1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

a/n: just a short little fun one-shot that i decided to write down today. hope you enjoy!

though the rum burned a path down jenny shepard's throat as she swallowed, she didn't even flinch as she set her shot glass down, smirking at the slightly surprised look on stan burley's face.

"damn, red. is everything okay in your life?"

she frowned.

"what are you talking about?"

"when a person can do shots like that without even blinking, usually it's a sign that they're going through some rough shit."

jenny laughed, shaking her head slowly.

"no, burley. i'm okay. i just have a high alcohol tolerance."

"were you an alcoholic when you were younger? 'cause you're way too tiny to have that high of a tolerance."

"burley, leave shepard alone. you're just mad that she can drink you under the table."

smiling at will decker as he returned with their next round, jenny took the offered shot, and tossed it back effortlessly. she rolled her eyes as burley shuddered when he finished his, and laughed quietly.

"to be fair, i think just about anyone could drink burley under the table."

decker laughed, nodding as he finished his own shot, and as jenny laughed at burley's annoyance, she tried to ignore the real reason she'd agreed to come out drinking with them. it was no secret that she'd had a rough week, nearly getting killed by a serial killer tended to be a downer, and she'd been desperate to put it behind her. it didn't help matters that she was becoming increasingly more attracted to their team leader, hardly able to stand being alone with him for fear of what she might do, and by the end of the week, she'd needed a drink in the worst way.

as soon as burley's lips met hers, jenny froze, wondering what on earth had led to this turn of events. he flashed her a smile when he pulled away, oblivious to the way decker was looking at him.

"sorry, red. had to do it just once, to know what it was like."

"you could have asked her first," decker growled, looking extremely offended.

"it's okay, decker," jenny said quietly, "he didn't mean any harm. it's just burley, after all."

"no, it's not okay. how many other women has he done that to and they simply write it off because 'it's just burley'? that doesn't give him a pass to assault you."

jenny reached across the table, taking decker's hand in hers slowly.

"will, it's okay. i know stan wouldn't ever hurt me. it was just a kiss."

"besides, decker, i don't go around kissing just anyone. never kissed you, have i? and if jenny minded, don't you think she would have said so?"

"she didn't kiss you back," decker pointed out.

jenny shook her head.

"stan, i think what will is trying to say is that you have to get permission. you don't want to risk an assault charge over something you didn't mean to be taken the wrong way. personally, i don't mind, but you're not really my type."

he shook his head slowly.

"no, i get it. sorry, jenny. didn't mean to put you in an awkward position."

decker stood quickly, walking to the door and as her eyes followed him, jenny sighed.

"burley, stay here. i'll be right back."

when she finally found him, decker was sitting on the hood of his car, a cigarette held between his fingers, and jenny glanced up at him curiously, noticing the anger still building behind his eyes.

"will? you okay?"

he shrugged, reminding jenny so strongly of their team leader that it hurt.

"can i sit with you?"

he nodded, moving over enough to give her space, and the redhead climbed up on the car, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"what's going on? you know burley didn't mean it like that. and we both know he doesn't do that to just anyone. i can't help it that i'm irresistible."

she frowned when he didn't laugh at her joke, and nudged him lightly with her arm.

"talk to me, will. please?"

he sighed, taking a long drag from his cigarette, and nodded.

"when i was in high school, my best friend was raped. she was only sixteen, and she was working a part-time job at a little clothing store by her house. one night on her way home from work, a guy grabbed her and threw her on the ground. beat her up really bad, and he raped her. it destroyed her. she was so scared of everyone after that. even me, which hurt because i would have never hurt her. but, i understood. she never got over it. she killed herself a few months later, and that was one of the reasons i decided to become an agent. i wanted to be able to help people like her, to get justice for her. she deserved that, and i hate that she never got it."

jenny was silent for a long moment, and finally, her voice came out in a soft whisper.

"what was her name?"

"cassie. she was the best friend i'd ever had. my only friend in school, and it was so hard after she died."

she nodded, her eyes sad as she looked over at him.

"will...i appreciate what you said in there, but burley isn't him."

he sighed, meeting her eyes seriously.

"i know. it just...it made me angry. seeing you tense up like that, it just...it reminded me of cassie. she used to do that when i hugged her after...you know. i wasn't about to let him get away with it."

"it just shocked me. besides, burley's definitely not my type. that had more to do with it than anything."

she took a slow

eath, glancing at him quickly.

"can i bum one, will?"

he frowned but nodded, handing her the pack of cigarettes, and when he passed her the lighter, she nodded as she inhaled.

"thanks," she said as she blew the smoke away from them.

"didn't think you smoked, jenny."

she shrugged.

"i don't. not often. maybe it will deter burley, though."

he laughed, and nodded at her.

"maybe. so, not your type, huh?"

jenny shook her head.

"definitely not. i'd rather kiss gibbs."

the words left her mouth before she realised what she'd said, and decker's eyes widened as he looked at her.

"oh? someone's got a crush on the boss, huh, jenny? been thinking about that one for awhile?"

jenny shoved him lightly, and he laughed.