Unraveled
Author: A'serene
Category: General; Episode tag
Rating: PG
Spoiler: 5x06 Chimera; brief mention of events in 5x03 Ex-File.
Contents: Could not resist the Webb cracks and for those observant enough I couldn’t resist throwing in my other favorite couple.
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS.
A/N: First attempt at NCIS so be nice.
The ship was destroyed in a single blast. Jennifer Shepard felt her heart constrict and she willed it to keep beating. The Commander next to her had a faint smile and it pushed her over the edge, she made the single to cut the MTAC feed. The others in the room waited with baited breath fro their Director's next command.
"Ensign, escort Commander Skinner out of NCIS NOW!" The young ensign jumped to and made to lead the commander away when he turned.
"Director, this had to be done. You have to understand that."
"I believe I told you Commander that I wouldn't stand by and watch my agents die. I will nail your ass to the wall for what you did to them!" I know just the lawyers to help me too. I wonder if Rabb and Mackenzie are busy. She watched the Ensign escort the Commander out and she could see the others standing around. "OUT!"
The room cleared and Jenny slummed to the floor, she didn't even make it to the chair.Jethro, what have I done? For the first time in years, Jenny Shepard cried.
---
"How'd they know we were off the boat?"
"I don't think they did." Matter of fact I'm sure they didn't, Jen what were you thinking? Leroy Jethro Gibbs banished that thought. Who ever had given the order it was not Jennifer Shepard. Probably that damn Commander Skinner who wanted to know her so well. "McGee, give me your cell phone."
"Boss?"
"Now McGee!" The young man produced the black device and Gibbs took it. "Ziva take the helm."
"Gibbs?"
"You don't know how to drive a boat?" Tony teased.
"I do!" came the defensive reply. Gibbs moved toward the bow so no one could hear his conversation. He glanced back to assure the team was all right and than punched in a familiar number.
---
Jenny had not moved from her place on the floor. She knew she would have to tell everyone the news and…oh Abby! As different as they were Jenny had found someone to admire in Abby, and she was aware that the girl thought the world of Gibbs. How am I going to tell her this? She heard a faint beeping and quickly realized it came from her pocket. It was her personal cell phone, the one only a select few had the number to. She didn't recognize the incoming number but flipped it open anyway.
"Hello," came her strained voice, all she heard was heavy breathing. "Hello?" Nothing. "I will hang this up!"
"Don't hang up Jen," the voice could not be real.
"Jethro?"
"Hi Jen."
"Jethro, the ship! You're…"
"We were already off. Currently we're in some Russian's spy boat making for land."
"All of you are off?" Jen clarified.
"All of us."
"Everyone's alright?"
"Tony conquered his rat fear, Ziva had a sixth sense, McGee is still seasick and Ducky is enjoying the scenery." Jen laughed slightly, it was just like Jethro to make light of those he cared the most for. "Is Abby alright?"
"She doesn't know, I was just about to go to her lab and tell her," Jenny replied her voice quivering slightly.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine Jethro, now why were the Russians attacking?"
"They were looking for a nuclear warhead."
"Did you find it?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And we're bringing it back, along with the cook, who is surprisingly innocent. Has the rest of the crew been found?"
"Not yet, but we'll find them. The Navy is not going to be pleased that you have that warhead, Jethro."
"Don't worry about it."
"Boss," came Tony's voice.
"What DiNozzo?"
"Fleet dead ahead." Gibbs looked and sure enough there was a Coast Guard cutter bearing down.
"Jen, can we trust the Coast Guard?"
"Yes," she wanted to scream in relief. "Have them fly you back to
"She has a concert to go to."
"I'll make it up to her."
"See you later Jen." The line went dead and she nearly wanted to jump for joy, till she realized that Directors do not jump around. She collected herself and quickly sped down the hall to the elevator. She wished the damn machine would hurry up but not such luck. When it finally reached the lab Jenny nearly sprinted to the door collecting herself as she heard the loud noise coming from within. God I hope that's not the band she was going to see.
"Abby!" She shouted over the noise. Abby didn't hear her but did catch Jenny's reflection in the computer screen and quickly shut of the music.
"Director I…I didn't know you were there."
"Abby come with me a second." Abby rose an eyebrow unsure what was about to happen. She liked the Director well enough, but that didn't mean that she wanted to chat. She allowed Jen to grab her wrist and lead her to the elevator. They stepped inside and Jen killed the power.
"Hey! That's Gibbs' trick!"
"Abby."
"Yes Director?"
"Abby, when I let you out, I need you to get your coat and anything else you need to leave and wait at Gibbs' desk. We're going on a trip."
"With all due respect Director, I don't do undercover."
"It's not a mission Abby. We have to go meet Gibbs and the rest of the team, but right now certain people think they're dead and they need to remain so."
"Gibbs is…"
"No! I just talked to him. The rest of the team is alright as well," she reassured the younger woman. "We need to go to
---
It was not unusual to see the Director watching the floor below her from the balcony near her office. It's what she would do when Agent Gibbs' team was in. She was certainly closer with them than the others but than again Gibbs had been her partner at one time. No one suspected that she was waiting for Abby. Spotting the Goth by Gibbs's desk she walked down the stairs and tried to appear calm.
"Going home Abby?" She inquired. The girl seemed confused for a second before agreeing. "Walk with me, I was just leaving as well." The two women walked toward the elevator and no one thought it odd at all. The second they were settled in Jenny's two seater sports car, Abby had to speak.
"Are they really okay?"
"They're going to be fine Abby."
"What happened out there?"
"You should ask them, I would love to know as well."
"What about that Commander, what's his name?"
"I hope we never see him again. He won't have a career when I'm done with him."
"Tried to take you out," Abby concluded. Jenny looked at her suspiciously. "Well I mean he was rather obvious and he didn't like Gibbs from the beginning." Jenny was starting to appreciate the girl's companionship and she could easily see why Gibbs thought so highly of her.
They pulled next to the NCIS cars the team had left when they arrived and each exhaled slowly. They saw the helicopter coming in and quickly got out of the car. The two watched the team carefully get off and Jenny could tell that most of them seemed surprised to see her, let alone Abby. She watched as Abby suddenly bolted from her side and ran toward the team. Jen felt like an intruder as she watched Gibbs hug her and the rest of the team fuss over her. There were a family and she wasn't sure she belonged to it anymore. As Gibbs got closer, she could hear his voice.
"Tony, Ziva take Ducky back to headquarters and have him check over both of you. McGee take that damn thing to Abby's lab. I want everything on it. Abby go with him." The rest of the team nodded and moved toward the work cars, Jen could see Tony and Ziva fighting over the keys. Gibbs stopped about two feet in front of where she was leaning against the hood of the car.
"Jethro, glad to see you back."
"Jen…" his voice was light but the look in his eyes was anything but.
"You need a ride?" She asked somewhat amused.
"If you're offering."
"Get in." He was only slightly miffed that she didn't let him drive. They watched the NCIS vehicles leave and Jen threw the car into drive. As she merged onto the highway she realized it would be up to her to break the silence. "Jethro, I didn't know." Gibbs turned his head slightly to look at her.
"I know Jen," came his reassurance. She was relieved, she would never have forgiven herself if he hated her for this.
"No one knows, I told Abby and we left. The Commander will be dealt with later."
"Rubbed you the wrong way did he?"
"Jethro," came the warning tone he loved so much. She could tell he was enjoying this and decided to pull her hidden card. "I have just the lawyers to prosecute him too."
"Oh yea, who?" He laughed, Jethro was pretty sure she was going to tease him about divorce attorneys but her next words shocked him.
"Rabb and Mackenzie." He stared at her noticing her lips quirk.
"For all you know he would have defended the Commander, Mackenzie would have helped. I'm not sure who hates me more."
"They don't hate you Jethro, Rabb has a healthy respect for you." She was sure he muttered something along the lines of ‘like hell he does.' "That and the fact that Rabb hates this particular Commander more."
"They've never met."
"No, but Clayton Webb nearly got Mackenzie killed."
"Webb? That CIA pain in the ass?"
"The same one."
"What's he got to do with the Commander?"
"He IS the Commander, Webb was supposed to be supervising the mission, than he took matters into his own hands. He probably doesn't even remember that I've met him before."
"That's why I wanted to knock him out, I suppose it's done with."
"The warhead is going to cause problems."
"And that is why you are the Director," Gibbs teased.
"Jethro," she paused not really knowing what to say. "Oh I almost forgot, I never got the chance to call Colonel Mann. She'll be happy to hear you're safe." Jethro fell silent at this remark. How does one tell one's former that the present one is gone?
"She wouldn't have cared very much," he replied.
"Oh." Jenny knew she should be sympathetic. "I'm sorry."
"Eh, it never would have worked out. She's a lot like Stephanie." A brief smile crossed her face.
"Didn't want to add a fourth to the club." He laughed.
"Something like that."
"Has Tony said anything, about Jeanne, I mean?"
"No, everyone's talked to him. He's dealing, that girl will be the making of him."
"He still hates me than," she concluded.
"Not you Jen, right now he's more pissed at himself. I think he realized that he really loved her, gotta say I understand." At her curious look he continued, "It's hard to have love and lose it."
"
"In some ways that's the same, but I understand what's going through, falling in love with the one person you shouldn't. Having to chose between to the two most important things, I guess you always wonder if you made the right choice."
"Did you?" she asked.
"I don't know." Which was so un-Gibbs it unnerved her.
"What does your gut say?"
"It's rather silent to be honest. I suppose sometimes you get flashes to what might have been or what was," he answered. "I have daily reminders." He mumbled but she caught it and her heart did a strange flip-flop.
"You still love her," she stated trying so hard not to hope. He sighed.
"More and more." She placed parked the car in the garage and they moved to get out and reenter headquarters. As she closed her door she met his eyes over the roof.
"You could always have both Jethro," she suggested. "You never know she might just love you too." She turned to walk away but barley made it five steps.
"Jenny." He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Jethro." And that was all it took. He kissed her soundly trying to erase the years of separation and became quite unawares of the audience.
"Is he…" Tony faded off.
"I thought flies would be pigs."
"That's pigs would fly Ziva, but yea," McGee said.
"Well now this is not so unexpected," Ducky remarked.
"I don't think Mom and Dad want an audience," Abby teased and the team just nodded and watched the two kissing. "Although I really want to know if they're going to pass out."
--END--