- Chapter 7 -
The Next Day
The next morning Jenny wakes up to the sun peeping through the curtains and creating strange patterns on her face, she slowly opens her eyes and takes in her surroundings, not remembering how she came to be in Gibbs bedroom. She rolls over to find him wrapped around her still sound asleep. She gently runs her hand from his cheek bone, and down his neck to rest comfortably on his chest. Gibbs slowly awakens greeting her with a grumbled, “morning,” and a light kiss to the cheek.
Jenny carefully sits up, trying not to disturb the blankets too much, and kisses him back, replying in kind to his greeting. A few minutes pass in comfortable silence before they manage to drag themselves out of bed and downstairs to the kitchen for coffee and breakfast.
After his first coffee of the morning, Gibbs begins to resemble his normal self and on noticing the time he hurries to get ready for work. Jenny digs into the drawers in his bedroom in the hopes of finding a change of clothes that she left behind on one of her many previous visits to Gibbs house over the past 9 years or so. She is successful in her efforts and makes her way to the bathroom to shower and change.
Both Jenny and Gibbs arrive at work 15 minutes later than they should, with a few questioning looks as they step from the elevator together.
“Thank you,” Jenny says to Gibbs as she steps out of the elevator and makes her way up the steps to her office.
Gibbs understands her silent meaning and nods his head in acknowledgement knowing they will talk later.
“Right, are there any new developments?” Gibbs asks his team as he sets foot in the bullpen.
Later on in the day Gibbs and his team are all busily typing away at the case reports at their desks when Gibbs attention is grabbed by the ding of the elevator. Out steps the SecNav with the little girl he spoke to yesterday, who he now knows to be Jenny’s niece. He watches their progress up the stairs and into the director’s office wondering why and how the SecNav knows the Director’s niece.
“Jenny,” SecNav says upon entering her office with Isabella in tow, “how’s everything going?”
“Edward,” Jenny greets before she is pounced upon by her daughter, “Long story,” Jenny sighs remembering the events of last night.
“Care to explain,” SecNav asks, taking a seat on the comfortable leather sofa across from the desk, watching Isabella run around the small office.
Jenny explains the events of last night leaving out the bits of her turning to Gibbs for comfort and reassurance, one of her best friends the SecNav may be, but he is still her boss, and she’s crossed enough boundaries in her time without blurring the lines anymore.
Upon hearing the story, and seeing the newly formed tears in Jenny’s eyes, SecNav get’s up from his seat and gives her a reassuring hug. “Don’t worry,” he says, then upon seeing a good opportunity he adds, “Have you thought about getting some additional protection detail until all of this is cleared up? I’m willing to authorize it if you want me to. It may give you a bit more peace of mind, for yourself and Isabella,” and me, he adds silently.
“I’ve already got protection detail.”
“I know, but it never hurts to take extra precautions, especially when threats have been made against your life. Technically I should enforce this, make it an order, but being your friend, I’m giving you the choice, and the option to pick yourself.”
Jenny takes a few minutes to mull over what’s been said before realizing that he’s right, and that she needs to do this for Izzy’s sake as well as her own. “Ok,” she finally agrees, setting the wheels in motion, “Any recommendations?”
SecNav leaves the office, with Isabella in tow and Jenny following on his heels to break the news to Jenny’s best team.
“Gibbs, can you and your team make your way to MTAC as soon as possible please? I need to speak to you all regarding some new information on your current case,” SecNav announces in the bullpen before making his way to MTAC with Jenny and Isabella.
Gibbs gets up from his seat and silently indicates for his team to follow, wondering what the SecNav wants to speak to them all about, it’s rare for him to make personal visits to Headquarters, and he usually communicates with them all through the MTAC video link.
Inside MTAC SecNav arranges for all the cameras and recording equipment to be turned off, whist Jenny settles Isabella down with a coloring book and some pens.
Gibbs and his team arrive shortly afterwards and settle into the seats provided Gibbs with his ever present cup of coffee in hand.
Once everyone is settled, SecNav recounts the conversation he had with Jenny in her office not so long ago, explaining that they both think extra protection would be a good idea and that it’s been left up to Gibbs team to organize.
As soon as the meeting is over and everyone dismissed, SecNav makes his excuses and leaves promising to call and check in later in the evening. Gibbs stays behind to talk to Jenny about the situation.
“You probably shouldn’t stay at home Jen, encase this bastard really does no where you live.”
“Well where do you suggest we stay then?” Jenny asks, including Isabella in her statement.
“With me,” Gibbs answers simply, knowing his suggestion will be met with skepticism.
“Right, and that’s a good idea how exactly? We don’t even know who this man is, how do you know he’s not been following you and know where you live too, how is your house any safer than mine, you leave the front door unlocked for God’s sake.”
“I never said it was a good idea, I just made a suggestion. Take it or leave it.”
Jenny takes a few minutes to weigh up the pros and cons of his idea before finally agreeing to it, knowing she’s always felt safe, comfortable and protected at his house.
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