Fic - Navigating Old Secrets (Jenna Sommers) pg, 1/1

[abvj]

Title: Navigating Old Secrets
Summary: Jenna is just waiting until the earth feels solid under her feet again. We all have skeletons in our closets. Some are just easier to navigate than others. Set immediately post 2x19.
Rating: pg
Author's Notes: 2,214 words. Spoilers for everything up to 2x19. For empressearwig (naturally) who asked for these two during a

Comments

[duchessofavalon]

Oh, man. I love this so much, and it makes me so sad in such a good way. I would kill for there to be something like this on the show, especially since I like the direction they've been going with John lately and I feel like this could totally fit into that.

You write Jenna so well, by the way-- she's got that struggle of merging this role of taking care of her niece and nephew with her own life she had before it and then just when she thinks she's sort of managing that all of this comes crashing down on her and and this sort of reaction just seems so very in-character for her.

<3

[abvj]

I LOVE THAT YOU LOVE THIS. Mostly because I don't think a lot of people care about John or Jenna or even the lovely tidbits we get alluding to a John/Jenna history. I wish we could see something like this on the show. I think they've been working towards something resembling redemption (not sure if that's entirely the right world, so just go with it) and I think a moment between these two would work well to further establish that.

Thank-you for reading!

[duchessofavalon]

I love Jenna. I always have. And I hated John, but in that good, love-to-hate-him way but lately I really love where they seem to be taking him. And I love the John/Jenna history and I love the way you wrote them, and yes. Just. Awesome.

Thank YOU for writing!

[leobrat]

Ooh, this missing scene is without a doubt part of my internal canon for the show (as well as the whole New York 'verse that you and empressearwig worked out). I love that in the end, she just leans her head on his shoulder, that through thick in thin, hate it or not, they're family to each other and have to square that with each other.

[abvj]

First, your icon. I was just listening to that song this morning! It's so pretty.

Also, I'm glad you liked this. I guess I just figured that since we were never going to see anything between these two on the show (or probably anything regarding Jenna trying to figure things out) that I'd satisfy my own curiosity. Thank-you for reading, Miss!

[empressearwig]

This is so very much the fic I wanted to read after that episode (all the time, really). Just, there are so many little things that I love:

eying her in that way he always used to - with gentle features and kind eyes.

and

but he's here and she knows that means something - even if she's not quite sure what that is

and

"I think about all that time we spent together. I think about that time I spent trying to love you, trying to be honest with you, and you've been lying to me since day one."

and

It's almost comforting and manages to calm her in a subtle type of way - reminiscent of how she used to feel with him when they were two very different people all those years ago.

and

In a movement that goes against everything he is now, John leans in softly and brushes his lips to her forehead. For the first time in years, Jenna doesn’t flinch at his touch. For the first time in years, she allows her eyes to fall closed and her body to lean into him. The moment is soft and fleeting, over before it really starts and for a moment, for

[abvj]

Never apologize for long feedback! It makes my day! I love that you loved this because I wasn't quite sure about it.

I love them (you've probably already figured that out) and it's weird because I don't necessarily want them together. Like you said, they'll never really work, but their history is so damn interesting. That conversation he had with Elena about how much he loved Isobel kind of made me wander if what he felt for Jenna was the same/different/less than. Like, did she know that there was somebody else and did she always feel like she was living in somebody else's shadow? I guess I never realized that John really, truly loved Isobel and it's kind of rocked this whole world that I've had set up in my mind for John and Jenna. Does that make sense?

Anyway, sorry for the tangent! Thank-you for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[empressearwig]

I'd always kind of factored in him really loving Isobel (he wouldn't have given her his ring if he didn't, though I'm not 100% sure on when he did that), so I've sort of viewed his thing with Jenna as his shot at redemption, almost. And when he figured out that he couldn't make it work with her, that he wouldn't be able to make it work with anyone, and then all traces of the good man that he could have been if things were different, faded away and he became who he is now.

I really need to write John fic.

[downonfire]

Oh, how I love this pairing. ♥ I really like how you made Jenna so real here, so confused and lost. John is very John-like too, and I love his last words. But um, yeah, I love all of this actually, so thank you for writing and sharing it! :D

[abvj]

I always worry about getting John just right and believable, so I'm glad he worked for you here. Also, I'm really just excited that there are other people out there that like and are interested in this pairing.

Thanks for reading!

[bellonablack]

I'm...really happy that someone wrote this pairing, and wrote it sooo well too. I really loved the dynamic here, and the atmosphere of it. Wonderful job.

[abvj]

Thank-you for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed this. AND that you like John/Jenna. There are so few us out there!

[bellonablack]

I've definitely been fascinating with their relationship for awhile! and you caught their relationship so well here that it was a treat to read. :)