The hardest day of the year (Jethro)

A/N: Another JIBBS oneshot. This is the second part of the Hardest day of the year stories. Hope you enjoy it, Angels.

14 years ago today his world came to a shattering end when his two girls, his beloved wife and their daughter, were killed in a car crash while in the protection of NIS.

He walks out of the building to his car, trying to quell the tears that are pricking at his blue eyes. It's barely 1000 and already he feels as though tomorrow is years away.

He's barely reached the driver side of the door when he hears a familiar voice behind him.

"Jethro." It's Jennifer 'Jenny, Jen' Shepard, the Director, his boss and ex-lover, standing behind him, her coat draped over her arm with her bags on her shoulder.

"Where are you going, Jen? Don't you have meetings all day?" He asks, Jen just shakes her head, her ponytail swishing side to side as she walks closer towards him, she cups his cheek in her warm, small hand.

"Jethro, 3 months ago you helped me through the hardest day of the year for me, let me help you through the year for you, please." She requests of him softly. Seeing the determination of helping him through this day in her emerald green eyes, the Former Marine nods. Maybe it'll be easier for me to handle today if I have a little bit of company. The silver haired man thinks to himself before wordlessly opening the trunk of his car and allowing Jen to place her stuff inside the dark compartment.

Jenny Shepard watched as her now employee finishes his fourth mason jar of Bourbon in the last five minutes.

Agent and Director are in his basement, him at his boat, her sitting on the bottom stair of the staircase, each with a mason jar of Bourbon.

"14 years without them, Jen." Jethro whispers, Jenny nods her head: she knows somewhat about what Jethro is going through. Jenny gets to her feet and silently walks behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I know, but you made it, Jethro." She replies softly. She hears Jethro sigh. "Maybe." He mutters. She pulls away and walks so she can face him.

"I'm here for you, Jethro and you know that." Jenny says before taking the bottle of bourbon out of his reach, causing Jethro to glare at her.

"Jen," he growls. "give it back." Jenny giggles as she walks backwards away from him. "You want it, Jethro?" She asks teasingly with a smile, Jethro just nods. "You damn know I want it, Shepard." Jenny giggles. "Come and get it, Gibbs." She says before running up the basement steps, laughing, Jethro immediately follows her.

"Jen!" He barks. Jenny runs upstairs to the kitchen but arms wrap around her waist from behind, lifting her off the ground. She squeals, laughing.

"Can I have my bourbon back now?" He asks in her ear, causing her to shiver.

"I did say you could." She says as she's put down on the ground. She hands him the half empty bottle with a smile.

I'm glad I made him smile. She thinks to herself.

Jethro walks up the stairs to his living room and smiles softly when he sees Jen asleep on his couch, with a book and glass of wine on the coffee table.

It's five minutes to midnight and he's five minutes closer to have survived 14 excruciating years without Shannon and Kelly, he doesn't think he would've made it through today if Jen, his third favourite redhead, hadn't had walked into the underground parking lot at NCIS and begged to help him through today, like he did for her.

He walks over to the couch and covers her with the blanket he has draped on his recliner and kisses her forehead ever so gently. "Thank you for helping me through the hardest day of the year for me, Jen." He whispers to her before he leaves her alone to sleep.

A/N: This two shot series is DONE, I hope you've all enjoyed it. I promise I will work on my Paris series, I also have a lot of new stories to type and publish. Enjoy, Angels.