A/N: Here we are, my loves! Enjoy!


Gibbs

Instinctively, he knew that she was hiding something from him, but he didn't know what, exactly. Jenny was the type to keep everything bottled up until she simply couldn't stand it any longer, and while he completely understood that, it made it no less worrisome. She was scared of the turn her health had taken, for which he didn't blame her in the slightest, knew she still felt guilt about Kate's death (no matter how unwarranted), and she worried about Carly, but if pressed, he wouldn't have been able to pinpoint which was more severe in her mind right now.

He rarely saw her in the office anymore as she stayed in her office or MTAC, and their interactions at home were painfully civil, neither one of them really wanting to broach the topic. Still, he knew that it would have to be addressed sooner rather than later if they had any hope of repairing the strain on their relationship, but he would have been lying if he'd said he was looking forward to it. After all, why would anyone look forward to a potentially devastating discussion?

He instead divided his time between working on his boat and on preparing Jenny's house for Carly's arrival, which was where he now found himself, carefully boxing up the various belongs of Jasper Shepard that had been left in his study. Picking up a book, he blew off the layer of dust coating it, sneezing as it flew around him, and when the book fell from his grasp, he rolled his eyes in annoyance. Kneeling down to retrieve it, he frowned as he noticed a thin folded piece of paper sticking out of the pages, and when he freed it, he smiled.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! the card read, written in a child's excited handwriting, You're the best Daddy in the world! I love you to the moon and Saturn! Love, Jenny

He carefully placed the card on the smooth surface of the desk and placed the book in a box near his feet. Maybe Jenny would want the card. Perhaps it might even open the door to a bigger discussion, one that he now knew he couldn't avoid any longer.


Shepard

Swearing as the files she was carrying fell from her hand, Jenny knelt down behind her desk, trying to ignore the way her fingers were shaking. Couldn't she get through even one single day without a reminder of her own mortality? It was beginning to annoy her more than she would have thought, even pushing fear to the back of her mind, and when her phone rang, she jumped, the top of her head connecting painfully with the underside of her desk.

"Fuck!" she swore, reaching up to touch the place her head had collided, "God damn it..."

She reached blindly for the phone, finding it on the fourth ring, and took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Shepard."

"House is ready."

She frowned.

"Jethro?"

"At your service, Director."

Jenny shook her head, more than a little confused.

"I thought you went to get coffee."

"I did," she could practically hear the shrug in his voice, "and on the way back, I stopped to finish the house. It only took about twenty minutes. Found something you might want, though. I'll show you when I get back."

She rolled her eyes, her head throbbing more painfully now, and sighed.

"You did this on company time?"

"Cut me some slack, Jen. We don't have a case right now."

Knowing it would be best to just drop the matter, Jenny closed her eyes, reaching again for the files she had dropped.

"Fine," she said in defeat, "but come up to my office when you get back."

"Yes, ma'am."

She laughed, standing up carefully, placing the files on her desk.

"Don't make me kill you, Jethro."


Jenny gave Gibbs a stern look as soon as the office door had closed behind him, rolling her eyes as he ignored it to smile at her, both of his hands held behind his back in a look of mock shame.

"Good afternoon, Director Shepard. You wanted to see me?"

"Cut the bullshit, Jethro. You know damn well that you can't just disappear whenever you want to do household tasks."

He shook his head, trademark smirk on his face as he held out his hand, offering her what appeared to be a card.

"What is this, an apology card?"

"Just look at it."

She took it from his fingers, recognising it immediately, and she froze, staring at the words that she had written a lifetime ago. Her fingertips traced over them lightly, almost as though she were scared to touch it, and she slowly raised her eyes to his steel blue.

"Where did you get this?" she asked softly.

"It was tucked inside a book in your dad's study. Thought you might want to have it."

"I—I can't believe he kept this," her voice was barely above a whisper, "I'd forgotten all about it."

Jenny paused, glancing down at the card for a moment.

"Thank you."

Gibbs smiled, taking a step closer, pulling his right hand from behind his back, holding what appeared to be a briefcase.

"It's customary to include a card when you give someone a gift, anyway."

She frowned.

"What is that? Did you rob a bank?"

He laughed, nodding his head at her, and she reached for it, surprised by its weight. Maybe he really had robbed a bank...When she placed it on her desk, unzipping the case, it took her eyes a moment to understand what it was they were seeing, and she looked at him in confusion.

"A computer?"

He nodded, walking up to stand beside her, taking the device from its case carefully.

"It's a laptop with a built-in webcam. I know you've been dealing with a lot health-wise, and this way, when there are days that you can't physically be here, you can still attend meetings and oversee ops."

It was such a thoughtful gift, so beautiful, so...kind that Jenny couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around him, hugging him as tightly as she could.

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs...I fucking love you."

Gibbs pulled back to look at her, frowning at the tears she knew were in her eyes, and looked at her seriously.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she reassured him, "I just...this is one of the most amazing things anyone has ever done for me, and...thank you, Jethro. So much."

"Can't take all the credit," Gibbs said with a smile, "McGee helped me set it up, Carly helped me pick it out, and DiNozzo inadvertently gave me the idea in the first place. Don't worry, McGee thinks it was a gift for Carly, though."

Jenny didn't think she had ever loved anyone more in the world.


As much as she hated to admit it, Jenny was more than a little nervous, and so she had requested that Cynthia sit in on her conference call with SecNav. The younger girl hid her confusion well and offered her a quiet strength that she normally would have gotten from Gibbs had he not been called out on a case in the last hours of the day.

"Thank you for being here, Cynthia," Jenny said sincerely, "I really appreciate it."

"Of course," her assistant replied with a smile, "It's no trouble."

They heard the unmistakable click of the call being connected, and when the voice of her superior filled the line, Jenny felt herself begin to shake.

"Jennifer, this is unexpected. I hope everything is going well. You're not one to call out of the blue."

"Hello, Secretary Danzing. I apologise for the sudden call, as I'm sure you are extremely busy, but there is something of importance that I would like to discuss with you."

"Of course. I trust you're not calling to offer your resignation?"

Jenny laughed.

"No, sir. On the contrary, actually. A few months ago, I received a diagnosis of MS, and I was merely inquiring if it would be possible to perform my duties remotely on the occasions that it would be medically necessary. I have the equipment needed to do the job efficiently, all I need is the approval."

There was a long pause and Jenny unconsciously held her breath, moving closer to Cynthia without even realising it.

"I see. Well, I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I wish you all the best. Give me a few days to discuss it with my offices and I'll be in touch as soon as a decision is reached."

"Of course, sir. Thank you for your consideration," Jenny managed to force out, the shaking in her hands now out of control.

"Take care, Jennifer. I'll be in touch."

The call ended abruptly, and Jenny closed her eyes, trying to get her breathing back to an acceptable level.

"Director?"

Shit. She'd almost forgotten that Cynthia was in the room. Forcing herself to open her eyes, Jenny glanced at her, barely registering the look of concern on her face.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No," she answered, shaking her head, "I just have to wait for them to make a decision."

"No, Director, I meant...is there anything I can do to help you through this while you wait? Or even after? I'd like to help. You've been such a wonderful person to work with, and if there's anything I can do, I want to do it."

Jenny smiled sadly, touched by the younger girl's generosity, and laughed softly.

"Thank you, Cynthia. For now, I could really use a cup of coffee."

"You got it, Jenny."

It was the first time Cynthia had ever used her name instead of her title, and for some reason, it touched her more than Jenny could have ever expected.


Gibbs

Giving Jenny the laptop had been one of the best ideas he'd ever had in his life (if he did say so himself), but it in no way erased the worry and suspicion that something was being kept from him. He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, taking a long drink from his coffee, and when he realised that he was now alone in the squad room, he frowned. Was it seriously already that late? A quick glance at his watch told him that it was nearing 23:00, and he sighed, wondering where in the hell Jenny was. He knew she had a lot of work to finish, but just because she didn't mind staying all night long in no way meant that he was okay with it.

Picking up his phone, he dialed her extension, closing his eyes tiredly. Damn, this had been a long day...

"Shepard."

"Are you planning on sleeping here?"

"No," her voice was just as tired as he felt, "I'm grabbing my jacket now. Be down in a moment."

"Okay."

He hung up, standing up from his chair and walking the short distance to the elevator, waiting impatiently for the doors to open. As soon as they did, he stepped inside, wasting no time in wrapping his arm around Jenny's shoulder, kissing her hair lightly.

"Long day?"

She laughed, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Eternally. Your case?"

Gibbs shrugged, pulling her closer.

"Dead petty officer in an alley. We'll start the real work tomorrow once Ducky has more to tell us."

Jenny nodded, straightening up when the silver doors slid open, and as they walked through the dark parking lot, he instinctively moved closer to her, ready to protect her should danger arise. They climbed into his truck and it was only then that he noticed Jenny wasn't carrying the laptop he'd given her.

"Where's your laptop?"

She shrugged.

"Locked in my office. If I brought it home, I know I wouldn't be able to stop myself from working."

Now, there was an understatement. He nodded, reaching for her hand after putting the truck in gear, and when she didn't so much as glance his way, he frowned to himself. Something was definitely bothering her. Still, it was late, and they were both exhausted. He didn't think he could handle digging into it without at least some semblance of sleep. It would simply have to wait until morning.


Shepard

No matter how hard she tried, in spite of the tiredness that seemed to have seeped into her very bones, Jenny couldn't fall asleep. She merely laid next to Gibbs in the darkness, listening to his even breathing, her thoughts racing a million miles a minute. What was she going to do if SecNav refused her request? What if they did approve it? How was she supposed to explain her situation to her colleagues? What if her symptoms never went into remission and her health simply kept declining? Would she even live long enough to see Carly graduate? To marry Gibbs? To make it to her next birthday?

She knew she was on the verge of panicking, knew her tired mind was blowing everything entirely out of proportion, but she couldn't stop the way her heart began pounding in her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to regulate her breathing, and when she realised it was futile, she swung her legs carefully over the edge of the bed. Moving quietly so as not to wake Gibbs, Jenny made her way down the stairs, heading straight for the bottle of bourbon sitting on the kitchen table. Maybe a drink would help to calm her nerves.

Pacing around the small space, Jenny took several deep breaths, running her hand through her tangled hair as she drained the alcohol from her glass. Why had this happened to her? She had always tried to be a good person, had always tried to do the right thing...was this some sort of cosmic punishment for something that she wasn't even aware of? Wouldn't that be just her luck?

Sighing, Jenny picked up the bottle of bourbon, pouring more into her glass, and as she tossed it to the back of her throat, she fought to keep her hands steady. Why couldn't her mind leave her alone and just shut up? She didn't want to be down here in the middle of the night, drinking away her fear. She would have much preferred to be upstairs sleeping in the arms of a certain special agent. Swallowing the last bit of bourbon in her glass, Jenny closed her eyes, placing her head down on her arms, trying to remind herself that it wasn't as bad as she thought. It couldn't be.


Gibbs

The shrill sound of his alarm broke through to his sleeping mind with a force that nearly made him jump, and Gibbs sighed as he begrudgingly opened his eyes. Without even thinking about it, he reached for Jenny, frowning when his fingers brushed the smooth fabric of the bed sheets rather than her skin and he glanced around the room in confusion. There was no sign of her anywhere and he swung his legs over the mattress, paying no attention to how cold the floor was under his feet.

A quick glance revealed that she wasn't in either the bathroom or Carly's old room, and his confusion began to swiftly turn to worry. Where was she? Had something happened? Making his way down the stairs, he called her name, hoping she had merely gotten an early start to her day. It wasn't until he entered the kitchen that he relaxed, though his eyes narrowed in confusion when he found her sleeping at the kitchen table, an empty bourbon bottle next to her glass. He reached out to touch her shoulder, lightly shaking her, and when she shook her head, he smiled.

"Go away, Jethro," she muttered, her eyes still closed.

"Can't," he replied, shaking her again, "We've got forty-five minutes until we have to leave for work."

Jenny moaned, raising her head up slowly, her eyes finally open.

"So," he began conversationally, "how did you sleep?"

She rolled her eyes, brushing her hair from her face.

"Shut up, Leroy Jethro."

He laughed, kissing her cheek, and as he began making coffee, he heard her leave the room to shower. As he scooped coffee grounds into the machine, he frowned, glancing at the empty bottle on the table. It wasn't like Jenny to drink in the middle of the night and pass out in the kitchen, so...what was she trying to run from? He could hear the shower running now, and as he waited for his coffee to brew, he sat down at the table, turning the bottle around in his hands. Something was definitely going on here, but he had no idea of how to figure out what it was.


As it turned out, his case kept him far too busy to ponder the mystery of Jenny Shepard for too long that day, and as he made his way down to autopsy, he hoped that Ducky would be able to shed some light on a few things. From the photos that Ziva had taken at the crime scene, he had gathered that there were a few defensive wounds that didn't seem to fit in with what they knew of their dead petty officer, and if anyone could make sense of it, it would be him.

The doors to autopsy slid open as he approached, and he frowned when he wasn't immediately greeted. Ducky always welcomed his visitors. Had Gibbs suddenly stepped into The Twilight Zone without knowing it? He turned to leave, thinking that perhaps Ducky had paid a visit to Abby, and as he took a step towards the door, he noticed something on the ground from the corner of his eye. He swore as he moved closer, dropping to his knees next to the unmoving body of the Scottish doctor, and his fingers immediately went to his neck, feeling for a pulse. For one horrible moment, he felt nothing, and then, just as he felt the beginnings of panic take hold, he felt a weak beat, making him breathe a sigh of relief. He stood as quickly as he could, bolting for the desk, and as he dialed the emergency number, he tried to control the beating of his own heart.

After being assured that an ambulance had been dispatched, Gibbs returned to his position next to Ducky, taking his wrist in his hand.

"Hang on, Duck," he whispered, "Everything is gonna be okay."

There was a slight fluttering of the doctor's eyelids, though they never opened, and as he waited for the paramedics, Gibbs found himself offering up a desperate prayer. He didn't know who he expected to answer it, but he figured it couldn't hurt to try.


Gibbs took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he was about to do, and pushed open the door to Jenny's office. She was speaking to someone on the phone, and for a brief second, he thought that perhaps the universe had given him a break and she was already aware of the situation. When she smiled at him, however, he knew that wasn't the case. There was no way Jenny would be smiling if she knew. She hung up the phone, giving him another smile, and looked at him curiously.

"What can I do for you, Jethro?"

"Paramedics are here."

She frowned.

"Are they?"

He nodded.

"You didn't know?"

"No, I was in MTAC all morning. I just got back to my office less than five minutes ago, and then Senator Jenkins called to reschedule our meeting for next week. Why? What's going on?"

God, he really didn't want to do this...

"You might want to sit down."

Jenny frowned, looking at him seriously.

"I'll stand. Jethro, what is it?"

She walked around the desk, so close to him that he could smell her vanilla perfume, and he sighed.

"It's Ducky."

She froze, her eyes wide as they locked on his, and he continued, hoping it would help ease the blow.

"I went down to autopsy to ask his opinion on something I found in a photo and I couldn't find him. I thought he'd gone to see Abby, so I started to leave. When I did, I noticed something on the ground. It was him. I checked to see if he was breathing, found a pulse, and called the ambulance. He's on his way to Portsmouth now."

Even from where he stood, Gibbs could see her shaking, and when she opened her mouth to speak, he noticed the way her very breath trembled.

"I...I have to go see him."

She took a step forward, but when her knees buckled beneath her, Gibbs knew he had to act fast. He caught her in his arms, her entire body shaking, and when he felt her sharp, gasping breath, he knelt down, pulling her with him.

"Breathe, Jen..." he whispered, holding her close to his chest, "Take it slow."

She shook her head, pulling back to look in his eyes. There was an almost palpable fear in her emerald irises, and she gripped his jacket so tightly that her knuckles were pure white.

"We have to go," she said, her voice hoarse, "Now."

Gibbs nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.

"We will, but you have to calm down and breathe first. Panicking won't help Ducky in any way."

Jenny shook her head, her breathing still erratic.

"I can't lose him, Jethro," she said desperately, "he's been like a father to me for the last five years."

"I know," he said gently, running his hand through her hair, "I know, Jen. Just take a few deep breaths, and we'll go."

She nodded, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder, breathing as slowly as she could. When he was satisfied that she wasn't going to pass out, he stood, bringing them both to their feet, and he hugged her tightly, kissing her hair.

"Don't worry, Jen," he whispered, "Everything is going to be okay."

Even as the words left his mouth, he prayed that he wasn't lying to her.


Though he knew it was killing them, he had ordered his team to wait until they had news before coming to the hospital, and as they sat in the waiting room, Gibbs held Jenny's hand so tightly that he was sure it was painful. She said nothing, laying her head on his shoulder as she waited for Carly to call, and when he glanced at her, he saw that a few stray tears had fallen from behind her closed eyes. He reached out to wipe them away, and when her phone vibrated in her free hand, she jumped.

"Carly? I've been calling you for an hour."

He could hear the sound of Carly's voice, though he couldn't make out the words she'd said, and Jenny gripped his hand tighter as she spoke again.

"Ducky's in the hospital, Little One. We don't have any information right now, but I'll call you as soon as we know what's going on. No, you don't need to com—"

"Agent Gibbs? Director Shepard?"

Gibbs glanced up at the man who had spoken, nudging Jenny with his arm, though he knew she had heard it as well.

"I'll call you back, Carly. The doctor is here now."

She quickly hung up the phone, standing as soon as the call ended, and Gibbs stood as well, reaching for her hand.

"I know you've been waiting for a long time, so I'll give you the quick version. It appears that Doctor Mallard suffered a heart attack earlier this morning. His arteries were 80% blocked and if you had found him any later, this would be a much different conversation. We're going to put a stint in very shortly and give him medication to help with the pain as well as to prevent this from happening again. He might not survive another one."

"But he's going to be okay?" Jenny whispered.

The doctor nodded.

"Yes, but he will need to take at least two weeks off from work to recover and he'll need to take it easy for even longer."

"Of course," Jenny said, "when can we see him?"

"He's currently being prepped for surgery, so I would say in about two hours, though he will likely sleep most of that time."

Jenny nodded, her grip on Gibbs' hand painful, but he didn't dare let go, both for her comfort and his own. Thanking the doctor, he led Jenny over to the hard plastic chairs, and when she pulled out her phone, he could see the shaking in her hands. He pulled it from her grasp, ignoring the protest that fell from her mouth, and as he waited for Carly to answer, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Mom, how is he?"

"It's me, kid. Ducky's gonna be fine, but I want to ask you to do something that might be difficult."

"Sure, anything you need."

Bless this girl, he thought, We don't deserve her.

"When Ducky gets out of the hospital, I want you to look in on him at least once a day. Make sure he has everything he needs, pick up any medication, that kind of thing. His mother is getting up there in years, and I don't want to put any additional strain on her."

"Of course I will. Hey Dad, can I ask you why you're calling me from Mom's phone?"

He sighed, running his fingers lightly through Jenny's hair.

"She's a mess, isn't she?" Carly asked.

"A bit, yeah," he replied, hoping Jenny hadn't heard the question.

"Is she gonna be okay?"

"Eventually."

"Well, if you need anything, let me know. And let me know as soon as Ducky can have visitors. I want to see him."

"Will do. I'll give you a call."

"Thanks. Love you. Love Mom!"

"We love you too, kid."


Hours later, Gibbs returned from the hospital cafeteria after having called the rest of his team, Abby, and Jimmy Palmer, smiling sadly when he found Jenny sitting in the chair next to Ducky's bed, holding his hand in hers gently. She gave him a weak smile when he handed her a cup of coffee and nodded in his direction.

"Thanks."

He smiled.

"No problem. You okay?"

"I'm fine."

She was lying and he knew it, but he chose to say nothing, holding out his hand. She took it slowly, frowning as he pulled her to her feet, and she glanced back at Ducky's sleeping form.

"Jethro, we should stay so that he doesn't wake up alone."

Gibbs shook his head, looking at her seriously.

"Nurses told us that he was going to sleep until tomorrow. Let's go home, shower, and get some sleep. We can come back up first thing in the morning. He won't wake up alone."

He knew from the look on her face that she was planning on protesting, but he didn't give her the chance, ushering her from the room quickly.

"Jethro, I—"

"Not taking "no" for an answer, Jenny. We're leaving."

To his surprise, she didn't argue, and when he pulled his truck onto the dark street a few minutes later, he glanced at her curiously. She was looking out the window silently, watching the rain drip down the glass, and he turned his attention back to the road as they drew closer to their house. She still didn't speak as she made her way into the house, not even looking in his direction as he got out of the truck, and when he walked into the living room, he sighed.

"Not gonna talk to me now?"

She frowned, looking at him in confusion.

"What?"

"You've been ignoring me since we left the hospital."

"Jethro, I'm just tired. I've had a hard week and I just need to deal with it on my own."

He rolled his eyes, scoffing quietly, and when she turned on the stairs to look at him, he knew she was angry without so much as a word.

"Something funny about that?"

He shook his head.

"Nope."

"If you have something to say—"

"Why? So you can ignore it like you always do and then have a breakdown because you have to deal with things alone? You push people away, Jenny! Anytime anything goes wrong, you shut everyone out and act like you're the only one who's suffering, like no one would ever help you."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she snapped, walking up the stairs, turning every so often to glare at him, "I didn't realise this was the kind of relationship where I have to tell you every damn thing that goes through my head!"

"It's not," he said shortly, "but I don't like being lied to and if you're struggling with something, I want to know about it. I want to be allowed to help you."

Jenny whipped around, walking backward into the bedroom, her eyes flashing dangerously as she looked at him.

"I never said you couldn't help! I told you—"

"You told me that you don't know how to ask for help, well, guess what? You don't have to ask. I'm offering! You're not alone! I'm right here, Jen! I'm standing right in front of you, and you don't even see me!" he yelled, slamming his hand on the wall.

She jumped at the sound, closing her eyes, and he sighed, turning away from her and resting his head against his closed fist. He could hear her breath, quiet but ragged in the dark room, and though he knew she was crying, he made no move to comfort her. He tried to sort out the myriad of thoughts spinning around in his head, but they were a jumbled mess, and when he felt Jenny place her hands on his shoulders, he stayed where he was.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, kissing his arm, "I know I'm a pain in the ass. I wouldn't put up with my bullshit, either. You have every right to be angry with me."

She kissed his arm again, releasing him from her grasp, and only then did he move, turning his head just enough that he could see her from where he stood. She was holding her head in her hands, tears falling between her fingers, and he raised his head from its place on his fist, watching her for a moment.

"Jen."

She looked at him, tear tracks visible even in the darkness, and he beckoned her closer with a nod of his head.

"Come here."

She moved closer, running her hands over his chest, coming to rest on his shoulders, and he leaned down, kissing her gently. It was a kiss that quickly grew deeper, her hands locking around his neck, and he didn't hesitate in lifting her into his arms, her legs around his waist. He kissed her again, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, and her hands framed his face, staying there as she kissed him hard.

Carefully, so as not to drop her, Gibbs pushed her jacket from her shoulders, feeling her skin twitch beneath his fingertips, and when he placed her on the bed, she immediately reached for his shirt, pulling it over his head. Her own shirt quickly followed, and he wasted no time in pulling her dress pants down her legs, the need to touch her bare skin unbelievably strong. Her hands found his jeans, unzipping them deftly, and when he had kicked them onto the ground, he pulled her closer, kissing his way up her body. He moved swiftly but attentively, dipping his tongue into the hollow of her collarbone, and his hands undid the clasp on her bra with ease, pulling her underwear off in one fluid motion.

He was just preparing to take his boxers off when he felt her hand slip into them, touching him with a confidence that made his body jerk of its own accord. Each twist of her wrist made him impossibly harder, and he fought to keep his breathing under control as she moved her hand over his tip. Just when he thought he couldn't take any more, she stopped, giving him just enough time to catch his breath, but before he could do more than brace himself with his hands on the mattress, she started again. Over and over, she brought him closer and closer to the edge, never letting him fall over, until finally he could stand it no longer, and he grabbed her wrist, pinning it above her head.

Kicking his boxers off, he yanked her body closer, using her legs to pull her down the bed, and when he slipped his fingers into her, he felt her breathing grow more shallow. He hooked his fingers, using his thumb to circle her clit, applying just enough pressure to be slightly painful. Her hips moved involuntarily, and he moved faster, positioning his body over hers and circling her breasts with his tongue.

He released his hold on her wrist, smiling when he felt her immediately grip his shoulder, and when he knew she was getting close to the edge, he stopped abruptly, just as she had done. He waited until her breathing had slowed before beginning again, and each time she neared the edge, he would stop, soothing her frustration with a chaste kiss. She deepened his latest kiss, her fingers tangled in his hair, and when they finally broke apart, she met his eyes, emerald finding sapphire in the darkness.

"Jethro?"

"Hmm?"

He kissed her again, running his fingers through her tangled hair.

"Please..." she whispered, "I need you to fuck me. Now."

He had never heard her so blunt before, but he would have been lying if he'd said he didn't find it incredibly sexy. He kissed her hard, biting down on her bottom lip hard enough that she moaned into his mouth, and as he carefully positioned himself at her entrance, he used his free hand to cup her breasts. Without even realising it, he slammed into her as hard as he could, reveling in the harsh cry that fell from her lips and she let her head fall back against the headboard.

"God," she moaned, closing her eyes, "do that again."

He did as she asked, gripping the headboard behind her for leverage, his arm shaking as he supported his weight with it, lifting her leg over his shoulder. His pace was fast and rough, his breathing ragged as he kissed her throat, scraping his teeth along her smooth skin.

"Harder," she whispered, her nails leaving a trail of red behind as they moved down his back.

He whispered her name, his voice low and husky, thrusting into her as hard as he could, and she gripped his arm tightly, her head falling against his shoulder.

"Don't stop," she gasped, bringing her lips to his throat.

He didn't think he could have stopped if he'd tried, and as his hips met hers again, he drew a sharp breath. A cry fell from her lips, muffled by his shoulder, and he reached out to touch her face, trying to get her attention.

"You with me?"

He barely had time to register her nod before she pulled him to her in a bruising kiss, and when he felt his orgasm rip through his body, he forced himself to keep moving, knowing it would make the moment better for her. Her grip on his neck tightened as she cried out wordlessly, her body fitting against his perfectly. He slowly brought her down from the high, running a shaking hand through her damp hair, and he kissed her once before shifting his body from hers.

"I'm sorry," she whispered breathlessly, "and I love you."

He smiled, kissing her shoulder lightly.

"I know."

She moved closer, laying her head on his chest, and as he felt his eyes growing heavier, he kissed her hair, breathing in the scent of vanilla and sex.

"I love you, too," he said quietly.


Shepard

Jenny was just admiring the sound of the rain hitting the window when she felt a slight movement against her fingers and she sat up at once, turning her attention to the hospital bed. The Scottish doctor's eyes were the most beautiful sight she'd seen in hours, and she gave him a warm smile as he looked in her direction.

"Jennifer? What's happened?"

"Ducky, do you know where you are?"

He glanced around the room, nodding once, and took a careful breath.

"It looks to be a hospital. What's going on?"

"You had a heart attack," she told him gently, "Jethro called the paramedics yesterday and the doctors put in a stint. You're going to be okay, but you have to take it easy."

"Mother—"

"Not to worry," Jenny assured him, "She's being looked after. Carly is there now, making sure she has everything she needs."

He was silent for a moment, and Jenny looked at him sadly, reaching for his hand.

"You scared me to death, Ducky," she admitted, "I was terrified that I was going to lose you and I love you too much to even think about that."

He smiled, though it was weaker than he realised.

"Not to worry, my dear. I'm not going anywhere until I get to walk you down that aisle. I've earned that right."

She laughed, leaning down to kiss his cheek softly.

"You certainly have, Ducky."

"For what it's worth, Jennifer...I love you, too."

Even if she had tried, Jenny couldn't have stopped the tears that fell from her face, and when Gibbs stuck his head through the door moments later, she gave him a weak smile.

"Between the two of you, you're going to drive me insane," Gibbs said with a smirk.

"You know you love us."

His answering smile was all the reassurance she needed.


A/N: Until next time, my loves!