New NCIS Fic: Daughters, Sisters
Title: Daughters, Sisters
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Maddie Tyler, Emily, Abby, Gibbs
Spoilers: Requiem (including a tiny bit of the time capsule)
Prompt: #64 Fall
Word Count: 1636
Rating: K+
Summary: The idea that Jethro had another daughter, another family came as an almost physical blow.
Author's Notes: This is an AU, inspired in part by wiccagirl24’s wonderful Kelly!verse. In this ‘verse Emily Fornell is actually Emily Gibbs.
Maddie Tyler had sat in her car staring at the house she so often played at in her childhood for nearly half an hour. She had tried to thank Jethro and Tony at the hospital, but they had both shrugged it off as nothing, which had been pretty annoying. Still she wasn’t sure that they’d want or appreciate the gifts, so nerves had kept her in the car so far. Finally, she tired of her own internal debate and got out of the car.
When the door flung open, she couldn’t be sure if she had even had time to knock. She was shocked to find herself staring into two blue eyes that reminded her so much of Kelly.
“You must be Maddie,” the girl smiled, but there was a cool tone to her voice.
Maddie tried a friendly smile, “Yeah, I am. Who are you?”
“I’m Emily Gibbs, the daughter of the man that almost killed himself for you.”
“Oh,” the idea that Jethro had another daughter, another family came as an almost physical blow. Maddie had believed, after talking to him, that he’d never recovered from the lost of Kelly and Mrs. Gibbs. This was a shock. “I didn’t know Jethro had another daughter.”
“Yeah, he seemed to forget that, too,” anger permeated her words.
Blessedly, before Maddie was forced to come up with an appropriate response the Goth woman that had been fretting over Jethro and Tony at the hospital appeared.
“Who was at the door, kiddo,” she wrapped her arms around Emily’s waist and rested her chin on Emily’s shoulder. “Oh, Maddie! Hi. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Thanks for asking… um… Amy?”
The Goth laughed, “Only according to Thom E. Gemcity. It’s Abby.”
“Right, sorry. There was a lot going on when Jethro introduced us,” Maddie felt herself blushing.
“You mean didn’t introduce us. Gibbs suffers from the rudes sometimes.” She suddenly shook her head, “Just like me. I’m sorry. Come on in. Em, run and tell Daddy that Maddie’s here.”
“Do I have to,” the surly attitude wasn’t abating any.
Abby released the girl and gave her a soft swat on the rear, “Yes. And drop the ‘tude. Clear?”
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes as se flounced off.
“Sorry about that,” Abby lead Maddie into the house. “She’s at that age where the only emotion she can seem to express is anger. She’s really just upset and worried and hurt, but mad is easier.”
Maddie really had no idea what to think. This woman was obliviously at home here and interacted easily with Emily. She glanced quickly at the pictures on the wall, mostly all of Emily and Abby with a few with Jethro and others. “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Are you Emily’s mother?”
Abby smiled, “Nope, but I’m her mom.”
“So, you and Jethro are married?”
“Love her too much to do that to her,” it was Jethro who answered the question as he bounded into the room. “How you feeling, Maddie?”
Maddie accepted the hug he offered, noting over his shoulder that Emily had retreated into Abby’s embrace. “I’m doing great. How are you and Tony?”
“I’m fine,” she observed that he didn’t answer about Tony.
“Good,” she smiled and held out the two boxes she’d been carrying. “I just wanted to get you and Tony something as a thank you.”
He shook his head, “You don’t have to do that. We were just doing our job.”
“The hell you were,” Emily exploded out of Abby’s arms, rushing her father.
“Emily,” Jethro and Abby called together.
“You weren’t,” she sobbed as small fists pummeled her father’s chest. “This wasn’t your job. This was because of Kelly. Because you love her more than me. You nearly left me trying to find Kelly through her. And Tony is sick again because of her, too. It wasn’t his job to save either of you.” She broke away from her father and ran for the stairs.
After a few seconds of silence Abby sighed, “I’ll go talk to her.”
“No, wait,” Maddie held out her hand. “What did she mean? ‘Tony’s sick again.’”
Jethro sighed, “A few years back Tony had the plague. His lungs were permanently damaged and weakened. They’ve kept him in the hospital to run an antibiotic course as a precaution.”
“Oh my god,” Maddie’s hand covered her mouth.
Abby moved closer to Jethro, “It isn’t as bad as it seems. He’s going to be okay or Gibbs and I are going to take turns kicking his ass.”
Maddie nodded, a half smile covered her attempt to control her emotions. A moment later, she spoke, “May I talk to Emily?”
“I’m not sure…”
Abby’s hand on Jethro’s arm stopped his flow of words. A meaningful glance and a few signs passed between them before he turned back to Maddie, “Top of the stairs across from Kelly’s room.”
Maddie nodded and smiled a thank you to Abby. Heading up the stairs she flashed back to so many trips up those same stairs with Kelly. Usually with cookies hidden in their shirts. She paused and looked at the closed door to Kelly’s room; she had to wonder if it was as she remembered it, but she didn’t dare open it. She turned and knocked on the brightly decorated door across from it.
“Go away, Mom,” Emily’s voice filtered through the wood.
“Um…” Maddie had to lick her suddenly dry lips. “It’s… it’s Maddie. Could I come in? I’d like to talk to you… about Kelly.”
There was nothing from the other side of the door for a minute and then she could faintly make out padded footsteps. The door handle turned and the door opened a crack. Maddie smiled as she pushed open the door and stepped through. Closing the door behind her, Maddie surveyed the room. The walls were painted a purple-grey with a faux finish of lavender and gold sponge paint. It all had that fresh paint look that meant they hadn’t been done that way for long. Clothes spilled out of the closet and onto the floor. The tops of the wooden dress and vanity were littered with hair accessories and ‘starter’ make-up products. A typical girl’s room.
The large window that overlooked the backyard had a window seat and Emily had retreated to one end of it. Maddie made her way to the other end and curled up. They didn’t look at each other, just the backyard and the falling autumn leaves.
“So, I owe you an apology.”
Emily’s head snapped towards Maddie, “Why?”
Maddie sighed, “Cause… I didn’t think about the consequences when I went to Jeth… your dad with my problem. I never thought anything like this could happen and I really never thought that he might have a new family. That was kinda dumb of me. I mean, he loved Kelly and Mrs. Gibbs… the first Mrs. Gibbs so much of course he’d want another family.”
“Nope, he didn’t.”
“What do you mean,” Maddie’s forehead furrowed in confusion.
Emily gave the type of sigh that only pre-teens can make when adults are being stupid, “I mean, Dad didn’t want another family. He’s been married three times since Shannon died and never for longer than 26 months and… And I was a mistake… no really I was a ploy to try and make my dad stay with my mother.”
“Emily…”
“No, it is okay,” she held up a hand then let it drop to the top of her black teddy bear. “I love my dad and he loves me. I just know he loves Kelly more. This whole thing with you just proves it.”
Maddie couldn’t help it, she scooted across the bench to hug the younger girl, “Oh, Emily, I’m sure that isn’t true. Your dad… Well, I think your dad has a hero complex. He needs to save people. He’s a Marine. So was my dad and he was the same way. In fact, he died trying to save some people in a fire.”
Emily settled in Maddie’s arms, “Sounds like our dads aren’t that good heroes.”
“Even heroes need heroes. My dad’s wasn’t around, but your dad’s was,” she rested her head on Emily’s.
Emily chuckled, “I’m so going to use the fact that Tony was Dad’s hero for awhile.”
“They don’t get along?”
Emily’s head shook, “Nah, they do. They love each other even. Tony’s the closest thing I’ve got to a sibling, but sometimes I think Dad thinks he’s my kid brother. And I tend to agree. Worst trouble I was ever in was because of Tony. I’m always getting in trouble because of Tony, but the trouble is worth it.”
“Sounds like fun,” Maddie laughed. “Sounds like someone Kelly would have liked. Like you. Kelly would have loved you.”
Emily suddenly pulled out of Maddie’s arms to look up at her, “I opened the time capsule.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Daddy dug it up, but he didn’t open it. I did and I took something.”
Maddie’s throat tightened, “What?”
Emily thrust out her arm and pushed up her sleeve. On her wrist were the two ID bracelets that Maddie and Kelly had made, “I’ll give yours back, but can I keep Kelly’s?”
“You know what,” Maddie swallowed around the tears that formed as she fingered the bracelet, “I’ve got a better idea. I’m pretty sure I remember how we made them. Why don’t we get the supplies tomorrow and make another set? This time with an Emily too.”
“Really,” Emily’s face filled with hope.
Maddie nodded, “Yeah, really. You know, I never had a kid sister and you got cheated out of a big sister. Maybe we could fix that.”
“Awesome,” this time it was Emily that hugged Maddie.
In the hall, Abby signed a ‘told you so’ to Gibbs.
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Maddie Tyler, Emily, Abby, Gibbs
Spoilers: Requiem (including a tiny bit of the time capsule)
Prompt: #64 Fall
Word Count: 1636
Rating: K+
Summary: The idea that Jethro had another daughter, another family came as an almost physical blow.
Author's Notes: This is an AU, inspired in part by wiccagirl24’s wonderful Kelly!verse. In this ‘verse Emily Fornell is actually Emily Gibbs.
Maddie Tyler had sat in her car staring at the house she so often played at in her childhood for nearly half an hour. She had tried to thank Jethro and Tony at the hospital, but they had both shrugged it off as nothing, which had been pretty annoying. Still she wasn’t sure that they’d want or appreciate the gifts, so nerves had kept her in the car so far. Finally, she tired of her own internal debate and got out of the car.
When the door flung open, she couldn’t be sure if she had even had time to knock. She was shocked to find herself staring into two blue eyes that reminded her so much of Kelly.
“You must be Maddie,” the girl smiled, but there was a cool tone to her voice.
Maddie tried a friendly smile, “Yeah, I am. Who are you?”
“I’m Emily Gibbs, the daughter of the man that almost killed himself for you.”
“Oh,” the idea that Jethro had another daughter, another family came as an almost physical blow. Maddie had believed, after talking to him, that he’d never recovered from the lost of Kelly and Mrs. Gibbs. This was a shock. “I didn’t know Jethro had another daughter.”
“Yeah, he seemed to forget that, too,” anger permeated her words.
Blessedly, before Maddie was forced to come up with an appropriate response the Goth woman that had been fretting over Jethro and Tony at the hospital appeared.
“Who was at the door, kiddo,” she wrapped her arms around Emily’s waist and rested her chin on Emily’s shoulder. “Oh, Maddie! Hi. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Thanks for asking… um… Amy?”
The Goth laughed, “Only according to Thom E. Gemcity. It’s Abby.”
“Right, sorry. There was a lot going on when Jethro introduced us,” Maddie felt herself blushing.
“You mean didn’t introduce us. Gibbs suffers from the rudes sometimes.” She suddenly shook her head, “Just like me. I’m sorry. Come on in. Em, run and tell Daddy that Maddie’s here.”
“Do I have to,” the surly attitude wasn’t abating any.
Abby released the girl and gave her a soft swat on the rear, “Yes. And drop the ‘tude. Clear?”
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes as se flounced off.
“Sorry about that,” Abby lead Maddie into the house. “She’s at that age where the only emotion she can seem to express is anger. She’s really just upset and worried and hurt, but mad is easier.”
Maddie really had no idea what to think. This woman was obliviously at home here and interacted easily with Emily. She glanced quickly at the pictures on the wall, mostly all of Emily and Abby with a few with Jethro and others. “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Are you Emily’s mother?”
Abby smiled, “Nope, but I’m her mom.”
“So, you and Jethro are married?”
“Love her too much to do that to her,” it was Jethro who answered the question as he bounded into the room. “How you feeling, Maddie?”
Maddie accepted the hug he offered, noting over his shoulder that Emily had retreated into Abby’s embrace. “I’m doing great. How are you and Tony?”
“I’m fine,” she observed that he didn’t answer about Tony.
“Good,” she smiled and held out the two boxes she’d been carrying. “I just wanted to get you and Tony something as a thank you.”
He shook his head, “You don’t have to do that. We were just doing our job.”
“The hell you were,” Emily exploded out of Abby’s arms, rushing her father.
“Emily,” Jethro and Abby called together.
“You weren’t,” she sobbed as small fists pummeled her father’s chest. “This wasn’t your job. This was because of Kelly. Because you love her more than me. You nearly left me trying to find Kelly through her. And Tony is sick again because of her, too. It wasn’t his job to save either of you.” She broke away from her father and ran for the stairs.
After a few seconds of silence Abby sighed, “I’ll go talk to her.”
“No, wait,” Maddie held out her hand. “What did she mean? ‘Tony’s sick again.’”
Jethro sighed, “A few years back Tony had the plague. His lungs were permanently damaged and weakened. They’ve kept him in the hospital to run an antibiotic course as a precaution.”
“Oh my god,” Maddie’s hand covered her mouth.
Abby moved closer to Jethro, “It isn’t as bad as it seems. He’s going to be okay or Gibbs and I are going to take turns kicking his ass.”
Maddie nodded, a half smile covered her attempt to control her emotions. A moment later, she spoke, “May I talk to Emily?”
“I’m not sure…”
Abby’s hand on Jethro’s arm stopped his flow of words. A meaningful glance and a few signs passed between them before he turned back to Maddie, “Top of the stairs across from Kelly’s room.”
Maddie nodded and smiled a thank you to Abby. Heading up the stairs she flashed back to so many trips up those same stairs with Kelly. Usually with cookies hidden in their shirts. She paused and looked at the closed door to Kelly’s room; she had to wonder if it was as she remembered it, but she didn’t dare open it. She turned and knocked on the brightly decorated door across from it.
“Go away, Mom,” Emily’s voice filtered through the wood.
“Um…” Maddie had to lick her suddenly dry lips. “It’s… it’s Maddie. Could I come in? I’d like to talk to you… about Kelly.”
There was nothing from the other side of the door for a minute and then she could faintly make out padded footsteps. The door handle turned and the door opened a crack. Maddie smiled as she pushed open the door and stepped through. Closing the door behind her, Maddie surveyed the room. The walls were painted a purple-grey with a faux finish of lavender and gold sponge paint. It all had that fresh paint look that meant they hadn’t been done that way for long. Clothes spilled out of the closet and onto the floor. The tops of the wooden dress and vanity were littered with hair accessories and ‘starter’ make-up products. A typical girl’s room.
The large window that overlooked the backyard had a window seat and Emily had retreated to one end of it. Maddie made her way to the other end and curled up. They didn’t look at each other, just the backyard and the falling autumn leaves.
“So, I owe you an apology.”
Emily’s head snapped towards Maddie, “Why?”
Maddie sighed, “Cause… I didn’t think about the consequences when I went to Jeth… your dad with my problem. I never thought anything like this could happen and I really never thought that he might have a new family. That was kinda dumb of me. I mean, he loved Kelly and Mrs. Gibbs… the first Mrs. Gibbs so much of course he’d want another family.”
“Nope, he didn’t.”
“What do you mean,” Maddie’s forehead furrowed in confusion.
Emily gave the type of sigh that only pre-teens can make when adults are being stupid, “I mean, Dad didn’t want another family. He’s been married three times since Shannon died and never for longer than 26 months and… And I was a mistake… no really I was a ploy to try and make my dad stay with my mother.”
“Emily…”
“No, it is okay,” she held up a hand then let it drop to the top of her black teddy bear. “I love my dad and he loves me. I just know he loves Kelly more. This whole thing with you just proves it.”
Maddie couldn’t help it, she scooted across the bench to hug the younger girl, “Oh, Emily, I’m sure that isn’t true. Your dad… Well, I think your dad has a hero complex. He needs to save people. He’s a Marine. So was my dad and he was the same way. In fact, he died trying to save some people in a fire.”
Emily settled in Maddie’s arms, “Sounds like our dads aren’t that good heroes.”
“Even heroes need heroes. My dad’s wasn’t around, but your dad’s was,” she rested her head on Emily’s.
Emily chuckled, “I’m so going to use the fact that Tony was Dad’s hero for awhile.”
“They don’t get along?”
Emily’s head shook, “Nah, they do. They love each other even. Tony’s the closest thing I’ve got to a sibling, but sometimes I think Dad thinks he’s my kid brother. And I tend to agree. Worst trouble I was ever in was because of Tony. I’m always getting in trouble because of Tony, but the trouble is worth it.”
“Sounds like fun,” Maddie laughed. “Sounds like someone Kelly would have liked. Like you. Kelly would have loved you.”
Emily suddenly pulled out of Maddie’s arms to look up at her, “I opened the time capsule.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, Daddy dug it up, but he didn’t open it. I did and I took something.”
Maddie’s throat tightened, “What?”
Emily thrust out her arm and pushed up her sleeve. On her wrist were the two ID bracelets that Maddie and Kelly had made, “I’ll give yours back, but can I keep Kelly’s?”
“You know what,” Maddie swallowed around the tears that formed as she fingered the bracelet, “I’ve got a better idea. I’m pretty sure I remember how we made them. Why don’t we get the supplies tomorrow and make another set? This time with an Emily too.”
“Really,” Emily’s face filled with hope.
Maddie nodded, “Yeah, really. You know, I never had a kid sister and you got cheated out of a big sister. Maybe we could fix that.”
“Awesome,” this time it was Emily that hugged Maddie.
In the hall, Abby signed a ‘told you so’ to Gibbs.