Watering Your Plants
- Part 4: Catching You -
Jenny slammed the door the basement so hard she was afraid the hinges might have snapped. She didn't care. She was far too angry to deal with any of it. The SecNav had been by, the other agencies were making her job more difficult, accusing her of turf theft! Jenny had no more patience, would that Gibbs had been around to at least keep DiNozzo in line and Abby and Ziva from striking out, literally, in anger.
She had had enough. Her past was catching up with her and she had no one with whom to confide in. She just needed an escape; she lifted the bottle of bourbon to her lips and felt the liquid trail down her throat. After the fifth or sixth gulp, she couldn't remember, she knew she was out of control. To bad there isn't someone to catch us, well done Jenny. Her vision blurred, her balance faded, and she fell.
Gibbs heard the crash and shatter of glass just as he'd stepped in the house. He ran to the basement and down the steps freezing as she saw her. She'd fallen on her side, shattered glass around her. He moved fast ignoring the danger of the glass and went to her side. He felt her faint breath and saw that her arm had broken the fall, keeping her head away from the concrete.
"Jenny," he whispered sadly. He knew her arm would be incredibly bruised, if not broken, come tomorrow. He couldn't tell how much she had drank but judging from the small amount on the floor it had to be a lot. He checked her over before carefully lifting her off the floor. He could smell the bourbon all over her. He was angry that she'd done this to herself and yet he never wanted to see her this weak. Gibbs knew she was not like this, she wasn't weak, and she was quite possibly one of the strongest women he knew, except for her heart. She cared what happened, and that forced a strain on her. He knew she blamed herself for what had happened to him and no doubt countless other things that had happened since.
He brought her up to his room and lay her down, a familiar habit. He got a washcloth to clean her arms and try and take away the smell. He could change her clothes, but she would throw a fit later. Gibbs knew he couldn't walk away this time, not when she was hurt. He went and got an ice pack pressing it gently to her arm. He didn't think it was broken, but just to be safe he immobilized it. He heard her phone ringing and glanced at it. It was Abby calling, why would Abby be calling Jen? He answered the phone.
"Director?" Abby greeted.
"Abby."
"Gibbs!" Abby exclaimed. "Did the Director fly to Mexico?"
"No Abby."
"But…aren't you in Mexico?"
"Not right now, Abbs," he answered.
"But…how come you're on the Director's cell?"
"Abby why are you calling her cell?" Gibbs demanded.
"I…um she was having a bad day and she…she's not home. I'm really worried about her!" Abby explained.
"What happened today?"
"Well the team's been in a little trouble and the SecNav took it out on her and Ziva and I had a little disagreement…"
"Little?"
"Well it was loud enough to get the Director out of MTAC."
"Abby…" Gibbs trailed off sounding slightly disappointed.
"Anyway, she's also been doing something and she and Tony got into a loud fight. It was actually a bad day for everyone."
"Great," Gibbs mumbled. I am retired, this is not my problem, he kept telling himself. "Abby get some sleep, play nice."
"Can I talk…"
"No. Goodnight Abby."
"Night Gibbs," she sighed and he hung up. Gibbs looked back at Jenny, he knew she wouldn't be up for a few hours, he'd clean up and made sure her intoxicated state didn't get worse. An hour later he sat back down twirling her phone. He'd figured out how to get into her email and squinted as he sent an email to Cynthia, the Director would be taking a well-deserved day off. Hopefully Cynthia knew to leave Jen alone when she wasn't feeling well. He glanced at the clock and settled back to wait. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
He was startled awake by a whimper of pain. His eyes flew open and he found Jenny had rolled on to her injured arm. Gibbs could tell she was fighting the pain even while asleep and he tried to reposition her. He managed to remove the injured arm and turned her to rest on her back. Her face relaxed slightly but he could tell she was waking up. Her jacket had gotten twisted around her and he carefully slid it off her. Size four? He was surprised, he had been positive the jacket was a size to big for her, but four was the right number. She's lost a lot of weight. Jen what have you don?
"Jen," he called softly. She turned her heard toward his voice but slept on. "Jen you have to wake up now."
"Five more minutes, Jethro…" came the tired response and he felt her body tense a second later. He knew her mind was foggy and she was trying to determine whether this was a dream or not. He saw her squint her eyes, revealing the redness mixed in with the now dulled green. "Am I…"
"No, you're awake, and mostly coherent," he replied.
"I…" she tried to shift to a sitting position but found she couldn't move her arm. "Ouch, shit!"
"I take it back, you're coherent."
"Uh…shouldn't you be in Mexico?" He just met her eyes. "Jethro?"
"Checking the house, Fornell said something about trees down." She rubbed her temples trying to get rid of the pounding and dizziness.
"I told Fornell I'd check, I must've fallen asleep."
"When you lie, you're right eye twitches, always has," He informed. She tried to glare.
"Well I should get home and…" she tried to slid off the bed and stand but found her balance was not back yet. She fell and Gibbs caught her, sitting her back down.
"You're not driving anywhere." She sat watching him curiously.
"You know I'm surprised to see you, but you don't seem so surprised to see me," she said. "Why is that?"
"Saw your car," he lied.
"Bull."
"Jen, maybe you should tell why you've been passed out for the last five hours."
"Haven't slept."
"Right eye twitching." She lowed away from him, her finger drawing designs on the comforter. "Jen…"
"Fine! I had a little to much to drink!" She snapped. "And I'm paying dearly for it!"
"A little?" he questioned her.
"Don't give me that look Jethro, its not like you haven't done it," she warned.
"Yea, every now and then, not for two months in a row!"
"What would you know?" She taunted. "You've been drinking margaritas and beer for the last two months!"
"You almost killed yourself tonight, do you understand that?" He asked harshly. She pulled away rubbing her head.
"Shut up, just shut up," she bit back. She tried to stand again, and he knew it was to hide tears that she couldn't' control. She barely made it a step and he caught her again.
"Stop it Jen," he coaxed. "Stop fighting."
"I can't," she cried.
"Damnit Jen, this isn't like you!" He pleaded with her. He'd calmed his own temper knowing he shouldn't take it out on her, at least not while she wasn't sober.
"How would you know?"
"Jen, I know you. Now come on, go back to sleep. We'll talk in the morning."
"We can talk now."
"Come on Jen, you need sleep."
"I have work…" she faded off reaching for her phone as it buzzed. She checked her email. "What the…I never…" Gibbs took the phone from her hands.
"Looks like you don't have to work after all. Sleep well Jen," he responded tucking blankets around her.
"You…" she yawned, and rubbed her head again. He was sure it was curse of some type.
"Yea, I know." He touched her cheek lightly and she didn't seem to mind. She finally closed her eyes and he heard her breathing even out. He was still sitting up and surprised that she'd stayed by his side.