ago now. Panicking would do her no good now. If she could stay calm, she could figure a way out of this. She wasn't the Director of a federal agency for nothing, after all.
Gibbs
Gibbs glared at Tony DiNozzo as he returned to the squad room swearing loudly, slamming his hand down on his desk in frustration.
"Care to share?" McGee asked dryly.
"Our car is gone," DiNozzo said, his voice shaking in anger.
The older agent looked up sharply from his desk as the words registered in his tired mind and he shook his head slowly.
"What?"
"Someone stole our company car. It's not in the parking garage."
"Have security check the tape in the garage," McGee replied in a tone that told Gibbs he thought this was painfully obvious.
"Wow, McGeek, why didn't I think of that?" DiNozzo snapped sarcastically.
Gibbs laughed quietly, reaching for his coffee and taking a long drink. With every passing day that he worked in this building, he was beginning to wonder how Jenny hadn't lost her mind. McGee was fine on his own, but when he was paired with DiNozzo (who was annoying on his good days, insufferable on his worst), it made his work much more difficult to concentrate on. How Jenny had ever gotten anything accomplished was a testament to her work ethic if nothing else was.
The ringing of DiNozzo's desk phone broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to the present moment, and as the other team leader answered it, his expression changed from irritation to worry in a matter of seconds.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you."
"Hey, Gibbs, when was the last time you talked to the Director?"
Gibbs frowned, thinking.
"When we finished our briefing. Why?"
"She's the one who took the car. Security confirms it. Do you have any idea of where she could have been going that she wouldn't have wanted her driver or security detail to know about?"
Gibbs shook his head, searching for any kind of reason Jenny would have given her driver or security the slip. Normally, he would have said she was sneaking away to be with him, but since he was sitting right here in the damn building, he had no idea. A thought occurred to him, prompting him to pick up his phone, and as it began to ring, he tapped his fingers impatiently on his desk. Her voicemail picked up after nearly a full minute and as he dialed a different number, he swore internally.
"Autopsy."
"Hey, Duck...got a question for you."
"Of course, Jethro. How may I be of service?"
He quickly explained the situation, careful to keep his worry from colouring his voice, and when the doctor finally spoke again, his tone was apologetic.
"I'm afraid I can't help you there. Jennifer and I haven't spoken much on a personal level with the exception of referring to Carly. You don't think something has happened to her, do you?"
"I'm not sure. She might have just gone for another coffee break, but..."
"It doesn't seem likely, does it?"
"Not at all. I'll keep you posted. Thanks."
He hung up, trying to come up with even the barest hint of an idea of where she could have gone and as he ran his fingers through his hair, McGee spoke again.
"We could always run a trace on her cell phone. Find out the last known location."
Gibbs nodded, looking at him sternly.
"Do it."
"Yes, sir."
Shepard
The sun shining through the small window above her head was blinding, but it gave Jenny hope that she could somehow find a way out of this situation. She'd tried the door at the top of the steps as soon as her captor had left only to find it locked, and as she pulled her phone from her blazer pocket, she swore silently. The signal was weak, but as she texted Gibbs, she hoped it would be enough. The rattling of the key in the lockb made her hurriedly stash her phone back in its hiding place, returning to the position she'd been in previously, and as footsteps approached her, Jenny tried to calm her rapidly beating heart.
"I brought you a glass of water."
Jenny offered a weak smile, taking the glass from James' outstretched hand.
"Thank you."
"Jenny, I told you, there's no need to be scared. I want you to be happy here. That's why I did this. You've been so unhappy lately and I want to change that."
The redhead frowned, more confused than ever.
"How do you know whether or not I've been unhappy?"
James smiled, though it did little to ease her discomfort.
"I know everything about you. I know where you work, where you live, what you have for lunch...I know that you rarely smile anymore, you spend most of your time worrying about your daughter, and your husband spends most of his time in the basement, leaving you to deal with that pain alone. I'll never do that to you, Jenny. You'll never have to suffer alone again."
"How—how do you know where I live? About my daughter?"
Again, James smiled, shaking his head.
"It was easy. A little money goes a long way when you're dealing with a private investigator. I ws able to get your address, your phone number, not that I've ever used it...I just wanted to watch you. To see what you liked, what you were going through. You've always been so nice to me every time we talked."
Jenny shook her head, trying to make sense of what had just been said.
"Do I know you?"
James laughed, a hollow sound that sent a shiver through her body.
"You stop by the coffee shop every day. The best days of my life are the ones where I work during the day. Those few moments are my favourite."
It suddenly hit Jenny why he looked vaguely familiar and she shook her head again.
"You've been following me? All because I smiled at you for giving me a coffee?"
He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face.
"For a few months. At first, I just wanted to thank you for being nice, but the more I got to know you, to understand you, the more I realised that I love you."
Jenny fought the urge to laugh, disbelief colouring her voice.
"You...love me? You don't know me."
"But I do, Jenny. I know everything about you. I know how alone you feel, I know how you think you're going to lose your daughter, I know how you haven't really smiled in weeks. If you give me the chance, I know I can change that. I can make you happy. I can make you smile again."
He leaned closer, his lips brushing her cheek, and she fought the urge to recoil, trying to figure out a way to escape.
"Just give me a chance, Jenny. I love you."
In all her life, Jenny had never been so terrified by such gentle words.
Gibbs
"Gibbs, it looks like she went to the cemetery."
Glancing up at McGee, the older agent nodded, trying to pretend that he didn't feel the eyes of Kate Todd watching his every move, but when she spoke, it came as no surprise.
"Why would she deliberately want to avoid her driver just to go to a cemetery?"
"Well, the thing is Kate, Jenny's mom died about eight months ago and she's..."
"Private," Gibbs finished for him, looking at the young woman, "Doesn't like to talk about it."
"She pretty much shut everyone out the entire week after it happened. Didn't come to work, didn't answer any calls, really didn't even speak," McGee added, "They were extremely close."
Kate nodded, her eyes sad.
"Was it sudden?"
DiNozzo shrugged.
"In a way. She'd been sick for a long time, but she'd been showing signs of improvement. With the anniversary coming up, it makes sense that she'd want to be alone."
While Gibbs didn't fault the other team leader's reasoning, he knew that her decision likely had more to do with her confusion and struggle over Carly's health than the anniversary of her mother's death. Still, something about the situation wasn't sitting right with him and he frowned as he pulled out his cell phone. His expression changed into one of worry as he noticed the text message from the very person they'd been discussing, and as he read what she'd written, he swore softly.
"We've got a problem."
Lucas Harrington looked up sharply at the tone of his voice and frowned, studying him intently.
"What is it, Gibbs?"
"She's not at the cemetery. Maybe she was, but she isn't now."
He looked across the room, his eyes landing on Tim McGee.
"Are you positive that's the last place she was?"
He nodded.
"I can run the search again to see if anything changed, but as far as I—oh. Gibbs, you're right. The last known location was a residential neighbourhood. Looks like it's about half an hour from here."
Gibbs frowned. Jenny's message had been brief, mentioning a basement, but he knew, somehow, that she wasn't referring to their house. What in the hell was going on? Where was she?
Shepard
The moment she was left alone in the basement, Jenny pulled out her phone again, hoping that her message to Gibbs had gone through. She unlocked it quickly, praying that she didn't mess up in her urgency, and as she placed it to her ear, she closed her eyes tightly. The ringing of the phone was staticky and uneven, making her nervous, but when she heard the familiar click, she internally screamed with relief.
"Jen, where are you?"
"Jethro, I'm locked in a basement. I don't know the location, but it's a man who works at the coffee shop. I'm going to try to find a way out of here, but I don't know how far away I am."
Static filled her ear, accented by Gibbs' voice coming to her in fragments, and she swore loudly as she realised the call had dropped seconds later. It looked like, for better or worse, she was on her own. No one was coming to save her. She was going to have to do it herself. Glancing around the room, she tried to find anything that she could use as a weapon, fighting the urge to scream as she found nothing. She reached for the glass of water, preparing to take a drink, and—wait! The glass. That was perfect. Draining the water quickly, she turned it over in her hands, examining it carefully. It was a thick glass, though it looked like it would be easy enough to break, and as she held it in her hands, she heard the sound of the key in the lock.
She held the glass behind her back, wanting to have the element of surprise on her side, and as James came down the stairs, she moved closer to the wall.
"Jenny, I know that you haven't really gotten a chance to know me and I'd like to change that. The closer we get, the happier you'll be."
She shook her head, hoping that her experience in high school drama class wouldn't fail her now.
"Don't you understand? You've taken me away from my family, my friends. How could I ever be happy without them?"
James frowned, looking at her in confusion.
"I'll make you happy now, Jenny. You'll see. I love you and I'm going to do anything it takes to make you happy."
Jenny allowed her eyes to fill with tears, hoping she would be able to make her performance believable.
"The only way I can be happy again without them is if I were dead. Without them, I don't have anything to live for."
Though she was trying to get his guard down, Jenny was surprised to find that there was a hint of truth in her words.
"Ever since my sister and mother died, the only thing keeping me alive was my family and friends. I don't want to live without them and since you're keeping me here, then I really only have one choice."
She slammed the glass in her hand against the wall, wincing as it shattered, and picked up the largest piece she could find, holding it to her own throat.
"Jenny, don't! Please, put the glass down. You can't do this. You don't mean it."
Jenny shook her head, trying to ignore the way her hands were trembling.
"You say you love me, but you don't. Not really. You love the version of me that exists in your head. If you really loved me, then you would have to love every part of me. Even the parts that you didn't know existed."
"This isn't you, Jenny. I know that. You're just scared, this isn't the real you."
"No, James. You're wrong. I've always had this darkness lingering in my mind. You just chose not to see it. You love someone who doesn't exist. So, can you do that? Can you love me this way? Or can you only love the person you've dreamed up in your head?"
She pressed down on the glass, forcing herself to stay still as droplets of blood began to bloom beneath the broken glass, and when James moved closer, attempting to pull the sharp fragment from her hand, she found her moment. She tightened her grip on the glass, not even feeling the pain as it cut into her hand, and as she lunged forward, she plunged the glass deep into his collarbone, dragging it down.
He screamed in pain, too stunned to move as she bolted for the stairs, and she scrambled up them, not daring to look back. Just as her hand threw open the door, she felt his hand grasping for purchase on her jacket and she kicked backward, feeling resistance as her foot connected with something solid. She heard the sound of James' body tumbling back down the wooden steps but paid it little attention, running as fast as she could through the hallway.
She had no idea of where she was going, looking only for a door, and as she finally stumbled out into the daylight, she blinked furiously. There was a small wooded area just off to her right and she made a mad dash for the trees, not even pausing long enough to catch her breath. She could still see the house behind her and as she ran, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Pushing herself to run faster, Jenny had never been more thankful for her time as a field agent, and as she ran, she suddenly remembered her phone.
The signal was much stronger now and as she ducked behind a large tree, she tried to unlock the screen with shaking fingers. Her senses were on high alert, listening for any sound that indicated danger, and as she caught her breath, she heard the unmistakable sound of a car in the distance. Realising that another road was just through the trees, she made her way toward the sound, not even bothering to be quiet, and when she spilled out onto the pavement, she caught herself on bloodied hands.
Another car was approaching and when it stopped just behind her, she tried to pull her body up from the ground, her breath coming in painful gasps.
"Ma'am, do you need help?"
She tried to speak, but found that she simply didn't have the air, opting instead for pointing in the direction she'd come.
"He's back there," she finally gasped out, "Don't let him...find me...p-please."
The car door opened and as the driver approached her, holding out his hand to help her to her feet, Jenny could hear the sound of someone walking through the thicket of trees. Adrenaline surged through her, giving her the strength to stand, and she leaned against the car heavily.
"We need t-to leave. N-now."
After the driver helped her into the passenger seat, Jenny locked the door, her hands shaking so badly that it took her several attempts to hook her seat belt, and she let out a breath of relief as they began moving down the street. Fear came rushing back to her as she glanced in the rearview mirror, certain that she would see him following them, but the reflection was thankfully empty.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking at the driver gratefully.
"You're welcome. We need to get you to a hospital."
Jenny shook her head, her long red hair sticking to the still-drying blood on her throat.
"No. That's the first place he'll look for me."
Now that she thought about it, not even the Navy Yard was safe for her, but anywhere that Gibbs was provided more protection than anyplace else. She gave him directions, hoping with everything she had that Gibbs hadn't gotten called away. She didn't know what she would do if he wasn't there.
Gibbs
Though he hadn't asked them to, McGee and DiNozzo had insisted on accompanying him and his team as they made their way to the parking lot on their search for Jenny. He was touched by how much the two younger agents cared for her and as they stepped out into the bright light of the day, Gibbs blinked. He only hoped they weren't too late. He was just about to slide into the car when he heard DiNozzo say his name and he turned, looking at the other team leader in confusion.
DiNozzo nodded his head in the direction of a car that had just pulled into the lot and it took him less than a second to understand why. Jenny threw open the passenger door, slowly exiting the vehicle, and Gibbs felt his heart begin to race as he took in her battered appearance.
"Jenny! Are you okay? What happened? We were just going to look for you."
Jenny glanced in McGee's direction at his words but said nothing, stopping just in front of Gibbs, her green eyes locking on his bright blue.
"I need to see you in my office," she said quietly.
Gibbs nodded, his hand on her lower back as they walked toward the entrance of the building, leaving the rest of the agents to stare after them in stunned silence.
As soon as the door to Jenny's office closed, she sank down on her couch, laying her head on Gibbs' shoulder when he sat beside her.
"You scared the hell out of me, Jen."
He reached for her hands, carefully examining the damage, and when she suddenly reached for his jacket, pulling him closer, he fought against the surprise he felt. She kissed him hard, her fingers gripping his clothing like a lifeline, and it was only when he tasted the salt on her lips that he realised she was crying. He pulled back, letting her cry into his chest as he wrapped her in his arms, and when he spoke, he kept his voice carefully gentle.
"What happened?"
She took a few deep breaths to steady herself and when she finally raised her eyes to his, he knew she was ready. He listened carefully as she recounted the events of the last few hours, pausing more than once when her emotions threatened to spill over, and when she had finished, he kissed her hair, holding her securely in his arms.
"You're safe now, Jen. And that bastard is never going to touch you again. I promise," he whispered against her hair.
"Jethro, he knows where we live. He knows my god damned phone number! How can we ever be safe again?"
He smiled, kissing her gently.
"I'll figure this out. Have you ever doubted me?"
"Never," she replied, her eyes locking onto his.
"Don't doubt me now."
A/N: I decided I would throw in a modified show quote there at the end. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
