Are you serious?! - Chapter 53
Finally, the moment had arrived, and you stood beside him. Completely entranced, you gazed deep into each other's eyes while Ducky, smiling contentedly, placed your hands together and then took his place beside Jethro - because he was, after all, his best man, and he was immensely proud of the honor.
Rachel and Abby stood beside you as your bridesmaids. But Abby had two more roles she was overjoyed about - she was also your maid of honor and carried the small cushion with your wedding rings. She could hardly contain her joyful squeals. She wanted to cheer, dance, and celebrate, but there would be plenty of time for that later.
The officiant began the ceremony, yet you had eyes only for each other. In the background, you heard the manâs address, but the words did not reach you - only the feelings they evoked. Peace. Happiness. Togetherness. Love. Infinite love.
It was all wonderfully romantic and could have been so beautiful - if onlyâŚ
âŚYes, if only the stranger in the back row hadn't pulled out a gun. It was a woman. With short dark hair, dark glasses, and a large hat. But nobody seems to know her.
âStop! Stop!â she screamed, beside herself, pointing the weapon at you.
The judge froze in shock, as did everyone else.
âYou have to do everything yourselfâŚâ the stranger grumbled, slowly approaching you.
âThe moment I found out about the pregnancy, I hired a hitman. I couldn't let myself lose you forever because of that brat.â
She paused briefly, then continued, her voice filled with menace and hatred.Â
âI won't let this wedding take place. Who knows which bastard that slut let impregnate her!â
This woman was insane and determined to do anything; that much was clear. From the very beginning, this woman seemed familiar to Gibbs, but now it dawned on him, and his face darkened.
"I was the bastard, Jenny. That's what you call starting a family, and I'm so happy about our children."
This threw the woman off balance. Irritated, she asked in a thin voice,
"I... how do you know...?"
Gibbs' eyes hardened even more than before.
"Your disguises have always been flawed," he hissed.
Indignantly, Shepard took off his glasses and threw them away. Then she roared,
"That bitch just won't die!"
She shifted from one foot to the other. She didn't want Gibbs to see her like this, but that was secondary now, because in the end, he'd thank her for intervening. Right? ...Right?
She lowered her voice, and her next words were no longer just a threat, but an immediate danger.
âSo I have to do it myselfâŚâ
Then she aimed at you and pulled the trigger.
âJust die already!!!â
But fortunately, Pride and Franks lunged at her at just the right moment and tackled her to the ground.
It all happened at once. The two of them held Jenny down, Abby and Rachel tended to the wounded Palmer, who had been hit by the bullet, and Gibbs held you protectively in his arms.
There was also a certain irony to the situation. While Gibbs, clad in his wedding suit, was unarmed, Elaine managed to get hold of Jennyâs gun - using it to keep her at bay.
The fact that she was trembling like a leaf as she did soâand that it wasn't actually necessary, since Dwayne and Mike already had everything in handâwas, however, beside the point. She simply wanted to do something to help, too.
Despite all the chaos, Jethro quickly assessed the situation - as he always did. Jimmy had been hit, but it was merely a graze to the shoulder, and he was already being tended to. You were shaken, certainly, but otherwise appeared to be fine - and that was all that mattered.
That left him with only one thing to do: settle the score with Jenny Shepard. Once and for all.
He approached her, his body tense. His face was a mask, yet beneath it seethed rage, hatred, and revulsion.
She fought as if her life depended on it. Time and again she struck at Mike and Dwayne, who struggled to restrain her without knocking her out - she was, after all, still a woman.
But as Gibbs came to a halt directly in front of her, she froze. Her resistance crumbled instantly.
âJethro⌠Jethro⌠you came back to me⌠I always knew that we belonged together,â she cooed.
He merely watched her in silence. This woman he had once loved⌠nothing of her remained. Instead, her eyes held the peculiar glint of madness.
For a brief moment, he wondered if he was responsible. But no, certainly not. Because SHE had betrayed and abandoned HIM. Apparently, she regretted it now, but it was far too late.
He leaned toward her, and his voice had the sharpest, coldest tone she had ever heard from him as he spoke:
âIf you ever get too close to my family or me, I will kill you. This isnât a threat, itâs a promise.â
âAnd if he doesnât, I will,â Frank added, his voice filled with hatred. Dwayne could only agree with both of them and nodded in support.
âGet her out of here. I never want to see her again,â Gibbs ordered. He turned his back on her without another word and walked toward you, while Franks and Pride dragged Jenny to the car.
She thrashed about like a fury again. She screamed, shrieked, kicked, and flailed wildly - but against the two seasoned investigators, she was powerless.â
Once they reached the car, they handcuffed her and taped her mouth shut.
"Peace at last," Franks grumbled, eliciting a grin from Pride.
They had both sustained scratches from her fingernails, and by tomorrow additional bruises would appear; but the threat to the Gibbs family was finally over, and happiness could begin.
And since they didn't want to miss as much of the wedding celebration as possible, they sped to NCIS headquarters to take Shepard into custody.
One thing was certain: she would spend the rest of her life in prison for multiple counts of attempted murder - and part of it certainly in a psychiatric hospital.
(To be continued in the last chapter 54.)
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