Kibbs part 2
It took way too long to figure out the cut thing, so now that I'm on a roll I'm just going to keep going.
*Chapter 3*
(Abby’s POV)
Tony and I are standing outside, what we believe is Kate and Gibbs’ front door. But inside we hear children laughing. We haven’t knocked yet, because Tony is calling McGee to make sure that this is the right house.
“This is it,” Tony says hanging up the phone. “I made him check twice and ask Ducky.”
I push the button on the doorbell and can hear a child’s voice and Kate’s saying they’ll get the door.
“It’s my house, I’ll get the door,” we hear Kate say.
“But Kira-,” begs a little voice.
“Fine, but ask who it is first.” She says, just on the other side of the door.
“Who’s there?” the same little voice calls.
“Tony and Abby.” Tony replies for us.
“Who are you?” the voice calls back.
“Open the door, its fine. Tony’s my brother.” Kate says as the door slowly opens.
When the door is finally opened all the way, we see Kate standing there with a baby on her hip and a little boy next to her. Farther in the house, I can see a little girl in the kitchen.
“Hey guys, how was your flight?” Kate asks as if it’s the most natural thing to have a home full of children. And if I didn’t know any better, because I haven’t seen her since she’s been under cover, I’d swear that baby was hers, but she’d have had to be pretty far along before they went under.
“It was great.” I say giving her a hug around the baby. Tony quickly hugs her and moves into the house so the door can be closed.
“You guys hungry? We’re just sitting down to lunch. Everything should be done and Devan was setting the table. She can just add two more spaces.”
“Ah, Kira, where is… your husband?” Tony asks, I can tell that he forgot Gibbs’ name.
“Dear brother, when are you going to remember his name?” Kate reprimands.
“Never,” he smiles.
“Avery had a shift he should be done by 2.”
“Say, Kira, you going to introduce us to your munchkins?” I ask.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Davey answered the door, Devan set the table for us,” she drops her hand on the little girl’s head and addresses her, “Thank you for that, and this is Dana. Their dad was in an accident yesterday and their mom couldn’t find anyone to watch them. Thankfully he’s going to be ok and mom should be home before dinner. Kids, this is Tony, my brother, and Abby, his girlfriend. Can you guys say hi?”
Davey gives us a half hearted wave, while Devan asks where I got my cool necklace.
“It’s a collar,” I tell her, taking it off so she can see it.
“Do you wear it all the time?” she asks quickly switching chairs to sit next to me.
“I have a couple, but I wear them a lot.”
“Maybe my mom will let me get one.”
“I don’t know you might have to wait ‘til you get older.” I tell her.
“Why don’t you guys eat up and then you can run though the sprinkler again.” Kate says causing the kids to eat faster.
“You might not want to eat that fast, you’ll end up with a tummy ache.” I tell then. Tony has been suspiciously quiet since we walked in the door. He’s now staring at Kate as she scoops another spoonful of applesauce into the baby’s month.
“You’re good at that Kira.” Tony says
Giving Tony a weird look before saying, “You know how it is with all those nieces and nephews we have. You get good at feeding kids on your lap and eating at the same time.” I’m not sure where Tony was going with that, but he still has this weird look on his face. Whatever.
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(Tony’s POV)
There is something different about Kate and I can’t put my finger on it, but I think that she’s getting ready to hit me ‘cause I keep staring at her. I think it was the baby that threw me. I mean she opened the door and there she stood with a blue eyed, brown haired baby.
“Oh, I forgot!” Abby says and rushes to where our bags are by the stairs. “I brought you your favorite chocolates. To make this a more bearable week for you, I know that you already started, but I figured that you could at least make the end better.” Abby passes her a neatly wrapped box.
“Thanks, Abs. Surprisingly I haven’t felt the need for chocolate yet, but they will come in handy.”
OK, I’m getting this strange vibe thing off Kate. Abby gives her chocolate for her… and she doesn’t need them, when Abs said that she should have started.
“Avery!” the little boy yells as the front door opens.
“Davey, Dana’s taking a nap remember, you have to be quiet.” Kate reprimands. What a mom thing to do.
“Hey buddy. You guys have fun today?”
“Yeah, Kira’s brother came. He’s kinda weird. He just stares at Kira. And Abby wears weird clothes.” He loudly whispers.
“He’s just a weird guy. And Abby is unique.” Gibbs tells the kid.
“You didn’t kiss her again,” the girl states. I don’t think she likes me.
“Have I gotten into the house yet?” Gibbs asks.
“No, but you weren’t going to kiss her yesterday until I said something.”
“I’ll kiss her and then I’m going to go change. Is that ok with you?”
“Yes.” She picks her book up and peers over the top to watch Gibbs kiss Kate. On the lips. That is not what I was expecting. Both kids are giggling and Abby...Abs has that chick talk look going on.
After the kiss is complete Kate asks, “Will you check on Dana when you go up? I want to make sure that the little monster didn’t wake her up.”
“Sure, should I bring her down is she’s up?” After looking at her watch Kate nods.
“You’re mom, should be here soon.” Kate says as she tickles the little boy.
We can only hope.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
“So now that Kate and Abby are gone can I ask you something?” Tony asks when we watch Davey and Devan play in the backyard.
“What?” I say adjusting the baby in my lap.
“What happened between you and Kate?”
“Do you really want to ask that?”
“Yes.” I reach out and smack the back of his head.
“Nothing happened that you need to know about.” I say in a tone that somewhat startles the baby.
“Avery, it’s not nice to hit people!” Davey calls from the yard.
“He had a fly on his head.” I call back.
Tony and I sit in silence for a while, before the kids run through the side yard with excited calls. Charlotte must be home. I get up to follow the kids to make sure that it is in fact Charlotte.
“Hello,” I call out to her as I see her bent down hugging her kids. I walk closer to hand her the baby.
“Hi. Were they good?” she asks taking the baby from me hugging her close.
“They were perfect. No trouble at all.” I tell her.
“I hate to ask this since you’ve had them for 2 days, but do you think that you could keep them over night again? My parents are flying in tomorrow morning and Jim hates being in hospitals. He gets really agitated and the doctors don’t want to give him any more drugs than they have to. Well, you wouldn’t have to keep Davey. One of his friends called and wants him to spend the night with him.” Kate was right when she said that she rambles when she’s nervous.
“Charlotte, its fine. We’d be happy to keep the kids. Do you want to join us for dinner? Kira is out grabbing something for us now.” I ask, she doesn’t need to cook for her kids if she’s only going to be here for an hour or so.
“That would be great.” She turns to address the kids, “Why don’t you go grab your bags and we’ll get you clean stuff for tomorrow and Davey if you want you can stay the night at Oliver’s house.”
Davey looks so confused. I can tell he wants to go to his friends, but he doesn’t quite know if he really wants to or not.
“Buddy, you can always come over here to hang out when we’re home. So if you want you can go to your friend’s house.” I tell him.
“OK, I wanna go to Ollie’s. When can I go?”
“After dinner,” Charlotte tells him, shoeing both kids to get their bags. “I’ll stay and walk him after we eat.”
“If you’re just going to walk him we can do it. It’s not a problem. It might be better, in case he decides later he doesn’t want to stay so they know where to return him to.”
“You’re right, I hadn’t thought about that. He’s only gone over there one other time and it was fine, but now with us not being home.” She agrees.
The kids come tearing out the bag door with their bags.
“I’ll call over to Ollie’s and let them know that you’ll be bringing him.” She says before going next door with the three kids.
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(Kate’s POV)
“Kate, what’s going on with you and Gibbs?”
“Abby, while we’re out you need to use my name, because I never know when I’m going to be seen by someone from the base.” I tell her softly.
“Sorry, so anyway, you and Avery?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing, we’ve had the kids for a couple of days and we’ve had to step it up. And you and Tony just happen to come in the middle of it.”
“Yeah, but something did happen. I know something happened. Avery was…I don’t know…there was something about him that was better about him a month or so back and then it was gone and now I see that it’s back. Something about the kids being here. He loves kids, but it’s something else.”
“It’s nothing and nothing happened.” I deny that anything had happened. Beside Gibbs and myself no one knows what happened, well he might have told Ducky.
“Why didn’t you need the chocolate?”
“I’m late, probably from the stress of moving and I’ve been stressed lately so I’m late. No big deal.”
“Ok.” She thankfully drops it. I have no idea what she’s even hinting at.
“What are we doing for dinner?”
“I don’t know. I’ve managed to get Avery to eat pretty healthy, but Tony is going to bitch about what I’m going to make so…what do you want?”
“Chinese take out?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.” I pull my phone from my pocket. “Yeah?”
“Kate, you need to grab more for dinner?”
“Tony, there are children in my home that don’t know what’s going on.”
“Relax, they’re next door with their mother. Oh and by the way, we’re going to have to talk about them spending the night and where you guys slept last night. OW! Boss!” I try and hold back my snicker and fail.
“That’s what you get. Why do I need more food for dinner?”
“The kids are staying the night again and Avery invited their mother to dinner so she wouldn’t have to cook.”
“Let me speak to Avery.” What the hell did he do? I don’t know why, but that irritates me more than it should.
“Kira, don’t get bent out of shape.”
“Did you think about where we are going to put up our guests? Did you think about where you were going to sleep?”
“I thought that with Davey spending the night at a friend’s house we could have the same arrangement as last night, Abby can have my bed, and Tony can sleep on the couch.”
“How about if Abby and I share, Tony can have your bed, and you can have the couch?”
“Kira,” he sounds impatient, “can you just pick up more food for dinner?”
“Fine, we’re getting Chinese. Find out what everyone wants and call me back.” That man. I need a vacation.
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(Abby's POV)
I haven’t seen Kate this pissed in a long time. We walk in to the house and I notice that the kids are back and a woman who I assume is their mother. Kate drops the bag of food on the dinning room table.
“Kira, I put some food for Dana on the counter. Just tell me where the dishes are and I’ll heat it up,” the woman calls from the living room.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it for you. You spend time with your kids.”
I follow Kate into the kitchen to help her set up for dinner.
“I set the table.” Devan announces as everyone from the living room follows to the dinning room to eat.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” I hear Gibbs quietly ask Kate as she heats the baby’s food.
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“You’ve been tired a lot lately. Are you sure that you’re feeling ok?”
“Can we not do this in front of everyone?” She asks as she backs way, fully aware that everyone is watching them.
“I have something to tell you.” He says as he pins her to counter. He whispers something into her ear as he leans into her back. There is defiantly something going on here.
“Really? You’re not just saying that right?” she spins around in his arms leaning back against the counter to see his face.
“Really, my treat.” She pulls him into a hug and he gets this huge grin on his face.
“Really though, you’re doing this? Cause if you’re playing with me there will be hell to pay.”
“I promise,” he laughs, “Tomorrow, you and Abby 10 a.m. The directions are up in the office.”
“I could…I could…I don’t know,” she says and then kisses him. Kisses him like…like she wants to jump him. And Tony is doing an impression of a goldfish.
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(Kate's POV)
We’re all sitting down eating now. This is the first meal in two days where I didn’t have a baby sitting in my lap while I ate. We’re passing the containers of food around. I’m sticking to chicken fried rice and veggie lo mien. Every time someone passes those damn fried crab things and that sweet and sour shrimp near me I gag.
“Avery, I think I love you. If you weren’t married…” Abs says why eating her egg foo young. “I can’t believe that you got us a day at a spa.” I think Abby might be more excited than me, might be. But I’ve been waiting for a nice relaxing day off base in umm about 8 months. When we were in Hawaii, I’d slip away sometimes to the beach.
Tony pours more the sweet and sour crap on his plate. UGH! I wish he was sitting across the table and Charlotte too. Or at least the baby, cause she’s eating some form of liquid beans. There goes that damn crab crap again. OK, it’s time to leave the table.
I run as fast as I can to the bathroom and throw up what feels like everything I ever ate. When my reprieve comes I notice that my hair is being help back, by Gibbs.
“I’ve been telling you for a week now, that you don’t look good. Now you get to go to bed so you can go to the spa tomorrow.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need to go to bed.”
He closes the bathroom door; I can’t tell if anyone is out there or not. “Kate,” he whispers, “how many times have you thrown up in the last couple of days?”
“A couple.”
“A couple of times this week? And you never said anything?”
“It’s more like a couple of time this month.”
“Kate, you have to tell me when you’re not feeling well. What if there is something wrong like I’ve been saying for I don’t know how long.”
“Gibbs, there’s nothing wrong. I always feel better after. It’s usually just smells that set me off.” What the hell is wrong with me? I haven’t thrown up this much since I don’t know when, maybe college when I had food poisoning.
“I still want you to go to bed. I’ll bring you a cup of tea and some soup and toast or crackers. I’ll even have Abby hook up the DVD player to the TV in your room.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“Humor me please.”
“Fine, but I’m making you go out and get me movies if I’m being confined to bed at,” I check my watch, “6:30. I’m thinking something like The Quiet Man. You should take Devan with you. Let her pick one that she can watch with me.”
“Let’s get you to bed.”
“Can I brush my teeth first?”
“Yes, I’m going to go downstairs and tell everyone you’re going to go lay down.” He tells me as I put toothpaste on my brush. “After Devan is done eating we’ll go get your video. I’ll drop Davey off. Abby and Tony will stay here with you and the baby.”
“I don’t need baby sitters.”
“Humor me. If you’re not any better next week I want you to go see a doctor.”
“I’m telling you I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”
“Ok, your teeth are brushed and now you’re just wasting time. To bed. I’m going to down stairs now, I’ll be back to check on you before I leave.”
“I’m fine.” I state again.
“Bed, now.” He uses the tone that no one argues with. UGH! That man.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
The smell of food makes the sick? I haven’t heard that in…20 years.
“Kira’s fine, she’s just going to lie down for a little while.”
“What’s wrong?” Abby asks.
“I don’t know, maybe it was something she ate earlier.”
Both Tony and Abby give me skeptical looks, which I try to ignore. But I know they’re right, it was a weak explanation. Charlotte buys it and continues to eat. And so do the rest of us.
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(Abby's POV)
Gibbs took Tony with him when he left to drop Davey off and take Devan to the video store.
“Kate, what’s really going on?” I ask as I crawl in to bed with her and hand her the baby.
“Abby,” I can tell that she getting exasperated by me, “nothing.”
“I know you’re lying to me. Tony knows there’s something too. When Gibbs came back to dinner he was really quiet. Gibbs doesn’t do quiet and pensive.”
“I threw up, brushed my teeth, and was told to go to bed so that I could have my spa day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, that’s the thing. You throw up and Gibbs is still going to let you out to go to the spa. You guys are keeping a secret from everyone.”
“We’re really not. Is there any food left?”
“Yeah, but I’m under strict instructions that if you ask for food you get tea and toast or soup and crackers.”
“Come on, can you get my veggie lo mien?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Cause Gibbs is going to ask if I got out of bed and I can’t lie to him. Besides you can get away with lying to him. And you’re not the one that has to spend the night with him.”
“Oh! I forgot you guys slept together last night!”
“Gibbs and I slept together, like we’re sharing bed right now.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so.” I know I’m grinning, cause I know I’m right. But I leave her be and we continue to watch whatever she had on before.
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(Kate's POV)
“What did you bring me?” I ask when Devan bursts in to my room about an hour after they left.
“We’ got…Donovan’s Reef, The Quiet Man, and Avery let me get The X-Files movie.”
“The X-Files? Isn’t that a little scary for you?”
“No, mom and dad let me watch the show all the time.”
“Ok, I just didn’t think that you’d pick such an adult movie. You want to watch it first?”
“Can we? Avery said we should let you watch your movie, cause you don’t feel good.”
“I feel better. Why don’t you go downstairs with Abby and you guys can make some popcorn and get some juice. Abbs, can you send Avery up when you go down.”
“Sure. Come one Devan, we’ll make the popcorn with extra butter!” Abby announces just before they leave the room. As much as I like to indulge every once in a while I don’t think I can take the extra butter tonight.
Gibbs arrives almost as soon as Abby leaves.
“How are you feeling?” is the first thing out of his mouth.
“I’m fine. Abby is helping Devan make popcorn.”
“Yeah, Tony too, I didn’t want him to follow me up.”
“Why did you let Devan get The X-Files movie?”
“She said she was allowed to watch it and I called Char to make sure that it was ok.”
“Ok, I’m sorry for getting up set about it, but she’s 8 and I don’t want her crawling in bed with me...us when she has a nightmare. I was bad enough with David and the baby in here last night.”
“I’m sorry about the movie I wasn’t thinking that she would have a nightmare. She looked at all the episodes on the shelf and was telling me about them I didn’t see the harm in it.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t have kids. They’d have daddy wrapped around their little finger.” I see something flicker in his eyes. I’m not sure what it was. He’s too good at hiding how he feels.
“I’m going to co check to see how the popcorn is coming. What do you want to drink?”
“Some juice, no pop for Devan either. Can you tell her to put her jams on? It’ll be easier to put her to bed if she falls asleep during the movie.” I tell me just before he leaves the room.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
“Tony, can you put Devan to bed?’ I ask quietly once Devan’s movie choice has ended.
“Sure, Boss. You want me to come back and help move Kate?”
“No, but if you could come back for the baby. Lay her on the blankets on the floor in the room where Devan is sleeping.”
“I’ll put the baby to bed.” Abby say pulling the baby, that had curled herself close to Kate’s chest away from Kate, let us know that she was displeased by fussing a little. Kate’s head is still lying in my lap. I’m not sure how that happened, not that I object.
I sit for a moment and wonder how Kate and I got to where we are when Abby comes back in.
“Gibbs, you guys have any extra blankets?”
“Umm, I don’t think we have any more. You can bring the baby back in here and take those.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to do it if you’re not going to be able to sleep.”
“She slept in here last night, so just take the blankets.”
After Abby disappears I maneuver Kate around to her pillows so I can get the baby from Abby. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute while I wait for Abby’s return.
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(Abby's POV)
The baby is a little fussy when I go back in the room to get her. I check her diaper, because I can’t remember the last time she was changed, and it feels a little heavy.
“Abs, they have any extra blankets?” Toby asks as I fasten the new diaper.
“Yeah, they’re going to sleep with the baby and you can have the blankets that she had.”
“Great.”
“I’m going to go in and say good night and then the two of us need to talk.”
“Yeah, you noticed that too?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Noticed it? How could you not? And Kate won’t answer any of my questions.” I say picking up the baby after snapping her jams together.
I quietly walk to the master bedroom and open my mouth to say something to Gibbs when I notice that Kate and Gibbs are curled in to each other. With out making a sound I back out of the room and grab Tony, who is still picking the blankets off the floor.
“Tony don’t say anything, but go stick your head in Kate and Gibbs’ room.”
“What the hell is that?” Tony asks once he returns from their room.
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Chapter 4
(Abby's POV)
I settle the baby in the middle of the bed in the room that I’m staying laying pillows around her so she doesn’t roll off the bed and head down stairs to talk to Tony. As soon as he sees me he starts in.
“What the hell is going on here? It’s like I stepped in to the Twilight Zone. I know that Gibbs likes kids and all, but seeing the two of them parent like that. And then curl up together. And I know, I know they’re hiding something. I bet they slept together.” Tony cut his rant short after the last five slipped though his lips.
“I don’t know. Kate won’t tell me anything and I haven't tried Gibbs yet. Ducky never tells up anything when he hears from Gibbs. Kate used to tell me that they would go out with their neighbors, have barbeques and whatnot, but for maybe the last month or more they haven't said that they were going out with anyone. Other then them acting all hinky is that Kate missed her period.” Tony scrunched up his face in disgust. “She’s never late. Never. I always bring her some form of chocolate every 28 days. I’m telling you, Tony, like clock work.”
“Abby, I didn’t need that much detail, but thanks for sharing now I know when to not piss her off. The only reason why I know this is because I went through her purse, but she’s on the pill.”
“Was on the pill, due to lack of a partner she discontinued use when she ran out in May.”
“When was that last party they went to?”
“I don’t know, beginning of May.”
“You know what’s at the beginning of May? Cinqo De Mayo, all that Mexican food. Authentic burritos and tacos.”
“Tony, Tony, we’re on Kate and Gibbs.”
“How much you wanna bet that they got plastered as hell and did the nasty?”
“Yuck Tony. Besides neither Kate nor Gibbs would let their guard down that much.”
“Abs, I’ve never been undercover as long as they have. But I’d imagine that eventually playing husband and wife would sooner or later lead to one actually being husband and wife. The prime example is how they’re sleeping upstairs. I can guarantee that if that was me and Kate that she would have built a wall of pillows between us no matter how long we were under cover, but Gibbs is different for her. He’s not her brother and for Gibbs she’s defiantly not the usual red head, but there is something there. It’s not the same when it come to protecting you, he knows she can handle herself and kick ass, but he defiantly feels something for her and it’s just not as a his subordinate.”
“Tony, you’re being all sweet and brotherly. I think Kate would kick you ass for that.”
“Kate keeps everything in her PDA right? Think she keeps whether or not she got her period?” Tony squirms a little just thinking about what he said.
“Yeah she does, but its password protected and I’d need to plug it into my computer to get past it.”
“You can’t just plug it into their laptop?”
“Tony, the laptop is simple enough that Gibbs can use it. There’s not enough programming on it to do much other than write reports and e-mail them.”
“Hey! Did you ask Gibbs about that kiss that Kate gave him before?”
“Hey, no, I already got him once today for asking what was going on. I’m not asking Boss man twice in one day.”
“I’m going to bed. I’ll slip in some questions when she’s all relaxed tomorrow at the spa when her guard is down.”
“Good plan. I’ll just see if I can get out of Gibbs why you guys got a spa day, but were going to have to work on the case too. So most of this investigation of ours is going to be on you.”
“Rad, Special Agent Abby Sciuto is at your service.
“Ok, well Agent Abs, there is a Magnum marathon coming on.”
“Night Tony.”
“Night.” He tells me as he switches in the TV as I head up to bed. I think I sneak a peak at Gibbs and Kate again.
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(Kate's POV)
I feel cold all of the sudden and I hear something going on downstairs. I better go check it out, make sure that Tony’s not getting into trouble.
I check on the Devan and see that the baby isn’t on the floor like she was supposed to be, so I check in on Abby and see that Dana is sleeping next to her. I feel better knowing that Abby has her and not Tony. Despite his claim that kids like him, I don’t think they really do.
I quietly make my way down stairs and see that the TV is on. I make my way around the couch to see Tony sleeping with a dumb smile on his face. I notice when the show comes back from commercial that he was watching Magnum. I just shake my head and go back up to bed.
When I lay back down Gibbs rolls over and pulls me to his chest. God that feels so right. I almost regret making up those rules, but between mine and his rule 12 I think we might be able to make it through the rest of this case unscathed. The only thing is that I don’t want to think about why I’ve been throwing up. I know I’m in denial. And I know Abby was surprised that I didn’t need the chocolate that she brought me. It surprised me too when I thought about it. Maybe tomorrow after the spa Abby and I can get a test.
I wonder if he held me like this last night. I’m going to enjoy this now, because tomorrow night he’s back in his own room.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
I wake up feeling more refreshed than I have in a long time. I haven’t even opened my eyes yet, but I can feel someone watching me. I slowly roll towards the door, well try to roll. Kate is holding my right arm to her body. I guess I must have held her as we slept.
Since turning my body is out, I turn my head to face to door and see Devan and Abby staring at us. As soon as I turned I saw Abby pull what could have been her phone from view.
“Abby,” I whisper, “if you took pictures and should they end up in places they shouldn’t be no caf-pows for a month.”
I don’t get a response from her she just slowly slinks away from the door leaving Devan standing there.
“What can I help you with this morning miss?”
“Nothing, I just heard Abby and Tony talking this morning about how weird you guys are being.”
“We’re not being weird, they’re being weird. Even your brother said Tony was weird.”
“No, they defiantly said you were being weird and that the only person who would believe them was just ducky.”
“Ducky is a friend, not a feeling.”
“It’s not nice to name call.”
“He likes to be called Ducky.”
“If you two are done fighting about Ducky, I think it’s time for breakfast,” Kate said sleepily. “And after breakfast Avery, you can go get Davey.”
“Yes dear.”
“You didn’t kiss her good morning,” Devan states as she leaves the room.
“What is with you and kissing?” I called after her.
“Nothing, it’s just how married people say I love you with out saying it.” She responds. “You still didn’t kiss her. Don’t you love her?”
“Of course, I do. I won’t have married her other wise.” She stands at the door way with a cocked eye brow.
I lean over and give Kate a quick kiss, not wanting to scare her with morning breath. Devan leaves after that saying something about breakfast on the way down the hall.
“We’re going to have to talk about all the kissing that’s happened in the last 48 hours.”
“I don’t think we do.” Kate tells me.
“All but one of those kisses was initiated because the child thinks we’re married. But the one that wasn’t. One was all you and it wasn’t a kiss to make a child happy. And it definitely wasn’t quick.”
“What if I don’t want to talk about it?”
“What if I like kissing you?”
“What happens when you go back to being my boss?” She asks quietly.
“I’m your boss now.”
“No, you’re not. You’re acting like a boyfriend or a hus-”
“You’re husband? Would that be so bad?” I cut her off.
“But you’re my boss. And I think we’re in enough trouble as it is.”
“Does this have to do with yesterday?”
“Yes,” she says so quietly had I not seen her lips move I probably wouldn’t have known she said anything.
“I think I know what you’re talking about,” I say just as quietly.
“I don’t think-”
“What I’m about to tell you, you can’t repeat.” I tell her. She just nods. I quickly get out of bed to shut the door; I don’t need an audience for this and climb back in bed, but stay sitting up.
“My first wife and I had a daughter,” I stop to let her digest that. “When she was about 12, my ex and I had been divorced for sometime, she and my ex were killed in a car wreck. The guy that hit them was the brother of a guy I put away for murder. He thought that I fabricated the evidence that did his brother in and as revenge he went after my family.” I finish so softly I wouldn’t even be sure that she heard me had it not been for her tears.
“I don’t even know what to say.” She tells me wiping the tears away.
“I didn’t tell you that story so that you would feel bad or sorry or anything like that. I told you that so you could quit lying to me.”
“Truthfully, I’m not lying. I don’t even know for sure.”
“It may have been about 20 years ago, but I still recognize the signs.”
“I’ve been in denial. I was on the pill until about 3 days after-after and I hadn’t even thought about it. I was so homesick when we moved back to the East Coast. Being so close to home and not being able to go, that just got to me. When I missed my first period I blame it on being stressed out. When I missed my second I blamed it on the move. And I didn’t even think about that I had missed two until certain smells started sending me to that bathroom. That first Monday after we moved and you left coffee, that had me running to the bathroom. After that any time you left coffee I just help my breath until I poured it down the drain.”
“The kids leave this afternoon. Their grandparents are coming to get them at 1, I think. Tony and Abby’s flight is at 9. They have to leave here by 6 to return the car and check in. After they leave we’ll go to the store.”
“Ok, what do you want to do if-?” Both us refusing to actually say what we think the problem is. I’m not sure why she doesn’t, but my reason is that I want whatever ears that are listening at the door the work hard to hear what’s being talked about.
“We’ll cross whatever bridges we need to cross when the time comes and we’ll do it together.” I tell her holding her hand in mine.
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(Abby's POV)
When Gibbs finally makes his entrance at breakfast, Tony and I have already started feeding the kids. Well, really just Devan. I put the baby on the floor so Tony and I could make breakfast. He looks so drained. When he first woke up I thought he looked refreshed, something that had to do with sleeping with Kate. I’m not really going to delete the pictures of them sleeping either. Those will go in to my personal stash of Gibbs pictures that he doesn’t know I have.
“Avery, you Ok? You looked better when I was still up stairs.”
“I’m fine Abs.” I give him a look that says that he’s lying to me. Gibbs does not lie to me; he just doesn’t tell me things.
“What did you guys make for breakfast?” Gibbs asks looking at Devan to see what she’s eating.
“Well, we’re working on scrambled eggs right now. I made pancakes earlier and the rest are in the microwave. Abby made sausages and toast. So take you’re pick,” Tony tells him. “How’s Kira feeling?” he adds.
“She’s taking a shower so she can feel more human.” He tells us as he takes a couple of pancakes and 2 sausages before reaching into the fridge for a cup of yogurt.
“Since when you eat yogurt?” I ask giving him a funny look.
“It’s not for me, Miss I know everything. It’s for Dana or did you plan on starving her?”
“No, but I figured that Kate would feed her,” I throw back.
“I can feed her just as well. Why don’t you go upstairs and make sure Kira didn’t go down the drain with the soap.” Gibbs tells me as be picks Dana off the floor. “You, Miss, get strawberry yogurt for breakfast. Is that ok with you?” he asks her.
“Strawberry is her favorite,” I hear Devan say as I leave to check on Kate.
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(Kate's POV)
After I walked in to the bathroom I know why Gibbs told me to take a shower. My eyes were all red from crying. That is no way to keep this quiet. Can see Tony and Abby’s faces with me showing up to breakfast with a read blotchy face, they’d both jump all over Gibbs. But now that I’ve showered I feel 100 percent better. And my face is red from the heat and not crying.
“Kira, it’s almost 9,” Abby calls through the door.
“I know I’m almost ready.”
“Good, we got a big breakfast on the table waiting.”
I crack the door to let out some of the steam, “Actually, I think I’ll just have some tea and toast. I don’t want whatever bug I had yesterday to ruin our day at the spa, so I’ll just stick to something light.”
“Are you sure? We got eggs, pancakes and sausage. Tony made the eggs. He’ll feel really badly if you don’t try his eggs.” I think she’s pouting at me through the door.
“Really Abs, I don’t want to temp fate. Tea and toast will be just fine.”
“Fine, I’ll go start your tea pot for you.” I can hear her foot steps as she goes back down stairs.
I really don’t want a heavy breakfast; I don’t want to have to rush back up here to toss my cookies. I had hoped to spend enough time in the bathroom that most of breakfast would be over by the time I came down. More than anything, I hoped the coffee was gone, because that does me in every time.
“Kira are going to come down? Your tea is almost ready and it would be nice if you could feed Dana.” Gibbs calls up no doubt Abby telling him that I live being the reason.
“I’ll be right down. I’m just going to finish tying my hair back.” That was just an excuse to stay up here longer. I had no intention of tying my hair back until we got to the massage part of the day and maybe not even then. I love it when they rub your scalp, it’s so relaxing.
I quickly pull my hair in to a pony tail and head down, before they send out a search party.
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(Gibbs' POV)
“Why did you send them to the spa? We haven’t even done what we were supposed to do this weekend.” Tony asked as we cleaned up from breakfast.
“I’m looking out for the well being for the well being of my team.”
Tony mumbled something that sounded like it doesn’t look like for the welling being of the team.
“What was that?”
“N-nothing Boss. I just hope they have a good time.” I miss being able to do that everyday.
“I have to go get Davey. Keep an eye on the kids.” I told him as I put my shoes on. Keep an eye on the kids; they’d been sitting in front of the TV consuming cartoons all morning. I don’t think that they will be moving any time soon.
I decide to walk, hopefully that will help me clear my head, not likely.
I can’t believe what Kate told me this morning. I can’t believe that I didn’t pick up on it sooner. I notice everything. Kate must be better at hiding things than I thought. I need to stop thinking about that until I can actually talk about it. Tony and I need to sit down and go over the new Intel that he brought. I want this to be over with as much as Kate does. I hope that Tony had something new.
“Avery!” Davey calls from the front yard of his friends out breaking me from my thoughts.
“Hey buddy. Did you have fun?” I ask as he runs up to me.
“Yeah! Ollie’s mom made ice cream sundaes for us and we played video games. Ollie’s dad had people over so we had to play video games in his room.” Davey finishes quietly.
“Let’s get your stuff so we can go back to my place and make sure that Tony didn’t burn the place down.”
“He’s still there?”
“Yup, but you know that your grandparents are coming after lunch so you shouldn’t have to spend that much time with him.”
“Which Grandma and Grandpa?”
“I don’t know, your mom didn’t say. I guess you can be surprised.” I tell him and then turn to Ollie’s mother, “Hi, he was good?”
“He’s always perfect when he comes over. Tell Charlotte that if she needs we can keep him another night to help out.”
“Grandparents are coming this afternoon, but I’ll let her know. Did you say thank you?” I turn to Davey as I take his things from Ollie’s mom.
“Thank you I had fun.” He tells her. “Bye Ollie, maybe you can come over to my house next time.” He calls to his friend who is already heading inside the house.
“So you had fun even though you had to play video games in Ollie’s room.” I say as we start walking back.
“Yup, we played Mario Party and Spiro and one of those games that had a bunch of different ones on it.”
“Wow.”
“Can we play a game when we get back?”
“I don’t know. You’re sisters are watching cartoons and Tony and I have to talk about some stuff before he leaves today.”
“Ok, Devan will play a game when Dana takes a nap.” He says as if it’s a sure thing.
The rest of the walk back is pretty quiet.
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(Abby's POV)
“What are you and Gibbs going to do tonight?”
“We are going to relax. The kids should be gone before we get back and you and Tony leave after dinner. I never did get to watch my movie so we’ll probably do that.”
“You guys do that a lot, watch movies what you’re not working the case?”
“No, not really, we do it once in a while. We try to make friends when he’s not working. Charlotte next door, before Jim got hurt, invited us to a 4th of July party.”
“When was the last party you guys went to?”
“There was a Cinqo de Mayo block party in North Carolina. We got invited sort of as let’s get to know you. I swear I’ve never been asked that may question ever.”
“What did they ask?”
“Where are you from; where did you move from; how long you been married; got any kids; planning on having kids, because they would be really attractive his eyes and your coloring.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t thought about that. They would have a gorgeous kid. And sadly I think Tony theory might be right.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to go to the Memorial Day picnic thing they did. I didn’t think that even in play I could take all those questions, they’re bad enough coming from my mother.”
“You get that a lot?”
“I get it more when one of my brothers decides to reproduce.”
“How many nieces and nephews do you have, I don’t remember.”
“Right now 3 and 3, but 2 of my brothers are trying.”
“Didn’t one get married last year?”
“Yup, he and his wife are trying for number one and my oldest brother is trying for a boy.”
“So, when are you going to get married and start reproducing?”
“Abs, you are not my mother. I don’t have to answer that. Besides we’re here and it’s time to relax.”
We both got out of the car and headed towards the building. I can’t believe that she hedged my question. She doesn’t do that. First Gibbs and now her, something is defiantly hinky.
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(Gibbs' POV)
“You sure you want to do this with the kids still here?” Tony asked as we laid out all the files on the kitchen table.
“The kids are watching TV and playing a game. They won’t come in here. What’s the new Intel you have?”
“Abby went through video of all the days we know shipments went out and took pictures of all the people that were in the shipping areas. You’re in a couple. Can you put names to the guys so we know who they are?”
“Yeah, this is Jim. He’d the neighbor. Rob Miller, Tom Almond,” I know about half the guys in the pictures that Tony lays in front of me.
“How well do you know these guys?”
“Not very, I’ve only been here a week Tony. What do you think?”
“Sorry, Boss.”
Tony and I were reading over various Intel when Davey came in to the kitchen.
“Avery, can I have something to drink?”
“Sure.” I flip open the folder with our unknown men in it and placed the papers that I had been reading in it.
“How come you have a picture of Ollie’s dad?”
“What?” Tony and I asked at the same time.
He carefully pulled open the folder I had just been in and pulled picture that was under the papers I placed in it.
“This is Ollie’s dad.”
“Are you sure Buddy? It could be just a guy that looks like him.” I tell him.
“Nope, it’s Ollie’s dad,” he states with certainty. “I saw him this weekend when he had his friends over.”
“That’s right cause then you had to play in Ollie’s room. Davey, did you see any of his friends?” I ask to see if maybe he can ID some of the other unknowns we have.
“I saw a few of them, but I don’t know their names.”
“You think if we show you pictures you could point some of them out?”
“I’ll try. Why do you have his picture anyway?” It’s the quiet ones you have to look out for, who knew that such a quiet child would turn into such an inquisitive one. I get up to get his water for him.
“I can’t tell you right now Buddy, but when I can I will, OK? And you have to promise to keep this a secret. You can’t tell anyone, not even your mom.”
“OK, I promise.”
“Tony, will you lay out the pictures?” I ask as I lift Davey on to my lap.
After about 5 minutes Davey had picked out 3 of our unknown guys and 2 guys that I knew.
“Davey this is important, did Ollie’s dad and his friends say anything that seemed weird?”
“When my dad had friends over they watch sports or go outside and barbeque. Ollie’s dad didn’t do that. They just sat there and talked.”
“What did they talk about?” I pressed, maybe he did hear something.
“I think they were talking about crates. And one of the other guys said something about getting cigars when the next crate came in.”
“Davey, what are you doing? You weren’t supposed to interrupt.” Devan said coming in to the dinning room.
“It’s OK. Can you do me a favor and check on your sister? If she’s up you can bring her down, carefully.” I call after her as she runs up the stairs.
“Davey was there anything else? Anything that maybe you didn’t hear the whole thing?” Tony asks.
“They said something, maybe, about someone getting close. But I didn’t understand what they were talking about.”
“Thanks ok, you did good. And I promise I will tell you as soon as I can what you helped with.” I tell as he slides off my lap.
“Avery, Dana needs her diaper changed!” Devan calls from up stairs.
“I’ll be right up,” I call back. “Davey, why don’t you go back to watching T.V.?” I wait for him to leave before I continue, “Abby needs to go back tonight, but I’m going to need you to stay here. You’re going to need to find a hotel. Call McGee and have him search for Ollie’s dad first we need his name and then his buddies. Also, find out what shipments are coming from GITMO to here in the next few days.”
“Sure thing, Boss.” I leave him to change the diaper that’s waiting for me.
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*Chapter 3*
(Abby’s POV)
Tony and I are standing outside, what we believe is Kate and Gibbs’ front door. But inside we hear children laughing. We haven’t knocked yet, because Tony is calling McGee to make sure that this is the right house.
“This is it,” Tony says hanging up the phone. “I made him check twice and ask Ducky.”
I push the button on the doorbell and can hear a child’s voice and Kate’s saying they’ll get the door.
“It’s my house, I’ll get the door,” we hear Kate say.
“But Kira-,” begs a little voice.
“Fine, but ask who it is first.” She says, just on the other side of the door.
“Who’s there?” the same little voice calls.
“Tony and Abby.” Tony replies for us.
“Who are you?” the voice calls back.
“Open the door, its fine. Tony’s my brother.” Kate says as the door slowly opens.
When the door is finally opened all the way, we see Kate standing there with a baby on her hip and a little boy next to her. Farther in the house, I can see a little girl in the kitchen.
“Hey guys, how was your flight?” Kate asks as if it’s the most natural thing to have a home full of children. And if I didn’t know any better, because I haven’t seen her since she’s been under cover, I’d swear that baby was hers, but she’d have had to be pretty far along before they went under.
“It was great.” I say giving her a hug around the baby. Tony quickly hugs her and moves into the house so the door can be closed.
“You guys hungry? We’re just sitting down to lunch. Everything should be done and Devan was setting the table. She can just add two more spaces.”
“Ah, Kira, where is… your husband?” Tony asks, I can tell that he forgot Gibbs’ name.
“Dear brother, when are you going to remember his name?” Kate reprimands.
“Never,” he smiles.
“Avery had a shift he should be done by 2.”
“Say, Kira, you going to introduce us to your munchkins?” I ask.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Davey answered the door, Devan set the table for us,” she drops her hand on the little girl’s head and addresses her, “Thank you for that, and this is Dana. Their dad was in an accident yesterday and their mom couldn’t find anyone to watch them. Thankfully he’s going to be ok and mom should be home before dinner. Kids, this is Tony, my brother, and Abby, his girlfriend. Can you guys say hi?”
Davey gives us a half hearted wave, while Devan asks where I got my cool necklace.
“It’s a collar,” I tell her, taking it off so she can see it.
“Do you wear it all the time?” she asks quickly switching chairs to sit next to me.
“I have a couple, but I wear them a lot.”
“Maybe my mom will let me get one.”
“I don’t know you might have to wait ‘til you get older.” I tell her.
“Why don’t you guys eat up and then you can run though the sprinkler again.” Kate says causing the kids to eat faster.
“You might not want to eat that fast, you’ll end up with a tummy ache.” I tell then. Tony has been suspiciously quiet since we walked in the door. He’s now staring at Kate as she scoops another spoonful of applesauce into the baby’s month.
“You’re good at that Kira.” Tony says
Giving Tony a weird look before saying, “You know how it is with all those nieces and nephews we have. You get good at feeding kids on your lap and eating at the same time.” I’m not sure where Tony was going with that, but he still has this weird look on his face. Whatever.
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(Tony’s POV)
There is something different about Kate and I can’t put my finger on it, but I think that she’s getting ready to hit me ‘cause I keep staring at her. I think it was the baby that threw me. I mean she opened the door and there she stood with a blue eyed, brown haired baby.
“Oh, I forgot!” Abby says and rushes to where our bags are by the stairs. “I brought you your favorite chocolates. To make this a more bearable week for you, I know that you already started, but I figured that you could at least make the end better.” Abby passes her a neatly wrapped box.
“Thanks, Abs. Surprisingly I haven’t felt the need for chocolate yet, but they will come in handy.”
OK, I’m getting this strange vibe thing off Kate. Abby gives her chocolate for her… and she doesn’t need them, when Abs said that she should have started.
“Avery!” the little boy yells as the front door opens.
“Davey, Dana’s taking a nap remember, you have to be quiet.” Kate reprimands. What a mom thing to do.
“Hey buddy. You guys have fun today?”
“Yeah, Kira’s brother came. He’s kinda weird. He just stares at Kira. And Abby wears weird clothes.” He loudly whispers.
“He’s just a weird guy. And Abby is unique.” Gibbs tells the kid.
“You didn’t kiss her again,” the girl states. I don’t think she likes me.
“Have I gotten into the house yet?” Gibbs asks.
“No, but you weren’t going to kiss her yesterday until I said something.”
“I’ll kiss her and then I’m going to go change. Is that ok with you?”
“Yes.” She picks her book up and peers over the top to watch Gibbs kiss Kate. On the lips. That is not what I was expecting. Both kids are giggling and Abby...Abs has that chick talk look going on.
After the kiss is complete Kate asks, “Will you check on Dana when you go up? I want to make sure that the little monster didn’t wake her up.”
“Sure, should I bring her down is she’s up?” After looking at her watch Kate nods.
“You’re mom, should be here soon.” Kate says as she tickles the little boy.
We can only hope.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
“So now that Kate and Abby are gone can I ask you something?” Tony asks when we watch Davey and Devan play in the backyard.
“What?” I say adjusting the baby in my lap.
“What happened between you and Kate?”
“Do you really want to ask that?”
“Yes.” I reach out and smack the back of his head.
“Nothing happened that you need to know about.” I say in a tone that somewhat startles the baby.
“Avery, it’s not nice to hit people!” Davey calls from the yard.
“He had a fly on his head.” I call back.
Tony and I sit in silence for a while, before the kids run through the side yard with excited calls. Charlotte must be home. I get up to follow the kids to make sure that it is in fact Charlotte.
“Hello,” I call out to her as I see her bent down hugging her kids. I walk closer to hand her the baby.
“Hi. Were they good?” she asks taking the baby from me hugging her close.
“They were perfect. No trouble at all.” I tell her.
“I hate to ask this since you’ve had them for 2 days, but do you think that you could keep them over night again? My parents are flying in tomorrow morning and Jim hates being in hospitals. He gets really agitated and the doctors don’t want to give him any more drugs than they have to. Well, you wouldn’t have to keep Davey. One of his friends called and wants him to spend the night with him.” Kate was right when she said that she rambles when she’s nervous.
“Charlotte, its fine. We’d be happy to keep the kids. Do you want to join us for dinner? Kira is out grabbing something for us now.” I ask, she doesn’t need to cook for her kids if she’s only going to be here for an hour or so.
“That would be great.” She turns to address the kids, “Why don’t you go grab your bags and we’ll get you clean stuff for tomorrow and Davey if you want you can stay the night at Oliver’s house.”
Davey looks so confused. I can tell he wants to go to his friends, but he doesn’t quite know if he really wants to or not.
“Buddy, you can always come over here to hang out when we’re home. So if you want you can go to your friend’s house.” I tell him.
“OK, I wanna go to Ollie’s. When can I go?”
“After dinner,” Charlotte tells him, shoeing both kids to get their bags. “I’ll stay and walk him after we eat.”
“If you’re just going to walk him we can do it. It’s not a problem. It might be better, in case he decides later he doesn’t want to stay so they know where to return him to.”
“You’re right, I hadn’t thought about that. He’s only gone over there one other time and it was fine, but now with us not being home.” She agrees.
The kids come tearing out the bag door with their bags.
“I’ll call over to Ollie’s and let them know that you’ll be bringing him.” She says before going next door with the three kids.
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(Kate’s POV)
“Kate, what’s going on with you and Gibbs?”
“Abby, while we’re out you need to use my name, because I never know when I’m going to be seen by someone from the base.” I tell her softly.
“Sorry, so anyway, you and Avery?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing, we’ve had the kids for a couple of days and we’ve had to step it up. And you and Tony just happen to come in the middle of it.”
“Yeah, but something did happen. I know something happened. Avery was…I don’t know…there was something about him that was better about him a month or so back and then it was gone and now I see that it’s back. Something about the kids being here. He loves kids, but it’s something else.”
“It’s nothing and nothing happened.” I deny that anything had happened. Beside Gibbs and myself no one knows what happened, well he might have told Ducky.
“Why didn’t you need the chocolate?”
“I’m late, probably from the stress of moving and I’ve been stressed lately so I’m late. No big deal.”
“Ok.” She thankfully drops it. I have no idea what she’s even hinting at.
“What are we doing for dinner?”
“I don’t know. I’ve managed to get Avery to eat pretty healthy, but Tony is going to bitch about what I’m going to make so…what do you want?”
“Chinese take out?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.” I pull my phone from my pocket. “Yeah?”
“Kate, you need to grab more for dinner?”
“Tony, there are children in my home that don’t know what’s going on.”
“Relax, they’re next door with their mother. Oh and by the way, we’re going to have to talk about them spending the night and where you guys slept last night. OW! Boss!” I try and hold back my snicker and fail.
“That’s what you get. Why do I need more food for dinner?”
“The kids are staying the night again and Avery invited their mother to dinner so she wouldn’t have to cook.”
“Let me speak to Avery.” What the hell did he do? I don’t know why, but that irritates me more than it should.
“Kira, don’t get bent out of shape.”
“Did you think about where we are going to put up our guests? Did you think about where you were going to sleep?”
“I thought that with Davey spending the night at a friend’s house we could have the same arrangement as last night, Abby can have my bed, and Tony can sleep on the couch.”
“How about if Abby and I share, Tony can have your bed, and you can have the couch?”
“Kira,” he sounds impatient, “can you just pick up more food for dinner?”
“Fine, we’re getting Chinese. Find out what everyone wants and call me back.” That man. I need a vacation.
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(Abby's POV)
I haven’t seen Kate this pissed in a long time. We walk in to the house and I notice that the kids are back and a woman who I assume is their mother. Kate drops the bag of food on the dinning room table.
“Kira, I put some food for Dana on the counter. Just tell me where the dishes are and I’ll heat it up,” the woman calls from the living room.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it for you. You spend time with your kids.”
I follow Kate into the kitchen to help her set up for dinner.
“I set the table.” Devan announces as everyone from the living room follows to the dinning room to eat.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” I hear Gibbs quietly ask Kate as she heats the baby’s food.
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“You’ve been tired a lot lately. Are you sure that you’re feeling ok?”
“Can we not do this in front of everyone?” She asks as she backs way, fully aware that everyone is watching them.
“I have something to tell you.” He says as he pins her to counter. He whispers something into her ear as he leans into her back. There is defiantly something going on here.
“Really? You’re not just saying that right?” she spins around in his arms leaning back against the counter to see his face.
“Really, my treat.” She pulls him into a hug and he gets this huge grin on his face.
“Really though, you’re doing this? Cause if you’re playing with me there will be hell to pay.”
“I promise,” he laughs, “Tomorrow, you and Abby 10 a.m. The directions are up in the office.”
“I could…I could…I don’t know,” she says and then kisses him. Kisses him like…like she wants to jump him. And Tony is doing an impression of a goldfish.
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(Kate's POV)
We’re all sitting down eating now. This is the first meal in two days where I didn’t have a baby sitting in my lap while I ate. We’re passing the containers of food around. I’m sticking to chicken fried rice and veggie lo mien. Every time someone passes those damn fried crab things and that sweet and sour shrimp near me I gag.
“Avery, I think I love you. If you weren’t married…” Abs says why eating her egg foo young. “I can’t believe that you got us a day at a spa.” I think Abby might be more excited than me, might be. But I’ve been waiting for a nice relaxing day off base in umm about 8 months. When we were in Hawaii, I’d slip away sometimes to the beach.
Tony pours more the sweet and sour crap on his plate. UGH! I wish he was sitting across the table and Charlotte too. Or at least the baby, cause she’s eating some form of liquid beans. There goes that damn crab crap again. OK, it’s time to leave the table.
I run as fast as I can to the bathroom and throw up what feels like everything I ever ate. When my reprieve comes I notice that my hair is being help back, by Gibbs.
“I’ve been telling you for a week now, that you don’t look good. Now you get to go to bed so you can go to the spa tomorrow.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need to go to bed.”
He closes the bathroom door; I can’t tell if anyone is out there or not. “Kate,” he whispers, “how many times have you thrown up in the last couple of days?”
“A couple.”
“A couple of times this week? And you never said anything?”
“It’s more like a couple of time this month.”
“Kate, you have to tell me when you’re not feeling well. What if there is something wrong like I’ve been saying for I don’t know how long.”
“Gibbs, there’s nothing wrong. I always feel better after. It’s usually just smells that set me off.” What the hell is wrong with me? I haven’t thrown up this much since I don’t know when, maybe college when I had food poisoning.
“I still want you to go to bed. I’ll bring you a cup of tea and some soup and toast or crackers. I’ll even have Abby hook up the DVD player to the TV in your room.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“Humor me please.”
“Fine, but I’m making you go out and get me movies if I’m being confined to bed at,” I check my watch, “6:30. I’m thinking something like The Quiet Man. You should take Devan with you. Let her pick one that she can watch with me.”
“Let’s get you to bed.”
“Can I brush my teeth first?”
“Yes, I’m going to go downstairs and tell everyone you’re going to go lay down.” He tells me as I put toothpaste on my brush. “After Devan is done eating we’ll go get your video. I’ll drop Davey off. Abby and Tony will stay here with you and the baby.”
“I don’t need baby sitters.”
“Humor me. If you’re not any better next week I want you to go see a doctor.”
“I’m telling you I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”
“Ok, your teeth are brushed and now you’re just wasting time. To bed. I’m going to down stairs now, I’ll be back to check on you before I leave.”
“I’m fine.” I state again.
“Bed, now.” He uses the tone that no one argues with. UGH! That man.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
The smell of food makes the sick? I haven’t heard that in…20 years.
“Kira’s fine, she’s just going to lie down for a little while.”
“What’s wrong?” Abby asks.
“I don’t know, maybe it was something she ate earlier.”
Both Tony and Abby give me skeptical looks, which I try to ignore. But I know they’re right, it was a weak explanation. Charlotte buys it and continues to eat. And so do the rest of us.
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(Abby's POV)
Gibbs took Tony with him when he left to drop Davey off and take Devan to the video store.
“Kate, what’s really going on?” I ask as I crawl in to bed with her and hand her the baby.
“Abby,” I can tell that she getting exasperated by me, “nothing.”
“I know you’re lying to me. Tony knows there’s something too. When Gibbs came back to dinner he was really quiet. Gibbs doesn’t do quiet and pensive.”
“I threw up, brushed my teeth, and was told to go to bed so that I could have my spa day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, that’s the thing. You throw up and Gibbs is still going to let you out to go to the spa. You guys are keeping a secret from everyone.”
“We’re really not. Is there any food left?”
“Yeah, but I’m under strict instructions that if you ask for food you get tea and toast or soup and crackers.”
“Come on, can you get my veggie lo mien?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Cause Gibbs is going to ask if I got out of bed and I can’t lie to him. Besides you can get away with lying to him. And you’re not the one that has to spend the night with him.”
“Oh! I forgot you guys slept together last night!”
“Gibbs and I slept together, like we’re sharing bed right now.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so.” I know I’m grinning, cause I know I’m right. But I leave her be and we continue to watch whatever she had on before.
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(Kate's POV)
“What did you bring me?” I ask when Devan bursts in to my room about an hour after they left.
“We’ got…Donovan’s Reef, The Quiet Man, and Avery let me get The X-Files movie.”
“The X-Files? Isn’t that a little scary for you?”
“No, mom and dad let me watch the show all the time.”
“Ok, I just didn’t think that you’d pick such an adult movie. You want to watch it first?”
“Can we? Avery said we should let you watch your movie, cause you don’t feel good.”
“I feel better. Why don’t you go downstairs with Abby and you guys can make some popcorn and get some juice. Abbs, can you send Avery up when you go down.”
“Sure. Come one Devan, we’ll make the popcorn with extra butter!” Abby announces just before they leave the room. As much as I like to indulge every once in a while I don’t think I can take the extra butter tonight.
Gibbs arrives almost as soon as Abby leaves.
“How are you feeling?” is the first thing out of his mouth.
“I’m fine. Abby is helping Devan make popcorn.”
“Yeah, Tony too, I didn’t want him to follow me up.”
“Why did you let Devan get The X-Files movie?”
“She said she was allowed to watch it and I called Char to make sure that it was ok.”
“Ok, I’m sorry for getting up set about it, but she’s 8 and I don’t want her crawling in bed with me...us when she has a nightmare. I was bad enough with David and the baby in here last night.”
“I’m sorry about the movie I wasn’t thinking that she would have a nightmare. She looked at all the episodes on the shelf and was telling me about them I didn’t see the harm in it.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t have kids. They’d have daddy wrapped around their little finger.” I see something flicker in his eyes. I’m not sure what it was. He’s too good at hiding how he feels.
“I’m going to co check to see how the popcorn is coming. What do you want to drink?”
“Some juice, no pop for Devan either. Can you tell her to put her jams on? It’ll be easier to put her to bed if she falls asleep during the movie.” I tell me just before he leaves the room.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
“Tony, can you put Devan to bed?’ I ask quietly once Devan’s movie choice has ended.
“Sure, Boss. You want me to come back and help move Kate?”
“No, but if you could come back for the baby. Lay her on the blankets on the floor in the room where Devan is sleeping.”
“I’ll put the baby to bed.” Abby say pulling the baby, that had curled herself close to Kate’s chest away from Kate, let us know that she was displeased by fussing a little. Kate’s head is still lying in my lap. I’m not sure how that happened, not that I object.
I sit for a moment and wonder how Kate and I got to where we are when Abby comes back in.
“Gibbs, you guys have any extra blankets?”
“Umm, I don’t think we have any more. You can bring the baby back in here and take those.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to do it if you’re not going to be able to sleep.”
“She slept in here last night, so just take the blankets.”
After Abby disappears I maneuver Kate around to her pillows so I can get the baby from Abby. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute while I wait for Abby’s return.
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(Abby's POV)
The baby is a little fussy when I go back in the room to get her. I check her diaper, because I can’t remember the last time she was changed, and it feels a little heavy.
“Abs, they have any extra blankets?” Toby asks as I fasten the new diaper.
“Yeah, they’re going to sleep with the baby and you can have the blankets that she had.”
“Great.”
“I’m going to go in and say good night and then the two of us need to talk.”
“Yeah, you noticed that too?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Noticed it? How could you not? And Kate won’t answer any of my questions.” I say picking up the baby after snapping her jams together.
I quietly walk to the master bedroom and open my mouth to say something to Gibbs when I notice that Kate and Gibbs are curled in to each other. With out making a sound I back out of the room and grab Tony, who is still picking the blankets off the floor.
“Tony don’t say anything, but go stick your head in Kate and Gibbs’ room.”
“What the hell is that?” Tony asks once he returns from their room.
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Chapter 4
(Abby's POV)
I settle the baby in the middle of the bed in the room that I’m staying laying pillows around her so she doesn’t roll off the bed and head down stairs to talk to Tony. As soon as he sees me he starts in.
“What the hell is going on here? It’s like I stepped in to the Twilight Zone. I know that Gibbs likes kids and all, but seeing the two of them parent like that. And then curl up together. And I know, I know they’re hiding something. I bet they slept together.” Tony cut his rant short after the last five slipped though his lips.
“I don’t know. Kate won’t tell me anything and I haven't tried Gibbs yet. Ducky never tells up anything when he hears from Gibbs. Kate used to tell me that they would go out with their neighbors, have barbeques and whatnot, but for maybe the last month or more they haven't said that they were going out with anyone. Other then them acting all hinky is that Kate missed her period.” Tony scrunched up his face in disgust. “She’s never late. Never. I always bring her some form of chocolate every 28 days. I’m telling you, Tony, like clock work.”
“Abby, I didn’t need that much detail, but thanks for sharing now I know when to not piss her off. The only reason why I know this is because I went through her purse, but she’s on the pill.”
“Was on the pill, due to lack of a partner she discontinued use when she ran out in May.”
“When was that last party they went to?”
“I don’t know, beginning of May.”
“You know what’s at the beginning of May? Cinqo De Mayo, all that Mexican food. Authentic burritos and tacos.”
“Tony, Tony, we’re on Kate and Gibbs.”
“How much you wanna bet that they got plastered as hell and did the nasty?”
“Yuck Tony. Besides neither Kate nor Gibbs would let their guard down that much.”
“Abs, I’ve never been undercover as long as they have. But I’d imagine that eventually playing husband and wife would sooner or later lead to one actually being husband and wife. The prime example is how they’re sleeping upstairs. I can guarantee that if that was me and Kate that she would have built a wall of pillows between us no matter how long we were under cover, but Gibbs is different for her. He’s not her brother and for Gibbs she’s defiantly not the usual red head, but there is something there. It’s not the same when it come to protecting you, he knows she can handle herself and kick ass, but he defiantly feels something for her and it’s just not as a his subordinate.”
“Tony, you’re being all sweet and brotherly. I think Kate would kick you ass for that.”
“Kate keeps everything in her PDA right? Think she keeps whether or not she got her period?” Tony squirms a little just thinking about what he said.
“Yeah she does, but its password protected and I’d need to plug it into my computer to get past it.”
“You can’t just plug it into their laptop?”
“Tony, the laptop is simple enough that Gibbs can use it. There’s not enough programming on it to do much other than write reports and e-mail them.”
“Hey! Did you ask Gibbs about that kiss that Kate gave him before?”
“Hey, no, I already got him once today for asking what was going on. I’m not asking Boss man twice in one day.”
“I’m going to bed. I’ll slip in some questions when she’s all relaxed tomorrow at the spa when her guard is down.”
“Good plan. I’ll just see if I can get out of Gibbs why you guys got a spa day, but were going to have to work on the case too. So most of this investigation of ours is going to be on you.”
“Rad, Special Agent Abby Sciuto is at your service.
“Ok, well Agent Abs, there is a Magnum marathon coming on.”
“Night Tony.”
“Night.” He tells me as he switches in the TV as I head up to bed. I think I sneak a peak at Gibbs and Kate again.
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(Kate's POV)
I feel cold all of the sudden and I hear something going on downstairs. I better go check it out, make sure that Tony’s not getting into trouble.
I check on the Devan and see that the baby isn’t on the floor like she was supposed to be, so I check in on Abby and see that Dana is sleeping next to her. I feel better knowing that Abby has her and not Tony. Despite his claim that kids like him, I don’t think they really do.
I quietly make my way down stairs and see that the TV is on. I make my way around the couch to see Tony sleeping with a dumb smile on his face. I notice when the show comes back from commercial that he was watching Magnum. I just shake my head and go back up to bed.
When I lay back down Gibbs rolls over and pulls me to his chest. God that feels so right. I almost regret making up those rules, but between mine and his rule 12 I think we might be able to make it through the rest of this case unscathed. The only thing is that I don’t want to think about why I’ve been throwing up. I know I’m in denial. And I know Abby was surprised that I didn’t need the chocolate that she brought me. It surprised me too when I thought about it. Maybe tomorrow after the spa Abby and I can get a test.
I wonder if he held me like this last night. I’m going to enjoy this now, because tomorrow night he’s back in his own room.
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(Gibbs’ POV)
I wake up feeling more refreshed than I have in a long time. I haven’t even opened my eyes yet, but I can feel someone watching me. I slowly roll towards the door, well try to roll. Kate is holding my right arm to her body. I guess I must have held her as we slept.
Since turning my body is out, I turn my head to face to door and see Devan and Abby staring at us. As soon as I turned I saw Abby pull what could have been her phone from view.
“Abby,” I whisper, “if you took pictures and should they end up in places they shouldn’t be no caf-pows for a month.”
I don’t get a response from her she just slowly slinks away from the door leaving Devan standing there.
“What can I help you with this morning miss?”
“Nothing, I just heard Abby and Tony talking this morning about how weird you guys are being.”
“We’re not being weird, they’re being weird. Even your brother said Tony was weird.”
“No, they defiantly said you were being weird and that the only person who would believe them was just ducky.”
“Ducky is a friend, not a feeling.”
“It’s not nice to name call.”
“He likes to be called Ducky.”
“If you two are done fighting about Ducky, I think it’s time for breakfast,” Kate said sleepily. “And after breakfast Avery, you can go get Davey.”
“Yes dear.”
“You didn’t kiss her good morning,” Devan states as she leaves the room.
“What is with you and kissing?” I called after her.
“Nothing, it’s just how married people say I love you with out saying it.” She responds. “You still didn’t kiss her. Don’t you love her?”
“Of course, I do. I won’t have married her other wise.” She stands at the door way with a cocked eye brow.
I lean over and give Kate a quick kiss, not wanting to scare her with morning breath. Devan leaves after that saying something about breakfast on the way down the hall.
“We’re going to have to talk about all the kissing that’s happened in the last 48 hours.”
“I don’t think we do.” Kate tells me.
“All but one of those kisses was initiated because the child thinks we’re married. But the one that wasn’t. One was all you and it wasn’t a kiss to make a child happy. And it definitely wasn’t quick.”
“What if I don’t want to talk about it?”
“What if I like kissing you?”
“What happens when you go back to being my boss?” She asks quietly.
“I’m your boss now.”
“No, you’re not. You’re acting like a boyfriend or a hus-”
“You’re husband? Would that be so bad?” I cut her off.
“But you’re my boss. And I think we’re in enough trouble as it is.”
“Does this have to do with yesterday?”
“Yes,” she says so quietly had I not seen her lips move I probably wouldn’t have known she said anything.
“I think I know what you’re talking about,” I say just as quietly.
“I don’t think-”
“What I’m about to tell you, you can’t repeat.” I tell her. She just nods. I quickly get out of bed to shut the door; I don’t need an audience for this and climb back in bed, but stay sitting up.
“My first wife and I had a daughter,” I stop to let her digest that. “When she was about 12, my ex and I had been divorced for sometime, she and my ex were killed in a car wreck. The guy that hit them was the brother of a guy I put away for murder. He thought that I fabricated the evidence that did his brother in and as revenge he went after my family.” I finish so softly I wouldn’t even be sure that she heard me had it not been for her tears.
“I don’t even know what to say.” She tells me wiping the tears away.
“I didn’t tell you that story so that you would feel bad or sorry or anything like that. I told you that so you could quit lying to me.”
“Truthfully, I’m not lying. I don’t even know for sure.”
“It may have been about 20 years ago, but I still recognize the signs.”
“I’ve been in denial. I was on the pill until about 3 days after-after and I hadn’t even thought about it. I was so homesick when we moved back to the East Coast. Being so close to home and not being able to go, that just got to me. When I missed my first period I blame it on being stressed out. When I missed my second I blamed it on the move. And I didn’t even think about that I had missed two until certain smells started sending me to that bathroom. That first Monday after we moved and you left coffee, that had me running to the bathroom. After that any time you left coffee I just help my breath until I poured it down the drain.”
“The kids leave this afternoon. Their grandparents are coming to get them at 1, I think. Tony and Abby’s flight is at 9. They have to leave here by 6 to return the car and check in. After they leave we’ll go to the store.”
“Ok, what do you want to do if-?” Both us refusing to actually say what we think the problem is. I’m not sure why she doesn’t, but my reason is that I want whatever ears that are listening at the door the work hard to hear what’s being talked about.
“We’ll cross whatever bridges we need to cross when the time comes and we’ll do it together.” I tell her holding her hand in mine.
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(Abby's POV)
When Gibbs finally makes his entrance at breakfast, Tony and I have already started feeding the kids. Well, really just Devan. I put the baby on the floor so Tony and I could make breakfast. He looks so drained. When he first woke up I thought he looked refreshed, something that had to do with sleeping with Kate. I’m not really going to delete the pictures of them sleeping either. Those will go in to my personal stash of Gibbs pictures that he doesn’t know I have.
“Avery, you Ok? You looked better when I was still up stairs.”
“I’m fine Abs.” I give him a look that says that he’s lying to me. Gibbs does not lie to me; he just doesn’t tell me things.
“What did you guys make for breakfast?” Gibbs asks looking at Devan to see what she’s eating.
“Well, we’re working on scrambled eggs right now. I made pancakes earlier and the rest are in the microwave. Abby made sausages and toast. So take you’re pick,” Tony tells him. “How’s Kira feeling?” he adds.
“She’s taking a shower so she can feel more human.” He tells us as he takes a couple of pancakes and 2 sausages before reaching into the fridge for a cup of yogurt.
“Since when you eat yogurt?” I ask giving him a funny look.
“It’s not for me, Miss I know everything. It’s for Dana or did you plan on starving her?”
“No, but I figured that Kate would feed her,” I throw back.
“I can feed her just as well. Why don’t you go upstairs and make sure Kira didn’t go down the drain with the soap.” Gibbs tells me as be picks Dana off the floor. “You, Miss, get strawberry yogurt for breakfast. Is that ok with you?” he asks her.
“Strawberry is her favorite,” I hear Devan say as I leave to check on Kate.
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(Kate's POV)
After I walked in to the bathroom I know why Gibbs told me to take a shower. My eyes were all red from crying. That is no way to keep this quiet. Can see Tony and Abby’s faces with me showing up to breakfast with a read blotchy face, they’d both jump all over Gibbs. But now that I’ve showered I feel 100 percent better. And my face is red from the heat and not crying.
“Kira, it’s almost 9,” Abby calls through the door.
“I know I’m almost ready.”
“Good, we got a big breakfast on the table waiting.”
I crack the door to let out some of the steam, “Actually, I think I’ll just have some tea and toast. I don’t want whatever bug I had yesterday to ruin our day at the spa, so I’ll just stick to something light.”
“Are you sure? We got eggs, pancakes and sausage. Tony made the eggs. He’ll feel really badly if you don’t try his eggs.” I think she’s pouting at me through the door.
“Really Abs, I don’t want to temp fate. Tea and toast will be just fine.”
“Fine, I’ll go start your tea pot for you.” I can hear her foot steps as she goes back down stairs.
I really don’t want a heavy breakfast; I don’t want to have to rush back up here to toss my cookies. I had hoped to spend enough time in the bathroom that most of breakfast would be over by the time I came down. More than anything, I hoped the coffee was gone, because that does me in every time.
“Kira are going to come down? Your tea is almost ready and it would be nice if you could feed Dana.” Gibbs calls up no doubt Abby telling him that I live being the reason.
“I’ll be right down. I’m just going to finish tying my hair back.” That was just an excuse to stay up here longer. I had no intention of tying my hair back until we got to the massage part of the day and maybe not even then. I love it when they rub your scalp, it’s so relaxing.
I quickly pull my hair in to a pony tail and head down, before they send out a search party.
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(Gibbs' POV)
“Why did you send them to the spa? We haven’t even done what we were supposed to do this weekend.” Tony asked as we cleaned up from breakfast.
“I’m looking out for the well being for the well being of my team.”
Tony mumbled something that sounded like it doesn’t look like for the welling being of the team.
“What was that?”
“N-nothing Boss. I just hope they have a good time.” I miss being able to do that everyday.
“I have to go get Davey. Keep an eye on the kids.” I told him as I put my shoes on. Keep an eye on the kids; they’d been sitting in front of the TV consuming cartoons all morning. I don’t think that they will be moving any time soon.
I decide to walk, hopefully that will help me clear my head, not likely.
I can’t believe what Kate told me this morning. I can’t believe that I didn’t pick up on it sooner. I notice everything. Kate must be better at hiding things than I thought. I need to stop thinking about that until I can actually talk about it. Tony and I need to sit down and go over the new Intel that he brought. I want this to be over with as much as Kate does. I hope that Tony had something new.
“Avery!” Davey calls from the front yard of his friends out breaking me from my thoughts.
“Hey buddy. Did you have fun?” I ask as he runs up to me.
“Yeah! Ollie’s mom made ice cream sundaes for us and we played video games. Ollie’s dad had people over so we had to play video games in his room.” Davey finishes quietly.
“Let’s get your stuff so we can go back to my place and make sure that Tony didn’t burn the place down.”
“He’s still there?”
“Yup, but you know that your grandparents are coming after lunch so you shouldn’t have to spend that much time with him.”
“Which Grandma and Grandpa?”
“I don’t know, your mom didn’t say. I guess you can be surprised.” I tell him and then turn to Ollie’s mother, “Hi, he was good?”
“He’s always perfect when he comes over. Tell Charlotte that if she needs we can keep him another night to help out.”
“Grandparents are coming this afternoon, but I’ll let her know. Did you say thank you?” I turn to Davey as I take his things from Ollie’s mom.
“Thank you I had fun.” He tells her. “Bye Ollie, maybe you can come over to my house next time.” He calls to his friend who is already heading inside the house.
“So you had fun even though you had to play video games in Ollie’s room.” I say as we start walking back.
“Yup, we played Mario Party and Spiro and one of those games that had a bunch of different ones on it.”
“Wow.”
“Can we play a game when we get back?”
“I don’t know. You’re sisters are watching cartoons and Tony and I have to talk about some stuff before he leaves today.”
“Ok, Devan will play a game when Dana takes a nap.” He says as if it’s a sure thing.
The rest of the walk back is pretty quiet.
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(Abby's POV)
“What are you and Gibbs going to do tonight?”
“We are going to relax. The kids should be gone before we get back and you and Tony leave after dinner. I never did get to watch my movie so we’ll probably do that.”
“You guys do that a lot, watch movies what you’re not working the case?”
“No, not really, we do it once in a while. We try to make friends when he’s not working. Charlotte next door, before Jim got hurt, invited us to a 4th of July party.”
“When was the last party you guys went to?”
“There was a Cinqo de Mayo block party in North Carolina. We got invited sort of as let’s get to know you. I swear I’ve never been asked that may question ever.”
“What did they ask?”
“Where are you from; where did you move from; how long you been married; got any kids; planning on having kids, because they would be really attractive his eyes and your coloring.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t thought about that. They would have a gorgeous kid. And sadly I think Tony theory might be right.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to go to the Memorial Day picnic thing they did. I didn’t think that even in play I could take all those questions, they’re bad enough coming from my mother.”
“You get that a lot?”
“I get it more when one of my brothers decides to reproduce.”
“How many nieces and nephews do you have, I don’t remember.”
“Right now 3 and 3, but 2 of my brothers are trying.”
“Didn’t one get married last year?”
“Yup, he and his wife are trying for number one and my oldest brother is trying for a boy.”
“So, when are you going to get married and start reproducing?”
“Abs, you are not my mother. I don’t have to answer that. Besides we’re here and it’s time to relax.”
We both got out of the car and headed towards the building. I can’t believe that she hedged my question. She doesn’t do that. First Gibbs and now her, something is defiantly hinky.
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(Gibbs' POV)
“You sure you want to do this with the kids still here?” Tony asked as we laid out all the files on the kitchen table.
“The kids are watching TV and playing a game. They won’t come in here. What’s the new Intel you have?”
“Abby went through video of all the days we know shipments went out and took pictures of all the people that were in the shipping areas. You’re in a couple. Can you put names to the guys so we know who they are?”
“Yeah, this is Jim. He’d the neighbor. Rob Miller, Tom Almond,” I know about half the guys in the pictures that Tony lays in front of me.
“How well do you know these guys?”
“Not very, I’ve only been here a week Tony. What do you think?”
“Sorry, Boss.”
Tony and I were reading over various Intel when Davey came in to the kitchen.
“Avery, can I have something to drink?”
“Sure.” I flip open the folder with our unknown men in it and placed the papers that I had been reading in it.
“How come you have a picture of Ollie’s dad?”
“What?” Tony and I asked at the same time.
He carefully pulled open the folder I had just been in and pulled picture that was under the papers I placed in it.
“This is Ollie’s dad.”
“Are you sure Buddy? It could be just a guy that looks like him.” I tell him.
“Nope, it’s Ollie’s dad,” he states with certainty. “I saw him this weekend when he had his friends over.”
“That’s right cause then you had to play in Ollie’s room. Davey, did you see any of his friends?” I ask to see if maybe he can ID some of the other unknowns we have.
“I saw a few of them, but I don’t know their names.”
“You think if we show you pictures you could point some of them out?”
“I’ll try. Why do you have his picture anyway?” It’s the quiet ones you have to look out for, who knew that such a quiet child would turn into such an inquisitive one. I get up to get his water for him.
“I can’t tell you right now Buddy, but when I can I will, OK? And you have to promise to keep this a secret. You can’t tell anyone, not even your mom.”
“OK, I promise.”
“Tony, will you lay out the pictures?” I ask as I lift Davey on to my lap.
After about 5 minutes Davey had picked out 3 of our unknown guys and 2 guys that I knew.
“Davey this is important, did Ollie’s dad and his friends say anything that seemed weird?”
“When my dad had friends over they watch sports or go outside and barbeque. Ollie’s dad didn’t do that. They just sat there and talked.”
“What did they talk about?” I pressed, maybe he did hear something.
“I think they were talking about crates. And one of the other guys said something about getting cigars when the next crate came in.”
“Davey, what are you doing? You weren’t supposed to interrupt.” Devan said coming in to the dinning room.
“It’s OK. Can you do me a favor and check on your sister? If she’s up you can bring her down, carefully.” I call after her as she runs up the stairs.
“Davey was there anything else? Anything that maybe you didn’t hear the whole thing?” Tony asks.
“They said something, maybe, about someone getting close. But I didn’t understand what they were talking about.”
“Thanks ok, you did good. And I promise I will tell you as soon as I can what you helped with.” I tell as he slides off my lap.
“Avery, Dana needs her diaper changed!” Devan calls from up stairs.
“I’ll be right up,” I call back. “Davey, why don’t you go back to watching T.V.?” I wait for him to leave before I continue, “Abby needs to go back tonight, but I’m going to need you to stay here. You’re going to need to find a hotel. Call McGee and have him search for Ollie’s dad first we need his name and then his buddies. Also, find out what shipments are coming from GITMO to here in the next few days.”
“Sure thing, Boss.” I leave him to change the diaper that’s waiting for me.
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