The Riddle

- Chapter 3: Truth and Fiction -

Gibbs watched the newly formed family and smiled briefly as Tony rejoined him, Ziva and McGee. He was rather surprised, truth be told, that Tony had chosen this family over his love, Jeanne. They returned to headquarters, where Gibbs observed the team as they gathered to hear the end result of the case. McGee and Ziva were teasing each other, Abby was laughing about something, and Tony was making an effort to be his usual self. Gibbs noticed Jen leaning against his desk listening intently to Ducky's story of the day. As if she felt his eyes on her she cocked her head to the side glancing at him briefly before returning her attention.

As the team said their goodnights he saw Jen laugh at something Abby and said and watched the two leave. He gathered his coat and went to the elevator only to find Jen waiting for him.

"Madame Director," he greeted knowing how irritated that title made her.

"Jethro do you ignore all the memos I send out or just most of them?"

"I read them," he assured in tone, which led her to believe he ignored them afterwards.

‘How is Tony?" She asked as they entered the elevator. He was still a little angry with her.

"Fine."

"Jethro," she warned knowing he was still pissed.

"He's fine, Jen. Besides he's got his family." She nodded. "And Ziva seems to be a rather large comfort."

"She's not involved with him."

"Are you asking or telling?" he inquired.

"Telling, but should they get involved I don't care how good an agent he is, I will keelhaul him if he hurts her."

"I'll put him on notice," Gibbs teased.

"I suppose it could be worse," she began as the doors reopened at the garage.

"How so?"

"He could date Abby."

"Never more than once, Jen."

"I know Jethro," she answered and said goodnight knowing he waited a few seconds to make sure she was safe to her before her turned towards his.

---

Jenny was sitting starring at her computer screen. She was trying not to appear jealous on the off chance Gibbs came in. Colonel Hollis Mann was back and according to McGee, Ziva, and Tony, still involved with Gibbs. A knock on her door surprised her but no more so than the Colonel entering following by Gibbs.

"Director," the Colonel greeted.

"Colonel, Agent Gibbs."

"We have a problem," the Colonel began.

"We?"

"You want to tell her?"

"No, not particularly," Gibbs answered. So this was about a woman, Jenny surmised, he couldn't look her in the eye.

"Is this problem going to involve lawyers?" There's no way she's already an ex-wife.

"It already did." Jenny heard Gibbs sight. "It's his ex-wife, she's a suspect in the case." Oh this is to good to be true, Jenny thought.

"And which ex would that be?" Jenny inquired turning to Gibbs.

"Stephanie."

"What number was she again? Second?"

"Third."

"That's right, you lived in Europe for a while. Frankfurt."

"Moscow."

"Two years?"

"One."

"Well, it's hard to live in Moscow, with anyone." Jenny was enjoying Gibbs' questioning. Clearly he couldn't handle three of his women at one time. "Do you think he should divorce himself from this case Col. Mann?"

"No, no ma'am," the Col answered, it seemed for once the two were in agreement.

"Nor do I. I don't see a problem if you conduct the interview," Jenny paused glancing at Gibbs. "Do you have a problem with Colonel Mann interviewing your ex-wife Agent Gibbs?"

"Do I have a choice?" Jenny glanced at the Colonel.

"No," they answered jointly and Jenny smiled sweetly at Gibbs' exasperated sigh.

"Problem solved." Jenny let out a small laugh after the two had left; the day was starting to look up.

---

Gibbs saw them before the Colonel, he saw Tony and Ziva as well but knew with his luck Jenny would get there first and so he found himself standing across from his ex-love/partner, next to his ex-wife, and next to his current girlfriend, and he knew Jenny was enjoying it. She knew she was in a separate category than the others, after all, he thought, she doesn't I would have ever married her.

"Colonel, I was just reassuring Gibbs'..." she paused before correcting herself. "Your witness, that Agent Gibbs could separate himself from the personal aspects of this investigation." Oh and I bet she let you off the hook to, Gibbs thought.

"Well I'll monitor him, closely, Director," Hollis answered. He didn't get it, he was pretty sure Jenny was not fond of the Colonel.

"I'm sure you will." She noticed Gibbs give his standard look of annoyance.

"Is that the look you're talking about?" Stephanie inquired to the Director. Great the ex's have united.

"Yea that's it."

"Hm...yea we've all seen that one," Hollis agreed with the other two. Jenny began leading Stephanie away and as Hollis was about to speak he knew he had to split the group.

"No, she can go." Jenny caught his sigh of relief as she and Stephanie walked to the elevator.

"Bet you never been happier to see me, Boss," Tony announced. Jenny stifled a laugh as she heard Gibbs' response. Abby's going to love this.

As she approached the lab later that evening, having been assured Gibbs and the Colonel had left, she could hear the rest of the team.

"So come on Abbs, you never told us, ex-wife number 3 or future ex number four?" McGee asked.

"I was a little busy beating up the bad guy."

"Oh come one Abby," Tony said. Abby shifted slightly.

"Well I did see Gibbs with all three of them," Abby revealed.

"Oh yea the train wreck. We forgot about the Director in this didn't we?" Tony exclaimed.

"So than who is prettier out of three?" Abby asked.

"Director gets my vote," Ziva said. Jenny had to smirk from her hiding spot.

"She would, you're her friend," Tony responded. "Abby?"

"The Director."That's my girl, Jenny thought.

"Really Abbs?"

"I don't like the Colonel."

"Well I go with ex number 3," McGee announced. "Tony?"

"I can't pick. I don't get why he broke up with anyone of them." Well its nice to know that Tony's back, Jenny thought idly. "Did we ever figure out who broke with who?"

‘The Director," came both Ziva and Abby's response.

"Ouch," Tony responded. Jenny knew now would be a good time to reveal herself.

"I thought Gibbs had left, Tony what did you hit now?" Jenny called coming into the lab. Tony almost fell out of his chair.

"Boss isn't here, uh Director, ma'am..." Tony faded off.

"Clearly DiNozzo. Well you guys did good work. Abby I'm glad you've listening to Ziva's defense lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed watching that."

"Thank you Director," Abby laughed.

"Today was interesting, how many more ex's does Gibbs have?" Ziva inquired.

"Two others," Jenny answered. "All before I knew him so don't ask Agent DiNozzo."

"Wasn't going to."

"Wait you knew ex-wife number 3?" McGee questioned.

"Stephanie? Oh I heard about her, met her once before they were together. Fornell told me he married her."

"Didn't Fornell..."

"Quit while you're ahead, Tony," Jenny advised. Tony nodded and the three field agents left leaving behind Abby and the Director.

"So, he's still seeing the Colonel."

"Abby!" Jenny chastised. "We've been through this."

"You know they were voting on who was prettier."

"Oh yes, I heard," Jenny admitted. Abby turned a little red. "It's alright Abby, I just wasn't aware you all knew exactly how things had turned out between him and I."

"We uh don't really know."

"You don't?"

"Gibbs slapped Tony for even considering there was something to end, but he never mentioned it, ‘cept for the coat thing."

"Than how were you all so sure I ended?"

"Uh...Ziva, she made the slight mistake of going drinking with us. Tony weaseled it out that she knew you'd ended some relationship, they put the rest together. All she really said though was you walked away from something, Ziva told me later she thought you regretted it, but Tony doesn't know that part."

"Well I suppose its common knowledge. It wasn't like Ducky didn't know."

"He treats you differently than the ex's."

"Does he?" Abby simply winked and the two women left. As Jenny was turning to go to her car she heard Abby call her back. "Yes Abby?"

"I just thought you might want to know that the Colonel knows about Kelley."

"Gibbs told her?" Jenny gasped in surprise.

"Not so much."

"Who?"

"I think Ducky let it slip, just so you know. I don't think he's handling it." Jenny nodded. Instead of driving home she turned in the opposite director. The paved road turned to gravel as she pulled into the large cemetery. She spotted the tree she had leant against as her husband had broken in front of her and she left the car to go lean up against it once more. She turned toward the pair of gravestones and saw him knelt next to them. To her utter relief he was alone. She didn't want to intrude and technically she shouldn't have known where this even was, but that paled in comparison to her need to make sure he was all right. Her brief movement caught his attention and he came over, seeming somewhat surprised but hiding it very well.

"Jen."

"Hello Jethro." His look beyond the surprise was a mix between anger, hurt, and confusion. "I wanted to uh...apologize. I'm sorry well about Stephanie."

"Don't apologize..."

"It's a sign of weakness, I know."

"That's not why you're here."

"Well..."

"You're eye is twitching," he pointed out.

"I know Ducky slipped, and I..." she paused, she had no right to make sure he was alright. "I should get going."

"You don't like cemeteries."

"No, but I can't imagine many who do, well maybe Abby. I've buried to many and I remember each one," Jen explained.

"Let me walk you to your car," he suggested and she knew that this was the end of the conversation. His hand on her back she glanced briefly over her shoulder before closing her eyes. I'm sorry Jethro, I love you.

---

As Jenny stepped off the elevator the following Monday she was greeted with Gibbs and a beautiful blonde young woman. Jenny did a quick double take positive she knew the girl from somewhere, she covered her surprise with something about Egypt and a case but Gibbs brushed her off. She watched the girl's face as the doors closed and than turned toward the team to find them gathered around McGee's computer. Abby glanced up to meet Jenny's eyes and gave a brief nod. Jenny went up to her office, offered a brief good morning to Cynthia and waited. The phone rang minutes later.

"Director, could you come down to the lab," Abby inquired.

"Of course." Jenny took the elevator down and waited for Abby to step in before killing the power. "Abby was that..."

"Maddie Tyler, my best friend."

"Did she see you Abby?" Jenny asked worried.

"She didn't recognize me," Abby defended sounding a little defeated.

"Oh Abby, I know how much you missed her. I ..."

"You know I never really thought about it, how much pain other must have felt. I was so worried about Dad that I..."

"Abby," Jen comforted. "I can undo some of this, you don't have to hide anymore."

"When you come clean, I will too."

"Abby you just think about it, please." The girl nodded and Jen switched the power back on returning to the main floor to wait for Gibbs.

---

The second the security guy left Jenny knew Gibbs was having problems separating himself from this case. She could feel that pain in her chest again and began to pray that nothing would come of it. She asked how he'd known the girl.

"Family friend."

"Fifteen years ago," Jenny assumed and than bit her tongue. That wasn't part of her knowledge. Damnit Jenny's not suppose to know that.

"You've been doing your own investigation," he countered.

"No, you're team looked her up," Jenny covered but Gibbs noticed her eye twitch. Whether or not his team knew was irrelevant, she didn't find out from them.

He let it go watching her enter MTAC. He knew she would be in there for a while and walked toward her office door. Cynthia was not around for once and so he entered closing the door quietly behind him. He walked over to her desk and contemplated what he was doing. This had the potential to be all in his head. Maybe he'd been right about that Psych Evaluation when'd he'd come back.

He took a deep breath, well aware that Jenny would demand answers if she knew he was in there. Gibbs opened the first drawer and found the brush she'd always kept with her. He collected a few hairs and placed them in a plastic bag. He opened the next drawer and found her weapon, extra mags, and a black jewelry box, a ring box. He hadn't remembered her wearing a ring of any great value and so he opened it and examined the contents. His heart constricted in his chest and he knew he was positive as to his conclusions. Gibbs brought the samples to Abby's lab and handed it to her with another one he'd collected much earlier.

"What's this Gibbs?"

"I want to you to compare the DNA between these two samples, no databases, just a comparison for familial ties," Gibbs explained. Abby nodded. He felt bad for lying to her but she was sure she had nothing to do with this.

"I'll leave the results on your desk," Abby said as he left.

---

Gibbs sat at his desk in the now silent area, hours ago there had been laughter and a few tears and countless praise for Tony. He was glad the young agent had his back. After the return from the hospital and brining Maddie home Ziva had told him the Director had wanted to see him. Jenny had known he was blaming himself and he hadn't even closed the door before she spoke.

"I should be lecturing you for what you did, but I can't. You saved that girl's life, Jethro. So stop blaming yourself." He hadn't known how to respond and decided just to ignore it. He was about to leave when she continued. "Jethro, if you ever leave without taking backup again, this conversation will be readdressed."

"Does that include you?"

"If you take me as backup and I have my gun, yes. Abby however does not count as backup."

"Very well Director."

"You may as well go, Jethro. Tony is reveling in his glory." The two left her office and headed down the stairs together.

"He did good today," Gibbs said simply. Jenny smiled and joined the group, leaving with Abby, her arm around the younger girl's shoulder. He watched them go, but just as the elevator doors closed he saw Abby fall into Jenny's arms and Jenny soothing and comforting her. Ordinarily he would have jumped up and gone to Abby's side but instead he opened the file on his desk. There was his proof. A familiar match between the two hair samples, one mother, the other daughter. He went down to Abby's lab and found the results still in the computer. He clicked search databases and minutes later Director Jennifer Shepard and Forensic Researcher Abigail Scuito's pictures were in front of him. He picked up his phone and dialed. Two rings later a woman answered.

"Hello?"

"Johanna."

"Jethro! What a surprise," she greeted hushing someone next to her.

"Johanna can you meet me at the coffee shop near NCIS Headquarters?"

"Jethro its nearly 11 can't wait it?"

"Johanna it's important."

"Fine, fine I'll be there." Twenty minutes later Gibbs stood outside waiting for his older sister in law. She finally appeared wearing her dark coat. "Alright Jethro, what is so urgent?"

"Abby's mother."

"Abby Scuito? Jethro her mother is dead, surely Abby is not having nightmares," Johanna answered

"Convincing but wrong mother, I meant this one." He held up an old worn photo and Johanna paled.

"Jethro, that's Shannon," she answered. His blue eyes filled with anger.

"My mistake, I meant her."

"Director of NCIS? Johanna questioned looking at that much newer photo.

"Jennifer Shannon Shepard."

"Look Jethro, I don't know what this is about but..."

"This about you lying Johanna, you and your sister, or is she even your sister?"

"Shannon is dead, must we relive it?"

"She's not dead, she's running NCIS and her child, MY child is a Forensic researcher!" Johanna fell silent; this had not even come close to any of her planned scenarios regarding this. She was completely lost.

"Jethro, lets say for a second I believe this...theory. Do you still love Shannon?"

"Yes."

"And Jenny?"

"Jenny? What does she..."

"Answer the question, do you love Jenny?"

"Yes she's..."

"Do you love her because she was Shannon or did you fall in love with her for her own self?"

"They're the same being!"

"Perhaps to you Jethro. Did it occur to you that perhaps she had reasons for this?"

"She should have told me."

"I didn't say it was true," Johanna reminded.

"It's true. You would never have made a point of introducing me to Abby or warning me about getting involved with my partner. Nor would Jenny have slipped today, she knew Maddie, and she and Abby left together. Abby doesn't let anyone see her cry and yet she broke down in Jen's arms."

"Jethro," she pleaded.

"Just tell me the truth." She sighed.

"You know it, but if you love her in any of her forms, you won't tell her," Johanna advised.

"You won't..."

"She rarely knows when we speak, only when she sees me at headquarters," Johanna assured. Gibbs nodded and left. She drove back to her house well aware her guests were already asleep and smiled as she found Jenny curled up on the couch, trying to wait up. She covered up her younger sister and made up her mind not to say a word about what she'd learned. She found Abby in the guest bedroom and checked on her before going to sleep herself.

---

Gibbs was starring at his boat. The last fifteen years seem to flash by him as he tried to come to terms with what he knew. He wasn't sure how he'd missed it, or he could ever have repressed it. He felt like a bastard for dating all the women he had, and the numerous ex-wives. With these feelings however there came a freedom from the guilt he had always harbored for falling in love with Jenny. If he was honest with himself Jenny was the only woman he'd truly loved since Shannon, and now he could understand it a little better. He had never gotten over Jenny and now that knew her secret he knew he loved her more because when it came down to it, she'd protected their child and she looked after him and even now always had his back.

There was only one thing to do, now that he had come to terms with this. He pulled out his phone and dialed Colonel Mann, there was no use continuing something that he knew he could never commit to. If he were really being honest he would admit that he'd thought about breaking up for a while. Jen had been the mark that no one seemed to measure up to.

---

Gibbs didn't understand how it seemed as if everything was working out. This case, an African refuge, a wife who waited seven years only to find her beloved married to another, could not have been more a sign if it had had neon flashing light. Gibbs had watched the women on his team, including the Director, and it seemed that it had affected them all. He was not disappointed to see their reactions. Ziva was currently relating to the Director how the case had been resolved and Gibbs was watching her mannerisms ever so closely.

"She said they were soul mates and yet he thought she was dead and married another. I know I should feel for him as well, he thought she wasn't coming back and now she's back and so happy but yet all I can see is Sayda."

"You did good, Ziva," Jenny praised. She could relate to Sayda. "Get some rest tonight. Happily ever after doesn't always happen, you know."

"Well of course not, Director, that's for..." Tony was silenced as Gibbs whacked his head.

"Shut it DiNozzo, everyone go home," Gibbs ordered noticing Jenny make her up way up to her office. He followed entering just after she had.

"Jethro, something the matter?"

"You working late, Director?"

"Hardly. I'd offer you a drink but I'm exhausted." Gibbs studied her, she did look tired.

"Sayda seemed to hit some nerves," Gibbs observed.

"All women fall for tragic love stories, Jethro. She is a remarkable and strong woman."

"Ah, I see," Gibbs answered. Jenny rolled her eyes. She knew he didn't get it.

"Well I'm leaving, don't drink all my bourbon. Goodnight Jethro," Jenny said her hand on the door and she heard him sigh a moment.

"Good night Shannon."

Chapter 4