WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
Chapter 10: Wedding Kelly's face was set into a semi-permanent grimace. The last couple months had been great, Jenny had stayed and it looked like it was for good; the teen could not have been happier. Then a few weeks ago her dad had been given an assignment in Russia, not really unusual, but this was going to last the duration of Kelly's school year and a little past. He and Jenny had talked it out; Jenny had made inquiries at work and had been offered another assignment in Russia to last nearly the length that Kelly's dad was going to be there and took it. Now what had Kelly upset was not so much that they were going to be staying in another country for an extended period, she spoke the language and was looking forward to actually using it with someone other than her father, but the fact that she was going to have to attend another school while over there and would be away from her two best friends upset her. When the school was informed that she had a prosthetic arm they had told her father that they could not permit her to play sports. With that she knew that they were probably going to treat her like a china doll and the school year was not looking promising. Bad enough she had to be without Maddie and Tommy but now they were going to treat her like an invalid. Her dad promised that they would only stay there as long as required for the assignment and then return to the States with plenty of time for her to start high school with her friends here; thankfully he had managed to at least locate a riding school that would accept her so she did not have to give up riding. Kelly picked up a pile of books and a small smile graced her face, they were language books, French, Hebrew and Arabic; Jenny had given them to her, promising to help her learn the languages to occupy her time when she could not be in gym. Kelly had always enjoyed languages but she had really become avid in her study while she was stuck in the hospital after the crash; she had become fluent in Spanish – which she had been studying in school anyway – Russian and ASL – both of which she learned under her father's tutelage. At least this would help pass the time, she mused as she placed the books in her bag. Kelly looked up at a tap on her doorframe. Jenny was standing there, her hand resting on the frame. "How's it going?" The teen shrugged and looked back down at her suitcase. "Almost done. I'm really mostly packing my winter clothes anyway, we're not going to see much warm weather while we're there." The redhead walked over and sat down on the bed. "It's only until June; then we'll come home." Kelly quirked her mouth in a "Yeah, I know, but I'm still not happy about it" gesture. Jenny reached up with her left hand and gently brushed back the hair that had fallen slightly into the girl's face. The sparkle on the older woman's hand caught Kelly's eye. "So when are you two planning on make that," she gestured at the ring, "official?" The redhead looked down at the engagement ring, Jethro had given it to her just days before he was given the assignment. "Well, that was what I came up here to talk to you about actually." The teen looked up curiously. "How would you feel about a trip to the courthouse?" Kelly's jaw hit the floor. "Seriously?" Jenny nodded. "Ducky, Tom, Maddie and their families are meeting us there in two hours." The teen sank down next to her step-mom-to-be, watching her carefully. "Are you guys sure? I mean," she tugged on her sleeve nervously, "you're not just doing this 'cause we're moving…" Jenny shook her head. "No. We had already made the decision to get married," she held up her hand in reminder. "We didn't really want a big wedding anyway; we talked about it last night and decided that this is what would make us happiest." She covered her soon-to-be-step-daughter's hand with her own. "The people who are most important to us will be there and that is all we want." A grin slowly spread across Kelly's face; then she was on her feet pulling at Jenny's hand to try to get her up. "Come on! Let's get you and Dad married already!" The redhead laughed as she stumbled to her feet, allowing the girl to drag her off. NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS "Do you, Jethro, take Jenny to be your lawfully wedded wife?" He and Jenny stood facing each other in front of the judge. Kelly standing next to his bride, and Ducky next to him. Maddie and Tom were sitting in the front seats with their parents and Maddie's older sister. He had been asked that question three times before in his life. He had answered the same every time, though the last two times had ended in divorce. He was admittedly worried about his marriage to Jenny ending the same, though he would never show it. But as he looked at the two most important women in his life he knew that even if he screwed up on occasion they would work it out somehow. "I do." "And, do you, Jenny, take Jethro as your lawfully wedded husband?" "I do," she answered, her voice sure. "Then by the power vested in me by the state of Maryland, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The judge was smiling widely. The couple easily complied amidst the cheers of their family and friends. When they pulled apart they were immediately inundated with embraces and well wishes. Jonah Tyler clapped Jethro on the shoulder. "Too bad about the honeymoon," he ribbed. Jethro smirked. "Who said we were missin' it?" The older man's eyebrows shot up and he burst out laughing. NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS Kelly was tearfully hugging Maddie and Tom good bye. "Make sure you call or write every week!" Maddie sniffed, trying to hold back her own tears. "And make sure you're back in time for the new school year," Tom added. Kelly nodded her head vigorously. "Definitely. I mean we have to be the Terrible Trio, right?" They nodded their agreement. Then they were in a three-way hug, holding each other so tight that they seemed like they would never let each other go. Jethro shook hands with Maddie and Tommy's parents and Ducky; Jenny hugged the two women whom she had grown to like greatly and the kind ME. Once they had pried the teens apart their friends continued to watch and wave as the family got in line to board their plane. "Remember!" Maddie shouted at Kelly, who was about to enter the ramp. "Be back by the time high school starts or else!" Kelly gave a half-sob, half-laugh as she waved once more and allowed her father and stepmother lead her down the ramp to the plane. As they took off Jethro wrapped an arm around his daughter comfortingly. She leaned into it, but continued to star out the window, bidding goodbye to her home. NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS I hope that was ok! I had a hard time writing the whole wedding thing. I'm sorry if it was not that good! I'll try to do better on the next one! Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think, good, bad or indifferent. Praise and constructive criticism are forever loved and treasured!
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