A/N: I am so incredibly sorry that this update is so late! I hope all of you can forgive me, and I hope you enjoy this next installment!


Shepard

Jenny was sure that if she clung to Ducky's hand any harder, she would lose feeling in her fingertips, but she couldn't find it in her to relax her hold. He gave her a reassuring smile as they neared the back door, and Carly threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"You look so beautiful, Mom," she said excitedly.

Jenny smiled, though she could feel her entire body shaking as the younger girl stepped back.

"Thanks, Little One. Are you ready?"

Carly nodded, looking around curiously for DiNozzo.

"Yeah. Where's Tony?"

Jenny gestured vaguely towards the living room.

"He and McGee are still arguing over who looks the best in their suits," she replied, rolling her eyes.

Carly laughed.

"Jokes on them. It's definitely Dad."

Jenny nodded.

"I'm sure you're right."

She felt her legs begin shaking and she let go of Ducky's hand, leaning against the kitchen counter, closing her eyes slowly. In an effort to calm both her nerves and her body, she took several deep breaths, her hands clinging tightly to the edge of the counter.

"You okay, Red?"

Blinking hard, Jenny finally opened her eyes, not surprised in the least to see her former team, Ducky, and Carly all watching her closely.

"I'm fine," she said after a moment, "Just got a little lightheaded for a minute there."

Just as Jenny was beginning to wonder if this had been a huge mistake, DiNozzo glanced at his watch and held out his arm to Carly.

"Ready?"

Carly nodded, hooking her arm through his and calling over her shoulder softly.

"Evan! You ready?"

"Coming!"

Evan dashed into the room, her hands at her ears, fastening her earrings quickly. She took her place next to McGee, her hand resting in the bend of his arm, and she nodded.

"Okay, we're good."

The back door opened, the soft sound of classical music filling the air, and as her wedding officially began, Jenny looked at Ducky nervously, her fingers fidgeting with Heather's necklace at her throat.

"Am I doing the right thing, Ducky?" she asked softly, hooking her arm through his again.

He smiled, kissing her cheek gently.

"Without a doubt, my dear," he said quietly, "I've never seen a love like yours, and I know you'll both be incredibly happy."

Jenny smiled, walking slowly to the door, taking great care not to trip over the train of her dress.

"Thanks, Ducky."

Finally, it was time. This was it...


Gibbs

From the moment he saw the back door open, Gibbs found that he couldn't control the way his heart thundered in his chest. McGee and Evan were the first pair up the aisle, and as Evan passed him, she smiled, discreetly giving him a thumbs-up before taking her place on the other side of their makeshift altar. He had to admit, he had been very impressed by Carly and Evan's decorating skills when he'd first seen how they had transformed the back yard into a stunning wedding venue, especially given their limited time frame. It looked gorgeous, and he couldn't have been prouder of the work they had done. His smile only grew when Carly walked up the aisle, her long hair falling to her waist now, and he felt his eyes begin to burn. She looked so...so grown up, like a real adult, so pretty, so full of joy and light...it was just as he had imagined Kelly would look.

She flashed him a smile as she walked to her place, and when the music faded into the soft strings of the next song, he found his hand shaking. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The white satin curtain they had draped over the back door was pulled back for the last time, and Gibbs' breath caught in his throat as he got his first glimpse of his future bride. Jenny looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, her dress accenting her figure in the best possible way, and her smile was brighter than a summer sun.

Ducky accompanied her slowly down the aisle, both for her benefit and his, and as they drew closer, Gibbs didn't even try to hide the tears in his eyes. Halfway to the altar, Gibbs noticed that Jenny's smile had slipped from her face, and she paused, closing her eyes slowly. For one terrible moment, Gibbs wrestled with himself on whether he should leave his place, but when she nodded in response to Ducky's whispered question, he knew she would never forgive him if he did. She opened her eyes, taking careful steps, and when they reached him, a silent understanding passed between them.

It would be ignored, for now, and the ceremony would carry on as planned. The minister looked at them both, a slight look of concern in his eyes, and nodded at them.

"Who gives this woman to be wed?"

Ducky smiled, squeezing Jenny's hand.

"I do."

The Scottish doctor kissed her cheek as he walked away, and Gibbs gave Jenny a reassuring smile as they took their proper places. This was it. It was finally happening. And he didn't think he had been happier in the last eight years.


He couldn't have told anyone what was said during the ceremony, mainly because he was physically unable to take his eyes off Jenny. He could feel the happiness radiating from her body as she stood beside him, her hand shaking slightly as he placed the wedding band on her finger, and when he pulled her close to kiss her, he couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face.

"I love you," he whispered, brushing his fingers over her cheek lightly.

"I love you, too," she said quietly, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair.

He had no way of knowing if the shaking in her hands was due to nervous excitement or something more concerning, but once he had noticed it, it was impossible to push the worry from his mind. She was pale, though this was not necessarily anything new, and as they made they way up the aisle, he tightened his grip on her hand. He still smiled as they passed the clapping guests, not wanting to alarm anyone, and as they neared the house, she leaned in to kiss his cheek.

As soon as the back door closed behind them, he led Jenny to the kitchen table, lowering her slowly into a chair.

"You okay?"

She nodded, though her eyes were slightly hazy in a way he didn't like.

"I'm fine," she said, her tone too bright to be genuine.

"Jenny," he looked at her seriously, "if you're not up to this, we can tell everyone to head home. They would understand."

Jenny shook her head, her eyes locking on his with a determination that he couldn't help but be proud of.

"No, Jethro. I'm not going to let anything ruin our wedding day. But I might have to say "no" to Jack if he asks me to dance."

Gibbs laughed, leaning down to kiss her gently.

"Your secret is safe with me. Don't worry."

She smiled, reaching out to touch his face lightly.

"Good. Because I could kill you and leave no trace of evidence."

"Have I told you that I love you?" he replied with a smirk.

"Might have mentioned it once or twice."


If he had been asked, Gibbs didn't think he could have picked just one moment of the night to highlight as his favourite. It could have been his first kiss with his stunning bride, it could have been Evan dedicating a beautiful love song to them, it could have been watching Carly laughing as she danced with Jack, or it could have been the murderous look on Tony DiNozzo's face when McGee had the nerve to offer to get Ziva a drink from the kitchen. He knew there was no secret romance between the semi-professional writer and the former Mossad agent, but he strongly suspected that DiNozzo would be asking her to dance by the end of the night.

He handed Jenny a glass of bourbon as he joined her at the table in the middle of the yard, and when she smiled at him, he couldn't fight the urge to lean closer, kissing her cheek lightly.

"Happy, Jen?"

She nodded, taking a slow drink.

"More than you could ever know."

"How much do you want to bet that they go home together?" he asked, nodding his head at DiNozzo and Ziva.

"Oh, without a doubt," she answered with a laugh, "I hope you're prepared for that dynamic in your team."

He shrugged.

"Long as it doesn't affect their work, I don't see a problem."

It took everything in him not to jump when he felt arms wrap around him from his right side, and when he saw the black hair and lace gloves, he knew immediately who had hugged him.

"Congratulations, Gibbs!" she said excitedly, "Congratulations, Jenny! I'm so happy for you guys!"

He smiled, returning the hug as best he could from his seat.

"Thanks, Abs."

She kissed his cheek before running to the other side of the table and throwing her arms around Jenny.

"Where are you going for your honeymoon?"

Jenny laughed.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

Abby laughed, kissing her cheek again, and as she walked away to find Carly, Gibbs reached for Jenny's hand, running his thumb over her wedding band slowly.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I do believe it's our time to shine, my dear."

Turning to face the Scottish doctor, Jenny happily took his outstretched hand, standing carefully in her dress.

"Thanks for everything, Ducky."

He smiled, leading her to their place in the middle of the yard.

"Of course."

Gibbs watched them dance, able to see the tears shining in Jenny's eyes even from where he sat, and he firmly decided, then and there, that it had most definitely become his favourite moment of the night.


Hours later, long after the alcohol had been significantly depleted, the guests having departed, and after having shed their wedding attire, Gibbs walked into the bedroom, admiring the way Jenny's hair fell softly over her shoulders in the dim light as she read. Even bare-faced and wearing a pair of loose, soft joggers and an oversized shirt, she looked absolutely gorgeous, and he tapped her lightly on the leg to get her attention.

"What are you reading?"

She smiled, placing a bookmark between the pages before closing it.

"Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I've been trying to finish it for years."

"Willing to put it on hold for a little longer?"

"I might be able to be persuaded," Jenny quipped, smiling as he sat down on the bed.

Moving closer, Gibbs ran his left hand through her hair, letting it slip through his fingers as he kissed her, his tongue dancing over hers lightly. He carefully positioned his body over hers, his lips gently moving to her throat, smiling when he heard her breath catch in her chest, and he let his right hand drift toward the book still resting in her grip.

"Jen," he whispered, dipping his tongue into the hollow of her collarbone, "put the book down."

He pulled the book from her grasp, placing it on the bedside table, and when her hands slipped under his shirt, he met her gaze slowly.

"You sure you're okay? I don't want to hurt you."

She shook her head, pulling his shirt over his head, kissing him deeply.

"You won't," she assured him.

Her fingers wound into his hair, using it as leverage to pull him closer, and when her free hand reached for the sweatpants he wore, he shook his head, looking at her seriously.

"You," he said kissing her quickly, "are far too overdressed."

Jenny raised her eyebrow, giving him a look that could only be described as wicked.

"Am I?"

He nodded, kissing her again.

"And just what do you plan to do about it, Leroy Jethro Gibbs?"

Seeing his chance, Gibbs reached for her legs, jerking them from beneath her before she had time to anticipate it, and he pinned her hands above her head, holding her wrists tightly in his left hand. With his right, he slid the joggers down her legs, moving just enough that he could trail his mouth along her inner thigh. He slipped his fingers into the band of her underwear, quickly eliminating the barrier, and when his lips rested against her hip bone, he raised his eyes to hers.

"Still okay?"

She nodded, and he tightened his grip on her wrists. He slowly began tracing patterns on her inner thigh with his tongue, gauging his success by the way her breathing stalled, and he allowed his free hand to wander as it pleased, alternating between trailing along her legs and toying with the hem of her shirt. He knew, somehow, that she wanted to take things slower tonight, and he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with her health and everything to do with her emotions.

Several minutes passed as they shed their remaining clothing, he felt her attempting to break free from his left hand and when he finally swept his tongue over her clit, he realised that her entire body was shaking. He pushed the slight concern to the back of his mind, knowing that she would stop him if something was wrong, and as he slid one finger into her, she moaned softly. He was slightly annoyed when he couldn't seem to figure out his own rhythm, but he nearly laughed when it finally dawned on him that he was nervous.

Why was he suddenly worried about messing up when it came to sex and Jenny? It wasn't like this was the first time he'd ever touched her. Quite the contrary, as a matter of fact. Besides, even if he did somehow do something that she didn't like, he knew she wouldn't hesitate to let him know. It was one of the things he loved about her. One of many, if he were being honest.

Determined to get out of his own head, Gibbs devoted his attention to finding just the right spot, twisting his fingers in a way that he knew had always worked in the past, and when Jenny whispered his name, he knew it had succeeded again. He pulled his hand away, smirking when he felt her sigh in protest, and when he moved so that he was directly above her, she gave him a confused look.

"What's wrong?"

Gibbs shook his head, still holding her wrists in his hand.

"Nothing," he said honestly, "I just missed seeing your eyes."

She moved just enough that she could kiss him, and when he smiled, she returned it easily,

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

He entered her slowly, rolling his hips against hers in a way that nearly finished him before they'd even truly begun, and he captured her mouth with his own, his kiss so hard it could have bruised. His free hand moved to roll her nipples between his fingers, making Jenny close her eyes, her head falling back on the pillows. He could feel her straining against his hold, and he changed his position slightly, the angle driving him deeper, and she bit down on her bottom lip almost hard enough to draw blood.

"Fuck," she whispered.

His left hand trailed down her body, brushing her clit roughly and she moaned, still trying to free herself.

"Let me touch you," she said, her voice slightly hoarse, "Please, Jethro."

He kissed her throat, biting down on her skin just enough to leave a mark, immediately soothing it with his tongue, and when she gasped his name, it took everything in him to keep his rhythm going.

"Patience is a virtue, Jen."

"Shut the hell up and let me touch you," she snapped in frustration.

He smirked, thrusting into her harder, running his tongue over the shell of her ear.

"God damn, you're killing me."

Laughing quietly in her ear, he finally released his hold on her wrists, never once stopping his movements, and when her fingers immediately wound into his hair, she kissed him hard, until they were both gasping for breath. Without warning, she flipped him onto his back, her long red hair brushing over his skin, and he shivered involuntarily. She lowered her head to his chest, her lips blazing a path down his body, and her hips moved slowly against his.

"Damn, Jen..."

"Not so fun when it's you, is it?" she quipped.

He had to admit that she had a point, but he wasn't willing to let her have the upper hand for long. Pulling her up so that he could kiss her, he used her distraction to flip them again, using a well-timed thrust of his hips to drive his point home. Jenny swore softly, her fingers struggling to find purchase on his sweat-slicked skin, and he brushed her hair to one side, giving him unlimited access to the smooth skin of her throat.

"For the love of God," Jenny whispered, "whatever you do, don't stop."

She need not have bothered. Gibbs didn't think he could have stopped for anything less than an emergency. His slow steady rhythm became more erratic, his heartbeat thundering in his ears, and he reached for her hand, entwining their fingers together.

"Look at me," he whispered, running his fingers lightly over her face.

Emerald green eyes found sapphire blue, and he kissed her, his tongue tasting every corner of her mouth, and when he fell over the edge, he kept up his pace, wanting make sure that he didn't disappoint Jenny. Her left hand gripped his shoulder tightly and a hoarse moan fell from her lips as her orgasm hit, her breathing more than a little ragged. Her hair clung to her skin, flushed slightly pink in the dim light, and he kissed her gently, still holding her hand in his.

"I love you so much, Jen," he whispered.

She smiled, kissing him again.

"I love you too, Jethro. So much more than you'll ever know."


When Gibbs woke the next morning, he was surprised to find the spot beside him empty, and he frowned as he slipped from beneath the sheets. A quick search found Jenny in the living room, the book from the previous night resting on the arm of the couch, a cup of hot coffee on the table next to her. She looked more relaxed than he had seen her in weeks, wearing a simple black T-shirt paired with a soft pair of shorts that were adorned in a galaxy print, and he smiled as he made his way down the remaining stairs.

"Morning, Jen."

She smiled, looking up from the pages, closing the book slowly.

"Morning."

"You're up early."

She nodded and he thought for a moment he saw a flash of pain cross her features. When he sat down next to her, he knew it hadn't been his imagination as the haziness had returned to her eyes more pronounced than the day before. He didn't know if he should broach the subject with her or if it would be best to let her come to him, but the longer he considered both options, the more sure he became. Jenny would never voluntarily admit that she was in pain, seeing that as weakness, no matter how wrong she might be.

"How bad is it today?"

"I've definitely had worse pain-wise, but..."

He waited, knowing she wasn't finished. She sighed, running her hand through her hair.

"It's pretty bad," she said softly, "I just keep thinking...I was a federal agent, I've been shot more times than I care to think about, I've broken bones running after suspects, I used to out-run Tony DiNozzo at the gym on a daily basis. After all that, I can't believe that this is what's going to take me down."

Gibbs shook his head, reaching for her hand.

"It won't necessarily take you down. You could be in remission for years, you could only experience symptoms occasionally. It won't be easy, but you're stronger than you think."

Jenny sighed, reaching for her coffee.

"I suppose you're right, but it's just so damn frustrating. Every day, I have to wake up and not know if—son of a bitch!"

She jumped away from the scalding coffee that had previously been in her cup but was now covering her hands and legs, swearing loudly. She landed in his lap in her attempt to put as much distance between the liquid and herself as possible, and he moved to the farthest end of the couch, bringing her with him.

"Motherfucker," she swore under her breath, cradling her hand against her chest.

Gibbs moved from beneath her, kneeling on the ground in front of her, and reached for her hand.

"We're already married, it's a little late to propose," she quipped sarcastically.

He knew she was trying to distract herself from the pain, but he still rolled his eyes.

"Very funny," he said, shaking his head, "Let me see your hand."

From what he'd managed to see of her legs, they were already turning a bright red where the liquid had touched them, and he could only assume that her hands would be even worse. Her right hand seemed to be faring well, which made sense as she'd been holding the cup in it, but her left was bright red, hot to the touch, and he could already see the skin beginning to blister.

"You need to get this looked at. Could be serious."

"I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth.

He glared at her and when she finally nodded in surrender, he knew the pain must have been worse than he'd originally thought. After all, Jenny wasn't known to back down easily. He quickly threw his shoes on, helping Jenny with hers, and when he lifted her into his arms, he noticed for the first time how pale she was.

"Jen?"

She laid her head on his shoulder, swallowing thickly.

"I'm okay," she whispered.

He didn't believe her for an instant, and as he carried her to his truck, he kissed her hair softly.

"Don't worry, Jen," he said gently, "I've got you."


Shepard

Even if there had been a gun held to her head, Jenny wouldn't have been able to remember anything about the drive to the hospital, and it wasn't until she had been escorted back into an examination room that she truly even began to process the world around her. Her every thought revolved around the blinding pain in her left hand and her legs (to a lesser extent), and as she waited with Gibbs, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Hell of a way to spend our first morning as newlyweds," she said quietly.

Gibbs laughed, kissing her cheek.

"At least we're together. And think of the story you'll have to tell Cynthia when you get back to work."

"Fanfuckingtastic," she muttered.

She felt him laugh again and rolled her eyes. At least someone found this amusing. The soft at the door made her raise her head up, offering the nurse a strained smile, and when the older woman nodded at her, she felt somewhat more at ease.

"Good morning, Ms. Shepard. My name is Emily and I'll be looking after you today. I would normally ask what brings you in, but it looks fairly obvious to me."

She pulled a fresh pair of gloves from a box and gestured for Jenny to sit on the examination table, waiting until she had gotten settled to reach for her hand. The blisters covering her skin were much angrier looking now under the harsh lights, and as the nurse gently examined the burned skin, Jenny closed her eyes in pain.

"How did this happen, Ms. Shepard?"

Jenny sighed, shaking her head slowly.

"My hand's shake a lot and my coffee cup fell out of my hand. Spilled all over my legs and opposite hand."

The nurse looked at her seriously, concern colouring her features.

"How often would you say your hands shake? Do you experience any pain when it happens?"

Jenny nodded.

"I have MS and my doctor told me that this would likely happen more frequently during flare ups."

Understanding filled the nurse's eyes and she let Jenny's hand drop as she bent down to get a better look at the reddened skin on her legs.

"And other than this incident, how have you been managing your illness? Would you say that it's tolerable, or have the symptoms gotten worse?"

"I.." Jenny trailed off, glancing at Gibbs, "It was better for a few days last week, but it's been getting harder to walk without pain and I drop things a lot more than I used to. I've been getting really dizzy as well."

"Did your doctor explain the different types of MS symptoms to you? I can give you some information to take home if you'd like, or I can just walk through them with you."

Jenny frowned. She honestly couldn't remember.

"I guess I could use a refresher course," she said with a small laugh.

Emily nodded.

"The first type is neuropathic. This refers to pain caused by changes to the nervous system. Usually, this type of pain occurs when lesions form on the brain or spinal cord due to the disease process. You might experience numbness or a tingling sensation in your limbs, much like you would after staying in the same position for an extended period of time. This can also lead to other symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and difficulty sleeping. Carrying out physical or mental tasks can become more difficult as well. It is the most difficult to treat, so it's important to be watchful. "

Jenny nodded, trying not to flinch in pain as Emily gently touched her hand again, reaching for a topical cream that she could only assume would help alleviate the pain.

"The second type is musculoskeletal, which is pain that occurs in the muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments. In MS, this type of pain usually occurs in the neck, wrists, and knees, but it can also manifest as back pain or pain in the elbows, shoulders, hips, or ankles."

Glancing at Gibbs, Jenny tried to focus on the words that were being spoken, thankful that he was with her. If she was in too much pain to really retain any of this information, hopefully he would remember it for her.

"The last type of pain is spasticity, which is a tightening of the muscles that interferes with movement. With spasticity, the legs, arms, or back may stiffen or become tight. You may feel cramping as well. This can make it difficult to move around, and it causes pain not only in the area that is experiencing spasticity but in adjacent areas as well. I know this is a lot to take in and that it might be a bit overwhelming, so I'll give you some papers that list everything I've just told you as well as ways these symptoms can be treated."

Jenny flinched as her fingers twitched and Emily gave her a reassuring smile.

"For now, it doesn't look like there will be any major damage to your hand or legs, but it will be incredibly painful for quite some time. I'm going to put in an order for a pain medication as well as one to help you sleep, but if it gets to where you can't handle it, please don't hesitate to come back in. Make sure you keep your hand wrapped in bandages and get plenty of rest."

"Will the pain medication help with the MS symptoms?" Gibbs asked suddenly.

The nurse nodded.

"It will certainly make them more bearable and as soon as your hand has healed and you're feeling up to it, I would suggest a follow-up with your primary doctor to discuss a pain management plan. I'm surprised they didn't do that from the start."

Jenny could feel Gibbs looking at her even without turning her head and she knew exactly what he was thinking: she had ignored the follow-up appointment in favour of deciding to deal with things in her own (decidedly unhealthy) way. There was absolutely no way she wouldn't be hearing about this when they got home...


By the time they made it back to their house, Jenny had already taken one of the pain pills that she had been prescribed, and she was feeling admittedly a little better. Her hand still hurt like hell, but she could move her fingers slightly without almost passing out now, so she considered that a major improvement. She knew Gibbs wanted to ask her about the appointment she had conveniently "forgotten" to go to, but she just didn't feel up to it.

Instead, she made her way carefully up the stairs, her only thoughts revolving around taking a long nap, and when she crawled under the sheets, she wasn't surprised to see him watching her from the doorway.

"Sure you're okay?"

She nodded tiredly. Damn, that medication was really doing its job.

"Yell if you need anything. I'll be downstairs."

Jenny yawned, rolling her eyes when he laughed.

"Get some rest. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Closing her eyes, she turned onto her side, careful not to apply pressure to her hand, and before she knew what had happened, she was fast asleep.


The girl was young, maybe twenty at the most, and as she climbed in the back of the rusty pickup truck, Jenny felt an overwhelming sense of dread. She knew, even as the dust and dirt swirled around the tires, that she was merely a spectator, that there was nothing she could do to change the trajectory of the events, and when the scene changed, she blinked in confusion.

A hot hotel room, filled with cheap gas station food and empty liquor bottles. The girl's long dark hair fell past her shoulders in humidity-induced waves, and she smiled as she was joined on the bed by the man who had been driving the truck. They kissed slowly, his hands slipping under the thin shirt she wore, and just as it was pulled over her head, the setting changed once more.

Darkness. Concrete floors. The buzzing of flies surrounding her. The girl was lying the the floor, blood covering her body, tears streaming down her face as the man from the hotel room stood over her, a long, thin knife held in his hand. He moved closer, and she tried to scramble backward, but the ropes tied around her wrists and ankles made it nearly impossible, resulting in her body being trapped between the concrete wall and her tormentor.

He knelt down, grabbing her wrists and hanging them from the large metal hook that Jenny could only assume had once housed hunting equipment, and he ran the blade of the knife over her skin, smiling as her blood bubbled to the surface. It sank deeper into her flesh with each pass and the girl began to sob louder, her voice begging as she shook her head frantically.

"Stop, stop, stop," she cried, her voice breaking, "Make it stop."

He ignored her, carving into her skin with a reckless abandon, and a weak, broken scream fell from her lips.

"Make it stop..." she begged, "Please, stop. I've had enough. Make it stop."

Jenny knew there was nothing she could do, but still she moved closer, trying to get his attention.

"Leave her alone!"

The girl was so weak now, blood staining every inch of her skin, drenching her clothes, and when he reached for her again, she merely whimpered.

"Stop," her voice had lost all conviction now, "stop..."

She repeated the word over and over, a desperate plea to save herself, and when the knife was buried to the hilt in her upper thigh, a guttural, heartbreaking scream tore from her throat as blood poured from the wound.

"STOP!"

Cold. Bitter, freezing cold that was so intense she could think of nothing else. Jenny glanced around her, looking for anything that would give her some sort of indication of where she was. It was so dark that she could see only the dimmest outline of a wall, and when a sudden light filled the space, she realised with horror that she was in a freezer. The body of the girl was next to her, and as her lifeless frame was pulled from the icy box, Jenny followed, needing to understand what was happening.

The man pulled out a knife (the same one he had used to torture and murder this young woman, Jenny knew) and carefully began slicing into her skin, pulling off small sections. When he had finished, he placed her body back into the freezer and Jenny watched in silent terror as he began cooking the removed flesh in a pan on the stove.

"My mother always told me not to talk to strangers," a voice said softly to her right.

Jenny turned, her eyes landing on the girl's face, her green eyes watching sadly as her murderer consumed her flesh. She didn't know if the girl could see her, but she said nothing, merely watching as she walked closer, standing over his shoulder as he ate.

"You look so handsome when I'm all over your mouth. I'm turning in your stomach," she whispered into his ear, "Am I making you feel sick?"

There was no answer, and as she watched the scene unfold, Jenny couldn't stop herself from screaming.


Gibbs

Sighing as he sank down on the couch, Gibbs found his thoughts returning to the conversation in the hospital room with the nurse. He knew Jenny wasn't particularly fond of the idea of taking medication every day, with the exception of birth control, but he was beginning to think that it would be in her best interests to consider it. If it helped manage her pain and made her symptoms easier to handle, he couldn't see any downside. Any side effects would have to be closely monitored of course, but he truly thought that it was something to think about. He would mention it, in any case. No harm in that.

He debated on going up to the bedroom to watch over her in case she needed help, but logically he knew she would likely sleep for quite some time. Reaching over to pick up the book she'd been reading that morning, he opened it curiously, wondering what had captured her attention. It was the same book she'd been reading the night before, and as he read the first few pages, he came to understand why it had taken her so long to finish it. He'd never been big on the classic literature, finding it difficult to become absorbed in, and he laughed quietly as he closed it.

The book was so predictable, so perfectly Jenny that he couldn't help but be amused, and he shook his head as he placed it back on the table in front of him. He had expected nothing less from his stubborn redhead, and he leaned his head back on the couch, closing his eyes. Allowing his mind to wander, he found that his thoughts kept returning to a singular thought and smiled. He was married again. To the most stunning, infuriating, intelligent woman he'd never thought he would meet, and he couldn't believe how drastically different his life had become in the last year.

Their relationship had progressed quickly, and he knew that this fact had scared Jenny more than she would have ever admitted, but he couldn't help the way he felt. They loved each other, and that was the most important thing. Societal norms be damned. Their relationship was of no concern to anyone else and he liked it that way. It was no one else's damn business. He still sometimes found himself thinking of Shannon, wondering what she would think of the way his life had gone, wondering if she was angry with him for moving on, for replacing her and their daughter with Jenny and Carly, but the more he considered it, the more he knew she wouldn't mind. Shannon hadn't had a vindictive bone in her body. She would have understood.

His eyes flew open at the sound of Jenny's screaming, standing so quickly that he felt unbearably dizzy for a long moment, and as he took the stairs two at a time, he willed his vision to clear. By the time he made it to the bedroom, he was thankfully able to see, and when his eyes found Jenny sitting in a crumpled heap, tangled in bed sheets and sobbing uncontrollably, he fought to dampen his panic. He reached out to touch her shoulder, and she scrambled away from his hand, shaking her head as her body folded into itself.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she cried.

"Jenny...what happened?" he asked, keeping his voice soft.

She merely shook her head, still sobbing as her entire body began to tremble, and he carefully sat down on the bed next to her. He waited a long moment before attempting to touch her again, and though she flinched, she allowed him to this time. He moved to the opposite side of the bed, pulling her slowly into his arms, careful not to touch her burned skin, and she buried her face in his chest as she sobbed, her breath coming in heaving gasps.

"I've got you, Jen," he whispered, kissing the top of her head gently, "It's okay now."

He held her securely in his arms, running his fingers through her hair, quietly whispering soothing words as she clung to his shirt tightly. It wasn't until nearly half an hour had passed that he realised she had fallen asleep again, and he carefully pried her icy fingers from his shirt. It was difficult to move without waking her, but he finally slid from his place on the bed, wrapping her in the blankets, and he leaned down, placing a kiss on her tear-stained cheek.

"I love you," he murmured.

As he slipped silently out of the room, he glanced back at her once, feeling more than a little confused.

What the hell had just happened?


It was well into the evening hours before he heard the tell-tale sound of Jenny walking down the basement steps, and he turned, giving her a smile. She looked incredibly uneasy as she walked down the steep stairs, her skin so pale it was almost translucent, and when she looked at him, there was something building in her eyes that he didn't like. At all.

"Can we talk?"

He nodded, gesturing to the stool in front of his work table, and frowned when she shook her head.

"Not here. Please. Upstairs."

Though this struck him as odd, he placed his glass on the table and followed her up into the living room, watching her in confusion as she sat on the couch.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry," she said quietly, twisting her hands nervously but carefully in her lap.

He frowned, sitting down next to her.

"For?"

"The way I acted when you came in the bedroom. I didn't mean to scream at you like that."

Gibbs shook his head, reaching out to still her hands.

"Talk to me. What happened up there?"

She sighed, still refusing to look at him.

"I had...I had a really bad nightmare. It really fucked with my head, and I reacted badly."

He waited, running his thumb over the back of her hand, silently offering her the chance to elaborate, and when she began to speak, there was no mistaking the tremor in her voice. He watched her closely as she recounted the nightmare to him, her hands beginning to shake as she described each part in vivid detail. As much as he hated to admit it, the picture she painted in his mind was almost enough to make him feel physically ill, and when she reached the basement, he suddenly understood why she hadn't wanted to stay down there.

Her eyes met his as she finished, and he wiped his thumb under her eyes to brush away the tears that had fallen.

"Jesus, Jen..."

No wonder she'd been screaming...

"I'm sorry for ruining our honeymoon," she said sadly, "I'm such a fucked up mess."

Gibbs wrapped his arm around her, kissing her gently as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"You didn't ruin anything. I came to terms a long time ago with the fact that my wife is insane," he said with a smile.

Jenny smiled, raising her head to look at him.

"I know I should be insulted, but all I heard was "my wife". That makes everything worth it."

He kissed her again, his hand running through her hair.

"You make everything worth it, Jen."


A/N: I did a ton of research regarding the symptoms of MS, and everything that was detailed in this chapter was pulled directly from medical textbooks. Also, Jenny's nightmare was based on the concept album "Preacher's Daughter" by Ethel Cain. Most of the dialogue was lifted directly from song lyrics.

Inspiration for this chapter was (predictably) the album "Preacher's Daughter" by Ethel Cain, one of the most hauntingly tragic albums I've ever heard.