A/N: Hello? Anyone still there? Seriously, I know many of you probably thought I'd abandoned this story since its been pretty much forever since I last updated. Well, rest assured I haven't and I hope to wrap this up hopefully this weekend or early next week. Yes, there is one more chapter after this (b/c it would have been too long to make this the last chapter) but that should be it. If you are still reading thank you for hanging in there. Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated and as always please forgive my errors as I am my own proofreader. Please enjoy!

Chapter 10

Thunder rumbled above as lightning streaked across the gray sky, creating an eerie brightness that made the cab driver flinch. Visibility was almost impossible because of the steady downpour of rain and she cursed it under her breath as she inched her way down the road. As a native of Montana she should have known better to take this fare when the weather was like this, especially this far out. But the man had looked beyond desperate and had practically begged, and she got the distinct impression that this silver-haired, blued eyed gent didn't beg anyone for anything. So despite her misgivings, she'd agreed to drive him. Now here she was, going 20 on a 45 mph roadway, straining to see the road in front of her.

Her passenger on the other hand seemed to be handling the storm a lot better than she. In fact, he didn't seem to notice it at all. She'd been discretely checking him out. Something about him drew her attention and she had yet to figure out what that was. Maybe it was the bleak look in his eyes or the fact that he'd sat in the same position since he'd entered her cab back at the airport. Not to mention that he hadn't spoken one word since giving her the address to his destination - not that she was up to much conversation in this weather. She chanced another glance in her rearview mirror just in time to see him rub his hand over his face. He looked exhausted and…well…sad, she thought. She was usually a good judge of character but it didn't take any special skills to figure out this man was grieving. Maybe not in the conventional cry your eyes out type of way but grieving nonetheless. She eyed him once again, noting not for the first time how just how handsome he was and wondered what the woman was like that made him hurt so much.

Gibbs stared out the taxi window, not really seeing anything beyond the rain that pelted the windows. He was aware of the driver staring back at him every now and then and was grateful that she hadn't tried to start a conversation with him. He was in no mood for small talk or anything else for that matter. He was tired, anxious, and impatient. The drive out to Jenny's was taking longer than usual due to the weather but that didn't stop him from wishing he'd rented a car of his own to make the journey.

He sighed, feeling weariness in every part of his body. He 'd been running around this last week in DC like a chicken with its head cut off. He hadn't realized how many things needed to be done for a few months away. Not to mention the constant battle with Vance over his leave. It was amazing to him how determine the man was to delay his trip. Gibbs shook his head. It made him angry just thinking about it. He owed Ducky, Abby and his team for running as much interference between him and Director Vance as they did. Surely without them, Gibbs would have shot the man.

Abby.

Her name flowed through his mind accompanied by no small amount of guilt. He grimaced every time he remembered the hurt expression on her face when he'd taken out his frustrations on her. She was one of many who'd approached him as he was trying to leave the building to make his flight. All she did was squealed out his name and he'd nearly snapped her head off. Gibbs had never felt more like an ass than he did in that moment when she'd backed away from him, wide-eyed and frightened. All she'd wanted, she'd explained innocently when he finally caught up with her, was just for him to pass along a big Abby hug to Jenny. Gibbs gave himself a mental headslap and opened his arms to Abby. It definitely wasn't the apology she deserved but it was the best he could do at the time. In her usual style, Abby had flung herself into his arms, clinging to him with a tight grip that he had found oddly comforting. And to his own surprise he had found himself holding on to her just as tightly. Gibbs knew, as she gave him one last squeeze before letting go, that she forgave him. It was Abby after all. Still, he felt horrible and knew he would be making it up to her for a long time to come.

The rain had lessened as they reached the road that led to Jenny's home. Gibbs took a deep breath and let it out quietly as the house came into view. He wiped his damp palms against his pant leg. After fighting for weeks to get back here, now that he was here, he was feeling more than a little apprehensive.

The driver pulled up as close as she could get to the door. Gibbs felt his anxiety increase but tried to shake it off as he reached for his wallet. Absently, he handed the driver two large bills, far more than the meter quoted, and ignored the excited declaration of gratitude. Gathering his bags, Gibbs stepped out of the vehicle looking up at the house that loomed in front of him. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, mentally preparing himself for what awaited him on the other side.

Shockey greeted him first. Gloria wasn't far behind. A hugh grin spread across her face as she approached and she immediately engulfed him in a big bear hug as soon as he stepped inside. He hugged her back, knowing that Gloria had been his lifeline to Jenny, providing him with information when Jenny held back. They had developed an easy rapport over their mutual concern for her stubborn patient and he was sincerely happy to see her.

"Welcome back, Mr. Gibbs."

"Thanks, Gloria," he said releasing her. "Its good to be back." And despite his earlier feelings of apprehension he really was glad to be here. For now, it was where he belonged.

"Everything okay?" he asked, removing the light jacket he donned for the rain.

Gloria shrugged. "As good as can be expected. You know how it is...some days are good, some days are bad."

Gibbs nodded his understanding.

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs resting. I checked on her about twenty minutes ago. I don't think she's asleep if you want to go on up and let her know you're here."

Gibbs gave the dog a good rub. "Has she said anything?"

"No," Gloria sighed. "I tried to get her to talk to me but she just says she's fine." Gloria rolled her eyes skyward. "She always says she's fine. Why don't I take care of your bags while you go on up to see her. Humph, maybe you'll have better luck."

He gave the dog another long stroke before moving towards the stairs, stopping to look back when he heard Gloria call out to him.

"The last few weeks have taken a toll on her. Don't expect too much," she warned.

He gave a curt nod and disappeared up the steps.

He knew from his phone calls with Gloria that the pain was steadily growing worse. The pills she'd been taking previously were no longer helping and while her doctor had wanted to start her on the morphine, Jenny refused. According to Gloria, finding another drug that her immune system could tolerate and that would ease the pain was a lesson in trial and error. They'd finally found one that seemed to work to ease the pain but it also caused more unpleasant symptoms, like nausea and severe headaches. Neither her doctor nor her nurse could understand her absolute refusal to take the morphine but they didn't know how fiercely independent Jenny was. Having to rely on Gloria was bad enough; the morphine would take away the little control she had left and Gibbs knew to Jenny, that would be more sufferable than the pain.

Standing outside her bedroom door, Gibbs reached for the handle and was about to enter when he stopped. Barging into her office while she was working was one thing, entering her bedroom unannounced was quite another. With exaggerated patience, he tapped lightly on the door and waited until he heard the soft "come in" before he entered. After weeks of only hearing her voice, his eyes feasted hungrily on the sight of her sitting propped up against the headboard, holding a book in her lap.

Her eyes widened and a small uncertain smile graced her lips.

"Mind if I come in?" he asked as he leaned against the door.

She nodded and he noted that she too couldn't seem to take her eyes off of him. It took this as a good sign. She lowered her book as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Hi," he said, because suddenly he didn't know what to say.

"Hi, yourself." Her voice was low and raspy and she cleared her throat. "I'd get up but I'm afraid I'd probably just fall back down," she joked, gestering at her legs self-consciously.

Gibbs knew better than to make light of the comment. Her inability to stand or walk for more than a few seconds was a touchy subject that had ended many conversations between them in the last few weeks. Gibbs was still confused about what he'd said wrong.

He moved closer but stopped when he saw the uncertainty stirring again in her eyes.

"How bout I just come down to you?"

His voice was soft, light, but his expression was serious as he regarded her. Her intense green eyes roamed his face; her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. Gibbs could see the internal debate she was having with herself and knew instinctively that whatever he had heard in her voice over the phone had not been imagined. He met her gaze, opening himself up to her scrutiny, willing her to see whatever it was that she needed to see in him. The emotions flashed across her face like a slideshow and it was all Gibbs could do to restrain himself from rushing to her. And although he did restrain himself, he'd be damn if he was going to let her push him away again.

That was not an option he was willing to give her.

"Let me hold you, Jen," he whispered. Please, he begged silently with his eyes. Because the desire to touch her, to ease her doubts was nearly overwhelming him.

Her bottom lip began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears. She nodded her head jerkily and held out her arms. It was an invitation he didn't hesitate to accept and he lowered himself beside her on the bed and gathered her to him as gently as he could.

"Hold me tight, Jethro. I won't break," she encouraged brokenly.

And he did.

He held her close, needing to feel her heart beat against his and the warmth of her breath against his cheek. He closed his eyes and breathed in the unique scent of her while tenderly rubbing his hand through her hair, frowning at how thin it felt beneath fingers. Her arms tightened around him as she buried her head in the crook of his neck.

She didn't cry in heart-wrenching sobs that shook her entire being. Instead, her tears were silent as they ran down her cheeks to saturate the collar of his shirt. Gibbs didn't mind. He held her as long as she allowed, marveling at how thin she'd become in the weeks since he'd been gone.

"I'm here baby. I'm here," he whispered soothingly in her ear.

After a while, her breathing slowed and Gibbs wondered if she'd fallen asleep. His back was starting to feel the strain from the awkward position in which he was leaning but he didn't want to disturb her. As if reading his thoughts, she shifted, lifting her head from his neck to whisper tearfully in his ear.

"I'm so glad you're back."

She untangled herself from his arms and leaned back against the bed.

It was his turn to study her, taking in her the gauntness of her skin and the paleness of her face. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek, swiping at an errant tear with his thumb.

"We okay?" He was almost afraid to ask but he needed to know. The distance between them over the phone bothered him and he needed it dealt with now.

Jenny didn't pretend not to know what he meant. She took a deep breath, studying her hands laced together in her lap before she spoke.

"From the beginning when my condition was first diagnosed, the one thing that I was consistently told was that I would experience pain and not the kind of pain Tylenol would fix." She brought her eyes up to meet his. "Do you know what my first thought was?"

He shook his head. "What?"

"That I couldn't let you see me like that." she answered softly. "I don't know why really. I just couldn't stop thinking about how I felt when you were knocked unconscious by that boat explosion. I kept asking the doctor if you were in pain. He said he wouldn't know until you woke. It hurt, physically hurt, to think of you lying there in pain and unable to tell anyone, unable to escape it. I felt so…useless and frustrated. And I…I didn't want to do that to you."

He smiled faintly as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "Protecting me again, Jen," he murmured gently.

Her eyes filled with tears again and she wiped them away, embarrassed. "I know its stupid but I can't help it. It's going to get bad, Jethro, really bad and part of me knows that I don't have the right to ask you to be here for that. But another part of me doesn't want to face this alone. I don't want to die alone and I need you. I know it's selfish but I need you here." Her words ended in a sob and Gibbs once again gathered her in his arms, desperate to give her the reassurance she needed.

"Shhh…baby. It's alright. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

He waited until her grip on his shirt lessened and the shaking in her shoulders subsided before pulling away.

"Hey," he called softly, making sure he had her full attention. "I want you to listen to me, okay? You didn't ask me to be here, Jen. I came because I wanted to. I needed to be here with you as much as you need me here and I'm here for the duration, understand? I won't let you face this alone. Do you hear me?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He could hear the relief in her voice and wondered just what kind of hell she'd been putting herself through with her doubts these past few weeks.

"Besides, I should be thanking you," he continued.

Confusion marred her brow. "For what?"

Gibbs reached for her hand and held it to his lips.

"For keeping your promise to be here when I got back."

His voice cracked as the words fell from his lips. Jenny raised her other hand to caress his cheek. Her green eyes glistened but no tears fell as she murmured, "it was the least I could do."

"I love you, Jen."

The words were out before he was aware he was going to say them. He watched her eyes widened at his admission and Gibbs realized that even though he didn't mean to say them, he meant them. He loved her and they'd wasted too much time already for him not to say them to her.

"Jethro, we're both pretty emotional right now. You don't have to say you...you love me just because…"

He put a finger to her lips, silencing her words. "I said it because it's true. I love you."

She gave him a long hard look and he thought she was about to argue with him again but instead her lips curved into a smile.

"I love you, too," she told him affectionately. "I only wish…"

"No," he said sternly cutting her off again, "no regrets Jen. No looking back. From now on we go forward" a lump formed in his throat as he whispered, "for however long we have."

She lifted his hand and intertwined it with her own.

"For however long," she agreed.

Gibbs felt the lump grow a little bigger and swallowed hard, forcing himself not to think about it. Instead he focused on Jenny, touching her hair and then her face. His eyes followed the movement of his hands as they smoothed down her cheeks to her chin and then onto her neck. Each touch a loving caress. His eyes moved up to hers and she smiled shyly, snuggling into his touch.

"I feel cherished," she murmured.

"You are," he replied, his voice low.

She blushed and gave his hand a weak yank. "Come, lie beside me."

Gibbs didn't hesitate. He kicked off his shoes and did as instructed, making sure Jenny was comfortable before settling back against the bed. He lifted his arm to put about her shoulders and gave her a questioning look. She settled against him and Gibbs took the moment to hug her close, closing his eyes against the wave of emotion that hit out of the blue.

He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"The hug's from Abby. She told me to tell you she really misses you. Ducky sends his love. Shalom is from Ziva and McGee says hi."

Jenny played with the buttons his shirt. "That's sweet. I will call them soon if I'm up to it."

He smoothed his hand down her arm and pressed a light kiss in her hair.

"And who is that from?" she asked teasingly looking up at him, "Tony?"

Gibbs snorted. "Naw, that's from me." He raised his hand and gently tapped her on the back of the head. "That's from DiNozzo."

She laughed and it sounded like music to his ears.

"Ah…the Gibbs form of affection," she quipped. "It's good to know I still rate."

He leaned forward, tipping her chin up so she could see the seriousness in his eyes. "You rate, Jen. You're important to all of us."

"I know that," she paused and then added, "now."

"So," said Gibbs after a comfortable moment of silence, "you wanna talk about it?"

"Bout what?" she mumbled against his shirt.

"Your visit to the Doctor's office this morning?"

She tensed and tried to rise but Gibbs held her still against him.

"No."

"Jen..."

"There's nothing to talk about, Jethro. The cancer is spreading faster and my time is getting shorter," she said coolly. "Nothing I hadn't already expected."

"Expecting it doesn't make it any easier to hear," he replied carefully.

"No, no it doesn't," she agreed quietly. She shifted to look at him. "But having you here makes it bearable."

Gibbs breath caught in his throat at the look of love shining out of her glimmering green orbs. The watery smile she offered him wavered and then vanished completely as his mouth descended on hers. Pusle racing, he waited, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she so wanted. He needn't had worried. From the moan that escaped her as she pressed her lips firmly against his, he knew pulling away was the last thing wanted.

With a skill that left her breathless, he eased his tongue pass her lips to dwelve inside to taste the sweet silkiness of her mouth. He dipped, nipped and explored every crevice, pouring his heart and soul into the kiss that could very well be their last. Selfishly, his mouth seduced her with his lips and his tongue, swallowing her moans as he deepened their connection. He drowned himself in the sensation of her, knowing they needed to stop but lacking the power to pull away. His tongue intimately possessed hers, caressing it with a tenderness that had her trembling in his arms and straining against him. He wanted her badly but both of them knew this was as far as it could go. Eventually the need for air forced them apart, both struggling to control their breathing. Gibbs leaned forward for one more taste, planting flowery kisses on her chin, her cheeks, and her eyes, tasting the saltiness of her tears.

"Hey," he murmured, "what's this?" he asked wiping the wetness from her face.

She raised quivering fingers up to trace the outline of his jaw. Her lips, still swollen from his kiss, pressed together to keep her emotions at bay.

At last she spoke.

"I didn't think I would ever feel this again."

"What?" he questioned.

"Desired. Sexy," she paused, then added, "Beautiful."

Gibbs took her hand in his and lightly kissed each fingertip.

"You are beautiful, Jen."

Her soft chuckle was filled with disbelief.

"Well, I don't know about that but I thank you for making me feel this way."

"Your welcome," he whispered before taking her mouth and engaging her in another short kiss.

She snuggled into him, sighing contently when they parted. Gibbs could see the droopiness of her eyes and knew that she was wearing out. Truth be told, he too, could use some rest after his weeks of endless nights, not to mention being slightly jet-lagged from the plane ride. Jenny covered her mouth as she yawned and Gibbs smiled.

He placed his lips against her temple.

"Hey, get some rest. I'll still be here when you wake."

"Hmmm…promise?" she mumbled drowsily as he arranged them more comfortably in the bed.

"Promise," he whispered back but could tell from the sound of her breathing that she was already asleep.

TBC