Wait and see

[ncis_ljgibbs]

Jethro made his way up to the bedroom slowly. He needed to talk to Jen at least to see if he was going to be out in the truck again. If so he was going to grab an extra blanket with the way the temperature dropped at night. He hovered outside the bedroom door debating with himself.

Comments

[on_jennys_terms]

After showering, Jen is sitting on the bed, staring at her knees. She swears she can see faint traces of where she tore them up in the alley in Midtown Manhattan. Maybe she's imagining it. Maybe not.

She pulls her hands from the bed and studies her palms, looking for more scars from January. Any that were there have gotten lost in the lines on her palms.

She drops one hand to her lap while the other brushes over the small, old scar on her thigh. All she can think about is that damn photo and how perfectly pristine Kate was. For a few weeks, she'd actually managed to get away from the body image issues. She loved her shape and all the marks on her body. But then there was Kate, someone who was talented enough and could have easily gone all the way to Director. A younger version of herself.

No wonder he liked that picture. A perfect size four. Whereas Jen is sitting on the edge of 10 pounds more than where her weight should be. A drip from her hair rolls down her shoulder making her realize she hasn't finished getting dressed yet and she stands.

[ncis_ljgibbs]

He took a deep breath and knocked softly waiting for her reply. Jethro smelled faintly of icy hot he knew but he wasn't as young as he once was and since his fall from the back of the truck he had occasional back flares.

[on_jennys_terms]

She knows its him. He's the only one likely enough. Pulling open a drawer, she says, "Yeah," just loud enough for him to hear. Jen didn't realize she'd teared up until she feels one roll down her nose. Quickly, she swipes at her face and sniffles before pulling a relatively new pair of baggy sweatpants from the drawer.

[ncis_ljgibbs]

He stepped inside the room stopping once he saw her. His eyes were locked onto her body and his immediately reacted. Some days she made him feel like a teenager again.

"Hey."

[on_jennys_terms]

She glances over at him as she drapes the sweats over her shoulder and pushes the drawer closed. "Hi," she responds, pulling open the drawer above. She chooses a white tank top because the temperature hasn't dropped yet and it's easy enough to layer over when it does. Jen closes the drawer and tosses her things on the bed. Unable to help it, she sniffles again.

[ncis_ljgibbs]

When he heard the sniffle he moved to her side though he stopped just short of grabbing her and pulling her close. "Jen?"

[on_jennys_terms]

She feels too much like a weeble wobble to be able to pull her pants on standing, so she sits on the edge of the bed again and looks up at him, "What?"

[ncis_ljgibbs]

Jethro crouched down in front of her,"Talk to me please."

[on_jennys_terms]

"I'm sitting here like a half-naked wet elephant. Can I put my clothes on, first?" She meets his eyes and adds, "But there's not much to talk about, anyway."

[ncis_ljgibbs]

"Elephant? Jen you're nowhere near an elephant. You're beautiful,"he braced one hand on the mattress to keep himself from falling forward.

[on_jennys_terms]

She looks away and busies herself with her pants. "Yeah, well, I don't feel like it," she says as she awkwardly tugs them on.

[ncis_ljgibbs]

"I wish you saw yourself the way I see you,"he risked getting smacked away to reach out brushing his thumb over her cheek.

[on_jennys_terms]

She essentially ignores his hand on her cheek and stands, pulling the sweats the rest of the way up before sitting back down again. "I haven't for a long time," she finally says, folding her hands in her lap "and I've had too many people remind me recently that I'm overweight."

[ncis_ljgibbs]

"Who the hell said that? Because as far as I'm concerned you still need a couple of pounds,"he shifted a little closer.

[on_jennys_terms]

"Each time someone would ask if I'm having twins or if I'm due in May. And my doctor even said I'm on the "heavy" side. So I think he might disagree with you, Jethro." She continues to stare at her hands in her lap; her hair still drips now and then.

[ncis_ljgibbs]

"Does your doctor know how small you were before?" He slowly covered her hands with his.