ncisdrabble100 [#280] Things Happen... in the desert
November
Somehow, she found herself in the desert again. But at least it's the New Mexico desert instead of the California desert and she's not alone. And there's not a diner in sight. Together, she and Jethro had hopped in their rental car and wandered off into the desert to escape the hordes of children that were inundating Stable Graces. The farm's owner, Elizabeth Jackson, runs an equine therapy program for foster children and it's the part of the day when then younger kids show up. Since having met Liz on an online support group shortly after she moved to New York, Jenny has been grateful for the instant bond the two women found they had, but today, Jen just needs to spend time with Jethro.
The car rolls to a gentle stop in the dirt and the gravel and Jenny steps out into the glaring sun. It's almost too familiar for her and she can feel her pulse pick up. Jethro joins her in front of the car and together, side by side, they start wandering into the desert, each lost in their own thoughts. She's thinking about their efforts to get pregnant--wondering if she made the right decision; wondering if they'll just run out of time; wondering if her one chance had passed her by already. She looks down as they walk, shoulders brushing now and again. She has three, maybe five years to live and that time belongs to no one but them. She survived her Judgement Day for a reason. Her miscarriage was the universe getting her attention, issuing her a challenge. The universe thinks she can't possibly do this.
Jenny picks her head up and draws a deep breath of fresh air. She knows this is her second life, a chance to do everything she'd put off doing in favor of a career. She takes Jethro's hand and draws him over to a large, flat boulder off to her right. She steps up onto it. He stands there in front of the rock, watching her. She presses up against him; he looks up at her. Leaning down, she cups his jaw in both hands and kisses him.
"Here," she says, "with only the coyotes to watch." He knows what she's talking about and joins her on the rock. Things happen. As they lay there with the sun starting to go down, somehow, some part of Jenny knows: something else happened, too.
Somehow, she found herself in the desert again. But at least it's the New Mexico desert instead of the California desert and she's not alone. And there's not a diner in sight. Together, she and Jethro had hopped in their rental car and wandered off into the desert to escape the hordes of children that were inundating Stable Graces. The farm's owner, Elizabeth Jackson, runs an equine therapy program for foster children and it's the part of the day when then younger kids show up. Since having met Liz on an online support group shortly after she moved to New York, Jenny has been grateful for the instant bond the two women found they had, but today, Jen just needs to spend time with Jethro.
The car rolls to a gentle stop in the dirt and the gravel and Jenny steps out into the glaring sun. It's almost too familiar for her and she can feel her pulse pick up. Jethro joins her in front of the car and together, side by side, they start wandering into the desert, each lost in their own thoughts. She's thinking about their efforts to get pregnant--wondering if she made the right decision; wondering if they'll just run out of time; wondering if her one chance had passed her by already. She looks down as they walk, shoulders brushing now and again. She has three, maybe five years to live and that time belongs to no one but them. She survived her Judgement Day for a reason. Her miscarriage was the universe getting her attention, issuing her a challenge. The universe thinks she can't possibly do this.
Jenny picks her head up and draws a deep breath of fresh air. She knows this is her second life, a chance to do everything she'd put off doing in favor of a career. She takes Jethro's hand and draws him over to a large, flat boulder off to her right. She steps up onto it. He stands there in front of the rock, watching her. She presses up against him; he looks up at her. Leaning down, she cups his jaw in both hands and kisses him.
"Here," she says, "with only the coyotes to watch." He knows what she's talking about and joins her on the rock. Things happen. As they lay there with the sun starting to go down, somehow, some part of Jenny knows: something else happened, too.